p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="77e6a201387826b43be0735b5a6b9fda"Ed felt the chains strain against his wrists and cursed himself for a moment for talking so big to the Yuan-Ti acolytes that they felt the need to chain him in the very room they beat him in. Now as he heard all the action going outside the room, he wished he were free to help and know exactly where they stood against all the cultists./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="83988dc52ee4dc8c42da4b8a299e6767"Seeing the way Olly's face had twisted up at his departure made him feel guilty, but he knew what he did was right. He had to get the focus off of Olly and Nole, hopefully the Dawnstar would be enough tempting power that they would make the stupid mistake of trying to use it first before sacrificing the two Aasimar's./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="efcd753b0d64b5465f1daa39c561d8aa"As Ed heard something very hard slam against the door of his room, he could hear a voice call out in a very disappointed manner./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5ed634491df4d4e070c9e1bc1bb9340b""Come on Oll, I wanted to toss him" Ed could hear the young man's voice nearly through the door./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="99daf5a9295b364a49732b91b5d697c4"With the sound of a grunt and a shove, the creaky wooden door opened to reveal the two angels Ed was trying to get the cultists away from./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="404790c733e1af641c60782174848c7e""How's it going handsome?" Olly joked with a exhausted smile at her friend./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="4ee73c03510811066470a7f9e0e37097""I think I would be doing better without the chains" Ed smirked back and rattled his hands comically./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9d005287b7730bc14efa42acb65d090e""Nole, help Ed with those while I gather some things" Olly said as the young man with electric blue hair came forward. Ed admired his Scourge mask, the giant gaping holes where eyes were supposed to be as the mask's mouth twisted in a silent scream, but as he lifted it to get a better look at the chains, he could see just how young Olly's brother was. Now that Ed could get a closer look at the young man, he resembled his sister in everything except gender. His face, round and full of freckles sported the same glowing white eyes and exceptional smile as his hands gripped the cuffs of the chains./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="330f02975ac2c6d0040b5804f83b9dcc""So you are the Cleric?" Nole asked as Ed watched the metal melt like water in the Aasimar's hands./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="becdd463f10c4c0a50479ff02c542983""That's right" Ed said "And you must be Nole. Olly's talked a lot about you."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="02a189549eb86f73157b30a5e21af816""Are you two done with the pleasantries?" Olly said as she strung a few poisoned arrows into her quiver "Because we are still in a temple full of people that want to kill us."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="4faff876516247c824dca97b34fb5e34""Like they have a chance now that we are all together" Nole joked./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="cee59eea01796b25044a84197cdcdc6c"Ed went over to where he had watched Zihu put the Dawnstar back before being knocked into the ground, but as he opened the chest, there was nothing but a few cobwebs./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="d74a66bcc7ecf1db062ec6b3012e6c12""Uh oh" Ed said out loud as the siblings turned to him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a04423c3b80e0dd1d664e5e693e2934e""What now?" Nole asked as Ed turned to his companions./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f5f1fafb7a0f62e0aa1a29d626d7dea6""We have to find the Dawnstar. I thought that they had stored it in here, but must have taken it out while I was being thrashed around" Ed said closing the chest with a loud thud./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3b3e8fe639a037e7ed868c96dcd41df0""Who do you think has it? Hitotee? Or the priests?" Olly said growing concerned with the look in Ed's eyes. She knew the reliquary was important, but didn't know how it could be actually used./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="155b74545e2882e23f9e90f2aafd0e02""The priests were talking about making me into one of them so I could use it. I bet the priests have taken it to get a closer look. Although if they touch it, Valor will burn them to crisp" Ed said./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="1d00819efc969c2fcd09389a1dd0100c""Nole" Olly said getting an idea "Concentrate and see if you can feel out the acolytes. If I try and do it, I might not have enough energy for the fight later."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="7ddb3493b178b0c39eda4585a351c543""I've never really tried that before except with you" Nole said shifting his lanky figure./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="21ea2d06a37017edaa46155bbb0ac005""It's easy" Olly said coming up to him, her petite frame small against the young lad who was a near head taller than her, but rested her hands on his shoulders as if she were ten feet tall "Just close your eyes, breathe. Look within and concentrate on what you want to find with your divine sense."