At first Evan was visibly irritated with the news of the visitor. Here the meeting was finally about to wrap up, and at current juncture Evan had a mind to try to grab Mizu's ear about last night once it did. When the woman spoke up his irritation faded to mostly suspicion, his raised eyebrows betraying some interest and curiosity in what she had to say.
"What exactly is it you've heard?" Evan spoke up, his tone challenging, though holding back from being hostile.
The truth was he really did want to hear what the woman had to say, but he also wasn't particularly inclined to show their cards before it was clear it'd be to their benefit.
Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Moderator: On Dreams And Desire
Re: Part 1
The crone did not turn her head in Evan's direction even the slightest, almost as if she were blind, though her eyes were exceptionally clear. She did respond to him, saying, "three of your men now have fallen to their own night terrors and cannot wake from them. You will see that the Shel'ti have it the same, but they don't listen to me, no. But, you, Oomizuao, I suspect you may take heed where others have not."
Mizu jumped at the sound of her formal name, which none of her men had ever seen her do. She had not been called that since childhood and had secreted it away long before she ever climbed ranks in the king's army. Mizu could not think of where this woman heard her name, but it unsettled her deeply.
"What do you purpose we do. Speak plainly," Mizu spat out, each word far more angry than Mizu was accustomed to though still exceptionally controlled in delivery.
"You have to give the goddess what she wants or talk her out of it, though that will be far more difficult. She'll need a man strong enough to withstand her power, walk into the land of death with her, and return unscathed. A promise was deeply broken that must be repaired. I know the ceremony and ritual that will accomplish it."
Mizu barely let the crone finish getting her words out before she said, "I will not give up any more of my troops."
"Then she will continue taking them regardless."
Mizu jumped at the sound of her formal name, which none of her men had ever seen her do. She had not been called that since childhood and had secreted it away long before she ever climbed ranks in the king's army. Mizu could not think of where this woman heard her name, but it unsettled her deeply.
"What do you purpose we do. Speak plainly," Mizu spat out, each word far more angry than Mizu was accustomed to though still exceptionally controlled in delivery.
"You have to give the goddess what she wants or talk her out of it, though that will be far more difficult. She'll need a man strong enough to withstand her power, walk into the land of death with her, and return unscathed. A promise was deeply broken that must be repaired. I know the ceremony and ritual that will accomplish it."
Mizu barely let the crone finish getting her words out before she said, "I will not give up any more of my troops."
"Then she will continue taking them regardless."
Re: Part 1
Evan glanced between Mizu and the crone with a furrowed brow at that rather random-sounding namedrop and Mizu's terse reply. Either Mizu was hiding some sort of connection, or the crone was just making shit up. Or, y'know, neither of those was the case. Evan was more likely to believe the third option now than he was a day ago, so there was that.
The rest of the conversation only made him all the more... awkwardly grateful, for the experience in the infirmary tent last night. Without it he might've been tempted to laugh the crone out of the tent, but as things stood he was in fact taking this pretty fucking seriously.
"Fine, say we complete this task."
Evan spoke up again, this time drawing a subtle quirked eyebrow from Blake. Her damn poker faces were too hard to read to know for sure what that was about, but Evan did his best not to get distracted trying to decipher it. Blake could think whatever she wanted, anyway.
"What would we be helping this goddess accomplish? Surely there's a reason the Shel'ti haven't been inclined to do it, if what you say is true. Is it disbelief, inability, or something else?"
The rest of the conversation only made him all the more... awkwardly grateful, for the experience in the infirmary tent last night. Without it he might've been tempted to laugh the crone out of the tent, but as things stood he was in fact taking this pretty fucking seriously.
"Fine, say we complete this task."
Evan spoke up again, this time drawing a subtle quirked eyebrow from Blake. Her damn poker faces were too hard to read to know for sure what that was about, but Evan did his best not to get distracted trying to decipher it. Blake could think whatever she wanted, anyway.
"What would we be helping this goddess accomplish? Surely there's a reason the Shel'ti haven't been inclined to do it, if what you say is true. Is it disbelief, inability, or something else?"
Re: Part 1
"They will not risk summoning her. They fear their problems will only multiply by engaging her directly. They will not listen to counsel. If you bring her offerings, then she will stop, and if you give her a good enough reason, she may even join your cause. But, she is an unpredictable one, and she is angry," the crone stated with dignity and resolution.
