#osgoth

Epilvik dipped his head sadly in mutual hurt for the pain and suffering that Lunri now faced, saddened by her heart break. Lunri held out the gem for Danarshi as he moved to take the stand. She could visibly see Avareia clenching her hand reflexively. She wasn’t up to date with much of Te’Amun, so was slowly processing all of the mournful news one tear at a time. She eyed the man to the left of the Justicar, but said nothing as she turned her attention to Danarshi. As Lunri looked over at Ashaar, she saw him bowing his head in solemnity. Seeing the pain in her eyes from the tragedy she went through was too much for him to watch. He remained quiet as the funeral proceedings went on.

Danarshi turned his head and watched Lunri as she opened  the ceremony, a supportive expression present up his face. As she began to lose control of her emotions, the Anchorite issued her with a nod of understanding. As the soul gem was offered to him, he calmly approached the woman, placing each of his hands around her own and politely taking the gem from her. A moment later, he returned to his spot and clasped each of his hands in front of his waist in a respectful manner, the soul gem still held within them. His eyes also diverted down towards the ground beneath them. “The very day that the grim news of Sha’Tari’s demise had reached me was a dark day indeed. Many a tragic death have I witnessed across the span of my life, though, -this-... this was a tragedy that was -never- meant to unfold,” he expressed, falling into a few seconds of silence. “Sha’Tari, in Draenei, means “one that is born from the Light”. Though our young sister was taken from  us early as to never see the waking world, that does not necessarily mean that her journey was cut short. Though the life within her physical body was taken from her, her spiritual one was  not. In life, Sha’Tari would have grown to serve many of us faithful, and have become known as a fellow sister. Now, in death, her spirit shall be freed, and, despite the wicked actions of the monster who claimed her from the the Material Plane, she will still hold the ability to roam the world, freely, and venture to whichever destination calls for her. As her name resembles, she shall indeed be born from the light, and continue to linger among us forevermore,” he finished, finally lifting his head back up to face the group. “That is all that I wish to speak on. Thank you for allowing me the chance to speak on our fallen sister.”

The petaltush beside Avareia stared blankly at Danarshi, virtually understandig only a few words that escaped the Anchorite’s mouth. He waddled up to Lunri and offered a single starflower, freshly picked from his home in Draenor. He then waddled back to Avareia, still confused on what Danarshi said.

Ashaar, and Epilvik stood quietly, listening to Danarshi’s eulogy, trying to remain stoic, but both could feel tears welling up in their eyes. Avareia frowned as her gaze flashed from Petaltush to Lunri to Danarshi. She pulled her hood down as a few sniffles escaped from her.

As Danarshi delivered his speech, her shoulders shook despite her attempts to keep herself composed. As Petaltush waddled up to her, and delivered her a flower, she patted him on the head and tucked it into her hair. When she got home, she would preserve it and frame it, she decided. After a few moments to compose herself at least somewhat, she addressed the group again. “Thank you, Danarshi, that was perfect. Danarshi will release her from the crystal next, as I have already said my goodbyes in private. Anyone is welcome to do so before she is released. After that has been done, her body-” she points with a shaky hand behind her. “Will be burned in holy fire. When you are ready, Danarshi, unless anyone would like to speak their good byes.”

Danarshi’s eyes remained trained upon his peers ahead of him, expectant that at least one of them would have a few words to share. Lunri stood off to the side, looking down at the crystal in Danarshi’s hands as Avareia stepped past the Justicar and the mysterious man towards Lunri. After a few moments, she continued her stride to Lunri, and pulled the Draenei in for a tight, ‘welcoming’ hug. Avaraei said nothing for moments whilst Lunri was still in her grasp, but she pulled back and stared down at the crystal and murmured under her breath, “Light be with you, child, and darkness shan’t corrupt you further.” Lunri hugged Avareia back tightly, welcoming the woman’s tight embrace and kind words. “Thank you, Avareia.”  Avareia reached out to Lunri’s hands and squeezed them tightly; possibly exchanging a brownie or two with the hand holding. She flashed the Draenei a small, warm smile before stepping back next to the Justicar.

