The reclaimed and refurbished citadel outside of Wu Yuan. Its beauty and pristine stature have been returned in full, and it has the appearance of a venerable old castle both inside and out.

---

Mara-kuru appears at the door of the old citadel, her ears trembling with a fear that her body doesn't dare show yet.

Felina places a hand reassuringly on Mara's shoulder when she appears a moment later. "It'll be okay, Mara. We're in this together, hey?"

"Yeah, we are." Mara looks at her, covers Felina's hand with hers for a second. "Before we go... I just wanted to say that I love you, my love." She looks again at the door, cringing as it groans open to reveal an empty entryway.

Felina smiles just a little. "Love you too, Mara," she notes quietly." Face gets serious. She steps inside.

The innards of the place are far better kept than even the first time they were here. It has a pristine, sublime sort of vibe to it, complete with red carpets and tapestries, and it looks, all told, like a nice old museum.

"The front room is down the main hallway, but..." Mara looks to each side as she talks, "... I don't see or feel anyone. I'm worried."

"Don't let yourself be thrown with theatrics, Mara. We're in a dangerous situation and we know that. A setup designed to unnerve us further doesn't change anything."

Mara nods. "It's such a scary feeling, though. I have such bad memories of this place." 

"You came." A voice that should be painfully familiar to Felina hails them from just in front of the main chamber door. Lashrael, deprived of her hood and cloak and in full display of her colorful head crests in blue and orange, steps out into sight. "The father was sure that you would decline."

Felina folds her arms, not hiding recognition. "Would have come to this eventually. Now is as good a time as any."

"I could not agree more. He has been waiting for you both... quite on edge I would say." Lashrael's voice, stance, and general mode of behavior are nonthreatening, for the moment. Her mind remains frustratingly neutral to Mara-Kuru. "Where is the other? Where is Saea?"

"I don't know. I haven't seen her this trip."

The mer gives a slow nod. "That is immaterial, then. I have to warn you that you will probably not like what you find waiting for you inside, children." She looks specifically at Felina. "You least of all."

Something in Felina's eyes darkens the littlest bit, but her overall expression doesn't change much at all. "Lovely. Well. Shall we test that theory?"

"I am only here to observe, for now." Lashrael reaches down and taps upon the door, pressing a smallish plate into the frame. The door opens up without a sound, and as the edges swing open a power signature begins to seep through. Slowly at first, it rises like the desert sun into a mind-burning torrent of radiated power. 

Mara blinks, trembling all over now. "He is really there," she says, though to whom is unclear. 

Felina looks sidelong at Mara. "Yeah. Come on...we didn't come this far just to be turned away by an energy pattern." In some ways it's easier for her to sense this than Mara, and in other ways, not so much. She's sensed a nearly identical presence before...and it was protecting her. And yet it seems to throw back time itself. She does her best to keep her inner conflict, well...inner. And on a low thought level, though she knows that most everything on every level is going to be plain to this guy if he wants it to be. "Well, let's get this over with, Mara." She puts a hand on the other construct's shoulder reassuringly, then removes it and steps in first.

The man standing inside the room turns his dark, lightly slanted eyes upon them, surveying them. 

"I am grateful to know that you would answer my summons," says Ahmin Rei-ono, his voice at once paternal and demonic. "I have seen many things since I left Wu Yuan in the care of a construct, created in my image. I have seen the will of beast and man bent to the whim of children such as yourselves, and have seen those same children best my own magicks in combat. To say that I have learned much is to say too little."

"A pleasure." His voice chills the ether Guardian soundly. It's her father's...and yet opposite her father's. Paired with the energy signature...she's having trouble keeping her emotional mind safely in line on this one. Has so far. But not easily. "I wonder what else you want to learn by calling us here?" Felina keeps her voice quite non-challenging for now.

The wizard gazes into Felina's eyes, completely ignoring Mara-kuru for now. Talking to her would be kind of moot at the moment anyway, as she's quite frozen.

