Children of the Gods: Arc 2 [Game/Closed]

[CrazyGirl17]

"That magic...it's in the jungle...your father?...Not from here..."

Shiro started in surprise. Could the man tell who his father was? After all, there were other storm gods out there, right?

"I'm glad that helped, thanks Shiro," Andrew said, trying to sound like he was unaffected by the lighting, but Shiro was relieved to see that he was otherwise fine.

His thoughts were diverted when the injured man rasped out, "I was hired...Loki...wants the traitors killed...and their children. This is my home...he was going to burn it down. I'm the last left. What would you...have done?"

The words made Shiro's blood run cold. If Loki was willing to go that far to get to them... then what chance did they have against him?

A strong hand on his shoulder made him look up into Prometheus' face. "Good work. At least we have some advantage. Do you know why they were so afraid of you?"

"Not really," he admitted, "All I know is that the creatures didn't care for lightning attacks..."

 

[IFS]

"I'm sorry I'm no good with close range. Do you need any healing? Does anyone else need any healing?"

"Just a few scratches, I'll be fine," she said, the excitement of the battle began to fade, leaving the usual discomfort with the enthusiasm with which she had killed. She knew the usual excuses she made to herself by now, though it had been some time since she'd had to call them up. At least I'm not completely used to it, and they are monsters not human.

They spoke with human voices, or something close to them though, and that fact still left her disturbed.

"Please. Help."

"Speak!"

"Ease up on him," Nicole said, stepping towards the interrogation "he's not going to tell us anything if you shake him to death, at least let Andrew stop him from bleeding out."

I don't want to kill him if it can be helped, but Keshi... She's reminding me more and more of how Jon was.

 

[DarkRawen]

"Just a few scratches, I'll be fine."

Andrew nodded, he knew that Nicole would have told him if there was anything more, and he nodded.

"That's good," he replied. "Let me know if anything arises, okay? You did well," he told her, making it clear that Nicole could tell him whatever. When it came to the others, only one person asked for his help, the guy they had just saved.

"Please. Help."

Andrew noted the sound of the hurt god spitting out blood, it seemed to be far too much for a wound in his mouth. Of course, he didn't really need to make that assessment to know that Keshi's attacker was nearly dead.

"What traitors are you talking about? Those who sided with Zeus willing? Or the ones Zeus beat into joining him?"

Does that honestly matter at this point?

Andrew didn't care about the answer. He supposed Rias still thought the god should join them, but it was an opinion that she seemed to share with no one. Not even Andrew thought Loki would be that useful. However, he did care about the fact that Keshi was currently shaking the god.

Is she trying to kill him, or just stupid?

Andrew put his bow on his shoulder, then made his way over, trying to give off a friendly. By the time Nicole was speaking, Andrew was already in front of Keshi, looking at the god. There was something very pitiful about the guy, though Andrew didn't know why.

"Excuse me," he said, trying to seem polite like he had been for a while now. It wasn't that he was scared of Keshi in this form -or any other form- but avoiding a discussion with her was by far preferred. Besides, she had a ridiculous amount of arms.

"But he's as good as dead if you don't stop this instance and let me fix him. I'll make sure he doesn't run, just let me have a moment to make sure that he doesn't drown in his own blood, and we'll be fine."

If he's not already dead with the way you're shaking his insides. There is being angry, and then there's being outright cruel.

 

[Athol]

"Ease up on him, he's not going to tell us anything if you shake him to death, at least let Andrew stop him from bleeding out."

As Nicole moved forward, another arm came up, this one pointing the talwar point first at the Greek demi-god. While she didn?t say anything, she did stop shaking her captive.

"Excuse me, but he's as good as dead if you don't stop this instance and let me fix him. I'll make sure he doesn't run, just let me have a moment to make sure that he doesn't drown in his own blood, and we'll be fine."

Looking past the god she was holding she glared at Andrew with an intensity that should have made him burst into flames...and she was disappointed when he didn?t. ?If this fucker wants to live, then he can start being fucking useful.? She spat. Somewhere in the depths of her consciousness, her other ?self? managed to emerge from the chaos of her mind. STOP IT! Why? The fucker tried to KILL US! You can?t tell me you don?t want him to pay for that!? Oh no, that fuckers gotta pay, but if he dies we might lose the shit-ticket that gave the order. GAAHH! Fuck! I hate it, but you?re right?

