Everwake (Tim)

[Tikobe]

"No... NO!" he screams, becoming violent. However, next thing you see is the handle of a sword slamming down into the back of his head, knocking him out.

"Sorry Therinean. I don't he is going to be of any more help to us. Let's at least make sure he doesn't do something stupid," Kiele says, sheathing her sword. "Bayod and that girl ran off for the other one. Possibly his nerves are calmed enough to tell us."

[Bannanachair]

"Then I guess we should follow after them," I suggest, and head in the direction that they had gone in.

[Tikobe]

Kiele nods, picking up the man without a word.

However, as she does so, you hear Enoise's scream in the distance.

"That girl!?" Kiele exclaims. "Let's hurry!"

You two run over to the location of the scream, seeing something you had not expected to see: Enoise, cowering in front of a wall, whispering strange words, whilst next to her Bayod lays an unconscious Listene down on the ground.

"Therinean, so you came here, huh?" Bayod says.

[Bannanachair]

"What the hell just happened?" I ask.

[Tikobe]

"I- Honestly, I wish I knew that myself. It was crazy," Bayod sighs. "We lost sight of the man, but eventually Enoise began to hear voices talking to her. She ran off on her own towards those voice, that damned curiosity of hers. I didn't know she was so fast, I could barely keep up. We found... a room. A large building with a single room. One of the walls was covered in blood. So much that it couldn't have come out of any one creature, and so fresh that it was like it was spilt at that very moment. The moment that Enoise saw it, she screamed and turned insane, leaving what you see now. As for the girl..."

Bayod carefully motions to Listene, moving her head slightly to reveal a head wound.

"She was in the center of the room on the ground, passed out like you see now. Her condition's pretty rough, but most of it is from damage to the noggin when her head landed into the ground. She'll live, but we need to bring her to safety soon."

"Bayod, one question please," Kiele says, looking straight at him. "This blood-stained wall, these voices, why are you okay?"

"I dunno. I hadn't heard anything in my head, and it just looked like a blood-stained wall," Bayod shrugged.

"...You haven't heard the voices?" Kiele questions.

"Have you?"

"...Yeah, actually, I have been. It was subtle, but as we reached here it became slightly more prominent. I'm sure Therinean has, too," she says, looking at you.

However, when you think on it, you hadn't heard any voices at all.

[Bannanachair]

"No, I haven't, oddly enough," I say. "Maybe it only effects... No, it effected the men that we chased as well. No matter, it's clearly not safe to be out here, given what the voices did to Enoise in such a short time - we should return to the airship and decide our next move from there. Bayod, you help her, I'll carry Listene." Then I reach over to pick up Listene.

[Tikobe]

Bayod nods, picking up Listene and turning to Kiele.

"Might want to recall your warriors. It's not looking like a safe place right now."

Kiele grimaced, but hesitantly nodded in agreement, screaming out orders in the harpy language. You see her three warriors take up into the air and fly towards your airship.

As you reach the airship, you see Maes reading a book on deck, before noticing you and approaching.

"Greetings, Admiral. Duck kindly informed me of your name. And I see your companions... Hm!?"

He looks at Listene, Enoise and the man that Kiele carried.

"So, that girl was yours, huh?" he ponders.

"Do you recognize her?" Bayod questions.

"Barely. I tend not to pay too much attention to others, but I remember her. She abandoned the group early on while we camped, insisting that above all reaching civilization came before rest," Maes replied.

"And the response?"

"As one might expect, many wished to camp. As for myself, I tend to avoid taking sides in matters. It's a personal creed that saved me many times: Assistance may be offered, but ultimately stand with no one, and as such you don't tie yourself to obligations."

"...Strange. And why would you take Therinean's offer?" Kiele inquires.

"Sometimes, deviation is important. When Therinean made his offer, I found convenience in it and chose to make a point of deviation. Regardless, we're getting off topic. The more interesting individuals of the three are the two other ones."