Danarshi watched the two sisters embrace. As she utters her wish upon the fallen child, he himself peers down at the gem that remained tightly grasped within his hands. He released a silent breath of a sorrow nature. Ashaar remained silent, but gave Lunri a sympathetic nod as he worked hard to keep his own composure. He may be a smart-ass in most occasions, but he knew that this was no time or place for humour, and he was shit at expressing real feelings. So, he remained quiet and respectful.

Justicar Epilvik took a few paces forward. “While we may not have known one another Sha’Tari, know you held a family and those that cared for you in the Order as much as any other. Although your life was tragically short, and cut from you before you had a chance to shine, to show others what you could achieve, and what you would bring to the world. Though you might not have the chance now, the world nonetheless is forever changed by your presence, and you have affected your mother, who will carry on your memory and your future with her, wherever she goes. She who can tell your story, and in the your memory will not fade, but it will live on, and be acknowledge by our people forever more,” he spoke gently before stepping back once more.

Ava’s petaltush grumbled as the Justicar nearly stepped on him. He looked towards Lunri, and let out a loud call: HYRAAAAAAH!” He blinked a few times, “Wrong one,” he stated in his gruffy voice. “Hyy-RUH, podling bless you, child. You gone too soon, like my dinner.” He stepped back next to Avareia and nodded sagely.

Danarshi’s eyes remained trained upon the soul gem as Epilvik uttered his words about Sha’Tari. As the Justicar finished his speech, the Anchorite peered up at him long enough to issue him with a respectful nod, clearly appreciative of what the man had to say. A smiled cracked at the corners of Lunri’s mouth as a brownie or two was pressed into her palm. Avareia knew just what she needed this day. She merely issued a curt nod to the Draenei so as not to let anyone else know of the exchange. As Epilvik began to speak, his words speaking volumes as always, she hugged herself tight. It was hard to let the Order see her so weak, but deep down she knew they understood. A low nod was offered towards the Justicar as she did not trust herself to peak at that moment. Emotions were roiling inside of her like a monsoon trying to tear her heart away. But at the words of Petaltush, she couldn’t help but chuckled. Epilvik had the opposite reaction to the Petaltush, gritting his teeth at it as he attempted to refrained from kicking into the water. Danarshi also pursed his lips and ground his teeth at Petaltush. He issued the Podling a rather distasteful look before diverting his attention. It would have to do. He expected much worse from a Podling. “It is time, brother.”

Danarshi glanced towards Lunri as she informed him that the time was nigh to send the young spirit away. With yet another nod, the Anchorite shuffled to his immediate right, settling within the middle of the rug. Slowly, he lifted the soul gem up until it was in front of his chest. He opened his fingers and rested the gem upon his palms, so all could properly see the insidious crystal. “You shall not be forgotten, young Sha’Tari. You shall live on within our memories, and soon, we shall come to meet you, I am sure of it, “ he shared in finality. A mere moment later, his hands are bather in the brightness, retaining it’s original form and colour. As time passes however, the surface of the gem would indeed, begin to change, it’s violet purple gradually turning to a holy gold. “Roam free, Sha’Tari. Dioness aca,” he said in farewell. At sudden, the soul gem physically pulsates and releases a puff of unholy energy. The magic that bound Sha’Tari’s spirit to the soul gem has now been broken, and the young Draenei is able to free herself from her crystalline prison. Lunri feels a blissful moment of peace as she sees her child lift into the air. Her tears of utter sadness shift to those of happiness, and a smile breaks her gaunt features. "Fly free, little one. Fly free."

