Unsinkable

For the third time the King and Queen of Torchline climbed the spiraling stairs of Aumakua together. Unlike the last time when they had brought plants and creatures of the Void to the altar, this time their hands were only filled with offerings.

As Hadama had recently told Ronin: the job was not yet done.

Instead of a candle he brought a silver oil lamp, intricate designs of constellations picked out across its curving surfaces. Setting it on the altar he lifted the lid to add the oil and then lit the wick in the spout. A clear yellow flame blossomed, burning strongly as he turned to his other elemental offering: a delicate porcelain bowl filled with water from the Maw - now free of the Void's corruption.

He waited for Flora to add her own items before he gave her a small smile, the corners of his eyes crinkling in reassurance and no little dawning hope that they were going to protect Torchline from the Void's depredations.

With a nod to his Queen he took a deep breath and bowed low.

"Vi, will you lend us your power to protect our Coast from the Void?"

---

Hadama and Flora are praying to Vi for an RQ!

If the prayer doesn't roll high enough, please use Hadama's CotY Big God pass.

karma's a relaxing thought, aren't you envious that for you it's not?

It felt strange for the queen to visit their coastal shrine so many times, and yet with the urgency she and Hadama had placed on making Torchline's regional quests a priority, she wasn't surprised either. Their people had rallied bravely and with only one section of their home left unprotected, the Doubletake was a touch ___ to get this final ball rolling.

Kneeling, Flora placed her offering next to Hadama's: a few loaves of bread which had risen in the sun. What better offering to the god of life than nourishment made digestible thanks to his light?

"Please and thank you." The Doubletake murmured, not necessarily needing to add anything to her co-ruler's prayer but feeling obligated to do something other than kneel in silence.

vi

Both King and Queen know by now that the God of Life is not one to swagger, to accept offerings with flair and gratitude, though there is something to be said for the way the light in Hadama's oil lamp turns a pure white, warm and welcoming, or the way the smell of freshly baked bread and clear, salt water fills the shrine. 

Before them Vi stands ready, strong hands clasped, dark eyes glancing between them and then out of the window of the Aumakua to the shores and the ocean beyond. "Do this, and your region will be the only one in all of Caido to be free of the void influence. The effort required to do such a thing has been noted, and it will not be forgotten."

---

The roll to call down Vi was not successful, and so Hadama's CotY Big God pass has been used!

Torchline has received a RQ!

Tasks. There is no time limit. There are currently 11 active Torchers. This means 6 unique characters have to participate. Characters can participate more than once. Hadama and Flora must participate in at least 2 threads each.

1. A thread of at least 3 Torchers (including 1 Mer) gathering stones from the Rainbow Road

2. A PQ dropping those stones all around the Ahi Coast. Must have 8 rounds.

3. A thread with at least 1 Torcher, capturing a void Flora or Fauna from every major region (SB, TL, H, HG, KE), kept alive and brought at the time of turn-in. OR one vein of Void Crystal from within Starfall Island.

Table base by Sky!

Light and life filled the uppermost chamber of the lighthouse, and though it was the third time that Hadama had been blessed with the honor of Vi's presence he found the experience no less awe-inspiring. The quiet strength of the Elder God of Life was a bracing wind upon his soul as he bowed low, feeling himself not so much reassured as reinvigorated.

The reward for what they did was all that they had asked for: the protection of their home. To hear that it was recognized by the gods was humbling and Hadama raised his head to gaze upon the stern countenance of Safrin's creator with quiet gratitude in his gaze. "Thank you. We will begin immediately," he promised. Then his gaze shifted to Flora, bright with hope and a deep and abiding determination to finish what they had started together.

karma's a relaxing thought, aren't you envious that for you it's not?

As ever the queen is rendered a touch speechless in Vi's presence, though if they keep meeting this way—and with the god's approval no less—that might yet change. For now, though, Flora simply nods, a bubble of excitement and relief caught in her throat. "We're on it." She murmurs after Hadama, before turning her aqua stare towards her co-leader and widening her eyes a fraction to communicate her enthusiasm.

..the only one in all of Caido to be free of the void influence.. Vi had said.

The effort required to do such a thing has been noted, and it will not be forgotten. He'd said.

Fuck yeah.

~FIN