[Bannanachair]

"Do you have any idea what's happening to them?" I ask. "This has effected everyone in these ruins but you, according to the man that Kiele is carrying, and now it's effecting Kiele and Enoise... But not Bayod and I."

[Tikobe]

"So everyone has been affected other than us three?" Maes questions, as he turns to a nearby amarzi. "Greetings sir, I'm a new member aboard this ship."

The amarzi stands there looking shocked and confused, but before he could say anything in return Maes comes in straight to the point.

"Have you heard any voices inside of your head."

The amarzi looks offended, saying no and storming off. Maes looks at the furious amarzi as he strays away, loosing himself in thought.

"If we keep strictly in terms of my area of expertise, I've developed three theories as to what may be happening," Maes finally speaks. "However, there is one principle theory that rules above all: One of the various 'blessings' granted by the Wylduns, the very thing I told you about earlier."

"What? How is this even remotely a blessing?" Kiele scoffs.

"It depends on one's perspective, and their appreciation for sentience. If we use that criteria, and consider those that can alter a human's perspective," Maes's gaze narrows before turning to you all. "Was there anything else you saw?"

"...Enoise went crazy when she saw a blood-stained wall. But I don't understand the relevance of it," Bayod mutters.

"That," Maes says as he looks at you, "is the blood of Thas Naero, the one known as the Blood Alpha. A cruel one, he was a spiteful being that loathed the Folk. He always at odds with Gen Saeyi, who gave her heart and soul to show love to the Folk. Often times, he would try to 'correct' the behavior of the Folk, to bring back to the era of wild beasts. The Blood Wall was a common attempt to do so, a typical 'blessing' of his. After all, if the Folk are terrible things, making them act like animals again is the greatest gift one could give."

"This can't be right," Kiele mutters. "Isn't this a road? It had to have been used before! This should have been seen before then! And where is the immunity coming from?"

"Therein lies the mystery," Maes concludes. "Most of these Blood Walls are in an inactive or damaged state. It probably went unnoticed because until now it was completely harmless. How it regained an active state is the greatest question we need to answer. As for the immunity, there's a good reason behind that. Wylduns aren't powerful just because of how they affect the land, but also because of how they affect us Folk. Exposure to the powers of a Wyldun will in turn cause one to become, in a way, 'infected' by it's energy."

"You mean, the curse to sire dryads, right?" Bayod questions.

"Dryads are but one symptom, although it is notable as it becomes present even when exposure is low. Another is resistance. In short, the greater your infection by one Wyldun, the more difficult it is for the powers of other Wylduns to show an effect directly to your person. A Wyldun themselves will have no difficulty in overcoming that resistance, mind you, but their 'blessings' will have a much harder time, and when the infection is great enough, they will have little to no effect at all. Does this make sense to you all?"

[Bannanachair]

"Bayod and I met Gen Saeyi when she broke free from her shrine, and Duck mentioned also having met her," I say. "Did you encounter her at all, Maes? There's also one other possible option for how the Blood Wall could be active again - it could be a new Blood Wall. Gen Saeyi is free, and so far, I've heard nothing of the other Shrines to tell me one way or the other whether their Wylduns are free. If Thas Naero also broke free, if that's why the Blood Wall is working again, we would have to assume the worst - that all the Wylduns are now free, not just Gen Saeyi."

[Tikobe]

"I unfortunately had already left Saffur at the time of her release. It's rather quite a shame, meeting her would have been an invaluable opportunity to develop understanding. My immunity probably comes as a result to the numerous Wyldun related materials I handle, that is assuming that I have immunity and those same materials didn't confer onto me another trait with similar effects. As for the idea of a new Blood Wall, that is unlikely. The Blood Wall was made with the purpose to attack sentience. There's no reason to have that here in an abandoned city. Although, it is true that other Wylduns may have been released."

"One question, if you don't mind me asking," Bayod says. "Exposure builds resistance, right? So then Isaie..."

"Should've had resistance due to his time working in a Wyldun Shrine, correct?" Maes confirms. "You're right, Isaie is probably the person who had the second highest resistance, beaten only by me."

