Kerala's Inquisition

The stories and lives of the Grim. ((Roleplaying Stories and In Character Interactions))
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Kerala
Posts: 157

Re: Kerala's Inquisition

Unread post by Kerala »

Logging started on 07/27/2015 at 16:59:18.

[Lupinum finds Kerala very high above Thunder Bluff, sitting at the very tip of the carved horn of the windrider tower.]

Kerala doesn't bother turning around. She keeps looking down at the city below.
Lupinum brushes his hair behind his ear.
[Lupinum]: Kerala...?
Lupinum 's voice barely travels.
Lupinum wrings his hands and repeats himself, a little louder, "Kerala."
Kerala still doesn't turn. "What?"
Lupinum stops his fidgeting for a moment.
[Lupinum]: Something... happened, yesterday, and I have to tell you about it.
Lupinum takes a couple steps closer.
Kerala was watching the various tauren going about their lives below. She looks up, to the West, for a moment, before letting out a big sigh.
Kerala swivels on her butt, to face Lupinum. (Since tauren can't turn their heads to see behind them)
[Kerala]: Who did you tell?
Lupinum runs his claws through his tangled hair.
[Lupinum]: I... was cornered.
[Lupinum]: By Lilliana and Syreena..
[Lupinum]: And... uhm..
[Lupinum]: They teamed up on me. And forced it out of me...
Kerala looks at Lupinum blandly, waiting.
Lupinum watches Kerala's face, looking for a reaction, in case he needs to run.
Kerala snorts, and turns her head to look down. No longer facing the point of the tower's horn, she has to lean forward a bit to do it.
[Kerala]: Why didn't you just tell them? When they first asked?
[Lupinum]: I don't know!
[Lupinum]: I knew how Syreena would react... and I didn't want to put you in danger.
Lupinum scratches his cheek. His skin is dry under the evening sun.
[Kerala]: She thinks I am Awatu's chosen special supplicant. I don't think she would kill me.
Lupinum looks down over the edge. "Oh..."
Kerala looks at Lupinum.
[Kerala]: You don't like heights?
[Lupinum]: They...
[Lupinum]: No.
[Lupinum]: I don't.
[Lupinum]: Didn't want to fall and break a... bone...
Lupinum snorts a soft chuckle at the irony.
[Kerala]: I want to go swimming. Do you swim?
[Lupinum]: Well...
Kerala stands up, her balance careless and easy even on the slimmer tip of the horn.
[Lupinum]: Yeah... I mean.. I don't breath, so I can't drown.
Lupinum watches Kerala fearfully, his own feet spread wide and flat to prevent slipping.
[Kerala]: Well... I'm going swimming then. You can come if you want.
Lupinum blinks at Kerala.
[Lupinum]: Oh..
[Lupinum]: Okay.
Lupinum finally grins.
Kerala leaps off the horn, and freefalls an alarming bit before shifting to a bird and flying toward lake Stonebull.
Kerala lays down her spear, then starts unbuckling armor.
Lupinum shrugs and lays his own equipment down.
Kerala unties the Grim tabard and peels it off, then drops her spaulders on top of it...
Lupinum kicks off his gloves and boots and tosses his staff atop them lazily.
Lupinum unties is own tabard, almost stiff with use and uncleanliness.
Kerala 's gloves come off, then bracers. Her shinguards. Then she's standing in her feathered vest and pants.
Lupinum plays with a small feather when he stands up.
[Lupinum]: Is the water clean?
Kerala doesn't stop, she takes everything off.
Kerala nods at Lupinum.
Kerala wades into the water.
Lupinum shrugs and wades in.
Lupinum drags his claws through the soggy vegetation.
Lupinum remembers Kerala has to breath, and swims to the surface.
Kerala leans back as if to float, but she's not plump enough to really accomplish that. She has to paddle underneath her to stay above the water.
Lupinum leans back as well and watches the wisps of clouds float by.
[Kerala]: What do you think will happen tonight? With the high inquisitor?
[Lupinum]: I... don't know.
[Lupinum]: I've heard things, but this was all while I was.. gone.
[Lupinum]: But I never trusted those damn Felbreathers.
Lupinum scoops some water into his palm and watches it dribble back into the lake.
[Kerala]: What did you hear?
[Lupinum]: I heard that the thing they originally put in his face may be messing with his head.
[Lupinum]: Even though... I thought it was powered by a crystal. Like when he was corrupted by Accalia. It was through the crystal, not through him.
[Kerala]: No one really confirmed that the gem wasn't just a gem...
[Lupinum]: Does he have one now? I haven't seen him in weeks.
Lupinum paddles a little closer to Kerala.
[Kerala]: No.
Lupinum redunks his head and wipes the hair from his face.
[Lupinum]: Ker? What are we going to do?
Lupinum sighs in exasperation and lays on his back again.
[Kerala]: We?
Lupinum turns his head halfway under the water.
[Lupinum]: Yeah, we.
[Lupinum]: Or did you take this whole month just hating my guts and want nothing to do with me anymore?
Lupinum backstrokes in a lazy circle with his eyes on Kerala.
[Kerala]: No...
[Kerala]: I don't hate you.
Lupinum starts to smile, but hides it by dipping his mouth and nose beneath the waterline.
[Kerala]: I don't really hate anything.
Kerala glances West.
Lupinum sighs.
[Lupinum]: If it means anything, I'm sorry...
You eye Lupinum up and down.
[Lupinum]: I am. I didn't even think that..
Lupinum coughs when a waves hits his mouth.
[Lupinum]: What I mean is, I would react the same to someone... raping my thoughts. And I should've thought about that before..
[Kerala]: So... you really spent a month, not sleeping....
Lupinum 's grin returns.
[Lupinum]: I told ya...
Kerala waits for Lupinum to continue, and when he doesn't, she says. "You told me you sat there thinking about what you saw."
[Lupinum]: Well, some of it.
[Lupinum]: I don't understand it, but I understand why I made you so furious...
Lupinum rubs his face with water.
[Lupinum]: I... shouldn't have done what I did. Because now I have a set of memories that aren't mine and a Grim in touble.
[Kerala]: You didn't make me string you up on a tree.
Kerala is done treading water, and makes her way back to the shallows where she can stand.
Lupinum sighs and follows.
[Lupinum]: I'm just apologizing, if you don't accept it, fine. But let me know where I stand.
[Kerala]: You should know. What's done is done.
Kerala looks at Bloodhoof village.
Lupinum works his jaw.
[Lupinum]: Alright.
Lupinum steps out of the lake, water streams off his decayed skin.
Kerala runs her hands underwater, feeling the tall slimy plants.
Lupinum flips his robes to kick off the stray bugs and lays it flat.
[Kerala]: Did you have any other questions for me? Without asking like... like you did.
[Lupinum]: No.
[Lupinum]: And I'm never going to, like that, again.
[Kerala]: I meant, is there anything else you want to know?
Kerala creeps through the lake weeds, crawling along the bottom like a child playing 'alligator'.
Lupinum sits on the lake edge, savoring the sun on his back.
[Lupinum]: No, I don't.
Lupinum rubs the back of his head.
[Lupinum]: Just... meet me later, okay? After the Inquisition. ...hic!
[Lupinum]: I want to take care of something before then...
Kerala shrugs, sending out ripples.
Lupinum looks towards the grass.
[Lupinum]: Guess that's about all I expected.
[Kerala]: What is?
Kerala ducks her nose underwater and blows bubbles slowly.
[Lupinum]: No answer. No definite yes or no.
Lupinum tries not to laugh when Kerala does so.
Kerala snorts the rest of her breath of air and lifts her face up to talk. "Yes or no to what?"
[Lupinum]: To if you want to live tonight. If you hate me. Anything!
[Kerala]: I already told you I don't hate you.
[Lupinum]: "You don't really hate anything"
[Kerala]: So, that's a 'no'.
[Lupinum]: I might feel better if you did.
[Lupinum]: Or not. I don't know!
[Kerala]: Well it's not my job to make you feel better about what you did!
[Lupinum]: I tried to understand you, Kerala. Even if I did it the wrong way...
[Kerala]: I'm not sorry for what I did to you.
Lupinum pulls his boots on.
[Lupinum]: I didn't ask that. That was the only piece of emotion I've seen from you.
[Kerala]: What do you want from me? You want to see me cry, or be mad for things I can't change?
Lupinum shakes his head.
[Lupinum]: I don't know...
Lupinum stands with his robe and tabard in his claws.
Kerala frowns.
[Lupinum]: I don't know what I expected.
[Kerala]: You're frustrated with me for not giving you answers, and you don't even know what you want. I can't help that.
Lupinum 's cheeks pull into a small smile.
[Lupinum]: I know.
[Lupinum]: Let me get my head straight, and we'll talk again, alright?
Kerala shrugs.
[Kerala]: Maybe
Lupinum closes his eyes and turns to walk away.
[Kerala]: Sure
[Lupinum]: Yeah, maybe.
Lupinum looks over his shoulder briefly and turns back around, so she doesn't see him smile.
Kerala watches him go, then ducks underwater to go find the bottom of this lake.
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Kerala
Posts: 157