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9e5e746a1b36944945deb7b51c5db61d"Nole did as she instructed without hesitation. Ed watched the young man's face twist and relax into concentration, admiring how Olly instructed him. He speculated that someone had spoke to her the same way when she was younger, the training coming into play as Nole suddenly spoke in a soft but firm voice./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="daa4b4c4e7997d75b628432aa7d60419""They are outside the door" he said before a slam made the door speed across the room, the dust nearly coating the air as Olly whipped around, bow drawn and already shooting at the door frame./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="4c4975d498a6b43b94b44ae5095b07c4"Ed didn't have time to grab his shield, he only unsheathed his sword and ducked in front of Olly, knocking two poisoned arrows away from her, the tips hitting the ground with a hiss and a pop./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8551fa2d6f205180d4daa9b433d2f5c4""Take cover!" he yelled, slicing the crack of a whip away, the rope falling to the floor as Olly placed herself in front of Nole, who she could feel behind her start to radiate with energy, his mask pressed firm against his face./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="2348e61290202299df1d225986c59598""Nole don't over do it!" Olly grimaced as two Yuan-Ti guards tackled Ed to the ground, the Cleric holding them off as she spotted the two priests Olteh and Zihu watching from the doorway. The room started to fill with...what was it? It wasn't sand, the color too red and too light...was it dust maybe?/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a97da944c6c13c6f2f80c8f3c3010b68"Olly coughed out as she pressed herself and Nole closer to the corner of the room, her senses getting plagued by something she couldn't describe. Her vision started to blur as Ed's body fighting the priests became hazy in the room. Olly could feel her heart start to race as panic tried to set itself in her skin./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="11d5b2325083e28e45d21340428ea5da""I can get them all" Nole said from behind his mask, the white light ready to spill from the crevices./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="1b1e68ed489247e41862c575aa5d18b2""And then exhaust yourself. Save your energy and let us handle this" Olly shouted against the red dust, unable to control the temper in her voice. She bit back the thought that she sounded too much like their father, or better, Atticus himself./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="12c78361881b98c4d42f1748de8727b1""You don't always have to order me around, I can handle this" Nole said obviously frustrated as he pushed past her defiantly, tired of having his "big sister" defend him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="aae220e8cbe9b88daa60911b57bcfe12""Nole don't be rash-" but she was stopped by a sudden grip on her throat, a horrible, sandy feeling making the air tight as she began choking. She could hear Ed grunt and hit the wall beside her, his body falling next to hers as Nole cried out before hitting the opposite wall hard enough to bounce against the ground in front of Olly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="0675f32b4b36a66e51e308b4a5a7be93""em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Awful /emisn't it" a sweet voice hissed from the doorway as the Abomination's mate, Nessalli stepped in the room "That trapped feeling? The way youem style="box-sizing: border-box;" just /emwant to speak but can't?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5295331c3641250f6a5f31e2efa71f02"Olly felt the black ribbon around her throat tighten even more, the spellbond nearly making the air impossible to pass to her lungs. She looked up with her teeth bared at the female Yuan-Ti, her hair long and shiny, perfectly oiled against the green scales that covered her body. But it was her eyes that made Olly question just what exactly she was, those slit snake eyes that didn't glow green or yellow like all the rest of the cultists, no they were em style="box-sizing: border-box;"blood red/em. Crimson glowing eyes that stared down at her with such distaste, such sweet hatred that Olly felt it start to seep into her bones as she watched the woman step over Nole as she continued to speak./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5bcb053f3e78d77435f9eccdfe4618cf""I must commend you, I never thought that someone would walk in on this wonderful world I've cultivated down here. See I find myself somewhat of a em style="box-sizing: border-box;"gardener/em, although not with plants. I couldn't keep anything alive for that long" she said with a horrible smile, the ends twisting too far up her face to even be remotely human "No, I'm a gardener of power. Pure power, of strength, of wit, of pure violence. A Yuan-Ti is only as powerful as it's brood, and I've nourished and fed Hitotee to near perfection. All he needs is a little push of real divine power, and then I'll have the most powerful pet at my disposal."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a1321f125f7e5593824254ab4cd9aab5"Nessalli was now standing right in front of Olly and Ed, Olly struggling against the dust that had infected her lungs and body, making her so rigid she thought she might be turning to stone. Olly didn't break eye contact though with the female, she wouldn't do it if she were moments from death, not giving the female pureblood any kind of satisfaction, but her vision was now almost black as she started to see a red halo around Nesalli's head, the crimson blood filling her eyes./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="c85b0468157b14e61fe7a59615dfe11f""The moon is high" Nesalli whispered a hair's breath away from Olly's face "Time to die."