"I remember the farce that was this existence's Yeliuran Derrias. A society of powermongers, so... drawn into their own greatness that their destruction was a matter only of time. Such narcissism is intolerable behavior. But it set me to thinking about my own existence... how I had become so wrapped in my abilities, having created Mara-Kuru and Saea, that I dropped my guard." Rei-ono glances towards the door, where Lashrael waits with arms crossed over scaly chest. "I set myself to exile in order to... pay my debts to my failed children. Felina Deyono, the daughter of my weaker half. You who have the power to enslave or set free worlds at a glance. Does it vindicate you to know that you are the equivalent of a cosmic fly-swatter?"

"I came to terms with my existance as a created being a long time ago. I honor my father's legacy and memory and live for the tasks and values that he wished of me. That's all the vindication that I need." The wizard's gaze is extremely unsettling to her, but Felina's still not showing that, and her answer is sure and honest.

"You know then," Rei-ono nods as he says, "how it pains me that my own daughters have failed to honor my legacy."

"You wanted me to hurt people! To take things that were not mine!" Mara finally bursts out, her voice straining and cracking with emotion. "How could I follow that?!"

"I wanted you to dominate. To be great, the greatest of all." Rei-ono looks again at Felina. "Her father had no such intentions for her."

Felina tries to steady Mara a little with some low-level empathy. She knows he'll sense it, but then, she's not trying to hide it. "No, he didn't. Tel-tiono wished me to be all that I could make myself. He taught me to push myself as hard and far as I can, comparing my gains only to my previous limits. But not to be the 'greatest.' Not concentrating on everyone else and getting caught up in the posturing narcissism you were speaking against a moment ago made me stronger, not the other way around." It doesn't take much for her to become defensive of her father.

Ahmin Rei-ono's placid face allows itself a brief, surprisingly warm smile. "I meant no disrespect to the man. Though his power at the end was dwarfed by mine, he succeeded in creating a more balanced, confident, and capable child."

Mara's face falls at that. She tries to stop it, but her feeling of hurt that her father so dismisses her is unquestionable.

"I trust that you will be wondering why I have called you here. If you aren't by now, then I have misjudged you." The wizard glances to the right side of the room, the door there opening without a direct touch. "I wish to ask of you both a favor. Supply me with a runic copy of your physical and metaphysical information, each of you, that I may study it, and try again. In return, Mara-Kuru will be freed from all of my aspirations for her. And you, Felina Deyono," he smiles again, without the warmth of before, "I will restore unto you your own father."

Felina narrows her eyes just a little, a near-comforting of Mara-kuru interrupted by the moment her face stops trying to be neutral. "That's impossible," she notes after a few tense seconds. She's not positive of that. If anyone can do it, it's this man.

"Lashrael tells me that Ludolf tried to flee from Wu Yuan," the wizard speaks as if Felina had said absolutely nothing. "A greedy man makes for a poor spy. She tells me that he went straightway from Mara-kuru's home to attempt to procure transport away from here.  She also tells me that he cracks easily under torture." He shakes his head, sighing slightly. "What you will be doing for me is essentially what you wished him to do for you. Except my runes are complex, accurate devices. I will require mere moments of your time. Is it not worth the chance? A few minutes against the lost chance of bringing back your beloved father?"

Mara mentally tugs upon Fel's mind. "Do not listen, my love, he lies. Felina, he would warp your mind!"

Felina swallows hard. Two minutes in and she's already getting mindfucked. Beautiful. "My father," she begins after a few more moments of turmoil, "made his choice. He chose to uphold the balances of the natural order. To compromise bowing to fate with his own long-held intentions. No matter what my feelings are, it is to me to honor his choice. Even if it was to die. And I will." Her words are slow and weighted, but fairly steady.

Lashrael scoffs, but adds nothing to the conversation.

The wizard nods, considering her statement. "Wisdom of the highest calibur lies in the heart of those who would forego personal joy for the sake of balance. I would ask you to consider it further, though, Felina. Comb the chambers of your heart. I can grant you anything that you desire, in exchange for only a moment of your time. Do not forget, also, that without both of your consents, there can be no deal. If you refuse, Mara will remain beneath my shadow."

