Bur Omisace: Conclusion

A sad pause in their adventure, the two Paladins who were to have escorted them to safety gun down cruelly, the party beset by the Leader of the Knights of Restitution failed to come to their aid to busy as they were in dealing with the platinum haired temptor who had come for Ainsley. His departure however and his actions have had an unseen side-effect for now standing tall and true before the party is the Lord of Death, Hades has come and now stands before the group, the bodies of the Paladins vanishing from sight as he uses his power to send them to whence they need to go.

The vanishing of the paladins confuses Ainsley, staring off to where they were, but she turns her head and regards Hades... and if she could go pale, she would. That is the one spirit that she has the least desire to meet. But then, it's not a new face for anyone to make at Hades, so she isn't scared he'd be offended. She was only spooked, after all. "Hello," she says to him, hesitantly, because she's not sure what the etiquette is for this. "So..." she glances off to where Pretty-Boy was, "He wasn't supposed to do that, if I understand correctly? Shemhazai is 'cheating'?" She's just trying to understand what Hades meant.

Lee looks towards the cloaked Spirit suspiciously, standing near Ainsley rather protectively. Not being savvy with much in the way of Spiritual matters, he seems to not immediately recognize Hades, and is a but short of trust for suddenly-appearing people at the moment, given the events of just moments ago involving a platinum-haired emo-man who also suddenly appeared. The lack of imprisoning traps this time seems to comfort him at least a little, though, so that's something...

Silmeria, by contrast, doesn't look worried in the least at their new arrival... or rather, worried about everything *except* the towering specter of Death, whom she drops to one knee in front of, bowing her head. "Um.... My Lord? We appreciate your guidance... but erm..." Glancing left, right, then over her shoulder at the party, she raises her head just enough to whisper a quick, low, "is this really necessary?"

Marduke glances to the new figure for a moment considering him and his mind racing a moment. He then glances to the paladins as they disappear and nods slowly letting out a soft sigh, relaxing a bit. The Mist dragon swirls back around him and froms before him. At which he reaches out and gives it a pet on the head and smiles, "Thank you." The Mist suddenly disoliving into nothing as the spirit departs. Marduke turns back to the newcommer and offers him a bow, "Lord Hades, we are honored." Standing back up as he taps his walking stick into the ground, intent on following along.

The figure regards Silmeria for a moment then leans down to help her back to her feet, "I am afraid that yes, I feel this is neccessary. It was not his apperance that broke the rules but more his murder of the Paladins, here in the Holy City. If you had saved them I would not be here now, but in that sad oversight during the heat of battle the rules have twisted... I may offer answer to questions and what guidance I can."

Ainsley nods once or twice... She glances off toward where the paladins were, and becomes silent like she did before. Her mouth shows a frown, as she seems to be, once again, contemplating something. She reaches up to grab Lee's hand without really thinking about it, leaning against his side, preparing to follow to the temple as is needed to continue the quest. "Best we get going," she suggests, "The sooner the problem is solved, the less likely there will be more casualties as a consequence of my mistake." She doesn't seem broken up about it, just very matter-of-fact.

Lee blinks at Marduke as he mentions this new figure's name, and at Silmeria's show of respect as well, and huh's to himself; being aware of who Hades is seems to relax him, at least in one sense. He's now wary, though respectfully so, for a whole different reason. His hand being taken doesn't consciously register, much in the same fashion that Ainsley didn't notice doing it, save for the acknowledging squeeze given in response, and he hrms a bit... "Questions, y'say? Not gonna restrict that like Alexander did, or what-not?"

Silmeria blushes as she's helped to her feet, bobbing her head in acknowledgment. "Forgive me, My Lord, but as you said... these are very unusual circumstances." Drawing in a deep breath, she turns, gesturing for Hades to precede her on the way toward their destination, testing Lee's question in the process. "So... Who *is* this person we've been told of, who treats Scholar Ainsley's crisis as simply a pleasant diversion?"

