M15 p2 - Main Path Epilogue

Mission 15 - Main Path Epilogue
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 Meanwhile... His Future, Her Past
M15 - Main Path	
 Meanwhile... Kindred Spirits
Mission 15 - Part 3: Prologue	
After a grueling journey across the hidden path, while assaulted by a slew of ghosts and pelted by the harsh winds and grating sands, finally their destination lay ahead.
As the last statue lit, a strange sound was heard as a beam, as from a shooting star, darted out in a jagged line across the sandy path, ricocheting from statue to statue. In its wake, the barriers around the statues converged and the path was blown completely clear of the sand that covered it and the few ghosts still lingering around. A strange psychic glow in a multitude of colors shifted around the path, perhaps to further stabilize the ground for a heavier load, like a funeral procession to pass along. 
However, the attention of one Tyranitar was solely on what is revealed before them as this all happened behind him. A tiered sandstone structure, protruding halfway out of the mountain it was carved directly into, loomed ahead. Truly the most grandiose of the royal tombs- one that should have been the final resting place of the one who had taken everything from him throughout his life, again and again.
Steps rose in front of him, making a path skyward towards the tomb’s face. Two columns were built into the mountain, eroded with time and sand, flanking the entrance to the tomb and holding up the entire structure. The entrance was closed, as it should be, sealed shut with runes carved around the edge - but a sense of doom hung in the air regardless, and the towering structure dwarfed everything around it, casting lengthy shadows that threatened to drag anyone foolish enough to approach into the abyss.
His Krokorok companion, who had made swift work evacuating the path as soon as it had started glowing - just because he was immune to Psychic nonsense didn't mean he trusted any of their shenanigans - came to a stop close to him. Husani spared the rebel leader a glance, then looked around at everyone as they gathered around at the bottom of the hill… then back to the Tyranitar, and back at everyone, before giving a long sigh as he slid back down the hill.
: Alright, listen up! Here's the deal. Good job on-
He gestured towards the path stretching behind the group.
: All of that. 
: That said, where's Paki?
: (humming quietly)
: Good, nice rolling. Come here before someone steps on you.
The Krokorok bent down to pick up the Rellor and plopped him on his shoulder before clapping his claws together.
: Since we'll be waiting for the people still on the path to catch up, as well as the group still in the hideout and… a couple other headaches, you should probably get some rest, it might be a while. 
: Oh, and once everyone from the path shows up, do a tally to see if anyone is missing or injured or something. 
: Scratch that, missing here means-
: The serpent swallows all with gnashing, biting teeth before eating the sun!
: Sure, let's go with that, we might end up seeing them pop up on the other side, so let's hope everyone is accounted for. 
: Anyway, just deal with the injuries and-
: I can do the proper rites if-
: Let's try not to write off more people preemptively, there's enough ghosts as is.
: While you do all that, make sure you tell your pals to return those cloaks to me and do so yourselves too.
: Got an interested party waiting on these, coins are practically burnin' a hole through their purse. Don't care if you've gotten attached, you freeloaders- This ain't a charity.
: I got a reputation to maintain, after all.
: That's enough debrief I'd say. Now I'm gonna go look if ol' Ptolemy feels privy to sharing his plan of attack.
Without leaving any time for someone to stop him or ask questions, Husani skedaddled back up the hill at a brisk pace, coming to stand next to Ptolemy close to the foot of the steps leading to the tomb's entrance.
: While I admire your restraint in not just rushing in, it would have been nice of you to take care of that lot and not leave it to me.
: Wise words spoken by the ilk of Sobek, but heed the valley’s-
: And with that, you've lost my shoulder-riding privilege.
Husani took the small bug in his claw and gently tossed him at Ptolemy's back, where the Rellor dug into the folds of his clothing and started to nap.
: … I do not know how he can manage that, but I’m not complaining about it.
The Krokorok walked forward and elbowed the Tyranitar, ignoring the larger ‘mon’s glower.
: So, not to doubt your whole rebel-leader-thing you got going on or anything, but did you actually have a plan beyond getting to this point?