"Stop," Mizu said abruptly, "This is foolishness. I will not stand for this false hope. We will be out of the place before the moon is out, regardless."
"You'll come around," the crone said, and Mizu didn't appreciate that it came across, at least to her over-sensitive ears, as something of a threat. Being told what she would do by another always came across to Mizu as a threat.
"Stop," Mizu said abruptly, "This is foolishness. I will not stand for this false hope. We will be out of the place before the moon is out, regardless."
"You'll come around," the crone said, and Mizu didn't appreciate that it came across, at least to her over-sensitive ears, as something of a threat. Being told what she would do by another always came across to Mizu as a threat.
Re: Part 1
"And what's your stake in this?" Evan pressed on, keeping his gaze on the crone. He was aware that Mizu might not appreciate the continued questioning, but damnit, he still wanted to know more about who the fuck this person was and what all she really knew, or even could indeed help with.
"Your commander said stop," Blake snapped before the crone could answer, tired herself of this conversation. She turned to face Mizu, hand resting calmly but confidently on her weapon. "Would you like me to escourt her from camp?"
"For fuck's sake," Evan rolled his eyes, frustration tipping past his ability to keep his expression flat at this point. He turned to face Mizu as well, praying she could see he was dead serious about what he had to say next.
"Mizu, we *have* to entertain options we wouldn't normally. I don't trust this woman by any means, but if we throw her out without more information, then I swear to the gods it'll be you being reckless, not me."
Blake was visibly pissed - although mostly just signified by narrowed eyes and a clenched jaw in her otherwise stoic expression. She held her tongue for the moment, waiting to read Mizu's response and follow her lead.
"Your commander said stop," Blake snapped before the crone could answer, tired herself of this conversation. She turned to face Mizu, hand resting calmly but confidently on her weapon. "Would you like me to escourt her from camp?"
"For fuck's sake," Evan rolled his eyes, frustration tipping past his ability to keep his expression flat at this point. He turned to face Mizu as well, praying she could see he was dead serious about what he had to say next.
"Mizu, we *have* to entertain options we wouldn't normally. I don't trust this woman by any means, but if we throw her out without more information, then I swear to the gods it'll be you being reckless, not me."
Blake was visibly pissed - although mostly just signified by narrowed eyes and a clenched jaw in her otherwise stoic expression. She held her tongue for the moment, waiting to read Mizu's response and follow her lead.
Re: Part 1
The tension in the room became palpable as Mizu turned a heavy, narrow gaze to Evan in immense disapproval. To be compared against Evan as the more reckless one infuriated her, though she only let it show in her eyes. Mizu had still not gotten used to the devotion Blake gave to her, but Blake's comment caused a far less visceral reaction in Mizu.
After taking a sharp inhale that was all but inaudible, Mizu said, "I may not be your ruler, but I am your commander, and I will be shown the respect that title deserves. Do not think I have not considered and weighed those thoughts myself."
"I think the man deserves an answer to his question," the crone said, looking pointedly at Mizu. Mizu found it difficult to pull her death glare away from Evan but was further frustrated by the fact that he would probably now get what he wanted. At this point, however, it would look foolish for her to deny readily available information. There was no reason to be vehemently against this opportunity anymore.
Mizu was not willing to tell the woman she could speak but did not interrupt the crone as she continued.
"Before the king destroyed the temples, I served as a priestess to the goddess faithfully for many years and was forced into hiding. Many of my fellow priestesses were not so lucky. Several of the women I held as apprentices ended up in the king's court, and not in a place of honor, mind you. I am eager for the Queen of Dreams to take our collective fury out on that man. I do not imagine it will require much convincing."
After taking a sharp inhale that was all but inaudible, Mizu said, "I may not be your ruler, but I am your commander, and I will be shown the respect that title deserves. Do not think I have not considered and weighed those thoughts myself."
"I think the man deserves an answer to his question," the crone said, looking pointedly at Mizu. Mizu found it difficult to pull her death glare away from Evan but was further frustrated by the fact that he would probably now get what he wanted. At this point, however, it would look foolish for her to deny readily available information. There was no reason to be vehemently against this opportunity anymore.
