01-09-2016, 09:29 PM
It was...
difficult to gauge how much time passed between the point when Nealaphh had lost consciousness and when it awoke under the smoke blurred sunlight of the Endless Dunes. Its form was still battered and leaking a shimmering black fluid, but at least it was able to function. A faint telepathic whine was the only sound that accompanied the God-Mind's belabored rise to its feet. Not far from where it had lain, the hero Gildarts lay still as well, breathing shallowly. He was unconscious; this much Nealaphh could at least tell. The shadow looked down at the bleeding human's body, and then up to the sun in the sky.
Gildarts had already been ill, and now his body was severely damaged on top of it all. The last thing the wizard needed was to die from exposure. So, with the dull thuds of siege still echoing in the background, Nealaphh set about erecting a small lean-to, woven from the sand itself using just a trickle of Omnilium, to keep Gildarts shaded from the harsh rays of whatever object in the sky it was that claimed to be a star. Content with its handiwork, Nealaphh etched a small series of characters into the wall of the sandstone shack; it's contact credentials for its communicator and Dataverse email. The shadow knew Gildarts to be an ally of Princess Guu; it would not do for any bad blood to flow as a result of this unfortunate encounter.
Taking a moment to steel itself, Nealaphh then turned to regard the distant walls of Nippur. Demetri, Victor and Tom were all still inside that burning city, no doubt. Between the three of them, they comprised the entire Unity branch of the Omniverse Institute. To leave an asset such as that on the table for either New Babylon or their enemies to capture was unacceptable, but at the same time, Nealaphh was not in a position to defend them from any attackers. It scanned the sky for ideas, and encountered them in the form of the slow, drifting shapes of buzzards riding the blood-fouled eddies that wafted from the capitol. Nobody would be thinking to look twice at any carrion eaters in this aftermath. Would a crow be so far fetched as to be conspicuous among the other avian scavengers? Nealaphh highly doubted it.
After a few moments, the God-Mind had shifted its form into that very same ebon creature, which took painfully to the wing with a noisome squawk. Quickly it flew over the rumbling walls, high above the flames and massacre, keen eyes peering down at the sandy streets far below. The death and destruction did nothing to assault the God-Mind's sensibilities; such disarray and suffering was a balm to its restless soul. It would not do to get lost in the ecstasy of the thousand distraught minds that screamed in unison, however. That time was still a long way off.
A flare of saffron light caught the crow's eye. Beneath the hail of blistering yellow light, Nealaphh could barely make out the form of Tom Riddle being reduced to ruin at the behest of a Prime that the God-Mind did not recognize. Though it might pain a human to prioritize one ally over another, Nealaphh had no reservations about forgoing its search for the other two Institute members in order to rescue the highest ranking one. Once the assailing, red-skinned Prime had moved on, the shadow tucked its wings into its sides and dove straight at the crater where Tom's remains still smoldered. It was with dull surprise that Nealaphh happened upon, not a corpse, but a book. A book whose mind reeled with resentment and humiliation. Without a moment's hesitation, the crow hopped over to the soot-encrusted tome and clutched it in two grey talons before rocketing skyward. Anyone who had seen this event may have grown suspicious of such a thing, but again, Nealaphh was certain that this would be the least of their worries.
It seems you have not been entirely forward with me, Tom. Nealaphh crooned as it alighted on a distant parapet, gently placing the book on the clay balcony and peering down at the city. There was no immediate response.
This is good. Any associate of mine who cannot keep a secret is not worth sustaining a relationship with.
Nealaphh peered down at the city that it and Tom had just vacated. Several Primes were still facing off, though they were all badly injured. The God-Mind observed dispassionately as Demetri Malius was beaten into the ground by Ganondorf's might. Not a moment later, however, Victor Wolfe stepped from the shadows and sent the Gerudo to the Underverse with one of his dreaded purple syringes. An interesting turn of events, but it didn't change the tactical layout of Nealaphh's agenda. Victor and Demetri were important assets, but they themselves did not know that Tom and itself were even in Nippur. Based on Victor's defensive stance, it seemed he was willing to fight till the end for New Babylon. It was irksome, to be honest, and Nealaphh wasn't sure if the assassin had any sort of fealty to the Institute at all. Perhaps this would be a time to test that.
Giving up the premise of anonymity, Nealaphh sent out a telepathic address to Tom, Victor and Demetri (if the thief was even still conscious). Perhaps giving Victor a reason to flee would be all the incentive that Wolfe needed.
Victor, Demetri. This is the Headmaster. I am at an undisclosed location in Nippur, and I have seen what has transpired here.
A small lie, but ultimately inconsequential.
Wolfe, I request that you see to Demetri's safety. You and any New Babylon allies who desire protection can travel with the Dean of Unity and myself to Darkshire in the Pale Moors. Rendevouz with us by sundown ten miles east of Nippur if you can and are willing. If not, we will move on.
With that Nealaphh hopped off of the balcony where it was perched and glanced at Tom's bound form out of the corner of its beady eye.