"Then he should've been the one to take responsibility! Why did he do this!?," Bayod growls.

"The idea that he has an obligation to take responsibility is, like all things, something that depends on one's perspective. While you say that he should use his gift for good, another may question the ethics of chaining somebody to a role against their will for the sole reason of possessing a certain trait. Like many others, he is ultimately a man who was faced with the fear and awe of meeting something greater than he was, and was dealing with the stress and desperation as how he could best think to," Maes retorts. "As for why he fell to it's provocation, it's likely not a matter of resistance, and one of him already being predisposed to the actions demanded of him by the Blood Wall. The most the Blood Wall did was strip away that one piece of rationality he had left."

Kiele gives out a sigh, before exclaiming, "It's too dangerous here. We got the girl that Therinean was searching for, and the seal should be with her. Let's get out of here and on our way."

"If I may, that won't be possible," came the voice of a sudden Duck cutting into the conversation. "This airship only has one engineer, and she's in the midst of a meltdown. If she doesn't regain sanity we're stuck."

"Only for a short while," Maes replies. "Her condition is probably because she made direct eye contact with the the Blood Wall. While being near it is enough to progressively madden someone, seeing the source of the madness is an all out assault on their mentality. We've two options: The first is we take the airship into the air and let it hover. Given a few days rest, Enoise will regain enough sanity to move the ship to safety. That would be the safer option."

"And the other?"

"To disable the Blood Wall. It functions on the principle of attacking one's conscious mind in order to give more strength to their instincts, making their behavior similar to that of animals. This, of course, means that disabling it will cease the mental attack and they'll regain their sanity shortly afterwards. However, to disable it means we would need to figure out what caused it to reactivate, and also means we'll likely be forced into the conflict between Isaie and Abelin. Still, it's the faster route."

[Bannanachair]

"There are also other innocents who have been effected by it," I say. "We have no choice but to disable the Blood Wall. Duck, I'm going to leave you in charge here yet again - make sure that those susceptible to the Blood Wall's effects are okay. Maes, you're going to need to come with us if we're going to disable it, because frankly, Bayod and I probably would have no idea what to do."

[Tikobe]

"I see, so should we go back to our original goal of finding and joining Abelin?" Bayod questions.

"Well, that may be difficult," Maes interjects. "If there's a Blood Wall in this city, it's likely that it could have also affected his side. He's probably become territorial, and may see all attempts to reach out to him as an attack. If he doesn't hide, then it's highly probable that he'll attack us instead."

[Bannanachair]

"What we should do is head straight for the Blood Wall, hopefully bring these people back to sanity, and then see what we can do about their inane factionalism," I say. "It's basically impossible to reason with those effected by the Blood Wall."

[Tikobe]

"Mm. That would be the best option here," Maes states.

"Pardon me, but weren't you the one who proposed just letting the storm pass?" Duck interjects.

"Merely to open the option in the name of fairness. Ultimately, the repercussions for failing to resolve the issue far outweigh the troubles that one faces in performing the action. However, I did agree to a term of employment with the Admiral, and as such these decisions are for him. As a subordinate, my task is making sure I present him with my ideas, so that he may consider them, but nothing more."

"Quite loyal for someone who was literally hired today," Kiele mutters.

"The time of employment has no bearing on the duties of employment. I will maintain my duties today in the way that I would if I was working for the Admiral for the last ten years. Anyways, we've been sidetracked," Maes states. "We need to determine the way the Blood Wall was activated in order to deactivate it. Please tell me all of what you saw, Bayod, while we walk over to the Blood Wall. Unless there's any other business we need to wrap up, let's go now."

[Bannanachair]

We exit the airship and walk towards the Blood Wall.

[Tikobe]

You thankfully face no trouble in reaching the Blood Wall. However, that isn't to say anything about once you've reached it.

"I see that we've arrived," Maes says. "Bayod, Therinean, in with me please. We'll see more in person than we would with conjecture."

"And me?" Kiele questions.

"I suppose you can just wait out here," Maes shrugs.