Mizu was not willing to tell the woman she could speak but did not interrupt the crone as she continued.
"Before the king destroyed the temples, I served as a priestess to the goddess faithfully for many years and was forced into hiding. Many of my fellow priestesses were not so lucky. Several of the women I held as apprentices ended up in the king's court, and not in a place of honor, mind you. I am eager for the Queen of Dreams to take our collective fury out on that man. I do not imagine it will require much convincing."
Re: Part 1
Fuuuuuuuuuuuck.
Evan met Mizu's heavy gaze straight-on, his own expression quite visibly holding all the usual rage and frustration he predictably exhibited when pulled rank on. It was arguably a sign of growth that he held his tongue at least, though a cynical read might be that his silence was only self-serving, if he'd correctly sensed the direction things would go. Once Mizu shifted her gaze away Evan let his gaze fall, and a twinge of shame creep in around the edges. Damnit, if he'd just had a chance to talk to her before all this...
His eyes returned quickly to the crone at the mention of destroyed temples, something lighter finally playing across his face - excitement, maybe? He was holding in whatever it was, and it nearly completely faded when the crone finished talking, as Evan silently grit his teeth while contemplating what to do next. He still wanted to ask more questions - gods, he could come up with a lot - but further inquiry would be poisoned by the tension in the room. A younger Evan might've pressed on, but he had learned some restraint over the years.
With a sigh, he turned his gaze back to Mizu again, but held his head lower than before. His eyes still certainly held anger and frustration, but miraculously, there was also a hint of apology in the shape of his brows.
Evan met Mizu's heavy gaze straight-on, his own expression quite visibly holding all the usual rage and frustration he predictably exhibited when pulled rank on. It was arguably a sign of growth that he held his tongue at least, though a cynical read might be that his silence was only self-serving, if he'd correctly sensed the direction things would go. Once Mizu shifted her gaze away Evan let his gaze fall, and a twinge of shame creep in around the edges. Damnit, if he'd just had a chance to talk to her before all this...
His eyes returned quickly to the crone at the mention of destroyed temples, something lighter finally playing across his face - excitement, maybe? He was holding in whatever it was, and it nearly completely faded when the crone finished talking, as Evan silently grit his teeth while contemplating what to do next. He still wanted to ask more questions - gods, he could come up with a lot - but further inquiry would be poisoned by the tension in the room. A younger Evan might've pressed on, but he had learned some restraint over the years.
With a sigh, he turned his gaze back to Mizu again, but held his head lower than before. His eyes still certainly held anger and frustration, but miraculously, there was also a hint of apology in the shape of his brows.
Re: Part 1
Though Mizu was now looking directly at the crone again, she registered Evan's shame in her peripherals. She quickly did another mental calculation about the ferocity with which she scolded him and decided again that it had been worth it, especially with all the other knight captains there. It was important to demonstrate she was in control of the situation, worth far more than Evan's shame. She would not admit that some small part of her was proud of him.
"We are going to consult with the Shel'ti tomorrow, and I want to have their perspective on this situation," Mizu said diplomatically. "Until then, I don't want anyone attempting to summon the creature, whether or not she exists or is actually the cause." Mizu finished with a small twist of her head that seemed to convey that she was ready for the crone to leave. The old woman opened her mouth as if to say something, but no words escaped. Instead, she looked around the room, touching eyes with each of the knight captains and settling on Evan. She stared into him with her deep pools of gray eyes as if she could see the bottoms of his feet through his gaze and then finally blinked, turned around, and began to walk out.
"We are going to consult with the Shel'ti tomorrow, and I want to have their perspective on this situation," Mizu said diplomatically. "Until then, I don't want anyone attempting to summon the creature, whether or not she exists or is actually the cause." Mizu finished with a small twist of her head that seemed to convey that she was ready for the crone to leave. The old woman opened her mouth as if to say something, but no words escaped. Instead, she looked around the room, touching eyes with each of the knight captains and settling on Evan. She stared into him with her deep pools of gray eyes as if she could see the bottoms of his feet through his gaze and then finally blinked, turned around, and began to walk out.
