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| − | The sword first flashed in the dawn's light. Rivers held it before him with effort; the blade was a good deal taller than himself. | + | The sword first flashed in the dawn's light. Rivers held it before him with effort; the blade was taller than himself and fully a hand wide. It was two edged straight sword with a double hand grip. The pommel held a large ruby, easily as an owl's eye, though it was merely providing weight in the hearthstone socket. The gem was the focal point of sunburst relief etching that extended through the lower half of the handguard. A second rising sun was etched just above the crossguard of the blade, but on close inspection the design was formed entirely from carefully etched sutras in old realm. The etchings gave the polished orichalcum of the background behind the sun a matte finish, so small and tightly inscribed they were. They continued for the full lenght of the blade, with only a fingerwidth along the edge of the blade unmarked, tapering to the razor-edge. |
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| − | Seven Thousand Wonders Unfolding twitched with excitement on River's chest. "Try it out! Isn't there a slave nearby? Wait..."
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| − | The copper spider laughed. "I don't have half the strength I'd need to actually wield this blade. This is for a bigger man than myself. And, ah, we don't really have slaves... as I've mentioned to you several times."
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| − | The seven craftsmen looked at the blade in the rising light. No words needed to be said. | |
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| − | Fear's Umbra was the first to shake his head and turn away from the sword. Rivers asked him, "Will you be returning to Nexus?"
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| − | He smiled and took another pull on his pipe. "No, but I will be going inside before the sun rises much higher. I've a mind to see how this fight turns out. From what I hear, your friends have developed quite an army in your absence. I'm wondering how you plan to convince your new allies that they're not being lead by devils."
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| − | "Ah, well, you're welcome to stay at the Plum Blossom Retreat; a little packed there, but I'm sure that we have a guest room or two left in the lodge. I can't wait to return myself; I'm sick of the forge."
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| − | Berren feathered his hair with his fingers. "I'm anxious to see the place. I assume that you have some real friends there, perhaps some girl I haven't heard about yet? Or is it all freaks, deities, and first-age wonders."
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| − | "No girls... no... just my family and a few... well... I don't know what I'd call them really. I guess I don't really have a lot of time to spare for casual relationships." Rivers let the sword droop in his hands.
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| − | "You know, that serving girl at the our tea house asked about you for a while after you left. You remember, what was her name, scrawny thing, really..."
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| − | "Oh, Elyssa... really?"
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| − | "Yeah. She's near here actually, serving her term at the Marukan Redoubt. I mean, take a break once in a while. Even evil anathema sorcerers have flesh."
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| − | "No..." Rivers handed the sword carefully to Root of the East. "I guess Lookshy knows that I'm alive now, and I'm not ready to answer for what happened to [[Eight]] yet... I'm pretty sure [[Darius]] won't be too pleased about my defection either. Besides, Umbra was right, I have a war to fight. Or... ah, help with." He squatted on the flagstones of the manse's entrance. "...but she was nice. I bet she looks great in a breastplate."
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| − | Berren put a hand on his shoulder. "This is pathetic. You're one of the devils the realm has been hunting for a millenia? Gods, they never sent a woman after you, did they?"
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| − | "We're leaving." Spring's Inevitable Betrayal and The Ravages of Time stood before him, the air shimmering with the essence flowing from them as they began their charms of homecoming."
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| − | "Oh... I guess I'll see you later then." Rivers waved at them and bit his lip.
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| − | "Oh we will. Your pathetic weakness must be purged for the task that lies ahead of you. You too will be forged in the planes of agonizing reincarnation."
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| − | "Wait, that doesn't sound good." He stood up and scratched his scalp, frowning.
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| − | "It's not." Ravages of Time shimmered out of material existence before them. "Unless you enjoy soul-shattering pain."
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| − | In the following silence, Serrakeen gripped the exalt's shoulder. "Come," he whispered. "Our people need us."
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