"The death of the paladins appears to have been intentional, something to be kept beyond our control as much as possible. One was hit with a poison dart, something he could of done to the rest of us just as easily." Marduke offers slowly, "It would suggest that her was trying to break the rules, though to what purpose I could not say for certain. The lightning barries and their full plate armor also leads to that speculation." Shaking his head slowly and sighs, "Silmeria, if his killing of the paladins brokes rules it suggest he is of the spirit worlds himself. There is more to this picture then we are seeing I suspect, far more."

He listens to everyone but doesn't answer their questions, he just extends the hilt of his Scythe toward Ainsley, "There is one way to end this Miss Ainsley, quickly and simply and instantly, take the hilt of my scythe, come with me to Judgement upon the throne."

Ainsley stares at the scythe, glances up to Hades, and back down to the scythe. "No," she says, as if it were extremely offensive for him to suggest it, "Are you insane? Isn't that the same as just rolling over and giving up?" She seems annoyed at Hades. Again, she sometimes forgets that she has to be polite to spirits, or to other such things. Most of the party already knows this, of course. "That would be highly irresponsible; that man is part of a whole group that clearly won't just give up, and I intend to make life as difficult as possible for them for as long as I have the power to do so."

Lee hrms and cocks his head at Marduke's assessment of the Paladins' deaths, "Could be he were intentional 'bout that, willfully breakin' rules an such. I dunno, though; strikes me as more like a supreme lack of carin', like one'd 'ave kickin' a stone out yer path, maybe mixed wi' a bit o'sadism t'boot." Hades' offer to Ainsley gets his attention real quick, and he frowns, opening his mouth to give the spirit a piece of his mind... until Ainsley says just about everything he was evidently intent on saying, or near enough, the young man pausing and blinking, his flash of offended anger deflated slightly as he gestures to Ainsley, "Y-Yeah! What she said."

Silmeria tilts her head, a small smile touching her tanned face. "The sentient incarnation of the permanence Death, Scholar Ainsley, is not insane," she begins, humor rather evident in the undertones of her voice. "My Lord's offer, however it may be received, is genuine; some mortals would find the troubles they are under too much to bear, and the promise of worse times ahead would lead them to question if the fight is, indeed, worth it. Such things have happened before, for far less than what you face. Neither is it irresponsible; the connection to the Whisperer would be severed quite neatly in death, and you would quite literally have nothing left to trouble yourself with. My Lord, intimidating as he is, offers this as a kindness, Ainsley," she finishes, gently. "You cannot reasonably expect the Lord of Death to keep from making the offer, can you?"

Marduke nods slowly to Lee, "He did have that attitude, but his actions of killing those two and not the rest of us leaves it open to larger possibilities. It comes across as intentional." frowning a bit more, then actually smiling as Hades makes his offer to Ainsley, and touch of a chuckle at Ainsleys reply. Leaning over to Silmeria he whispers, "You know my experiances with spirits suggest that was also a test of her resolve as it was genuine. Think they will ever notice?" Winking to Silmeria as he relaxes a bit more. STanding back up straight he continues to follow along.

Hades murmurs toward Marduke, "I would say he was trying quite hard to kill the rest of you, but you got lucky in holding him off. Much longer or the change of his whim and the lack of a Summoner I suspect he would have disposed of you all and taken Ainsley by force." He turns and starts to walk down the side of the aqueduct. "And my daughter speaks truthfully Miss Ainsley, I will not regard your question to my sanity as your actual question. Come we shall talk in the Temple of Shiva not here." he leads the way then heading down the aqueduct.

Ainsley blusters a moment before they start moving, and makes a face over at Silmeria, "I... I know that," she insists vehemently. "It /is/ irresponsible. I have Lee, and so many more concerns to worry about that are more than myself." She seems embarrassed, after that, though. She looks down at her feet, soon following along with Hades, if Lee starts walking with her. Her tail curls and sways. "It would be selfish," she says, more softly, "No different a choice than the one that got me into this mess in the first place. I apologize, Lord Hades, I don't think you're insane," she says, softly, barely a whisper.