As Danarshi completed the ritual, and Sha’Tari is released from her crystal prison, suddenly there was a flash of light from above, and a gem, hovering high above them, well out of reach, glowed to life, casting a holographic image above the order. The image showed the room that Lunri was all too familiar with, where she was tortured for days, weeks, almost months. Images flashed revealing the details of her torture, complete with the sounds of Lunri screaming in agony, the dark figure standing over her looked an awful lot like Osgoth, though more sinister looking. Lunri laid fully exposed on the table, for the whole order to see, and excruciating details of her torture were played back bit by bit. The images only lasted for a few moments, but it all culminated in the image of the man cutting Lunri open, pulling out her unborn child, and stabbing it with a dagger.The gem in the hilt of the dagger could be clearly seen, glowing as he held the child in the view of whatever recorded this image. Finally, all that could be seen was the image of the man’s face as he looked down upon the members of Te’Amun. With an evil grin, he said the words, “Prepare”. The image cut out as quickly as it started. As Lunri saw the images being played over, she shouted out in defiance, “No! No more! I cannot take anymore!”  She puffed up in anger, her hands clenched at her sides as purple veins popped out of her arms and her body was filled to the brim with adrenaline. "YOU WILL NOT BREAK ME AGAIN." Without thought, lightning crackled along her arms and to her hands, and she aimed them towards the gem. A rage filled roar emitted from her as she aimed the lightning towards it, and released it, overdrawing on her chi as she does so. In response, her body collapsed to the floor, having utterly exhausted herself. She laid there curled up, a shaking slobbering mess murmuring 'no more no more'. Epilvik also released a ragged dagger, and several bursts of holy energy at the image until the gem that was projecting the image shattered, shooting small, and mostly harmless shards down on the group.

Ashaar watched the images with a look of sheer terror on his face. He had no idea the extent of the horror that the poor woman had endured, until now, and he was infuriated. The audacity of this evil sonofabitch, to have set this up to further break Lunri, Ash couldn’t even fathom it. He gritted his teeth as he watched, and when the final image of the man appeared, telling them to “Prepare”, Ash balled his fists up and shook his head, taking a shard of the gem to the cheek without so much as a flinch. As blood trickled down his cheek, he looked at Lunri, and his gaze softened. What she must be going through right now, he had no idea, but his earlier promise still held true. If he was needed, he was ready to fight any fight for any member of this Order.

Danarshi’s eyes were quick to dart upwards at the sudden sound that appeared. He too moved his head as he noticed the floating crystal. He furrowed his eyebrows in some measure of concern, though, once he realized what was unfolding before them, his heart felt as thought the Void itself had crushed in around it, countless emotions of negativity flooded throughout him. Any who looked at him would see that we was struggling to watch the recording, his teeth clenched. As the scene came to where Lunri’s abdomen was to be cut, Danarshi could not hope to continue watching. The man diverted his vision to the ground, and sealed his eyes shut; hearing it unfold was enough to send shivers down his spine. As it was clear that the worst of it had passed, the sinister word, “prepare” ringing from the crystal, he is quick to snap his head back up. Though the projection shatters only seconds afterwards, the Anchorite had been given enough time to make out the wicked Draenei’s face. “Valicos,” he muttered, his voice sounding of hatred and loathing.

Epilvik ached to break him, to destroy him entirely. His fury, aggression, and anger playing out over his features as he was filled with intense hatred at seeing in person what had been done to Lunri and seeing her reaction to it all over again. He bellowed at the image, “You will not come here and victimize our people, you will die for what you have done, nothing you can do, say, or plead will stay our wrath. You will die so slowly and painfully you will think Kil’Jaeden himself is flaying your body.” He snarled in fury as the image dissipated.

Avareia -immediately- rushed over to Lunri, possibly tripping over herself once on the small ‘journey’ over. After the man’s dramatic showcasing was done, she reached her palm out to collect one of the shards that rained down. Clenching the crystalline fragment in her hand, she grasped Lunri and pulled her into a somewhat protective shell whilst he laid on the ground.

Lunri flinched at the touch of the older Draenei, and whimpered. “Please, no-” before realizing who it was. As it dawned on her, she hugged the Draenei. Her body shivered in fear, and she ached to cry it out, but no tears would leave her clenched eyes.

