Moonlight dedication - RPLOG
Participants
Date
2/5/477
Log
it's a still, cloudless night in Firmament - not terribly late, but certainly no longer 'early', the shattered moon the only source of illumination on the beach for the evening. Selena rests quietly in the sand - FAR from the water's edge - reading a book and occasionally looking back up at the sky, her position made a bit more obvious than it used to be courtesy of the glowing lines in her fur.
Jera curses quietly under his breath. Today's stakeout was completely broken up by seemingly endless patrols over his usual hiding places. It wasn't that he had problems fighting...he only had problems fighting /too many/. Upset enough that his balled hands are digging wounds into his palm, the kit fox has decided to take a relaxing stroll along the beach instead. Selena's glow catches his eye and he heads in that direction, keeping his dagger slung in front just in case.
Selena doesn't seem too notice Jera at first as the fox moves along the beach, though when he turns and actively heads in her direction she lowers her book for a moment, waving over to the kit before resuming her reading as though it were a perfectly normal occurance. When he's within earshot, though, she greets with a "Good evening, Jera." That cuts through the quiet air.
Jera quickly covers up his knife with his large cape, though he can't quite hide the slight embarrassment burning in his ears, visible in the pale moonlight and Selena's slight radiance. "Good evening, Selena. I was not expecting to see you here buuuut...I could use some company." He attempts to hide the awkward stares that he is giving each time his eyes follow one of the glowing markings.
Selena gestures to the sand next to her at the comment about company. "I could use a little myself, I suppose." She replies, "So, what's on your mind?" It takes her more than a few moments to realise the fox looking over the patterns in her fur from the distance, shaking her head a little when she does. "I've had the markings for long enough, why take notice now?" She asks amusedly.
Jera flashes open his cape, revealing his bare chest. "You've seen these before. There's nothing special about them apart from making me look pretty. Yours are glowing. Only just noticed." The kit fox adds, even as he tilts his head up. "A radiance that outshines the moon."
Selena chuckles quietly and shakes her head when the fox pulls open his cape, gesturing to the ground again. "As flattering as that is, you don't have to take your shirt off to make a point." She jokes, shaking her head. "Believe it or not, the glowing can be a bit of a nuisance sometimes. It took me a few weks after I dedicated to Kendrac to get used to it. Again, though... What's on your mind?" She asks curiously, shutting her book and placing it by her side.
"Kendrac?" Jera quirks a brow. "What an odd name for a sacred family." Jera ponders even as he decides to take a seat beside the wolfess, blowing out a sigh. "I just came back from a run through Mossy Stone. Beating down undead. They've doubled the patrols recently so it's getting harder and harder."
Selena shakes her head. "It's not a sacred family, so I suppose 'dedicate' is a misnomer. Have you read Sveta or my own paper on Spirits? I know it's been a while since you were in town, but it might help me explain if you have." She notes, nodding back to the fox grimly. "I've been hearing this and that about Mossy stone as well. I suppose one of the recent expeditions there really left them tense. What makes you want to head up there alone, though?"
"I have read a bit. Was forced to after that furore with the new arctic fox in town. Read up on some of the terms." Jera sighs a bit. "I sneak there to dig around for information. To clean my home. Sad enough of a story that it'd ruin the night." The todd waves a hand and the cloud starting to obscure the moon is pushed lightly away by a breeze, air rippling throughout the markings on his fur as he does.
Selena raises an eyebrow. "New arctic fox? Do you mean Ictus, or..? If so, then he's another being that has a pact with Kendrac. I took mine so I could protect beings from 'corrupt court' spirits like Pyrrha and Akros." She asks curiously, voice taking a more serious turn as she elaborates. Then, of all things, she musters a chuckle. "That cloud is more likely to have ruined the night than you." The wolfess shrugs, settling back down. "I'm sorry to hear that, though. Losing a home can't be easy."
"Oh, nono. The one with the pact with Pyrrah." Jera frowns a little bit. "I know Pyrrah is responsible for the state Mossy Stone is in right now but I really can't battle her. Been needing to stealth a lot more on my searches." The kit fox smiles at the mention of Kendrac, subconsciously admiring the markings again. "Kendrac, huh?"
Selena furrows her eyebrows a little. "So that's why I felt like something was wrong in the inn..? She didn't seem particularly malevolent." She muses, rubbing her cheek. "Yes, Kendrac. It'd take a lot more than just a caller, even a dozen, to deal with Pyrrha and what she's done to Mossy stone. I understand you might want your town back, but it's a serious commitment to make if you're thinking about a pact." She explains, chuckling quietly as the fox gazes back at the markings again, quipping "You know it's rude to stare."
"Oh, I wasn't thinking about a pact. Not until just now, actually." Jera arches his head mechanically away as he's told off. "I already visit home every other day. I would give much, much more if I could."
Selena moves to put the book in her bag, rather than the sand it was still in. "...I understand that much, Jera. But at least you're doing something. It's more than a lot of beings have time for." The wolfess stretches. "I suppose that's what was on your mind, though - Mossy stone and all."
"Selena." Jera's gaze turns deathly serious. "Would this Kendrac help me in my own, petty little quest for vengeance?"
