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Old 10-08-2018, 06:57 AM
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Yes! I really hope we can get active again too! Glad to hear you're settling in, Liri.

Haha, Ren is awesome! I can't wait to see where you take her next! I love all of our characters so much. I totally understand how you feel though it's really hard to juggle three characters. And at least you were nowhere near as neglectful of your other characters as I was with Sierra. I think I've only posted from her POV like, 5 times.

Okay, I also recently finished a re-read of this RP, and I noticed we left off in the middle of a battle scene and absolutely nobody was inspired to write more of it. In fact, that's what caused this to go inactive in the first place! So I'm making the decision to skim quickly over that Clann/Dai Li battle. I'm sure everyone has a lot they want to get to with their characters, and with the dwindling post count on this thread, let's just try to get to the good stuff!

Hope nobody minds me doing this! Feel free to elaborate on anything in my post, or let me know if I should change something.



“Together, we are strong!” Nyna calls out, and everyone cheers.
Nyna, the Elders, and some of the more experienced agents begin giving out instructions. Once the decision to fight has been made, I'm shocked at how quickly the Clann manages to mobilize. Despite the fact that we've essentially been hiding from the Dai Li this whole time, there's no doubt that the Clann has always been prepared for something like this.
I stand close to Stacia, Joy and Hope. Grace left us; she felt that her place should be back at headquarters, preparing to take care of the wounded.
"Do you really think we can do this?" Stacia asks. I can see the strength in all my friends' gazes, born of determination and hope.
I smile. "Believe it."

As I turned to join the team that I've been assigned to, a voice calls out my name. "Haven?"
I scowl, not wanting to deal with him right now. "What do you want, Ansell?" I demand, unable to keep an undercurrent of resentment out of my voice. "In case you haven't noticed, we're about to be in the middle of a war zone."
Ansell shrugs, looking as unperturbed as if this was a regular Sunday afternoon, and we were just headed for a normal training routine. "It's going to be fine, Havvy. For all we know, the Dai Li just want to stop by for some idle chitchat, or to ask about fashion advice. It can't be healthy for them to look so gloomy all the time."
I roll my eyes. "Just get on with it."
He abruptly stops smiling. "You've every reason to be mad, and I'm not asking for forgiveness. But I thought you deserve an explanation. And... I don't know if there will be a better time."
This stops me in my tracks. "You mean the oh-so-mysterious reason you abandoned me?" I ask, bitterness lacing my tone.
Ansell plops down onto the window ledge nearby, and after a beat, I sit too, my posture stiff. He sighs. "You know by now that I'm a double agent for the Clann. For almost a year now, I've been part of an elite Dai Li team, working to relay information back to the Clann, as well as to sabotage their efforts as much as I could to allow the Gifted to escape."

"I usually tried to act as useless and irritating as possible to avoid drawing notice, but this didn't make me popular with the leaders of the team. In fact, you could say I was the bane of their existence, right after the Clann. They managed to convince the King to give me a job stationed at the village of Calian - your home. There had been Gifted found there before, and while neither the Clann nor the Dai Li really understand how it works, it is known that there are places where the presence of Gifted is more common, their powers heightened."

I remember back to my childhood, how we all lived in fear of the Dai Li, patrolling through our village. I had thought it was normal then, but maybe there was something about Calian that drew Gifted power - and through it, this eternal struggle between these two factions.

"And that's where we met." He smiles. "I still left my post whenever I could slip away, help Gifted escape whenever I could. But it was getting more and more difficult, and I hadn't been able to contact the Clann in months. The Dai Li presence was just too strong; they checked all the messenger falcons coming in and out of Calian. And then there was you. Your powers were getting stronger by the day, and you wouldn't be able to hide them for much longer. A Gifted without training can be a dangerous thing, and without learning control, it was only a matter of time until you couldn't keep them in any longer. I tried to teach you what I knew, but I'm no Gifted. I knew you needed Nyna's guidance. So I volunteered for the job of reporting back to the King one day, knowing it'd allow me to slip out of Calian without raising suspicion. I needed to find a way to contact the Clann. And I managed to find an agent... But that was the day the Dai Li came for you."

Why couldn't you have just taken me and run for it though? Forget the Dai Li, forget keeping your cover, we could've just returned to the Clann together...

"I'm sorry, Haven. I know I failed you."
I sigh, knowing my reaction is petty. It really isn't fair to ask him to jeopardize the Clann's mission just for one person. "I guess I understand. Fine, you're forgiven."
He peers over at me. "You don't have to - "
"Don't push it. I might just change my mind," I warn, lifting my chin defiantly. A small storm cloud begins to form beside me. My face softens, a grin spreading across my features. "You didn't expect an absolute saint like me to hold grudges now, did you?" It's so easy to slip back into our old, teasing ways.
Ansell laughs, and the tension finally drains from the conversation. "But I had this whole speech planned! With flowers and balloons and everything. I was going to wax poetic about how unworthy I am of being in your mere presence, and how your radiant magnificence puts this whole dull world to shame. I would've even thrown a parade in your honor!"