Danarshi took point after Avareia, the Anchorite tossed the purified soul gem aside and fell into a kneel beside her them, placing each of his hands upon Lunri in some crude effort of calming her. “It is okay, Lunri. I was only a projection. You are safe, and as long as we remain within your reach, you shall remain that way.” Danarshi proceeded to peer off into the distance. “Valicos shall pay, dearly, for the atrocities that he has committed, “ he muttered in a rather hushed tone. It was loud enough that Lunri and Avareia could have picked it up, though it was unlikely Epilvik or Ashaar could have heard it from their distance.

Lunri nodded at Danarshi, and tugged him closer, needing the presence of those few she could trust. “I can’t do it. I just… I can’t. He’s left me so broken, and frail.” A numbness spread throughout her body, and she took her arms off of Ava to wrap them around her trembling body. “The-the body. We must burn it before he can take it. He cannot take her. Please, no.”

Ashaar didn’t know what to do right then, and felt really out of place. He wanted to help comfort Lunri, but that seemed to be covered, so he made use of himself by inspecting the perimeter to make sure there were no more threats.

Avareia slid the crystalline fragment into her small crystal pouch attached to her belt before her eyes scanned the area for the other crystal. After a few moments, she found it. Her ‘lifeless’ gaze bore into the fully-shaped crystal before she focused back to Lunri. “Let’s get started, shall we?” Avareia untangled herself from Lunri and pushed herself up, soon offering a gentle helping hand to her. Lunri nodded and took her hand, standing up on wobbly hooves. She draped an arm across Ava’s shoulders to help steady herself.   

Danarshi placed a reassuring hand upon one of the woman’s trembling arms. “He shall not have her. I am certain what we had just witnessed was merely staged. He is not here, nor would he dare tread upon such holy ground. Sha’Tari is safe, her spirit and her body. You are right however, and I shall not disregard your wishes.” A couple of moments later, he returned to his hooves and turned himself to face the corpse of Sha’Tari. “It is time that we complete your daughter’s passing into the afterlife. When you are prepared, I shall bathe her in holy fire. She shall become one with the Light, full so.”

Mr. Petaltush wandered over the ex-soul crystal and poked it, making sure it wasn’t going to burn his fingertips. He grabbed it and ran it over to Ava. Avareia pursed her lips as Petaltush handed over the crystal. She tucked her face downward whispering into Lunri’s ear. They whispered back and forth for a few moments, as Ava was offering to make it into jewelry for her. For the moment, Lunri took the crystal from Ava until the ceremony was over.

At that moment, Danarshi placed his undivided focus upon the small fetus, that of which was Sha'Tari. The sight was undeniably grisly, and was enough to turn even the stomach of Danarshi, of all people. "Are you prepared, sister?" he asked once more in reassurance, directed at Lunri. He would not dare cremate her daughter without her utmost permission.

Avareia perked up. "May I help?" Her gaze bore into Danarshi, as if her eyes were saying 'pleasepleasepleaseplease'.

Ashaar walked up to the others after he was done making sure the perimeter was secure "There's no one here but us, that gem was obviously planted before the proceedings, and whoever left it, is long gone."

Danarshi peeked over at Avareia, and did not hesitate to nod at her. "I would be honoured if you were to lend your hand in the process, though the decision ultimately rests upon the shoulders of Lunri," he reminded her, his eyes turning to Lunri in curiosity.

Lunri looked between Danarshi, Ash, and then at Ava. “Thank you, Ash, it would mean a lot if you would help Danarshi, and Avareia. Please proceed before anything else can go terribly wrong.” She nodded at the three of them, giving her permission for all three to help. Somewhere in the process Epilvik had to leave to assist his wife, Rhuua.

Ashaar nodded at Lunri. “Of course, anything you wish.” He looked to Danarshi. “What do you need my help with?”

