Afternoon of 1/15/15
It was time. Ahni had gotten the win to increase her rank on the Isle, and she was ecstatic. Once the standings were updated, she could finally challenge for a Tower! The choice of whom to challenge was obvious -- but Ahni knew she would need help. Major help.
The little half-elf began by scouring the libraries around Rhydin, looking for books that contained any information regarding the summoning of creatures like Carbuncle. Carbuncle himself helped quite a bit, carrying a book or two when he could, using a tail as a bookmark, yapping at nosy people. The pair found only a few books on the subject, though, and they each used different terminology: Espers, Aeons, Guardian Forces, Eidolons. "Are they all the same?" Ahni asked Carbuncle, who tilted his head, raised a paw, wobbled it in the air. She stared at the creature, her own head canted to the side in confusion, which prompted Carbuncle to nod, then shake his head. (He also rolled his eyes.) Yes and no. Ahni nodded, smiling, and continued to read. The last time she had dealt with summoned creatures, she had had Sivanna's help -- Sivanna had actually brought Carbuncle to the half-elf. The elfess hadn't explained how to find the Eidolons (that was the term Ahni liked best), so Ahni was on her own. Hopefully the books would help her.
Ahni plunked her stack of four books on a table in the Inn. They had been kicked out of the library, mostly because Carbuncle had nipped the ankle of the librarian -- she just wanted to scritch one of Carbuncle's ears! -- but the librarian still let them borrow the books as long as Ahni took care of them and returned them promptly. Which of course she would! Ahni had a great reverence for all books. Knowledge was power, so she had been told, though she couldn't remember who had told her.
"You stay there, Aier.*" Ahni waggled a scolding finger at the neon critter. Carbuncle huffed, but curled up under the table anyway, while Ahni marched to the counter for a teapot, which she filled with water, a cup, and a bowl. She heated the water with a finger gun and a giggle, pulled numerous herbs, teas, and additional ingredients, from her pockets. A skinny finger tapped at her lips as she thought of the perfect combination of items for today's tea. "Aier, do you like cinnamon?" She called to the Eidolon under the table, who thumped his triple tails against a chair in affirmation. Ahni nodded, then tossed a palmful of black tea leaves, a small bit of cinnamon stick, two vanilla beans, a single clove, and a double pinch of dried cherries into the teapot to steep. Humming, she brought the teapot to the table, the bowl and cup stashed in another pocket, made herself comfortable, poured tea for herself and Carbuncle.
The first book Ahni pulled in front of her was an Eidolon encyclopedia of sorts. It detailed many different creatures, as well as their elemental affinity, temperament, size, level of activity. The half-elf's eyes glittered mightily at all of the information. Hours passed, the teapot's contents dwindled, as she scanned and flipped through dozens of Eidolon profiles -- before one in particular caught her attention. "I believe I have found it," she whispered to Carbuncle, eyes wide. "This is it, Aier. The one who will help me." She snatched another book and flipped through it, then another. With a delighted squeal, Ahni drained her mug, stuck scraps of ribbon in the books to mark the pages, packed them away into her bag, and returned the mug, bowl, and teapot (she had already stolen one, her conscience couldn't handle stealing another) to the bar. Carbuncle stood at the ready, beady black eyes gleaming excitedly, triple tails wagging. The pair skittered into the broom closet that held the portal to Twilight Isle.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
How did I do this last time? Ahni had at least remembered to go to the Isle instead of elsewhere -- but summoning practice with Sivanna had been so long ago, she could hardly remember what to do. She sat on the sands, head tilted slightly, one hand ruffling her hair as she wracked her brain. The books were spread out in the sand around her, Ahni's worn boots were haphazardly thrown near the grass borderline, Carbuncle lounged nearby, one keen little eye trained on his master. Ahni crossed her legs underneath her and rested the backs of her wrists on her bony knees, though her fingers still twitched nervously. She closed her eyes, trying to focus on calming herself first, then on the magic surrounding her like Sivanna had taught. The almost-forgotten tingle in her toes began, the precursor to invoking the Wild magic of the Isle, and the translucently emerald glow of Ahni's aura popped into view and inched up her calves and thighs.
Carbuncle yipped suddenly, bringing the half-elf out of the Weave with a jolt and a squeak, then pointed his nose towards the book to Ahni's left and barked loudly. "Oh," Ahni muttered, blinking the darkness from her vision and leaning toward the indicated book, "I should read first, uma?*" Surprisingly, the recoil from snapping back didn't knock the Biomancer unconscious. She shook her head to clear it a bit, blinked, and rubbed at an eye as she studied the tome.
She cleared her throat, tried to sound official. "Titan, Lord of the Earth -- I have heard tales of your compassion, and I, Ahni Valyntine, humbly request an audience with you to beseech your aid." The half-elf closed her eyes, focusing her power on the echoing words. Carbuncle's ears perked up, and the critter sat up to peer around the Isle.