Re: Kerala's Inquisition

Unread post by Kerala »

Logging started on 07/27/2015 at 19:12:43.

[Syreena]: Grims.
[Malhavik]: Hello, hello!
[Syreena]: Has anyone seen Orphyn today?
[Nathandiel]: Seen a few.
[Malebrignon]: Created several
[Malhavik]: I have not seen him.
[Syreena]: Thank you, Mal. I may need your help with something if I can't find him soon.
[Malhavik]: I'll be around.


[Malhavik]: Kerala dear are you around?
[Kerala]: ... I'm not in Draenor, no.
[Malhavik]: How unfortunate! I have urgent need to speak with you!
[Kerala]: Do you? Hmm
[Malhavik]: When might you be next at the Garrison?
[Malhavik]: The matter is of some importance.
[Kerala]: I don't plan to be before the meeting tonight.
[Malhavik]: Perhaps I could come to you?
[Kerala]: ... I suppose...
[Kerala]: Just you?
[Malhavik]: Yes, unless you want someone to come with?
[Malhavik]: Though I would prefer out chat is private.
[Kerala]: No, I'm busy, but I can talk some. How do I attune you?

[Malhavik attunes Kerala, and travels to her in the kodo graveyard, in Desolace.]

Kerala pets Dying Kodo.
Kerala soothes Dying Kodo. There, there...things will be ok.
[Kerala]: [Taurahe] It's ok...
[Kerala]: [Taurahe]Shh
[Kerala]: [Taurahe]Be easy, now
Kerala soothes Dying Kodo. There, there...things will be ok.
Kerala gently pats Dying Kodo.
[Kerala]: Shhh
Kerala talks gently to the Dying Kodo.
Kerala looks at Malhavik.
[Malhavik]: Are you... Speaking to that beast?
Kerala is comforting a dying kodo.
[Kerala]: Yes, it's dying.
[Malhavik]: Why?
Malhavik peers at Dying Kodo searchingly.
[Kerala]: It's old. They all come here when they sense the end.
Kerala gently pats Dying Kodo.
[Malhavik]: Fascinating!
[Malhavik]: I wonder why.
Kerala cocks her head, running her hand on the leathery hide. "I don't know. I never thought about it before."
[Malhavik]: Can you ask it?
[Kerala]: Maybe some druids can. I don't know how.
[Kerala]: He's tired.
[Malhavik]: I see.
Kerala soothes Dying Kodo. There, there...things will be ok.

[Malhavik summons two voidwalker-type demons as an elf death knight steps out from hiding behind the bones.]

Kerala looks at Malhavik.
Kerala looks at Orphyn.
Orphyn grabs onto Kerala with cold strength
Malhavik commands his demons to restain Kerala.
[Orphyn]: Do not move....
[Orphyn]: Or I will hurt you
[Kerala]: Hmm
Kerala looks at Malhavik.

[Syreena appears murdering the dying kodo.]

