RP:Passing The Torch Of Self Sacrifice

Part of the Dissonance Theory Arc

This is a Warrior's Guild RP.

Summary: After receiving Khitti's letter that had been sent to all Warrior's Guild members and their close associates, Rilla seeks out Khitti to find out how she can help and suggests a solo scouting mission to the Demon Archipelago that she herself would undertake.

The Goth Garden, Cenril

Rilla || Everything moved much slower than Rilla remembered now. From hearing about the outright disappearance of an entire person – who had offered her a job nonetheless, despite her reluctance to commit to anything – to hearing that something was actually being done felt altogether too long. But then again, her way didn’t have the best success rate. Today, she had decided, was the day that she at least got more information. She’d only met Khitti a few times, but always in Cenril. It seemed natural to look there first. The young vampire walked through the store with her head down, auburn curls a loose curtain around her face dressed all in black with a cloak drawn around her thin form. She hurried towards the garden, eager to be someplace familiar and with easier means of escape – just in case. The smell of it overwhelmed her, pleasant but far too strong. She took a deep breath all the same and stepped outside cautiously. Blue eyes flashed around the garden, half fascinated with the scenery and half intimidated by it.

Khitti || Much the same as the day before, Khitti was outside at one of the tables with several books open and scribbling away in a blue notebook. She had been inside, but both Brand and Dominic were napping and Khitti was wont to mutter a bit to herself when she was doing research and she didn’t want to wake them up. The further she delved into things regarding where Lionel was probably located, the more grim her expression was. A cup of tea and its accompanying teapot had gone cold in the hour that Khitti’d been given it. Realizing this, she sighed heavily and reheated both with her shadowfire magic, a tiny bit of the purple and black flames flickering between her hands and the ceramicware. And when it was done? She’d pick up a bottle of peppermint schnapps from the stone walkway beside her chair, poured a bit into her already minty tea, and took a long drink of it. It wasn’t quite abstaining from drinking like she should be while she’s researching, but it was better than her guzzling a bottle of whiskey by herself again.

Rilla clenched her jaw when she spotted another figure, it took her a beat to remember that was her aim. For a moment she was silent, watched Khitti as she focused. She thought about announcing her presence, overly-cautious still even though she knew now what had been chasing her. Finally, she cleared her throat, form softened with movement as she approached. Her head tilted and something tugged at the corner of her lips – not quite a smile. “I got your letter,” Rilla managed, “do you mind if I sit?” Before the question was out of her mouth she pulled the chair out and sat, hands folded in her lap for mere seconds before her fingers twisted together nervously, hidden underneath the table. She bit the inside of her cheek, steadied herself and her brows furrowed. “I’m sorry to hear about Lionel,” she licked her lips, eyes fixed on Khitti as she tried to read her reaction, “how can I help?” She fought the urge to look over her shoulder, every sound still made her nervous but the reaction was more tempered, desperately trying to mirror the collected air everyone else seemed to have.

Khitti looked up when Rilla approached and spoke, a faint smile offered for the vampire. “Hey. Yeah, uh… sorry. I wasn’t sure if you’d actually want to help or not. I’d heard you’d met with Lionel at some point.” The smile faded and she resisted a frown as it was clear that Rilla was still not entirely used to Cenril yet. Even if it was more tempered now, Khitti still knew those signs of anxiety well. “I’ve been trying to read up on the place that he’s supposedly at and… it’s not good. I thought I’ve seen bad places. Somehow, this seems worse than the Shadow Plane. It’s another plane of existence that’s basically like Lithrydel’s mirror, except much darker. I almost wish he was there… At least I know that place. It’s familiar and even if there were surprises, we still wouldn’t be going in completely blind.” She handed her notebook over to Rilla to inspect, “It’s like complete chaos there.” Khitti’s started a bullet point list of things that seemed important: the place, called the Demon Archipelago, had a huge variety of climates despite being such a small place; strange red lights could be found darting across the sky at night; on the eastern side the waters was an ever-churning tempest; people had tried settling there before, only to be wiped out entirely and never heard from again. There was more information there, but none of it boded well. “I don’t know what to do. Lionel’s always led us through things like this and we’ve come out more or less fine… But I am not my brother. Anytime I ever plan to do anything, it goes belly up in record time and -someone- gets hurt, whether it’s me or someone else.”