Lee remains quiet, for his part, as Silmeria explains, and if he's curious what Marduke was whispering about, he doesn't show it. At Ainsley's mention of him, though, he smiles a bit and nods, and does indeed start walking when Hades begins to lead the way. He gives Ainsley a bit of silent support, a hand resting on her shoulder briefly, while Hades' mention of "actual questions" catches his attention, "Ah, so you -are- gonna do th'same as Alexander did, then... Well, guess I can't say that's unexpected, an' I imagine all these rules everyone keeps on about 'as sumfin' t'do wit it."

"That it would," Silmeria answers Ainsley's protest, catching Marduke's eye and raising an eyebrow. "And yet, the option must be presented, yes? Else how could you look back on these days, and say your fate was only ever in your own hands?" With that, the Esper subsides following in Hades' footsteps toward Shiva's temple.

Marduke pauses a moment as he considers slowly and nods, "I see." Reaching up to tap his chin a moment, "Then you can give our regards to Lady Luck then, and we all must stay strong against such a foe." Closing his eyes coming to a stop for a moment. Then starts off again almost as quickly as he stopped, "It isn't right, and it isn't wrong Ainsley. It is selfish not to take the offer as well Ainsley. It is a lesson I have learned a few times, that the path we walk can burden and bring harm to those around us. The path you walk can do the same, remember that as well. We know of your path, and accept that burden and risk, be mindful of those who do not." His voice soft, not wanting to chide or reprimand, but make sure she is aware. A glance to Lee with a chuckle, "Yes it is like that, remember where he choose not to regard her question to his sanity as hers. So choose your question carefully." Still clearly considering his own.

Soon enough the Cloaked and robed rigure is leading the party through a gate, past a sliding stone wall that glows with arcane magic and out into a chamber that is walled in ice as clear and hard as diamond! A spire of it thrusting up into the sky, illuminated by glancing rainbow prisms of colour as the sunlight from outside glances through the structure. It is strangrly peaceful and seren though the shocked look on the face of the High Priestess of Shiva and her Acolytes by the altar is a picture. They were clearly expecting you, not Hades as well.

Ainsley shoots a look over at Marduke as if she were about to throw something at him, evidently frustrated that she's still being talked down to. "Stop that," she says, fighting to keep from whining it at him. When they enter the chamber that has all the followers of Shiva, she smiles at them. "Hello!" she speaks up, pleased to finally be where she wants to be, here. "We ran into trouble with a cultist," she explains, and motions to Hades, "He just helped us get where we're going." As if this were completely sane. She breaks away from Lee to examine her surroundings, pleased to see the structure. Colors~

Lee grins as brightly, following up after Ainsley, "Yeah, we know what yer thinkin', too: not what you expected at -all-! But like Ainsley said, trouble, then," he gestures at Hades, "Hades! An' much adventure was 'ad!" As Ainsley moves away to inspect the architecture and mesmerizing colors, he can't help but chuckle softly, being within safe haven again doing a good deal to relax him and put him closer to his usual cheeky attitude once more.

Silmeria pauses as they enter, dipping a curtsy to the High Priestess. "Your pardon, Reverend Mother... As they say, we ran into a good deal of trouble on our way here, and circumstances have become decidedly unusual." Her lips twitch, as she watches Ainsley wander off in joyful curiosity, but her eyes return to the High Priestess' feet in short order. "However," she murmurs, clearing her throat, "...yes. It really is that bad. I imagine, Reverend Mother, we have a great deal to discuss."