Lowering her raised arms, she shoved the dying god at Andrew before storming off, and snatching up her fourth blade as she went. Getting to the tree line, she began to vent her anger and frustration on the first tree she came to, her blade lopping out chunks of wood with ease. In short order, she?s felled the tree and was beginning to hack at the branches.

 

[DarkRawen]

"If this fucker wants to live, then he can start being fucking useful."

As Keshi glared at him, Andrew only smiled back, the look in his eyes unimpressed. If he could face lightning and not be too scared, another demigod was nothing. Instead, he opened his mouth to reply, only to have the nearly dead god shoved into his arms, bloody and probably very scared.

Well, at least we got the guy.

Sitting down, he started healing the other, not using the ambrosia, but rather assessing the damage and symptoms of his ailments, and slowly healing the god's injuries. Of course, Andrew wasn't too sure about whether this guy could be trusted or not, Dio's side had been filled with willing "Martyrs", and this god could just be another one, willing to possibly give his life to make sure Loki had the upper hand. It could even be Loki, in disguise. He made sure to apply some paralysis on the limbs -although, making sure the god could still speak- as he healed, just in case the other might try something.

It could be a trap.

Of course, it could also be an "innocent" god caught between the crossfire, forced to pick a side. A pitiful sight either way.

How to solve this, though? Oh, I know.

"So, I am going to heal you enough for you to survive. However, we cannot exactly trust you, and that is an issue," he started, calmly, sounding as if he was going to comfort the other. "So, I'm going to infect you with something unknown and unfamiliar, that'll eventually kill you, and that only I will be able to heal. That way, you'll be dead if I don't survive." He wouldn't actually do it, of course not. It would be cruel to do such a thing, even though just threatening to do it was cruel enough. As he kept healing, a tingly feeling spread through the body of the god, just enough to make him suspect something.

"You could choose not to believe me, but I wouldn't recommend it, for your sake. You have my word on that I will help you get rid of that disease as soon as I can, but I can't do that if I'm dead. So, if you would, please do as much as you can to ensure we both survive, by telling us as much as you know. If it's a trap, I'll probably be dead and captured, which would be very bad for you, so I suggest you tell us the truth."

Andrew smiled, the trustworthy surgeon mixed with something cold, calculating. There was no indication in his eyes or words of that it was a lie, and it would be enough to make just about anyone unsure.

"So, what will it be? I am sure you can understand why I am doing this, I am only a demigod trying to survive, and I would hate to see either of us dead."

 

[Lunar Templar]

Rias just sighed at Keshi's actions and crossed her arms. It was disappointing, but then she didn't know Keshi was a demi-goddess like her till yesterday so she figured there was a lot she still didn't know about her despite how close they where. What she did know she didn't really like this 'berserker' side of her ex so far.

"A blade of vengeance must be tempered with wisdom that it may strike true, other wise it will only bring tragedy." Rias said, largely to her self, but with in earshot of several other as she watch Keshi fell and limb a tree.

 

[hiei82]

Hymir planted the sword in the chest of the last fallen enemy. Turning his attention beck to the horn, he retrieved it from the corpse of the first monster and cleaned the blood from it by wiping it on the ground. From there, he reclaimed his father's sword and - with a single flick - cleared most of the blood from it. Thereafter, he cleaned what was left on whatever suitable scrap of cloth he could find.

Making his way over to Prometheus, he heard the titan speak to Shiro "Good work. At least we have some advantage. Do you know why they were so afraid of you?" Shiro replied in turn saying "All I know is that the creatures didn't care for lightning attacks...". Once Hymir joined them he smiled and added his opinion. "Regardless; it was well done Shield-Brother." Seeing Prometheus's nod, he replied in kind.

From there, Hymir turned his attention to the prisoner. It took him a few minutes to catch the gist of what happened from snippets of the conversation. Apparently, he'd been blackmailed - or so he claimed - by Loki to kill "traitors". It certainly was the kind of ploy Loki had used in the past, though it was much more direct than usual. He could provide useful information... assuming he was honest.

