[Laviku Monument] The Gathering Storm (Open)

[Paragon]

Timestamp: 67th of Winter, 511 AV Maria Satterthwite looked out at her city, blue eyes falling on an equally blue sea. Her hand made contact with the statue beside her. The cold stone was oddly comforting. Laviku... you have always been my salvation. Please aid us in our hour of need... if ever there was a time. Gathering courage, she gazed out at the masses that had gathered. Word had spread of this meeting, and the wildfire talk had had the intended effect. She had to tell as many people as possible. And standing nearby, watching her, were the Konti. Ethereal as ever, they were her support team in this time of shadow. "My people. First, I must apologise," she found herself turning away, but one of the Konti caught her gaze, nodding firmly. She inhaled heavily, and turned back round, knowing she must face her people head on. "I have not been the Lord of Council Zeltiva deserves. For too long I have allowed the University and the Sailor's Guild to govern my city. If I can promise you one thing, I am here to change all of that. I am ashamed though, that it is a crisis that forces me to take control. I am about to warn you of something coming. Something dangerous, something that may very well change the face of Zeltiva altogether. And I want you all to stay strong. It is your strength that will guide us through the coming darkness." Survival was one thing. Strength in the heart of adversity, another. But she believed in her people, in her city. The time of reckoning was at hand.

[Ndale Soromund]

She had only been going out for a walk, it was cold but the winds seemed to be less violent in udring midday, not to mention the throng of people that had passed her cottage. They had knocked on the door, politely reminding her that there was a city wide meeting and she should probably attend. Of course, this hadn't interested her, what had interested her was that she had never before--not even on the docks!--seen this many people. She hadn't even realized this many lived within the city! But following the stream of people she was surprised that it seemed like not everyone was still there, some people still continued on their way, only pausing briefly before continuing. If this woman was their leader why did they not listen? She had pegged humans to be more like the carnivorous animals, having one leader they listened to without question. Then again she had always thought the docks people were in charge. As the woman began speaking Ndale quickly realized she couldn't hear her and forcefully inched herself closer, only know realizing they were by the Laviku monument. The stone once again seemed to pull her in and it was not only her, even while the woman spoke she seen people staring at the statue with the same gaze. And as she listened she realized why, most looked upon these Gods and Goddess' to protect them, this--this whatever it was was successfully making the residents nervous. Oh, not enough to panic but she could feel her own familiar flight or fight repsonse tingle at the tone of voice the woman used. So she was only relatively surprised when her slightly angry hushed voices began floating up, maybe not loud enough for the woman up front to hear but she knew other's probably had the same reasoning. Humans could be very instinctual when faced with a crisis, perhaps the only reason they survived and clung to their lives to strongly. Still she found herself curious, if this woman was leader but none seen her as such, would they even listen? Many questions whirred in her head, all based off what she had seen in Zeltiva but mostly she could on wonder at what this great calamity would be. Her feet tapped anxiously but it wasn't from fear, it was from something else...maybe excitement? Yes. Yes, it was excitement, she wanted this adversary to come, wanted to see it and dissect it and then store it away as nothing more than a memory. That and she wondered what everyone would do, the data she could collect from people! It would be more wondrous than a human pay day.

[Trente]

Trente stood proudly near the front of the masses, close enough to hear the words clearly and see the expression upon all the women's faces. The rumors had left a stone in the pit of his stomach, but he had refused to give stalk to them till he heard them directly from Maria's mouth, under the enforcing eyes of the Konti.

The look upon Lord of Counsel did not bode well, and Trente braced himself for the worst as he studied each word, each movement not only Maria made but each Konti before him. They were a spectacle, one that demanded respect as they stand beneath the mighty statue of Laviku. The only god Trente had ever put much stalk or value into on a conscious level.

As she began to speak Trente drew his emotions close to him, and took discrete care to remain straight faced and proud of demeanor.

To her apology Trente fought off a frown. Bad news should never be accompanied by a declaration of war upon the reigning political powers of a city. This did not bode well, and he could, without even knowing the women, tell that her apology was much deserved. She no doubt had been a poor leader, if her current composure was of evidence.

