@Wata @Avenging-Angel @Jorimel Yareli withdrew her blade and drew a handkerchief to cleanse the blade before sheathing it once more. She was not going to serve as this 'Winterhearts' reliever of his pain. "Your purpose is the same as each of ours here. We retrieve the legendary blade like Faolchu has before us. And with it, we will bring an edge to the Eldar once more in the combat against Orks, Mon'keigh, Tyranids and everyone else who dares to stand in our way. We will work together using every aspect of our skills." Yareli placed a hand on the shoulder of the Dire Avenger, looking him into the eyes without fear, but a radiant fire of determination - like her choker. "No matter how mundane or simple a skill or talent may seem to you - it will be required for us to be the victor in this quest. Take myself for example. I am no fully fledged warrior, if anything I just had the opportunity to prove how much I still have left to learn with the blade. Yet, my orator skills help to bond, not to fight. Just like I have proven to you in this very instance. I have earned your respect and in return, as the speaker of this group, I expect you to also respect them, for we all are in the same vessel. It is only a matter of time until the storm comes, and when it does - all hands are required on deck. You might not be able to see merit, but take the young Exodite as a prime example of what you may have lost." She smiled warmly at the Dire Avenger. "He may seem like a child to a seasoned warrior, innocent, naive. But what I see is a true child of Isha. One who bears her love and has plenty to give. To take wonder in all he sees and document it from his own perspective to share it with the rest of us. If a test of kindness will come, it is he whom we shall turn to. Just like in a trial of prowess, we shall turn to you, child of Asurmen, grandchild of Asur. All of us will perform their part, and together we shall become an orchestra worthy of this quest. No single instrument can achieve the depth and variety required. Or to make it a better fitting metaphor... Each of us is a feather of Faolchu's kiln, only if we all move together, the wind will carry us." Her eyes rested on Alo's, expecting his reply to be more positive towards the rest of the group. @ItsTime Yareli made a mental note about the emphasis of the color purple. While it could have definitely been akin to a shrine of Mymeara, it quite was not. Ulthwe as an additional shade to their blacks perhaps? She was too focused on Winterheart, the Avenger, to properly think about it now.
@Uriel1339 @Avenging-Angel @Jorimel Alo did not feel her warmth. He felt denial. Tired of this for now he only stared into her eyes. "...It wasn't the humans the Exarch was furious about..." Alo said in a low voice, mainly to Astarielle. He walked past Astarielle and Yariel shoving them forcefully out of his way. He let his throat wound bleed, focusing on the pain. Some of the blood got on his cape, coloring it starkly in red against its snow white fabric. Taking a place distant from the others he sat down alone. He wanted to hear music, to play notes to comfort himself with but he lacked the instrument to do so. Seething in his thoughts, he forced himself to keep still and quiet.
@Wata @Avenging-Angel @Jorimel "It was the way you slaughtered them." Yareli added to his started statement. "Believe what you want from us, think what you like. But I have seen skilled warriors fall to Khaine's eternal call for war. It is your choice, it always is whether you want to turn away from it or give into it. Exarchs may be lost, but they are necessary as teachers, just as the Phoenix Lords were. For they are the pillars and the guides on the Path of the Warrior. If you need to talk, do not give us the cold shoulder, instead know that even in the heart of this ice princess, there is warmth to be given." She continued, talking towards him, striding behind him, not allowing to simply let him disappear like that. Too often she has seen individuals like that and even though the forceful shove was to really push her away, physically and mentally, she wouldn't have it. Not in a time of this importance.
@Uriel1339 Alo felt an urge to slap her. He bit on his lip to quell that thought. "Not now. Not. Now." His jaw clenching, he tried to go through mental calming routines Salianna taught her.
Yareli closed in on him, put a hand on his shoulder to stop him and then faced him. "So you are telling me, you can treat people like dirt, finally decide to open up and then just run away?" She shakes her head. "You need to face the consequences of your decisions - and overcome them. I will leave you alone so you can meditate and calm your spirit, under one condition." The Noblewoman points in the direction of Talis and Faenkon. "Apologize, nobody did deserve your harsh treatment because of your past. We all carry our own burdens, but to freely unload yours in the form of rudeness and anger is something I will not allow. Not if you really came here to help us, to work with us. I could tell you all of my own problems if it would aid to solve yours. Or do you find it not awkward at all for a fair lady such as myself to live and serve amongst corsairs? There is a time and place for everything, and I want you to know that I am more than willing to listen and talk to you. As long as you treat everyone with the respect they deserve, the same you deserve. Because I know the shadow of war haunts you, but you must always remember that it haunts all of us - one way or another. So all I ask of you, Winterheart, is to apologize to those you have hurt without a good reason. Please." Where her voice earlier was stern and hard as an ice diamond, it now softened. The ice between them had broken and she knew that Alo wanted to get away for at least one, perhaps two reasons. Fear of falling into a war trance from the overwhelming memories, bleeding through the war-mask. Or perhaps not wanting to appear vulnerable in front of the others. In the end, neither were a good reason to not apologize to Talis, or anyone else he might have hurt. The signs of the Exarch were strong, but they did not manifest just yet. That egotistic behaviour, to see kindness as weakness, to tread without a reason of bloodshed feeling wrong. Alas, Yareli would not see the birth of a shrine master under her watch.
