Solo Hungry Appetites

[Ignisa Winterflame]

52nd Day of Fall, 513 AV After Midnight, 1st Bell Ignisa's House, Tenten Peak "Get inside!" Ignisa ordered her children, words harsh and unrelenting, a stark contrast to the normally smooth and cheerful undertones that usually echoed through her voice. But the last twenty four bells had taken their toll on her, and she was not only physically tired, but also suffering mentally from the destruction that had been wrought to the beautiful city of Lhavit. Ignisa currently was in no mood for debate, and when Aquisea made to object, she simply pushed her daughter inside. A strangled sound of protest came from within as Ignisa slammed the door shut behind her. Terron was there, his hands still dirty from the work he had half-finished before Ignisa had barged into his master's shop, all but dragged him out with his work unfinished with a few curt words. Aquisea she had managed to stop before she went out to the Surya Plaza to shop for the various groceries. Ignisa thanked Zintila inwardly that Sretia had not left the house yet - she was still recovering from the events of the previous day, for she had never been physically robust, and the earthquake had caused much … excitement, if you could call it that, to all involved. As for Sana … she was still treating patients at the Catholicon, and the staff there had Shielders to protect them from harm, so she was relatively safe there, or as safe as anyone could be under the circumstances. Not that her house was particularly safe, but with three Reimancers and a Shielder present it was likely that they would be able to hold out in their home was a day or so at least. But Ignisa herself had no idea how long the disturbances would last, or how widespread the riots would be. Signs of damage had already been wrought as they had made their way from the Zintia Peak, escaping most of the chaos just before it enveloped them. Cracks still showed in the walls where the damage had been done from the earthquake, but with at least the building had somehow, miraculously, fared better than the Skyglass Hothouses, which had been completely shattered and destroyed. Stronger than steel they might have been, but when one broke, the rest had collapsed, for they were brittle in their strength, like the glass they had been named after. When Ignisa had arrived there to help yesterday in the aftermath of the quake, they had met with a scene of devastation, and it was only through working desperately round the clock that the harvest had been saved and starvation prevented. Looking around, Ignisa judged that at least her house was not on the verge of collapse, like the Skyglass Houses had been, so they would be able to hold out without too much fear of being buried alive. It was a morbid thought, but at least it was something compared to the others who had not been so lucky. However, news of the damage done to the Hothouses had spread, and people, left dazed by the sudden happenings, had panicked, nevermind that others were mourning losses to their family or figuring out how to rebuild from the ashes of destruction. Nor the fact that the Three Towers were still trying, with some measure of success, to recover and restore the harvest for the year. Still, at the first messenger arriving at the Sharai with news of trouble, Ignisa had rushed back to the Tenten Peak despite Lheili's protests and the large amount of work that still had to be done so that she could ensure to the security of her family. And she was glad she had, for the trouble was worse than had been anticipated. The rest of her family would be safe. Her younger sister Elisanira and her family lived with their mother, Loesia, and both Loesia and her husband Isas were powerful enough mages in Reimancy and Shielding respectively to keep them safe. Uncle Lennon's side of the family lived with Ignisa's formidable grandmother, Lanna, a Reimancer of Fire, and Lennon's side of the family had more son and daughters as wizards-in-training than Ignisa's family, so it was likely they would seek shelter at one of the Towers, or at the Towers' Respite, where they would be well protected, if they could reach it. Crossing the room, Ignisa knelt down before the hearth, which doubled as an altar for the various gods the family worshipped, and uttered a prayer to Morwen and Zintila, to look after their family. Not that Ignisa truly believed in this case that they could do anything, but it still felt same to go through the proper motions, and reassuring, all the same. Behind her, Ignisa could hear Terron and Aquisea doing the same time, for they had been witness to the fringes of the scenes of chaos in the central peak of the city. The moment however, was broken with the sound of a loud thump behind her, and Ignisa spun around, only to realize that it was the sound of Sretia getting up from her bed. Her youngest daughter's expression were still weary, and there were shadows under her eyes, but other than that, her eyes were alert and focused. Getting up, Sretia peered out of the window, where the faintest roar was making the shutters quiver on their strings, and Ignisa joined her, followed by Aquisea and Terron. To each and all, they saw smoke was drifting up from the Zintia peak, lit from below by fires that raged along the streets. Drawing back from the windows and clapping her hands, Ignisa drew their attention from the disturbing scenes outside, and issued quiet orders. "Aquisea, take stock of all our food and supplies that we have, and ration them for at least three days. Sretia, I want you to stand watch at the windows with me, and warn me if there is anyone who requires protection, or if there is anyone threatening the streets around us. Terron, I want you to Shield the house with everything you have until the disturbance is over. I know," she continued, for Terron now opened his mouth in protest, "that you can't possibly shield the entire structure at your level yet, but at least you can block the door from any unwanted intruders. If need be, I'll get you to Shield the windows too, but I'd rather not leave us suffocating in here, so we'll shield the door and some windows and leave one of the windows open until the mobs come closer." Ignisa clapped her hands again briskly, stirring them all into motion with her hands. "Quickly now, we don't have much time."