Well Tom, what say you? I think it's time we made some concrete progress.
difficult to gauge how much time passed between the point when Nealaphh had lost consciousness and when it awoke under the smoke blurred sunlight of the Endless Dunes. Its form was still battered and leaking a shimmering black fluid, but at least it was able to function. A faint telepathic whine was the only sound that accompanied the God-Mind's belabored rise to its feet. Not far from where it had lain, the hero Gildarts lay still as well, breathing shallowly. He was unconscious; this much Nealaphh could at least tell. The shadow looked down at the bleeding human's body, and then up to the sun in the sky.
Gildarts had already been ill, and now his body was severely damaged on top of it all. The last thing the wizard needed was to die from exposure. So, with the dull thuds of siege still echoing in the background, Nealaphh set about erecting a small lean-to, woven from the sand itself using just a trickle of Omnilium, to keep Gildarts shaded from the harsh rays of whatever object in the sky it was that claimed to be a star. Content with its handiwork, Nealaphh etched a small series of characters into the wall of the sandstone shack; it's contact credentials for its communicator and Dataverse email. The shadow knew Gildarts to be an ally of Princess Guu; it would not do for any bad blood to flow as a result of this unfortunate encounter.
Taking a moment to steel itself, Nealaphh then turned to regard the distant walls of Nippur. Demetri, Victor and Tom were all still inside that burning city, no doubt. Between the three of them, they comprised the entire Unity branch of the Omniverse Institute. To leave an asset such as that on the table for either New Babylon or their enemies to capture was unacceptable, but at the same time, Nealaphh was not in a position to defend them from any attackers. It scanned the sky for ideas, and encountered them in the form of the slow, drifting shapes of buzzards riding the blood-fouled eddies that wafted from the capitol. Nobody would be thinking to look twice at any carrion eaters in this aftermath. Would a crow be so far fetched as to be conspicuous among the other avian scavengers? Nealaphh highly doubted it.
After a few moments, the God-Mind had shifted its form into that very same ebon creature, which took painfully to the wing with a noisome squawk. Quickly it flew over the rumbling walls, high above the flames and massacre, keen eyes peering down at the sandy streets far below. The death and destruction did nothing to assault the God-Mind's sensibilities; such disarray and suffering was a balm to its restless soul. It would not do to get lost in the ecstasy of the thousand distraught minds that screamed in unison, however. That time was still a long way off.
A flare of saffron light caught the crow's eye. Beneath the hail of blistering yellow light, Nealaphh could barely make out the form of Tom Riddle being reduced to ruin at the behest of a Prime that the God-Mind did not recognize. Though it might pain a human to prioritize one ally over another, Nealaphh had no reservations about forgoing its search for the other two Institute members in order to rescue the highest ranking one. Once the assailing, red-skinned Prime had moved on, the shadow tucked its wings into its sides and dove straight at the crater where Tom's remains still smoldered. It was with dull surprise that Nealaphh happened upon, not a corpse, but a book. A book whose mind reeled with resentment and humiliation. Without a moment's hesitation, the crow hopped over to the soot-encrusted tome and clutched it in two grey talons before rocketing skyward. Anyone who had seen this event may have grown suspicious of such a thing, but again, Nealaphh was certain that this would be the least of their worries.
It seems you have not been entirely forward with me, Tom. Nealaphh crooned as it alighted on a distant parapet, gently placing the book on the clay balcony and peering down at the city. There was no immediate response.
This is good. Any associate of mine who cannot keep a secret is not worth sustaining a relationship with.
Nealaphh peered down at the city that it and Tom had just vacated. Several Primes were still facing off, though they were all badly injured. The God-Mind observed dispassionately as Demetri Malius was beaten into the ground by Ganondorf's might. Not a moment later, however, Victor Wolfe stepped from the shadows and sent the Gerudo to the Underverse with one of his dreaded purple syringes. An interesting turn of events, but it didn't change the tactical layout of Nealaphh's agenda. Victor and Demetri were important assets, but they themselves did not know that Tom and itself were even in Nippur. Based on Victor's defensive stance, it seemed he was willing to fight till the end for New Babylon. It was irksome, to be honest, and Nealaphh wasn't sure if the assassin had any sort of fealty to the Institute at all. Perhaps this would be a time to test that.
Giving up the premise of anonymity, Nealaphh sent out a telepathic address to Tom, Victor and Demetri (if the thief was even still conscious). Perhaps giving Victor a reason to flee would be all the incentive that Wolfe needed.
Victor, Demetri. This is the Headmaster. I am at an undisclosed location in Nippur, and I have seen what has transpired here.
A small lie, but ultimately inconsequential.
Wolfe, I request that you see to Demetri's safety. You and any New Babylon allies who desire protection can travel with the Dean of Unity and myself to Darkshire in the Pale Moors. Rendevouz with us by sundown ten miles east of Nippur if you can and are willing. If not, we will move on.
With that Nealaphh hopped off of the balcony where it was perched and glanced at Tom's bound form out of the corner of its beady eye.
Well Tom, what say you? I think it's time we made some concrete progress.
And, we dream of home I dream of life out of here Their dreams are small My dreams don't know fear I got my heart full of hope I will change everything No matter what I'm told How impossible it seems We did it before And we'll do it again We're indestructible Even when we're tired And we've been here before Just you and I
Don't try to rescue me I don't need to be rescued
Don't try to rescue me I don't need to be rescued