PLOT: WISE SNAKE'S EMERGENCE

[theearth]

Who: OPEN.
When: March 9th, Sunday, daylight hours.
Where: The business district of Locke City.
What: An enormous snake monster is pissed.
Warnings: Violence.

[The alien explodes silently - but it explodes.

First in a small cloud of hot (rose-scented) gas - those there to watch its final moments will want to step back.

A ripple in the air pulses - heavily - from where it once was, with absolutely no sound and color, but penetrating force. Anyone standing within two miles of the point of origin will feel a push, with those closest guaranteed to be knocked off their feet and temporarily dazed. Cars swerve and crash. Staff in the nearest office buildings launch into disarray. There’s no shielding from the blast - it can be felt through walls, through structures, in the air, and underground.

And it is felt underground.

The entire business district starts to shake, abruptly, jarred to a stir by some movement. It rises over the span of a long half-a-minute to the magnitude of December’s earthquake.

Tuning Towers experiences the worst of it - windows are smashing and objects are shaking loose and falling from the upper floors.

It finally ends - with screaming - as the head of an enormous pink snake breaks the lobby floor.

It flows its way quickly out of the hole it’s made, breaks itself another hole ever so politely through the main entrance doors, which were not meant to accommodate a twenty-foot-tall-and-wide exitor, and as it draws the last of its tail out after it, the quaking dies down.

It’s now roaring its way through the streets of Locke City’s business district - all several hundred meters of Wise Snake, emerged in the flesh (or stone?).

No regard for the walls of buildings, streetlamps, civilians, stopped and blindly pulled-over vehicles, anything else on its course - in a frantically-awakened, unrestricted rampage.]



[ OOC: This is part two of the Season 1's finale. The first - the assault on the farmhouse - is here; pertinent plot posts one and two. ]

Comments

[disdainfully]

Everything should be in the main room. [So that will be a "later".

Thorir looks at the sword curiously as well, reaching out for it and picking it up with the ease of someone who has held a number of swords like this before, to look at them and assess them. He'll just take a minute or two to appreciate it.]

Was this a pulse?

[thebalrogslayer]

[]Definitely a later, good luck trying to get him up any time soon.

Gabriel watches Thorir out of the corner of his eye as he picks up the sword, even though he addresses Eliot.] Thanks, but it's only a half hour walk from here. I'll manage. [Just give him a while to recover.

Turning his full attention to Thorir again, he watches him curiously. He trusts his opinion on these things more than anything he could guess, even if he apparently now has the skill to use it.] It was, with the skill to use it. I've not really had a chance to look at it. What do you think of it? It's a strange shape, I thought.

[lordofimladris]

Alright, let me know if you need anything though. [He says with a nod before setting his bag down, ready to slump back in his chair slightly.]

It's not like any other sword I've ever seen. [Eliot said thoughtfully as he watched Thorir pick up the blade.] Do you have any idea of where it's from?

[disdainfully]

[Whoever will look back at the table first will realize that in the exact place where Gabriel's sword sat, a different sword, complete with a metal scabbard, is now located, innocently sitting there as if it was there from the start.

Thorir, at least, is busy looking over this sword, running a hand over he metal in curiosity.] It must have been handled by a person with considerable height and strength. Good for both stabbing and slicing, much more the former - a very fine craftmanship, though every expert would doubt the effectiveness of it's use in the hands of a human. [Some kind of shift has happened here over the day, when he speaks of humans - more detached, with a hint in it that their ability to do or use something is not a proper measurement, anyway.

He stands and takes a few steps into the room before first using it as a two hander for a few movements before frowning and changing it to only one hand - still holding it with ease, much more than he should be able to as he does a few more movements that seem... less showy and much more like they belong on a battlefield, even though he seems a bit off balance with his other hand free.

Then he lowers it and steps back towards Gabriel, handing it back to him.] With what I have been told of Rivendell, I doubt that such a place would produce a weapon such as this. [It isn't really flashy enough to be ceremonial, and too much built for actual fight.]

[thebalrogslayer]

[Gabriel waves a hand.] I wouldn't make you fetch me anything when you've been as busy as I am. [He smiles at Eliot with just a touch of worry. His work will finish today, but Eliot will have patients that he'll have to revisit. He makes a note to check in on his friend more often than normal this week, to make sure that he takes care of himself as well.