Moving with Alo's push, absorbing the force and transforming it into momentum, Astarielle turned away from him and Yareli as the pair continued their 'discussion'. His comment to her had caught her attention though, he'd probably nearly lost himself then, and she shuddered at the thought of having an exarch wandering among them, at the same time considering how close she'd been to losing control. Returning to the makeshift camp growing around the fire and the shuttle entrance Astarielle tried to relax (again). She'd left Biel-tan to escape the rut her life had fallen into but maybe she couldn't actually thrive outside the great craftworld. How did some of the others manage it?
Alo ran a hand over his face and sighed deeply. "You are insufferable." He looked past her and removed her hand from his shoulder. "I promise to apologize. Now, please just...just go..." Alo had visibly calmed down now.
Yareli offered a warm smile and stepped aside. "I appreciate it. Know that none of us means you harm, we are together like I stated before and while we may seem unfit, you soon will realize that fate has called us together for a reason. I suggest once you feel a bit better, to share a word with Astarielle, in private. It seems there is resonance of similar emotions between the two of you." The Noblewoman inclined her head and bowed slightly, remaining on her spot and seeing if anyone was going to approach her or not. She did not feel to get into the middle of the group right now and return like the former banshee. But instead perhaps have a bit quiet time, or offer council to someone else - if one was to seek it, that is.
Avrielle had been concentrating on the cooking meat. It gave her focus. She watched it carefully, turning it to make sure that every part was evenly cooked. She tested it, comparing the tenderness of the meat and the give it retained to the softness of her cheek, her nose ... it looked and felt a little strange, but she didn't want to keep cutting it open to make sure it was done. Being so fresh, the rock-serpent steaks shrank a fair bit on the fire, but then they were already large cuts. Faenkon must be hungry. She guessed that a Ranger usually had an outdoor appetite. The scent was appetizing, despite the tension she felt and the tightness in her stomach. Avrielle scattered some of the herbs onto the cooking food and glanced back at the lakeside. She felt watched. But she knew it was probably just the two newcomers. She stared at the confrontation in open alarm. Alo fairly spitted himself on Yareli's blade, and the little radiotech's hands flew to her mouth in alarm. She forced herself to remain where she was, by the fire: Yareli was a diplomat. She knew her work. This was her field and she needed to be allowed to act without interference. To her relief, it seemed to work. Or at least, the tension in the camp eased a little. She did not feel calm, but her racing heartbeat had slowed. Avrielle took a sip of the tea with a slight shake in her hands, feeling the soothing warmth like a blessing of Isha. Exarchs ... surely it would not come to that. Lysandriax watched the scenario unfold. Her levity vanished, but she did not move to Intervene. Instead, she took careful note of people's actions. She said nothing. Regarding Alo, her head tilted for a moment, she turned instead and went to choose a large boulder from the lake. Rolling it end over end - it was too heavy to lift easily - she settled it close to the fire and sat down. "Some of that tea would be good," she said, encouraging Avrielle with a small smile. The girl needed to do something that wasn't worry about others right now, and tea was always an answer. "And if the bird-meat's ready I would be happy to sample it for you." "It is," Avrielle passed her some tea and one of the portions of wildfowl Talis had so neatly set out. "You don't like it, do you?" she asked, softly. "Do not like what?" Avrielle looked up. "The arguing. I am sorry for it. Tense times. One in which your presence is more needed than you might think, maiden." She bit into the wildfowl. Mmm, good. "I just ... I am a communications specialist," Avrielle said, looking down. "Vox-gem, ship to shore, even radio. Electromagnetics were useful to us under the Shadow in the Warp." "There are more ways," Lysandriax said. She tilted Avrielle's face up to the light once more. "You communicate from the heart. Never forget that. So many of us either forget how, or strive to do so."
@Jorimel Talis' face had gone white from the confrontation, blaming himself for everything and hoping that he wouldn't be the cause of any deaths. And it seemed that he wasn't - at least not yet. The young one gulped, closed his eyes and then walked forwards. He was still tense, his face worried, but he was at least slightly more centered when he sat by the fire. Quietly he poked the first batch and then tasted the juices. "This batch is ready to come off, Avrielle." he said softly to the maiden, trying at least a bit to interact, glancing at the other as he reached into the pack he had left and pulled out a similar mat to lay the steaks on. He hoped at the very least doing something he enjoyed would help him. "They might feel a little under, but cuts this size cook themselves a little more off the heat - they'll end up perfect."
