Two in One? (Plot)

[Skittlebug]

Neil squeezes Kiri's hand back, recognising that she needs some sort of reassurance, though it won't change a think. As Sunflower begins to try and reason with Aelwine he interrupts by simply teleporting the other ring to himself. "Don't think it is one, Whiskers." He slips it on.

[Kender Bard]

The vines wrapped up and down his ring and, his rightful ownership confirmed, settled into place.

Aelwine watched with his mouth agape. "Holy shit," he squeaked.

Sunder couldn't help but smirk slightly, smug in seeing the skeptical smartass put into his place. He nudged Suri's ring a little closer to her.

Aelwine was facing Suri suddenly. "Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked quickly. "Shit you've heard all the rumors going around. This isn't some scuffle in the jungle against the Fires."

[Skittlebug]

Suri's eyes gleam as Neil's ring changes on his hand and picks the last one up before turning to Aelwine with a frown. She doesn't appreciate him bringing that up of all things. "How can I refuse Worg? Would you refuse Soahc if he chose you for something?" Not waiting for an answer, she puts on her ring.

[Kender Bard]

And as the ring attuned itself to Suri, it was the final piece. All of the Worgans abruptly heard their Lord Lady speaking in their minds.

Ring bearers! To arms! The demon scrum DARE to swarm across our beautiful land! Destroy them! Show them that they will not be tolerated and shake them off as a dog shakes off fleas! To each of you I assign a role.

Neil, with your Taed-given abilities, I expect you to make full use of them. You can be in and out of any situation in the blink of an eye and have little to no threat of capture. You will be my sword into their heart. Head to Naurorod and begin to take down as many of their numbers as you can. The clans of Erif's children will provide you rest and shelter when you need it. Merely invoke my name and if they give you trouble then call out for my assistance. I'll teach them proper respect.

Farfarello, your skills lend themselves well to guarding and so that is what you will do. Guard any ring bearers who fall into your care. Protect the weaker of the chosen so that they may survive to fulfill their roles later.

Lucifer, your prodigy has been given a role in warfare. I want you to see to it that it that it is carried out efficiently and well. And where demon incursion comes near your location, I want you to personally take up arms against them. Your icy cold will be anathema to some of the demons who rely on fire and heat as their primary weapons of choice. You have three signs. Use that Force given strength to capacity.

Thavan and Masego, rouse your Beasts. Your time of licking wounds from the fairy fights are over. The Beasts are wasted in idleness. Head to the northwest and join in the Fires in their fight against the demonkind. Use Beleg as your base of operations.

Suri, you will join someone--either the Beasts or Neil--and assist them in fighting in Naurorod. Your swiftness and wings will allow you to gather information easily and your fierceness in battle will see you out of a tight spot should it arise.

Osane, the waters are perilously unguarded and not all demons walk upon land. Ronduin is near to useless in doing more than maintaining their own shores. Take Aluvar and scour the River clean of demonic filth.

Edward, Ilyamen may not be an actively militaristic state, but you have proven that her people can rise up in the face of adversity. Begin gathering your own forces. Then march them in the direction given to you by your ring. You will know your destination when you come upon it--spread your forces to guard the place well, for it will be a critical point in the upcoming battles, or so our Seer Sister says.

Darin, oh soldier of fortune. Make your way west to Naurorod as well. Eventually, you will join up with Neil in assisting the Fires. Kill anything unnatural along the way.

I have no doubts that you are all capable of this and more. Do me proud and prove my decisions of your worth to not be poor judgments. Go forth! FIGHT!

[Skittlebug]

Both Neil and Suri jump a bit as Worg's voice begins in their minds, looking far off as they listen. Sunflower eyes the two, having some idea of what happening from experience.

Once it's finished Suri eyes Neil, "I guess we're going to Naurorod." She'd prefer that to going back to the Beasts, even now. She looks to Aelwine, wondering what he'll end up doing, he's not exactly a skilled fighter.

Neil gives Suri and even stare, sizing her up, before nodding once then turning to Kiri to speak quietly. "Worg wants us to kill off as many demons as we can toward the desert."

[Kender Bard]

"No!" Kiri protested, pained. How was she going to follow him there? The answer was that she was not. She doubted he'd even let her. "Worg, why?" she asked, and began to cry softly. She didn't want to lose Neil and now Worg was sending him into the very heart of trouble?

Aelwine was considerably more composed. "This should be interesting," he said, but in a resigned sort of way. "At least it'll be warm."

[Skittlebug]

Sunflower feels decidedly sorry for Kiri. Neil seems a little lost as to just how to console her, so Sunflower makes her way around the table to put a hand on the other woman's chair. "Worg wouldn't have chosen him if he wasn't capable, right?"

"Are you sure you want to come?" Suri asks Aelwine. "You weren't the one chosen, you don't have to."

[Kender Bard]

"I don't care how capable he is!" Kiri protested, anger and despair warring within her, making her alternate between a heated glare and tears. "What will I do if Neil is hurt again? I won't be there to help him get back to health! Those demons have already had at him twice. Isn't that enough!?"

"Of course I want to come," Aelwine told Suri. "I know you don't think much of my ability to fight, but I'm far from helpless and besides, you'll be glad we're there to watch your back." We, of course, meaning Nighthunt as well. The panther would be pleased to be on a hunt instead of the aimless rambling they'd been doing.

[Skittlebug]

Sunflower backs off a step, looking distressed. She can only imagine what Kiri is going through. "I'm sorry..."

Neil wraps an arm around Kiri, pulling her against him and holding her, not wanting her to be upset. "I won't die." He says quietly, adding mentally, ~Tell me to get out if I think I'm in risk of dying.~

Suri smiles, "I'm sure I will be, I'm not about to stop you from coming. Just don't complain if you get hurt."

[Kender Bard]

Kiri pressed her face against his shoulder and let herself be held. His embrace was all the comfort she had at the moment. At his mental words, she lifted her head, pressed her cheek against his and murmured quietly into his ear, "How can I do that if I won't be there? You don't plan on letting me come with you, do you?"

Sunder watched the anguished couple sadly. He stood and reached a hand out to Sunflower. "Come on, Sunflower," he said quietly. "Our work here is done." He felt like he was intruding on their privacy and more importantly he wanted to be with Sunflower somewhere out of sight so that they could talk.

"Me? Complain?" Aelwine scoffed. He grabbed one of the drinks as they were brought over and quaffed it. "To killing villains!"

[Skittlebug]

Neil sighs, "I don't want you anywhere near danger, you know that." He eyes the other two. "Maybe we should go back to our room."


Suri grabs her own drink and holds it up with a grin before tipping it back.

[Kender Bard]

Kiri nodded and rose, her hand locked on his in a deathgrip. She felt like she never wanted to let go, for fear that when she did, he would slip out of her reach for good.

Aelwine glanced over as the group began to disperse, with Sunder placing coins for the drinks on the table. He eyed the other couple. He was suddenly very grateful that he and Suri were both capable of defending themselves. "You're going to kill so many demons!" he told his companion as to reinforce the point for himself.

[Skittlebug]

Neil just hopes he can find a way to placate her about staying somewhere safe. He really doesn't want to have to just drop her off and leave.


"You sure you won't get any yourself?" She chuckles, though she watches the others leave as well, having similar thoughts.

[Kender Bard]

"Oh I will," Aelwine remarked proudly. "I'll take down dozens of the suckers. Maybe I should take the head of one and get it stuffed. I can take it somewhere and mount it over a hearth!"

[Skittlebug]

Suri chuckles, "Planning on getting one, or just mounting it on someone else's?"