There's too much confusion here

[Vega]

33rd Trial of Vhalar during Arc 720

Following: this

All along the Watchtower
There must be some way out of here
Said the joker to the thief
There's too much confusion
I can't get no relief

Business men, they drink my wine
Plowmen dig my earth
None will level on the line
Nobody offered his word

No reason to get excited
The thief, he kindly spoke
There are many here among us
Who feel that life is but a joke

But you and I, we've been through that
And this is not our fate
So let us not talk falsely now
The hour's getting late

All along the watchtower
Princes kept the view
While all the women came and went
Barefoot servants, too

Outside in the distance
A wildcat did growl
Two riders were approaching
The wind began to howl.

The next Watchtower was in sight as Vega made her way there. There had been three more attacks since the first, each time a little bit more, a little bit harder. Each time, Vega had noticed, she was standing on different ground - like it was testing when she could hear it. So, when the wormanickel attacked her as she walked across a large stone, in a stony area, Vega didn't seem to notice it - didn't react. Because, she was realising, everything she did here gave them information - just like each attack in Storm's Edge did. They were being tested there, and she was being tested here.

Had she been wrong to come alone, Vega wondered. The resounding answer was no, no she had not been. Because she couldn't guarantee that she could protect anyone else and there was already too much blood on her hands. She'd seen too many people die, too many folks who had been killed by these creatures and Vega could not deal with much more. The guilt of every death was raw to her, right there, and she had no wish to add more to the numbers. Not that she spoke about that, of course, not at all or to anyone; truthfully, she wouldn't admit it aloud. If Arlo was here, he'd know without her needing to talk, but just the thought of her husband was enough to leave Vega very clear. "Nope. Not goin' there, Snuffle. Not doin' it.". Snuffle blew tiny bubbles against Vega's ear and the redhead chuckled. "Knock it off, you dweeb," she said, with a grateful smile.

This watchtower was different, Vega thought. It was older than the last one, and it was somewhat larger too. It had an eerie feeling to it and Vega felt a chill ran down her spine. "Is it just me Snuffle," she asked, "or does that place look well creepy?"

"It's not just you Vega Creed," the small creature replied and Vega nodded her head. "Good," Vega said with a genuine grin, "that means there might be something that's actually worth killing in there because up till now they just send in the wussies."

Like its previous counterparts Vega noticed that there was a lot of undergrowth around the tower. Looking down she examined the ground first by simply observing it and then she crouched down in order to examine the terrain. "Hmmmmmmm," Vega said thoughtfully. "What is it Vega Creed?" the small creature who was her companion asked. Vega shook her head "I'm not sure," she said. Aware of Vega's mindset, Snuffle floated around blowing bubbles thoughtfully. Watching the way the bubbles caught and twinkled in the starlight Vega considered a few things but did not speak of them right now. After all they could not be sure whether they were being watched or listened to, yet she was starting to get a picture in her mind of what was happening here. It was clever tactics , she had to give then that. Each attack, they learned more about her, about what she could do and what she couldn't.

When she thought about it though and she had to really think about it Vega realised that she was learning about them too. They were smart, and they tested their theories logically and with patience. As a unit they moved together and we're not afraid to sacrifice individuals for the greater good, or what they saw as the greater good of course. Vega had quite a different idea about the best outcome of each of these encounters.

And, it suddenly occurred to her, that it would be no bad thing if she seemed to struggle more than she actually would. But, that being the case, she still had to weigh it up with also making sure that she didn't get herself dead. After all, there was no use to be had from her if she died out here, and she needed to get back to Storm's Edge, to Numbnuts - he was her responsibility, after all - and to give all and any information she had. So, she turned and sliced down with her sword, recognising that - if these creatures could communicate to each other, if the "main mind" or whatever it was that was behind this was watching, they'd seen her fight already - many times - and when they'd been fighting the Doomernickel, Vega had held nothing back. Nor in the battle with the first Bob. So, she decided that the stable door was open, but there was no point to close it, since the horse had already bolted.