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a6136024b23182a6ccfe1c2e7047da25"Then, her mind went dark./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="b9ff83b38000f27e548374c257914034"~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="82873f46bbf8cf2ef0bab139e68acd73"Ed's eyes popped open as his cheek rested on hard cold stone. Whipping his head up the only thing that stopped his body from jumping up were the chains once again keeping him pinned. He was in the middle of a spell circle, the iron pins trapping him at four points in a square surrounded by a ring of symbols and designs, the circle perfectly drawn on the platform below the altar at the top of the pyramid./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a6c0789ab266fb466130c1451806ff18""Now little em style="box-sizing: border-box;"acolyte/em" Olteh said from behind him, Zihu popping up on the opposite side "You get to be the witness to the Great Awakening, and then join us till your last breath."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="20cda3721e5766915ee60a75601b6c99"Drumming started up now, a low rhythm that matched Ed's heartbeat, the thumps growing as the level of danger hit him hard, growing chanting rising from acolytes hidden in the shadows of the pyramid and around the crater that housed the monolith./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="aca4011ca707d60014b6897c72d77b85""Look upon your new god Cleric" Zihu hissed "For He is about to be reborn."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="50eacd22d9f99ad465db86d09ac79adb"There at the altar, was the creature Hitotee, his red scaled body massive as he slithered and "stood" up to the golden table, his scaled hands spread as his golden slit eyes bore down at the human below./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="21b8f1cd2c0c90e887204606bf6d24ae""Olteh" Hitotee commanded, his voiced deep and husky "Zihu. Begin the ritual."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="bf9c29439611c4e0d1e2179423e71631"Ed could see the female Nesalli now come up beside her mate, those red eyes and wide smile in pure delight as she mimicked the Abomination's movements, his body slithering beside the altar as she matched him on the opposite side./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="90fdc462119cbed6e1c6280b0e460dc8"The priests began chanting a hymn, the words too twisted and low for Ed to understand, but as they walked towards the steps that led up to the altar where the Abomination and his mate waited, their tone grew higher, more aggressive as the tempo picked up. Ed watched them come before him, the Dawnstar wrapped in cloth in Olteh's hands as they placed it just outside of the spell circle in front of him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="4f9657b52a66af226824838d8796a808"Olteh and Zihu began chanting faster the words, their hands and arms crossing and twisting into different symbols and signs. The cultists below and around mimicked them, the entire hollowed cavern echoing the words as the air around them grew red and thick. In a bright flash, Ed watched horrified as Olly and Nole appeared on the altar, Olly in front of Hitotee, and Nole in front of Nesalli, both Yuan-Ti overjoyed at their sacrifices in front of them. Ed could see the Aasimars bodies rigid and still as statues, no doubt under Nesalli's magic that had captured them in the temple./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="30b18223bd04a7f01db9e22c396df03a"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""I have to do something!"/em Ed thought as he looked around wildly. His eyes targeted the Dawnstar that lay untouched as the priests continued their movements, now so unaware of what the Cleric was doing, their focus solely on performing the ritual perfectly for their master./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="1dec4c41df4da1d8a50cc3bae9cba4a3"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""If I can get to Valor"/em Ed thought em style="box-sizing: border-box;""I could split the altar in two, no matter what, the ritual can't be complete."/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ce5bcd14654966fa06781bfa2b0592c1""Do you see Cleric!" Olteh proclaimed as two daggers appeared from thin air into Hitotee and Nesalli's hands, the cavern now shaking as the roof of the cavern began twisting in a spiral, hunks of rock and limestone falling down towards the temple below "See what Dendar has promised us! The red moon shines red, the rebirth of our god Dendar shall cross the land and all will fall to the great Red Fang!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="873e17859f2e502772de38e66a7b1c79"Suddenly, the cavern roof opened up with a great roar, revealing the dark night sky with no stars visible, only the crimson red moon that rose over the City of the Dead and the Yuan-Ti temple itself. Ed felt the cold night air wash into the open cavern, the magic so strong in the air from the mini-plane shifting to the Material one, a portal between the two words just ready to fall apart./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5cc6c4987192e2e754e9bcf24d366e5b"Hitotee raised his dagger up to the moon, a chant of his own escaping his snake head as Nesalli watched from beside him with eager, hungry eyes./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="51250eaa425b21507ad21aafd39d8de1"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Concentrate"/em Ed thought as his feelings raced watching the dagger grow close to Olly, her eyes glazed over having no clue how close to death she was em style="box-sizing: border-box;""You have something. You have your own divine power. /emspan style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Pray Cleric."