I raise my hand threateningly, the storm cloud growing slightly bigger.
"Just as well, I guess. You would've rained all over it anyway."
I roll my eyes. "You're terrible."
"The worst," he agrees cheerfully.

I get up to go, my heart feeling lighter despite the gravity of our current circumstances.
"And Haven? We will find your family, and bring them back safely. I promise you this."
I freeze at this, and abruptly, the blanket of fear that never quite dissipated felt crushing once again. I nod, not trusting myself to speak.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The battle rages on all around me. The glint of steel, the screech and clang of metal on metal, Gifts of all kinds on full display as our Gifted stand side by side with the Clann agents, driving the Dai Li back little by little. I smile, feeling fiercely proud of this found family.
I'd gotten separated from my team sometime during the heat of battle. When I dodged a spinning arrow and sent a small bolt of lightning into the nearest Dai Li agent, I'd lost track of Talia and the others. I levitated slightly, trying to see above the line of fighters, but it was impossible to make out anyone in this melee.

Now I stand by a copse of trees, breathing heavily. The strain of using my Gift so much in one night is taking its toll. I'm still so new to this. Blood drips down my arm, from where a sword had grazed it, but it doesn't seem serious.
I'm about to throw myself back into the fray, ignoring the exhaustion, when I hear a small, familiar cry echo through the woods behind me.
I freeze in my tracks. No, it can't be! Not her... Not here... It's impossible!
The cry sounds out again, this time stifled. I hear a man's harsh reprimand and the sound of a slap.
This time I can't control myself. Abandoning caution and rationality, I turn and run in the direction of the voice, my heart in my throat.

Distantly, from behind, the voice of a Dai Li agent rings out. "Retreat! Agents of the Dai Li, retreat!"
"Don't celebrate too soon, you abominations!" Another voice adds, the loathing clear and seething. "We will be back. And it will turn out much differently when next we return!"

The words hardly register in my mind as I sprint throw the trees, the voices growing louder before me. The hollow pit of dread widens in my stomach.
"Let go of me!" A young girl wails, the metallic clanking of chains accompanying her cries.
"You belong to the King now. The more you fight, the worse it will end for you!" A gruff voice I do not recognize.
I stop at the edge of the trees leading away from Clann headquarters. All the breath leaves my body in a rush of horror. Her name makes its way past my numb lips. "Rhia."

My sister struggles against the man dragging her backwards. Chains are latched around her wrists and ankles, and she wears a torn, filthy dress. Her dark hair is tangled in snarls around her gaunt face.

"I brought you hear to show you what becomes of those who oppose the Dai Li," the man spits out. "But it looks like that lesson will have to wait for another day."
"You lost, didn't you?" Defiance colors Rhia's tone, despite her predicament. "My sister and the others, they defeated you!"
The Dai Li agent picks her up and roughly throws her onto the back of the carriage. "Insolent brat! You should be grateful the King didn't immediately throw you into the dungeon with the rest of your family, after it was discovered your blood was tainted." Disgust rings clear in his tone. "You're servant to the Dai Li now. The sooner you accept that, the easier it will be - for you and your family."

Rage burns through me like an inferno, fierce and all-consuming. I raise my hand, preparing to blast the man into a pile of ashes. But my powers feel dull and sluggish from overuse, and exhaustion drags at my limbs. I stumble forward, determined to catch up with the carriage. But something catches my foot, and I sprawl face-first into the dirt. I scramble back to my feet, but by then it's far too late. The carriage speeds away into the distance. I rise a few feet off the ground, trying to fly after them, but my power gives out before I can make it more than a couple yards.

"RHIA!" I scream, my eyes blurry with tears. I have no idea how long I stay like that, standing there, crying out my sister's name again and again. Until finally, I turn back, stumbling through the trees, blinded by pain and fury.
Branches scratch at my skin, but it hardly registers. Helpless rage seethes inside me, like a gathering storm. Anger at the Dai Li, at the King, at myself for being so useless... I want to wield my fury like a weapon, carving my rage and helplessness into the very fabric of the world itself. If only I'd been able to use my power...



"The Dai Li - they're - coming! They'll be here within the hour." Haven exclaimed. Her warning sent the entire room into a flurry of activity.
"Already?" Talia jumped to her feet.
Wasting no time, Cadence immediately walked over to a switch on the wall and pulls it. Instantly, the loud wail of the alarm system rings out across the entire Clann HQ.

"How could they have gotten together their forces so quickly?" Hanna asked aloud to no one in particular.
"They're not sending out their entire army. Not yet," I replied, all traces of my usual teasing gone. "First, they'll send out a mildly large team of agents for a preliminary attack. It's to - "
" - Give us a taste of just what they are capable of," Ren finished for me. "The team can mobilize incredibly quickly. The purpose of this attack is to instill fear."
In that moment, the two of us were in perfect sync, in our knowledge of the ways of the Dai Li.
"But the thing about the Dai Li is," I added. "They expect us to be weak, unable to put up a fight worth their while."
A fierce look crosses Elder Pierce's voice. "Then we shall show them just how wrong they are."
Looking around, it seemed we were all in perfect agreement.