Marduke taps his staff into the ground as he looks around, a touch of a chuckle at Ainsley as she goes running off forgeting all her troubles. He offers a bow to the high priestess and then glances to Silmeria as he offers with a teasing smile, "I thought it was father and daughter field trip day?" Yet he looses the humor quickly and offers thoughtfully, "Two Paladins of Alexander have been lost this day doing their duty, with honor.' Shaking his head with a sigh, "Though it is good to be in a temple of Queen Shiva again, it has been a while." Glancing around with a thoughtful hmm, "I wonder if Eleanor has seen this place."

The Lady eyes Silmeria, a very tall and incredibly beautiful human with long flowing silver hair tied back by a Diadem, "Call me Reverend Mother again my dear and we will have lots to discuss." She then curtseys, "My Lord of the Abyss, on behalf of My Queen do I welcome you here to our hallowed halls." Hades inclines his head, a smile on his lips and a glance for Silmeria before he moves to stand by the altar, "We are here for two reasons, so that I may full fill obligation and answer the questions of these mortals and that Miss Ainsley may continue on down her path. Let us dispense with their questions first." The High Priestess glances around at Marduke and inclines her head, "Indeed... that is sad news, thank you for telling us.... be welcome all come sit." she motions to the pews which are glittering like spun diamond.

Ainsley turns her attention over to Lee... and looks up, and then back down to Lee, her eyes going wide. She scurries over to him, pulls the cloak he had given her off her shoulders, and tosses it up over him, realizing how the light is shining through. Of course, this means she's got only her torn, frost-damaged clothing on, but she can deal with that. Assuming Lee's safe from combusting, she reaches out to touch one of the pews, expecting it to be cold. She doesn't want to sit on a giant fancy ice cube. She's taciturn again. Might not have any questions.

Lee blinks, and notices the smell of something burning just about the same time Ainsley does. He's smoking. Or, more specifically, his face is smoking, his hat doing little to protect him from sunlight that's being refracted from below the shade-line of his hat's wide brim. And his crimson eyes go wide, "Oh bugger..." And then he's covered by his cloak, like a black sheet-ghost. He raises one arm, voice slightly muffled, "I'll be right back! Won't be a moment!" And he turns and -dashes- back towards the passage they all entered through. Only to find it closed again. Another mutter of "Bugger all", and he finds some convenient shade where stonework blocks most of the refracted light, and busies himself with... something. It's not quite clear what... Until he returns, that is, his entire head wrapped in a turban-like cloth of dark blue linen, leaving only his crimson eyes showing. Which themselves are soon hidden from view by a pair of glasses with darkly tinted lenses and leather shrouds on the sides to prevent light from getting in from odd angles. He drapes his cloak over Ainsley once again, for her decency, "Thank you, Ains, that was almost very horrible." And to the rest, as he takes a seat, sounding as if he's smiling under the head-wrap, "Sorry about that, don't mind me."

"I... um. My apologies, of course," Silmeria murmurs, flushing deeply at the High Priestess' rebuke. Opening her mouth to apologize further, she is quite understandably given a good deal of pause as Lee's situation takes center stage. Blinking after the warrior, doubly so when he reappears in head-wrap and glasses, she remains silent for a moment, then clears her throat. "...Questions. Yes. Thank you very much." Gathering her cracked, ratty, and very much well-worn robes about her, she unslings her pack to settle at her feet as she sits on the pew, hands folded in her lap.

Marduke leans into his staff as he watches Lee's antics and raises his eyebrows, yet a few things seem to click in his head for a moment. He just shakes his head slowly and glances to the high priestess and bows his head, 'We are grateful for your hospitality and humbly accept. It is truly a beautiful temple you have here." Moving to find himself a seat on a pew, 'As for questions, I went first last time, I do not want to go first this time." Scowling a bit, "Though I would suggest we start with the three objects." Glancing to Lee and Silmeria.

Hades stands tall and still before the party, he gives Lee an odd look but doesn't comment further, focussing on the party before him and waiting to hear from them. "Speak then and I will answer plainly, my time on Terra is limited after all."

