Rhea'li Akhbala (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
lightduties) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
jikan_rpg2022-12-05 10:58 pm
lightduties) wrote in jikan_rpg2022-12-05 10:58 pm
[CLOSED] A heavenly assignment
⌛ 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.
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.
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With the warning from Azem, Rhea'li looks away, Grani doing the same. Bahamut, even with one eye missing, is not so lucky. Though Bahamut, even as a primal, would ordinarily shrug off such magic, the power of one unsundered and the power from its other eye lends the spells an extraordinary strength. With a roar, Bahamut shakes its head wildly in an attempt to shake off the stunning effects, great wings curling protectively around the rest of its body.
Seeing as Azem is doing a perfectly fine job of distracting Bahamut, Rhea'li pulls more aether from Bahamut. Looking up at both Azem and Emet-Selch fighting the memory of the primal Bahamut, a surge of emotion he cannot quite explain brings with it energy. In the back of his mind, can feel the bond with the spirit lending him strength, too. Taking a deep breath, he begins to tap into that energy, his grimoire floating before him.
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Azem's exhilaration at the fight - somewhat muted with their bond in its infancy - courses through him. His sword gleams with a bright, golden hue.
"There is no use hiding!" he growls, before flinging the sword forward. Such a small, simple thing he easily controls with his magicks. It pierces the wing covering Bahamut's remaining eye and begins to slash through the membrane.
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Still, they do what they can to keep the dragon distracted while adding more damage.
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Tapping into his bond with the spirit, drawing strength from his two ancient friends, Rhea'li breaks his limits, as only a true Warrior of Light could. Wings of aether unfurl behind him, the shadow of Bahamut overtaking him.
It is Bahamut's own attack, Teraflare, near as powerful as the one from the primal itself, that pours forth from Rhea'li, tendrils of aether striking the one place that isn't being attacked by Azem or Emet-Selch: Bahamut's back. Scales appear to melt from the assault, aether bleeding out from the new open wounds, the blasts from the primal's mouth noticeably weaker as it tries to shake the two transformed ancients off.
"Finish it!" he shouts down to them, his own wings fading as he takes hold of his floating grimoire.
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"Get away! Before he falls!"
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"Is that all?" They almost sound disappointed.
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Rhea'li joins them both, borne by Emet-Selch's steed, lip curling in amusement at Azem's comment. "Next time I shall tell my memories to give you a greater challenge."
He's certain Grani would rather he begone, but there's still one more thing...
The darkened skies melts away, the environment within his soul bleeding into an endless blue expanse. History did not go this way at all and so this recreated world struggles to maintain its hold. But at the centre of it all is a small, scruffy boy rubbing the tears away from his cheeks. A peek at his soul would show him as the sliver of spirit that had wedged itself into the cracks of Rhea'li's soul.
"You killed the monster..." He seems to fold in on himself. "But I'm scared. Where am I gonna go?"
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"Anywhere," he eventually answers in his guttural, echoing voice. "There are others waiting for you on the other side. Eventually, I'm sure you will be reborn into a new body, and then you will make new friends, have new experiences and adventures."
As the great body of Bahamut slowly disintegrates with the world around them, so does the dragon's eye. He briefly wonders how mortal men must have felt when they first slew Ratatoskr.
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"Hades has the right of it. A new adventure awaits you, little one." The multi-layered tone of their voice is likely not all that comforting but they try. "And what is better than a new adventure?"
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Despite the fearsome appearances of Emet-Selch and Azem, the spirit quietly nods and clings to one of Azem's fingers at first. Rhea'li wonders if that is because of his connection with the spirit; he was never intimidated by such things and he knows they are precious friends. Still, the spirit worries at his lower lip, trembling very slightly as he hugs Azem's finger, gaze lifting to Emet-Selch before drifting to Azem and Rhea'li.
"Will you come with me until then? You won't leave?"
Rhea'li's expression softens and he nods. "Of course. You won't be alone."
And just like that... the world melts away back to the forest and the shrine Emet-Selch and Azem had found the spirit possessing Rhea'li. Rhea'li wobbles slightly and leans against one of the trees. A peek at his soul, and this time the spirit is nestled alongside his cracked soul and the other souls Rhea'li had collected.
"Thank you. For coming back for me," he says to Emet-Selch and Azem, a small, slightly weary smile on his face.
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"Hmph. After everything that's happened, being possessed by a child's spirit is almost embarrassing, wouldn't you say?"
Oh yes, Rhea'li, he saw his great-grandson hijack your body.
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They blink at their hands once they return to the real world. It's a bit of an awkward sensation to suddenly go from their transformed state back to this small form, especially when one hand was holding Rhea'li and the other had the spirit.
Hearing Rhea'li speak their gaze snaps to him before they smile. "Of course. We couldn't very well return without you. Could you imagine being the only group to return one person short?"
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"Fortune have it that I had both of you to look out for me."
His gaze flickers to the forest, where he cannot see any more spirits in their vicinity. Time is a little difficult to discern in the Western Paradise, but he suspects it is getting quite late.
"Shall we return and send the spirits with us on, then? I'm certain there will be plenty more for us to find in the morrow."
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Business-like as ever, Hades is already heading over to the spot where they must release the souls. He's full to bursting with all the ones he has personally gathered and their voices are distracting.
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They aren't particularly bothered by the company of the spirits they're carrying, noisy as they might be. Still, they would be glad to feel a little lighter.
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With all in agreement, they return to Inari, who guides the souls towards safe passage through the afterlife. The spirit that had possessed Rhea'li had been a little more reluctant to leave, but some encouraging words had the spirit joining the others.
Their job done (until the morrow), Inari invites all three to partake of the food and drink of the Western Paradise before they retire for the night. For what host would she be if she did not offer the delights made by her heavenly chefs? She smiles warmly, though there's a hint of mischief in her eyes.
"You three appear to be getting along quite well. Please, enjoy the pleasures offered while you are here. The uki of this kingdom is quite potent, so I encourage you to partake freely while you are among us. You'll find none more enjoyable."
Uki, the recreational drug often used in the Western Kingdom, also known to have aphrodisial properties. Mayhaps they have heard of it before?
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"I will content myself with dinner before turning in for the night. Don't over-indulge."
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"Oh, come now Hades, won't you join me? Even for a short while." They give him a pleading look, one that is also turned in Rhea'li's direction.
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With the corner of his mouth turning up in a wry smile, Rhea'li says, "Mayhap it would be best I leave you two to it then..."
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"I-- I really don't think..."
It sounds like some manner of drug - a hallucinogen in all likelihood. Hades knows the effect those have on him. He's fairly certain he's tried everything on the star to try and cope with his loss.
His gaze lingers on Rhea'li, almost pleading for the Warrior to not to leave this choice to him.
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The corner of his mouth curling, Rhea'li comments, "We still have plenty of work come morning. Given how thoroughly occupied we were last time we were together, I dare say rest would not be on the cards for anyone."
Wink wonk.
"You are aware of uki's effects, yes?"
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And that just makes them want to try it all the more.
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"It has aphrodisial properties," Rhea'li says quite plainly, though the corner of his mouth curls up. "So I will leave you two to it..."
He takes a step back, starting to back away.
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