✶ imeeji: memory
Apr. 9th, 2021 04:10 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
scattershot➤ Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
One does not simply slay a Warden. Has no one told you what happens if you defeat one of those fiends?
The Lightwardens
Summary
✶ The Warrior of Light joins Alphinaud and Alisaie in fromt of the gates to a village named Holminster Switch. With them are a man in robes and a concealing hood, the Crystal Exarch, and a Viera woman named Lyna in the black-and-red mail of a guardswoman. Lyna informs them that the village is under attack by a swarm of Sin Eaters led by a Lightwarden, and that as many as half of the villagers are still trapped there.
✶ Alisaie remarks that the presence of a Lightwarden in the village will allow the party to slay one sooner than they'd imagined. Lyna rebukes her for her nonchalance: Lightwardens, she says, hold more light inside them than all of their underlings. Even should they be killed, their aether will not dissipate as the Sin Eaters' does, but will seek out and corrupt the nearest living being - "a reckless young swordswoman, perhaps" - and transform them into a new Lightwarden in their turn.
✶ The Exarch requests that the rest of the guard stand down and allow the group to take care of the Lightwarden alone: they are to focus on saving as many lives as they can. Lyna agrees, on the condition she be permitted to escort the group, and they make their way into ther village.
✶ Inside the gates, all is chaos. Animal-like Sin Eaters flock down the paths, corrupting and transforming everything in their path. Even the animals are not safe: Alisaie and then others witness fleeing bears being struck down, only to rise as Sin Eaters moments later. More horrifying still, as they leave the forest surrounding the village, they witness the same fate befalling fleeing villagers they are seconds too late to save. The fields, too, are littered with the wing-like cocoons of incubating Sin Eaters, and the village itself lies in flames.
✶ The group fight their way to the village. The Sin Eater Alisaie and the Warrior of Light saw at the Inn at Journey's Head blocks their path for a time, but is fought off. Just outside the village gates they are stopped again, this time by a Sin Eater roosting in a paddock. Alisaie recognizes her on sight - Tesleen, moaning and crying incoherently, who immediately rushes to attack them. Alisaie doesn't hesitate, following hard on the heels of the Warrior of Light as they meet the attack head-on.
✶ The fight over and Tesleen finally at rest, Alphinaud asks Alisaie if she's all right - she's gone pale. Alisaie waves the question off, urging them all to continue.
✶ The group make it to the burning manor house, where they battle and kill the Lightwarden Philia. When Lyna realizes that the Warden's corpse is starting to release aether, she urges the group to fall back. The Exarch tells her that won't be necessary, as they finally have a way to contain it - the Warrior of Light, who steps forward and takes the aether into themself, apparently emerging none the worse for it.
✶ A beam of light shoots heavenward, and the curtain of blazing light overheard parts for the first time in a century, revealing the night sky. Without the light to sustain them, the remaining Sin Eaters will be forced to flee. The Exarch states he will not rest until night has been restored everywhere, and that saving the First from oblivion will also serve to save the Source - the place Alisaie and her friends came from.
✶ Alisaie asks him why he risks himself this way, for this particular cause. When the Exarch says it is for the people of the Crystarium, she points out that it had yet to be built when he and the Crystal Tower first arrived. The Exarch is evasive, saying simply that there are things they can ill afford to lose. He explains that despite his appearance he is an old man, with a lot of painful memories. Alisaie apologizes for prying, calling it a family trait, and Alphinaud pledges their support to the cause.
✶ Alisaie remains quiet as the others discuss their immediate plans, but demurs when Alphinaud suggests she head home and rest. She says she has something she needs to do back in the village: that she knew one of the Sin Eaters, and wishes to be alone right now. She warns the Warrior of Light off following her, too, and runs back into the ruined village before they can try to stop her.
Notes
✶ Tesleen's story, how Alisaie knows her, and how she came to be transformed into a Sin Eater is explained more fully in this memory.
✶ The player-character Warrior of Light, who accompanies Alisaie, is seen as a humanoid shape made up of blinding white light surrounded by a rainbow corona, of indeterminate age, race and gender. None of their individual features are discernible, and though they can be seen to be speaking their voice cannot be made out.