Danarshi shuffled to the side in order for Avareia and Ashaar to have the appropriate room upon the rug. “Very well. Raise your hand and walk fourth, with me,” the Anchorite explained, in which he does, indeed, life his own hand and wandered fourth towards Sha’Tari. “Now place said hand upon her,” he continued, doing as he described and placing his hand upon the small body. He was struggling to keep a neutral expression upon his face as he did this.

Lunri wanted to cry, but could not. Her body felt broke, bruised, and drained. It had only been a few hours, but it felt like an eternity. As she stood behind the group, she nibbled on a brownie before walking up to Ava and firmly grasping her free hand.

Seeing that his compatriots are prepared, he momentarily closed his eyes and released a deep, audible breath to control his inner emotions. “Now,” the command echoed down the hall from his lips. Holy fire erupts from the palms of the Anchorite’s, Ava’s and Ash’s hands and meets with the flesh of Sha’Tari. Immediately she caught fire, lighting the motionless infant aflame. All three remove their hand from the child, and take a step back. Once more, Danarshi clasps each of his hands together and rests them in front of his waist, properly closing his eyes and facing towards the floor. “Stand with me, my friends. Let us issue Sha’Tari with a minute of silence sh she has earned.” The Crystal Hall of was wrapped back up into it’s eerie but welcoming silence. Shamans could be heard practicing in the distance, making sure to give the group their space. A few moments pass, with Lunri resting her head on Ava’s shoulder and their hands clasped together as they listened to the holy fire. The crackling of the flames was somewhat unlike that of an ordinary fire. It was oddly calming, in a manner that was beyond description. The very sound of it brought calmness to the group, a reassurance that Sha’Tari had safely passed on, and she would find happiness, even if it was not within the Material Plane itself.

As the silence lingered on, Lunri took a deep breath and once more stepped in front of the group. “Thank you, brothers and sister for coming. It means a lot to me in this time of need. I-I think I would like to go home now and rest.” Her voice sounded dull, empty of all emotions. She just wanted sleep, and watch the rain beat against her window. To hear the crackling of the fire, and forget about her woes.

Danarshi too opened his eyes and moved his head back up as Lunri broke the silence. He watched her with a sympathetic expression as she spoke. At last, he stepped fourth, and offered the woman a supportive hug. “No, sister. Thank -you- for allowing us the privilege to witness the passing of your daughter. We are each in your debt,” he eventually responded, backing out of the hug afterwards. “If you -ever- require -any- of us, do not hesitate to call. You are in the safest of hands, my sister.” He bowed before her. “The time shall come that Sha’Tari is avenged, this I vow. I will not rest until justice is delivered upon Valicos, and Osgoth is found,” He uttered. “I shall leave you to rest, sister. Dioniss aca” He at last turned to make his exit, wandering towards the Seat of the Naaru.

Ashaar nodded at Lunri, solemnly, trying to put on a smile to comfort her. “Farewell, sister. I assure you, that I will be with you and the order every step of the way as we hunt down this man who did this to you. You have my word.”

Lunri waves a thin hand at Danarshi as he leaves, murmuring “Dioniss aca, brother,” at his back. She looked over to Ash, and politely nodded at him. “Thank you for coming, Ashaar. Perhaps we can chat after I am myself again. Until then, dioniss aca.” He sighed sadly, and then straightened himself. Walking out, he puffed up his chest to act stoic, and fight off more tears as he left.

Avareia held out her palm to Lunri. “I’ll get the choker back to you as soon as possible. All of my supplies are set inside of my workshop… which is not here.”

Lunri hesitantly set the crystal and the choker into Ava’s palm. She stared at it for a moment before meeting the Draenei’s gaze. “Thank you, Avareia. You have been much help to me.” She embraces her in a tight hug, nearly squishing her. “Dioniss aca, sister.” Avareia returned the hug, equally squishing her. She clenched her gloved fist around the crystal before sliding it into the same small baggie the choker is in. She looked around, picking up all the shattered crystalline fragments from the strange man’s entrance.