Trente, thus, disregarded her preach that strength would pull them through. True strength was won in union, not in a fractured community. He understood her wishes to command all the people's wills under her own, but Trente could not imagine a catastrophe large enough to warrant a union between the sailors and scholars, especially under such a weak willed women. Then again, the Konti stood behind her, and that kept Trente's ears open, along with his mind.

[Avari]

Drawn to the Laviku Monument by the incessant whispers and news of important tidings and possible upheaval, Avari couldn't repress a bone-deep shudder when she saw the Konti. Standing behind the Lord of Council like white statues of women, looking as pure and delicate as if they had been crafted from spun glass, they sent cold shivers down Avari's spine. The sight of them distracted and disturbed her, so much that she didn't even think of pulling out a dagger and cutting a purse or two as she joined the growing throng gathering at the city's center.

It wasn't merely the aversion, bordering on antipathy, that she felt toward her own kind. It wasn't just that she feared they could see right through her and her petty deceptions, or that she despised their soft, sensitive, and saccharine ways. It was a much deeper dread that she felt, a cold pit in the base of her stomach. Having grown up among them, Avari knew that the Konti seldom left their island by choice except for important reasons, and even more seldom did they leave in groups. Suspicion knotted her stomach as Avari nudged and jostled her way toward the middle of the crowd, craning to see over taller listeners. These Konti weren't here to export Vision Water and they looked too stately and high-ranking to be here for their Call. They had been sent, perhaps by the Grandmother's Circle -- Avari trembled at the memory of her own grandmother -- or even by the Matriarch of Konti Isle herself.

The four Konti standing behind Zeltiva's Lord of Council as she stood ready to address a crowd meant that something important was afoot and, assuming that they hadn't come simply to wish the Lord of Council a happy new year, something terrible as well.

The Lord of Council's brief message only confirmed Avari's suspicion. The bit about her changing how the University of Zeltiva and the Sailors' Guild ruled the city made her roll her eyes, considering the two entities had been doing a fine job so far without her interfering. The end, though, caused her to blanch even paler than she already was. The coming darkness? Something dangerous that would change the face of Zeltiva? She had heard a fair amount of Konti prophecy in her time, and this did not bode well.

The woman had stopped speaking, and apprehensive whispers filled the silence she had left. Almost by instinct, Avari narrowed her eyes and stared intently at the Lord of Council, gazing not at her physical form but into the woman's chavi. She plunged herself into the Chavena, hoping for a hint of the message the four Konti women had given her or a vision of something they had shown her. A barrage of images greeted her inner eyes. Avari gasped, overwhelmed by the minutiae of the woman's life, of her thoughts and dreams and memories, of the threads of her soul.

Gathering her mental composure, Avari impatiently tried to comb through the mess of memories inside the Lord of Council's chavi. There was no real way to tell which were more recent, but she tried anyway. The sea, piles of paperwork, handshaking, a smiling man reaching toward her... She pushed all these away, looking for groups of white Konti women arriving at her door.

And then, suddenly, Avari saw a scroll in the Lord of Council...in Maria's...hands. The words were blurred and difficult to read in her memory, but the imaginings that they had inspired were fresh and sharp as ever. Avari felt them vicariously through her chavi.

Incomprehension, horror, fear, anxiety, and a mental picture of a storm breaking out over mountains...

With a long gasp and a shudder, Avari staggered and came out of the Chavena, breathing hard. A few people next to her, gossiping about what the Lord of Council was going to announce, gave her an odd look and moved slightly away. Avari hugged her arms around her body and started to move backward through the crowd, pushing toward the edges and letting others press forward to better hear the Lord of Council's next words. Her progress was slow, however, too slow for her to avoid hearing the woman's next announcement.

Avari's thoughts, though, were focused only on getting back to her cottage and preparing for the storm that was coming. She would have to hunker down and store her fresh food and water in a safe place. She needed to secure or throw out everything that was breakable or unstable. For this storm, Avari wanted to be within the protection of her strong, sturdy stone walls, until the worst had passed.