He waited until Andrew finished healing the god before entering the conversation. "Now that you're out of immediate danger; let us start with an easy question. What do we call you Óss?"

 

[Green Shoes]

The injured God, unable to answer amidst the hail of questions, received Andrew's help gladly, tempered though it was. Whether or not he trusted Apollo's son could not be discerned; covered in black paint, blood, and dust, his face seemed expressionless. Seeming to resist the paralysis for a moment, he then allowed his body to slump and relax - there was no more fight left in him. Andrew could feel the physical tissue of the being knit together, draining away at his energy, though he also felt a somewhat deeper wound - one that was beyond his ability to heal.

As strength slowly ebbed back into the strange God's body, Prometheus stepped closer, eager to keep a watchful eye. Quickly engaging Nicole, he spoke to her briskly.

"Do you think you could fly up and check the surrounding forest? I don't think we should linger..."

Straining to speak, he quickly began pouring out information. Whether or not it was factual was anyone's guess.

"Thank you. What did you ask? Yes. Traitors - Traitors to Dionysus. Oss? What is - doesn't matter. I am Mixcoatl. What's left of him. My brothers - father - son - all dead. This is all I have left. Don't kill me. I didn't ask for any of this!"

His voice cracked on the final sentence - as if he was naught but a teenager. Yet Andrew had sensed the wellspring of power within whatever lay healing in front of the group. A broken deity, but a deity nonetheless. Turning to Shiro, he pointed, finger trembling.

"They have another one - Storm Caller - locked away. Hidden. Older though - very old. Terrifying."

-------

As Keshi continued to spiral into a flurry of rage, Prometheus left the figure in the steady care of the others to try to calm her. Approaching slowly from behind, he raised his hands, ready for a bad reaction.

"Keshi? You might want to give it a rest. Save your energy. The forest is probably crawling now..."

Noticing Rias' strange proverb, the Titan made a note to quiz her regarding information on the Egyptians. Two daughters of potential enemies - that is, former enemies - were certain to at least know something useful.

 

[Athol]

"Keshi? You might want to give it a rest. Save your energy. The forest is probably crawling now..."

?Fine.? She growled, her swords slicing cleanly through one last thick branch. What she really wanted to do was go back over there and beat that man until he either spill everything, or she killed him?at this point either seemed like a good idea. I agree that asshole needs to pay, but we both know it won?t help us in the long run?let the others talk to him?please. Keshi growled again, then sighed. I know your right, but that doesn?t mean I like it?and as soon as their done with him, he?s mine. Fair enough.

Keeping her blades down, and her arms as relaxed as she could manage in her current state, she rejoined the others to listen to what this god had to say for himself.

 

[Lunar Templar]

Rias's tail 'poofed' up a bit at the news Loki was hunting traitors to Dio, and decided, much to her own personal disgust, helping Zeus by killing Loki was better the helping Zeus by letting Loki live to kill potential and former allies. Hearing this god was literally the last living member of his line didn't help matters ether.

The news of another, 'older storm caller', was interesting though, and started wondering who it could be, from the way it sounded, who ever it was wasn't local, which really only left several dozen deity's it could be, though given it was mentioned in reference to they're 'storm caller', that narrowed it down a bit but still left a few options as to who it could be.

 

[IFS]

Nicole wasn't certain she approved of Andrew's methods of threatening the man, but it was better than what Keshi had been doing. It seemed like the guy was going to talk, but Prometheus approached her with a request first.

"Do you think you could fly up and check the surrounding forest? I don't think we should linger..."

"Not sure I'll see much through the trees, but sure I can do that," she said. It occurred to her that this was the first time in a while that she'd actually used her wings to fly, these days the blessing power got much more mileage. Not that she minded, she enjoyed having the power of flight.

Their captive started to speak, revealing himself as a deity of some sort, he certainly didn't look the part though. In fact he looked young and scared, it made Nicole wonder if he was really the god he claimed to be, or perhaps he'd just recently inherited the position. In any case she was wasting time down here. Her wings spread wide, though still invisible, behind her and she shot up into the sky.