[Ignisa Winterflame]

"Why is this happening?" Aquisea snapped out finally, her voice bitter as she and Sretia took turns to watch the progress of the rioting and pillaging of the streets. The disorder was now creeping steadily closer, growing with momentum, and the people hurrying throughout the streets were now largely heading towards the protection of the Dawn House, its magnificent structure still rearing majestically high in the sky, the spyglass framing it shimmering blue under Leth's wild light. Her blue eyes were hard, and she stalked around with a frying pan in her hands and looking most intent to use it on something, or someone. Ignisa kept an eye over the middle of her daughters, and the most volatile of them all - if there was anyone here most likely to lose her temper in the confines of the building, it was Aquisea. "I thought that we were one of the most civilized of cities in the entire region, if not the world! Our city has always been one of peace, of learning, of joy even. Why now, when we have so much more to work for in rebuilding the city, when we need the talents of all, do idiots take to the streets to burn, pillage, and riot?" At the end of her rant, Aquisea flung herself down onto her bed and whacked her pillow with the frying pan, producing a muffled clang as the metal rang from the impact. Sighing, Ignisa strode her and removed the frying pan from her daughter's grasp, causing Aquisea to stalk around the house once more. "The answer is obvious, Aquisea." Sretia, Ignisa's youngest daughter replied, her voice coldly logical as always. "This isn't the result of individuals. It's the product of the mob mentality, and there's no room for morals when and where mobs are concerned, because individuals don't matter." She sighed and looked out of the window, her eyes keen and sharp as she watched the progress of the mob coming closer and closer. Through the shutters, Ignisa could see that the Surya Plaza was lit now, not from the lanterns or the lights of the reflections from Skyglass, but with fires that danced over the buildings and illuminated the smoke drifting up into the sky towards the stars. Striding over to the door, Ignisa opened it and stretched out her hand, and where there seem to be empty air … she encountered a resistance. She struck at the barrier with her hand, causing the Shield to ripple in the air temporarily before vanishing once more into nothingness, and a bell-like sound to ring through the house and causing everyone in the area to stare at the noise. Closing the door with a snap, Ignisa turned to her only son. "Good work, Terron. Have you completed the windows too?" "Yes, mother." Terron replied, his deep voice, normally so calm, now tinged with a heavy dosage of fear and uncertainty. Laying a gentle hand on his arms, she smiled up at him before turning to the altar again. The hearth beneath burned fiercely, the flames licking the stone walls and restraints, and smoke still poured out of the fireplace. Taking a lantern from the chest in the corner, Ignisa let a drop of Res flow out from her, attracting a spark of fire that enveloped it. Lighting the lantern, she let the drop of Res fall into the fire, before putting her hands out again. This time, instead of a drop, a stream of Res flowed out of her hands, turned to water, and doused the fire with a loud hiss, plunging the room into darkness. The only light now streamed in from the shutters of the windows as Leth overlooked the ever-growing scene of chaos and destruction befalling the city of Lhavit. Somehow, Ignisa mused morbidly, it seemed more appropriate for the destruction to be done under the light of the moon. For was Leth not once a primal god with an appetite for destruction? True, according to the legends, he had also repented and was on an ongoing quest for redemption, but would that also not be true of the troublemakers during this event henceforth? "Mother!" Aquisea and Terron exclaimed as one, their voices mingling in the darkness, startling and bringing Ignisa out of her morbid reflection of the situation. "What?!" Ignisa exclaimed, visions of mobs stampeding across the streets filling her mind, and she shot towards the windows to get a better look. "What's going on?" "The Shinya have arrived." Sretia replied, her voice very dry. "But somehow I think they're referring to the fact that you've doused the only light in the building." Her blue eyes, visible even in the darkness as she peered out of the window, flashed amusement at all three of them as she looked at her sister, brother and mother for a moment, before she turned her gaze back to the streets outside, where true enough, robed men and women bearing plates of spyglass armor ran across the street and jumped across the rooftops, weaving in and out of the panicked people trying to escape the oncoming mob. The noise was louder than ever, and in the distance, the lower levels of the Bharani library shimmered and rippled, as though the shielding around it was being struck over and over again. Smoke poured from one or two buildings in the streets on the Tenten Peak now, and the people in the streets were most definitely running now from the chaos. Biting her lip in worry, Ignisa gauged their situation. The building was structurally sound enough to hide them for a few days in her estimate, and it, like most of the buildings in the street, was backed against the stone of the Tenten Peak and as such could not be approached from behind. However, it looked as though the mob had grown and gained momentum beyond her best estimations. Even with the help of the Shinya, the peak might not be safe enough. But they could not move - not now, with the entrances shielded and preventing entry and exit. They would probably have to fight to defend their home against the looters and rioters.

