Tezz's Death

"[THREAD TITLE]" is a [SEASON NUMBER] thread started on [IRL DATE] and finished on [IRL DATE].
==Summary==
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==Full Text==
“I’m tired of sitting around doing nothing!” Maralen glared at Narsette. “Action is the only way Central is going to see us.” 
“Violence will solve nothing, in fact it will only push them to further dehumanize us.” Narsette responded bitterly. The five figures huddled around the fire, it was the first meeting any of them had had in four years. The last meeting was out of necessity, Central had begun attacking half-breed cities in the South out of hatred to push them to extinction. “I wish Clover could have made it, I wouldn’t mind seeing Melira or William again.” 
Tezzeret looked away from the dwindling flames at Jareth. “Unfortunately sickness has hit her, I have some old friends watching over her so I could make it here at least.”
“Mmm, it is unfortunate, we will her a speedy recovery.” Jareth bowed his head as he spoke. 
“Indeed, but we didn’t exactly gather this close to Central to have a chit-chat and catch up, did we brother?” The half-ox shrank as Tezzeret’s voice flickered with annoyance. The war had aged him tremendously, his face hardened and scarred. “Narsette is right, violence will get us nowhere, but the people of Central need to see the true faces of who their government so willingly slaughters.” 
The four others nodded in agreement. Maralen cocked her head, “What did you have in mind, puddle-stomper?” 
Tezzeret gave a flicker of a smile, “I know it is harder for you, my friends, to agree to this. But I say we go to Central, directly. I can make the guards forget their duty, so we can get directly to the citizens. We speak out, we tell them what their ‘benevolent’ government has been doing to your people.”
“You would be correct in saying it is more difficult for us, Tezzeret.” Kali finally spoke up from her seat. “But it seems to be our last dwindling option, and as the only mind mage on the side of the half-breeds, we would be foolish to attempt to disagree with you.”
“I would never use my magics on any person maliciously.” Tezz’s voice echoed with indignation.
“I know, but the fact remains. Maybe we can win over the hearts of enough people in Central to make our cause worthwhile.”
“Are we in agreement then?”
The four others nodded their heads, and began discussing more in depth their plans for the coming weeks.
***
“Doesn’t your wife need you at home?” Tezzeret implanted fake memories into the mind of the last guard barring their way into the main city. His eyes widened as he dropped his spear and ran into the interior of his home. “Well, the easy part is over...” The party hid their weapons again before proceeding into the city. “The base of the tower is straight down the main road, I got the gist of the city from the last guards memory. The ceremony honoring Kezia starts in about 20 minutes, we’d best hurry.” They hurried their pace, weaving through the crowd. The sight of four half breeds in Central drew a lot of attention, but it was just what they needed. 
“...our Grand Illuminar, Kezia!” 
The crowd cheered as a pale woman in green robes stepped onto the center podium. She raised her hand to silence the audience gathered before her. “It is with great...” She trailed off as she saw Maralen pushing her way through the crowd, “...Maralen?”
The half-fox made it to the base of the podium. “And what is the butcher being rewarded for today?” 
The guards and mages surrounding the Illuminar began to bear down on the group as the crowd inched away from what was clearly going to be an aggressive conflict. “I’ve got you covered, just keep talking to her...” Tezz muttered to Maralen as he put his ring and middle finger to his temple. The honor guard relaxed their stances, the sparks of electricity arcing from the mages died down as Tezz dulled their senses. 
“B...Butcher?”
“Yes, butcher. Do you not tell your citizens of the crimes you commit against my people?” Kezia’s eyes narrowed. “Or do you still use the same old lies, that we left of our own will? That your troops are helping us establish our own society in the South? I know of the ignorance you breed here.” 
The crowd murmured to themselves as they listened in. This was the first half-breed most of them had seen in over a decade. 
“You... you run away from my service... you abandon me when I send you to watch over Darien... and now you return ten years later with words of poison? After all I did for you?” 
“You only did it out of fear and pity. I wish I hadn’t saved you that night.” Kezia stepped down from the podium and approached Maralen. 
“Maralen... my old friend, I really thought you had been lost in the Relocation...” Kezia’s hand crept up the small of her back as she stepped towards Maralen. 
“Relocation? Is that what you’re calling the raids? The murder of my people was relocation? To what, the afterlife?”
“Your tongue is as sharp as ever, pet...” Kezia stopped and caressed Maralen’s cheek. Tezzeret cracked his eyes open, Kezia’s mind was a black hole amid the crowd. She was protected, he couldn’t read her. That’s when he saw the blade. 
Not enough time...
He dropped his hand, grabbed Maralen and spun her away from Kezia. It didn’t sting at first, it just felt warm. Tezz coughed rust into his hand. 
Maralen let out a yell of anger and took her blade out from her robes and charged at the illuminar. But it was for naught, the mages had regained their senses.
***
“‘Maybe it was enough.’ Those were the last words I heard that fox woman say... Do you think she was telling the truth?” 
“I don’t know, I guess the only way to know for certain is to go South and see the Relocation for ourselves?”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right...”
***
Clover sat atop the roof of her house, a crumpled letter clenched in one fist. She knew, she felt it in her heart, that her husband wasn’t coming back, but to have it confirmed in writing… The numbness that carried her through the day shatters, and Clover wraps her arms around herself, curling forward and sobbing into her knees.
Unbidden, memories of the last time she sat up here, stargazing with Tezz, come rushing into her head, and she can only sob harder. “You idiot,” she whispered, hoping that somehow, Tezz could hear her. She’d never get the chance to say it to his face, and… if she could only speak it to the air, that would be enough. It had to be enough.
“You always had to play the hero, didn’t you?” she said. “Couldn’t leave anyone behind. And–” her voice cracked. “I know you meant to come back, but now you’ve left me behind, you’ve left Melira and William behind. I don’t know what we’re going to do without you.” Sniffing, Clover said, “You were the best thing that ever happened to me. And now I’m lost.”
Category:EU
Category:Events
Category:Tezzeret Verdile
Category:Maralen
Category:Narsette
Category:Jareth
Category:Kezia Maithres
Category:Clover Rose