Felina wants to outright refuse, but can't quite do so. Not for the promised reward. She glances over to Mara.

Mara's face is set in a determined, uncharacteristic scowl. Her eyes almost seem to burn a hole through her father.

"No fucking way! Do you expect me to provide you the means to create another daughter whose life you can ruin?" A tear slides down her cheek. "No! A thousand times, no!"

A serious smile actually twitches at one corner of Felina's lips at that. Good for you, Mara. She looks back to the wizard. "Well. I guess not, then."

Ahmin Rei-ono just smirks. "Mara, I am sorry for the way I have treated you. I love you, I truly do, my daughter."

Mara's head tilts, her mind ringing out with confusion. "You do...?"

The wizard nods. "To the last fiber of my being. Come, let us mend our fences."

Mara just stares, bottom lip quivering. Her heart is practically singing, though.

Felina's face is serious...she smells a deception. As it stands, she just watches, remains quiet, and stays on the defense.

"Mara... I have been many things in my time, but a liar is not one. You know that." 

The Sendiran nods slowly. She knows that well... every attempt he made on her life was well broadcast in advance.

The wizard smiles his patriarchal smile again. "Then won't you be my daughter again?"

Mara sniffles. "Father...!" She takes a step forward. Then two. And then practically leaps into his waiting arms. "I love you father...! I'm so sorry I've been such a bad girl..."

The wizard holds onto her, his eyes locked upon Felina over Mara's shoulder. "There, there, little one. Father will always be here for you, even if you do wrong."

Felina narrows her eyes a little. She's not buying it. At all. And yet she doesn't dare to intercede just yet, just in case it is legitimate. And she can't say it doesn't hurt deeply to see someone so much like herself hugging someone so much like Tel-tiono.

"Mara," the wizard asks, his hands busily stroking Mara's thick curls, "there is room in my court for another. Cease your tears and help your father achieve his dreams." He looks again to Felina. "You are as welcome in my court as my own children, Felina. My arms have room for you, as well."

Felina pauses at that. He's getting under her skin and he knows it. But it is possible that he's legitimate. "I stay fairly busy with my duties on the ether plane," she notes finally. There's a lump in her throat.

"You are not busy right now. Nor shall you be in the future, between tasks, when you will be welcome here as well." The wizard glances down at Mara. "Evatsha," he whispers, "go with god." Mara stiffens briefly at the phrase, her energy signature spiking for a millisecond before returning to normal as she cuddles up against her father's broad chest. "If my own Mara can forgive my atrocities, can you not find room in your own heart for one lonely old man?"

"What was that spell?" Felina inquires.

"Did I not tell you before? Mara is my beloved daughter, but she has suffered much. Mara, toss aside that silly cane." 

The Sendiran looks up, into her father's eyes, and steps back to do just that. She stands easily, as if harm had never come to her leg. Her eyes brighten. 

"Felina, it... lookit, my love!" She shifts her weight to stand on the previously bad wheel. "Lookit!"

Felina's resolute cynicism is being chipped away more quickly than she'd like. It makes her more than a little uncomfortable...she can't so easily discount everything she's heard about this man from people she trusts, but...people can change, can't they? A slight smile tugs at her lips in any case at the site of her double on two feet. "Vey nice, Mara."

Mara is positively beaming. Her smile is so sincere that even Lashrael can't help but feel a little bit good for her.

"That you do not trust me is something I must accept. If it is your wish, go out into the world with the knowledge of what you have seen and felt here. Speak to those who have spoken ill of me. Those who fear me. Fight with yourself until you are certain that my request bears your attention." The wizard sits upon a cushioned chair in the back, a slight smile upon his face as he watches Mara turning cartwheels and bouncing in general.

Felina looks at him a few moments...and then can't, looking aside. She feels guilty. She hesitates to let herself be swayed. But that doesn't mean she's not shuddering inside. "Mara..." she inquires softly... "are you staying, then?"

Mara stops bouncing, and glances at Felina. "Yes, my love. I... such good fortune it has been that my father has forgiven me! Today was such a terrible day, and it has ended so well!" She tilts her head. "But what about you, my love?"

