As the Gate opened between the Ancense Mountains and Sularia it was quite a sight… two locations stood together for a moment as the group from Ancense stepped through behind their Guild Leader. Kythe had gathered all of her people to her and even those Au-Ra who had not yet signed the roster at Nossë had offered their aid once they had heard what they were going to do. Kythe had situated Serci upon her War Horse Corvix so that he could safely carry Wisteria in his arms and not worry too much about his waning strength; leading the stallion Kythe brought her people through the Gate, waiting until Valandil had flown through to hover above them. Closing the Gate Kythe gave Serci a small smile as they made their way to the Red Court where he believed Angela would be. 

What Kythe planned to do was risky but it was all she could think of to help Angela - the Goddess had essentially saved her from a slow and painful death thanks to Father, Angela had completely nullified her wound from the God of her former homeworld and removed the curse that came with it - saving her and her unborn sons. Knowing that the Goddess was clinging to life… well she just could not stand by and allow that to go unanswered not when she knew she carried a solution. She might not be able to heal Angela entirely - the Goddess was linked to the entire world, healing Angela essentially meant healing Revaliir and Kythe would have to draw on far more reserves to save the entire world as well, reserves that neither she nor her people had to offer in that way, but she could at least give her enough strength to stop the death of the plant life and kick start Angela's own healing process a little quicker. 

"I've come to lend aid to Lady Angela; I have also brought with me her Champion and her newborn daughter. I must see the Goddess immediately, and I suggest word is sent out to the rest of the Conclave to attend her bedside immediately… I may have a solution that can help." She said as a guard came to meet them. Kythe helped Serci from Covix' back, keeping him stable since he still had hold of Wisteria/ "Sooner we get to Angela the sooner I can help. Lead the way."

Shiloh was basically jumping between Antikythera and Sularia, her attention spread out from keeping up with her automatons' influx of information while maniacally checking on the elder goddess' status. Continued days of being awake nonstop was eating away at her strained rationality and her facade of normalcy was basically gone. Not being a healer, Shiloh was grasping at straws in finding ways to speed up Angela's recovery. At the end of her addled brainstorming, she came to the conclusion that she should go take every restorative tonic and elixir in existence and dump them all together into a cauldron. "Give me your potions–all of them." She said to every healer affiliated with the Machinarium. Collecting bottles and flasks of all colors into a large box, she set it down next to a large empty metal urn the size of a barrel. Without any hesitation she grabbed a bottle from the pile, uncorked it, and started pouring. Mana potions, rejuvenation potions, major restoration potions, major mana potions, panaceas, antidotes, and the contents of Nerine's artisan's flask were all combined into a nauseating rainbow concoction. And as if the sheer volume of liquid wasn't enough, the deity added a fey elixir in for good measure. 

Having 'borrowed' her staff's supply of brooches gifted by Angela during less tumultuous times, she proceeded to take two and carefully placed them on her eyes. If overloading every healing item in the world into a super-potion wasn't mad, there were bottles of starlight and Lucina's lanterns all over the floor in a haphazard circle surrounding the recuperating goddess. Suddenly stopping, Shiloh stared into the distance speaking to nobody in particular. "…I shouldn't be worrying about an overdose right?" She threw a glance at the cauldron. After a few seconds of thought, she decided it should be fine–after all Angela was a deity and deities couldn't die unless the Voice allowed them to. And giving her a stronger version of a healing potion should synergize with her own domain of life anyway. By the time the guests were coming in, Shiloh was attempting to feed the liquid alchemical disaster to the bedridden goddess while trying to explain why this was a completely sound decision to the Mother's concerned clergy.

Like any logical sane group of people, Angela's clergy were trying to restrain Shiloh with neither side being successful. To an outsider it appeared as if they were trying to hold back a lunatic, as Shiloh had already abandoned attempts toward self-care since Dalanesca's stabbing. Even if the iridescent tonic was successful upon ingestion, the taste would probably be absolutely horrific.

