audio | unseelie locked | february 7th, post-destruction of caer scima.

[boutant]

[ She would use the video function but there's blood everywhere -- on her hands, her mouth, her chin. There will be more, if she has her way. Her voice is tight with barely concealed emotion -- rage, worry. Next to her comes the low sounds of a wolf who seems to be in pain; poor Brennan had felt it when Caer Scima was attacked, his howl having split across the battlefield like a clap of thunder. ]

If you can be spared or have the capacity, go put out the fires in La Llorona. Caer Scima's destroyed, if you haven't already heard the news. Any refugees can head for the third spire, if they need a place to go. I'd offer my manor as well, but you'll have to get through the burning forest to get there. Still, if you can, it's open to you.

[ A hissed breath. ]

Let me know if you're out of there. And- if anyone knows if a vampire named Aindrea got out of Caer Scima, please tell me.

Oh, and if you still think this war doesn't involve you, is something you can avoid? You're an idiot.

Comments

[uneulogized]

People actually think that?

[Why is he actually asking that. Of course they do.]

Never mind. [If this was video, he'd be shaking his head. He even is right now, but she just can't see it.]

Do you really think people are gonna switch gears? [Because he sure as hell hopes that they do.]

[boutant]

Well, that or they'll be an easy target.

[ There's a sound like Ariadne spitting; she's got blood in her mouth. ]

Not that everyone goes out looking to kill people, but clearly enough do.

text, locked;

[enthraller]

Let me know if you need additional supplies, once you've had a chance to take stock of things. Redgate still owes you a debt.

text, locked;

[boutant]

Thank you. I might.

This is a mess.

action

[wipedclean]

[The stench of blood and death hangs over the battlefield like a fog, but he's used to it. He's used to the way blood sticks to him, and really, at this point, the only things he's bothering to keep clean are his knives.

It's not hard to find Ariadne... all he has to do is follow the sound of the wolf crying. There's a tightening in his chest he doesn't quite understand when he hears it, when he sees Ariadne covered in blood and seething. He walks up to her, waits for her to finish speaking into her locket.]

Are you injured?

action

[boutant]

No.

[ She's used the healing magic she knows on any injuries she's sustained, patched up Brennan as well from any injuries -- though it doesn't help with the pain over Caer Scima. ]

I'm just- We knew they were coming. But we didn't know they were coming like that.

voice. permaprivate

[notyetlegend]

You're safe.

[There's no denying the relief in her voice, even as her chest aches at Ariadne's tone of voice. That was still one of her friends accounted for, and she was grateful for that.]

voice. permaprivate

[boutant]

For now. Battle's not over yet.

[ And she's not leaving yet. ]

video

[chaoticwhimsy]

[Here Ariadne, have an exhausted looking Lumina.]

I dropped a bunch of castle people and imps at your spire. Sorry.

video

[boutant]

[ Well, have Ariadne's blood-spattered face in response. ]

That's fine. Thank you -- and I'm glad you're okay.

video »

[steadfasts]

( Clarke recognizes Ariadne's voice immediately from a feed on someone elses locket; she'd been back at the medical outpost to restock on supplies, but the mention of La Llorona burning catches her attention. she still needed to venture back out there for her quest. rifling around in her jacket pockets, she pulls out her own locket to listen to the feed, heart sinking. )

I'm heading back to the frontlines. I'll send anyone that's unfit to fight but still capable to help La Llorona. ( a beat, Clarke doing her best to try and see if she can figure out where Ariadne is. ) Do you have a medic with you?

video »

[boutant]

[ Her face is covered in blood; Ariadne tries to wipe some off with the back of her hand. It mostly just smears it around. ]

I know some healing magic. So do a few other people here.

Video; locked

[huntedby]

[Vanessa just hits whatever button turns on. She can't be bothered to do much else. She looks a mess as well, sounds all around her.]

My spire is open as well--I took the major influx of refugees--I'm sending vampires and any that need darkness to Spire 7, I'll send your way as well, if necessary.

Video; locked

[boutant]

[ There's blood everywhere, splattered up Ariadne's face; she can't quite get it off. She's a little too upset to care that much. ]

I've got some vampires already at mine; they'll be in good company.

voice. | locked.

[debts]

[ Short. Clipped. ]

Ariadne?

voice. | locked.

[boutant]

[ At her side, Brennan whines. ]

Natasha?

video;

[desperate_times]

The spire? You all should make for the hills! If Caer Scima is gone, the spires will be nothing to them!

You should abandon that damn forest, too.

video;

[boutant]

[ Ariadne is absolutely covered in blood; when she speaks, it's on her teeth. It's in her hair. And it doesn't appear to be hers. ]

And do what? Wander in the Desolate Lands? We don't have a lot of options. The best we can hope for is that the Jabberwock is buying us time.

video;

[dragmire]

Chloe speaks it true. If they have decimated Caer Scima, then it may come they will target the spires next. The net has failed.