/em/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="47f2932b780252cf9afc5f462fd0948c"Ed got down on one knee, his hands clasped tightly together as he prayed to Pelor from the darkness, his soul finding the light hidden in the shadows of all this evil./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="560e907d1bdef0e012b0b03bfee7fc94"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""I am merciful, as the Sun of Mercy shines on me"/em Ed began out loud em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Oh Mighty Father, hear me. Grant me your light so that I may smite these that stand in the way of your path. Give me your hand my Lord of Light, and I will lay down those that stand in the shadows..."/em he said as his mind concentrated on all that held Pelor's light. He felt the warmth in his chest, like hot stew on a cold day. Ed couldn't help smiling his mind thinking of the sun on his face, the warmth against his skin as he breathed deep and smelt the summer air, the fields he used to run in as a boy, the wheat going against his palms making them sting and remind him he was alive, the way Olly's hair moved in the twilight as she turned to him with those eyes.../p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="92d5b6fb02d3f1fb671fddf8716ff46e"Suddenly, his eyes opened to his gauntlets, the two suns glowing bright with yellow light, like fire in the fields of night. Ed could feel Pelor's magic radiating inside of him, and he said another silent prayer for his plan to work before lifting his fist in the air, and slamming it down into the stone, sparks of light bouncing in the air./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="fa0dc413cfd2c5f2589b678b6f03910d""I!...MADE!...YOU!..A!...PROMISE!" Ed yelled with each punch to the ground, the yellow sparks flying like fireworks against the spell circle, each hit like a crack in the glass of magic that surrounded him. It was Olteh that noticed what the Cleric was doing first, his snake head turning with awe and anger./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="c600bfb51e2034026996c6b71430c6bb""Zihu! The Cleric! Stop him!" Olteh ordered as he raced off to grab a poison dart./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="bc97c8a56a9d8d4cd6b0abe1ccc4c939"The brick of a body that was Zihu raised his thick snake arms as he chanted deep before thrashing them downwards, a burst of green light erupting as it made it's way right for Ed on the platform./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="1e4f25f3bc8f6c3e58e1f01b4232480e"Ed didn't stop his pacing with his fists, his faith in Pelor a golden shield around his body as Zihu's spell blast bounced off the golden light emitting from Ed's body./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="847961a40e9bfba9639cf3e7ed53e3e1"Knuckles now bloody hit the stained stone with bursts of red, orange, and yellow, like the flames of the sun itself as Ed thought of all that he was fighting for, his cries to the dark sky above a fight against the shadows itself. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="06defaf0c9233ea17738cae29d651ca1" With both his fists he balled them up above his head, his gauntlets now glowing white hot, Ed cried out for the final time as his fists collided with the stone, breaking it clean in half as the green spell circle dissipated around him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="4eb578e55786d215fb80006cd5cb6df4"Without another thought, Ed's bloody hands rose up against the chains, the steel snapping like twigs with the Cleric's momentum. He reached forward, his fingers wrapping around the staff of the Dawnstar, his body suddenly healed of the battles he had fought and the bloody harm he had done to himself. It felt like a jolt of fire running through his veins as he stood up with a familiar voice in his head./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="1e6a99570483db466f7380a2c925290c"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""It's about time"/em Valor said in his head, the head of the Dawnstar lighting up like the sun itself em style="box-sizing: border-box;""The angel needs our help, fast Cleric."/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="03ed51c9c93ff820e81c48a65bc234b9"Ed smiled as he faced the altar and raised the Morningstar relic above his head./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="fb0c46a5c4ba5789a885cb617a330866"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Say the words"/span/em Valor spoke./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="de4b9b7d3fb1db06e5d6ce7e1da8422c"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""I"/span Ed breathed span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Am the Sun."/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="7905097cbb49b63b8f3951f23b8d7f24"And with the final word Ed slammed the Dawnstar into the stone, the material itself suddenly covered in white as a blade of sunlight ripped through the stone steps up to the altar, splitting the golden table in half as its pieces were obliterated in a radiating burst of power./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9061fa848f6822630b0fffd9fe3a2ce7"As the altar broke from above, Olly felt a haze suddenly lift from her head, her eyes focusing as the light dimmed and she realized Hitotee had a dagger raised right above her head. In a second she pieced together what was happening and had to act fast before the ritual could be complete./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="6905ae2a7630a523184c8cfa530a0e46""Nole! Ram them!" Olly screamed as she hurled her body forward, her arms going up for the dagger in Hitottee's