Kiba was on the brink of complete exhaustion. There were none that were on the inside of the situation that could bring themselves to allow for proper rest. He watched as each other them worked desperately to heal Angela the best way that they knew. What was terrifying was that it was the gods that were at a loss for how to fix the situation. The diowolf was losing more hope as time went on, but he dared not leave the city where Angela was being kept. He was sitting outside the room that Shiloh was desperately working on Angela to bring her health again. Kiba had heard Angela’s clergy trying to hold back the goddess from overdoing it; he was sure he would try as well this time but his energy was just too low.

He sat on the floor with arms draped over his knees while staring at the floor. Thoughts ran through his head of what would happen to his family if Angela were to die. Would there be time for the Voice to select another deity to take her place in order for the world to continue? Or would everything fall as it had on his home world? The diowolf blinked slowly a few times as if that would make the image would disappear.

Glancing up allowed his Reztreal to catch a glimpse of the gate to be opened further away. That power transferred to a familiar one that made him give a light tired smile. Having his surrogate mother around helped him feel not as hopeless as he had been lately. Pushing against the wall behind him, Kiba stood up to make his way towards where the small group came in. He rubbed the back of his neck while standing at the top of the stairs to the Red Court building. ”This way,” he called over to Kythe with his voice slightly scratchy from exhaustion. Kiba managed to smile at Kythe before looking at the small group she had in tow.

”Are we doing alright? Just so you know Angela is inside, and our lady Shiloh is about to use a ridiculous amount of healing items and portions…and such. I really don’t know what she has planned. I haven’t been able to keep up with everything going on lately.” The Champion swallowed hard as he thought about what his own patron was doing lately. He had not called upon Kiba yet from where he was stationed currently. Kiba again felt conflicted of where he was supposed to be. ”What do you need from me?”

"Oh for Voice's sake, Shiloh," Drae said taking the myriad of potions from Shiloh and magicked them and the mess away from the bed. "She is healing fine on her own!" he said, looking a bit overwhelmed with the sudden amount of people who had decided to flock in to make sure that Angela was all right. The Keeper looked just as pale and tired as Angela did, and was being extremely protective. "If you keep this up, you'll drown not only her but all of us here. Let her magic do the work!" he urged simply. "Desist right now or I'll put YOU to sleep. You are absolutely manic and are neglecting yourself!"

Drae took Shiloh firmly by the shoulders and pushed her into a chair so that she would at least give Angela a bit of space to breath. "We do appreciate what you are trying to do, honestly. But Angela is out of danger now. Calm the fuck down."

He stepped away from Shiloh and ran a hand through his very mussed black locks. Compared to what they were before the conclave gathering, his eyes were a dull stormy grey, almost as though he was mortal again, though obviously not so. He waved off the myriad of clergy that had been trying to hold off Shiloh and they hustled out. His ears perked at the sound of others approaching and he visibly rolled his eyes. Kiba, Kythe… and Serci! Drae actually walked over to the double doors of the room as they closed behind the clergy and threw them open to welcome in the newcomers. One of them was carrying something very precious. The Keeper, rather impatient, pushed past the two champions to face the blond man who served his wife. 

"Is… is she all right?" he asked, almost frightened of what he would hear, his arms extended for the bundle that Serci carried. 

[OOC: Gmod granted from Britt for use of Basse!]

Lokir held Basse close as they stood in Sularia keeping watch over things in case the possessed Reaper came back to try and finish Angela off. Or try and attack anyone else in the city. Basse was worried about her mother, obviously, and Lokir was doing what he could to comfort and reassure her. Things were bad, he wouldn’t sugar coat it, but he did believe that they would find a way to heal Angela and find and stop the Reaper before she could ruin the world.

As they stayed close Lokir heard his name being called and turned to see someone following. The messenger asked that he attend to Angela’s beside, someone had shown up with a possible solution. Lokir looked to Basse and kissed her. ”Come on, let’s see what’s going on.”

