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Post by Fury on Oct 9, 2009 13:19:57 GMT -5
Tatsu looked away as well, not even able to look at Tia let alone at her expression. It hurt him most of all knowing he'd been the one to upset her. That was the one thing that could bypass any defenses he had surrounded himself with over time. He always had a soft spot. Wonder how bad it it for Thanthero? he wondered silently.
Instead of asking he shifted attention to Venus. "Leander?" It was a question of course because he was unfamiliar with the name.
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Post by Venus on Oct 9, 2009 13:27:30 GMT -5
Thanthero watched Tiamat through indifferent eyes, black claws gleaming where they pricked the forest floor.
Venus answered readily, quietly glad for the shift of topic. It was no good for any of them to dwell on thoughts of what could be happening to Lei. No good at all.
"He's a childhood friend of mine; a member of the Taisha family, though I don't know how much you know about how the Shantari used to function." She half-smiled, gold eyes attentive. "And a good fighter if I ever did meet one - although I doubt he could give any of you three a run for your money. Neither of us have experience enough to even consider being that skilled just yet."
Tiamat glanced up at her former apprentice. Her eyes fell out of focus momentarily, and Venus felt the familiar brush of the shaman's aura against her own. "You've improved," she commented mildly. "I'm sure Leander has, too. It's been too long since I saw him last."
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Post by Fury on Oct 18, 2009 11:40:29 GMT -5
"Mmm... well I am sure his assistance will be most useful. The more support we gather the better a chance we have at success I suppose. ...Long as we're prepared. Who knows what or who Rafael has waiting for us? At the very least I'm guessing that 'Neraika' will be there." Tatsu replied.
He took another quick glance over his friends. "We're about as prepared as we can be though..."
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Post by Venus on Oct 18, 2009 12:07:03 GMT -5
Venus acquiesced. Unease still stirred in the space between her ribs, sitting awkwardly alongside the slow burn of her anger towards Rafael - and herself. This whole situation stank of treachery, deceit and lies; all three of which she couldn't stand to see triumph. It had to be resolved. Not only for her personal involvement and responsibility, but for the honour of the Shantari. Her parents would be turning in their graves if she left this to fester. Determination burning in gold eyes, she nodded once.
"Right. I fly to find Leander."
Tiamat dipped her head. "Whilst we find out as much as we can about where Rafael is hiding and what exactly we're up against." She left unspoken the inevitable thought, of what Aleiko would be facing alone in the darkness of the underground.
Towards the rear of the group, Thanthero stirred. His posture was lazy, but his eyes were keener than the sharpest blade. "Tell me what you want me to do, and I'll do it." His smile curled, colder than ice, half-sneer. "The shackles of the past don't bind me very well. Nor does pacifism." A perfunctory dip of the head functioned better than a flourishing bow. "Your own personal assassin, at your service. Tia isn't the only one willing to break oaths."
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Post by Fury on Oct 18, 2009 16:49:22 GMT -5
"It's appreciated Thanthero I'm sure. Now if you could be so kind as to apply those lovely skills of yours to the task at hand it would be even more appreciated. As Tiamat kindly pointed out we need to most definitely gather information on what is going on and us standing here and discussing is doing nothing but wasting time. That said: Got an idea Than?"
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Post by Venus on Oct 18, 2009 16:56:31 GMT -5
Than sat back on his haunches, yellow eyes half-amused at Tatsu's impatience. The other half, though, was very much considering the consequences of Aleiko's capture. Knowing enough of Kre from various meetings with Charon didn't really inspire confidence over the young dragon's safety - but he wasn't about to mention that to Tia, Tatsu, Aisling or Venus. Normally, he enjoyed creating unnecessary strife - but today wasn't the time, nor the place.
"Death is a good information source to start with, if you're willing to spare me for a while."
Venus barely caught the words, readying herself for the flight back to the mainland. Meeting Leander halfway would be fortuitous - and worth a try. She spared a fleeting smile.
"I'll be seeing you four shortly. Hopefully with help."
Tiamat nodded. Aisling didn't respond, simply watching as Venus turned to take off.
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Post by Fury on Oct 18, 2009 17:01:36 GMT -5
Tatsu nodded. "...Mmm. Not a bad idea Thanthero." He paused and looked at Tiamat. "Tia can I ask you something? How risky do you think it would be to separate my aura in half and send some in water form to look for Lei? At the very least if I can get that to work I could have a look around and see who or what is present."
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Post by Venus on Oct 18, 2009 17:07:44 GMT -5
Tia looked worried, but had to agree that it was a viable suggestion.
"It is risky, Tatsu... I won't lie to you. Especially since you've only just been returned to your body. Even I don't trust my spells that much!" She attempted a laugh, but joviality just wasn't coming easily in the heavy air. It did nothing to lift the mood, so she sobered quickly. "And if you're caught..." She left the consequences unspoken. Tatsu would be injured via his aura, and their location tracked. She doubted it would be difficult.
