Another canon-divergent development: I did not kill off Eir, because she's too cool to kill off like that; she deserved better even in-game. Can't believe she couldn't fight back even a little. I've been getting further into LW3 and I realize this is going to change Braham's storyline drastically, but I don't see a real problem with that yet. hashtag guild wars 2 nobody dies edition

36: Eir

Rytlock and Braham had finally been let loose to hunt for the prisoners going west, venturing together into the vastness of the jungle. They were both big, and loud, and Itzel scouts were able to easily direct Annhilda and the rest of Hope's Legacy – less Wegaff, who stayed with the army – to follow them. The rest of the army was making final preparations for their march south, for south was the only direction the Dragon could lie in now, and once they started marching, Annhilda had no intention of stopping until they were on the Dragon's doorstep.

But Rytlock and Braham had been absent long enough to either have run into trouble, or found something significant, and Caoilfhionn was relieved to see them unharmed when they caught up the next day.

"What have you found?" Annhilda asked. "I see Mordrem Guard ahead, yes?"

Rytlock nodded "This seems to be a large-scale prisoner containment camp. The Mordrem Guard goes out, collects living and dead bodies, and brings them here. We've been watching them since dawn."

Kasmeer shivered. "Then this is where they grow all the Mordrem we've been fighting? Part prison camp, part minion factory..."

"I think they grow them in those Blighting Trees, so this must be more for pre-processing," Rhyoll said.

"Right," Rytlock said. "There's no easy access, but at least one member of Destiny's Edge is here. I can... feel it."

"Feelings, Tribune?" Annhilda asked with a raised eyebrow. "From a soldier like you?"

Rytlock snarled. "Cut me some slack. I'm still getting used to this new magic, and... how to describe it. Come on. We think there's a back way in. Follow me."

They were both surprisingly quiet as they crept up the cliffside – well, Braham had been a hunter in the Shiverpeaks, at least. Caoilfhionn could hear the Mordrem Guard talking to each other, giving orders, it sounded like. It surprised him. With all the pressure in his head, the whispers and roars, he had thought Mordremoth would micromanage its minions, not delegate tasks... but perhaps it didn't actually care about strategy itself, only that its will be done, nevermind how.

They had to take a long, winding route through the jungle, up cliffs and through caverns, before they came across the outskirts of the camp on the opposite side, where they surprised a group of Mordrem Guard hauling corpses of Pact, Itzel, and Mordrem. Hope's Legacy fell upon them swiftly, trying to prevent them from sounding the alarm. Yet even as they slew the monsters, Caoilfhionn felt a subtle change in the pressure in the back of his head. As the others spread out to check that all the bodies were really dead, he gripped his ring tightly and listened a little more carefully to the call, trying to discern what had changed.

It wasn't actually that difficult, even picking through which parts were his Wyld Hunt twined in with it. Mordremoth was more subtle than Zhaitan, but it was still very loud, and though most of his will was still bent on keeping it out of his head, enough came through to be intelligible.

He looked at Canach, who nodded. "Mordremoth knows we're here, but it doesn't seem concerned," Canach said. "It's interested, but not... urgent."

"Yes, I can feel it too," Caoilfhionn said. "It's hiding something... or it wants us to think that it is." But would it tell the other Mordrem Guard to be on the lookout?

"Stay alert," Annhilda said. "Keep your eyes open and move up to that clearing."

They crouched in the undergrowth, looking out across a camp that bore a resemblance to the one they'd raided on their first night in the jungle, but far bigger and heavily guarded. It was a very good thing they had not come in the 'front gate'.

"This is where they keep the live prisoners," said Rytlock. "Whoever we're looking for is somewhere nearby."

"We'll get you out of here, Mom," Braham said under his breath. "I swear it."

"You're hearing the Dragon?" Damara asked. "Are you going to be okay?"

He nodded. "I'm actually not hearing the Dragon's voice as strongly or as often as usual, but I know it's here... It's up to something."