A bit later Lokir walked into the room with everyone else. He looked to Shiloh, Kythe, Serci and Drae, and saw the new baby that Serci was holding. Lokir smiled to the baby and then to look everyone else. ”What’s the plan here? What is this possible solution I heard of?” He asked.

Serci tried to call out to Shiloh. In Angela’s condition, Shiloh’s wonder tonic would only cause her to drown. Serci could already feel his throat close up from the thought of it as he looked upon the multi colored potion. Fourtently, Angela’s clergy were doing the best they could before Adreajen stepped in and quelled the nervous deity. His eyes met Serci’s with a look of anticipation and worry as he barged over everyone to get to him. “She’s beautiful, Adreajen.” He said, giving his best to smile in his condition. “But she is quite for a babe. She hasn’t made a sound since she was given to me.” He said urgently, holding the child up to his chest. He looked into the eyes of Wisteria and said a final good bye to the child before outstretching his arms so he trade her off to her father. “But she is fine considering the circumstances. She needs her mother.”

Taking a look around the room, he acknowledged the other deities, all of them he considered friends. It eased his worries knowing they were alright and unharmed by Dalanesca, who’s presence was certainly missed, at least for him. With Wisteria returned to her parents, what seemed to be an impossible task, it was time for him to begin his next mission, another impossible feat. He staggered over to where Angela rest and collapsed by her bedside, taking her hand in his own feminine hands. “I hate to be selfish right now, my lady. But I need you to get better so I may heal as well.” He said softly, looking around the room to the other deities and friends of Angela. “Wisteria has returned to you, and you are in good hands. But there is someone that needs my help right now, and I need my strength to bring her back.”

With as much strength as he could muster, Serci hoisted him self off of Angela’s bedside and called out to the company. “Listen well, friends. This is Kythe, and she has a plan to help Angela. She has earned my trust, so I hope with that, you can trust her too. Listen to what she has to say.”

Kythe was aware that the situation was dire – they all were, you could see the physical affects of Angela’s condition on Revaliir and several of the Guild were severely unwell due to their link to the world itself. As she heard Kiba’s voice call out to her Kythe smiled, motioning for the group to follow behind at a respectable distance – the last thing Angela needed was for her chambers to be filled with the whole of the Nossë even if they were there to help revive the Goddess of Life. As she reached her son’s side she reached out to place a hand on his forearm, giving it a reassuring squeeze as she leant over to kiss him on his cheek. Just as Kiba took comfort from having her around so too did Kythe find comfort in being around her son.

“We’re fine love; meet the Nossë.” She chuckled softly, motioning to the group behind her. ”The Au-Ra live in the mountains where I found the ruins I told you about; after some negotiation the majority of them have joined the Guild, the rest live close by however when they heard the Voice and my proposed solution to help they volunteered to come along also, I’m hoping it might help in bringing the last of their tribe into our fold.” She said softly, linking her arm to Kiba’s before glancing over her shoulder to Serci who was being watched over by Mordekai and L’lya. ”All I need from you right now is to be here… and to agree to what I have planned, and before you argue with me this is the best and quickest way to revive Angela and restore Revaliir to a point of stability, so if you dislike the plan… well I’d rather you agreed regardless as this is about the greater good and not individuals.” She added firmly, her gaze fixed upon his so that he could see she meant what she said.

