Legend of Ransera

Posted: **Thu Feb 01, 2024 11:50 am**

T A L O N

1 Searing 123

After the coronation...

Talon tipped back the glass of champagne in his hands. His gaze was turned to the distance, staring out over the city. Kalzasi had its king and also its prince. Karam’s first act had been to declare him Shinsei-Kam, God-Prince and Guardian. The title was only nominally different from his normal role as Shinsei, Talon would remain primarily in his role as Daizoku of House Novalys but in the coming days, he would be advising Karam quite heavily regarding matters of state. He had been performing those duties most of his life, now many of them would be taken up by Karam. A new day was dawning in Kalzasi and with it, a new era. He could almost feel the sigh of relief that some of the other ambassadors had breathed. Regional fears that Talon would take up the throne and lead a crusade across Karnor were still very real but with Karam serving as the mortal king, there were those who believed he could persuade Talon against such a course of action.

“Copper for your thoughts?” Warmth flowed over Talon. He leaned into the comforting touch of his partner as Aoren stepped up next to him. Feeling Aoren’s arm wrap around his waist, he let some of the tension flow out of his shoulders. As Aoren pressed his lips to the side of his head, Talon smiled.

“Merely thinking on the days ahead.” Talon set his empty champagne glass aside. The coronation had gone off without a hitch. He had overseen the recitation of vows and had pledged the fealty of House Novalys to House Senue. Now it was time to address other matters. He resisted the urge to sigh.

Aoren rubbed up and down his back, again pressing a kiss into his hair.

“There will come a day when we can go exploring, just you and I. Just like you want.” Aoren exhaled through his nose, chuckling softly. “But not today.”

Talon gently threaded their fingers. As one, the two of them took flight and sought out the individual who was undoubtedly awaiting them. Soaring through the skies, he bent the light so that both he and Aoren would be concealed. Talon focused on the aetheric signature of the individual who had reached out to him during the coronation. The warning still rung in his mind and it had stuck with him throughout the proceedings. When he found her, both he and Aoren glided down to her. It was only when he neared that Talon dispelled the concealment. He landed nimbly, folding his wings behind him. Aoren landed beside him but lingered back as he stepped forward. Across their shared Bond, he could feel Aoren ready to project a carefully constructed illusion in order to shield their conversation from prying eyes and ears.

Talon rest his hands at the small of his back, silver eyes observing the impressive warrior before him. He did not speak but waited to hear what she had to say.

Posted: **Thu Feb 01, 2024 12:52 pm**

Neverfall was idly studying the flower that had been given to her by a child when Talon and Aoren approached. She was a student of light after all, being one of his Knight-Marshals, an emblem carrier and an elementalist of light and shadow. The park was mostly emptied now that the coronation had concluded and the public festivities had begun. There was a procession moving through the city, seeking to fill every stool and drink every mug of anything remotely alcoholic. It was predicted that this would be such an occasion that in three seasons time, Kalzasi would experience quite the population boom.

And so, she rose from her seat in the lush grass of this tiny, apartment side park, and stood to greet her God once more. There was no need for formalities for ones such as these, so she just got into it.

"I assume that is your son, it showed plainly upon your face, and his."

She didn't wait for confirmation of the seemingly obviously. Talon hadn't had much time to get to know her since she arrived in Dawnhold a few days past, but he would probably know from Laveriel that she is the shrewd tactician that orchestrated the plan to deceive the Imperium to save what was left of Ailos and get Novuril safely to the north. And anyone who met her would know that she was quick to cut to the point of a conversation.

"I bring this to you because he's your son. The moment the Imperium accepted their invitation, the Commonwealth did as well, solely to have an opportunity to assassinate the Imperial Delegation. That plan is already underway, with the Ecithians intending to strike the moment the Imperials leave Kalzasi's diplomatic protection area."

A pause, "However, with your son being an unexpected factor, I've put a plan forward to deal with this. Laveriel has been tapped to reach the Ecithians and try and get them to stop this attack, for they will certainly have no intention of sparing your son. They will look at him and see an Imperial, they will see him as an alliance between Kalzasi and the emperor, and one that has existed from the moment the boy was born."

Another brief pause, "I've received word already that Laveriel has succeeded in swaying the opinion of the Senators. Laveriel and her compatriots will be joining the Ecithians on the approach. Laveriel's team is tasked with capturing your son and bringing him out of harm's way and returning him here, while the Senators continue with their assassination."

She tucked the flower in her ear once more, and her steely facade that was her norm broke a bit, her eyes watering, "I think I know how you feel right now. Your child is in danger and you want nothing more to rush to his aid and make him safe." A memory flashed through the bond of god and emblem bearer.

The skies were dark with the smoke that rose off of the Isle of Light. The sun was beginning to set, so the Imperial barrages from their seemingly endless navy were closing out, if only to preserve ammo as the siege entered its second year. Neverfall stood out over the Temple of Light, seeing the scorched villages, the swaths of jungle burned to the root, studying the lines that the Dawnmartyrs were managing to hold.

An elfen woman approached, a hand upon Neverfall's shoulder.

"Si'uvi, we found them. Their ship was attacked as they neared the shore, there were some survivors and they were taken to Dratir." She gripped Neverfall's shoulder, "Korin died on the way there." A gasp shook through Neverfall. Her mate was gone. "Ilver made it to Dratir, but the healers don't think he'll make it through the night."