hand, her grip strong as she used her feet to climb up the Abomination's huge frame. She balanced herself against his chest with her feet, her grip still on the dagger as Hitottee hissed and spit in her face, but gravity was on her side as she kicked her feet away from his chest, her grip on the dagger pulling it away from Hitottee as she spun in the air./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="02440a82ca95178ca9e729cbbba024d8"Seeing his weapon taken from him Hitottee backed away with caution in his golden slit eyes. Olly darted to the left and then switched suddenly right before the tip of the dagger found it's way right at the base of Hitotee's head, the blade sliding through the scaly flesh. Olly watched the creature's eyes widen with shock that a deadly blow had landed, Hitotee's final breath hissing out as his giant body slumped to the ground in front of the young Ranger./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="d341e3a3bc5ac52a5822df7d980a0c0f"Nesalli watched her mate fall dead to the stone ground next to the altar, her curved body shaking in such fury Nole watched shocked in front of the female. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f876d9ad481a868f82ba368092a7786b""You've ruined span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"EVERYTHING/span!" Nessalli screeched as she tried to slam her dagger into Nole's chest, his lithe figure dashing just out of the way before the dagger slammed into the stone in front of the female./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="46f9cf5606e86f0313358bb956775374"Recovering, Nole ran forward toward Nessalli, but the female was quick as she swiped her arm at him, her power knocking him off to the side like he was nothing but an insect. Not even Yuan-Ti had that kind of telekinetic power, no this was something infernal the Duer's were dealing with.../p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="dd8aa39495033617bbc44d0972a4c7fa"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""I knew she wasn't just a snake!" /emOlly thought to herself as she palmed the dagger quickly, her feet quick as she ran forward towards the infernal female before she got to her brother./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="628dbeebd7fffa062a88863879612268""You wretched thing!" Nessalli screamed as her hand waved towards Olly, an invisible claw swiping into Olly before she reached the female Yuan-Ti imposter./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="e5dd7d3ef6731cd5c3513e216c313d2c"Below on the platform, Ed breathed deeply trying to recover from wielding the Dawnstar's power, his head resting against his hands that held the staff, his whole body relying on the weapon to bear his weight. He shuddered hearing Nessalli screaming at Olly, the echoes high against the cavern's walls as the red moon above began to move from the pinpoint in the sky./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="06fe8d9c700075e042b30d3389619177""They are losing time" Ed breathed out "We just have to hold out a little longer..."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="c95918d96c7720ccd7b68b5589d96a34"Another scream broke out as he saw Olly fly away and hit the cavern wall, her small frame bouncing to the platform in front of him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="c3f3fa0abfb1c732ac1f9ec1f07b8d83""Olly!" Ed grunted as he tried to go for her, but found his legs collapsing under him. He was just so weak, his body hurt with every breath.../p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="c3a379d161a5fa49d9c10b24381ec5e7""Everything was going so well!" Nessalli's voice hissed from above, except it was different, deeper somehow and more sultry. Ed looked up to see that the female Yuan-Ti no longer presented green scaled skin, but deep crimson red, with flakes of hot flames in her eyes as her bottom form warmed into a huge snake body. Her deep black hair trailed down as two wings with torn skin emerged from her backside, long white fangs pointed and deadly as they smiled down at the cleric and the angel./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="0c28aa94f35d35013d75f981e511a273"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""You'll pay for ruining our plans" /emshe hissed as those fangs seemed to get even bigger, her hands growing long black claws em style="box-sizing: border-box;""You'll pay for ever stepping foot in my domain!"/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="bd95cbf324b8e051fa363b1c8e7dcb82"Nessalli lunged forward as Ed went to duck over Olly's body with what little strength he had, but found her figure absent. Quick as lighting jumping up, dagger in hand Olly blocked the infernal female's attack. The dagger wedged sharply in the monster's mouth, Olly using all her might to keep it from getting to her. Red hot poison dripped down on Olly's face as she grunted and screamed, using her feet to keep the female beast's figure from crushing her completely. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; position: relative;" data-p-id="aaea7a1ae5d71eb03864a35f0033ad3e" data-media-type="image" data-image-layout="one-horizontal" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a17074f353147968088e036d518ba85f""Olly!" she heard her brother scream from above, the young Aasimar jumping down and crashing on top of Nessalli with enough force to topple her to the bottom of the pyramid temple. The infernal creature let out a frustrated screech as she wriggled to get upright after falling down the five stone stories of the temple./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3a4b8ddc186f9d06ad8c39b858e41e13"The acolytes and cultists below, seeing their leader killed and his mate turn into a infernal creature made them scatter like roaches, their screams echoing out against the rocky walls as they darted for any kind of escape./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a842c350c05d94f5496240b6d9417fec"Olly took a few deep breaths to steady herself as Nole jumped in front of her, his hand extended out to her with wide burning eyes "Hurry Olly! She's not going down for long!