[Training] [open se] riding every high and low

WESSEX after all is said and done you're just a carnivore let you in and drink my blood you're nothing but a monster Wessex takes herself (and Loki) for a leisurely, ambling walk, with little direction in mind. Or so she thinks.Loki hasn’t flown in tandem with her bonded in awhile, stretching her wings and soaring high above the demigod until they can barely see each other. They travel like this for awhile, silent except for the sounds of King’s End and the occasional screeee from the dragon proclaiming her ownership of these skies. King’s End has been explored, yes, but not specifically. That is, if someone asked the Wraith, oh, hey, do you know where the shrine in King’s End is? She wouldn’t be able to say she does. As Wessex is generally a helpful person, it makes sense that she should look for said shrine. Her feet travel easily up and down the rolling barrows until she spots a small structure in the distance - there, atop the highest little knoll. The Wraith changes course towards it, assuming her heart-and-soul will follow if she wants to. And as she finally approaches the stone altar, she finds herself wrinkling her nose at the thing. Now what?

Evie

One man's hell is another's God

In contrast, Evie finds herself at the shrine completely by accident. The iron doors of the tombs are dark blots against an otherwise rolling landscape, and the shrine is no different. Merely another thing to be investigated for the sake of curiosity. What she isn’t expecting is company, and familiar company at that. There is the habitual twist of nerves and dread in her stomach as she approaches the shrine, but her curiosity drives her forward against it.

“Wessex?” she inquires as she ascends the knoll, curious what the Voice’s demigod is doing at an Old God shrine. Drawing her coat tighter - Gods, why is it so cold for spring? - the Evergreen huffs slightly with exertion as she crests the hill, the rope of the weapon she brought along on her journey bouncing against her thigh. “Treasure hunting?” she asks, bland and clearly sarcastic despite the dryly humorous tilt of a smile on her mouth, gesturing loosely to the hills behind her. Smartly avoiding asking about the far more obvious landmark before them.

It's all about perspective, a parallax

WESSEX after all is said and done you're just a carnivore let you in and drink my blood you're nothing but a monster The demigod whirls on her heels, turning towards the sound of her name with a questioning glance. She hadn’t expected anyone to find her here, but people have a way of popping up in Caido when you least expect it. The burnished copper head, however, is unmistakeable, and her expression quickly changes from surprised to open. “Evie.” The last time she’d seen the Evergreen, it had been… a darker time. A much darker time. “Like these fucks would reveal anything.” Loki has noticed that Wessex is engaged with someone and she drifts down towards the pair, becoming more of a dragon-shaped dot than just a random dot. A dubious, lingering glance remains on the altar, suddenly a bit more restrained, even in the presence of someone she knows has no love for the Old Gods. And then she hears the question again, what was actually asked, and she tries tto correct hereslf. “Ah, that is - nope. No treasures for me.” Relic or otherwise, much to her chagrin. “You?” Quickly turning it back on Evie, Wessex is keenly aware of feeling like more than one pair of eyes are on her - though evidence would say otherwise.

Evie

One man's hell is another's God

The only reason Evie had not succumbed to that darkness was because she had forsaken everything she’d ever known and loved - and lost, time after time - to rot in the land she’d been born in. The last chains she’d needed to escape before healing could begin. She doesn’t regret it, but seeing the tension in Wessex, she can’t help but wonder if the Grounds themselves are intent on cannibalizing their inhabitants. Would the Wraith be next?

The answer is unexpected, and confusing. Evie is careful not to let her brows draw too tellingly tight, sensing she has stepped on shaky ground but unsure how or where to step next. The choice is taken from her as Wessex responds a second time, stumbling and halfhearted. Evie doesn’t pry into the wording or reasoning; instead assuming the easiest, least invasive reasoning she can assume to respond to. “Transparency isn’t an Old God trait I’m afraid,” she responds mildly, her own lifelong bitterness scarcely discernible in her tone.

Evie’s eyes flicker upwards at Loki’s descent before refocusing on the Wraith. Giving a wry grin she gestures to her weapon. “Working with a new weapon, thought I’d find some tougher terrain to practice on. Also thought I’d find a warmer place for the day, but that part was clearly a lost cause.” After her conversation with Melita she can’t help but wonder if maybe…but she has a goal today, and hunting for newly erected shrines in a land she hasn’t fully explored sounds like a great way to get lost with low chances of finding any relevant evidence.

It's all about perspective, a parallax

bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones.

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You've encountered the OG random event! This allows you to skip one levelling requirement with the character in this thread. (Unfortunately does not count for characters over level 10, how sad.)