At that, Neverfall moved to turn, to force her way west, to get through the blockade herself. To get to her son. He needed her. But the hand on her shoulder tightened once more, and she was spun to face the elf now, a spitting image of Knight-Commander Torchthief that Talon would meet in Dawnhold. Her mother perhaps. "Si'uvi, you can't go. Even if you make it through, he's still going to die."

"Let go of me!"

"If you leave, how many more of us do we lose? How many more sons and daughters will die without you here?"

Neverfall wrenched her shoulder from the woman's grip, tears flowing heavily, as hate and vengeance worked their hooks into her heart. She nodded, but did not stop her tears.

"I do not think it would be wise for you to go there, now. Not only has the Emperor proven capable and willing to capture you, he seems capable of outwitting the entire world at every single turn. He sent your son for a reason, or several. A reminder, a threat, a promise, bait perhaps."

Her matter-of-fact tone faded, and the soft tones of a mother, came through. She looked up at Talon now, catching his gaze fully, her eyes tearing up just as they did in the memory, "As a mother to a father, I swear to you, I will allow no harm to come to your son. I know we do not know one another yet, but as I will try to trust your leadership of this Order, I ask that you trust me to serve you to the best of my ability."

Posted: **Thu Feb 01, 2024 3:00 pm**

T A L O N

Those who knew Talon, knew that an emotive Talon was a man who still had Hope. He was a Synnekar, he did not hide his heart for such was not their way when they believed that another's humanity could still be reached. A Talon who was furious was a Talon who still believed that things could be better. To those who studied the lore of Arcas, the Son of Eikaen was always of a similar disposition. An angry Arcas was one who still believed…it was his silence that terrified his enemies.

Talon, was silent.

Aoren stiffened slightly.

There was no flash of fury in Talon's silver eyes. The feathers of his wings remained still. His hands remained resting at the small of his back. He neither flexed his jaw nor did his heart beat faster. For he had already made a decision in his mind, one that he hoped he would not have to enact. Still, he processed both what Neverfall said and the information he knew of the Imperium.

“Thank you, Marshal.” His expression softened. Through the touch of bonds made possible through gods and their marked, Talon offered the woman a spark of Hope. He felt sadness for her loss, for the loss of all who had suffered in Ailos, but it was that exact loss that he suspected the Imperium was counting on.

“Taryn is in no more danger than you or I are at this moment.” Talon turned his head in the direction of the Imperial ship. He could feel Taryn there. Now that he knew what to feel for after having seen the boy with his own eyes, he knew what that sense had been in his heart.

“Ecith has either made a critical error in this attempt or they are aware of it and have chosen to disregard it.” On the edges of his divine vision, he could almost see the Imperial skyship. He had but to concentrate and it would come fully into his view. He did not but he kept the option open.

“Do you truly believe that the Emperor, a man who was fully capable of imprisoning the likes of me prior to my final ascension, is unaware of what the senators will attempt?” He quirked a brow. “I suspect he planned for exactly that, in fact, I would hazard a guess that he is counting on it.”

Talon shook his head. He regarded Neverfall.

“If there was one thing I learned in my captivity it was that the Emperor does not leave things to chance. No, he is expecting the Ecithian's assassination attempt. For that is what it will be, an attempt. It will fail and when it does, I expect the Imperium's real goal will become plainly visible.” A brief memory of that despicable archbishop and his underlings flashed in his mind. Talon clenched his fist and exhaled.

“You are a leader, Marshal. I am a teacher. What I intend, is to teach those who would learn from me the difference between Justice and Vengeance. Both have their place in this world but Vengeance pursued blindly, is a fool's errand…” He looked Neverfall in the eyes. “...and that is exactly what the Ecithian's mission is.”

He let those words hang in the air for a moment.

“I know that there is anger. In you. In Ecith. In many people. I will not tell you to halt this mission, you all made your choice the moment you departed Ecith. What I will do, is caution you of its consequences. If you promise me that my son will not come to harm, on this, the first day I have ever laid eyes upon him, and he does? You and Ecith will have made an enemy of me. And if this mission fails? A mission that I suspect you and the Senators have urged Laveriel to undertake…”

He quirked a brow.

“Three of Ecith's strongest warriors will be dead or worse. My Wrath will likely be struck down. The Dawnmartyr Order will be once again vilified in the Imperium. The empire will have cause to attack Ecith once again…and Novuril will be in the hands of the Imperium.” Talon still remained calm. The words of Raxen were in his heart along with the counsel of both Avatar and his own Divine Father, he would act if he needed to but it was for mortals to choose their fates.

“Now, how will you lead the Order you have come to love, Marshal?”

Posted: **Thu Feb 01, 2024 3:25 pm**

Neverfall's eyes glowed bright with the Dawnfire within her as she looked Talon in the eye, "By being the Light in a world of darkness." Her entire body turned to Dawnfire and with a flash, she disappeared. Talon would know where she was, where she was going, as she traveled by the light. And the flower that was left in her ears was floating gently on the breeze, landing at Talon's feet.

Posted: **Thu Feb 01, 2024 3:43 pm**

REVIEW TIME

Talon

Loot: N/A
Injuries: Fatherly worry

Points: 10, may not be used for Magic

Skills Used Eligible for Expert/Master Progression: Leadership

Lore Development Opportunities: N/A

Comments: Delegation is a very important skill for leaders to learn.

Legend of Ransera

where there is hope

where there is hope

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