He nods at Thorir's assessment of the sword.] Someone taller and stronger than I am. There are things that muscle memory tells me I should be able to do with it that I can't. [Which leaves a worrying question; will there be more changes than just this getting younger business? He glances at Eliot's ears, but doesn't mention anything.]

I don't think we know enough of Rivendell to judge that. [His tone is a touch sharp - if the memory he got today is of Rivendell burning then he knows that they fought back, and hard. But he softens again as he takes the sword back and goes to lay it back on the table, and then pauses.] Though it seems that one of you had one similar.

[lordofimladris]

It's no trouble. [Eliot assured him, though it was a bad habit of his to push himself to his limits for his friends and patients. It was easy for him to disregard his own health so he could accomplish more.

Unbeknownst to him, another sword lay propped up against his bag, Hadhafang. But Eliot is distracted by the sight of Thorir's sword, it seems there is weaponry appearing all around them.]

I'm sure with practice you'll be able to wield it with more ability. [Eliot commented thoughtfully as he watched Thorir for a moment before glancing at Gabriel.]

[disdainfully]

[Thorir has turned to Eliot after Gabriel turned away, wanting to tell him that he needs to rest, really - he himself is still running for reasons that are probably not human but a pulse, and his eyes catch on the sword at the dark haired elf's side when Gabriel mentions that there is another sword, and he takes a step towards Eliot, crouching down to pick up the sword lying there.]

Similar insofar as it is a sword as well, but of a very different make and type.

[thebalrogslayer]

It seems fairly similar to me. [Gabriel reaches out for the sword on the table, but stops when he sees his friend go for a third, unnoticed sword.] Unless you both had one, of course. [He laughs this time, sitting back.

If that sword hadn't been against Eliot's bag, he might have suggested that it was Thorir's, given what they know of their pasts. Even Gabriel can see that it's different, although not that different, he'd suggest. All three have the same elegant curving lines to them.] Does that mean that he was a warrior, Eliot?

[lordofimladris]

[Eliot turns to look as Thorir picked up the sword, his eyes slightly widening with surprise. He hadn't seen it sitting there before.]

I suppose so, though it seems out of place still. [He admits. A healer and a warrior, it's difficult for him to reconcile the two at the moment.] Unfortunately I still have no recollection of how to use it.

[disdainfully]

[Thorir picks the sword that was sitting on Elrond's bag up and carries it over to the other two, setting it down next to them and then reaching out for the other new one.

So many new and well forged swords. All pulses aside, this is exciting on a hobby enthusiast level, and while he wants to have a look at the sword that he assumes was Eliot's as well, he also wants to see this third one properly. Especially if, which they'll just have to assume, it was Thorin's.

He takes it up but then steps back from the other two again to draw it,]

If you were a healer in dangerous times, or also worked on battlefields, it would have been prudent to take to the sword as well for self defense. Or you could only later have become a healer... or taken up the sword afterwards. We don't yet know how long their lives were, but dwarves at least grew older than humans.

[thebalrogslayer]

You haven't even picked it up yet! [Gabriel chuckles, elbowing his friend gently. But then Thorir has Thorin's sword in his hands and then he draws it, and he registers the ache in his chest only for a moment before he's flung back into a memory of shadow and flame and someone that there's only deep affection for as he falls beneath it, the sword clattering to stone.]

Ecthelion! [The name is shouted out loud, but then he realises what he's done and he glances from Eliot to Thorir, breath shuddering. He feels sick from this latest echo, the death of a close friend - a brother? And that creature. It feels him with dread in a way that he can't explain.] Sorry. I've seen that sword before.

[lordofimladris]

Perhaps, I would not be surprised if Elves were similar in an extended lifespan. [Eliot said with a smile, chucking as Gabriel elbowed him. But he's distracted when his friend suddenly blurts out the name.]

Gabriel? [Eliot reaches out to rest his hand on his friend's arm, worried the way he heard the other man's breath shuddering in such a way.]

[disdainfully]

[The sword is sheathed again within seconds and Thorir at Gabriel's side, not touching him but sitting down next to him, proximity replacing touch as that is already coming from Eliot.] And not in a happy moment.

[It's obvious from the reaction. He would ask who or what that name (?) was, but he assumes that Gabriel will tell them himself should he feel like it.]