Felina shakes her head, after a moment. "No. I'm sorry...both of you. But I think I should go."

Mara's eyes downcast for a moment. After a while she cuddles up against Felina's shoulder, for just a second, nodding sadly. "If you change your mind... I will be here."

Felina smiles a little. "Thanks. Be well." She glances over to Ahmin Rei-ono for a few long moments, and then simply heads for the door.

There is nothing to impede her. Lashrael simply stands aside, while Mara runs -runs, so happily- to her father's side.

Felina doesn't know where she's going or what she's doing. A largely unplanned jump takes her back to Korliss's Keep.

When Felina disappears, and Lashrael closes the door, Ahmin Rei-ono looks down upon his daughter once again.

"Mara. Go fetch that cloak over there," he asks of her. Mara stands and trots across the room, whistling to herself without a word.

The wizard's eyes close. As Mara starts to run back, cloak in hand, her newly healed leg abruptly buckles out from beneath her. A cry of blinding pain precedes her impact with the floor, giving way soft whimpers of surprise and hurt. 

"Father, what... but..." she looks up at him, eyes wide and glittering with questions. Her ears droop at the sight of his scowl, that cold, hateful scowl he had so often worn before.

"Sleep Mara," he whispers to her, his left hand blackening with dark sorcery, "you won't be needed for a while yet." 

---

A cold, bitter night has fallen by the time that Thran, Kaishen, Amilei, Korliss, and Felina Deyono reach the citadel. The gate stands firmly shut before them, and the faint scent of sorcerous barriers stands in the air.

Felina, this time wrapped in the energy-masking cloak her father had sewn for her, looks up at the doors. "So do you suppose we'll be let in, or ignored all night without pushiness?"

"It is difficult to guess. But I imagine that we won't get anywhere without entreating entry." Korliss takes a step closer to the door, searching it with his mind's eye. He lifts the heavy iron knocker and lets it fall, to the tune of a heavy ringing sound. And no further answer.

"What do you think, Felina," Amilei inquires of her, "shall we break in?"

"I don't know. It's probably possible. Kaishen?"

"Thran?"

The behemoth lowers his head, knowing exactly what they've planned. He paws the ground. "I would stand back," he offers, "if I were small."

Felina doesn't need any persuasion to take the hint, and steps aside.

When Thran charges, the ground rumbles and dust shakes loose from the moorings of the citadel. The door quite literally bursts inward in a spray of wood and metal chips, as well as part of the frame collapsing inward as well. The result is a rubble-filled hole that is quite a bit larger than the original door had been.

"Good job, Thran," Amilei mutters as she gives the behemoth's belly a pat, "I am impressed."

Thran just backs up and shakes dust out of his fur.

"Well. That's effective." Felina has no problem being first in, but she does wait a moment to see if anything else is planning to come out.

"...t...ai....waaaiiit for me!!"

The vampires are the first to turn at the sound of Mara-Kuru's voice calling from behind them. 

"Hey," Amilei notices as she comes sprinting up the road, "I thought Mara had a bad leg. She seems to be running just fine to me."

Korliss gives her a nudge. "Remember, Felina told us about that. I wonder what she is doing outside, though?"

Mara tumbles to a halt just in front of them, having tripped (of course) partway up the road. She thumps soundly against Thran's leg and bounces back, amused, but unhurt.

"I am glad I caught you, sweeties. I was just on my way to tell Korliss that everything would be okay!" Mara gets to her feet, nodding happily.

Felina's ears are pressed somewhat back. She hadn't sensed her double since she left. "Mara? How did you...?"

"Hiya Fel! Hmm... how did I what?" She tilts her head, ears twitching a bit. 

"When did you get out here? I didn't sense you until just now."

Mara blinks. "That is strange, hon. I didn't think that I was hiding my energy..." Steps towards Felina, her eyes sympathetic and radiating that trait. "I knew that you were unhappy when you left, my love, so I thought I should let everyone know that I was okay. Maybe you just didn't notice?"