"So where's the piece of the star map that the Tablet said I'd find here?" Ainsley asks, as she examines the pew further, taking advantage of the opportunity for a question. She climbs on her seat, looking over to Lee with some concern on her brow, when the cloak is put back on her, and pulls it tight over herself. She didn't seem bothered by the indecency, since she has bigger things to worry about. "Going to be okay, then?" she inquires, uncertainly.

The Spirit turns and points to a space behind the Altar, "You can see it if you stand in the one place in this temple were all the angles within the ice intersect. Stand there and look and you will see where the High Priestess has it hidden. Ask her nicely and I am sure she will let you have it." The High Priestess rolls her eyes and reclines back in the chair she has taken for herself, "And good riddance to it too."

Lee nods to Ainsley, probably smiling, though it's difficult to tell given the cloth covering his features, "Oh, aye, Ains. Smarts a bit, but it'll heal quick 'nuff. Caught it b'fore any real damage could be done, thanks t'you." He thinks for a moment, pondering his question, then speaks, addressing Hades, "A'right, now, Alexander told us there's these three items we'd need t'take t'Diabolos' Temple. Tha Obsidian Hand-Mirror, tha Starsong Key, and tha Torque of Entropy. Now, I'm sure gettin' to an' retrievin' these things is gonna take a lot o'work, but tha problem is, we don't know where they are. No destination, fer any of those three things, an' it's kinda 'ard ta go get 'em if we don't know where ta look. So, best question I can think of is: Where are these items located?"

Hades offers what might well be a smile to Lee and turns to the High Priestess and bows, "Do you mind?" She shakes her head, "Go right ahead yer Lordship, My Lady will I am sure understand," She smiles at the way Hades grimaces at that but he turns to the Altar and gestures. A sheet of ice leaps into the air, hanging there and resolving into a picture of an Obsidian Hand-Mirror. "The Mirror of Obsidian lies entombed with Ashe, Last Queen of Rabanastre." The image changes, flickering to show a Key made of dark crystal that roils with glimmers of light and streamers of nebula. "The Starsong Key sits within the Galactic Plain and finally the Torque of Entropy lies with the Catacombs of the King of Kharma."

"...Oh my," Silmeria murmurs, studying the images flickering on the sheet of ice, brow furrowing in concentration as the Esper attempts to commit these items and their locations to memory. "That... will be quite a journey indeed..." Shaking her head to clear her reverie, she looks from the High Priestess to the Spirit, tilting her head slightly. "....My Lord," she says after a moment's silence, "if the Whisperer herself is not the one acting against us.... Who *is this person, exactly?"

Hades turns to regard Silmeria and sighs, "I cannot say except to mention that her minions move abroad in the world right now.... her name is shrouded even unto me and it is she who caused the revelation of Shemhazai's Prison Loci on earth. She escaped the silent abyss between life and death and is now back in life as strong as she ever was with her minions by her side once again."

Silmeria falls silent, digesting this revelation. While the Esper has displayed a good many emotions over the course of this journey, they've always been... muted, somewhat, by her unique perspective as a walker between the worlds. Now, however, she seems to be *truly* troubled, upset by the very existence of such a threat to the order of things. In a small voice, she asks the only question that it can even occur to her to ask. "....*Why?* What is she trying to do, Father?"

He smiles sadly at his daughter and holds out a hand to her, "To rule of course.... that is her goal, she is misguided, a fool, power-hungry but she is shrewd and clever. She was defeated once long, long ago but hold heart and be true my dear. The spirits are working through their proxies to prepare the world to fend her off."

Marduke just stares at the picture a good long time, his thoughts not broken as he ignores most everything else around him for a moment, "The paths we walks intertwine in ways we will never truly understand." Eyes glancing sharply to Ainsley, his voice very firm, "We need these three objects to help you Ainsley, just finding the temple is not enough. The Obsidian Hand mirror it appears I am already it seems looking for as I have started to attempt to track down Queen Ashe's tomb. Though I am hoping to find her Memoirs these as well. Regardless I hope you are willing to take me along there if you find it first." A glance to Silmeria and Hades as he frowns a moment, clearly troubled as well by this. Shaking his head, "Balance is being broken it seems." Sighing as he leans back considering his own question. "I am not sure what to ask truly, perhaps though it is this. What order would you suggest we look for the items and where to start?"

