RP:Building Each Other Up
This is a Devout's Guild RP.
Synopsis: Zahrani and Falion return to the Paladin's Guild headquarters, where they catch up with Khitti on future plans for Larket, and proceed with a diverse training regimen for paladins.
The Sacrosanct
Zahrani opens the door to the guild chambers, the feline wearing her more humanoid form for the journey she had been on. The paladin removes a grey, furry cloak from her person, brushing off a bit of snow at the threshold before finally crossing over. Clad in simple platemail, her Amulet of Cyris resting against her breastplate, she places the cloak on a hook in the wall and allows her travel pack to slide off her shoulder and into her hands. As she walks in, she is joined from outside by an aged, male human with similar garb. Falion brushes off the snow, before shutting the door and following his adopted daughter into the main hall. In a quiet baritone voice, he speak just above the soft clinking their armor makes as they walk, "We should rest here and do some training. Any other guild members should also be informed of our recent allies in Frostmaw."
Khitti had been procrastinating on leaving. Mostly because she still felt like avoiding people--when you’ve been the talk of the realm for going missing not once, not twice, but thrice in a three year period, it’s a bit embarrassing. But leave Khitti does, the large silver-painted door, adorned with the Paladin’s Guild’s insignia, opening to reveal the redhead. She too had been dressed warmly, a thick knit long-sleeved black dress covering her form, with her favorite worn black boots and midnight blue leggings to match. Khitti’d been in the process of putting her coat on when she heard a familiar voice, her current action paused awkwardly before she finally put her arms down and slung the outerwear over her left arm, “Hello, Zahrani.” She’d offer the cat a nod, and then one to her adopted father as well, “Falion.”
Zahrani stops and turns her cyan gaze upon Khitti, the panther's face having a rather complicated look. It was both inquisitive and respectful, warm and empathetic with a hint of confusion. She had never fully understood what became of the templar after their last event together, and the paladin has all but resigned herself to the possibility that she might never find out. Back to the present, the cat offers Khitti a warm embrace, should she desire one, before saying, "It's good to see you, Khitti. I know you must be eager to step outside, but do you have a few moments? I've found some possible allies that could help the Guild and the people we serve." After a brief pause, Falion adds, "One is a dragon, recently awoken, who specializes in rebuilding. The other, an elf named Linken, wants to help with the...situation in Larket. He says he served once as Commander of the Larketian Rangers. We thought his skills and his heart would fit well with our work."
Khitti || That look on Zahrani’s face spoke a thousand words in place of where the feline’s mouth had not. Khitti knew what it’d meant, for it’d been on the faces of some of the people she’d passed by on her way into the Sanctum of the Divine, and then further on into the guild only area of the building. “There were... complications... in Venturil,” the redhead explained, the words coming out before she had a chance to stop them. Well, hopefully it was enough of an explanation. For now, at least. “And, I see. Well, we’d certainly accept the help. There’s so many of them and so few of us. I’d be pleased to meet with both of them, should they wish to,” she said with a genuine smile. “And speaking of the rangers, and those that deal with forests, I’d forgotten to mention that Lanara has joined the guild. With her sanctuary nearly on the border, maybe she can help out as well.” Khitti moved to sit at that massive round table in the middle of the room, motioning for both of them to sit as well if they wished. “How -has- things been going in Larket anyway? I’d figured you’d had a hold of things well enough that I could attempt to deal with things elsewhere in the meantime.” This of course wasn’t said in such a way that might seem like Khitti was doubting Zahrani’s abilities--the panther far exceeded Khitti in the ways of helping hoards of people.
Zahrani nods in understanding, taking the seat at the table, along with Falion. At the news of Lanara joining the guild, the feline smiles, "Lanara and her sister are good people. We're fortunate to have them with us." Regarding the issues in Larket, Rani sighs and adds, "I admit...I have been busy in Cenril and other parts of Lithrydel. Father has been keeping an eye on things in Larket in my stead." With a wry grin, Falion then speaks, his fingers linking together and his arms resting on the table, "A certain temperamental monarch has not forgotten my daughter's face. There is a small trickle of people who continue to turn to Cyris and His Chapel for aid in light of the Death Cult gaining a foothold. We have been able to help with the curse on their children, and have even gotten a few ambitious folks eager to learn and fight, but I predict the regime will make either scapegoats or refugees of the families who don't come to Vakmatharas. The grand cleric and I have been able to smuggle a few families out at a time who have asked us, but in the event of things going very sour in Larket, we might need some assistance in facilitating a mass exodus. That's where Linken has offered to help. He's stated that he's not necessarily looking to join the Guild, but he stands ready to help get people out, should the necessity arise."