"What do you mean 'suppose'?" she scoffs.

"Well, to be frank, I don't really quite understand why you and your harpies are still here. Out of all us, including the survivors that arrived at this city with me, you harpies bear the least resistance to the Blood Wall. It would be dangerous for everyone, including yourselves, to stay here."

"If you think I'm going to just let that go," Kiele growls, "then you've another thing coming! I don't know if you realize, but we're still in the midst of investigating this man!"

She points to you, although Maes just blinks before looking back at her.

"My apologies, but I don't understand why you're offended. From where I stand, all logic leads to the conclusion of you and your soldiers leaving the city. No logic leads to the alternative. Furthermore, my statement was merely a question, not an order. If you intend to stay, then you may very well do so. But given the consequences, I don't understand the reasoning behind it."

"Grr..." Kiele mutters as she begins to tremble with rage. "Insolent little...!"

[Bannanachair]

"If you see the Blood Wall and wind up like Enoise, you wouldn't be able to continue your investigation of me anyway," I say. "You're welcome to enter with us if you'd like, though you are well aware of what will happen and frankly strike me as intelligent enough to set aside your pride and do the strategic thing."

[Tikobe]

"This and that are two separate matters!" She scowls. "Asking me to avoid looking at the Blood Wall is one thing, but to say it in that manner and then to add on that we should even go so far as to leave!"

"Maes, if I may, you're thinking of things in way too technical of a manner," Bayod states. "No matter what your logic says, please do not forget to consider the feelings and pride of the other person."

"...Ah. I suppose that is correct," Maes responds. "My apologies, I'll hold my peace the next time we're in a situation like this."

"You!" she growls, before noticing that she being stared down by Bayod. "Fine, as long as you don't do it if it happens again."

"Well now, we should hurry with the investigation," Bayod says, ushering both you and Maes as quickly as possible to avoid the situation from escalating further.

Once inside, Maes blinks as if that dispute never occurred, and began to scan the room in much the same manner that you did. It was nothing but a large room. As Bayod said, the wall looked as if the blood covering it had just been spilt in that moment, although on the floor was a single, dry bloodstain.

"Is this where that Listene girl...?" Maes inquires.

"Mm. She was lying down on the ground, her head bleeding slightly. She looked to be in pain, but I can assume that it was a result of the head trauma," Bayod states.

"That would probably be a correct assessment. The blood from her head doesn't touch the Blood Wall, and the exposure to a Blood Wall isn't painful, just maddening. Therinean, can you recount Listene's steps when the release of the Wyldun occurred? Starting from where you met her up to when you last saw her?"

[Bannanachair]

"A lot's happened since then, but I'll try," I say. "I first met her when I met Bayod, when I arrived in Saffur. We went to the Moon Dance on military business. Then she went to get the liaison from the five, an idiot called Fraseco. After the meeting, I next saw her at the port, where I gave her instructions to send some important letters, at which point I had given her my seal. That was the last I saw of her."

[Tikobe]

"Fraseco," Bayod grumbles, clearly not remembering him fondly.

"Hmm," Maes interjects, his hand stroking his chin, "I see."

"Did that give you an idea?"

"Huh? Oh no. Unfortunately, it only confirmed what I had already figured out. His description of Listene matches word for word what we in the traveling party had seen: Naive, yet fiercely bound to duty. She, probably as an extent of her youth, hasn't quite yet settled into her role enough to properly distinguish the moments when she should act as she thinks best from the moments when she should act as told how to. Because of this she went on ahead of the rest of the party believing that her duty came before anything else. However, this ultimately was a poor choice to make as without enough rest she'd more than likely be unprepared for any sudden perils. As such, this leads us here, to where she accidentally activated the Blood Wall."

"You think she accidentally awakened the Blood Wall? That's just jumping straight to a conclusion," Bayod states flatly.