She flew high enough to see out across the trees, but was wary of going too high, both because she might be spotted and because her scouting would be useless if she couldn't make out what there was to see. Now let's see, is there anything out there?

 

[DarkRawen]

Andrew kept healing the god, as he noticed a deeper wound that did not seem to get healed, despite his efforts. While he did, he listened to the strange god talking.

"Thank you. What did you ask? Yes. Traitors - Traitors to Dionysus. Oss? What is - doesn't matter. I am Mixcoatl. What's left of him. My brothers - father - son - all dead. This is all I have left. Don't kill me. I didn't ask for any of this!"

For a god, he's acting rather...

Immature? Frightened? He had seen gods act rather human before, but it still seemed odd to Andrew.

He's a god, though. And his expression seems... is this a ploy?

He couldn't tell, and that annoyed him a bit. Andrew had to admit that if this was some plan of Loki's, it was a good one, he felt compelled to help the other out because of both pity and some sort of empathy. They were both in similar situations, though none of Andrew's closest had been killed. Yet.

I can't let it get to me.

He still wished that someone else would take over, do the talking and healing for him.

"They have another one - Storm Caller - locked away. Hidden. Older though - very old. Terrifying."

That's great.

Andrew thought to himself, sarcastically.

More lightning gods? Who am I kidding, every mythology ever seems to have a lightning god of some sorts.

If the other was locked away and hidden, they might not have to face this "Storm Caller", although...

"Would it benefit us to seek out this Storm Caller? Or does he too side with Loki?" Andrew finally asked, his eyes trying to see through the other. It would be hard, however, Mixcoatl's face seemed expressionless, no real clues for Andrew to know if the other was speaking the truth.

"And if there's any other way for you to help us, please let me know. As a god, even an injured one, there has to be some sort of way for you to benefit us. If you do, I'll consider leaving you without the disease. Be warned, though, there is an injury I cannot heal inside you, a deep wound. I would advice you to seek out someone who could help you, as I don't know what exactly it is, or what effect it will have on you. I'm sorry I can't help you with that."

Perhaps the ambrosia would be able to heal him... but I cannot afford to waste it before a fight, especially not if Keshi is going to try to kill him.

Andrew wasn't going to let that happen, though, he hadn't spent that much energy healing someone, only to watch them get stabbed before his eyes. Unless it was all a trap, of course, then he was slightly more tempted to let Keshi do what she wanted.

 

[CrazyGirl17]

"Regardless; it was well done Shield-Brother." Shiro accepted Hymir's words with a smile, appreciating the kind words. As the group recuperated from the battle, he cautiously moved towards the captive in order to listen to what he ad to say.

"Thank you. What did you ask? Yes. Traitors - Traitors to Dionysus. Oss? What is - doesn't matter. I am Mixcoatl. What's left of him. My brothers - father - son - all dead. This is all I have left. Don't kill me. I didn't ask for any of this!" Shiro couldn't help but feel sorry for the poor guy, God or not, no one deserved to go through what he did...

He was startled out of his thoughts when the God - Mixcoatl, was it? - pointed towards him. "They have another one - Storm Caller - locked away. Hidden. Older though - very old. Terrifying."

Shiro blinked in surprise. "Storm Caller? Do you know what the God's real name is?" He tried to keep his voice from trembling. Suddenly, his concerns for his father's whereabouts might be fulfilled...

 

[Green Shoes]

Nicole emerged from the glade's sparse canopy muted against the now swirling, grey sky. She began to feel the first splashes of rain on her shoulders, a sign of weather to come. At first she saw only the waving branches of the jungle, shimmering like a brown and green sea. The odd dark shaped or two flitted between the branches, presumably the fleeing creatures, though it was impossible to tell. Further up the slope of the mountain, a transparent sheet of mist spread over an isolated section. There seemed to be darker smoke rising from amongst it, though it was hard to tell. The rain increased to a full shower, and Nicole could see no further movement.

-------

Mixcoatl propped himself up on his elbows, casting a wary glance further up the mountain. Choosing his words carefully, his voice returned to normal, and he spoke faster and surer, switching his attention between Andrew, Shiro, and Keshi.

"I don't know who he is. He's not with Loki, but I doubt he's friends with anyone. We fought for a long time, didn't even speak to me. I think he's just...angry."

