Is this it? |Malagard, Khelek

[aivea]

Haukea limps through the knee deep water in the streets leading downhill with his head down to watch for particularly and enters the temple of Worg. Avoiding the eyes of the priests, he falls to his knees before the alter and prays quietly to that Force for any sort of guidance. It is all he can do, even as Master, to keep some semblance of order as the nation's most important geographic features fall apart. He shoves aside those thoughts and forces himself even more deeply into prayer, trying not to think of anything other than Worg. After a few moments, he stands and shakes his head slightly.

"Oh. what am I doing? I can pass this trial alone, if I could not then my fate would not be to lead."

Returning to the palace, Haukea gives the order to close the border to prevent anyone else from being caught in the current crisis and that all the water was to be diverted away from the cities as much as possible. In the mean time, he tries to choose what to order to higher ground and what can stay where it is. Rather suddenly, the Master tenses up and suppresses a cry of pain as a strange power tears through him. Slowly the pain fades and he relaxes a bit, though still feeling a bit off. He doesn't notice yet, however the time flux just aged him by four years.

[Kender Bard]

Those around him stare open-mouthed at their master, wondering what on earth caused this change in him.

One servant who had not been present runs up, panting. "Master Haukea! A.. A... thing demands to speak with you! He simply appeared on the edge of the lands and ordered us to show him to our leader!"

[aivea]

The staring had barely been noticed when the servant who'd ran in had arrived. Whatever it was that is publicly demanding to see the leader comes as quite the surprise, however certainly an unwanted one. Bringing up one hand to try to soothe away the rapidly worsening headache caused by the recent events, Haukea replies, "Very well... It would be better for me to see what the 'thing' demanding to speak with me wants rather than letting it continue to disturb all those within hearing distance of it."

He has no intention of going alone, though, and motions for the nearest ones of the guards to follow, suddenly grateful for the hint of paranoia that had caused him to double the amount of guards on duty in any one spot after the beginning of the strange occurrences. Turning toward the servant, he inquires in the calmest tone he can manage, "Which way leads to where it is?"

Giving too clear of a hint of agitation or fustration with the current series of events might do more harm than good, so doing so is avoided as much as possible.

[Kender Bard]

The servant gives curt directions and those guards following Haukea form a ring of steel around him as they head off in the given direction.



The thing is surprisingly manlike, if one ignores all the demonic features. He stands, unruffled, looking as calm and still as a statue. At Haukea's approach he speaks in a voice as honeyed and suave as a courtier's, "Good evening, ah, I'm not sure what your name is."

[aivea]

When the creature first came into view, Haukea's eyes widen in surprise and he inwardly wonders where such a thing might have come from. That the thing seems willing to speak and does so in a tone that wasn't openly demanding is almost reassuring. For now, the important thing seems to be to stay calm and try to get the creature to willingly mention why it is here. Though being face to face with something that did not seem to be anything part of known history or legends that resembles a human more than anything else isn't remotely near the sort of scene the word "thing" had brought to mind.

"Good evening. I am Haukea, Master of Ice. What is it that you wished to see me about?" he replies in as normal tone as he can manage.

"I must not waver even the slightest bit. Even though it seems civil now, that could change at any second, especially if it starts thinking that I am weak enough to push aside," Haukea reminds himself.

[Kender Bard]

"I am Dispator," the man-thing introduces himself. "I've come with offer of friendship and alliance for a small price." He tilts his head and smiles at Haukea, though it's a bit of an oily type of smile, like a cat with a mouse.

[aivea]

Haukea looks thoughtful, perhaps even faintly intrigued, after hearing the offer, though the way Dispator is smiling at him causes a hint of discomfort. The discomfort is quickly squashed to avoid showing it and he asks, "I do appreciate the offer, however I do have a question. What sort of price are you speaking of? I need to know so I can clearly tell whether not I can pay and make a completely informed opinion. After all, saying I will pay something I cannot would certainly be dishonest of me and do more harm than good to both of us."

"Depending on what is asked, paying certain things would only worsen the current crisis. I don't want to turn away a potiental ally but I do not want to worsen the crisis or say I will pay what I cannot."