"There's no doubt of that, at least. If what I saw of her and what the Admiral's description of her matches as well as it currently does, then ultimately she has no motive to activate the Blood Wall. Rather, before we can even consider motive we would have to address how she even knew of the means to accomplish the feat. A young girl like her of no substantial background wouldn't have ever learned such a thing. However, this can't activate by itself. Sure, it can lose power, but it can't reactivate. It had to be done by external means. There's been no one in this ruin other than the traveling party, your crew and Listene, otherwise there'd be signs of madmen all over. Of the three that I've named, the first to arrive was Listene, and as the Blood Wall was definitely activated before we arrived, it's for a definitive fact that Listene was the one to activate it."

"How? If she could do it on purpose then there's no way she could do it without trying!" Bayod argues.

"Correction: She could do it for the exact reason that she doesn't know about how to do it. As peculiar as it sounds, stranger stories have been told," Maes replies with a stoic expression, before giving a look of realization and turning to you. "Admiral, how do you think that may be the case? I could give you the answer, but if you claim the intent to defeat Gen Saeyi, it'll be necessary for you to draw your own conclusions. After all, I am a non-combatant, I won't always be here to give you the advice you need. So, let's see if you can draw the conclusion to this story yourself."

[Bannanachair]

"I don't know enough of the lore surrounding the Blood Wall to be confident in this conclusion, but I have a guess as to what happened," I say. "She went ahead on her own, and decided to camp in these ruins for shelter. Then, either due to poor luck or the machinations of the wisps, she tripped, and injured her head as we see here, and spilled enough blood to reactivate the blood wall. Is my guess correct?"

[Tikobe]

"It's an interesting thought, but not quite there. The blood she shed doesn't reach the Blood Wall, and furthermore this building is way too far off the beaten path for her to have made camp in," Maes replies after thinking on your theory.

"Then what do you propose happened?" Bayod questions, clearly a little frustrated from all of the confusion.

"I've already told you that mortal beings are capable of being infected by a Wyldun's energy, and that this comes with certain effects. Normally these effects can only be felt at the physical level, but there's room in this scenario for the rare psychological effect."

"Psychological?" Bayod says, mumbling the strange word.

"Ah, sorry, I forget that not every kingdom is at the same level of knowledge. What I mean is the effect on the mind. In particular, the subconscious mind, or the one that we don't think about. Normally, these effects are so weak that they are overpowered by our conscious mind. However, Listene wasn't all there at the time that she reached this ruin. It's likely that she began to feel a pull towards the energy of the Wyldun without knowing what she was so attracted to. Having no idea what she was actually doing, she probably found herself here by mere attraction alone and through that same attraction had thoughtlessly reactivated the Blood Wall. Had she rested or had knowledge of anything in concern to the Wylduns, then maybe we wouldn't be in this scenario. Because neither are true, she was in the end, unfortunately tricked by the world into bringing the Blood Wall back to life. Do you understand what I'm telling you, Admiral?"

[Bannanachair]

"You're saying that people not knowing much about Wylduns is going to be something of a danger to the world going forward," I say. "That, in addition to just the danger of Gen Saeyi being free, Wyldun magic is still powerful and can still trick people into activating it. You're not, however, telling us how to disable the blood wall, which I would think is the most important thing."

[Tikobe]

"Ah yes, sorry, I figured this scenario for an educational topic and got off track. Give me about half a day to finish this."

"Half a damned day!?" Bayod curses.

"Hm? Well, yes. It is a power granted by the Wylduns after all. It's not something that would be easily dismantled. First I would need to investigate the steps that Listene took to reactivate the Blood Wall. That would take me no less than the whole of a hour. The remaining eleven hours would then be using that information to safely disable it."

"...Safely?" Bayod questions with concern.

"Mm. The Blood Wall is a medium for Thas Naero's power. This isn't just to store it, but also to contain and ensure that it causes no unintended harm. By disabling it, I risk releasing that power en mass and causing a small scale calamity. Not even those indoctrinated to the Wylduns like us would be safe from such an intense release. Not to worry though, I am a professional," Mae's casually stated without blinking. "If you've any doubts, understand that this is a process that would take some 2 whole days without rest to do. A half day is rather quite generous."