Rilla nodded at Khitti’s words, honestly unsure why she cared to begin with. Something between curiosity and a sense of obligation if only because Lionel had been kind to her. Although she listened quietly, Rilla knew that she’d have research to do before she’d understand half of what Khitti was saying. She reached for the offered notebook, tucked her hair behind one ear as she read. “Do we have a map?” She blurted; this was what she was good at. Or had been when she was human. After a moment she looked back up, a silent apology on her face before she continued, “I don’t mean to overstep, but I think that should be your first priority. There’s no use sending in your best men if you’ll never get them back out.” Slender shoulders shrugged, drawn into the challenge laid in front of her. Some things never changed. “Sometimes people get hurt,” she watched Khitti for a long moment, unsure of how she would be received, “you have to figure out how many people you’re willing to risk to get him back. The first step is always to map the course, I’d go in search of a smell or a sound, find a trace and regroup. If I can get back out, then others can go in.” Rilla was lost in the thought of it, a massive hypothetical in which her help was actually needed. “Then I’d scout ahead step by step, find the safe path in and out before leading anyone down it.” Brows furrowed and she looked back to the notebook, searching for an answer she may have missed. She’d liked working with the navy, but tracking people down had always been a rush like no other regardless of what she did with them afterwards. “Do we have any idea why he’s missing yet?” Rilla asked softly, doing her best not to get caught up on the knowledge of other plans of existence when she’d previously assumed just one.

Khitti || “The woman I mentioned in that letter, Miss Iintahquohae, gave coordinates in the letter she sent to me. It’s sixty nautical miles southeast of Rynvale,” Khitti said reaching into the black satchel on the ground and pulling out two maps. The first was of Lithrydel, Rynvale, and some of the other surrounding islands. The other was of the Demon Archipelago itself. “It’s not named on the first map, but it’s likeness is obvious.” Khitti shrugged, “You’re not overstepping either by making these observations and suggestions. It’s definitely welcomed. I’m going to have to get my thoughts and notes in order before this meeting or else I’m never going to be allowed to lead anything again.” There was a hint of a smirk, something to note the fact that she was joking. “I know people get hurt, but…” She sighed and shook her head. There was too much to explain. Too many years’ worth of guilt to go over in such a short amount of time. Rilla didn’t need that put in her head right now, not when she was still trying to get her bearings. “The scouting might be difficult, but my husband and I might be able to take care of that. Otherwise, it might just be best to go in with what information we’ve got. I will talk to Brand about it, but if there’s a chance the ship might get damaged…” That was one of their homes after all. “Lionel and my student, Quintessa--and technically the rest of the guild--has been investigating some cultists and their “god” Xicotl. I was not a part of the beginning of this, so it’s hard for me to summarize it all, but basically, they have been trying to bring their god into being, chasms have formed in numerous places because of it, and they’ve been attacking us in the meantime while we’ve all been trying to figure things out. We were attacked in Venturil in Vigilanti Semper by a horde of Xicotl’s thralls and more recently, when Lionel and I and an elf named Magikrios went to Vailkrin to inspect one there. The thralls were completely immune to my magic after the fight in Venturil. Some sort of anti-magic barrier or something on all of them. And they were soon immune to Magik’s fire as well. The only thing that truly hurt them was physical weapons. Both times that I know of where Lionel just faded in front of people, it was when Xicotl was being discussed or investigated in some way. I don’t know why he’d be at the Archipelago though… Lionel’s been there before with someone named Arien. It’s in these books, some of which he wrote himself.”