Turning his attention back to his body, he ran his fingertips of his chest, as if trying to probe for this wound Andrew spoke of. Turning up nothing, he muttered.

"No, I'm no help. I'm marked anyway; Loki knows where I am at all time. You'll hardly be able to fight if I'm amongst you. Please - remove whatever you gave me so I can find someone who can heal...whatever I have. Someone far away from here, I hope."

He looked up at Andrew, and then to Keshi, as if asking their permission to live and leave.

-------

Prometheus listened in on the conversation between Mixcoatl and the others, keeping his eyes trained on Nicole as she rose above the trees. At the mention of Storm Caller, his thoughts began to cycle through possible people. The further through his list he made it, the more concerned he became; Loki on his own probably couldn't bind any of them. Meaning he either has help, or has became far more powerful.

Calling up to Nicole, he tried not to let his voice echo.

"See anything promising?"

-------

Keshi began to feel the drain on her energy as she maintained her divine state, her joints beginning to ache, and her breath becoming shorter.

 

[Athol]

The ache in her joints began to grow, and the shortness of breath, where signs of something she?d never encountered before?her upper limit. We need to swap now! It?s going to be bad as it is, if we push it? Not now, not yet! Bu-NOT YET! The Aztec god was saying something to the others, but in her fatiguing state it was hard to focus.

"No, I'm no help. I'm marked anyway; Loki knows where I am at all time?

That however, she did catch. He was still talking, but she?d heard enough; gritting her teeth she made herself move steadily towards him, at least giving the impression that she was still fine. Her ruby red eyes still burned with anger as she stared down at the wounded god; after a moment she spoke. ?He?s a threat to us all, and to your?mission. Just kill him and be done with it.? Slowly she raised a blade to Mixcoatl?s neck, the fatigue making her arm tremor.

 

[DarkRawen]

While they were talking to the wounded god, Nicole had flown up to keep watch, and perhaps see something they could not. Hopefully, that wouldn't be dangerous to her.

"I don't know who he is. He's not with Loki, but I doubt he's friends with anyone. We fought for a long time, didn't even speak to me. I think he's just...angry."

Andrew had noted Shiro's reaction to hearing about the mysterious god, and glanced back at the storm demigod, as he nodded. He didn't have anything in particular to say in reply to that, if the god was angry, then approaching it might be risky... but on the other hand, if Shiro did know who it was -was it the demigod's god parent, perhaps?- it could benefit them greatly. Still, it would be up to the group, perhaps especially the Japanese demigod, to decide.

"No, I'm no help. I'm marked anyway; Loki knows where I am at all time. You'll hardly be able to fight if I'm amongst you. Please - remove whatever you gave me so I can find someone who can heal...whatever I have. Someone far away from here, I hope."

May as well let the guy go. That's one less thing to tend to later. Besides, even if he's lying, I don't think he'll be more use to us than this.

"I suppose I could," Andrew replied, deciding quickly as the rain started falling. "I do feel a bit of sympathy for you, if only because I know how it feels to be thrown into this mess for the benefit of... others." Besides, he couldn't help but feel a bit childishly tempted, a somewhat amusing thought having gotten into his head. A simple notion, yet Andrew decided to go ahead with it, using his finger to push the other's nose slightly. He couldn't keep himself from smirking as he did it, though there was nothing mocking or disrespectful about it.

Boop.

The same tingly, make-belief feeling filled the god, healing him of a disease that never existed in the first place.

"There, I've done my part. Now---"

"He's a threat to us all, and to your...mission. Just kill him and be done with it."

"Yeah... No," Andrew replied, nonchalantly, pushing away Keshi's hand. He wasn't smirking as much as before, but there was still this casual, uncaring air around him, his mood having gotten better from letting himself act a little silly.

I'm not going to let Keshi boss me around.

"I didn't heal the guy so that you could kill him again. Besides, he's no more a threat to our mission dead than he is alive. Have him run off in one direction, and if Loki can track him, he might still be a little distracted. Kill him, and at best Loki will be thankful," he continued, then looked at Hymir, meeting the Norse demigod's eyes to see what the other thought of the situation.

