then we grasped

Deimos

Another march to the Citadel’s shrine, another round of successful work and efforts by the crew of determined Halovians within their snowy world. Not for defenses, not for strategic maneuvers, not for weaponry or armaments, but for their quality of life. Different and new for the Sword, but it gave less of an edge to his shoulders as they kneeled before the altar again, first placing some smaller offerings along edges and fringes, before positioning the lava wyrms, within their enclosures, upon the floor.

Glancing at Evie with a small grin, he then straightened out his form, bowing his head, words following for the nature aspect of the herald. “Frey, thank you for the opportunity you have given Halo. We have completed our tasks.” From hollering across the Fangs, to scouting out volcanic rock and embedding it within the layout, to instigating water fights and ridiculous, but amusing, endeavors – granting them a semblance of ease they hadn’t had in a long while. Even if an inquiry lurked in the back of his mind.

--

Turning in Halo’s RQ for a hot springs, received here: on a single stone


Tasks. There is no time limit. There are currently 10 active Halovians. This means 5 unique characters have to participate. Characters can participate more than once. Deimos and Evie must participate in at least 2 threads each.

1. A thread scouting the Fangs for a suitable place for the hotsprings to be built. During the thread, the participants must shout into the Fangs to hear their voices echo back at them. - Noah, Deimos, Sah - Keep trying for the pat hand {rq}

2. A thread of 3 Halovians collecting volcanic rock from Apopo in Torchline.  - Hotaru, Noah, Talyson - {RQ} with these diamond hands

3. A thread of 3 Halovians collecting water from Frey's Breath in the Climb. During the thread, the participants must host a water fight. - Noah, Deimos, Evie - {RQ} nothing frightening here

4. A thread encountering and capturing at least three lava wyrms. The wyrms must be alive when you return to Frey. - Deimos, Talyson - {RQ} Fire from the stone

5. A PQ of at least 3 Halovians to build the structure of the hotsprings in the Fangs, using the volcanic rock and the water collected in previous threads. - Evie, Deimos, Sah, Talyson - {PQ} {RQ} Querencia

we exhume our enemy's bones
we are battling, hungry beasts

The hunter met the wardens at the entrance to the Citadel’s shrine, his gathered offerings in hand. It was early, but as their tasks came to a close and the light static of Halo started to increase at the idea of what was to come they knew it was time. Carefully, and with much intentionality, Noah placed his offerings of dried fruits and newly harvested spring flowers from the greenhouse along the altar. He let Deimos do the talking, the summoning, but he reached out with his own mind and heart to the herald he had followed before becoming VI’s chosen. He didn’t feel the same anticipation in his bones as he once did when he waited for the gods. While there was still reverence, a great and ever increasing respect, Noah was confident in his standing before them. VI’s chosen, their champion, victor over the ascended and the threats the world posed and brought up. And it was this same confidence Noah held in Halo, and Freys willingness to help her and her people.

don't wait for the wolves to tear you apart; there's always a cage around your heart

Evie

And it's my whole heart
While tried and tested, it's mine

Pleased that their advisor had chosen to accompany them as invited, Evie greets Noah warmly as they coalesce from a duo into a trio and march their way through the Citadel to the shrine with their offerings. Evie kneels alongside Deimos as she always does, and communes with his little grin with a returned one of her own - eager for this particular reward, for something that will remind them of peacetimes instead of war.

A jewelry rendition of lily-of-the-valley flowers in a small bracelet finds its way upon the altar amidst all the others, and though Noah does not add his own outward prayer, Evie's excitement bubbles like champagne on her tongue until it inevitably forces itself through in the form of words. "Thank you for keeping us safe with your blessings throughout the war," she begins, wanting to express her gratitude first, "for helping us with Halo's advancements - they've led to us being able to construct something like this. I hope you're satisfied with our efforts."

Burned but not buried this time

Frey

"Let it never be said that Halovians are not a generous people." Frey's voice is a warm echo around the walls of the shrine, and though they appear nestled among the (many) offerings, their golden skin freckled as if having been kissed by the Torchline sun, they are as good as reaching for each and every one of those who are gathered.

"Ah, and you have brought the final piece. Wonderful work, sweetpeas." Reaching out with soft and caressing fingers, Frey frees the lava wyrms which twist and coil gratefully about their arms, before melting into their skin like living tattoos. Rubbing their hands together, that same heat generated by the wyrms builds between their palms.

And while the Fangs are a ways out - and thus the miracle being performed unseen - as Frey blows away the warmth on a quiet breath, there is a sense of something taking place.

"Make sure to go and enjoy it," they purr to the Wardens and their advisor. "The heat will do wonders for sore muscles."

---

Halo has completed its RQ and has received the following upgrade!

Nestled within the Fangs, an open air hotsprings fills the area with heady steam. Frey-made, it covers an area of about 40 square metres and will never freeze over, providing a welcome reprieve from the cold.

This will be added to the description of the Fangs.

Deimos

Nature descended and filtered, flickering around their thanks and praise, and the Sword watched as they settled amidst the gathered sentiments. The wryms collected and pulsed and disappeared, the unforeseen melding and molding of the springs, sanctifying all of Halo’s hard work in times of salvation and repose. The springs would be a highlight of those distinctions, of moments where they weren’t scattered upon weaponry and armaments, by angst and melancholy, but pieces gradually built back together.

“We will,” came as a promise, and a smile to the rest of his brethren. With one last breath, they could leave the herald in peace, though likely due to come again before long – with more plans, thoughts, and ideas. “Thank you again, for everything.”

Then they could leave, to spread the news of Halo’s latest fortune.

{FIN <3}

we exhume our enemy's bones
we are battling, hungry beasts