[Valene]

Valene always enjoyed watching human's, and found them amusing. Flying down in her bird form she landed on a post. It was Valene's first day in the city, having flown here from the wilderness deciding she wanted to begin such as to affiliate herself with human's again. A woman stepped out with what appeared to be a small group of Konti, those mysterious women who seemed to have interesting things happen around them. Listening Valene heard the woman apologize that she had failed her people, that she was to take back control of the city and no longer let the companies of the town control it for her. Ahhh, politic's of the humans...Well the woman seems interesting enough, and of this coming darkness? Most interesting I wonder of what she speaks. Valene thought to herself.

Valene flapped her wings, raising into the air and patiently flying over to where the announcement was being made, landing to the side of the woman waiting for her to further speak, this affair seemed to interest all in the town who heard so it seemed beneficial for the Kelvic to take an interest in it as well. Valene observed the way the human woman approached the speech, she was surely nervous if not anything else. Most people of course would be nervous if an entire town were listening to them Valene noted. It was always exciting to observe the humans, unlike those of the animal's she lived among every day the humans were of a complex nature, they were almost always different.

[Nai'shee]

Rummors were gathering trough the city, about some news and Konti that came to deliver those. It was simply impossible to believe that not less then fifteen Konti were sent to deliver some news to Zeltiva. It was obviously something big. Very big. When she heard Lord of Council is going to speak to them, it was the final blow. She was already afraid of what might come. She knew annoying masses are going to drop by to hear what was all of this about, so she made herself a perfect place for watching, a wooden roof of some shop. She hoped nobody will notice her. Generally, she was never spotted on the roof, nobody even bothered to look up there. She was laying there for hours, watching the sky, before Maria Satterthwite actually came, leading half of the city to this place. She noticed few Konti following her. It was truth. Something terrible is coming. After she past that thought she noticed the beauty of Konti. No matter how many times she sees it, it's still surreal. Same as Ethaefal. Those races should be much higher ranked in this world, really. Her thoughts gazed back to happenings around her. Honestly, she could admit she never actually saw Lord of Council before. And she was not ashame, because that wasn't her fault, she rarely gone in public and she didn't notice her activity. Her first words confirmed their thoughts. She was thankful for being able to watch peacefully, without masses and rumors, and terrified Konti. As the scroll appeared in Maria's hands, she noticed few peoples getting away of the woman, who seemed afraid. She literally hugged herself as she tried to make her way out of the whole thing. Nai'shee knew Konti were seers, but she never knew much about their abilities. This could only be a bad sign. However, she wasn't lonely at the top of the building, as she watched pale falcon flying around, obviously a Klevic, she concluded by it's interest for such a event. Ordinary falcon would escape from masses, guess. She concentrated on Lord of Council again, trying to read something from her expression, something she will actually hear in few seconds. She saw her gaining more and more confidence and determination. Like looking at the child growing in few bare moments. She admitted her mistakes and promised to help out this city, she admitted not so beautiful motives for that and now she was preparing them for bad news. She remained serious and quiet, watching events around her, as she was able to see everyone on this meeting.

[Anselm]

Anselm stood by a post on the outskirts of the crowd that was gathering at the Laviku Monument. He was momentarily started by a falcon that landed on the post and then flew nearer to the monument. A Kelvic, he thought ot himself. He saw Ndale Soromund in the crowd as well, although in her human form. Kelvics always made him uncomfortable because they were difficult to predict.

The Lord of Council spoke of political changes, but that was not especially interesting to the old Nuit. Leaders came and went. Power factions rose and fell. It rarely made much difference in the greater scheme of things. No, this was not especially interesting. What was interesting was the Konti. Their presence was unusual. And the message they had brought was evidently ominous. This is interesting, he thought to himself. I wonder what would bring a whole delegation of Konti to Zeltiva?

