Hakon Kilandre trudged through the sucking mud to the best of her ability. Muscles straining and screaming fatigue as the tropical storm continued to whip the jungle apart. Great leaves were torn from the topmost branches of the hulking trees, vines whipped their brethren, animals hunkered down, waiting for it to pass. The rain that managed to reach the floor of the jungle slicked it into a thick, coagulated muck that threatened to devour whatever dared to press weight upon it.

the Paladin dared to, but she could not keep this up for long. The head was making sweat stream down her body and she quickly knew she would be in quite a bit of trouble, dehydration would make her weaker and weaker until she wouldn't be able to move. But alas, what was this? She spotted something hidden amongst the flooding foliage. Ruins- rising from the mud and staying above the sucking tar.

With the last of her strength, she dragged herself atop the ancient stones, toward a tiny altar hidden amongst an outcropping of tock. She did not see what deity it worshipped, she. Could not with perspiration still stinging her eyes. But Hakon set her Kite shield against it, leaning her back against the shield itself and beginning to quickly roll up the sleeves of her tunic as she set down the heavy satchel containing the sparse pieces of her armor and Broadsword. She took a moment, drawing her knees to her chest and stripping off her boots, rubbing the life back into her feet as she kept her eyes closed. Why had she traveled here? What was she searching for? A path. A path was what she was searching for and… What had she found? Nothing but a monsoon.

wonderful

The heat of the jungle was cruel and would seek to beat down on those ill prepared for it harsh touch. Any sort of source of water would be harshly guarded by that of lurking predators that hovered about the rivers and watering holes. It truly was a place of survival or perishing. It was a land that was not govern by the laws and regulations of man or deity, but of the natural order, something that the wandering porcelain skinned male. Beneath a large hooded robe, the man’s blue eyes shined ahead as he scourged these wild lands, appreciating its purity from the self righteous bigots that stood for false beliefs. Chaos knew no bounds and was too great to be contained by such trivial concepts. Smirking beneath his guise, Xunatar brushed himself past whatever flora came into his path as he made it to the ruins. It wasn’t too uncommon to find grounds where former deities had made their homes and others where their followers had made to pay homage, respect and their devotions to.

 It also did little to him to see it in the state it was; the gods rose and fell, the weak giving in and moving out so that the stronger ones could be ushered in. He recalled such a deity that had believed that he was untouchable, that he was beyond any other. The White Hunter they called him, but alas he was but a fool that was too drunken in his own power and want to be relevant. He hadn’t personally met him, but the Chaosweaver knew all too well where haughty pride would lead one. All it did was make him chuckle at such former brethren and how he was far different than them. 

His angelic like face soon was lifted to the sight of a woman not too far from him and slowly his barefeet carried him to her, leisurely and without worry over what he would step upon. It was a rather odd place for a mortal like herself to venture to, but the god figured that there was some fun that could be had from it. “Dear miss, are you lost?”, he called out to her, a heavenly voice that secretly oozed with hellish venom over what he could do with her. Noticing the shield, he remained still in his spot some several feet away, even more curious as to what she was doing in a place like that all by her lonesome. “The rainforest certainly isn’t the place to be traveling, especially with that load of gear.”

Tilting her head up slowly, she narrowed her eyes and blinked several eyes rapidly, making out a robed figure standing amongst the foliage- the voice she heard… Sounded utterly ethereal- and from the way the man approached so utterly silently, she briefly wondered if he had merely materialized from the air despite the edges of his cloak suggested otherwise.

the paladin slowly pushes her bangs back by running her hands shakily through her damp hair, quite fatigued and dehydrated- perhaps her mind wasn't working quite as straight," I am not so much as lost as looking," she admits immediately, blinking against rapidly,"… And you, sir? I must say for so little gear you seem to be doing quite well out here,"

The woman looked to be in poor condition, no doubt from a lack of preparation from the looks of it. The sweat that rolled off her was evidence of that and he merely looked on unfazed by her plight. In fact a smug smile was amongst his facade, kept away from her sight. He watched passively before he flicked his wrist and in that very hand materialized a cup of water. He brought it to his lips and tasted the delicious fluid before finishing it up in a few gulps. In his other hand, a similar cup appeared and he slowly approached her.

“The elements don’t really bother me much, not in the years I have seen and believe me, my age is beyond my appearance.” As he approached, he allowed his eyes to wander about the ancient place and shook his head with a bit of laughter.

“I fear that you will find nothing here but a relic of the past. One that means very little save for those that still worship this particular fallen god.” The jungle was slowly taking back what belonged to it. The vines that coiled around and the earth itself was taking it all away. Pity that soon this place will be lost to the world as much as the deity it was meant for. “Chasing ghosts is never a good idea, my dear lady. But out of curiosity, what do you seek here?” Xunatar smiled as he got within inches of her before he set down the glass of water and retreated a few steps away from her. Whether or not she would decide to drink the refreshing liquid would be her own prerogative.

“Death is certainly one thing you will find in these parts and decay like this place before us is quite another.”

Admittedly, watching him drink was likely one of the more difficult tasks she had endured through this rather horrendous journey- the Paladin forcing herself to focus upon the heavy rain sheeting between them in order to try and not think too much upon her own thirst. Alas, as the man approaches, she looks up- seeing a second cup. Instinctively, as he offered it, she took the chalice- bringing it to her lips… The coolness of the metal bearings and water itself instantly cleaned her mind of its delirious fog, her adam's apple bobbing faintly as she drank and drank and drank. Cupping both hands beneath the belly of the chalice before lowering it to take a breath, murmuring her profound thanks in addition to bowing her head slightly.