[Ignisa Winterflame]

Chaos reigned now in the streets of the Tenten Peak as the Shinya battled the oncoming mob, their Projecting skills preventing the crowd from consuming them whole as they put up barriers of force against the horde in ones and twos. But even then, Ignisa knew, that they had to conserve their strength to prevent overgiving and the loss of their astral bodies. As she and her children watched, sticking their head out of the lone window that had not been protected by any Shields, the crowd came closer, eliciting worried murmurs from Aquisea, who had resumed her grip on the frying pan that Ignisa had removed from her grasp before. "Should we be helping them, mother? I mean, it's not as if the Shinya are able to keep them back from us. I'm certain they'd need help too, and I'd rather not take the risk that our house will collapse on us due to the strain while we're fighting them off." Her middle daughter asked, voice taut with tension to the verge of snappiness, for which Ignisa could not entirely blame her. Fires were burning now in most of the lower circles of the Tenten Peak where the main mob still was, though indeed some frontrunners had managed to fight their way past the Shinya into the middle circles. But they were still few and easily dealt with by those who had remained in their homes. Luckily, none had managed to reach the circle where Ignisa's house stood, along with several others. As far as Ignisa could see however, they were the only occupants in their circle, most having retreated to the well-Shielded buildings of the Bharani Library (which was now coming under fire as well, judging from the continuous ripple of the Shields) or the Dawn Tower itself, rearing high like an opalescent statue on the top of the Tenten Peak itself. Perhaps they should have retreated to either of the two places, but it was probably too late now - they would not be able to outrun the mob before it reached them. The only hope now was to keep their heads down and hope that their shields would hold out against the mob. It was indeed unlikely though, for Ignisa could see bursts of fire and water as Reimancers fought Shinya, turning their manipulation of the elements to darker uses than what was otherwise intended. Ignisa mourned inwardly, for she knew that though the city of Lhavit was tolerant and even welcoming of mages and wizards, abuses of magic often resulted in far harsher punishments. Screams, and more smoke poured out from the circle just below Ignisa's. She hissed as she saw the Shinya back away from the circle towards the top of the peak, some escorting frightened civilians, and others holding back the mob to prevent needless loss of life. Despite the devastation of the mob, the Shinya were still trying to minimize the collateral damage, attempting to break up needless fighting and rendering people unconscious and taking them into custody rather than killing the miscreants. Inwardly, Ignisa admired them for their self control … she wasn't sure if she could have shown such restraint, nor delicacy in the usage of her magic. She was extremely keyed up as it was, and her children as well. If she were there … she would have killed quite a few, especially considering that the art of Fire Reimancy was very dangerous to the living. And Ignisa wasn't sure she had the stomach for it. A hammering on the door brought Ignisa around, and peering around the window, she saw one of the Shinya beating at the door, the Shield rippling as he struck at it. As she stuck out her head, the Shinya saw her, and came over, his face harassed and eyes haunted by the events of the night, and no wonder. "Ma'am, I would advise that you bring whoever is with you to safety. My peers will escort you and the rest up to the Dawn Tower and ensure to your safety so that you do not get caught up in danger while we try to regain control of the city." Ignisa nodded and turned to Terron, who was standing behind her with the children. "Bring down the Shield, Terron, and bring your sisters up to the Dawn Tower along with the Shinya who will escort you." "And you, ma'am …" "Ignisa." "You would stay here?" Ignisa lifted up her hand, and Res glowed over the surface of her skin for a short moment before it faded back into her body. "I can help you if need be. The Shinya can't control the crowd themselves … you are spread too thin. I'll help you for as long as I can, for I am a recognized Reimancer of the city and the Dawn Tower. If you and your companions trust me, then let me stay and help, …" she trailed off expectantly, waiting for the Shinya to give his name. "The name is Larto. Then let it be so." The Shinya replied, nodding slightly. Stretching out his hand, he caught another Shinya by the arm, and the woman turned around, her face marred with the sweat of exertion. "Reina, this is Ignisa, a Reimancer of the Dawn Towers. She will help aid us in controlling the crowd. Ignisa," he turned back to face her, "you will be paired up with her. Do as she says, and watch her back. She will watch over you as well." "And what about us?" Aquisea replied, hands at her hips as she glared up at her mother. "We can't just hide and do nothing. I won't allow it! Not while we can do something to help." "Enough!" Ignisa snapped. "Go with Larto. And don't make trouble." Her voice softened, and she cupped her daughter's hands. "I will see you at the end of this, I promise." Aquisea glared up at her for a moment, and then she spun around and flounced off with a cry. Ignisa wiped her forehead wearily and shook her head at Larto, before kissing both Terron and Sretia goodbye. "Go. Find your sister and keep her safe." Turning, she ran off with Reina towards the billows of smoke coming her way as Larto led Terron and Sretia towards the Dawn Tower, racing after Aquisea in order to keep a watch over her.