Kythe raised an eyebrow as a man she did not know barged through the doors to meet them; pushing passed herself and Kiba to make a beeline for Serci. She had never met the man who was Angela’s husband but she could guess given he spoke about Wisteria. Her attention was drawn to Lokir however and she smiled at her son’s patron, bowing her head to him though she did not answer his immediately – her eyes upon Serci as he moved to Angela’s bed side. She smiled as he gave her a glowing review and moved to stand before them all.
”Lokir you asked what the potential solution to our current problem is. Well, I am.” She replied, looking the Deity in the eye with a small smile before her gaze flickered to her son. ”My kind call it the Touch. It’s a trait all Minadrias carry; essentially it is the ability to siphon off the life force of others to heal oneself or to temporarily steal magic or powers from others. However, it can be used to transfer life to another.”
Her eyes moved to Angela as she continued to speak. ”I propose using the Touch to transfer part of my life to Angela in order to heal her and Revaliir to a point of stability. The thing is I’m not strong enough on my own; even if I gave my entire life to Angela and died in the process I don’t believe it would be enough given she supports this entire world and all the beings connected to it directly, which is why I have brought my people with me.” She smiled softly, motioning to the group who stood close by without crowding the room. ”The more people volunteer to give a part of themselves to this the more I can heal Angela while also ensuring that none of us are completely drained. That said; anyone who is affected already such as Serci cannot give their life to this, anyone sick or exhausted would only end up dying in the transfer and the point of this is to preserve life not take it. I’m hoping that if the Gods offer their life along with as many others as we can bring together then maybe we will all be enough to give Angela a fighting chance – she won’t be fully healed and neither will Revaliir but she will not be on the brink of death and she will be able to let go of her duty to the world itself a little in order to heal on her own.”

Looking at the group she smiled softly. ”I’m basically here to offer my life if it’s required of me; mine and that of my unborn children, though I’m hoping that we can gather enough of us together to keep the risk to individuals low. But it needs to be quick; the longer we take the harder it’s going to be to heal her. So what do you all say? And do you know of others who would offer their life to this in any small part?”

She was pushed aside again. This always happened, she always expected it. She was worrying too much they said, being irrational they said. No one seemed to take her seriously even when she herself was. That was fine. But she wasn't going to let her work go to waste, even if Adraejen made her preparations disappear. Healing was Angela's forte, so if she herself wasn't healing as fast shouldn't that be a sign? The longer her recovery took the less time they would have to… No, she shouldn't think about that. Nobody else but Angela knew. They had to take the initiative while they still could. Crumpled into the chair Adraejen had pressed her into, Shiloh sat wild-eyed and limp with her gaze fixated at the ceiling. Celestials above, she was so tired. Calm down. Calm down he said. Didn't they understand? As long as Angela wasn't fully recovered she would never be fully out of danger, and neither would they. They weren't safe, things were not sailing smoothly. Dalanesca was still out there and that meant whatever was in it was there too. But they wouldn't listen anyway, so she kept quiet. 

Listening to the voices overlapping in the room around her she was lying still with a glassy look in her eyes. Yes, good–they had a solution. Serci was still showing the psychosomatic sympathetic bond he shared with Angela, so he was a good measuring stick for how she was doing. He sounded like he had been trampled by a herd of wild horses, but he was functional. And the most important thing was here: Angela's child was safe. Rosenites were especially hit hard when it came to losing their children. Nerine had told her when she had an interest in understanding Arriese culture. If the child hadn't survived, it was very possible that Angela might lose the will to live. Everything that was barely holding together would fall apart entirely. Details of how Serci managed to make it here aside, there was a woman who was proposing they do an emergency transfer of life energy to expedite Angela's recovery. The description in summary was an application of equivalent exchange. In contrast with potions which used their effects to boost the target's original regeneration, this was swapping the physical status of two people.

The biggest problem with using an exchange was the balance. Like with money, when the recipient gains a transfer, the giver obtains an equal value in loss. Angela would gain but the giver would face a severe deficit. And if the giver didn't have enough to cover the newly accepted debt–they'd be in the red. The fix would be running collections from several donors and then transferring the pooled amount to raise Angela's physical condition. For healing this could be a rather tedious, time consuming process even if they managed to link all the secondary donors to the primary who was performing the action. Without much delay, Shiloh pushed herself off the chair and threw up her arm. "Ok, I'm in. Let's go, this will probably take a while so we better start now." Knowing everyone would try to rule her out due to literally running on adrenaline, she recovered the cauldron of her ungodly iridescent elixir and took a scoop with a pitcher. Once it was half-full, she tipped her head back and began to chug. 