: Frankly, I’m surprised we did make it here- the lot we brought doesn’t exactly look like prime fighting material.
Husani glanced over his shoulder back down the hill towards the Aetherians where they were currently standing around looking lost alongside the King’s Eyes rebels that had come with them. Whirling around, he flung his arm out and clapped it against Ptolemy’s back, once again not acknowledging the Tyranitar’s scowl.
: Of course, you can hope that the Aetherian warriors find their way here- assuming they had a plan for that, since not counting that serpent king, I assume at least some of them had the smarts to figure out I was not actually bringing them to the library. If Hager lives, he might get them to the hideout at least. 
: I suppose you could also hope Sa’Perah Ah brings some of her warriors as well-
: No, wait, I take that back, we probably don’t want that in case she tries to throw us in jail after. The less people to outrun or place me here, the better- can’t let this affect my reputation, you understand.
Husani waited a few minutes for a response that never came before tilting forwards to get a better look at the rebel leader’s face, as annoyance took over his features at being ignored.
: Look here, as much as your march here was “empowered” by your absolute hatred of this guy- and no judgment there, he is the actual worst- rushing in to grapple with him by yourself is not a great idea and you can’t stare him to death like you are attempting now.
: So if I could get a little of your attention so I can stop rambling on to myself like my old nan?
The Tyranitar finally looked at him with barely-controlled rage, and Husani scoffed.
: I’m not any more the enemy as that building is, so spare your scary face for the actual foe, will you?
: I know! 
: … But it’s not easy to be this close to the one who ruined every good thing I ever had, who hurt so many and continues to do so, and do absolutely nothing but stand around, as if I was afraid of him while I’ve never given him that satisfaction.
: Uhuh, I was there for the bigger part of it, remember? Me and my ilk helped you out of a pinch plenty of times, so you can trust me when I tell you it’s a bad idea.
: I know that, Husani! 
: I wouldn’t endanger everyone just to satisfy my own desire for revenge. It’s just hard to keep control of my emotions, that is all.
: Hmm, well if Jendayi is successful, that’ll give you a distraction for certain emotions with a certain Pharaoh- as long as she doesn’t kill you…
: I hope Jendayi is better at calming people down than you are.
Ptolemy swallowed, looking back up at the tomb again, emotions playing heavily over his face, finally resulting in a pained expression that spoke loudly of his conflicting feelings towards Sa’Perah Ah’s possible return to his life.
: If we can work together to save Khetmaat… then that's all that matters, even if we never see each other again afterwards.
At the vaguely-wistful tone in Ptolemy’s voice, Husani practically flung himself away from the taller ‘mon, as if the emotions burned him, shaking his head irately.
: Geeeez! I think I preferred the anger to this.
: You're the one who brought it up.
: One of my many regrets, like allowing you to guilt me into this unpaid job.
: … Say, you think Sa'Perah Ah would mind terribly if I took some of our dear pal's gold? You know, as a humble commission? 
Ptolemy gave him a look, and Husani shrugged while facing him with a cheeky grin.
: What?! It's not like he’ll have use for it after you two are done with him, never had a right to it anyway. 
: You are irredeemable. 
: Yeh, yeh.
The Krokorok waved him away before coming to a decision, looking smug as he walked past him and pointed down the hill.
: Well, if you could pause your crisis for a little bit and vent some of that emotion of yours, I could use some help setting up some hovels or something for those poor suckers back there. Not everyone has their personal shelter like Paki over there, and I really don't want to ask Mert ekert.
: We shouldn't desecrate the site-
: Really?
: I'm pretty sure it's been desecrated to a point of no return; a couple of protruding rocks are not the issue there. 
: Hmmf.
The Tyranitar scoffed but turned away from the tomb completely and followed the Krokorok down the slope.
: That's the spirit!
: Or well. Whatever.
Previous	Next	Next
 Meanwhile... His Future, Her Past
M15 - Main Path	
 Meanwhile... Kindred Spirits
Mission 15 - Part 3: Prologue	
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Category:Missions
Category:Arc 2
Category:Khetmaat
Category:Branching Objective