Let's All Head Down To Zombie Lake

[seamend]

Date & Time: Backdated to October 24th-November 1st
Location: Koltira's lake; about 10 miles from the city
Characters: Aileen Kimbler, Artemis Ratcliff, Koltira Deathweaver, and OPEN THREAD TO ANYONE WANTING TO VISIT THE FIRST TWO! (as kolts has more people to babysit elsewhere)
Summary: Exsilium's resident mermaid has been dying slowly and finally reached out to Koltira and Artemis for some help. So they're gonna make a mad dash to the lake, and then Artemis is sticking around to preform weird fae rituals WHAT A WAY TO SPEND halloweenSAMHAIN AMIRITE?
Warnings: monster fighting and a mermaid who does not believe in shell-bras


[ It hasn't been long since she contacted Artemis and Koltira, but it occurs to Aileen that she doesn't quite trust her own measure of time right now. The color has drained from her skin, and while she sits with her back against a brick alley wall, her legs lie awkwardly out in front of her. Her whole body feels weighed down; growing more and more difficult to maneuver.

The return to the island hit her harder than she thought it would. Just as with the last mission, her link to the dying ocean seemed to linger even in a time period where the water was healthy and clear. That mission was a lucky one though, being able to swim restored a good deal of her health for a short time, but it faded not long after returning to Exsilium.

Aileen thinks carefully about her predicament, about how she got to this point -- and for a single moment wishes she had the energy to kick the trash can close by. All she can manage is to turn her face away to watch the streets. In this state, staying alert is really all she can do. ]

Comments

Thread for the journey there [CLOSED to Koltira and Artemis]

[seamend]

Thread for lake visitors [OPEN]

[seamend]

[ The lake is calm for the most part, aside from Aileen swimming around in her true, fish-tailed form. The monsters occasionally do come rampaging by, either looking to eat the two fae there or to drink from the clean water, but thankfully the area is hidden decently enough and Artemis is far from incapable of monster slaying.

If anyone is crazy enough to wander out into the Outlands this far, it's possible they might happen upon the two. ]

[deadelfwalking]

[Koltira arrives as quickly as he can--from their phone conversation, it's clear that something is very, very wrong with Aileen. When he sees her slumped there against the wall, he immediately unclasps his heavy, fur-lined cloak and kneels beside her.]

Here. Wrap yourself in this--it will make you more comfortable when I pick you up.

[sithiche]

[ It takes a bit longer for Artemis to arrive, since he has to take the time to gather all of the spellcasting resources that he is able to quickly locate-- along with ensuring that he's armed, because he would prefer not to head out beyond the safe zone surrounding the Hold unprepared. But soon enough he is outside, easily spotting the pair and quickly making his way over. He is frowning deeply, immediately able to tell that Aileen's condition had worsened even if he had not been told in advance. ]

Is there anything else you need before we go?

[seamend]

[ She sighs in relief as Koltira kneels beside her. The wave of relief that she's no longer alone, and apprehension too, because it now means they have to move. When she sees Artemis too, her eyes flick tiredly up at him. ]

No. No we can go.

[ And with that she forces an arm up to grab a fist full of the cloak, the movement tense and shaking. She grits her teeth, and tries to pull up from the wall but can't quite seem to accomplish this.

God but this is infuriating. ]

[deadelfwalking]

[Seeing her weakness, Koltira reaches for Aileen wordlessly. He drapes the cloak over her body and then picks her up, bridal style, in his arms.

The runes on Byfrost glow briefly green, infusing all of them with unholy speed.]

Let us hurry.

[sithiche]

[ Artemis' eyes widen; he feels the magic before he sees the runes and whips his head to stare at the sword for a moment. The sword still gives him an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of his stomach if he focuses on it for too long. He tears his away from it and nods. ]

You'll have to lead the way.

[healplz]

[ He knows he should be sticking around to help with the monsters... but he also has the suspicion that he'll get himself or someone else killed if he completely drains his reserves. So he opens a warp portal to the best place he can think of for taking a breather and, really hoping there won't be any monsters there when he shows up, steps through.

There's no more warning of his arrival than a brief circle of white light emanating from the ground, which dies away as soon as Ashraf appears in the middle of it. He's not expecting to see Koltira there, who is probably happily engaged in battle, but he glances around nonetheless, to check for monsters. ]

[sithiche]

[ The other man did not have to make much noise at all to make Artemis' ears perk in his direction -- apparently his breathing sufficed in drawing his attention. He had been keeping watch for the beasts, after all, and the area was thoroughly devoid of them for the time being. Save for the bodies that had yet to be disposed of, but at least those were a decent distance away from the water itself.

He turned to face the newcomer, visibly relaxing slightly from his alert state as he realized that the source of the sound was human. He spared a glance at the lake, wondering if Aileen had noticed his arrival, and curious if she knew this person. ]

Hello?

[ His tone is curious and he takes several steps Ashraf's direction from where he had been situated beside the lake, a decent distance away but still close enough that he does not have to raise his voice much to be heard. ]

5 YEARS LATER

[seamend]

[ She mostly goes limp in his arms, and doesn't much react to the magic, her main focus now being to hook an arm onto his shoulder so she's not completely dead weight. She closes her eyes and tries to brace herself for the rush of movement that's to come. ]

[deadelfwalking]

[There is indeed a rush of movement, as Koltira takes off immediately after he feels Aileen relax in his arms. He races away from the alley, down the streets, and towards the forest--too fast for any monster to catch, though he leaves a trail of slowing frost behind him all the same. Occasionally, he glances behind him as he goes, partly to ensure that Artemis is following, and partly to ensure that nothing is currently after them with its jaws open.]

[sithiche]

[ It is disorienting, at first, to be moving so quickly-- even as someone who moved faster than humans to begin with-- but he manages to adjust to the odd sensation of the world moving by much faster than accustomed. He keeps pace while trying to remain constantly aware of their surroundings. His ears periodically twitch in response to sounds made by beasts in the distance, but at the moment they are all far enough away to not be cause for concern. ]

[seamend]

[ If she had the strength, she might have cried out. Her head curls just another inch downwards, and she fights to make her breathing less shallow against the air pushing past them.

The gnarled creatures that do spot two running figures are no doubt to take chase. But vaguely it comes to Aileen's mind that with their current pace what's behind them is not what to worry about. A glimpse ahead confirms it, as a pack of what looks like the spawn of wolves and spiders charge out at them, snarling and scrambling to lunge to meet them before they pass. ]

[seamend]

[ Even the bulk of the monsters slain, Aileen is trying to keep aware, circling mid-level leisurely and conserving her strength. She can't hear above the surface as clearly as she does below it, but she does catch the sound of Artemis saying something.

At first there's an urge to rush up and check if there's any good news, some progress on their solution, but the possibility it could be another attack keeps her back.

Still, she rises as close as she can without breaking the surface just yet. If not partly to err on caution, then also to avoid the smell and sight of anymore dead creatures around them. Even knowing these were animals looking to kill and devour them both didn't mean their deaths set well with her. Especially not with her own brushing so near. ]

[healplz]

[ He blinks to hear a voice, which is unexpected, and all the more so that it isn't Koltira's. It's a face he knows vaguely from the network, even if the name eludes him for the moment. ]

Ah— I'm sorry. I had not meant to intrude. [ He casts a quick glance at Koltira's cabin, wondering if maybe he's here after all. It's sort of strange that there's someone hanging out on his property, otherwise. ]