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="d61348a1fa7335a1ba069f9990a84f44""Let's take care of her" Olly grunted as she got up, her eyes starting to burn bright as she nodded at her brother, the divine power now in full force as Olly channeled all her energy into the moment "No holding back anymore."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="c47b7d84463b93aba2e04f78e7c63571""Fine by me" Nole said as his eyes and mouth started burning with energy, his hand going for his mask as he dawned it and stared down at the infernal creature powering up herself with the red dust. A whirlwind of red started to surround the imposter Nesalli as she hissed up at them./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="13eaef37fe48a1f789e24ad0083b2585"Olly walked up to Ed who was struggling to stand, her frame now glowing white with colors cascading around like comets in the night sky./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f9d622f688d90a184c26587f74f67878"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Ed"/span/em he heard an ethereal but familiar voice say above him, his jade green eyes moving upwards to see his angel in full glory span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""I'm going to need your help..." /em/spanshe said ever so gently. Her gray blue hair was whipping around, her eyes like sparks in the firelight as her smile warmed him more than a bright summer day. Rosy cheeks grinned as her hand lifted him, golden pink light filling him to the brim as he stood up with ease at her touch./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="51cd19c425010cbc3a3d94d7c12f9be7"Ed followed her guidance, his body now easily standing up as he quickly joined the Duer children on the platform, the crimson female demon below looking up at them like a terrible red snake about to strike, her white fangs dripping with red poison that hissed against the air. Nole moved to the front, his body kneeling down as he concentrated his energy to pour out at the right moment. Olly stood behind Ed, her arms wrapping around his chest in such a way that only lovers would understand, his body warming and healing against her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="0edd9775405956348bb8d7860c966ba5"It didn't matter in this moment what had happened in the past with this angel, all that mattered to the Cleric was the moment he was in. She was his in this second, as his hands found hers that clasped against his chest so gently. He gave her his strength, his faith, his heart.../p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="fc7c5ab6335b2359d5f8a802da7cf3d2"Then it felt like the air around them lightened, the red dust that was whirling around not even touching the aura that had formed around them. Olly reached up where her lips grazed Ed's ear so that it sent a wonderful shiver down Ed's spine./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="221e8111b04e18e8234481be73ca3d67"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Now"/em she saidem style="box-sizing: border-box;" "Move out of the way."/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="80403c77899ff889d1aa7f03156acb39"Ed smiled and ducked his body gracefully to the side as Olly stepped forward, a celestial bow of crystal light manifesting in her hands as they glided up and down, a fiery arrow knocked and ready to go as she stepped behind Nole. Ed watched the celestial raw power of the two, their figures bathed in radiant light that should have made Ed's eyes hurt, but instead he couldn't look away from the magic. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="2f2d75dbfb57a136a16b11e4bb96b014"em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Ready?" /emOlly sent her thoughts to her brother, an echo from his mind answering back./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f47f297a0fd177e5633b7189040f195c" em style="box-sizing: border-box;""Always."/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="16f91626d15374da9c3a8cc7f8e73bf9"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;""Hunter's Mark!"/span Olly cried out as she released the arrow, Nole removing his mask at her command as a flood of white light poured out from his eyes and mouth, drowning everything in it's wake as it raced down the steps towards Nessalli./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3b706af8dfff0879333fec57c74943d0"The arrow whizzed through the air and struck Nessalli in the head, a firework display of color exploding and hurting the infernal creature's sight, the flood of white knocking her over and burning her in the radiating celestial water. Olly and Nole held that bond for the few seconds that they could, that feeling of heavenly power between one another that they had shared since birth. They were the Divine Duer's, and their power was something to behold as Ed kneeled down as their witness. He could feel the energy, the way it sparked his skin and made his heart race. The air itself seemed to hum and vibrate with their power, Olly's body glowing with such radiance it looked as if she had wings sprouting from her shoulders in colors of pink, yellow and blue./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="e7dedb459b64a00253b7810e0292df21"He