[thebalrogslayer]

I'm fine, it was just... [He nods towards Thorir, indicating that his guess was correct.] Today seems to be the day for that. [As the memory settles again, though, he relaxes somewhat. It's hard to set the memory aside completely, though.]

May I see the sword?

[lordofimladris]

[Eliot nods as he withdraws his hand, still concerned but he does not wish to press Gabriel for the unpleasant details.]

Indeed it does, hopefully we will be spared any more for the rest of the day. [He can tell the day has taken a mental and physical toll on them all as it was.]

[disdainfully]

[There is a moment of hesitation, but then he hands the sword, still in the sheathe, over.

And then he will just... stay where he is, not leaning back, tense as he watches Gabriel carefully. It's not that the other man has always been happy in his presence, but that was a rather strong reaction to the memory and he is worried.]

[thebalrogslayer]

[Taking the sword, Gabriel unsheathes it, holding it up to the light and testing the weight. He can see the similarities between this and his own sword, though it's heavier, the wielder was stronger. A good blade, though, he things, as he runs his fingers over the runes. If he could read them...

As he slides it back into the sheathe he notices the crest on the hilt and his breath catches again. He knows this. Ecthelion's crest, though he can't remember what it meant. He rubs his thumb over it, enjoying the contrast between the smooth metal and the scratched crest. Sighing, he offers it back to Thorir.]

The man who wielded this before you was a good man. I think he'd be glad to know you have it. [Although he can't say about Thorir's past self, if he was anything like Thorir he's sure it was the case for him too.]

[lordofimladris]

[The symbols on the swords seem familiar but nothing else comes to mind. He instead takes Hadhafang into his hand, letting himself feel the weight of the sword before looking up at Gabriel.]

You seem to remember a great deal about these swords now. [He remarked, he would have to ask Gabriel about it later, when they are all more well rested.]

[disdainfully]

I would like to hear more about him and those swords.

[He throws Eliot a short look, and then turns to Gabriel.] When you feel like talking about it, and maybe when all of us have gotten some rest. What are your plans for the night? [He doesn't want to push the other two out of the house, and will gladly offer them a bed should they decide so, but if they have other destinations in mind they should get going before the adrenaline runs out completely.]

[thebalrogslayer]

Not that much. I remembered the man that wielded it more than anything else. [Gabriel chuckles tiredly, and glances at his own sword.] I know more about it than my own, though. And nothing about yours, Eliot. [Though he is curious to have a look at some point to see if that will trigger any memories. Hopefully something more pleasant, although since it's a sword he doubts it.]

I was planning on walking home,. In a little while, though, if I'm not in your way. You probably have your hands full as it is?

[lordofimladris]

If you would like company walking home, I am going that general direction walking towards the hospital before driving home. [Eliot offered, though he knew Gabriel could take care of himself.]

I should get going, it's late and I still have an early day tomorrow. That and I'm sure both of you have many things to attend to as well. [Eliot said with a tired smile, he was looking forward to being able to get a few hours of sleep by now.]

[disdainfully]

You would be welcome to stay as long as you would, Gabriel, even over night, but going with Eliot may be a better idea. [He looks at both of them.] I will retire soon as well, don't worry about that. [He already got words of 'crash before you really crash' from his brother, and he knows his limits (even if they are expanded now).]

[thebalrogslayer]

[Gabriel sighs. On the one hand he's unwilling to stand up again, but on the other making his way with Eliot sounds like a better idea than heading home by himself later.] You probably have your hands full as it is. But thank you. If you don't mind the company, Eliot, I'll walk with you.

[He stretches out his long legs, and then slowly stands, reaching for his sword, but then hesitating.] Thorir, do you think you'd be able to make me a sheathe for this?

[lordofimladris]

I don't mind the company at all. [Eliot said with a smile to Gabriel, standing slowly as well. He's sore, his back aching, he's not able to push himself as far as he used to be when he was younger.]

Thank you but I should get home, get changed for an early shift tomorrow, it's going to be hectic. [He said to Thorir as he grabbed his bag and sword, carefully to make sure he didn't drop it.

[disdainfully]

I can make a sheathe, but I will need the sword here for that. It will need to fit.

[He stands to walk over to the door and open it for all of them so they can be on their ways - getting up later will only make it still harder.]