[Kender Bard]

Dispator twines his fingers and smiles more sweetly at Haukea. "I wouldn't dream of leaving you in the dark, sir. I wish for a bit of land to claim my own and perhaps a person or two as attendants. If you find my council wise enough, perhaps even a lasting stay would be in order. I do like it here quite a bit. But-" he shrugged and continued humbly, "The worth of my advise is not for me to judge. Would you have me at your side in this time of turmoil then?"

[aivea]

"Hm..." Haukea tilts his head thoughtfully and is both flattered by the praise and relieved at what the price turned out to be. Deciding that the creature seems reasonable and that the price is not too high, he says evenly, "That is a reasonable price to pay and there is a bit of land south of here that is not likely to be as negatively affected by the climate change as the capital."

Azazel, one of the guards, can remain silent no longer and asks Haukea, "Are you sure you really want to make a deal with what seems to be a devil, Master? There's no telling what this Dispator may truly intend..."

"I believe that giving the circumstances and his behavior so far, the benifit of the doubt can be afforded at least long enough to see the value of what is gained." Inwardly, he adds, "Few reside in the southern lands... If I am betrayed then it would be a small task to muster the army and send this creature to where it came from. Not to mention, it will also learn the hard way that though I may give my trust more easily in desperation, my trust is impossible to win back once lost. It takes more than a desperate man to make a deal with a devil without starting to think of a plan one what to do in case of an attempted backstabbing. Let me play the trusting fool until proven outwise; I'd rather be underestimated by something I still have reservations about."

"I'm still concerned," replies the guard.

[Kender Bard]

"You shouldn't surround yourself by those would defy your orders," Dispator notes to Haukea, settling cool eyes on the guard that's voicing complaint. "First concerns, then disagreements. One thing leads to another and the next you're harboring a treacherous dog." He shook his head and clucked his tongue. "Now, is there anything in specific you would have me advise you on?"

[aivea]

Azazel takes a few steps back and murmurs, "I can assure you, my Lord, that this is the first time."

In reply to Azazel, Haukea gives the guard a sharp glance and it's unclear whether or not the other's words were believed. Turning back to Dispator after returning his expression to normal, the Master replies, "Any sort of advice as to reducing the amount of damage done by the sudden shift from slightly colder than average to vastly above record temperatures would be welcome. It is not unlikely that you may have thought of something that I have not; not to mention, diverting the water from the melting glaciers away from the cities is only a temporary fix."

He seems almost uncomfortable asking for advice, even if mostly out of thinking that having another's honest opinion of what should be done would show options that had not been noticed at the time.

"I don't need advice. I just want it in case I missed something... Or so I tell myself."

[Kender Bard]

Dispator looked out the window, rubbing his chin carefully. "I have a notion. Before I can suggest anything, I need to know about your religion here. Tell me what you can."

[aivea]

"Except on special occasions, religion is practiced privately rather than in the temples... Regardless, the impression I have recieved is that Etaf, Taed and Worg are the three most popular Forces and the common belief is that Worg herself created the first Ice elementals. Very rarely do those outside the clergy spend the majority of their time in structured devotions or ceremony." Haukea shakes his head slightly then murmurs, "Perhaps the Forces are angered by this..."

[Kender Bard]

For a moment, Dispator looks absolutely puzzled - and then something clicks in his head and he nods solemnly. "Ah, well, I'm afraid your Forces are more likely to be dead, sir. The breach between your world and Hell is what's causing everything."

[aivea]

When the news is first given, Haukea seems completely stunned and it's pretty clear that despite the recent events he'd not thought that the Forces had died. He would not be able to believe that it was anything more than a nightmare if he is not the one experencing it.

"First the glaciers melting then the Forces dieing... Is there NOTHING in this world that is perminant?!"

Recovering from the shock somewhat, he replies in a puzzled and faintly anxious tone, "So that is the reason... What would have the power to do such a thing? Hell and this world were supposed to be completely seperate and a great deal of power would likely be needed to even lay a small scratch on the Forces."

That something powerful enough to do such a thing exists in this world and may be running unchecked is a greatly disturbing thought.