Canach huffed. "Mordremoth loves surprises... especially when it's surprising Sylvari with the fact that its thoughts seem like our own."

That it sought to take the darkness present in all of us, push it to the surface, and use that to usurp control entirely... "That's what makes it so dangerous to us. And why we have to keep tabs on each other."

Canach looked at him sardonically. "And here I thought you didn't like me."

"I don't," Caoilfhionn said bluntly. "But I've... come to trust you as an ally. I don't want you to lose yourself, and I trust you feel the same about me."

"I suppose you're not wrong," Canach said, with a sigh.

"Everyone ready?" Annhilda said. "Melee in front, ranged behind. Forward!" At her shout, they surged into the open, Annhilda blinking forward in front of all of them, taking the Mordrem Guard entirely by surprise.

Perhaps too much by surprise. If Mordremoth knew they were there, why would it not warn its minions? Unless it wanted to make Hope's Legacy feel like they were doing well before springing a trap about them...

It was getting to him. His mind and will were still strong but it didn't have to control him directly to weaken him.

And yet... though the fighting was heated, they were winning, and there was no sign of any trap. He could not help but be distracted. Canach seemed to be fine. He would not be weaker than Canach...

When the Mordrem Guard in the area were slain, they could go about and open all the vine cages. They were more densely made than the ones he'd seen before, and he could not see within them before he cut them open. He found several Pact soldiers, weak and injured, but very happy to be freed.

"Commander, wait," Canach said, and Caoilfhionn looked up as Canach slashed open a vine cage, releasing a Sylvari inside, but Canach did not lower his whipsword. "This one is Nightmare Court. Shall I kill it?"

"Wait!" cried the Courtier, stumbling away from Canach, holding out her hands peaceably. "I don't want trouble, I just want to get out of here!"

"Prove it," said Annhilda harshly. "Start running and don't stop until you hit Dry Top. Move!" The Courtier fled.

"Weird," Phiadi said. "Wouldn't they want to join Mordremoth? They're both evil, aren't they?"

"Misguided, one could argue," Canach said. "The Nightmare Court, for all they are traitorous, cruel, backstabbing bastards, they are still Sylvari. Still our brethren. Mordremoth..."

"The Nightmare Court may be monstrous, but Mordremoth is a far greater monster, and even they know it," Caoilfhionn said.

"Mordremoth is an abusive dad," Damara said. "Thank goodness your mom got away from him."

"One way to put it," Canach said sardonically.

"Well, that was the last one, and still no sign of our people," Annhilda said. "Rytlock? Are you still feeling that feeling?"

Rytlock grunted. "Affirmative. And it's even stronger here. They're close... just beyond those vine walls." He pointed with his sword.

"What are we waiting for?" Braham cried, running over to the vines. "Tribune, put your new magic to work and clear us a path. Please!"

As Rytlock approached the vines, drawing on that strange pale magic within him, blasting them down with sheer strength, Canach paced slowly. "I can feel the Dragon's presence here. It's palpable, but diffuse. I find it... distracting. Disconcerting."

"I feel it too," Caoilfhionn said. "Mordremoth seems focused on this area... indirectly, like it's staring at us from the corner of its eye." Why were the whispers so quiet? He did not like hearing them, and yet he did not trust not hearing them.

Canach's voice got deeper and grimmer. "The deeper we go into this camp, the more it feels like a spider's web... and we're the flies."

"By Grenth, will the two of you stop being creepy?" Damara cried, followed by agreement from Kasmeer, Marjory, and Rox.

"Sorry," Caoilfhionn stammered. Canach shrugged.

There were a few more vine cages beyond the wall, and one of them shook on hearing their voices, and voices raised from within to catch their attention. "Hey! Over here!"

"Mom!" yelled Braham, running ahead again. "Mom, we're here. We'll bust you out of there in no time."

Eir sighed with relief from inside the cage. "A rescue party... Then Wolf did hear me, in here. They're starving us... no food or water for days."