He seemed to know much of this place, of this land, it would not surprise her if he happened to be a powerful spirit of sorts. Again her eyes flickered to his face, taking in the white hair that seemed so commonplace in this world, yet… She couldn't help but feel some primeval unease and perhaps terror gathering in the pit of her stomach from his closeness," I seek shelter at this moment, so I suppose I must thank this fallen God for unknowingly providing it for me…" Her hazel-grey gaze flickers toward him," and you for the water, thank you again." She forces a weak smile and  shifts back against the shield, as if inviting him subtly to join her beneath the sparse outcropping.

" As for what I seek… I-" she narrows her eyes thoughtfully, staring into the onslaught of pouring rain,"- I suppose it may be a benevolent force, so I have wandered about searching for any 'good' deed I can do. It's fulfilling. Perhaps in another life I served as a guardian of sorts, but of what… I have no idea," why was she admitting all this to a stranger? Especially when her instincts shifted so unpleasantly to flee? Who knew, who knew…

A trait that Xunatar adored so much about people was that they could be pushed into nearly anything, given the right incentive. The woman helped to prove such a case as he watched her give into her thirst and take to the water. Whether she trusted him or not remained to be unseen, but her thirst override any instinct of suspicion. Fortunately it was naught but as he said it was- water. He watched passively, remaining eerily still with eyes forever staring without need to blink.

He grinned from ear to ear before addressing her. “I suppose that if they could hear you, then they would welcome the thanks. Though I must admit that not many of them survive the plunge back into mortal hood. Especially those that spent more of their lives as a divine entity.” He came closer to her and leaned casually against a nearby tree. “For some, it is because they come to realize that they have nothing to look forward to- the loved ones and friends they knew were long dead, their domains tore asunder and their former homes demolished. Their skills and traits before they ascended gone as well and their ages catch up to them.” Xunatar rolled his head about and kept that serpentine smile across his beautiful face. “Or better yet, enemies they have made in their reign see an opportunity and they take it. No doubt that it had happen to quite a few of them, especially those that were too in love with their own power and pride”

A long silver pipe was pulled from his pocket, readied with powerful herbs as he lit them up and took a few quick huffs before blowing out the smoke in a steady stream. He listened well to her desire; there were some like her that pledge their lives to such a task. So many were misguided though to see the forest through the trees. Another puff taken, Xunatar could feel the rain growing more, a common thing in the rainforest yet it still didn’t bother him.

“Perhaps. Perhaps not. Our fates have yet to be determined in this or any life. Perhaps you could have been a protector…” His eyes narrowed every so darkly at her as he dumped the wasted contents of his pipe onto the ground, turning his attention away only to watch the ashes flicker in the air. “Or you could have been a destroyer, guided by the hand of a God to bring ruin and fear in their name. Many of them did seek to acquire territories, after all. Truly there is almost difference among us than kings and queens themselves, in that regard.”

" A destroyer…" Hakon Kilandre echoed his words, recall the odd moment when she simply began to remember… When her memories had begun, truly- knelt in a townsquare with a man whom she knew to be her soulmate held in her arms, the armor dented and battered by some enemy and a broken sword and shield collapsed at her sides. How odd… Maybe she had been a destroyer, then again,"… Sometimes things must be reborn, through destruction," she reasons gently. She looks up as he smokes the odd pipe, looking quickly away from that cheshire grin as she exhales slowly once more.

" You seem to know much of the Gods and their machinations, sir-" she looks up again, somewhat tentatively,"- how could this be so?" As she inquired, she carefully began to run her fingers through her platinum hair, blinking rapidly as her tongue swiped sweat, dew and raindrops from her lips.

Xunatar took a few more hits of the pipe before blowing the smoke in a nicely made stream from his mouth. "Ah yes. Not too many look at that sort of thing like you do, dear lady. They believe that destruction is generally a terrible thing. But what ushers us into new eras of kingdoms, of countries and gods and the like? For these things to rise, some must fall." Everything eventually came to an end, nothing was truly forever. She seemed to contemplate his words, which did his heart well to watch as his silky words gently wrapped around her mind and heart.

"I knew well about the gods before I ascended into one of them, that is why. I am known as the Chaosweaver", he spoke bluntly, but took care as to not reveal his second alias. "A bender of the reality around us, or that is what they say of me. But before all of that, I have witness quite a number of them personally. He summoned up another glass of water close to her and gestured towards it. "You seem too exhausted, my lady. Why not delve me in speaking of what you seek in the middle of nowhere…Mayhaps I can be of assistance towards your goal."

" Chaosweaver-" she echoes questioningly, tilting her head toward him as she gazes at him steadily for a moment. Resting her chin upon her hands, she took a breath, able to feel the pungent spoke curling through the rain to infiltrate her lungs,"- Chaosweaver…" She trails off, Elenoir would love to get her little hands on his hair, she loved anything white as snow, its why she nearly got hypothermia each winter. Nonetheless, Hakon exhales and interlaces her fingers under her chin.

" There is little we mortals can hide from gods yes? So I suppose I seek to reap destruction…" She sighs and closes her eyes," In the name of creating new worlds. Yet- this one, this world… I do not know if I wish to see it destroyed, you see-" she opened her eyes again, dark irises fixing upon him as her dark lips become a thin frown,"- in another world I lead a great army iin the name of a God who either did not or did not exist… All in the name of eradicating magic to protect the Kingdom I protected." Running her hands through her hair, she carefully began to braid it back," I was transported here… During a battle with a particularly powerful mage wielding magic that I only know as the Void with my husband. Ever since then- I have been learning to cope, I did not realize I was pregnant at the time either. It is odd how the Fates work hm?" She chuckles weakly.

" so I seek… War again, my old, true purpose."