Khitti nodded with a smile of her own, “Indeed she is. So much so that we swapped guild membership invites in the same night. Nearly at the same time, even.” The templar would listen to both Zahrani’s admittance about her lack of being in Larket, and then to her father’s explanations of what’s been going on in the same town. “I mean, this Linken’s not required to join the guild, but he’d certainly be welcome, whatever his beliefs. With Lanara being given the title of Advocate of Nature and her dedication to a deity that’s not one of Lithrydel’s major ones, it opens up the guild to so much more. The guild is ‘paladin’ only in name, after all, so it may be misleading for some.” There’s a shake of her head and a shrug, “But, that’s the least of our problems right now. His help is welcome regardless.” Looking to Zahrani first, she continues, “And it’s absolutely fine for things to pull you elsewhere. It has with me as well and things will likely continue that way for some time. Hierarchy of needs and all that.” And then to Falion, “I don’t doubt that they won’t forget Zahrani’s face. If things were that simple, Valrae would’ve never burned in the first place. But they hold grudges and they will kill again. It’s in their nature to. But… They don’t know mine. The last time I saw Josleen, she barely acknowledged my existence, in favor of speaking to Lionel. And Macon? I was just another face in the crowd when we attempted to burn Larket’s bridge almost two years ago. They can continue to think that Zahrani and you are doing this all on your own. But, you’re not alone and it won’t ever be that way.” Just speaking with the two of them was starting to bring Khitti back to her old self somewhat. Maybe those emotional wounds that’d reopened themselves would fully begin to heal after all.
Zahrani smiles warmly at Khitti, grateful for the reassurance. Falion's grin is more mischievous, "Oh, I'm still under their noses. I'm just an old man amongst many when I walk Larket's streets. And while Macon may try to outlaw worship of Cyris and other gods, he is not the first despot our Chapel has outlasted. He likely won't be the last. And there are no doubt some in his army that still remember what Cyris means to Larket." The old man believes that the desire for greater Freedom runs strongly within Larket's hard bones. Falion glances outside, seeing night has fallen, before standing up with an eager spryness and saying to Zahrani, "We should warm up for our practice regimen while the evening is still young." The feline also stands, grinning in acknowledgment before turning to Khitti, "You're welcome to watch, or join us. You know... in case you return early." Or decide against going out at all. The panther knows that just happens sometimes, and she's not one to begrudge either way.
Khitti smirked somewhat at Falion’s grin, amused by his mirth, “Well that’s good to know. And I’m sure there’s plenty of people in his employ that would switch sides the moment they got a chance. Plenty did when the issue with the witches was huge, even moreso on the day of the Red Witch’s execution. We just need to let them all simmer a bit in their not-so-wonderful lives and they’ll soon see what’s going on is wrong. I’d like to believe that maybe even Vakmathras wouldn’t approve of this, but with how many of his followers go about ritual sacrifice and whatnot, it’s so hard to tell.” Khitti sighed at the thought, then eyed the two as they stood, intending on finally starting their practicing, “I’ll watch, for now. Perhaps, I’ll join in once you’ve started. I’m still healing a bit since Venturil, and then Adventurer’s Guild’s mission out near Rynvale.”
Zahrani || Falion leads Zahrani out to a cleared area built for training and practicing all manner of abilities. After they finish some basic warmup exercises, the aged man opens a locked drawer near the wall, retrieving some training weapons and runic constructs for practicing more supernatural abilities. He turns to his daughter and says, "We'll start with shield and spear, then move onto casting wards, then we'll finish off with Sunfire." The last ability is a form of Holy Pyromancy, drawing on Divine Energy to burn away undead and light-averse foes while sparing the living. Zahrani nods with a nervous determination. It's good to get back into a training pattern with her dad. It was nostalgic and somewhat predictable, though as an unpredictable fighter and instructor, he definitely doesn't make the training easy. The panther takes up a practice spear and shield, assuming a phalanx stance to match her father's. With each physical strike, there is a subtle tell that the average human body performs. A movement of the shoulders or the knees; the winding up of an incoming thrust. Falion adds to the challenge by feinting certain moves and following up with a similar, unexpected maneuver. Rani holds fast, only moving back a couple steps in their sparring match before regaining ground and the match ending in a draw, both fighters winding up for a heavy attack and bouncing off each other's shields.
