Week 6 cyoa: hei, jiuqing, vin, and kashuu

[saturations]

spoiler warnings: ff14 heavensward and some light endwalker elements
content warnings: violence, death, war, terrorism (short), brief mentions/references for eyegore, brief mention/reference for decapitation, depression, suicidal ideation (nihilist flavor), suicide, dragons and monsters eating people

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✔️ THE CONGREGATION OF OUR KNIGHTS MOST HEAVENLY

[disestablishment]

[ DAmn! To the crystal! Where they attune their aether to it. It's an odd type of channeling, but it's... Warm.

Anyway, since those are 2/3 locations they were interested in before, they can head to the congregation, which is not too far from the aetheryte. It lies ahead with two knights standing beside the doors, but they do not stop Kashuu or Vin from entering.


There are a handful of knights, listening to someone who seems to be addressing them while pointing at the map on the board. However, conversation stops when they see the two! It doesn't seem awkward since the knights nod before exiting. Looks like they've gotten their orders.

Me, laughing, there will be sublevels below this comment. ]

SPEAK WITH LORD COMMANDER

[disestablishment]

[ And the one standing by the board is... Well, Aymeric! Beside him is his a woman, most likely second in command. ]

How may I help you two?

[allomantic]

Oh - Aymeric!

[she says this despite not knowing whether this aymeric is Their Aymeric, but it's fine.]

A man in Falcon's Nest told us to come here to see what we may do to help.

[disestablishment]

[ kashuu and vin: VAX IS OUR THIRD
vin: wait maybe aymeric is our FOURTH

He assumes that they know him because. He's Lord Commander, so he doesn't seem surprised. ]

Haurchefant Greystone, I imagine. He recently contacted me via linkpearl about your visit. Before I answer any questions, may I ask whom I owe this pleasure? He did not tell me your names.

[allomantic]

[aymeric confirmed for npc........ she doesn't seem that surprised, though, as she nods.]

My name is Vin. It is good to meet you.

[disestablishment]

[ Again, he's like....... Squints, cause the names are unfamiliar? Familiar? The confusion shows on his face, but he shakes his head. ]

Again, a pleasure. Ser Haurchefant had told me you, specifically, wished to hear about the expedition to pursue Nidhogg?

[ haurchefant did not speak to kashuu, so he's like (points) at vin. ]

[allomantic]

[she nods!]

Yes. I would hear of it, or anything else you think we might pursue.

[disestablishment]

[ :thonk: ]

We have a party that left for Sohm Al to handle Nidhogg's consort, which we believe should drive the wyrm to his lair, the Aery.

We are in the midst of gathering a squad to be led by our Azure Dragoon to venture to Dravania and slay Nidhogg. As it sounds, we have yet assembled.

[allomantic]

I see. Then - that would be of most use to you, were we to go?

[slashay]

[WELL. At least that confirms that Aymeric is not their fourth so they don't immediately think sweet Jiuqing is a fake on sight. Anyway he'll just introduce himself here but i aki will put it in a new thread for organization's sake.]

Ah - I'm Kashuu Kiyomitsu. [Should he come up with a fake name?? he wonders AFTER IT'S TOO LATE but it's fine he doesn't know enough about fake Europe to come up with a good one anyway. It'd be that shitpost of Japanese people coming up with names that sound like they're from American footballers.]

We're here for reinforcements - or whatever else you need, I guess.

[disestablishment]

[ Aymeric frowns when he hears this name because it's unfamiliar and yet... He forces a smile. ]

I suppose talk of how this war is not yours to shoulder would fall on deaf ears. [ Anyway: ] Aye, to keep the city-state fortified and to pursue Nidhogg. Both must be done, simultaneously.

[slashay]

[FIGHT HIM ABOUT HIS NAME BINCH IT'S PRETTIER THAN AYMERIC.]

More or less. [Though he wishes it could... Damn... He wants to be free of battles that aren't even his to fight hello. Anyway he'll glance over toward Vin at that since there's a potential party-splitting option here and he's not sure if he likes it.]

What would the fortifications need?

[allomantic]

[glancing towards him! and unsurprisingly, she's mouthing you stay here at him. splitting up definitely wouldn't be her preference, but if it does come down to that, she's here to be stubborn and hypocritical. it's fine. continue with your discussion.]