Hades turns and once more gestures at the map and indicates the world, it depicts the land and slowly but surely draws in on the ruins of Rabanastre, "Start here... in the old Royal Palace. Seek the room the Queen grew up in, within you will find the Compass Rose that will permit you to unlock the route to were she slumbers..." He looks over the party, "Take heart, we move together to bring resolution to the worlds crisis and in all things they are intertwined. I must depart now, heed well what you have learnt this day and take care." He turns and steps, the shadows ripple and he is gone... the High Priestess stands up and looks to Ainsley then motions, "Come... let us get you what you seek."

Ainsley rises from her seat, flashing a smile over to the High Priestess. She doesn't really get a chance to thank Hades, but does murmur a soft 'thank you' barely audibly, figuring since he's a spirit, he'd hear it anyways. She approaches the High Priestess, expecting her to guide. "Thank you," she says, again, but more clearly to the Priestess. It is, of course, the one polite thing she can remember to do.

Lee remains seated as Ainsley joins the High Priestess, even kicking back a bit now that the question-asking is done with, arms draped over the back of the pew. He starts to hum a tune to himself as he thinks on everything that's been said so far, the answer to his own question in particular.

She does indeed guide, leading Ainsley to a spot like any other on the floor of the temple. She then steps back and bows. Watching as a wave of light seems to engulf Ainsley, there is a moment of blinding light, prismatic rainbows swirling all about the temple and when it fades a puzzle piece is left in Ainsley's hands. As black as the night and yet dotted with a single star, identical to the piece she found before except that the edges are different. The High Priestess smiles at Ainsley and curtseys, "My lady has released it into your care, good luck Miss Ainsley, there are four more of these to be found. Three I suspect will be found in the resting place of these items you seek as for the fourth.. I cannot say."

Marduke bows his head in thanks to Hades as he gives him his information. A soft sigh as he considers, "I was hoping to visit the ruins again to explore the depths to study the effects of Mists there. It seems we have another reason to go. Though I think I shall leave this as a surprise for that troblesome little ice imp." A touch of a grin, yes he is going to try to be sneaky on the imp this time. A glance to the others, and nods to Ainsley, "Oh shiny." He offers with a chuckle. A bow of his head to the Priestess, "Thank you for your help. This is a most beautiful temple and it has been a pleasure to visit it."

The gesture of comfort readily accepted, Silmeria stands as Hades prepares to make his exit, bowing her head and whispering a word of thanks. Silent, she watches Ainsley as the scholar is led to the specific point in the temple, shading her eyes against the explosion of light but in the main standing firm. When all is done, she presses the back of her hand to one eye, drawing in a quick breath. "Yes, thank you *very* much," she says, bobbing another shallow curtsy. "I'll be sure to return, once this is done."

Ainsley holds the piece of the star map, and flashes a soft smile... She turns it over in her hand, happy to have made some tangible progress. She smiles over at the priestess, and mirrors the curtsey, since it's only polite. And then steps off toward where Lee is. She doesn't really say much after that, since she hasn't anything relevant to say, and then steps off toward Lee to grab his hand again.

Lee watches as Ainsley receives the piece of the star map, not really needing to shield his eyes given the fact that he's wearing dark shades. As Ainsley returns to him and grabs his hand, he pulls her down to sit beside him, smiling under his head-wrap, "So... Where're we all off to next, then? Aisenfield? That'll be a hell of a flight, all th'way out ta central Rozzaria..." He gives the High Priestess a bow of his own head, as well, "Appreciate yer 'ospitality, ma'am; Though, I'll say it's a bit too bright in 'ere fer m'tastes, but that's just me I think."