The rumbling started quietly off to Ahni's right. It quickly built up to a roar, causing the half-elf to bounce to her feet, irises flickering hazardous, frightened yellow. Carbuncle stood protectively in front of his master, triple tails flicking and forehead ruby gleaming. A towering Rift appeared between two large, apparently ancient trees. Slowly, deliberately, a gargantuan shadow stepped through. Ahni gasped softly, eyes wide and unblinking as she watched. The ground shook as the cumbersome creature completed its journey into this plane of existence. It must have been three or four times the size of the half-elf, easily, a bulky shade on the aged trees around it. Twin topaz glints radiated high on the creature's body, and Ahni concluded that must be its eyes. She opened her mouth to call out to Titan --
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING, TURA*?"
The dry rattle stabbed through Ahni's brain like a freshly-sharpened knife. It took her completely by surprise and sent her shrieking down to the sands.
"DO YOU REALLY THINK YOU COULD CONTROL SOMETHING SO POWERFUL? YOU ARE AS WEAK AS A NEWBORN, TURA. YOU ARE A FOOL TO THINK YOU COULD HANDLE THIS."
"I c-c-can," Ahni muttered weakly, hands futilely covering her ears. Carbuncle growled softly in the direction of the hulking Titan, who was searching for the one that had summoned him.
"YOU ARE WEAK, TURA. YOU ARE TOO WEAK."
And slowly, Olva* began to pull Ahni's strength from her. She tried to fight it but couldn't exactly remember how. Titan roared in frustration, loud enough to cause the rocks to vibrate, slashed open the Rift back into the Abyss, stepped through with another roar -- this one out of anger. Someone had disturbed the massive Eidolon, and he did not take kindly to idle disturbances.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Ahni woke up hours later, at what would have been midnight anywhere else in Rhydin. She blinked and sat up with a groan. The Voice was gone, as was Carbuncle. The little teal fox must have gotten bored and zipped back to the Gray. The half-elf gazed longingly at the place where Titan had entered this plane, irises shifting to a worried grey. She would never be able to ask for the Eidolon's help with Olva mucking about in her brain whenever it felt the need --
And one could almost see the lightbulb pop above Ahni's head as realization dawned. With a squeak, she snatched up her boots and hastily threw them on, even as she took off like a rocket towards the portal. Now, if she could only remember how to get back to the Orphanage...
* Aier = Little One
* uma = yes
* Tura = Master
* Olva = Plant
It was time. Ahni had gotten the win to increase her rank on the Isle, and she was ecstatic. Once the standings were updated, she could finally challenge for a Tower! The choice of whom to challenge was obvious -- but Ahni knew she would need help. Major help.
The little half-elf began by scouring the libraries around Rhydin, looking for books that contained any information regarding the summoning of creatures like Carbuncle. Carbuncle himself helped quite a bit, carrying a book or two when he could, using a tail as a bookmark, yapping at nosy people. The pair found only a few books on the subject, though, and they each used different terminology: Espers, Aeons, Guardian Forces, Eidolons. "Are they all the same?" Ahni asked Carbuncle, who tilted his head, raised a paw, wobbled it in the air. She stared at the creature, her own head canted to the side in confusion, which prompted Carbuncle to nod, then shake his head. (He also rolled his eyes.) Yes and no. Ahni nodded, smiling, and continued to read. The last time she had dealt with summoned creatures, she had had Sivanna's help -- Sivanna had actually brought Carbuncle to the half-elf. The elfess hadn't explained how to find the Eidolons (that was the term Ahni liked best), so Ahni was on her own. Hopefully the books would help her.
Ahni plunked her stack of four books on a table in the Inn. They had been kicked out of the library, mostly because Carbuncle had nipped the ankle of the librarian -- she just wanted to scritch one of Carbuncle's ears! -- but the librarian still let them borrow the books as long as Ahni took care of them and returned them promptly. Which of course she would! Ahni had a great reverence for all books. Knowledge was power, so she had been told, though she couldn't remember who had told her.
"You stay there, Aier.*" Ahni waggled a scolding finger at the neon critter. Carbuncle huffed, but curled up under the table anyway, while Ahni marched to the counter for a teapot, which she filled with water, a cup, and a bowl. She heated the water with a finger gun and a giggle, pulled numerous herbs, teas, and additional ingredients, from her pockets. A skinny finger tapped at her lips as she thought of the perfect combination of items for today's tea. "Aier, do you like cinnamon?" She called to the Eidolon under the table, who thumped his triple tails against a chair in affirmation. Ahni nodded, then tossed a palmful of black tea leaves, a small bit of cinnamon stick, two vanilla beans, a single clove, and a double pinch of dried cherries into the teapot to steep. Humming, she brought the teapot to the table, the bowl and cup stashed in another pocket, made herself comfortable, poured tea for herself and Carbuncle.