No words could describe how it tasted, and at this point Shiloh was so manically teetering on the edge that she managed to ignore it completely. One of her few good points was her abnormal metabolism, which explained why she could stomach poisons better than alcohol. Coughing and bracing against the cauldron, the combined effects of the metaphorical potion bomb she ingested made her stressed and tired organs feel as if they were on fire. The nervous twitch in her hands stopped and the lightheaded dizziness she'd been having ever since this all went down was finally going away. Wiping her mouth, she said to Kythe. "You can set up a link with me through a temporary blood bond. What I just drank should give a kick to my own self-healing capabilities and I have a lot more right here."

Warmth from his adoptive mother’s touch helped bring him some calm. He looked down at her warmly with more energy this time in his features. Kythe kissed him lightly on his stubble cheek where he certainly needed to shave. Instinctually he positioned his body to be tucked next to hers as if to provide protection. There was no danger within the city considering the gods had all come together to form a barrier. Kiba wanted to bring his family here, but knew that they wouldn’t agree to it with the chaos going on as it were. They did not want to leave those in need in Mamlak. Many were getting injured because the opening portals were scaring them.

Mismatching eyes glanced over at the Au-Ra that were finally revealed. Brow lifted just as his mother’s did as the god burst passed them to get to the wounded Serci. He understood the desperation of the father, but still he did not appreciate the dismissiveness towards those being the most supportive. Kiba could feel his gaze narrow at the god’s back while putting an arm around Kythe’s shoulder.

It wasn’t long before they were all surrounding Angela’s bed as Kythe described her plan of action to bring health back to the goddess. Teeth clenched as she continued to go through her plans. It was too dangerous. Desperate gaze turned to his lord Lokir. Maybe there was a way to protect his mother from doing something so dangerous; especially since she was pregnant. The life of his adopted mother was on the line along with the children. Kiba could not speak even though there were millions of questions and arguments for what plan had been laid out before them all.

A small sigh of relief escaped him as Shiloh volunteered first. No matter what panic the goddess was going through it was all for the sake of her friend. The diowolf could respect that. He examined each of those in the room. ”I will as well. I am not letting you do this alone. You can’t tell me no since you decided to do this, I am going to do my part as well.” His expression was set, and there was nothing anyone would stop him from doing it.

Lokir watched Serci for a moment as he introduced Kythe, someone Lokir already knew, seeing as her adopted son was his own Champion. Kiba was here as well, and Lokir hadn’t asked anything of him since this all started because, in truth, Lokir himself had little idea on what to do. But at least it seemed that Kythe had an idea on how to heal Angela. While Kythe spoke Lokir scanned the room, watching Shiloh most of all for a moment before looking back to Kythe. Her plan was, well, dangerous to say the least, to herself and her unborn child. Lokir had no idea that she was pregnant either.

Shiloh was the first to react by swigging… whatever the hell it was she had made down. Lokir raised a brow, wondering what that concoction was made of. Kiba spoke up then and Lokir thought on how to help when an idea formed. ~I’ve done it once, I can do it again.~ He thought to himself. When Kiba was finished Lokir swelled with power for a moment before it condensed into a spinning sphere of grey in his hand. The sphere hummed with power, Divine power, and Lokir held it out to Kythe with a grin. ”Accept this and you will become the temporary Avatar of Strength, and gain a portion of that power from me. On top of that I’ll of course offer my own life force and power from the War Aspect as well.” But he wasn’t making her an Avatar of War, or anyone else for that matter, not even Kiba, but Kiba was already his Champion. In Lokir’s mind Kiba was strong enough already that he didn’t need to become an Avatar, no, to Lokir to be a Champion was above being an Avatar.

With his lot thrown in Lokir waited for things to get started and for Kythe to decide if she wanted to take the offer of the Avatar position, temporary though it was.