As she stepped towards the watchtower Vega recognised the silence which she had come to associate with a fourth coming attack. She purposely did not look around although she wanted to but if she had then she would have been showing too much of her own skill. Let them think that they were learning about her Vega thought to herself when in fact she was holding secrets close to her chest. Any advantage which she could gain in the fight against these pumpernickels had to be grasped with both hands, even if the options were doing so were now more limited.

It was as she had that thought that a ramernickel charged out of the undergrowth directly at her. “Schnizzle my snoot!" Vega said and took a step backwards. She pulled her sword and met the ramernickel as it charged towards her. Tt moved incredibly quickly, but then again, so did she. Vega sliced her sword down with a yell of exertion and she felt the satisfying sensation of her blade both connecting and cutting through flesh. Unfortunately, the ramernickel was quite a lot tougher than it's worm shaped counterpart and one slice was not enough

"OW!" Vega yelled as the Ramernickel charged into her, knocking her centre of balance off just enough that it's momentum sent her flying. Laying on the ground she was tempted to get up but, instead, she allowed the creature to charge at her. Let it do the work, she thought, let it take the energy. It charged, and she waited until the very last trill before she moved.

Her sword flashed in the moonlight and Vega let out an "EW!" of disgust as she sliced it open. It kept running for a few footsteps before it realised that it was dead and dropping its own entrails. "That's gross," she added, rolling away to get away from the contents of it's stomach and then fluidly getting to her feet. Quickly, she cut off the head and got the gem out of it and then, once she'd cleaned her sword, she made her way into the Watchtower.

Climbing the stairs, Vega could feel that the combat was starting to get to her body a little, was taking its toll. She'd been battered around quite a bit already, but that was fine. So far, it was nothing that she couldn't handle. She made her way up to the top most room of this tower more slowly, though, conserving her own energy and aware of the aches which littered her body already.

Emerging into the room at the top, Vega had an excellent view, once again, of the Stormwastes. Frowning slightly, she sent a prayer to the Immortals with her. "So, I don't know if you all are listenin', an' thanks a lot if you are," she started, "but this is well weird. I used the ability you gave me Xiur, an' thanks again for that, but it didn't quite do what I thought it would. It showed me a path, an' I'm followin' it, but normally it shows me where I've got to go. I'm right sorry if I'm bein' thick, but I'm jus' gonna use it again. Xiur, Qylios, Daia an' Ilaren, thanks to you all for trustin' me to do stuff in your name. I promise you my best, every time."

And, with that chat with any passing Immortal of those four over with, Vega once again used the ability to see if she could see something else. Something different. If it did, she'd make note of what was different and how it was so. But if it was more of the same, then Vega would simply keep going and she'd keep on hoping that the next one would give the answer. Because there were answers to be found here, she was sure of it.

"As sure as eggs is eggs, an' butter is milk, " she said to Snaffle. "We'll work it out eventually. One way or the other." Sighing, she smiled at the small creature. "Cos, I tell you what, this place?" She gestured to the expanse they saw out of the window. "There's too much confusion here."

Would doing this give any relief to this confusion? Vega could only do, and then hope so.

Ability

Guiding Stars ~~The Blessed is guided by the stars at night. When the stars begin to appear it is as if they speak to him, giving intangible hints as to where things are, the best way to go to reach them, and what hazards may lie in whichever path he takes. The glares of starlight seem to take on brief shapes that warn and direct. There must be either direct, or directly reflected, starlight present to receive this benefit. Night clouds lit with starlight will also bestow this benefit. Those that lack Xiur's mark will not perceive this effect

!