WESSEX after all is said and done you're just a carnivore let you in and drink my blood you're nothing but a monster It is known that Wessex loves the Voice, she does. The Voice has given her everything she’s asked for, more or less. She has been there to dry the Wraith’s tears and support her when mortal confidences fail and grow weary. She has given her time to rest. Time to grow. And she has demanded little in return, or so the Wraith thinks. But what the Voice does not always give so freely is information, and maybe it’s just the feeling of the whole world being metaphorically shaky beneath her feet that causes such bitterness to suddenly well up. “New Gods ain’t so good with that either,” she scoffs, kicking absently at a corner of the shrine. “Must be a God thing, something about all that power.” Regardless of the reasons from above, it’s clear that as much as the Ascended lives her life in the dark, she hates being kept there, information-wise. So when Evie mentions a weapon, Wessex’s eyes light up and zero in on the thing the Evergreen indicates. Narrowing her eyes in analysis, she can’t quite tell what it is from here, but that doesn’t really matter. A weapon is a weapon and the Wraith is all about the weapons. “Well, activity will keep you warm. If you want to give your new toy a go, I’m happy to help. Can even rustle up some rough terrain, if you give me a burst of Earth magic.” Borderline overly enthusiastic, Wessex is clearly eager for a distraction and besdies - she likes Evie. Stepping in up (or out) to keep Eveie within her magic radius, Wessex makes herself open and ready to receive whatever the redhead might want to throw at her.

Evie

One man's hell is another's God

Her heart can’t help but ache for Wessex. “I can’t imagine how much harder it must be to have that same response while being a Demigod,” she murmurs quietly, brow drawn together in a complex expression of empathy. She may have no love for any of them at this point, but she knows the keen burn of silence, and can’t imagine experiencing any variation of it with no racial reason to explain it away. “I’m sorry.” Because she can’t say nothing at all, but the alternative is flat and pathetic.

Evie is therefore grateful that, though she hadn’t intended it, her weapon seems to brighten the Wraith’s demeanor to something less despondent. A burgeoning grin rises to meet it, and she unhooks the rope from its snaptie at her hip, drawing the weighted, curved end of her modified kusarigama into her right hand to spin it loosely, left hand holding the heavy ball. “The higher angle you’re at on the hill will be a challenge enough, my weapon of choice before this was throwing daggers so I’m not used to being able to pull it back. Don’t laugh if it’s terrible,” she warns with a huff of her own amusement. Truly she’s not that bad, but she hasn’t practiced at this angle before. Spinning the blade end faster, the Evergreen lets it fly towards the Wraith, trusting the woman would have no issue defending herself.

It's all about perspective, a parallax

WESSEX after all is said and done you're just a carnivore let you in and drink my blood you're nothing but a monster Wessex waves away the sentiment with an airy flick of her wrist. It is what it is. No amount of tantruming about will change their nature. Hell, at one point the Wraith had tried to get the Voice to show a more friendly side towards Abandoned, because it would benefit her children, and still, she hears that the Goddess was as cold as the Old Gods. It doesn’t make sense… and so here they are. Bright and curious, she watches as Evie unfurls her weapon - she can see that it’s more than a knife on a string, it’s got a unique blade. Something like a cross between a ball and chain and a knife, but perhaps more agile and able to be redirected. It’s more than a little intriguing, and so the General makes the easy promise, “I promise I won’t laugh,” because she wouldn’t and she wants to see this thing in action.She reaches for her chakram, keeping an eye on the blade as the Evergreen spins it and finding it a bit like jumping rope and waiting for an in. When it does come flying towards her, Wessex takes hold of the chakram and uses it a bit like a shield to deflect the attack, sending the two metal bits clanging against one another.

Evie

One man's hell is another's God

Oh if only Evie knew what Wessex had tried to do. What so many others had tried to do for all Abandoned, private and unknown. A movement Evie would never have envisioned on behalf of people like her.

That ignorance is perhaps a blessing, as it allows her to focus on what they are currently doing. Her first throw is perfect, the clang of metal loud over the hills, but it rings like victory in her ears. Unfortunately her yank back is ill-timed, and instead of sharply returning the handle of the blade to her palm, it falls to the grass just a foot away from her leg. Grumbling slightly, the Evergreen yanks the rope to bounce it up and into her hand. “Still working out the right timing and power to yank it back,” she comments, as if that wasn’t clear enough. Waiting to hear any input from the Wraith to incorporate before moving on.

Going again, she does a backhand spin this time, crossbody. It’s a shakier throw, a little lower than Evie would like, but at least the direction is right as it strikes towards Wessex’s knees.