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Post by Fury on Oct 18, 2009 18:00:18 GMT -5
"Yes yes... we'd be caught in a rather nasty spot. Still how much force do you think Rafael could really afford to send after us if he did track us? I'm sure between you and me we have enough upper level spells to handle most things tossed at us even if I am injured by my own aura."
He paused, a humming sound in his throat for a moment as he contemplated. "Well I may be able to prevent it actually. If I put a tracking spell on my own aura- or you do it- would that not make a little bit of a sort of shield if he tried to place his own tracker on it? Plus if anybody tried to layer their spell over mine- or yours if you are the one to do it as mentioned- we would immediately be notified by the effect of doing so."
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Post by Venus on Oct 18, 2009 20:48:18 GMT -5
Tiamat turned over the contours of the plan in her head, weighing risk against benefit and coming up in favour of Tatsu's idea. She nodded once, curtly, very much in the focused mindset that she used to favour in battle.
"Yes, I think both of those suggestions are plausible ones. Once we know more about where he's hiding and what kind of force he has behind him, we'll be able to plan more accurately. Although the second is the unknown quantity, really... we can just hope he doesn't have that much to counter some espionage, hm?"
Aisling was listening to their deliberations carefully, brow furrowed. She finally piped up after her mentor finished musing aloud, voice quiet against the lull of the forest.
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
Thanthero was also contemplating the plan, but chose to leave Tia and Tatsu to it. They always seemed to be better strategists when working together, and his attitude would probably interfere. Standing, the assassin shook out his scales and stretched.
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Post by Fury on Oct 20, 2009 14:59:19 GMT -5
"Hmm... How good are you at mental shields Aisling? I'll need Tiamat's expertise to hide my aura with the aforementioned tracker shield but I don't want her attention too far split. If you can manage it I'll need a second shield going. As I stated it'll be a mental one linking my mind to yours temporarily. Then we can be in two locations to throw off Rafael attempting to pinpoint us. Also it'll serve as another trip wire in case he does get through and tries to cause harm. ...In the event he does though I want you to immediately sever connection. No sharing pain, okay?"
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Post by Venus on Oct 24, 2009 14:01:25 GMT -5
Aisling's brow furrowed slightly above dulled eyes.
"My shielding's all right, I suppose. But if he does try to attack us, I want to fight right back!" A flare of righteous anger momentarily allowed her to raise her head, proud again. "He took Lei - he deserves anything we can throw at him!"
Tiamat exhaled slowly.
"Aisling."
The green dragoness sagged slightly.
"I know, I know. Now isn't the time."
Thanthero observed the debate silently, tail twitching. His gaze was turned more inward than outward, as if searching for something. It didn't long for him to find whatever he was pursuing.
"I'll be taking my leave. If anything goes wrong, you know how to get hold of me." Here, his gaze cut to Tia, smile sharp. It quickly melted into the usual smirk, confidant and assured. "I won't be long."
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Post by Fury on Oct 26, 2009 17:59:08 GMT -5
"I trust you to try not to be, Thanthero." Tatsu said rather pointedly. He wasn't about to let Thanthero escape with large amounts of oozing sarcasm and biting morbid humor if he could do something about it.
He looked to Aisling. His expression softened. "Aisling I need you to calm yourself and concentrate. Rafael deserves hell and much more but there's nothing we can do about that. Our priority is to rescue Aleiko, not punish the demon who took him away."
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Post by Venus on Oct 26, 2009 18:06:30 GMT -5
"Tch." The black dragon rolled his eyes once as a farewell, turning to step into the breach left open as reality unfolded to let him pass. "I'll spare you the customary comments," he replied with a lazy flick of the wrist. "Because I trust by now that you know what I'd say." The portal closed, leaving behind the stale scent of silence and running water absent of freshness.
Aisling listened to Tatsu's words with barely contained frustration, but calmed as he clarified their priorities.
"You're right... yes, I know, you're right. We have to get him back." Jade eyes darting to where Thanthero had departed, she looked back with new resolve. "Okay. Are we doing this, or what?" Some of her spunk returned, a new fire taking its place in her eyes and voice. "The sooner we start, the sooner we rescue Aleiko."
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Post by Fury on Nov 24, 2009 18:52:25 GMT -5
Tatsu nodded. His blue eyes had his age behind them and for once he didn't mind letting it show. After all, age was wisdom more often than not and they would need every ounce of planning possible to achieve their goals. If Aleiko wasn't rescued swiftly... well he dreaded the thought. More likely it would not end in their favor.
He disregarded thoughts of Thanthero's absence. After all, the black dragon could handle himself more than any of them in Charon's presence. He was the one who knew the most when it came to pressure and how to deal with Death's associate. Or so Tatsu thought. Little did he know a blast from Thanthero's past awaited his friend. Tyvra, though Tatsu had never met him and did not currently know of the thief's existance, had been given a rough time in Charon's service. He still had it rough...
Tatsu heaved a sigh and looked to Tiamat. "Alright I say we put our plan in action. Now. Let's get our spells out of set-up phase and into activation."
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