watched as the flood and fire entrapped the female demon snake below, her body writhing as it tried to fight off the divine power. Pieces began to wither and burn away, Nessalli's last screams of defiance finally settling as red dust wafted through the air and out into the night sky above where the moon was finally starting to set./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5d2f994f5904e237737ca8235e5e8b2a"The light that had been glowing off of the Duer children finally started to recede, the two nearly collapsing on one another as Ed raced forward to catch Olly just in time, her body limp and shivering in his arms./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="622d29e2c913ef79a2f92ed84cf93b29""You did it Olly" he breathed out, his palm starting to glow as he channeled what little power he head in his hand "You kept your promise Olly, it's over now" he whispered as his palm touched her cheek, the yellow light soaking into her dirty skin as it glowed hot and disappeared. He could feel her body start to stiffen with the healing energy and then two white eyes met his jade green ones, her smile just as it was the day they met. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="18dab20a6434f972aaac86c1e0deedbc""Hey there angel" Ed smiled down at her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="1d4b70f58568d9ad32c4070a59655899""I need a nap..."Nole groaned beside them, his body rolling over and grunting as he tried to catch his breath. Olly sighed, thankful that they had made it, her brother alive and intact./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="cd3a0a66ce330996803987ac408488d0""I told you I didn't need healing" Olly joked as she sat up with a grunt, her bones aching and promising pain that would last for a couple weeks./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="0ee37b43d704f8e1ed19e7b8b86877d0""My mistake" Ed breathed out as he settled against some temple rubble, his own body exhausted as his power was completely gone until he rest./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="886774bf91c5df3a20ff31b04c654af9" Olly bent over him as he rested, his gaze meeting hers as she hovered above his face with half lidded eyes. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="e95e962d5a94a0844994244ad40fc39b""Ed" Olly said smiling down at him "Thank you."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="4002fbf87c786e35742bb537e3590c81""For what?" Ed said with a cocky grin, wanting to joke now that the danger had passed./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="21589a95e612d5523ce1c4a0f8b99b06""For keeping your promise, for following me in the forest that night, you've been more help to me than most people have my entire life...thank you for everything" she said coming close to him. Ed felt his heart start to race as her face grew close to his, her eyes snaring him in some magic he couldn't place. He wanted to reach up, to meet her as his eyes followed her lead when suddenly a rumble below them shook them out of their moment as the earth below started to crack and give way./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="47ecd42a6e944356cde2919d2641f1ed""The mini-plane is collapsing! The magic holding it is giving out" Ed said staring upwards as the cavern ceiling started to retreat, the night sky now starting to slowly go away as they saw their fate of being buried alive come into view. Rocks began to tumble towards the cavern floor once again, the whole area rumbling as the magic began to collapse. The hole that opened up to the Material Plane seemed to be the only escape, the exits down below still flooded with fleeing cultist's screaming to their god for help./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="65803701aff13a2f54cb44ad89930be9"Ed turned to Olly who was feeling the same idea, her eyes meeting his as he spoke the words she wouldn't./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3e983d73f82d245fcd4a8103bb4de900""You have to fly us out of here" Ed said firmly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3a4cf155d38864ee6af453c008e56633""Ed I can't do that" Olly said hearing the real fear in her voice "I've tried and tried again! If I do this and then I can't hold all of us we all die! I can't take that risk, not when we've come so close..."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="c021492cfa206430ae18ba685f8d2a7a""You can do this" Ed said grabbing her face in between his hands "You have so much faith in me, isn't it time that I return the favor? Believe in yourself Olly, like I always do..."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="de1a8e010a304f33866eb8dc2f008d3c"Olly felt the power exchange between them just then, the warm light shifting between the two of an unspoken feeling. Olly could feel Ed's heart, could feel his soul as his hands touched her skin, the warmth he held for her, the kindness and respect.../p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a92fa370c94b8b8447b6aa07b94ed38d"Suddenly the temple cracked from beneath them, the structure starting to topple over as Ed and Olly grabbed for one another. The altar level was now desperately close to crumbling into the darkness below as the young Duer gave a shout with another rumble. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a92431587bf6ffae6fd220052baf023a""There's no time for this!" Nole screamed "We need to get out now! There must be someone waiting for us up there right?