[Syreena]: So...Kerala...
[Malhavik]: Sorry dear, just doing as I'm told.
Orphyn lets a shadowy coil wrap around Kerala's neck slowly, ready to squeeze.
[Syreena]: I had a little chat with Lupin last night.
Kerala stays very still.
[Kerala]: He told me.
[Kerala]: Are you here to kill me?
Orphyn looks at Syreena.
[Syreena]: That's up to you.
[Syreena]: Did you mean to kill Lupin?
[Kerala]: No.
Kerala glances to the poor kodo.
[Syreena]: You left him there for a month....because you thought it would be a nice vacation for him?
Orphyn causes the death grip coil to tighten slightly around Kerala's neck
Kerala coughs, and reflexively tries to move to grab the thing at her neck.
[Orphyn]: Do no struggle, it will make it worse...
[Orphyn]: Answer the inquiry
[Malhavik]: I do believe Tauren need air to speak! Don't strangle the poor girl now.
Malhavik lets out a hearty chuckle.
[Kerala]: It was... his choice.
Orphyn slightly releases the coil to allow more air
Kerala coughs again.
[Syreena]: What?
Kerala glares at Syreena. "He didn't have to stay where I put him.
[Syreena]: Oh? He was going to walk away without any arms and legs?
Syreena smiles slightly.
[Syreena]: Would you like to see something I learned from Kex'ti?
Kerala glances to Malhavik, then back to Syreena.
[Kerala]: Just do what you're going to.
Syreena stares at her a moment. "Take off your tabard. I don't want it to get messy."
[Malhavik]: Syreena, would you mind if I summoned a supplicant to witness these events?
[Syreena]: Is it someone you trust?
Malhavik laughs.
[Malhavik]: Not at all. but I think this is an experience that she could learn from.
[Syreena]: Fine. If they interfere, you're responsible.
Kerala doesn't move to take off the tabard as ordered, because someone is restraining her.
Orphyn lets go of her arm
Orphyn keeps the Deathgrip around her neck
[Orphyn]: You can remove it now
[Kerala]: Why? If you want to bloody it, you'll just be adding to what's already there.
Orphyn adjust his deathgrip shadow coil again around Kerala's neck
Kerala immediately raises the free hand to the thing at her neck.
Orphyn pulls it tight out of instinct
Kerala looks at Shaelie.
Syreena glares at her, and reaches to move the tabard herself.
Orphyn eyes flare blue
Kerala is currently held hostage by Orphyn and Malhavik's demons guarding.
Shaelie stepped out of the portal with a grimace, but was immediately in motion. She sprinted a few steps to her side, looking around quickly and trying to see who was around. She saw the gathering around Kerala, and something choking her. "WHAT IS GOING O?"
Shaelie looks at Syreena.
[Orphyn]: Do not interfere with this interogation
[Malhavik]: Kerala is found guilty for what happened to Lupinum.
Shaelie bared her teeth briefly, looking from Malhavik to Orphyn. But her eyes settled on the rogue. "Syreena?"
[Malhavik]: Watch, Shaelie, and remember what happens for such actions.
[Shaelie]: STOP.
Syreena ignores Shaelie, since she told Mal he was responsible for her, and steps forward to remove Kerala's tabard herself.
Kerala works some fingers beneath the coil at her throat.
Kerala glares angrily at Syreena.
[Orphyn]: Cease or you will be infected
Shaelie didn't trust Malhavik an inch. Or Orphyn for that matter, who was a supplicant himself. Syreena was the only person here who she moderated believed was acting of her own free will. Hopefully. "Syreena! What is going on?"
Orphyn cinches it down and chokes Kerala and yanks it back to bring her to her knees
Kerala falls to her knes, but her hand in front of her trachea means her airway is safe.
[Orphyn]: I suggest infection
Syreena draws a sword.
[Shaelie]: WAIT.
[Syreena]: I saw Kex'ti do this once...so it must not be that bad, right?
[Syreena]: Only...he did it much bigger than I'm going to.
[Shaelie]: If she is guilty of anything, isn't it up to the Commander to mete out the punishment?
Orphyn looks to Syreena and nods
Syreena shoots a quick glare at Malhavik as the elf continues to speak, then places the flat of her sword against Kerala's stomach.
Shaelie took a step back and grabbed her hearthstone.
[Malhavik]: Shaelie... Please stop interfering. I brought you here with confidence that you could learn of the Mandate.
Kerala blinks and sucks in her breath, as if going through about a million thoughts, and discarding them all. She stays still.
Syreena slices the blade down, through skin, but not through the abdominal muscles, so a big flap of skin hangs down.
[Malhavik]: She will not be slain. Merely reminded.
Kerala jerks back against Orphyn involuntarily. She grits her teeth and doesn't yell.
Orphyn grabs her shoulders and steady her
Shaelie backed away and begin speaking rapidly into the hearthstone, her voice low.
Syreena puts her sword away, and pulls out a small vial of salt. She throws the salt onto the wound.
Kerala growls.
[Syreena]: I should gut you, and chop off your limbs like you did to Lupin.
Malhavik shakes his head at Shaelie.
[Malhavik]: Such faith I placed in you.
Syreena nods to Orphyn. "Let her go."
[Malhavik]: Sorry Miss Syreena. I should not have brought her here.
[Orphyn]: As you wish
Syreena stares Shaelie down.
[Syreena]: She's a healer. She'll be fine.
Orphyn 's deathgrip dissipates like smoke and releases his grip on her shoulders
Kerala falls to all fours, and then immediately grabs a handful of dirt and rubs it at the raw flesh burning with salt.
Syreena mutters, "She's done worse to me."
Syreena eyes Kerala up and down.
Orphyn kneels down and dips his fingers in the pool of blood
Orphyn kneels down.
[Syreena]: Next time you think about harming a Grim, you remember it won't go unpunished.
Orphyn puts it to his tongue closing his eyes
Shaelie bounced on her feet and watched the group, trying to make sense of what was happening. But it was all moving too quickly. "You can't bring me here and expect me to stand and passively watch when no one is telling me what the fuck is going on!"
Syreena watches Kerala silently a moment, then adds, with something close to hurt in her voice, "You lied to me."
[Kerala]: I have never lied to you.
[Syreena]: You misled me then. Same thing.
Orphyn cleans his fingers with his tongue before opening his eyes
[Malhavik]: I did tell you. Kerala is guilty of what happened to Lupinum.
Kerala stands up.
[Shaelie]: Kerala is probably the LAST person that would do that to Lupinum.
[Orphyn]: Seek no retribution...or I will defeat you
[Kerala]: I did.
Kerala looks at Shaelie.
[Syreena]: Are you calling Lupin a liar then?
Syreena stares Shaelie down.
Kerala just rolls her eyes at Orphyn.
Shaelie stopped, and looked at Kerala. There was a pause, and then her eyes narrowed suspiciously and a glance was flicked towards the warlock.
[Syreena]: Lilly confirmed it by reading his mind.
Kerala has not just left yet... though obviously she could be a bird and gone in a moment.
[Shaelie]: Let me rephrase, then. Kerala is probably the last person that would do that to Lupinum unless she was under an outside influence.
Syreena eyes Shaelie a moment, then slowly looks back at Kerala.
Malhavik laughs at Shaelie.
[Malhavik]: Such conspiracy!
[Kerala]: He deserved it!
Shaelie spoke into the hearhtstone. "Kodo Graveyard."
[Orphyn]: She admits motive
[Syreena]: So did you.
[Syreena]: I'm done here.
Syreena nods to Mal and Orphyn.
[Shaelie]: Syreena, you KNOW this isn't right!
Kerala doesn't bother disagreeing with Syreena.
[Syreena]: Shut up, elf.
Kerala puts a hand to her wound and begins healing it.
[Malhavik]: Remember what happened here Shaelie. Those that harm the family are punished.
[Orphyn]: We would do the same for you
Shaelie glared at Malhavik and Orphyn. She made no move against Syreena. "Then what reason is she giving for doing this! Lupinum and Kerala are friends."
Malhavik looks to Syreena and whistles for his Bat.
[Syreena]: I don't care.
[Shaelie]: I don't believe for a minute that Kerala would act against him on her own!
[Malhavik]: Shall we?
Syreena grumbles at the voice in her head. "I must go."
[Kerala]: Shut up elf.
[Orphyn]: I have business at Ebonhold...
Syreena grins at Kerala as she mutters something about a persistent troll in her head.
[Kerala]: If you all are done here, then go away.
Syreena looks at Kerala.
Shaelie looks at Kerala.
[Orphyn]: ....Be careful Shaelie...we are Grim, and so are you.
[Malhavik]: Nothing personal Miss Kerala.
Malhavik lets out a hearty chuckle.
Kerala glares angrily at Malhavik.
[Shaelie]: Just southeast of Karnum's Glade, but they've all fled.
Shaelie looked at Kerala. "Are you alright?"
Kerala watches them all go, then goes to the dead kodo. She kind of falls next to it and leans on it. Poor murdered thing.
[Kerala]: I'm fine.
Shaelie dragged a hand back through her hair. "What *happened*?"

[Awatu arrives.]

