[SWE] It ends in fire

spark bird It is a truly horrible thing to care so deeply and yet to be so incredibly destructive. Trapped within the bubble (caged?) the spark bird keeps itself hidden away, bleeding into myth rather than burning those who get too close. Its natural habitat is in rocky places where its sparks cannot start fires. But here in the bubble, everything seems flammable. Even hidden away as it is, still sometimes it starts blazes that ravage entire fields of crops. For the creature with a heart of gold and a body of chaos, LongNight is the worst. It could do so much. Its light could protect ... but its body could kill ... Oh but their screams. It can hear them, all the way in the glade, each sound like a knife into its electric core. They scream and die, while the bird hides away, fearful and in agony, until it can take no more. Once again they have built it a perch, but this year it is used as bait against them. Bait to lure those who had heard of the bird and wanted only to see its light. But the monsters took their hope and used it against them. And in turn, the bird took to the skies. Like a shooting star it descended upon the Sanctuary, landing on the perch.  Sparks showered down, fizzling harmlessly in the snow. Luckily Rory had been smart enough to place the perch a safe distance away from all the buildings, so at least for now, the bird's presence was not immediately dangerous. With a loud trill, the bird radiated light. From inside the Temple and Rathskeller cumulative cries of "did you see that?" and "where is that light coming from?" drowned out all other conversation. The monsters lurking hissed and retreated into the shadows, but the bird's light reigned supreme. As the crowd gathered in the protective halo of the bird's light, two in particular were singled out: Rory and Jigano. For their efforts in restoring the perch, it bestowed two of its feathers. Plucking them out with its beak, it dropped them into the snow where they crackled and burned like two sparklers. THE SPARK BIRD IS NOW PROTECTING THE ENTIRE SANCTUARY (and so all boards within). For the remained of LN, you can be outside in these areas! For their participation in the KQ Rory and Jigano each receive +2 stats to be distributed as they choose, as well as a Spark Bird feather!  You would also have a received a feather that could revive someone from the dead, but the entire party needed to complete the KQ! Feather of the Spark Bird | Provides a constant source of light, and can be used to start fires from even the most inflammable of objects and even in terrible conditions (rain, wind, etc).

She followed along in the wake of the crowd that burst out from the temple, but lingered in the doorway as primal fear and a lifetime of terror made her disbelieve what her eyes were seeing. You did not go outside during the LongNight. Never, not for anything. But there was light blazing across the sky, melting snow from the rooftops and bathing the sanctuary in warmth. Not the sun, no, but a creature she'd only heard of in the legends, the stories and childrens tales.

Had she ever actually believed it to be real?

Yet here it was, resting on the perch to safeguard them by its wondrous light, just as her father vad always said. As if it was the most natural thing. Maea gaped at the bird, and was startled to find tears streaming down her face, to realize that she was laughing even as she cried. The Spark Bird. It was real. It was everything she had ever hoped, dreamed it would be, the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

For the first time in her life, Maea broke the rules and went outside.

Where there had been darkness, now there was light. Windows that had been carefully covered over glowed through their protections now, and one of the nurses came excitedly into the room where a white fox rested beside a blond hunter. Still wary about revealing his transformation to others, the fox waited until she had left before he jumped to the ground and flowed into the shape of a man again, looking back to his friend with a tilt of his head and a brow cocked in invitation.

He walked at Rory's pace, Isuma scampering at their feet, and he sucked in a breath of shock at seeing the Temple door standing open now, and light streaming in. It wasn't the light of the sun, but it was a gentle, welcoming glow all the same, and he had to resist the urge to run to it and assuage the sharp twinge of curiosity that thrummed in his chest once more, after it had been missing for what felt like far too long.

Outside, a little ways from the Temple where the perch had been constructed it now stood complete, crowned in beauty and feathers of skyfire that crackled and glowed with radiance.

It had not been in vain.

Tears prickled at his eyes as he reached out to touch Rory's hand, eyes searching for Amalia and Edrei to share their triumph. Even if they might not recognize the fox in the man, still they deserved congratulations and to share in the relief that washed through him.

More was yet to come as they approached, feathers given to them by the Spark Bird herself, gifts of light and fire that had Jigano bowing deeply in respect and gratitude. "Thank you," he said softly, kneeling to pick his up and staying there a moment in gratitude before he rose to reach a hand out to Amalia, a smile breaking across his face as he gave gave voice to his thought from earlier. "It was not in vain."

The light was overwhelming. It blazed through even the most darkened windows, making the curtains appear like there was fire bleeding around their edges. With a gasp, Remi threw back the doors of the temple, light flooding the high ceilings immediately. Exiting with Isla at his side, he closed the doors behind him—the presence of the light was comforting, but still he was distrustful—and warily approached the perch. Speaking silently to the unicorn at his side, the alchemist nodded at something she'd said, before turning his pale stare up towards the creature. A smile twisted onto his lips, as he stood shoulder to shoulder with his friend, both gazing upwards in awe and confusion. REMI Loving you was sunshine, but then it poured & I lost so much more than my senses 'Cause loving you had consequences