One does not simply slay a Warden. Has no one told you what happens if you defeat one of those fiends?
The Lightwardens
Summary
✶ The Warrior of Light joins Alphinaud and Alisaie in fromt of the gates to a village named Holminster Switch. With them are a man in robes and a concealing hood, the Crystal Exarch, and a Viera woman named Lyna in the black-and-red mail of a guardswoman. Lyna informs them that the village is under attack by a swarm of Sin Eaters led by a Lightwarden, and that as many as half of the villagers are still trapped there.
✶ Alisaie remarks that the presence of a Lightwarden in the village will allow the party to slay one sooner than they'd imagined. Lyna rebukes her for her nonchalance: Lightwardens, she says, hold more light inside them than all of their underlings. Even should they be killed, their aether will not dissipate as the Sin Eaters' does, but will seek out and corrupt the nearest living being - "a reckless young swordswoman, perhaps" - and transform them into a new Lightwarden in their turn.
✶ The Exarch requests that the rest of the guard stand down and allow the group to take care of the Lightwarden alone: they are to focus on saving as many lives as they can. Lyna agrees, on the condition she be permitted to escort the group, and they make their way into ther village.
✶ Inside the gates, all is chaos. Animal-like Sin Eaters flock down the paths, corrupting and transforming everything in their path. Even the animals are not safe: Alisaie and then others witness fleeing bears being struck down, only to rise as Sin Eaters moments later. More horrifying still, as they leave the forest surrounding the village, they witness the same fate befalling fleeing villagers they are seconds too late to save. The fields, too, are littered with the wing-like cocoons of incubating Sin Eaters, and the village itself lies in flames.
✶ The group fight their way to the village. The Sin Eater Alisaie and the Warrior of Light saw at the Inn at Journey's Head blocks their path for a time, but is fought off. Just outside the village gates they are stopped again, this time by a Sin Eater roosting in a paddock. Alisaie recognizes her on sight - Tesleen, moaning and crying incoherently, who immediately rushes to attack them. Alisaie doesn't hesitate, following hard on the heels of the Warrior of Light as they meet the attack head-on.
✶ The fight over and Tesleen finally at rest, Alphinaud asks Alisaie if she's all right - she's gone pale. Alisaie waves the question off, urging them all to continue.
✶ The group make it to the burning manor house, where they battle and kill the Lightwarden Philia. When Lyna realizes that the Warden's corpse is starting to release aether, she urges the group to fall back. The Exarch tells her that won't be necessary, as they finally have a way to contain it - the Warrior of Light, who steps forward and takes the aether into themself, apparently emerging none the worse for it.
✶ A beam of light shoots heavenward, and the curtain of blazing light overheard parts for the first time in a century, revealing the night sky. Without the light to sustain them, the remaining Sin Eaters will be forced to flee. The Exarch states he will not rest until night has been restored everywhere, and that saving the First from oblivion will also serve to save the Source - the place Alisaie and her friends came from.
✶ Alisaie asks him why he risks himself this way, for this particular cause. When the Exarch says it is for the people of the Crystarium, she points out that it had yet to be built when he and the Crystal Tower first arrived. The Exarch is evasive, saying simply that there are things they can ill afford to lose. He explains that despite his appearance he is an old man, with a lot of painful memories. Alisaie apologizes for prying, calling it a family trait, and Alphinaud pledges their support to the cause.
✶ Alisaie remains quiet as the others discuss their immediate plans, but demurs when Alphinaud suggests she head home and rest. She says she has something she needs to do back in the village: that she knew one of the Sin Eaters, and wishes to be alone right now. She warns the Warrior of Light off following her, too, and runs back into the ruined village before they can try to stop her.
Notes
✶ Tesleen's story, how Alisaie knows her, and how she came to be transformed into a Sin Eater is explained more fully in this memory.
✶ The player-character Warrior of Light, who accompanies Alisaie, is seen as a humanoid shape made up of blinding white light surrounded by a rainbow corona, of indeterminate age, race and gender. None of their individual features are discernible, and though they can be seen to be speaking their voice cannot be made out.