Given how long it usually took to spur the Council into agreement, it was something of a marvel to see how quickly the Clann could respond to such a threat. Immediately, teams were formed, each being assigned to their designated battle locations and Gifted charges. A pang of guilt went through me at the preparations. I wished with everything in me that I could fight with them, but always, I had to keep my cover. I told myself that they would be fine, that the Dai Li would hugely underestimate and be overwhelmed by our show of strength. They had no idea we even trained our Gifted.
It did nothing to assuage the worry inside me. But I did my best not to let it show, knowing there was far worse to come.

"Now, if you'll excuse me," I announced to no one in particular as I walked out the door. "I have the get back to the fair maiden whom I've left pining after me. Someone has to warn her about the upcoming danger, after all."
Talia gave me a look, not at all fooled. But before she could ask what I was really up to, Nyna finished calling out her instructions, and she turned to help gather the Gifted.

As I closed the door behind me, before I turned to face Tori, I felt another twinge of guilt and fear. Could I really justify helping her do this?
Can I trust that she'll make the right choice? After all... I didn't.
It was too late for regrets now. I didn't know if it was wrong to let Tori go without even knowing what her intentions were. I didn't know if I would regret giving her this chance.

The only thing I did know... was that it was what he would have done, if he were here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The relief that flooded through me when the Gifted and Clann agents alike returned after the battle was over felt overpowering. It was like a great weight being lifted. Immediately, the injured were brought to those with the healing Gift to be treated, and the rest gathered in the Great Hall.

"Wait. Where's Tori?" I heard Stacia call out. "I thought it was strange that no one made a snide remark throughout all of this."
"Oh no, what if she was captured by the Dai Li?" Joy gasped.
"We have to go look for her!" Hanna exclaimed.

"Don't bother," I spoke up. All eyes turned to me. "She left the Clann tonight, before the Dai Li came."
"Ansell! You... you helped her?" Nyna stared at me in shock and horror. "How could you?"
"It was what she wanted," I said simply. "She already thought of this place as a prison. We did everything we could to convince her the Clann was the right place for her, but in the end, she makes her own choices."
"Who knows what kind of danger she could run into?" Talia exclaimed. "When I sent you to talk to her, Ansell, I thought maybe you could get through to her. Not do this."
"The Clann isn't any safer for Tori than anywhere else. Not right now." I stared around at all of my friends. Of course I would never have considered this under any other circumstances, but that wasn't my only reason for letting her go.

The memories I couldn't keep away, no matter how hard I tried, coupled with the gravity of what I'd done, destroyed any trace of the usual teasing in my voice. It was emotionless and monotone, and as un-Ansell Vaile-like as any of them had ever seen me.

I kept my voice flat. "We can't make anyone fight, or stay, or even agree with our ways. If we try, then we're no longer any better than the Dai Li. Unlike them, we'll always allow our people to have a choice. But giving people the power to choose... sometimes means allowing them to choose wrong. We can try to guide them along the right path, but we can't force them. We can only have faith that they will make the right decision in the end."

Of those in the room Talia, Ezra, Cadence and Nyna understood the significance of those words. Because they knew. They were the only ones who knew.
Those words weren't mine. They were given to me, a long time ago, by someone else...

Before anyone could respond, the door to the Great Hall slammed open with a resounding crash. Haven stormed in, bruised and battered, her face contorted with terror and fury.
"Haven! What happened?" Talia started to rush forward.
"Rhia." Her voice was low and raspy. I froze, recognizing that name.
"What?" Nyna asked, confusion and concern plain on her face.
"Rhia. My sister. The King has her, he has my whole family - " Haven spun on the Clann agents gathered. "He took them because of me! Because I was Gifted, it meant my whole family - " Her voice caught.

"Haven - " I started, but she cut me off.
"WHAT'S BEING DONE?" she screamed, her voice rising to a fever pitch. "What's being done to help them, to help hundreds of families all over Alagaesia?! What's happening to them while we sit here, having sleepover parties and waiting for the Dai Li to come for us? Why aren't we doing anything?! Why do we only wait around to be attacked?"
She turned on me. "You promised we'd find them!" She spun on Talia too. "And you said we were a family here! But I had to stand by and do nothing while my family was taken!"

"Haven, please, calm down!" I pleaded. Electric sparks were coming off her in waves. She seemed too exhausted to manage anything more, but I was afraid of what would happen once she recovered the use of her Gifts.

"I can't - I won't - stand by and do nothing anymore!" Haven slammed the door so hard the entire wall shock with the impact, leaving ringing silence behind in her wake.

(It has been SO long since I've posted for these characters, so I was feeling inspired. I've missed my Havvy and Ansell! Even if this post forced them to act quite a bit out of their usual character.
Alexa, I was thinking Tori could meet Galadriel as the Dai Li are retreating from the battle! Maybe she's hiding in the trees and overhears her talk about Jackal or something? )
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