Shaelie looked up at Awatu. He'd see Kerala was kneeling with fresh blood on her shirt, and her tabard missing.
Awatu looks between the two Supplicants. "What is this?"
Kerala is sitting next to a VERY old kodo that had it's throat slashed. Her tabard is thrown in the dirt, and she's leaning on it's head.
Kerala looks at Awatu.
[Kerala]: Nothing.
[Shaelie]: I'll tell you what i know.
Awatu looks at the scene with confusion. He then looks at Kerala. "A lie."
[Awatu]: Tell me.
[Kerala]: I don't lie *she spits out*
[Shaelie]: Malhavik summoned me and asked me to act as witness. To what, he didn't say. When I got here, he and Orphyn had Kerala detained and she was being choked. Syreena was here, too. They said she was the one that attacked Lupinum. She admits to doing it. But I
[Shaelie]: believe it was the warlocks that made her... funny that Malkhavik was involved. Syreena slashed Kerala's stomach and said it was punishment for hurting Grim. She wouldn't listen to me that Kerala wasn't at fault.
[Shaelie]: I've watched Kerala and Lupinum, they are close! Kerala would never have done this without outside influence.
Kerala can't even get a word in edgewise, Shaelie is talking so fast. Not that she's trying to.
[Shaelie]: When I called you, I was certain they were about to kill her.
Awatu listens to the words, not interrupting. He nods when she is done and turns to Kerala. "You admit to attacking him. Why?"
[Kerala]: He forced himself into my mind.
Awatu raises and eyebrow at that, and turns back to Shaelie, as if looking for confirmation.
[Kerala]: She doesn't know. There were no witnesses.
[Awatu]: Why would he do this?
Shaelie was just listening, but she looked frustrated and angry. It was unlikely anything would ever convince her that the warlocks weren't behind this.
Kerala rubs her neck. "He said he wanted answers, and I guess mine weren't good enough for him. I don't know."
Shaelie looked at Awatu. "I told them that even if it was true, it should be you that should hear her case and dole out punishment. Not them. They wouldn't even explain to me what was going on. I saw Grim turning blade on Grim and didn't know how to defend
[Shaelie]: against that."
Awatu appears genuinely troubled. "Everyone is on edge. No one trusts anyone. What is happening..."
[Awatu]: A situation such as this would have been met with level heads not long ago...
Shaelie nodded in agreement.
Kerala finally stands up again.
[Shaelie]: All I know is that Kerala and Lupinum seem to be friends. Lupinum was the first person to accept her when no one else did. They were practically joined at the hip. So whatever happened couldn't have come about on it's own.
[Kerala]: Well... you keep a level head after someone rapes you. I am not sorry. But he is not dead, either.
[Shaelie]: He raped you?
Awatu nods, aware of this information. He turns back to Kerala. "Rape?"
Kerala just gestures to her head. Same thing.
[Shaelie]: Even if he DID hurt Kerala- he wouldn't have done that to her any sooner than she'd hurt him. This is more widespread than I thought..
You glare angrily at Shaelie.
Awatu snorts. "Nothing of the sort."
[Kerala]: Look you -stupid- elf, this has nothing to do with any warlock.
Shaelie ignored Kerala, believing the woman was not in her right mind.
Awatu furrows his brow. "Silence."
Kerala grits her teeth, and turns to swipe her tabard up out of the dirt.
Shaelie was silent, folding her arms tightly.
Kerala shakes the garment, then slips it back over her head.
Awatu looks between the two Supplicants. "He attacked Kerala. Kerala attacked him. I believe that the two of them got into a fight, rather than more fel business."
[Awatu]: I find it unlikely that with Khorvis currently... incapacitated, that trouble would be given to a Supplicant and a Reaper.
[Shaelie]: That's not a fight! A fight is throwing punches! Not beheading your best friend and tying them to a tree with their entrails!"
Kerala ties the first side, then wipes blood away from the healed spot where her stomach was flayed before trying to tie the other side, loosely.
[Awatu]: Correct.
[Awatu]: Which is why I will ask once more: What happened, Kerala?
[Kerala]: I already told you.
[Awatu]: Did you?
[Kerala]: Yes! He was asking questions, he didn't like my answers, I left, he followed me and attacked me...
[Shaelie]: That sounds NOTHING like Lupinum.
[Kerala]: he paralyzed me and- *she stops at Shaelie's comment and just glares*
[Awatu]: Silence, Shaelie.
[Awatu]: What happened?
[Kerala]: And he tried to rifle through my mind like it was some book for him to just read. I fought back.
[Awatu]: And what did you do? How did you retaliate?
[Kerala]: I managed to break free, I was furious. I swung my spear at him.
Awatu nods, listening.
[Kerala]: I've never.... *she stops, then starts a different track* He needed to know that was NOT alright.
[Kerala]: He wasn't supposed to just stay there a whole month. That was his choice.
Shaelie shook her head.
Awatu nods, waiting for her to continue.
[Kerala]: That's it, I tied him to the tree and left him there. He was in two pieces when I left him, not many.
Shaelie stayed silent, but she looked now at Awatu.
Awatu looks at Kerala. "You were not influenced, then." he says, not a question. "Just angry."
Kerala nods.
Kerala 's air Spirit materializes beside her, looking nervously at the two with her.
Shaelie looked disappointed at Awatu.
[Ruuki]: If there are those who have yet to scale the Throne of Kil'Jaeden, speak to me and I will lead the way.
[Lupinum]: I'll keep your hide safe, Inquisitor. *cackles*
Shaelie heard Ruuki, and frowned at Awatu. "Are you going to the meeting?"
Awatu studies Kerala, looking at her features and stance. "I believe your words. I will speak with yourself and Lupinum soon. For now, we must deal with Khorvis."
[Awatu]: Those that saw fit to deal out punishments shall also be... judged.
Kerala figures she's included in that? She just nods.
Awatu looks at the two. "You will likely be expected at the meeting this evening. However, given circumstances, your absence may be understood. If your require time to heal or rest..."
[Kerala]: I'm fine.
Shaelie lifted a brow at Awatu. "But are YOU going?"
[Awatu]: I am.
Shaelie nodded. "I will go too."
[Shaelie]: I'm ready for attunement.
[Orphyn]: I too am ready
[Awatu]: I will see you there, then.
Shaelie nodded.
Awatu looks at Kerala.
Kerala nods.
[Awatu]: Very well.
[Awatu]: I am prepared.
[Kerala]: Me too.
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Re: Kerala's Inquisition

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((I might go back and make these into write-ups, but I wanted to get them up here :P))
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Re: Kerala's Inquisition

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The crackle of fire was soothing.

Orgrimmar was quiet, from this high up, but two large bowls on either side gave her view a musical backdrop of snaps and popping of flames. It was appropriate, she thought. Kerala was perched high, talons clinging to one of the tallest spikes decorating the Hall of the Brave. The giant pots flanking her were low enough that she felt their heat when the breeze stilled. The orc city below was not her focus, though.

The sky was ablaze in color, a sight much more glorious to behold. The evening sun had slipped low beyond the rocky red mountains, but the light was still there. Fiery washes of color painted the sky. Reds, oranges, golds, and in the distance, purples and blues still. There was not a single cloud to disrupt the imperceptible blending, the perfect transition from one hue to the other.

Even though she was born hooved and wingless, Kerala considered the sky her only true home. Boundless and unending, it represented a true freedom that had been denied for nearly all of her memorable life. It was the realm of wind and rain, clouds and stars. And color. Such amazing color.

Ever so slowly, the light would fade and the color would darken to black, revealing the wonder of millions of stars. She would be inside while that happened. Tonight was inquisition.

The druid spotted Syreena only moments before the rogue's declaration that she'd be having a drink before the meeting. She flew down to join the woman, and listened to the hearthstone with annoyance as the mention of drinks brought Lupinum out of whatever stupor he was already in. She sighed, not even angry. He joined them as fast as portals and a mount could get him there.

Kerala was in no mood to really talk. This night marked the end of the month she'd been given for this last trial, and she had not come up with anything else to offer to the Grim. It was a tricky situation, what the Commander had suggested for her sacrifice. It was perfectly clear to her that he did not understand Blood Law at all, but was just accepting her offer of Payment because it suited him. He never once asked her for details about the Law, or how she knew so much about traditions older than living memory.

She'd explained it many times, to various people, but none of them understood, not really. To be fair, Kerala had not bothered to go into detail to make them. The list of fifteen Shu'halo names kept running through her mind.

She had no better idea of what to offer, so why not? This was the Grim, the masters of misdirection and twisted truths. It was incredibly ironic, and Kerala wanted to laugh despite everything.