Felina...isn't entirely sure that she trusts this. But damned if she knows why...none of the senses that hint at danger are telling her anything. "That could be. So what happened after I left?"

"I hugged my daddy," Mara is proud to report, "and then we talked about what he has been up to since he left. Very boring stuff, my love, unless you like books. And then I came to find you all!"

Korliss seems oddly unconvinced. "Mara dear, why did you not come straight to my keep?"

The Sendiran smiles placidly. "I wanted to surprise you all with my running! Plus I needed some clean clothes."

"Of course. Well, Mara, what would you like to do, now?" Felina glances to Korliss, then back to Mara. He thinks something's up to. Good. So it's not just her.

"I would like," Mara begins, glancing to Thran first, then to the hole in the citadel, "to know why you all have come here and broken daddy's door."

"No one was answering. And we didn't know if you were okay."

Mara smiles. "I'm go glad to know that you all care so much... I smell a group hug." She glances around to all those others. "Any takers? Fel?"

"Hugging isn't nearly as much fun when you can't see each other." Felina grins a little. "Perhaps waiting for morning?"

"Oh," Mara pouts a bit, "okay. Well..."

"Yes, the mystery seems quite solved," Korliss interrupts Mara in a boisterous fashion. "Since there won't be a brawl today, I believe I will retire to bed. Getting old, after all." He glances a meaningful glance at Felina. "If you all don't mind."

"I think I will go with my father," Amilei turns to walk along with the older vampire, "it's good to know that you are all right, Mara-kuru. Come by the inn tomorrow and I will have breakfast for you."

Thran just blinks.

Felina returns Korliss's glance. "Rest well, both of you. She looks back to Mara without further comment and tilts her head. "So what are you plans for the rest of the night, Mara?"

"Well, daddy said that I could do whatever I wanted, so I thought I should stay at my house. There is no point in overdoing a good thing. I..." Mara grins a little, "I was kind of hoping that you might sleep with me, my love."

Thran coughs.

"I mean, sleep over with me! You know what I mean, Thran, you pervert!" Mara swats him gently on his nose, to a grin from the lumbering oaf.

Felina can't quite say she trusts the situation--especially since Korliss seems to have the same troubles with it--but now may not be the time to show it. Anyway, she's not positive that something is wrong. "I may just take you up on that offer, thank you." She smiles a little. "It's an odd hour of the night to bother my brother by going home, anyway."

Mara's smile softens. "I'm happy, my love. Thran, I don't really have a bed big enough for you..."

"I must return to my wife, Mara child. She has been ill for a few days and needs my attention, but thank you." The behemoth yawns, a bellowing sound, and lumbers off towards his marshland home. He's worried, too, but it's less obvious than Korliss's concern.

"Well, c'mon c'mon! Let's go, my love!"

"Let's, then. I'm quite tired." Felina smiles, and steps off, ending up in the living room of Mara-Kuru's estate.

---

Thran is there when Lashrael arrives, presumably followed by Felina, at the front gate of the citadel. A massive collar has been placed around his neck, and he sits, irratable but unhurt, next to the porchstep. 

"Never mind the goat," Lashrael instructs, "he cannot speak while the collar is around his neck."

Ahmin Rei-ono awaits them in the same place he did before. Only this time there is a massive, complex rune inscribed upon the floor in front of his chair. He leans his cheek on a fist, sighing with boredom.

Felina looks down at the rune, trying to interpret it...but she doesn't recognize the spell. Eyes travel up to the sorcerer. "You have some kind of massive anti-rejection complex, don't you?"

"I hope you aren't trying to be clever." The wizard looks down at the rune, then back up to Felina, the weight of centuries behind his eyes. "This won't take long. Stand in the circle for ten seconds or so, and I will have what I want. Then you can take your friends and go. I will not bother you again."

Felina's expression is set and only somewhat blank. She's furious at all this, she is. But...what can she do? She unclips her scabbard. It and the sword vanish. No sense giving him more than he asked for. She feels like a filthy traitor. But, after a moment, she steps into the circle.