Selena raises an eyebrow as the fox suddenly changes their tone. "Vengeance is Adrestia's domain, Jera. But if you want to extend that quest to include the kindcraft as well as the undead in Mossy stone... I don't see why he wouldn't. But he's not a spirit of vengeance himself." She replies, rubbing her cheek.
"You know what I meant." A small smile arcs across Jera's face, that sullen look slowly disappearing, if only just a little at a time. "Most people have given up on Mossy Stone. When many people go together it's a crusade. When one strikes alone it's just called vengeance." The kit fox shrugs his shoulder. "How would I talk to this...Kendrac?"
Selena pats the fox on the back and shakes her head. "It's still an attack when one or many people strike at something else." she replies. "Well, there's two good ways to get in contact with him. One, search around the forests and try to call him yourself, or two, I can call him." She explains.
"He must like the sound of your voice, most likely." Jera finds himself smirking a little at his own comment even as he shakes his head. "Lucky you. Well. I would like to meet him. And it's a little bit late for an expedition to the forest..."
Selena chuckles. "I think he doesn't like how casually I treat him." she replies simply, rubbing the back of her head. "And I get the feeling I wouldn't be able to stop you from trying to find him anyway, so I may as well summon him now." she replies with a chuckle, yawning quietly. "... Okay, Kendrac, Could you come over here for a minute?" She asks an empty space next to her. There's a few moment's pause before the great stag slices its way into existance, exuding an aura of power as it usually does.
~You have called, and I have come.~ The Spirit emanates, looking to the beings present and driving his spear into the ground before him. ~What is it you need of me?~
"I need you to kill a few hundred undead everyday." Jera gives Kendrac a wiiiiiiiiiide smile at that. "I know you're not going to do that, but I'll offer to do it in your name?" The kit fox gives a polite salute, one he would normally reserve to a noble or an army superior.
the Spirit looks long and hard at the fox as he announces, narrowing his eyes. ~The undead alone are not the root of this problem. If you dedicate yourself to me, then you will not only have to fight Pyrrha's minions, but other minions of the Corrupt Court where you find them.~ The spirit replies, ~My fallen kin are not growing weaker, either.~
Selena taps her cheek. "I can vouch for Jera, Kendrac. He'll probably do you more good on Pyrrha's front than I have, at the very least." She comments, the spirit glancing across to her for a brief moment in consideration.
"It would not be much of a burden to add at all." Jera stays in his kneeling salute as he looks up. "I would gladly serve in your name." His nervousness is starting to show a little though, his eyes flitting uncertainly to Selena every now and then.
~...Very well. Your resolve will be tested over time.~ Kendrac replies, taking his spear from the sand it had been placed in, looking down into the fox's eyes, and the pressure exuded from the spirit seems to double.
~I bid you to battle.~
~I offer you strength and guidance.~
~You will be my spear, striking at the corruption, guided by my hands to lay telling blows and bring balance to the world.~
He recites, holding the spear out to Jera. ~Do you accept?~
Jera grips the spear firmly and looks up, a low growl building in his throat. It's not one of anger, rather a righteous fury that seems to amplify a little inside him. "I accept the honor." He speaks, bringing himself to his feet.
Selena looks back at the fox a little concernedly - "Just don't do anything rash, Jera. A dead soldier isn't half as good for anyone as live ones."
~You are mine, and I am yours. Call me, and I will come. When you call, I will answer.~ Kendrac thunders, withdrawing his spear and leaving Jera with the same baton-like bladed weapon other Kendrac dedicants possess, brilliant lights arcing through the kit fox's fur before dimming down to normal.
~Though we have our disagreements, she speaks true in this. Take no unnecessary risk until such a time comes that the odds do not fall from your favor.~ Kendrac emanates, ~Though the sooner my fallen kin are removed from this world, the better. If you have questions, now is as good a time as any to ask.~
"I have a few, but I've already asked you about them." Selena pipes up, chuckling. "You know - how you came to being and what you did before the corrupt court?" She queries, the ancient creature remaining tactically silent.
"Very fair. You have lent me your power, and the least I can do is to listen to your command." Jera's head bows again. "I trust her. Selena is a very serious woman. I only have one question. How will I listen to you?" The kit fox asks.
"Sometimes I wonder if I'm a bit too serious." Selena chuckles, shaking her head to herself.
~I will speak to you as I am now, and should you need to hear it I will ensure you do.~ The spirit replies. ~Will that be all for this evening?~
"That will be all for this evening." Jera finds his tail wagging a little behind him as he admires the nice colors. "Thank you very much."
~Then I will take my leave.~ Kendrac replies, the spirit slicing through the fabric of space with his spear, making a dignified exit through the rift before it closes behind him before another could hope to follow.
Selena looks back to Jera. "Well... I suppose that settles that, Jera." she comments, chuckling as the fox inspects themselves. "And I should probably get some rest myself. It's a bit later than I was planning to stay out."
It is. It's almost sunrise, as it is." Jera slips Selena a careful hug about the waist, as properly as a gentleman should hold a lady not his, and then smiles. "And besides. We ruin the moonlight and the stars sitting together like that."