To soon, it was time to gather inside the Hall of the Brave. She followed Syreena and Lupinum out of the tavern.
Time to finish this.
Last edited by Kerala on Wed Aug 05, 2015 2:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Kerala's Inquisition

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Some Grim are already gathered. Ruuki stands before one of the giant guild banners. An unfamiliar tauren woman is on the other side of a table set farthest from the top of the stairs. Another druid? She wears enough bones and feathers that it seems a likely guess. Syreena is perched atop the table, legs crossed and looking like it is where she belongs. Laying beside her the lion Brast stretches, and her Orphyn pet stands on the other side. He's got a new bone mask hiding his elven face. Imitation as the most sincere form of flattery?

Lupinum crosses over to join them, but Kerala hesitates.

Her dark green eyes have gone back to that Grim banner behind the tauren inquisitor. It is so very, very black. White trim, and the red icon, a split skull hooded with daggers. For once, the colors strike her with meaning. Maybe it is because they are so contrasting, after the hamrony and beauty of the sky earlier. Lomani was always saying how color held meaning.

The Grim banner is the color of death, and the icon in the middle red, for success and triumph. The white of peace is almost like an afterthought, added to the edges. It is so different from the tabards and banners she had designed with Lomani.

Thinking of them, the druid stepsover to the table after Lupinum, but she is not there to sit. Earlier today she'd stored things under this table, and it is these things she is after. She bends and pulls them out now- a shiny black wooden box, and a bag of hexweave cloth that contained all of her possessions. The druid turns, intending originally to go and stand with Shaelie, the other supplicant, but the elf had her back to the open stairwell. She stops, not liking that at all. Instead, she takes a spot to the right, at the end of the opening for the stairs. No one could jump high enough from the stair to reach her there. She leans the box against the wall behind her and prepares to wait, arms crossed.

Awatu arrives. He goes to sit with the other tauren, and they talk quietly. A childish voice yells out a cheerful hello, announcing Lilliana. The red-headed troll priestess runs up the stairs into the room shortly after that, giggling, and receives smiles and waves from those gathered. She nods seriously back at them, stuffs her hands into her pockets, and struts over to Ruuki. The tauren's wince at the loudness of Lilliana's shout only makes the childish inquisitor's grin return, all the wider.

"You're in a pleasant mood tonight." Ruuki comments, glancing over Lilliana.

The trolless' gentle eyes flicker over those here. She seems to pause at each of them, rather pleased that those that have shown, have like, shown. She leans in to elbow Ruuki, "Stop making stuff up...." She whispers with a giggle.

"You're the one giggling like you've lost your mind."

The orc drums sound out the hour. The other druid's ear flicks as she hears it, and Awatu turns his gaze to the inquisitors after a moment. His stance betrays growing impatience as the group quietly discusses Orphyn's new mask.

Lilliana nods to Ruuki, who didn't seem to notice. When the tauren does nothing, she instead takes a small step forward. Her hands are still in her pockets and her voice fails to carry as she says "Grims, hey."

Another long pause where nothing changes. Awatu stands, his expression not pleased. On the table, Lupinum is drinking from a hip flask, and Brast flattens his ears at the smell of it. So, the Forsaken blows him a kiss to waft the vapors further at the cat. The lion squints and blinks rapidly.

Lilliana takes note of Awatu's impatience, and then she says to the others, "The Inquisition is starting. So, pay attention." She says this with hands still in pockets. "As you know, Khorvis isn't here." She frowns a bit, her gentle eyes flashing with her own annoyance, "Ruuki and I are covering everything in place of the High Inquisitor, which you all...." She glances at Yemana, unsure if the druid she hasn't seen in ages is aware of this yet "....which you all know. And if you didn't know, well you damned well do now. Before you brave Grims give your support, are there any questions here?" she asks politely, then suddenly stops and stares wide eyed at Kerala. Ruuki titlts her head with a frown at the abrupt stop. Lupinum looks at Kerala, then looks back at Lilly. It isn't the first time he's leaned around Orphyn to glance at the skinny druid.

Syreena raises her hand. She wants to know about Khorvis, but Lilliana is apparently taken with Kerala's dress. She comments on it before getting a snowball to the face from the annoyed rogue. It makes her laugh. Kerala sighs, not understanding how this troll is supposed to be a leader at all. It makes no sense to her.

They discuss Khorvis, and Awatu declares that the orc has showed them steadfast loyalty, and so they would do the same for him now. Kerala tilts her head at that. That sort of devotion makes no sense to her. The high inquisitor seems for all the world like one struck down in the mind, for which recovery is... well she has never seen it done. Perhaps they know something she does not. It isn't the Shake, after all, but the fel.

Ruuki calls up Shaelie, the only one of her supplicants present tonight. The elf assures that she is trying to think of a proper sacrfice, since she's already left everything behind. She assures the tauren that she will not slack, and is allowed to step back.

Lilliana calls Orphyn first. Lupinum takes advantage of the space now cleared to look at Kerala again. His voice sounds in her mind, light and floaty, barely there. "What'sh in the box?"

Her ear flicks, and she glances toward the forsaken priest. She stares hard at him for a moment, then projects her answer, "You'll see."

The elf death knight is questioned about his second trial. Eventually, they are done with him. Lilliana nods her head to Orphyn, and has already placed her expectant gaze onto Kerala and the pretty blue dress. She's done with dear Orphyn. He salutes her and turns to go back to his place.

Lilliana nods her head to the elf and his salute of respect as he walks away. When he stops and gets back to his place, she also pauses to offer him a polite salute. Then to Kerala.... "Kerala?" She waves the druid forward.

Kerala nods to Lilliana, to let her know she'll obey, but turns first away, to the wall. She retrieves the long wooden box and the filled hexweave bag, and then steps forward. These are the things which have occupied her supplicant bunk in the Grim garrison for the last 3 months.

Lilliana glances to Ruuki, "This outta be good." She whispers, but loud enough for those to hear. Ruuki only offers a noncommittal shrug, watching the Druid with interest. The troll inquisitor steps forward just a tad, in order to look at the box and the bag.

"It's been four weeks today." Kerala says quietly, by way of explanation for the items. Lilliana 's arms have returned to being folded, and she, as the others, is now watching Kerala intently. Her head nods, just slowly, as it has been about four weeks now, she guesses. Encouraged by the nod, Kerala stands straighter. Her fist is closed around a smooth crystalline object. She knows Lilliana isn't about to offer any instruction, but that's fine. The time for following is done, the troll was never helpful anyway.

"This is my last trial."
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Re: Kerala's Inquisition

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"This trial is about sacrifice. And leaving the life I once led behind me." Kerala says. Her words are carefully modeled after Lilliana's own, spoken to her a month ago. This part is purely for the trolless' benefit. Maybe it will make the woman see past whatever grudge it is that makes her hate Kerala. That's the goal, anyway. Why not? They were just things.

Her words cause the elf death knight to shift uncomfortably, and his hands come to rest on his sword hilts. Lilliana's head tilts gently in another nod to Kerala. Shaelie turned her goggled stare to face the druid. Her back was to them all, and she was highly aware of that.

Kerala steps forward to the brazier by the stairs. Her fist goes over it and her hand opens, dropping the crytalline thing. It is red, like the coals, and as soon as it lands among them, it seems to disappear, indistinguishable from one of them. The fire burns hotter. Instead of yellow-orange, the licking flames become white, with faint blue cores. This fire is ready to incinerate all of the things she's going to feed it.