Message from: Squirrel

As a result of the use of Guiding Stars at the Watchtowers, Vega is granted a fragmented view of a network of underground tunnels, somewhere directly beneath her. These tunnels are always smooth and rounded, unlike the normal square-shaped corridors that one might find elsewhere in Rharne, and each time branch out in directions leading back to the Stormwastes much farther than Guiding Stars can see. It is only when she visits all the Watchtowers that she is able to completely make out the truth behind these underground tunnels. Running east to west, from the Mire to the Umbral Caverns, sits a large number of underground chambers and interconnected tunnels ranging in size and shape, running deeper into the ground than her ability can fully comprehend. However, these tunnels do not appear to be connected to the surface in any discernible fashion. Instead, these chambers are supported by a latticework of smaller 'support' tunnels that run underneath the Watchtowers themselves. It is clear from this that in order to evade detection from the Lightning Knights, prevent large-scale attacks that would threaten the integrity of their fortifications, and in order to spy on the information gathered by the Lightning Knights, the surface entrances and support hubs were build directly beneath the watchtowers. The upper entrances are only a few feet beneath the surface and connect to the lower floors of the Watchtowers, hidden right under the stone slabs that make up the bottom floors.

[Vega]

33rd Trial of Vhalar during Arc 720

Looking at it, the pattern crafted in star light below her, Vega stepped back.

Then, she moved back to her original place, putting one foot in front of another, and stepping back to the window. Where she checked that she was not dreaming.

And she wasn't.

"Faldrun's farts an' Tio's tiny todger, this is not good." Vega whispered to herself as she reached into her bag.

From there, she pulled out a parchment and a quill and she began to write. Writing was not an easy thing for Vega, nor was reading. But she knew that time was of the essence. That Snaffle could get to Vivian much quicker than she could and those moments - bits and breaks though they might be - might make a difference, might give them an advantage. And they needed every advantage they could get.

So, with a deep sigh of frustration - entirely aimed at herself for her difficulty with this task, which was usually simple to most people, she knew. But the letters danced and were fluid like the ocean to Vega and she had to catch them. Stress or rushing made it worse, and so, the letter Vega sent showed just how much stress she was under and how rushed she was. Yet, it said what it needed to say. That was all she could do.

When she was done, she lifted her head and handed it to Snaffle. "Fast as you can. Please. Jus' get it in Vivian's hands. Please." There was a rough sketch and a rough note. Arlo would know how much work it took her to write that, in these circumstances, but Vega didn't care. It was needed and so, she did.

Deer Vivian,

I sent bac the nights with me. I am gong rownd the Watch-twoers. I yoused an ability Ziur gifts me from the top of the towers. Viv, they are yousing are towers. There are tunnels, smewth like in the Umbral Caveserns. They are made by womerynikkels. There are loads of tunnels. If drawn them as I sea them below.

Its importent you understand there are a hewge number of them. It was two big for my ability just wonce. But wehn I wnent rownd a few twoers, then it was obvious. East to west - from the Mire to the Umbral Cavrruns. There are lots of them, criss-crossing and sum of them going real deeply. But they dont kome to the surfice. Thers like a cross-criss of smaller tunnels that run rite under the twowers. They are using our twoers, Viv. Under them, they can listern to us, and they appeer from there.

Rite under the floors. Its how they were in the bassmont of Storms Edge. We need to stop this, now. Sorry that my writting is rubush, yew now I struggel. Im on my way. Genna and Elizabeth and Varlum haf seen the tunels. Theres another isecal (liek Varlum) calling prowtorum who is clever with tack-tiks.

Be carfful, Viv. They are under yewr feets.

Vega.

[Squirrel]

Vega

Points: 2 Tier 2 XP.

Knowledges:
Combat: Blade: Fighting on different ground
Combat: Blade: Learning from fights
Tactics x6

Immortal Mark Progression: Vega's resolve throughout the search across the Watchtowers to provide valuable information for the war effort did not go unnoticed by Xiur, who awards her the next ability of her mark.

Dusk to Dawn: The Blessed can now gain the benefit of "Guiding Light" even when starlight is not naturally present. This includes being indoors and underground. The Blessed still sees visions of starlight hints in his eyes that no other sees. But this benefit is only during nighttime breaks.

Renown: 10

Comments:

Sorry this arrived late, but this was a blast to read and I love Snaffle's commentary throughout - hope you enjoy!