Rilla nodded slowly, picturing the parts of the water she’d known almost a decade ago, uncertain how she could possibly have missed such a thing. The oceans were always far bigger than she expected no matter how much time she spent on them. The maps were quickly turned around, laid out on top of the notebook one at a time as she studied the first – with Rynvale – and then the other, she half-listened and laughed softly on cue, glanced up for a moment to offer a smile that she hoped would be reassuring. “No buts,” she interrupted, “people get hurt and it’s not your fault.” Rilla said simply, an idea that she’d internalized years ago. Her eyes narrowed at the story, she’d dealt with her fair share of monsters but none of them had ever been something so dark. The thought was quickly shaken at the mention of Arien, and she perked up. “Lionel knew Arien?” She questioned, “Arien and I worked closely together,” she mused, “I haven’t heard that name in a long time” Rilla shook her head to push the thought from it, too easily pulled into reverie these days. She drew a breath to steady herself and looked back to Khitti. “I’d like to go. The Warriors Guild needs you, if something happened while you scouted that would -really- be the end of you leading things.” She half-joked, looked away again to consider her words, chewing the inside of her cheek as her fingers tapped against the papers in front of her. “I have no magic, so they lose their advantage against me. I was once with the Rynvale navy, I can captain my own boat in and out, and I’ve worked alone for over a decade doing things like this.” Rilla was well aware that she’d been forgotten by these lands, had accepted it, but it was times like these that she wished someone did remember if only to lend her credibility. “Besides, if something happens to me you’ll be able to recoup and go back in for him. And I want to help.” She did her best to reign in her own enthusiasm, but despite the clear danger her curiosity always won out.

Khitti || “Wait wait. Sorry. It’s Aeryn, not Arien. Sorry. Somehow this is harder to keep straight than all the books on runeology I was reading before this happened. Probably because I wasn’t involved in any of this stuff,” Khitti said as she flipped back through her notebook to get the correct spelling.” She finally shut it and sat back in her chair, eyeing Rilla as she spoke, a sip of that schnapps-tea concoction sipped at. Khitti could not deny that a scouting mission was needed. Just… she was usually the one to do these things and now she could not. Rilla had presented a solution and dumped it in her lap and the redhead could only think of a million and one bad things that could go wrong. She thought it over for a few moments, her line of sight sliding from the vampire over into the nearest garden plot of flowers. It probably seemed like forever for Rilla. During the time she considered things, her crimson brows had furrowed together and the corners of her mouth tilted into a frown. “Alright,” she said at length. “You can go. But just be careful okay? You clearly know your stuff, but I’m just gonna worry anyway.” Sorry, Rilla. It’s a thing she does. She can’t help it. “I’ll have another map of the archipelago made up and left in the bakery for you at the counter, with another map of Lithrydel so you can find your way there.” She didn’t even know the woman that well and yet… Sigh. Despite Khitti’s constant trying to not get attached to people, it happened anyway without her consent. This appeared to be one of those times.

Rilla ’s brow furrowed at the realization, but she shook it off and nodded. “You’ve got a lot on your mind.” She managed, remembering manner that had been impressed on her but long ignored. There was a tense moment where she was almost sure the answer would be no, people were always cautious and she didn’t always inspire confidence. The silence hung while she gave Khitti a moment to consider. It was a surprise when she agreed, her shoulders relaxed, tension she didn’t know she was holding let out of them. “Okay.” Rilla agreed, a slight smile tugged at one corner of her lips as she sat back in her chair, hands rested flat on the table. “I’ll be careful.” It wasn’t quite the truth, but Khitti didn’t need to know that, being hesitant was a good way to get hurt in these things. The things that made her a terrible leader had made her good at this, had led her to it even after she tried to settle down. Her head tilted, trying to read the woman’s expression. “These books are where you learned about the climate, yes?” Rilla questioned as she shifted, crossed one leg over the other and leaned forward. “Is there much else in there about the place? Any recommended reading,” she joked, “we’ll get him back.” Rilla said more softly, dragging her eyes back to Khitti’s face. It was another challenge for her, but it was Khitti’s family.

