Star Light, Star Bright.....

[Vega]

33rd Trial of Vhalar during Arc 720

by the light of the stars......

"Righteo, then, Xiur," Vega said, as she stepped out towards the tower. "I'm gonna be lookin' for things what are important," Vega - as always - chatted to Xiur quite openly. People might look at her and think she was mad, she often thought. One trial, she might care what people thought when they looked at her and, on that trial, she might stop doing it.

This was not that trial. "It's the middle of the night, an' I'm doin' this now, because I reckon we need a specific perspective, see." She had travelled out, on her horse Storm. The black horse moved quietly, and Vega wore a dark cloak. There were two other Lightning Knights with her and, frankly, she would have been happier if there weren't. But there was the rule that no one went anywhere alone and, as such, she thought she should probably pick her battles. Lowering her head to make sure that everything was in place here, Vega dismounted from her horse and tied him off. Then, she lifted her head and pulled back the hood of the cloak she'd worn. "I'm gonna climb that look out tower an' see what I can see," she said to the knights with her. "One o' you stay at the base of the tower, an' the other one keep a watch out, here, ok?"

They nodded; one older man and a younger one. Vega and they had worked together rebuilding the walls, nearly an arc ago now, and so they knew each other quite well. "What are you looking for?" That was the younger one, and Vega grinned at him. "Clues. I'm goin' to ask Xiur to show me what's what, an' what's important." she said. The young lad looked somewhat sceptical and Vega grinned.

"He's the Immortal of hope, you know, an' stars."

With a nod, her companion glanced at the older knight, but he seemed unconcerned by the young ones and their chatter. "So why come here and ask him, then? Why doesn't he just tell you? Why not just ask him, wherever you are?" This was the first tower, after all, it was the middle of the night, and he was tired. Vega stopped moving - she had been making sure that her sword was belted tightly, and so on and she gazed at the young knight earnestly. Her eyes were many different colours and her silver blood seemed to glow slightly in the starlight. "Because he's the Immortal of hope, not a skivvy handin' me a meal. The thing with hope, an' it's been proved true to me time an' again, is that you've got to look for it. If yer determined not to find it, you won't. But if you're equally sure that it's there? Well there it'll be." She shrugged slightly, tugged one more time at the reins she'd tied around the post and then she spoke, her voice almost sing-song in the childhood rhyme her father had taught her.

"There migh' be goblins, ghosts, or elves. But the Immortals help those who help themselves," she said and nodded. "Now, keep an ear open, there's a good lad."

With that, Vega made her way, climbing the stair up the lookout tower. She was careful and moved slowly - always alert and watching for anything which might be untoward. When she reached the top, though, she smiled and looked out at the vista beneath her. "If you don't mind, Xiur, I'd be right grateful." Vega spoke and then activated the ability granted to her by Xiur.

Swirling biqaj eyes surveyed the scene below.

ability

Guiding Stars ~~The Blessed is guided by the stars at night. When the stars begin to appear it is as if they speak to him, giving intangible hints as to where things are, the best way to go to reach them, and what hazards may lie in whichever path he takes. The glares of starlight seem to take on brief shapes that warn and direct. There must be either direct, or directly reflected, starlight present to receive this benefit. Night clouds lit with starlight will also bestow this benefit. Those that lack Xiur's mark will not perceive this effect

[Vega]

33rd Trial of Vhalar during Arc 720

by the light of the stars......

It took a few moments for things to take shape and make sense. And then, it took a few moments more for her to realise that what she was seeing didn't really make sense. There were shapes, things which she did not fully recognise or understand, but as the stars lit up before her eyes and drew patterns on the ground, or danced in specific ways, Vega could not really have explained what she saw.

Or at least, not entirely.

But there were some things which she knew, and even the dancing patterns which were there suddenly before her eyes and which she did not comprehend, she knew that she would understand them, if she just gave herself the chance to do so. Her gaze was focused as she frowned in concentration. It was important that she didn't miss anything, Vega knew, and so she blocked out all noises and thoughts, and just allowed Xiur's ability to show her what she needed to see.