Re: Part 1
Evan shifted his gaze down again when Mizu finished speaking, his jaw clamped and his fists tense at his sides. She'd at least talk to the Shel'ti about it, and it was wise to get their perspective on it. Evan did his best to assure himself of those things, but he couldn't shake the desire to ask the woman more questions, and he hated that his standing with Mizu was at odds with that in the current situation. In some ways he hated that he cared, but he knew that was a childish part of him, and that he'd hate it just as much if he did something objectively stupid in frustration.
He was surprised to feel the crone's gaze land on him, and that somewhat drew him out of his current thought process, his gaze turning up to meet hers. He blinked at her curiously, some of the tension in his body relaxing, if only because he felt distracted from what had tensed him up in the fist place. He wondered, tentatively, how much her attention on him in this moment was simply borne of his words this morning, or whether there was any chance the woman had any idea about his experience last night. He supposed that was part of what he wanted to ask her about, come to think of it, though he supposed that realistically he actually didn't want to ask about it in front of everyone else. In any case, she was already turning and leaving, and putting a stop to that at this juncture would come at too high a cost.
His fists clenched again, and he tossed a harsh glare at one of the captains he felt gazing at him in a way he didn't appreciate. This was hardly the first time he'd been scolded by Mizu in front of the other captains, and it wasn't even the other captains witnessing the exchange that really burned him about it, but damned if he was gonna let anyone make light of it at his expense.
Blake watched the whole thing dispassionately, though with the usual undertone of 'irritated' that basically always colored her expression. Once the crone had left the tent, she calmly turned her gaze to Mizu.
"Was there anything else we need to discuss this morning, Commander?"
Not that she was necessarily in a hurry to wrap things up, just that she was interested in moving on from the particular conversation that had just taken place, as there were several things she'd found rather distasteful about it, and she'd just as soon not leave too much space for the group to stew on it.
He was surprised to feel the crone's gaze land on him, and that somewhat drew him out of his current thought process, his gaze turning up to meet hers. He blinked at her curiously, some of the tension in his body relaxing, if only because he felt distracted from what had tensed him up in the fist place. He wondered, tentatively, how much her attention on him in this moment was simply borne of his words this morning, or whether there was any chance the woman had any idea about his experience last night. He supposed that was part of what he wanted to ask her about, come to think of it, though he supposed that realistically he actually didn't want to ask about it in front of everyone else. In any case, she was already turning and leaving, and putting a stop to that at this juncture would come at too high a cost.
His fists clenched again, and he tossed a harsh glare at one of the captains he felt gazing at him in a way he didn't appreciate. This was hardly the first time he'd been scolded by Mizu in front of the other captains, and it wasn't even the other captains witnessing the exchange that really burned him about it, but damned if he was gonna let anyone make light of it at his expense.
Blake watched the whole thing dispassionately, though with the usual undertone of 'irritated' that basically always colored her expression. Once the crone had left the tent, she calmly turned her gaze to Mizu.
"Was there anything else we need to discuss this morning, Commander?"
Not that she was necessarily in a hurry to wrap things up, just that she was interested in moving on from the particular conversation that had just taken place, as there were several things she'd found rather distasteful about it, and she'd just as soon not leave too much space for the group to stew on it.
Re: Part 1
"No, that will be all," Mizu said without much thought. With everything that had happened and gotten far past her control, she wanted everyone out of the tent. She needed to think, and her mind felt cloudy with the superstition she could feel thick and smoldering around them. When she had agreed to Phantom's plans for the rebellion, she would never have believed this to be part of the trials she would run into. Neither of them could have foreseen this.
Her fury and frustration stilled a little when she thought of Phantom, remembering that she was not alone in this, no matter how much it felt that way. Part of her wanted to pick up the device he had given her the moment she was alone, but this all felt too ridiculous to bother him with. It was something she could and would handle, even if it was outside her comfort.
Mizu watched with a subtle heaviness as the captains began filtering out the tent-flap doors.
Her fury and frustration stilled a little when she thought of Phantom, remembering that she was not alone in this, no matter how much it felt that way. Part of her wanted to pick up the device he had given her the moment she was alone, but this all felt too ridiculous to bother him with. It was something she could and would handle, even if it was outside her comfort.
Mizu watched with a subtle heaviness as the captains began filtering out the tent-flap doors.