People were afraid, feeling helpless and anxious about what was happening at the spire, and being helpless made many people angry. The bard was no stranger to the emotion, but he made his living by knowing when to keep his emotions hidden and when it was safe to give them rein.
This gathering, turning from a vigil to a warzone, was no place for one more loose temper.
The anger from the naturals, however, was... well, natural. He could recognize it, understand it, even empathize with it... And still be frustrated that they hadn't seen fit to speak up sooner. He had called a meeting specifically to ask for everyone's input on where to go if - if - the assault was successful, but only a handful had come, and where had these discussions been then? Or during the Deepfrost townhall meeting? Or at any other time?
No, the resentment had been building since before his own portal had dropped him in, simmering just below the surface, festering until now -now, with the spire demon slavering after their companions beneath the noonday sun - fear broke it loose and let it run like blood across the collection of witnesses that seemed on the edge of becoming a brawl.
Maea spoke with quiet confidence for peace, and Jigano was proud of her for it. Sam... huddled away from everyone, lost to all but the sight of his lover amid the chaos that raged beside the Spire no less than here. The bard frowned as Zariah - rude, insulting woman - seemed to take a certain malicious glee in stoking the fires around her. But with several of the naturals already angry at an 'us vs. them' dichotomy, another outlander trying to take charge from them would only make things worse. The lorekeeper sighed, gaze fixed and jaw set as he watched the Demon attack Roana, watched the counterattack as Isuma shivered on his shoulder, hunched down and hiding in his hair--
Beside him, Rory spoke up again, and that finally drew blue eyes from the carnage at play in the distance. He drew in a breath... and then held it, letting his friend finish. Like the others who had spoken up, they were words that needed saying. Needed letting out, before healing could begin. Obviously not all outlanders were engaged in this madness - there were enough of them here, watching, to prove that. Jigano would have urged more patience, more research, but then, he was never going to be at the vanguard of such an attack. It was easier for him to rationalize waiting, when he didn't need to wonder if the day of the attack would be his last.
But there was little he could do where he was but cause more strife by speaking up and making the rift deeper. WhenRory looked to him, so silently hurting and angry and sad, the corners of Jigano's eyes softened and he gave a small nod at the gentle touch at his wrist. As the hunter strode away, tense and still on edge, the bard walked at his side until they had a little distance from the group, and a little privacy for a moment. Only then did he reach out to brush his knuckles against the back of his friend's hand, offering comfort if the other man wanted the contact, though not pressing to take his hand if Rory made no move in return. Now that they were away from the shouting, Isuma peeked out tentatively from between silver strands of his hair. "May I stay with you," he asked softly, eyes on the fight that might determine nothing new... or everything, "while we wait to know what tomorrow will bring?" Funeral pyres... or a step closer to the freedom that so many both craved and feared with equal fervor?
Jigano is disheartened by the bickering but realizes that anything he says will only make the naturals who are angry even madder. He goes apart with Rory to watch from a quieter vantage.
This gathering, turning from a vigil to a warzone, was no place for one more loose temper.
The anger from the naturals, however, was... well, natural. He could recognize it, understand it, even empathize with it... And still be frustrated that they hadn't seen fit to speak up sooner. He had called a meeting specifically to ask for everyone's input on where to go if - if - the assault was successful, but only a handful had come, and where had these discussions been then? Or during the Deepfrost townhall meeting? Or at any other time?
No, the resentment had been building since before his own portal had dropped him in, simmering just below the surface, festering until now -now, with the spire demon slavering after their companions beneath the noonday sun - fear broke it loose and let it run like blood across the collection of witnesses that seemed on the edge of becoming a brawl.
Maea spoke with quiet confidence for peace, and Jigano was proud of her for it. Sam... huddled away from everyone, lost to all but the sight of his lover amid the chaos that raged beside the Spire no less than here. The bard frowned as Zariah - rude, insulting woman - seemed to take a certain malicious glee in stoking the fires around her. But with several of the naturals already angry at an 'us vs. them' dichotomy, another outlander trying to take charge from them would only make things worse. The lorekeeper sighed, gaze fixed and jaw set as he watched the Demon attack Roana, watched the counterattack as Isuma shivered on his shoulder, hunched down and hiding in his hair--
Beside him, Rory spoke up again, and that finally drew blue eyes from the carnage at play in the distance. He drew in a breath... and then held it, letting his friend finish. Like the others who had spoken up, they were words that needed saying. Needed letting out, before healing could begin. Obviously not all outlanders were engaged in this madness - there were enough of them here, watching, to prove that. Jigano would have urged more patience, more research, but then, he was never going to be at the vanguard of such an attack. It was easier for him to rationalize waiting, when he didn't need to wonder if the day of the attack would be his last.
But there was little he could do where he was but cause more strife by speaking up and making the rift deeper. When
Jigano is disheartened by the bickering but realizes that anything he says will only make the naturals who are angry even madder. He goes apart with Rory to watch from a quieter vantage.