Khitti was well aware of the danger Rilla was putting herself into--that was often her spot in these sorts of situations. -She- was always the one to throw herself into and at danger. She was always the one who gave completely of herself and felt too guilty to take anything back. It felt weird that it wasn’t going to be her doing this for once. Brand would probably be eternally grateful once he found out. Too often did they still have arguments about Khitti getting into trouble and coming home covered in blood and bruises and various other wounds. “The problem isn’t whether we’ll get anything back. The problem is whether or not there’s anything left to get. Those thralls almost ripped me and Magik apart. This place has things worse than that… worse than…” She shook her head. No sense getting into the Shadow Plane right now. “Here. Take this one,” she said, handing over one of the books written by Lionel himself. Besides the information she’d already be given, there were other things like how there’s conflicting data on what they mean by ‘demon’ in the archipelago’s name, but some manner of terrifying monsters have been known to slaughter anything that got too close; a large region in the north that was entirely covered with darkness--likely worse than that of Vailkrin. There were even islands where people apparently disappeared in an instant. And the southernmost cave of the entire place was supposedly filled with spirits. -That- one in particular turned Khitti’s stomach. It was not the first time she’d had a bad feeling during something that involved Lionel, Big Bad Evil Guys (BBEGs), and the dead. “I need you to check this place out most of all. It’s just… I’ve had this feeling about it,” Khitti said, pointing to the bit about the cave. “It’s probably nothing but, I guess while you’re there. Probably not wise to get off the ship though.”

Rilla || At one point Rilla had something to lose, when she lived here last she’d had people who cared for her that she took care of herself for. It had taken years of proving her worth to get there, and she knew full well that she’d have to do it all again to feel like she deserved any of it. Brows furrowed in thought as she searched Khitti’s face, unpracticed at reading people after years away from them. “After I met Lionel, I did some research, and if half of what I hear about him is true, there is something left to find.” Her voice was even, she turned her head to glance back at the entrance at a sound from inside. Her breathing stilled to listen, it must have been a patron, but she needed to know. Her gaze dropped, and a moment too late she reached for the offered book with a nod. She flipped it open in her lap, skimmed the first page quickly, head down before Rilla refocused with a half-smile and an automatic inhale. She snapped it closed, one hand rested atop it as Khitti spoke. “What kind of a feeling?” Rilla questioned, more focused on the woman in front of her than the map – she could study that later, compare it to what she remembered the currents and winds to be this time of year. “I’ve learned that your gut is usually not as far off as you’d think. If you think there’s something to know, there probably is.” Although doing so would mean her vessel had to stay small and nimble, not a difficult feat considering she had every intention of stealing it. She stood abruptly, the chair scraped against the ground and startled her, a sharp contrast to the fearlessness in the face of actual danger as her thin form tensed and relaxed again with a sheepish laugh. “The sounds are still hard,” Rilla said softly, certain that Khitti would understand, “there are pros and cons to being a vampire, I guess.” She shrugged easily, circled the chair to tuck it back in behind her, the book secured underneath her arm. “I’ll be back for the map before I leave and if I’m not back by your meeting, stay out of the cave.” She winked as a smirk pulled across her face. “But I’ll be back.”

Khitti || “Everything you’ve read about Lionel is true. But, I’ve died twice and he once and while we may be felines of a different sort--” She being a Khat and he a Cat(alian), of course. “--there’s only so many lives we’ll be allowed. Who knows if this was his last one or not.” Khitti shrugged somewhat, turning her attention briefly towards her garden, “I’ve always sort of had these “feelings”, ever since I was little, but most people didn’t ever believe me and when something bad actually happened, they just called it coincidence or that I was being pessimistic or whatever. There’s a story about a woman named Cassandra from long ago. Basically she was cursed to speak true prophecies and no one would believe her. I don’t really know if I’m actually clairvoyant like that? But, that didn’t stop my sister making fun of me when we were kids. She’d call me Khatssandra.” Khitti wrinkled her nose and frowned at the thought. “That entire archipelago should probably make me uneasy, but for the moment it’s just that cave… Something feels wrong. Off. Like we should not be going there whatsoever… and yet we’re going to anyway. I have literally been to the Shadow Plane and I never got that feeling there. An entire other plane of existence that can be just as bad as this archipelago and yet I’ve never felt like this.” The redhead paused, her equally crimson eyebrows furrowing together again, “Just, like I said, be careful.” Her expression soon faded and was replaced with a smirk, “I certainly wish I’d been able to keep some of those vampiric traits after I got my cure. There’s been times I really could’ve used them.” Far too many times. “But, yes. You go. You can report your findings at the meeting that’s coming up.” Ugh. Khitti hated having to have the “leader” attitude. It didn’t suit her at all. It’s anyone’s guess why she took the initiative to be the leader of the Devout’s Guild. Khitti started to gather up her things; maps were rolled up, books were closed, her tea finished off finally.