Khitti ’s olive-green eyes shifted back and forth between Rani and her father as he instructed and she listened. Most of her weapons training had come from Brand and Lionel, and the dark magic she once wielded from the former. Thankfully, she had been able to apply that to the holy magic bestowed upon her by the sprite in Tenbatsu Kaji, but… despite the fact that Seika had been the one to train her, it’d been a somewhat lonely road. And now? Now, she was still figuring out her own abilities, beyond the flames of the sword itself and the magical armor that Seika had given her. Perhaps when Zahrani was better acquainted with her own magic, they’d be able to learn together. “Ulah’s been showing me a few things occasionally,” Khitti said once the current round had ended. “But, she’s been as busy as she always has and doesn’t get much time for it. Maybe, once you’re able to, we could swap training lessons? There’s one in particular that may come in handy, depending on how often you’re with Lanara and her sister. It reminded me somewhat of what I’ve heard some rangers can do: how to soothe an disgruntled or anxious animal. I’ve even found recently that it works on werewolves too, though it takes a lot of my strength to do it.” She’d quiet herself after that, allowing them to continue until another small break is taken.
Zahrani rises to her feet after the round is over, and Falion does the same. Both were panting slightly at the hardness of the battle, and they would like have a bit of bruising tomorrow. Fortunately, it was nothing either of them couldn't heal. To Khitti, the feline responds, "I'd be happy to train with you, my friend." Right after she finishes talking, as her eyes turn to the redhead and away from her mentor, Falion forms a half-smile and raises his spear, allowing the point to hit the ground with a hollow sound. Lines of energy traverse the floor, originating from the spear and infusing into one of the stone constructs. It comes to life, the runic sphere floating in the air with a soft humming noise, before lighting itself ablaze. Rani, meanwhile, hears the telltale whirring, tossing her shield to the side and raising her palm out towards the foe. A plane of transparent amber energy deploys in front of her just as a stream of blue flame comes barreling towards her from the sphere. The roaring fire impacts, and the feline leans in, sliding back a few inches, before throwing her spear at the construct. It impacts with a ~donk~ sound, stunning the eye-like foe and sending it to the floor. A few seconds later, it rises again in part of the room, charging up and flinging various forms of elemental magic at the paladin from different parts of arena. It was a test of endurance as well as accuracy, the panther sweating and keeping her guard up almost constantly while she has to hit the target a preset number of times.
Khitti managed to catch sight of those energy lines on the floor before the feline did, to which she cringed a little because her words had served as a sort of temporary distraction when she didn’t mean for it to happen. But, Zahrani adapted quickly to the change in attacks and Khitti watched the two, quite pleased with the paladin’s display. It’s not like Khitti hadn’t been in battle with Zahrani before, but now she had the pleasure of actually being able to observe and appreciate it. It was somewhat regretful that Khitti no longer had the speed she once had as a vampire, but she was certainly glad that someone in the guild had that capability--there was no telling when it might be needed. The redhead stood from her seat finally, and walked somewhat near to the training area, but not so close that she might get hit by anything or anyone. A brief glance towards the closest window is taken, the darkness outside much more prominent now, denoting that the evening was quickly passing into night. “I must head home,” Khitti said when the timing was right, in hopes of not being another distraction for Falion’s benefit--though she had to quietly admit to herself that it was a bit amusing. “That son of mine’s been working on his crawling all the times that I’ve been from home and he’s been quite the handful for Brand, so I should go help. I will see you soon though. And please, if you see Linken or this dragon again, extend my invitation to either of them to meet with me, if they’d like to.” She paused, then finished her thought with a bit of added reassurance, “I won’t be going anywhere for quite awhile.” There was a bit of a smile as she put on her coat, ready to head off towards Cenril.
Zahrani finishes the Ward section of their training regimen, the panther pausing for the briefest of nods in response to Khitti announcing her departure. Her wooden practice weapon clacks to the floor as she prepares herself for the next round, brushing her dreadlocks out of her sweaty face as her body begins to take on a bright amber glow. As she exhales, a faint yellow mist occasionally passes from her lips, indicating that she was gathering her Spiritual and Divine power for one final push, her aura appearing to flow upward like water. Falion deploys another set of training constructs, which emanate dark energy and begin forming small squads of undead warriors. The projections close in menacingly on the paladin, and Zahrani lets loose her Sunfire. To call it fire would be misnomer; for the energy behaves like plasma, arcing and extending unpredictably like the coronal mass ejections endured by the sun itself. With decisive but weary hand motions, she makes quick work of individual foes, causing them to vanish into simulated ash whenever the arc of Sunfire passes through them. It's still not the easiest thing for her to control, as the serpentine energy would sometimes completely miss her target, but the ability is potent nonetheless.