[slashay]

[HIS EYES NARROW AND HE IS ABOUT TO THROW DOWN except then Aymeric's talking about a whole horde coming to them, so both of them are going to get rekt, probably.]

[allomantic]

[dammit

but anyways, after a little bit (by which i mean feel free to ignore this until he gets more info) she's addressing him.]

...What do you think we should do?

[disestablishment]

[ No, it's okay. He isn't going to put too much stock on Weird Familiar Feelings. ]

Our Astrologians have been reading the aether of Dragonstar... And they believe a horde will be coming to the Steps of Faith, the sole stone bridge that allows anyone into Ishgard.

[ Falcon's Nest is a village owned and protected by Ishgard, with the tundra covering the highlands, they seldom leave the post. ]

[slashay]

[DON'T PSYCHE THEM OUT... Anyway, with a frown:]

...So. Basically, we gotta protect that bridge at all costs then, huh? How big's this horde supposed to be, do they know?

[disestablishment]

Large, it would seem, but we are prepared for the assault. You see, Ishgard is protected by a barrier and it should last us enough to rid ourselves of the dragons.

[ Frowning. ]

However, the respite between waves have shortened, thus our barrier needs mending. [ Thinks some more. ] We are prepared for the assault, nevertheless. Our dragon-killing arsenal is here, after all.

[ There sure is a bunch of armored footsteps they can hear outside! The knights are preparing. ]

??? - DIFFERENCES WILL TEAR US APART

[disestablishment]

[ Well, as Vin and Kashuu leave to meet the escort at the Aetheryte, they will watch Aymeric get stabbed by a stealthy (and familiar) figure.

HAHA!!! ]

[slashay]

[BINCH THEY LEFT YOU ALONE FOR LITERALLY 2 SECONDS.]

—Aymeric!!

[HOLY SHIT. EXCUSE HIM. since sweet eli is taking a shower kashuu will go first in order this time but he's immediately setting off toward their totally real fourth cyoa member who just got stabbed by a stealthy figure???? if this is vax i swear]

[disestablishment]

[ WHO KNOWS, let us wait for Eli as knights quickly swarm the plaza and circle the perpetrator. It seems that they haven't left yet... It's hard to see their face, with half of it covered with a hood, but this person is smiling. Aymeric's second in command is already by his side with kashuu, making sure she's between him and his assailant.

There is laugh, then more laughs. It seems that they're very confident despite the numbers. ]

You lot believe dragons to be the enemy... No. The enemy is around you. While you all put your lives down for this war, the nobility exploit you. They force you into complacency.

[allomantic]

Aymeric!

[something about the way this person speaks seems - terrifyingly familiar to her, and she approaches, wary. if this is who she thinks it is she's going to scream internally but it's fine.

since kashuu is heading for their definitely real elf, she'll address the other figure.]

Take off your hood.

[slashay]

[THEIR DEFINITELY REAL ELF. Since the second in command is by his side, too, but working on being a shield, Kashuu will rush over to Aymeric to see how much treatment his wound needs, applying pressure in an attempt to quell the bleeding.

He's keeping a careful eye on Vin, too, though - and whoever this assailant is. imagine if they did just take off their hood simply because Vin was like "TAKE IT OFF" about it.]

[disestablishment]

[ Well, the knights behind Aymeric and Kashuu will carefully take their Lord Commander as the dramatics happen. Lucia also gives Kashuu a worried, but appreciative nod in his attempt to keep Aymeric from bleeding more.

The knights are ready to take this man down, but they also want to know WHO IS THIS? They hold their weapons, but they stand their ground. ]

Don't you recognize me by my voice?

[ But they oblige, anyway. They seem to be confident since they haven't made their escape. Carefully, they reach their hood and pull it back to unveil blond hair and well. ]

What are you doing on that side. Come over here.

[allomantic]

[even before he can take the hood off, she's freezing as he asks that question. she can't really stop the emotion that swells up through her chest, and it's a little choked when she speaks in a rush.]

Kell—

[come over here, he asks, though in all actuality he doesn't need to make the request - she's already moving towards him, blinking a few times as she rushes. there is a place deep down where she knows he isn't real, and that as much as she wishes for the chance to talk to him again, it isn't truly happening, but.

sorry for any gray hairs she's causing kashuu, because as soon as she's at his side, she's pulling out both daggers and looking directly at the knights gathered here.]

I do not want to hurt you, but you will stay away from him. [to kelsier, with a tiny smile on her face:] Got your back.