[Paragon]

She could see she had frightened them, but perhaps that was not a bad thing. Fear would provoke a reaction. People would seek shelter, and attempt to protect their things. She turned and accepted the scrolls from one of the Konti. The woman's pallid blue eyes didn't even flinch. How could they be so composed? The Konti were an intriguing race, self important, and aware of their unique talents among the world. Perhaps they looked down upon humanity, Maria thought with a silent laugh. But now was not the time for laughing. Now was the time to share V'nessi's visions of her city's doom. "I read to you the scrolls brought from Mura by the Konti. They are the exact words of V'nessi, leader of the Konti, transcribed from her visions." Coughing into her hand, she unfurled the first scroll, reading out the contents. Storms ripping apart the lands transforming it into shadows of what it once was. Poisoning fields, killing everything that lives and transforming all that survives the onslaught. The land will go infertile unable to bear any fruits or support any life. Vibrant colors illuminating the sky, blinding those that look at it. Buildings crumble into the sea and the pawn becomes a king. The Kings will change the lands forever and the caged beast rattles his cage. The bars are near breaking. The storm ventures on nothing can stand in its path, nothing can stop it. For it is divine it its creation. It will start in the mountains, Windreach. With the first scroll read, she looked back to her people. They were terrified. Her heart cloyed, but she could not shield them from the truth. She unravelled the second scroll, breathing deeply. "And this scroll refers to our city more specifically." Lady Satterwhite I have enclosed the visions as it relates to Zeltiva. I hope you understand that I only enclosed the relevant information as it relates to you and yours. An object of great power will expose itself from the waters, it’s nature still unknown to me and clad in mystery. But one thing is sure, it holds great magical value. Dangerous people will escape into the streets and food as you can imagine will be scarce. You will suffer great structural damage to much of your city, and the astronomy tower you hold so dear will crumble. Your piers will also be damaged if not destroyed completely making travel to the white isle nearly impossible. But do not worry. I leave in your charge five highly competent Opal Order Healers and this messenger. The healers also have other talents that will prove invaluable to you later. I ask that you send the other two messengers and healers with due haste toward Syliras. Give them what you can and then take haste in preparing your city for what is to come. Take care of my daughters and sisters V’nessi Ulvalin With that, Maria passed the scrolls back and placed her hands to her heart. "The Konti are here to aid us. Give them whatever they request, and help them in any way you can. The storm is... inevitable. But foresight can save us. Bolster your houses, your belongings. Listen, for when the bells ring, the crisis has begun. I... I am going to be strong, and you must too. Our buildings may crumble and fall, but we can rebuild. I promise you that."

[Siarak]

Siarak heard the rumor that the Lord of Council is giving a speech. Which is laughable by itself sense it is common knowledge that the Lord of Council is nothing more than the figurehead ruler, and only shows herself to the public for social events. But all the same it stills give reason to pause for whatever she called everyone here to the Laviku Monument and go against with what everyone accusation to it must be drastic. So Siarak join the growing crowd of people and as he looking around Siarak could all but smell the tension in the air. Just like Siarak everyone was worried and more than a little with what Lord of Council have to say. When look up to where she was standing Siarak was more than a little uneasy when saw four Konti standing behind her. What in the god’s names is going on he thought why white maidens here. Siarak got his answers as listen something her stepping up and take her as place as Lord of Council, at first he thought this was some kind of power play but then she start talking about a coming storm and that everyone needs to stat strong. Then she read from the scrolls from V'nessi by then Siarak was all ears. She spoke of a prophecy that all but said that Zeltiva while be but to it’s kness and mad men with powerful magic while running wild thought the streets. In the end the only thing Siarak could say his eyes dark yellow “God’s helps us all”

[Trente]

Trente's composure faltered noticeably as the magnitude of Maria's words washed over the faces of the congregation, as if a dark cloud cast by the future itself. Trente's face relaxed, and his eyes grew fearful. He could not fathom what divine reckoning this portent foretold, but he could think upon his past. The storms and natural disasters he had seen, and knew that this would put them all to comparable blandishment as the furry descended upon them from the roost of the abrasiveness fire haired warriors.

The thought of dismissal did not strike Trente, instead he looked to the wall of Konti before him, and knew with all certainty that the words spoke no falsehood. And this struck a familiar sensation within him. He knew it, and had promised he would not follow it in the future. Though when the promise was made he had not known of this. Fear. He feared what might happen, and felt the impulsive itch to run to the sea. To find the next ship out of Zeltiva and run from this catastrophe. Logic did not factor into the emotions that pushed him. However, his will was always tempered by logic above emotions, and so he stood fast. He would stay out the announcement, and observe his new people's reactions to the dark news. Their merits would determine his actions, for he had no intention of standing beside fools against such adversity if he was offered the time for choice. The chances of even this looked slim.