She reaches into her bag of possessions. "The guild I was in before the Grim, the one I tried to revive, is gone." she says clearly. "I burn their colors." She takes out handfuls of cloth- pristine white, with flashes of a bold red totem icon and edges of teal. Tabards, and simple banners. She throws these on the enhanced flames, which immediately begin cremating the offering. The druid watches Lilliana closely for reaction.

Lilliana's blue eyes seem to frown slightly as she watches what Kerala is doing, the tabards burning, signifying the death of the group they once represented. The expression is odd. Why isn't she smiling? This is exactly what she said she wanted.

Oh. The declaration. Maybe that is why. So Kerala inhales, and yells out loudly. "The Horns of the Shu'halo are dead!" Awatu tilts his head at the display, but says nothing. He knows this is not a true sacrifice for the druid. Kerala reaches back into her bag as she continues speaking and pulls things out. It is clear that the bag does not hold very much at all...

"These are my possessions, gathered before the Grim. Letters..." She tilts a wooden box over the brazier. The lid falls off and papers flutter down, charring before they even reach the fire. Fast eyes might be able to count 37 letters total, though almost half are on identical stationary.

Lilliana inhales abruptly as Kerala burns these letters. Papers. Like Awatu, she says nothing, but it's clear that the priestess is moved in some way. Whether that's one of approval or not,well...

"Clothing..." The Skytotem healer shirt momentarily smothers the flames, before the the fine blue silk blackens and a hole appears. The edges curl and shrink away from the flame like a living thing. She adds other blue-black items as she retrieves them from the bag- the armor she's worn since becoming a supplicant. Feathered vest, black leather pants, gloves, everything. The hexweave bag is drastically lighter, and ungainly not for the lack of things filling it.

"Charms." Kerala upends a pouch, spilling numerous pretty trinkets out into the brazier. Colorful rocks, a moonstone, a blue carved bird charm. These things fall amidst rock fragments and crumbled gems shards in a sparkling rainbow of colors. She hesitates a moment, holding the pouch. Hanging on one drawstring is a smooth bone. Etched into one end is a bird image. Kerala's skytotem.

Kerala looks at Lilliana, and drops the bag with a sigh.

That was perhaps the one thing of all that she'd not wanted to destroy. It represented everything. The old tauren shaman had made it for her, as a symbol of hope when things had been the absolute worst. Kaya Wisewater was seventh on the list of names. She had died like all the others. The Skytotem bone turns black in the enhanced flames, destroyed. She blinks fast for a moment, watching it, before she turns her gaze back outside the brazier.

The others watch her destroy her possessions without commenting, without even moving much. Syreena's eyes are narrowed slightly. Perhaps she has noticed that, so far, nothing has really been of any of tangible value. Brast, of all of them, watches the process with something resembling respect in his feline eyes.

The box is different. Kerala bends to open the polished wooden rectangle so that the contents can be seen. Inside is a new leather-wrapped staff with orange crystals, and a pair of Supple Shoulderguards set with smooth sapphire-colored jewels. Lilliana steps forward, as if to confirm that the items that have burned to a crisp in the firey brazier, that it's not some kind of trick. Kerala looks up at her, waiting to make sure she sees the gifts from Kex'ti Dalendala. She knows the priestess can easily understand the source of the items, if not from the hue of the cloth lining the box, then from her unguarded thoughts. Lilliana looks down to Kex'ti's gifts. She raises a brow at Kerala.

The skinny druid drops the empty hexcloth bag into the box, and unslings her own weapon. She adds the stone-tipped spear next to the new staff. She closes the box and latches it. Without pausing to contemplate what Kex'ti's reaction might be to the destruction of these things, Kerala sets the entire box on end in the ravenous fire. Flames lick up the lacquer and engulf the whole container.

Heat radiates outward, and Lilliana steps back as if fearful of the enlarged flames. Shaelie steps back as well. Kerala flinches as the inferno inside the box causes the crystals and gems to POP! with muffled sounds.

That's it, there is nothing left. The boney druid turns to face the room and everyone in it.

In the silence, after the crackling dies down and the fire has mostly finished devouring the things collected during her short years of freedom, Kerala says "You might have noticed, but everything I had.... it's nothing of value. Giving it up is trivial," she eyes Lilliana, "and this trial is about making a sacrifice." The redhead priestess looks back at Kerala, awaiting further explaination from the tauren in the pretty blue dress.

"I am Grim. The Mandate was always mine, though I'd never before put words to it. So," she pauses, then says their words for it- the singular struggle for survival that all living things faced. "Peace through annihilation."

Kerala glances to Awatu, meeting his brown eyes with her green ones. In the periphery, Orphyn takes his hands off his swords. While the commander stares at her silently, she says the words he suggested.

"I sacrifice my future."
Last edited by Kerala on Wed Aug 05, 2015 3:07 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Kerala's Inquisition

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Lilliana tilts her head to the side, curiously. She seems to be thinking, curiously thinking. Brast rises, watching Kerala with his tail swishing excitedly. The druid clamps her mouth shut. There is nothing left to burn for Lilliana's satisfaction, and nothing else to say. She waits.

After a long moment, Ruuki is the first to speak, not Awatu. "Sacrifice? If you sacrifice your future, you have nothing left. Sacrifice is different than devoting yourself to the Mandate."

Awatu is simply watching impassively, like he had done in the Dalaran cellar. Lilliana looks back to Ruuki, and then to Kerala. She will let Kerala explain this one to her sister Inquisitor. But Kerala cocks her head, confused. The trolless steps forward to the druid supplicant, takes a step back reflexively before stopping herself and letting Lilliana come close. Still, her green eyes rake the priestess up and down uncomfortably. She does NOT like anyone being this close to her.

Lilliana points her finger at where Kerala's heart would rest beneath her chest. "She speaks about this. Better answer her." she says very quietly, leaning her head in close to the tauren's ear. Ruuki is frowning slightly, studying Kerala and waiting for her reply.

Kerala looks at the place Lilliana pointed. Red stitching, evidence of the wound that had killed the last person to wear this tabard. "There wasn't a question..." she says rather helplessly. What else did they want from her? Lilliana was eyeing the place she'd poked, noticing the stitching as well. It seems she's forgotten that the tabard is the same one that Konro had worn and died in. Sitting on the table, Lupinum's face twitches.

Ruuki 's frown deepens. "You claim to sacrifice your future. To what end?"

The druid glances to Awatu. He does not move to aid the supplicant in her trial, and her green eyes then reutrn to Ruuki. "'To embrace the Mandate, fully. To devote myself to the Grim, wholly'." Kerala quotes the commander. She doesn't understand why they aren't happy. She has done exactly what they wanted, hasn't she?

Lilliana remains hovering, uncomfortably near to Kerala. The thin, shorter tauren, with the petite, short little troll...one about 6' or so, the other maybe 8', but, relatively tiny ladies either way. She comments, quietly, "Perhaps the Kerala we knew has ended."

"To do so is not to sacrifice yourself." Ruuki retorts. "When we sacrifice someone's future, we take it from them by ending them."

This arrogant wirsh-uden thera wanted to talk about sacrifice? Where was she when countless lives of her supposed kin were being extinguished? Where was she when the centaur were ending whole tribes of Shu'halo? Sacrifice? No. "That's you taking their future. Not them giving it to you." The druid glared a Ruuki, staring right over Lilliana's short frame.

Ruuki bites back an impatient growl. "Then you don't know the difference between sacrifice and dedication, then."