A sharper voice interrupted her. "That's because Mordremoth doesn't care if we're alive or dead when it plugs us into a Blighting Tree. Release us. Now!"

Caoilfhionn's hand faltered even as he drew his dagger. "Faolain? Why are so many of the Nightmare Court here in the Heart of Maguuma?" Canach moved past him, cutting faster with his longer sword.

Faolain snorted contemptuously. "You know nothing of the Court. We seek freedom, and Mordremoth's yoke is even more onerous than the Pale Tree's."

"Forget her," Eir cried. "Just get me out! The Mordrem already took Logan and Zojja and Trahearne deeper into the jungle and I don't know why."

"But they were alive, right?" Caoilfhionn said, leaning over Canach's shoulder.

"Yes, though Zojja was in bad shape last I saw. Logan was trying to help her, but they weren't making it easy for him. Trahearne was... struggling, I could see."

"He'll fight," Caoilfhionn said fiercely. "He knows I'm coming for him."

"Yes, he said as much before we were separated."

They could catch a glimpse of those in the cage now, and Faolain's bright eyes peered out at them. "Oh, it's the second-class Secondborn. I thought you were in jail, little brother."

Canach grinned toothily at her. "I negotiated my way out. Unlike you, I realized how pointless and destructive my chosen course was, so I changed it."

Faolain smiled back, not at all bothered by the jab. "Ah, but you're still a prisoner. And you will be until you stop trying to prove you're nobler than you actually are."

"Shut up, he's fine," Damara said.

"Pending evaluation," Phiadi cautioned her.

There was a rending groan from the earth, but instead of falling away, the vines clenched tighter, swinging away and striking against another path across a ravine. It burst open along the cuts they'd made, and Eir and Faolain rolled out.

"Are you all right?" Braham called.

"I'm fine," Eir called back, sounding a little shaken regardless. They were both bruised and scraped, though it was more obvious on Eir with her red blood and pale skin.

"We can meet up over there," Rytlock called, pointing westward. Eir waved in acknowledgement and began to jog in that direction, then suddenly froze as a rattling growl rose from the undergrowth. Faolain did not waste time looking around, breaking into a full sprint instantly; Eir followed her. So did Hope's Legacy.

The jungle was alive and hostile around them, leaves rustling and hissing. New thorny vines were bursting out of the ground, flailing at them, and the two ex-prisoners were defenseless! Damara drew her bow, but the range was too far, even for her, and she lowered it to follow the others. Whatever was growling out in the jungle was getting closer...

Faolain tripped and was brought down with a frightened shriek as vines closed about her. Eir seized the vines that bound her and tore them away. "Come on!"

But Faolain laughed, snapping off one of the thorns and stabbing it up into Eir's side, scrambling to her feet and running as Eir reeled in pain. Not for long, for Eir wrenched the thorn free and flung it with a howl, and Faolain fell forward with a hideous gasp. She looked up as something burst from the undergrowth, impaling her and dragging her screaming into the bushes. A few moments later, her screams fell silent.

"Mom!" Braham yelled. "We're almost there! Just hold on!"

Eir stood in the middle of the clearing, panting, holding her side, looking all about her. A huge quadrupedal form, like a dragon-sized hound, crept from the jungle behind her, growling; she turned to face it, her eyes weary but determined. Damara loosed an arrow, but it went wide.

"Get it!" Annhilda yelled. "Kick its ass!"

"She's injured, she's not kicking anything," Rytlock said. "Move it!"

Eir had managed to grab a big stick, and ducked as the huge thing lunged at her; it was blindingly fast, and as Rytlock said, she was slowed by her wound, and weak from her imprisonment. She managed to beat away a snap of its jaws, and then – its tail stabbed forwards, impaling her against a tree with a sickening crunch. Eir made an agonized gasp and fell to the ground as it withdrew its tail.

"No!" Braham screamed, and charged up, just moments too late. "Mom!"

"Kill that thing!" Annhilda ordered. "Caoilfhionn, Rox, see to Eir!"

