[CLOSED] A heavenly assignment

[lightduties]

⌛ Who: Azem (starshepard), Emet-Selch (emet_sulk), and Rhea'li (lightduties)
⌛ What: Three refugees receive a heavenly assignment in which they fix fractured souls
⌛ When: Early December
⌛ Where: The Western Paradise
⌛ Warnings: FFXIV Shadowbringers/Endwalker spoilers all the way down, probably



Rhea'li is no stranger to odd requests, so he thinks nothing of it when he wakes after a strange dream and a golden train ticket in his hands. It wouldn't be the first time a god-like being has called to him in his sleep...

Which is how he ends up in the Western Paradise with a number of other refugees summoned to help return souls fractured and ripped from their bodies by the timeloops back to their rightful place. When he hears that, Rhea'li winces, thinking of his own soul, the sundered nature of it and the re-fracture of it in recent days.

It can be a little tricky for others to spot Rhea'li in the gaggle of refugees who had been summoned to help with the situation in the Western Paradise (being as short as he is), but he can certainly spot the two ancients amongst the crowd as Inari Okami teaches them how to properly wield Kizuna to complete their task. Without hesitation, Rhea'li bonds with another refugee -- a stranger as suggested -- before gently breaking it, the magic coming easily to him. Mayhaps the ease has something to do with its similarities to the echo, even though he has little control over the latter?

The lesson complete, the refugees are allowed to disperse to complete the task of aiding the lost and fractured souls, though not without a warning; particularly malevolent lost souls can influence or corrupt those who attempt to help them, possibly even possess them. So it would best to not travel alone, so that another can assist in removing the malevolence.

It's with that in mind that Rhea'li keeps an eye out for Emet-Selch and Azem as the other refugees begin to disperse, waving as he approaches.

Comments

[lightduties]

Rhea'li nods. But to tell the time in a land as dream-like as this...?

"If one returns and is left waiting overly long for the others, we all have means of finding each other, aye?"

Emet-Selch with his sight, Azem with their magic, and him with... Azem's magic. Though he supposes it would be best he avoid using that in front of Azem themselves.

"I will search the left side of the forest." And with no sign of hesitation, he waves without looking back as he steps into the thick of trees.

[emet_sulk]

"...Very well. I will head over there." He points in a different direction then looks to Azem. There is brief hesitation. A part of him doesn't want to let his trouble-maker friend out of sight. "I will find you when I'm done," he eventually says."

With that, he ventures forth as well. Although he says he will come looking, it's more likely that Hades will end up distracted by the souls of the dead.

[starshepard]

"I believe we do." They do have their communication devices, after all. Though Azem is thinking more along the lines of just summoning the two of them if need be.

They can tell Hades is hesitant and shoots him a smile to put him at ease. "See the two of you in a bell or so."

And off they go to gather up souls. A task that proves easy enough once they actually manage to get close enough to them. It's the getting close which is a challenge with many of the souls. They're quick to dart out of reach if they don't want to be caught.

[emet_sulk]

For his part, Hades is still intially reluctant to form a bond with other souls, but the reassurance from Azem goes a small way to easing his concerns. He approaches the first one carefully and gathers it to him, biting down a soft gasp as its emotions rush through. It's the same for all the rest he manages to catch. All their despair and regret and sorrow are emotions he is intimately familiar with.

Reluctance gives way to an almost obsessive need to collect as many souls as possible. He tranforms into his mage form to better handle them all, cradling each one in his ash-grey hands.

He quickly loses track of time this way.

[starshepard]

The emotions of the souls Azem gathers up do initially get to them. But after a while, they find it easier to block that out and carefully gather up all the souls they can carry. They still treat them all with compassion but don't let their emotions overpower their own.

Eventually, they find they can't carry more souls, unlike Hades, they don't transform to carry more. They do find that time gets away from them and can't be sure if it's been a bell or more by the time they return to the spot they'd agreed to meet at. They wait for a little bit before deciding to locate Hades first. With him it'll be easier to track down Rhea'li, assuming he doesn't return.

Hades proves surprisingly easy to track down. It helps that he's transformed into a larger form. Azem lets out a soft huff as they smile up at him. "I was a little worried when you and Rhea'li didn't return to the meeting place. But you seem to be doing well."

[emet_sulk]

He jolts in place when he hears their voice. Glancing down, he absorbs the soul currently in his hands and looks away.

"Could you hear them, Azem?" he rumbles quietly. "So many unfulfilled purposes. The greatest tragedy of mortal life. I want to help them all. I--"

He spots another wayward soul and starts after it.

[starshepard]

Seeing him like this confuses Azem, causing them to pause long enough for him to get a head start on them. They know Hades is far more compassionate than he lets on but this whole endeavor seems to be affecting him quite a bit.

They sigh and rush after, contemplating transforming just so it's easier to catch him. "Hades, wait! We need to find Rhea'li."

[emet_sulk]

He halts, watching the soul whisk away (probably frightened of him; maybe of Azem's shout). He turns, all four eyes staring down at his friend.