Kerala looks at Awatu and frowns. "I don't understand." It's not agreement with Ruuki, but a declaration of her confusion on the entire situation. Why wasn't he doing anything? Why didn't they accept her?
Awatu doesn't meet her eyes. He looks at the Inquisitors, rather than Kerala. She turns her eyes to Lilliana. "I did what you told me to. I have nothing else to give."

The priestess had turned just slightly, towards Ruuki to check if she was going to question Kerala on this further....she can tell her sister Inquisitor has a bone with the other tauren, and that is fair enough. Little gets past Ruuki.

Lupinum frowns a tad as well.

"Then which is it?" Ruuki demands. "Are you going to sacrifice yourself to the Mandate, or are you going to devote yourself to it, and fight each day to see it carried out?"

"It's the same thing!" Kerala cries.

Brast slumps back down, reflecting on how his sacrifice was in fighting for his future, not forsaking it. He lies back down.

"Do we not fight for our lives, Inquisitor? Everyday, we all have an opportunity to be killed. For good." Lupinum bites back his words and goes back to drinking.

Ruuki looks over Lupinum's way. "We fight. There in lies the difference."

Kerala is growing angry. She has just destroyed everything. Everything that proved she had existed before this moment, every pretty thing that ever made her happy, from the simplest rock with interesting color to the heartfelt gifts from Kex'ti even set with gems. She has nothing, and they want to argue about thrice-damned words! "Devotion to the Mandate as you see it IS a sacrifice. You believe the only way to survive is to destroy the alliance. It's not."

Lilliana turns sharply on Kerala at that last comment of hers. The other druid, Yemana, raises her heavy brows in surprise. Orphyn stops whispering to Syreena and looks up at Kerala's words.

Ruuki scowls at Kerala's words. "Then you must not take the Mandate as serious as your claims."

"If they came up to you tomorrow and laid down their weapons, and declared that they forsook the group and wished to be Horde, to fight their brothers, You would kill them." Kerala challenges.

"Without hesitation." is Ruuki's answer.

"Annihilation doesn't just mean kill."

Syreena tilts her head with a slight frown, and looks at Lilly.
Lilliana had indeed turned rather sharply at Kerala, but she waits it out to allow the tauren to explain herself. Shaelie looks on with interest. She has an inkling of what Kerala is trying to say, that the others aren't hearing, but as tempting as it is to speak up, she keeps her silence. Kerala will find her own way to explain.

"You can annihilate someone, destroy who they are, and what they believe, without killing them."
Ruuki crosses her arms, willing to hear Kerala out. Lilliana then turns and walks away from Kerala as she continues to speak her mind to the Grims present. She is still listening, only... moving away. Orphyn's hands are back on his swords, and he shifts his weight.

Awatu crosses his arms, watching Kerala carefully. If he recognizes that she is arguing his own point, he doesn't make any outward sign of it. Culturally annihilated, he had said. They pledge allegiance to the Horde, become part of us, and join our cause. It is unlikely, but a possibility.

The druid recognizes the danger she is in. It doesn't take genius intuition to see when the members of a pride are forsaking one of their own. The distance Lilliana put between them is a message louder than any voice could have declared. She's done playing these games. She has nothing left to lose.

"Your Mandate is not mine. To follow you is a sacrifice. Now do you accept it or not?" Kerala glares steel at the Inquisitors, waiting.
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Re: Kerala's Inquisition

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Ruuki meets Kerala's glare calmly, not speaking just yet.

"There are many ways of annihilation." Lilliana looks to Awatu as she speaks up, but only briefly, repeating the Commander's words he once said long ago. She looks at the druid, who is still waiting for the answer to her ultimatum. "In the end....it is a means to an end that we fight for. We all have different views and approaches....but what matters is how we get there, and if we can agree on how to get there."

Lupinum nods slowly.

Shaelie finally murmurs, fully expecting the glares that would follow. "Kerala came to us under different circumstances than most. Maybe what she means isn't so much that she's sacrificing her future, but the path she thought she would be following. Instead,she'll now follow a new path. Ours."
Lilliana nods her head to Shaelie. There would be no glares from this little troll priestess. Syreena nods in understanding as she hears the elf's words. Kerala is rather stunned. If she had not been so tense, she'd have nodded to the elf for her support.

"There are many ways to show dedication, and many ways to show sacrafice. I want to see actions, always, on your part, Kerala.... and every Grim in here will expect you to be... spot on." Lilliana says. Brast rises again, sensing the shift in attitudes the same as Kerala did.

Ruuki scowls, clearly disagreeing with the decision. "So long as her weakness towards the Alliance does not earn knives in the backs of the rest of the Grim on the battlefield..."

Lupinum smiles at Kerala.

"If you aren't spot on, where, there will be consquences to that. We need to depend on our brothers and sisters." Lilliana continues seriously, if still with her young, childish tone mixed with gnomish accent stuff. She looks to Ruuki, "If there is weakness there....I would think that everyone in this room" she gestures to the Grims with them, "would help us deal with it." She pauses, "Wouldn't you all?" She asks it way too sweetly, kindly. Words laced in poison.

Yemana looks at Lilliana but remains silent. Brast bounds up and down at the sweet sound the priestess makes, perhaps more for the tone than the content. Orphyn, swords hilts still clasped in his fists, nods slowly. Lupinum hides his expression behind his flask. He drinks deep from it. Kerala stands very still, uncertain. It sounds like she passes the trial. Does she pass the trial?

Lilliana doesn't need verbal answers from the Grims here, she very well knows the answer. Her gentle eyes go to Awatu for just a brief moment, to exchange a glance with him. Then she waves her hand to Kerala, "Come over here." The druid obeys. "To become a Grim....is both sacrifice and dedication. Even if you can see that there are other ways....we want to see you only follow what is right. Let's see it." She nods her head, and as she does so, she looks at the other Grim while Kerala stands before them.

Lilliana promotes the rebellious tauren.

Brast bounds off the table and pads over to Kerala. He sits and tips his head forward, waiting for her to lower to his level. She just stands there blinking. Ruuki will have to watch her for a while, offering no words to her promotion. Lupinum smiles again, wider. He slides off the table drunkenly.

Shaelie watches Kerala, who she had once resented, and even hated. Later, she had grown to respect the tauren, and even like her on some level. As the druidess is promoted, Shaelie lifts her hand in salute to the woman, acknowledging her new station.

Realization finally sinks in. Kerala is no longer a supplicant. She immediately whirls to face Awatu, her hand raised and finger pointing at him. "The Debt is paid." The commander simply nods. Lupinum peers at the druid searchingly, and Syreena watches as well.

Kerala raises hands to her tabard, at the red stitching. She grips it tightly in both hand and, though it takes a few yanks, she rips the thing off her. "I am NOT KONRO." She throws the tabard in the fire.

Lilliana watches this rather curiously. She had thought Kerala had chosen to wear Konro's tabard, but apparently, she had not. Awatu waits. Ruuki scoffs, not in the least surprised she'd faked her way through the trials. Brast tilts his head to the side, watching the flame consume Konro's memory as it did Kerala's other ghosts. Shaelie looks unsurprised, taking the gesture as symbolic.

The no-longer-supplicant druid looks around, daring someone to argue the point, or maybe to offer a new tabard. Lupinum runs his fingers over his robes. He hasn't worn his tabard since he was put back together. Lilliana has no intention of arguing the point. She doesn't think that Kerala was ever a Konro. Konro never made it to become a Grim, he died like a wimp before that happened.