It's all about perspective, a parallax

WESSEX after all is said and done you're just a carnivore let you in and drink my blood you're nothing but a monster Their blades meet and part, singing the beautiful song of metal-on-metal, with Wessex watching the knife’s return until it falls short of its target. Musing on what the Evergreen might be able to do differently, she has to admit she wasn’t watching the woman’s technique, because one should never take their eyes off the blade if they can help it. “Maybe make sure you have a complete follow through? If you’re extending all the way to send it out, make sure you extend all the way to pull it back” But, y’know, that’s just theory. Wessex is officially talking out of her ass on this one. Assuming that another attack will come, similar to before, the General flexes her forearms on her other hand, prompting metal claws to shwoosh out from between her knuckles. Tucking the hand holding the chakram a little more in and to the side, she tries to get out of her own way as best she can before responding the lower attack, bending down to try and entangle the cord or blade around her claw and hold it fast, unable to be recalled.

Evie

One man's hell is another's God

Evie nods her head, too focused on training and feeling the weight of her weapon to waste any time on words. Tucking it away for her next strike all the same; though of course as she goes to yank it backwards, Wessex’s retaliation is to tangle her claws in the rope. Evie’s voice leaps to her throat and sticks there, intending to warn the woman of the backward-curved addition on the blade - meant for exactly this, and for use as a grappling hook - but she has already yanked back hard on the rope and there’s no time for warning.

Luckily it catches on the claws instead, resistance ringing up Evie’s arm from the now-taut line. Breathing a soft sigh of relief, she focuses instead on her weapon; telekinesis reaching forth to encourage the blade and handle upward off the claw before yanking on it again to try and recall it to her side.

It's all about perspective, a parallax

WESSEX after all is said and done you're just a carnivore let you in and drink my blood you're nothing but a monster There’s something super cool about mixing mediums: in this case, a weapon and magic. It feels like the best of both worlds. With the claws of her left hand still tangled about the blade (don’t work, her fist is tightly closed), Wessex feels the bit of magic being used and slides the waiting chakram into its satchel. The general latches on to Evie’s telekinesis, usign her magic re-resonance to (gently) use her own magic against her. With the Evergreen seemingly focused on getting the kusrigama back, Wessex hopes that she won’t be paying much attention to her balance. There’s no resistance to the retrieval efforts. Instead, the demigod sends tendrils of the power out towards her friend’s feet, doing her best to pull them up and out from underneath her.

Evie

One man's hell is another's God

Some might grow frustrated with their plan not working, but Evie merely brightens and narrows her eyes, sharp mind ticking away as she makes note of this flaw in her fighting style - or perhaps in the weapon itself. Maybe a way to collapse the secondary curved blade if she didn’t want to utilize it, or needed it not to embed itself on an attack?

The magical retaliation is unexpected, but this one she is far more prepared for, if only because Deimos cheerily shakes the ground beneath the Evergreen’s feet in nearly every soar and mischief making revelry they have. Evie uses her own earth magic to nullify it before sending a shockwave back at Wessex, aiming for the Wraith’s feet in petty return. A grin comes to her face as she gives one more yank of the rope before admitting defeat. “Maybe I should have the secondary blade be collapsible. And maybe a flexible metal core beneath the rope, so it can’t be so easily cut?” Already she is scheming and reconfiguring her plans, eager for Wessex’s insight. Back to the drawing board it seems.

It's all about perspective, a parallax

WESSEX after all is said and done you're just a carnivore let you in and drink my blood you're nothing but a monster Well, y’know, that’s the problem with training against a scrappy survivor-turned demigod-turned General with a buttload of power and speed. They can be surprised, but it’s often few and far between, and it’s hard to throw them off balance. Or at least it is for the Wraith, as she is thoroughly unable to comment on Remi and Ronin’s progress. She grins as Evie masterfully absorbs her attack and retaliates with another magical burst. Wessex grabs on to it too, leaping aside and using additional tidbits of the Evergreen’s power to send disruption back towards the shrine. In her case, she directs the magic to focus on the base of the shrine, shaking and shifting, and hopefully making the mortar crack, or a couple of stones shift out of place. Maybe one will even fall to the ground, who knows. And when the magic fades from her body, the Wraith turns back to the former Grounder and comes down the hill towards her. “I don’t know, this is an entirely new thing to me. Metal wire or something that can’t be cut would definitely be an advantage. But then you’d need gloves or some kind of handle, so the metal doesn’t cut you.” Whatever they end up talking about next, Wessex finds herself more light-hearted than she was before she came to the shrine. Some days, that's all that matters. {FIN}