"Did Rhea'li not return...?"

[starshepard]

They feel bad that the soul gets away but they tell themself it'll be fine. Someone else will find it, if not in the near future.

"No, he didn't return." THey shake their head, craning it back just to look up at him.

[emet_sulk]

He fidgets. Rhea'li could take care of himself, but... He adjusts his gaze and scans their surroundings and beyond, searching through the streams of latent magic for a paler, washed out replica of his friend's soul.

"...He is over there." Hades points and then starts in that direction. If Azem still falls behind, he will offer to carry them.

[starshepard]

It is difficult to keep up without transforming. Something they're on the verge of doing until Hades offers to carry them. An offer they take him up on that. When Rhea'li comes into sight they wave at him and call out. "Hey, you fairing well?"

[lightduties]

Rhea'li, by contrast, does not appear to pay them much heed when they approach. He is sitting on the stone steps leading to a small shrine, gaze distant. Though an ear twitches, as does his tail, he does not look at either Azem or Emet-Selch.

"You looked for me..." His head suddenly snaps to the side, staring at them, unblinking. "Why did you bother?"

There are many souls gathered with Rhea'li, but there is sign of another soul nestled in the still healing crack of Rhea'li's, a dim glimmer of malevolence radiating from it.

[emet_sulk]

He sets Azem down beside him, all four eyes narrowing behind his metal mask.

"Why would we not search for you after we agreed to meet at a certain hour?" Hades glides forward. He can see the sliver of colour wedged in their cracked soul more clearly. "What have you done to yourself this time? Do you want to be fractured again?"

[starshepard]

Azem may lack the ability to see souls but they have other senses to tell them when something is off. The sensation of something crawling up their back to the nape of their neck causes them to shiver, immediately taking up a defensive stance when they're set down.

"Something isn't right. Tell me what you see Hades," they say as they edge closer.

[lightduties]

Rhea'li scrambles to get away from Emet-Selch when he approaches, tail raised high and fur standing on end, half crouching beside the shrine.

"People don't come back for me," he hisses, eyes unnaturally wide and elongated canines bared like a cornered animal. "You're waiting for the chance to ditch me!"

[emet_sulk]

He halts abruptly. The thought hadn't even crossed his mind yet it hurts to hear, even if he suspects that it isn't actually Rhea'li speaking.

"There is something wrong with his soul," he says slowly, pushing down his guilt. "I think...he may be possessed."

[starshepard]

Azem does their best to block out the words coming from Rhea'li and, instead, focuses on what Hades has to say.

"Possessed." They frown as they slowly begin to move toward Rhea'li. Their expression changes quickly to a soft smile, trying to be as disarming as possible. "If we plan to ditch you, as you say, then why would we come looking for you?"

[lightduties]

Rhea'li's ears pull back and tip of his tail flicks from side up side. His voice is smaller, quiet, but unlike his usual calm demeanour the softness comes from an underlying fear.

"One day you won't. You won't come. You won't come." He looks directly at Azem before he ducks his head, fingers digging into his skull. His voice pitches higher, thin and reedy. "Wind biting, hunger gnawing, cold stabbing, darkness approaches."

[emet_sulk]

"...This isn't him. Should I remove it?"

He still remembers how. A paltry task for one such as him. Whether the spirits here respond is another matter however. He remembers his attempts to fix another's fractured soul being ineffective.

[starshepard]

Azem fights the urge to move forward and attempt to restrain Rhea'li so he doesn't hurt himself.

"Can you? Do we need to form a bond instead and draw it out? I don't know how any of this is supposed to work."

[emet_sulk]

"I don't know either."

Inari didn't exactly explain what to do if things went wrong. They had warned of it, but he supposes it's difficult to demonstrate what to do without having one on hand.

"Let's take him back with us. I would rather not make things worse."

[starshepard]

Azem nods and moves forward as they conjure up a blanket to wrap around Rhea'li. It takes them a moment to get him all bundled and scooped up, all while trying to reassure the spirit that's taken control that it's all going to be okay.

Once done they look up at Hades. "All ready to go."

[emet_sulk]

Rhea'li makes for a comical sight all bundled up in the blanket. He pauses, making sure he has suppressed his amusement, before they head back to the Inari god.

Thankfully the situation is quick to explain. They must soul dive and bring peace to the malevolent spirit so it releases its hold on their friend. Hades doesn't seem terribly enthused...but then, when does he ever?

[starshepard]

Azem, in contrast, doesn't mind the idea of soul diving. The whole concept sounds a lot like using their Echo to view what has transpired in an area or to see the memories of another person. "This should be simple enough." They decide with a smile.

All they need do is form a bond a let themselves connect on a level beyond just the physical. Though they aren't sure what to expect. Rhea'li is still a part of this, is he not? It's an exciting prospect if they're honest.

[emet_sulk]

Hades nods reluctantly. There is nothing for it but to do it. He owes Rhea'li that much (and more besides). He hopes those earlier words were not actually meant.

"Are you ready?" he asks.