And, when it was done, she breathed out through her teeth. "You know, Xiur," Vega said, her eyes lifting to the sky. "I'm right honoured at the trust you show in me. I promise that I'll do my best, an' I know that that's enough for you. The thing what I really hope, though," she said quietly, "is that it's enough for me, too. I hate feelin' like a failure. Gives me indigestion." And with that, she made her way back down the steps.

They'd started at the watch tower closest to Storm's Edge, of course. Looking at her two companions, Vega considered what she would say for a moment and then she explained. "Right, so, I saw what I need to do," she said. She looked at the younger of the knights, "An' here's the thing, Bill," his name wasn't Bill, they both knew that, but Vega didn't really mind. She knew, equally, he didn't either. "I know exactly what I saw, an' I saw what I need to do but it's well confusin'. There's a path before us, an' I have to follow it. It'll be difficult in places, an' I need to see the whole thing through in order to really understand what the snarklin' heck's goin' on an' all that. But when I've done that, then I'll know stuff that'll make sense an' it'll help us. But, it's like a jigsaw, I think." Vega shrugged and 'Bill' raised an eyebrow. The older man, though, he smiled and nodded.

"You don't see all the picture until you put the last piece in, lad," he spoke in a gravelly voice with a slight drawl and Vega nodded.

"An' I need to be clear, it's goin' to be dangerous," she said firmly. The younger lad stood taller and he lifted his chin with clear defiance. Vega knew what that meant. It meant he was afraid, but he was determined not to show it. The Storm Wastes Massacre had been something they'd all heard of and, she figured, he must be worried about her being the only one who came back from this exploration - the same as that one. The older man just nodded. However, he looked surprised as Vega spoke again. "So, you two have got a choice," she said firmly. "Either I can slip away in the night when you're not lookin', or you can go back now. I haven't got time nor inclination to be lookin' after you, an' you're jus' gonna slow me down. It's up to you, but those are your only two options."

The pair of them looked at her incredulously, and the older man opened his mouth to argue. Vega, however, continued to speak. "We all know what happened in the Massacre. An' I can't do that again, I can't. If you are with me, I'm goin' to need to look after you, an' then my focus is goin' to be split. Besides, I know, I just know, I have to go alone." She waved a hand in the general direction of the sky. "There were only one set of footprints in the stars. I have to go, an' I have to find this out. So, you pair need to go back."

Bill looked at the elder knight and he sighed. "Girl, if you don't come back, I'll never forgive myself," he said. "Or you," he added firmly and Vega grinned. "I'll be back before you know it," she promised. "An' I'm sorry, I am. But I know that I've got to do this alone. I wouldn't take risks, I promise you, it's jus' too important." That was very true, of course. Vega was focused, entirely, on beating the Pumpernickels and all that they stood for. And so, she climbed on to Storm and the three of them started to make their way back, to the point where she would split off from them; the two of them would go to Storm's Edge and she would go on to the next Watchtower.

Vega nodded to the two of them, and then she turned and she gently dug her knees slightly into Storm, to give him a little nudge for speed. Not a lot, but she needed to get out of here. "Righteo, boy," she said, when they were out of earshot. "It's me an' you."

And so, she started the tour of the Stormwastes Watchtowers.

[Doran]

Vega:

Knowledge:
Detection x 3 (Tier 1)
Mount x 3 (Tier 1)

Loot: -
Lost: -
Wealth: -
Injuries: -
Renown: -
Magic XP: -
Skill Review: Appropriate to level.
Points: -

- - -

Comments: My first Tier 2 review!

I love the kind of personal relationship Vega has with Xiur and how she chats to him quite openly, and I like that she doesn’t care what other people think about her, but just does what she wants!

The conversation with the knights that accompanied her was interesting and revealed a bit more about said relationship. I agree with her. You have to look for hope. If you are determined not to find it, you won’t. That part of the conversation was great in my opinion!

I appreciate that you included the description of the ability that Vega used. This made reviewing this thread here easier!

Vega’s determination to see things through, even if what she saw was confusing, was obvious. I wonder if she would have made the same choice, to go alone, if she had seen more than one set of footprints though …

That being said, I look forward to the continuation of this Tier 2 plot, and enjoy your rewards!