Caoilfhionn flung himself down by Eir's facedown body, pouring healing power into her with all his strength. Rox was across from him, grabbing bandages, poultices, anything she had in her pack. Caoilfhionn flinched instinctively as the creature stomped about, making the ground shake, but the others had its attention fully now. He prayed that they'd be able to slay it without further injury – or death – and then focused everything on Eir's horrible wound.

The sound of the battle was dreadful. The creature made strange, guttural screams, and it was fast, he could feel from the trembling of the ground. His shoulders were tense, expecting every moment to be stepped on or bitten or impaled, but if he moved, Eir would die. The others were shouting, Marjory, Annhilda, even Taimi, explosions and bowstrings and magic forming a chaotic backdrop to the mounting noise in his own head.

Water took that noise and made it calm, with the paradox of a waterfall, never still yet never moving. Behind the chaos was peace, and he bent to let out that peace into Eir, to draw together torn flesh, to slow draining lifeblood, to hold her soul from slipping away. She was so fragile under his touch, and he sank deeper into his trance, pouring his energy into her.

Behind him, the monster let out another warbling screech and crashed heavily; a few moments more of frantic action, and then all he could hear was hard breathing – and some groaning of pain. But he did not sense death, and he was glad of it.

"Mom! Mom!" Braham rushed over, abandoning his mace and shield to kneel beside her. "Is she alive? Is she okay?"

"She's still breathing," Rox said. "She's hardy, you know. You can help me bind up these wounds, though Caoilfhionn's been doing his level best to stem the bleeding."

At that moment, Caoilfhionn fell back, breathing hard himself. "I can do no more for now. I have spent my strength."

"I'll help," Marjory said, leaning down beside him.

"Mom!" Braham called again, and Eir grunted softly – so softly they almost missed it. "It's me, Braham! You're safe now, so just hold on."

"B-Braham," Eir mumbled, opening her eyes and trying to lift her head. Rox had turned her head enough to breathe, but she still lay on her front. She gathered her strength and began to push herself up – and they all saw her face change. "Braham."

"I'm here, Mom. What is it?"

"I... I can't." Eir swallowed hard, her eyes wide. "I can't feel my legs."

An icy chill ran through Caoilfhionn. No magic could help with an injury that dire. At least, that was what his studies on healing at the Priory had told him.

"Are you sure?" Rytlock said, leaning down and poking her tattooed thigh. "Nothing?"

If Eir hadn't been panicking, Caoilfhionn thought she might have swatted her guildmate. "Help... I... I don't..."

"It's okay, Mom," Braham said. "I'll help you. I'm right here."

"Help me lift her so we can start bandaging," Rox said. "Spinal injury or no, we have to get pressure on these wounds right away."

"Yes... you're right," Eir said, and exerted herself with Braham's aid to make it to a sitting position, with grunts and gasps of pain.

"You took out Faolain," Rytlock said. "Good job. She died screaming like the coward she was."

Rox swooped in with her poultices and bandages. "You don't have to stand and stare," she said to the others. "I'm not sure how we're getting back to camp yet, but I'll let you figure that out."

"Rhyoll, ideas?" Annhilda said, and they turned away to let Rox work in peace. "Whether or not she recovers use of her legs, she's absolutely not walking back today."

"I can rig a harness stretcher, no problem," Rhyoll said. "You and Braham would probably be best to carry her, so I'll need to make it yea wide..." He started rummaging around for fallen wood, muttering calculations under his breath.

"What about Garm?" Kasmeer asked. "Is he around somewhere?"

"We'll keep an eye out for him," Rytlock said. "He'll come back when he's ready."

Annhilda let out a long breath and smiled at them. "Well done, everyone. We did good today."

"Just today?" Phiadi asked coyly.

"We've got a long way to go," Marjory said. "But yes, we did good today."

Damara patted Caoilfhionn's shoulder. "We'll save the others too. Be sure of it."

He managed, for the first time in weeks, a little smile. "I am sure of it. Thank you."