[Even with the spires to protect all sides, the Seelie came right in the heart of Dorchadas. What was the use of all these barons now, aside to be easy targets?]

video;

[boutant]

Something we didn't expect happened. I don't know what, but that's the only way. And that's still ten places they have to go to, plus a released Jabberwock.

[ Her teeth are bright red, matching her chin; for Ganondorf, she doesn't bother trying to wipe the blood away. ]

They may well target Mair next. Are we just going to give up because of what they might do?

audio.

[semiurge]

So, fastest introduction ever, but I'm Billy and I can help with those fires. My magic isn't what it should be, but I can work at getting small areas under control. I mean, really small parts, and not for long.

[ He'll sigh here, because he knows it isn't enough and he should be able to do more. ]

It's better than nothing, right?

audio.

[boutant]

Ariadne. And- please. If nothing else, if we can stop it from spreading...

[ She swallows. ]

I'd tried to get people in the forest to safety, but there are likely still villages that were hidden or people who just refused to leave.

video;

[vaccinations]

[Ellie is grimy. Dirty from blood, mud, dirt, and all the unpleasant things that come with war. She looks far too weary for a girl her age.]

Fuck.

I'm sorry. This is. [My Fault.] I tried to hold 'em off. But it was too much. And they're still at it.

video;

[boutant]

[ The blood has been smeared around her face now, by hands and cloth; it hasn't helped, but at least it's mostly out of her mouth. ]

Lots of people tried. It's- They did this.

audio;

[zerotohiro]

[Audio for audio, Ariadne. In contrast to her barely concealed emotion he's rather flat and emotionless. Everything's such a mess right now, it's a lot to take in.]

I'll see what I can do. I'll think of something.

[Jason's already told him to stay out of this war, but this? This is just vindication. He'll figure out something.]

Your spire's completely secure? [He doesn't exactly mistrust Ariadne's judgment or work, but if their entire castle can be destroyed…]

audio;

[boutant]

Nothing's completely secure. But we don't have a lot of options -- going south is out. The spires are what we have; they'll have to work.

[ Or else they'll all die. ]

private video

[bythewaves]

[ There is very little that will rouse him right now. Aragorn is dead, and likely, in her grief Arwen will follow. His brother, his cousins... his family are gone.

Let the Men go to war says Curufin in his ear We are Eldar. We can wait

Let them waste their foolishness on each other spits Caranthir Never seeing how they dance like puppets to the Rulers tune

As I did? says Celegorm, and the others fall silent.

But he likes Ariadne. ]

Are you hurt?

[ So, so very pale, and the Light within him flickers restless beneath his skin. The song that lurks beneath his voice speaks of the Sea, a restless pull that he can never answer, an ocean of tears ]

private video

[boutant]

[ She is red, red and dark brown and red, covered in it no matter how much she tries to wipe it away -- too much has dried, and clean rags are for the healers. When she answers Maglor, she's down on the ground with Brennan, running a hand through the wolf's fur. ]

Between Elrond and the books in Caer Scima's library [ gone now, all of it ] I can heal myself fairly well.

[ He should know; she'd done it for him, or tried to, when it came to his hands. ]

private;

[erythristic]

There is a team of six I will send to you. Tell me what they should be ordered to do before I have them answer to your people's requests.

[they'll survive, she knows, but she's not going to leave them to burn. there's ways of sending messages.]

private;

[boutant]

North. The fires will spread; we need to stop them, even if that means leaving what's already on fire to burn.

AUDIO.

[selfimage]

Quite the welcome we received, and piles of questions that come along with it.

[ it's hard to tell if he sounds physically or emotionally drained. it's probably more of the latter. ]

Spire, you said?

AUDIO.

[boutant]

I can try to answer some.

[ It's definitely the latter for her. Healing magic is a nice energy booster. ]

Yes. The third one -- should be on your map.

video.

[andallbite]

—Ariadne!

[ Hello, here's a familiar face, ragged as it may be. But for all his uniform is frayed, spots of his own blood staining the clothing, utterly weary as he may be—Eren is surprisingly uninjured. At least there's that. ]

Where are you? Are you okay?

video.

[boutant]

[ Oh, hi Eren. There's a faint smile of relief when she sees him, which- probably mostly looks terrible, considering how much blood is on her face and still in her mouth. ]

Behind Unseelie lines right now. I'll be back out in the fray soon. Where are you?

audio;

[survivra]

I know Aindrea. Was she there? Was she with anyone else?

audio;

[boutant]

Yeah, she was trying to coordinate things with the vampires, as far as I know -- I don't know the names of who else she might have been with. Mandli's with me, so...

video

[ziggyzoggy]

I'm alive. Pulled some out before the walls came down.

[Obviously. He's disheveled; a good handful of his paint looks wiped off his forehead, and there's dried blood mixed into part of it, staining his face. A strip of is seems to have dried under one nostril, and his hair seems singed. His bandersnatch is behind him, grumbling and missing some of his tack, looking anxious to get moving.]

What I got, I can send to ya.

video

[boutant]

[ Have you ever seen a human covered in this much blood that isn't their own, Vol'jin? ]

Thank god. And- please. Are you hurt?