"You are not Konro. But are you still Grim?" Syreena finally asks.

Kerala points at Lilliana. "She doesn't wear a tabard."

Awatu begins to look impatient. "Why do you still stand with us?" He gestures toward the stairwell.

Kerala is honestly confused. Is he telling her to leave now? The meeting is not over yet. She doesn't move. Or did he misunderstand her destruction of Konro's tabard? "I do not lie." She had made a sacrifice. She meant it.

"I am guessing the bloody tabard she once wore represented the debt she was here to pay. She now stands here as full Grim, no long under any debt." Once again, Shaelie understands perfectly, and Kerala is surprised at the elf, who had just the other day believed whole-heartedly that the only way the druid would have reacted with violence toward Lupinum was if she were controlled by evil warlocks. She eyes the slim woman, a new respect growing for the huntress. Lupinum nods at Shaelie.

"Then she should speak. And not have us guess her intentions. I will send Lilliana to take any thoughts and memories from her if this continues." Awatu gives a cold, hard stare at Kerala. Syreena furrows her brow, thinking Lilly won't survive being torn apart like Lupinum was. Brast turns to Awatu sniffing. This Alpha smells of wisdom and... smelling the scent again... a clear lack of drama. Brast purrs at Awatu.

The druid just meets his gaze, stock-still. Shaelie speaks for her, again. "She spoke loud and clear."

"Communication was never this one's thing." Lilliana points out, of Kerala.

"Clearly." Awatu agrees with Lilliana.

"You are no mooncalf, sister. Do not play at one." Yemana says.

"I did," Kerala says, agreeing with Shaelie. How much more loud and clear could she be? The Horns were dead, she was Grim, and she wasn't Konro. Again she wonders, what do these people want from her?

Lilliana catches Syreena's thought, and thinks that she can handle herself with Kerala, she is not Lupinum. The priestess now eyes Kerala intently....threatening to get into her mind, and poking there just to make her uncomfortable after Awatu made his little threat that would become fact, if Kerala didn't wise up and really make it proper clear.

"So, your choice is made. You remain with us and destroy a failed Supplicant's unearned tabard. Consume the hearts of Alliance. Forsake your past and future to walk among us. The Debt is paid." Awatu says. He is obviously leading up to something, so Kerala just stands there as he repeats everything she's said. He walks closer to her as he does.

Lilliana snickers, "All in a days good work." She mutters, more so to Ruuki then anyone else. Ruuki is none too happy with Lilliana, and she doesn't need her thoughts read to figure that out. Lilliana knows.

"So, tell me," Awatu continues, "Who are your allies in this world?"

"The Grim." Kerala answers immediately.

"And to what do you strive?"

Kerala 's eyes narrow. She senses a trap, but not the nature of it. "To protect them."

Awatu snorts. "Wrong. You strive to ensure that the Alliance is annihilated. 'To protect them' is only a small part of your life."

"No, I don't." Kerala says clearly. She is no longer a supplicant. She is done dealing death for them. She is a healer. "I will keep you safe while YOU -MURDER- them, but I will not be killing."

Lupinum clenches his jaw. Brast sniffs the air, then slinks away. Syreena listens silently, looking between Kerala and the Commander. Ruuki almost growls at Kerala's bullheadedness.

"Ah, my sincerest apologies. On behalf of my tribe, the Alliance who murdered them are not the murderers. We are." Awatu says. "On behalf of every murdered Horde, the Alliance are the innocents. We are the guilty."

Kerala scowls as Awatu claims to have heard words she did not say. Why is she surprised? The Grim behold the world through their own twisted lens of reality. They see what they want to see, and hear what they want to hear. And now she is one of them.

She stares at Awatu as he steps closer. Again, she is discomfited, and again she quells the instinct to retreat to a safe distance. Lilliana is quietly watching. Awatu studies Kerala for a moment, as if thinking.

She eyes the commander warily. She is in danger, she thinks, but what is she supposed to do about it? This is now her commander, by her own choice. Her alpha. If he is going to punish her, she'll endure it like she has everything else. She'd paid the Debt. She has nothing left.

Awatu looks at Kerala and his lips move, as if he is speaking softly so that only she should hear. Behind him, Ruuki has a curious expression, as if wondering what he is telling her. Lilliana slowly steps back, close to her co-inquisitor.

Kerala does not lean closer to him to hear the nonexistant words, but it doesn't matter. In the next instant, his arm shoots forward faster than she could have imagined. If she had anticipated it, she might have flinched, but regardless, she would have let him hit her. Instead, he grips her arm hard.

"You are of no use to me." Awatu tells her. Then he flings her sideways onto the still-burning sorcerous brazier.
Last edited by Kerala on Thu Aug 06, 2015 3:25 am, edited 3 times in total.
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Kerala
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Re: Kerala's Inquisition

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Pain.

No matter how many times or different ways it is felt, it never gets easier to bear. Nerves regenerate, if they can, and do their job of sensing. Time dulls the memory, and lowers the threshold tolerance that was once built up. Kerala has been burned before, the hairless scars marking her face are proof of that, but there is nothing that could have prepared her for this.

She had expected to be hurled backwards, perhaps, into the stairwell. To be struck, maybe, with his other hand, and the one at her arm would be the anchor to keep her from falling.

She has time, as she flies through the air, to wonder at her fate as niether of those things happen. How many Shu'halo have died to flames? She should consider herself lucky. Awatu is doing what she has only ever had the courage to attempt a few times before now.

He is killing her.

She almost says it, but doesn't. I forgive you. The words would be meaningless to him, and he is not Konro. She does not care if her death haunts him. She figures it won't, and who follows the old Blood Law anyway? She does. She doesn't say it, as she had to Konro, but she thinks it. Her life has no value, her murder is forgiven. No Debt need be paid for her.

She floats for just a moment, the lightweight fabric of her dress fluttering against ler legs. Awatu's hands on her hurt, as they are pushing into her flesh with the force of all of her weight. Then his fingers are gone, and she falls. She can feel the heat long before it touches her. Then it does, and all thought is gone.

Agony. She cannot hear herself screaming over the sound of her fur burning.

The sounds of sizzling. Now time is moving too fast, and she cannot move, not fast enough. She's on fire! The familiar scent of cooking meat fills her nose. She breathes, and instead of air, she gets scalding heat. Now her lungs are alight in their own unique brand of inferno. The screaming ends.

Kerala cannot stay on the fire, the instinct to flee from the source of pain is too strong. As fast as she lands on the brazier, she rolls off again, on the other side, but it's too late. She's still on fire, she can see the orange light on her fur.

Dimly, she's aware of the briefest moment of relief, before it's gone like smoke. The other druid had cast a single healing spell.

Kerala rolls, her only thought being to make the torment stop. She's on the stairs now, though, and there is no railing. The noise that comes from her scorched throat most closely resembles a growl as the flailing druid rolls off the high steps.

Away. She has to get away from the pain!

She can't walk properly. She aims to go one way, but she ends up in a different place. She hits the wall twice before she makes it through the doorway there. Her leg isn't quite working right. The arm of that side is gone. Or, she can't feel it. On some level, she's aware that that is really, really bad. She is surprised to find that that side of her body is a ghostly white color, and only the edges look burned.

It makes no sense. Nothing makes any sense. Where is she going? Her breathing is fast, and she is dizzy. She wants water, but where is it? Is she hurt? Why? Is this one of those dreams? She falls.

Shock takes full hold.

((Continued on TNG in Re-Align and Rebirth))
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