"You're clever, surely you can see that keeping him alive won't hurt. It's not like I've healed him enough to stand a chance against us as a group either way, and there is no way for killing him to work out in our favor. All it would be is simple revenge, and seeing as he was sent by someone else, why bother with an unwilling middle-man? Loki wants him dead, do you really want to do him that favor?"

Of course, he wasn't counting Keshi in that group either. Not when she was in this state, crazy and fatigued.

 

[hiei82]

Hymir listened carefully to Mixcoatl's words but they were surprisingly of secondary concern. Primary was the nature of the group. On the one hand, he harbored no ill-will toward the god, but clearly Keshi did. At the same time, he could see the strain her power had on her. They needed to make a decision regarding the man soon.

On the other hand, he had more questions for the god that he desperately wanted answers to. Specifically related to this "storm-caller" and the nature of Loki's mark. When Hymir caught the look Andrew gave him, he decided to step in. Nodding at Andrew; he understood where the demigod was coming from.

"First-" Hymir said before stepping forward. He pushed his sword into the ground before Keshi then turned to the god and pulled Mixcoatl into a grip from which he would not easily escape. "-Keshi. You're straining yourself; you should drop out of this form before you push yourself too far. If once this conversation is over, you still wish to kill Mixcoatl; you may use my father's sword to deliver the blow. It should prove powerful enough."

Thereafter, he turned his attention to Mixcoatl. "I have no desire to harm you Oss. As Andrew has said, killing you helps - however little - Loki, my foe. However-" he added, turning back to Keshi "-I also have no right to stand in your way if you seek retribution." Hymir paused for a moment to collect his thoughts before continuing. "I have two questions for you Oss. First; can you describe this "Storm-Caller". His demeanor, his appearance, his personality. Anything that stood out. I prefer to know my potential enemies. Second; can you describe the nature of this "mark of Loki". What do you know about how it works and what it can do. Loki's magic is powerful, but it's possible we might use this mark to our advantage. In return, I may know how to find someone who can break the spell and will tell you."

"Finally, you may want to make your case for my ally to spare your life."

 

[IFS]

"See anything promising?"

Rather than call down and risk being overheard Nicole slowly lowered herself down to the earth. Once she'd landed she raised her wings over her head in a makeshift umbrella. As she arrived she saw that Keshi was once again holding a knife to their captive's throat, though the way she was shaking she was obviously tired or maybe struggling with herself over it. First things first though Nicole had to report what she'd seen, besides some of the others were already trying to talk her down from the look of it. At least Andrew seemed to be, Hymir she wasn't so sure.

"Bits of movement, could just be animals though," she said, then paused. The mist had looked rather odd, but she wasn't familiar with how jungle weather worked. Other than the fact that it rained a lot, that much was obvious. Well best to mention it anyways.

"I did some a patch of mist, with what could have been smoke coming from it," she said "it was hard to tell with the rain."

With that out of the way she turned towards Keshi "Put the knife down, he's not going anywhere right now," she said "We are not executing unarmed prisoners."

 

[Lunar Templar]

Rias just sighed "Keshi, knock it off." she said as she to put her self between her friend and the broken god. "He's already no threat, besides, killing him does us less good then if we let him live, as the son of Apollo said. It would better serve us to let him go and hope he proves a distraction the slay him and loose the possibility of catching our enemy a mid said distraction." Rias said adding her two cents to the discussion.

 

[Athol]

People were talking but it was getting hard to concentrate, their words were making no sense, and with each passing moment it was getting harder to stay standing.Come on?we?ve never pushed it this far. We don?t know what will happen i- But he needs to die! You couldn?t crush a marshmallow at this point hun? To illustrate the point, somebody gently pushed her blade aside, and she couldn?t even summon up the strength for some token resistance. F-fine. Her mental voice sounded so tired.

Swaying on her feet, Keshi?s grip tightened minutely, before her ?Goddess Form?, and her swords, vanished in flame; a very human looking Keshi emerged from the fire still carrying the empty scabbards. She made a weak grasping motion toward Rias but fell well short of the Egyptian woman before she crumpled where she stood. Forehead pressed against the jungle floor, she groaned softly. ?My everything hurts?anyone know how long that was??