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="631ba6ccebb55590f93d43195bb44e27""Someone" Olly breathed out when she remembered she had eyes in the sky all along.../p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="97e4cc41f7d43d4c146568f58df004e8"Olly suddenly put her hand to her mouth, a deep breath filling her lungs until a loud bird call trilled out against the cavern walls. It was only a chance, hoping that her call would reach the air above. Olly nearly held her breath after calling out, the rumble of rocks falling around her as the walls themselves were twisting and shifting, getting smaller and smaller around the pyramid temple. Ed held her close to him, Nole coming up beside the two as Olly grabbed ahold of his tunic with such child like fear it scared Ed himself to know his companion was rattled to her core./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="77e10e74fc3a0ed277e59eb231a74ab0"Then, like a miracle, a matching distress call sounded out, a figure flying high above the cavern came swooping down to them. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="590edafd8963cd7d9ac7904f88148b90""Quila!" Nole called out as he held out his arms to the Aarakocra Ranger. Quila smiled down at them, her small figure circling with opening with wide brown wings as she determined the best way to get them out. Swooping down like a sparrow, Quila went for the youngest Duer first who was waving his hands at her like a mad man. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5b45260391d99d674eb262424bde438a"Quila grabbed hold of Nole, her arms strong as she grasped to the Aasimar's arms,her wings batting against the dust of the cavern as the hint of dawn started growing in the sky. Up they went out of the opening to the Material Plane, out of the darkness they had been hidden in for hours./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="cf5d3a333f8ddaae3be868e5c619e034""We did it" Olly gasped as she saw her brother ascend to safety. Her whole chest seemed light in that moment, watching Nole wave at them from the top. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5f3f61d9ef530cffe644d6e7a33ef59d"Ed was about to answer her when suddenly the structure of the temple finally gave away, the stone crumbling below them as Ed and Olly began falling down into the dark abyss of the cavern./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="1d68b2525ba3f9bec9cda1a864343c33""ED!" Olly screamed, her hands reaching out as she felt something suddenly alight within her. It was like a flutter at first in her chest, then a tingle in her shoulders and her arms before hitting her legs and feet, her whole body now alive and humming as she fell towards the Cleric./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; position: relative;" data-p-id="8bb3d818a97ec42e98cc43227f2adc5d" data-media-type="image" data-image-layout="one-horizontal" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9182df45f58ebab705523fa982772bda"Sailing down into the darkness, Olly held out her hands to Ed's falling figure, her fingers grasping at his arms as she pulled him closer to her, her arms wrapping tightly around him, her only thoughts of saving him and keeping him close to her.../p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="804c0a083be2d9d434051ac6242a52d7""I promised to protect you, Ed" Olly thought "I won't let you fall into the dark without me..."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="208838943261145fb0be9b05db38aeed"She felt the burst of energy nearly shatter out of her, a halo of light surrounding her vision as she found her arms around Ed, her face buried in his chest./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9bbc24aee4e66def3870d01db0ed9a63""Olly" Ed whispered as his hands found her face, cupping her cheeks so gently while raising eyes to his own, giving her once again that warm sunlight smile "You're flying."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; position: relative;" data-p-id="c034021588c336530ed6dca01e7ddab0" data-media-type="image" data-image-layout="one-horizontal" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="d809d1b2e413fef99c90a05f34fc5573""I am?" Olly smiled as she looked down, the darkness below them fading from view as celestial wings fluttered up and down in pink, yellow and blue blurs, the stars now fading from view as dawn's light lit up the cavern./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8db5dd4c98b8116fa00a1d9f89e1d787"Olly didn't know what to make of this feeling as she held Ed tightly to her, feeling the raw celestial energy coursing through her. But it didn't feel like fire, or pain, it felt like rolling around in soft linen, like a breeze through her hair, like the soft touch of lips to her own.../p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="e880ad9d0ec82ad4894bc914f05674ea"Land found her feet before Olly realized they were safe, the cavern now fully burying itself into the ground of the City of the Dead, the rumbles like earthquakes below them, except Olly didn't fear, for she was out of the dark, and Nole was safe, and the Cleric was still beside her.../p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="508b64d5e3bd1ac10173d7f169ea97ac""You did it" Ed said beside Olly as they watched the earth swallow itself and then disappear as if the portal to the Yuan-Ti temple never existed, the graveyard the same as it was when they entered the darkness./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="692e3aa8a7293a92d71e259f25bdb06f" "You saved us" Ed said looking into Olly's eyes with a bright smile./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a4e42bc37940f927a8934a03880519a7""No" Olly smiled grabbing him tightly in an embrace as she tackled him to the grass, her body warm on top of his as Ed soaked in the embrace "You saved me."/p
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