The first book Ahni pulled in front of her was an Eidolon encyclopedia of sorts. It detailed many different creatures, as well as their elemental affinity, temperament, size, level of activity. The half-elf's eyes glittered mightily at all of the information. Hours passed, the teapot's contents dwindled, as she scanned and flipped through dozens of Eidolon profiles -- before one in particular caught her attention. "I believe I have found it," she whispered to Carbuncle, eyes wide. "This is it, Aier. The one who will help me." She snatched another book and flipped through it, then another. With a delighted squeal, Ahni drained her mug, stuck scraps of ribbon in the books to mark the pages, packed them away into her bag, and returned the mug, bowl, and teapot (she had already stolen one, her conscience couldn't handle stealing another) to the bar. Carbuncle stood at the ready, beady black eyes gleaming excitedly, triple tails wagging. The pair skittered into the broom closet that held the portal to Twilight Isle.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
How did I do this last time? Ahni had at least remembered to go to the Isle instead of elsewhere -- but summoning practice with Sivanna had been so long ago, she could hardly remember what to do. She sat on the sands, head tilted slightly, one hand ruffling her hair as she wracked her brain. The books were spread out in the sand around her, Ahni's worn boots were haphazardly thrown near the grass borderline, Carbuncle lounged nearby, one keen little eye trained on his master. Ahni crossed her legs underneath her and rested the backs of her wrists on her bony knees, though her fingers still twitched nervously. She closed her eyes, trying to focus on calming herself first, then on the magic surrounding her like Sivanna had taught. The almost-forgotten tingle in her toes began, the precursor to invoking the Wild magic of the Isle, and the translucently emerald glow of Ahni's aura popped into view and inched up her calves and thighs.
Carbuncle yipped suddenly, bringing the half-elf out of the Weave with a jolt and a squeak, then pointed his nose towards the book to Ahni's left and barked loudly. "Oh," Ahni muttered, blinking the darkness from her vision and leaning toward the indicated book, "I should read first, uma?*" Surprisingly, the recoil from snapping back didn't knock the Biomancer unconscious. She shook her head to clear it a bit, blinked, and rubbed at an eye as she studied the tome.
She cleared her throat, tried to sound official. "Titan, Lord of the Earth -- I have heard tales of your compassion, and I, Ahni Valyntine, humbly request an audience with you to beseech your aid." The half-elf closed her eyes, focusing her power on the echoing words. Carbuncle's ears perked up, and the critter sat up to peer around the Isle.
The rumbling started quietly off to Ahni's right. It quickly built up to a roar, causing the half-elf to bounce to her feet, irises flickering hazardous, frightened yellow. Carbuncle stood protectively in front of his master, triple tails flicking and forehead ruby gleaming. A towering Rift appeared between two large, apparently ancient trees. Slowly, deliberately, a gargantuan shadow stepped through. Ahni gasped softly, eyes wide and unblinking as she watched. The ground shook as the cumbersome creature completed its journey into this plane of existence. It must have been three or four times the size of the half-elf, easily, a bulky shade on the aged trees around it. Twin topaz glints radiated high on the creature's body, and Ahni concluded that must be its eyes. She opened her mouth to call out to Titan --
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING, TURA*?"
The dry rattle stabbed through Ahni's brain like a freshly-sharpened knife. It took her completely by surprise and sent her shrieking down to the sands.
"DO YOU REALLY THINK YOU COULD CONTROL SOMETHING SO POWERFUL? YOU ARE AS WEAK AS A NEWBORN, TURA. YOU ARE A FOOL TO THINK YOU COULD HANDLE THIS."
"I c-c-can," Ahni muttered weakly, hands futilely covering her ears. Carbuncle growled softly in the direction of the hulking Titan, who was searching for the one that had summoned him.
"YOU ARE WEAK, TURA. YOU ARE TOO WEAK."
And slowly, Olva* began to pull Ahni's strength from her. She tried to fight it but couldn't exactly remember how. Titan roared in frustration, loud enough to cause the rocks to vibrate, slashed open the Rift back into the Abyss, stepped through with another roar -- this one out of anger. Someone had disturbed the massive Eidolon, and he did not take kindly to idle disturbances.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Ahni woke up hours later, at what would have been midnight anywhere else in Rhydin. She blinked and sat up with a groan. The Voice was gone, as was Carbuncle. The little teal fox must have gotten bored and zipped back to the Gray. The half-elf gazed longingly at the place where Titan had entered this plane, irises shifting to a worried grey. She would never be able to ask for the Eidolon's help with Olva mucking about in her brain whenever it felt the need --
And one could almost see the lightbulb pop above Ahni's head as realization dawned. With a squeak, she snatched up her boots and hastily threw them on, even as she took off like a rocket towards the portal. Now, if she could only remember how to get back to the Orphanage...
* Aier = Little One
* uma = yes
* Tura = Master
* Olva = Plant