For a brief moment, a mere week or two, they thought there was a chance that they would catch a break. Tabor and the Undying. Repaying the Hideaway’s debts, granted debts that apparently were not perceived as such. Eloise, managing to find a group of masterless Bearers that they could ferry to safety once they’d managed to sign the right papers. Eastpool, risen. Then a few setbacks, troubling, but hopefully manageable. Black Shields in Lostwing. Lu’bor. The Duke of Orifl

Normally, Jill despised the waiting. Waiting was what naive children wishing on stars did while their loved ones burned. Waiting was what the weak did while forced to commit terrible crimes to appease human beasts. But for once, this time the waiting offered a brief respite. The first real opportunity to collect herself since their return from the Shadow Coast. Since she took that leap of faith that changed everything. Including where she thought she belonged. Chaos had exp

It had been an eventful start to this little infiltration, though for once, not in a way that involved copious amounts of violence. Only mild violence and a whole lot of yelling. Of all the blows Clive hadn’t seen coming, it was Joshua’s fist to his face that blindsided him the most. The anger and accusation when he asked whether or not Clive had taken Jill’s Eikon. The disappointment when Clive confirmed it. As they trudged through the eerie expanse of Ash’s cliffs and fore

It was beautiful, the view from Reverie. Not because Barnabas could look down at the expanse of Ash and its people, but because it put everything into stark, crystal clear, focus. There was no question where humanity stood when you looked down from a god's vantage point and saw the way they crawled over the land like ants to their anthills. Simple, wretched creatures, following simple wretched instinct. It wiped away the wraiths of doubt that threatened to come between him an

Fuck he was tired. They had made it, after the long haul from Eistla, to Stonehyrr. Through the throngs of Ash's beasts, through the hordes of her akashic armies, through the literal fucking behemoth guarding the Spine's gate. Thanks to Gav's timely suggestions and Mid's reckless driving, reinforcements had arrived before Joshua and Clive could be overrun by the battalions that had come up behind them. Clive even laughed, that giddy kind of laugh that only comes from exhausti

The Deadlands. Why hadn't he thought of that? Why hadn't anyone thought of that? Well, apparently someone had. Leave it to Ramuh's Dominant to come up with the best hiding place in all of Valisthea, and it was right there under their noses the entire time. It had been an interesting week or so since Dion had taken up residency here, unofficially claiming that little promenade at the front of the Hideaway for himself. Interesting less in that anything had happened since that G

This entire endeavor had reeked of something foul since the moment that discolored Dusk Crystal had been laid out on Charon's counter. And the irony was, despite all the horror and the weight of Valisthea's future literally hanging over their heads, they had been feeling better about the state of things than they had in a long, long time. They had returned from Ash knowing that any move they were to make on this 'Origin' would require information, so they began with sending o

After the last few days, Shiva was surprised Ifrit's Dominant chose the cliff overlooking the shore to seek solitude on. Though perhaps 'solitude' was a misnomer. He certainly hadn't been subtle about letting her Dominant know where he was going, and even if he had tried, Fenrir seemed to like following him around even when he wasn't particularly wanted. One just had to follow the trail of tracks and fur. But no, her Dominant had picked up on the signals, and seemed of a simi

Everything hurt. Bahamut had existed since the first spark of light pierced the dark of Odin's veil. He had seen worlds flourish and civilizations burn, nurtured life and torn it down in a flash. But this was the first time he'd ever, truly, hurt . Great Greagor this is far more painful than Ifrit made it sound, Bahamut hissed to himself. His Dominant didn't respond. The poor boy had lost consciousness during the fall, before Bahamut had seized control. It had been a moment o

Everything had seemed to happen in slow motion. The moment Ultima fell, finally truly fell, and his Dominant absorbed the last of Ultima's power everything seemed to slow to a crawl. None of the absorptions from other Eikons had felt particularly good, but this was the only one that felt truly sickening. It coated Ifrit's flames like some sickly shimmer of oil and aether and he itched to just burn it until it withered to ash. But then he noticed Phoenix, hunched protectively

Time had very little meaning, after Origin fell. Everything after Phoenix spoke to Joshua that last time, told him not to let the light go out, was a jarring mess of dream or memory or delusion, he was never going to be sure which. He had been dying. He was dead. He had given Phoenix over to ensure Clive could destroy Ultima once and for all, and for that he had died. He was sure of it. So why was he here, coughing up sand and salt on a filthy beach while his body ached of Cu