The bluish light from the rune rises all around her, analyzing her at the wizard's behest. True to his word, the process requires only about ten seconds and is not painful in the least. The rune fades without incident.

"You may gather your friends and leave now." The door to his right pops open again, revealing four chained figures in various states of restraint. Mara-kuru has literally been pinned to the wall with daggers. Amilei and Korliss sit in restraints that include heavy mouthguards. And Saea... Monrovia... is simply chained to the wall. At a nod from the wizard, all of these restraints simply fall away. "Go."

Felina narrows her eyes, taking her sword from the air as she leaves the circle, and walks towards the group. Mara-kuru she knows needs help. Otherwise... "Can everyone walk?" she inquires quietly.

Korliss nods, rising, and helping his daughter to her feet. At least one of Amilei's legs has been broken, and the scars upon her neck and wrists are still quite evident. Korliss seems alright, though, and Saea, once released, simply rises and waits to go along with them, her eyes saddened by all that she's seen. 

Felina kneels beside Mara, putting a hand gently on the construct's cheek. "Mara? Are you with me?"

"Felina?" Mara's head lifts a little bit, hazy eyes looking around. "Did I get whipped again...?"

"Doesn't matter." Felina smiles a little, falsely. "Come on, you're okay now. Let's get you home." She employs pain-numbing spells very heavily as she lifts her double from the ground. She holds a vial up before Korliss telekinetically. "Put that on the breaks in Amilei's legs. Should fix them right up." She glances at Amilei, tries to look a little reassuring, and stands up with Mara.

Korliss takes the vial and kneels to do just that. Amilei groans, but doesn't complain much. Her eyes are locked on Lashrael, burning hot in hatred. 

Saea just stares at her father. There's something unreadable in her expression, but to look at him then is to see what might be the most tangible trace of intimidation one might ever see.

Felina doesn't miss that. Saea is the only one she doesn't really try to direct. She looks on as opalescent liquid on Amilei's legs completes its assigned task with quite admirable speed, and shifts Mara in her arms. "Great. Let's go home, then." She waits for the others to leave, intent on going last and having her back to the sorcerer.

Korliss directs his daughter out, followed shortly after by Saea. Lashrael, just as before, simply moves out of the way to let them pass. 

Outside, Thran's collar is off and the behemoth has taken to ramming his head against the walls of the citadel. Unlike the last time, the damage seems to be minimal.

Felina sighs inwardly, just healing Mara's injuries quietly, one at a time. She's quiet, very introspective.

Thran stops bashing when he sees them. "Felina... here, let me carry you all... it is the least I can do for failing to save them..."

Felina smiles just a little, reassuringly, and puts a hand on his leg, that half of Mara supported telekinetically. "Don't you start. I'm quite good enough at self-blame for all of us. But that would make things easier, thank you."

Thran lowers himself waaaaay down to the ground, the hurt showing plainly in his face. Felina helps everyone up after settling Mara gently in the fluff between his shoulders, reassuring the behemoth with empathetic and telepathic nudges. It wasn't his fault. Not in the least. He was the victim, too, not the aggressor. The aggressor is still inside.

Not that that does tons to still her own guilt, but that's another story.

Thran carries them dutifully back to The Wretching Dragon, the closest safe place.

Once they're gone, Ahmin Rei-ono produces a piece of paper from his pocket. On this piece of paper is a skillfully drawn image of Mara-kuru and Felina kissing one another, and the wizard gazes at it for only a moment. 

"I thought the affection of the golem might work. Otherwise, why would Mara have such a thing?" He glances at Lashrael, who just shrugs.  "Never mind. Gather my materials. We begin construction immediately."

---

"There are a lot of runes involved with his construction method, and we both know that I can be damned annoying when I set my mind to it," Felina notes without looking at Moorn as they walk, keeping telepathic mutes on the conversation. "Once we're in the citadel, I can concentrate on keeping everyone busy while you secure the construct. Once you have it free of any applicable barriers, I can transport us away."

"I tend to think that barriers would hamper construction of the being itself," Moorn observes, walking along with quiet footsteps, not really concerned if anyone sees him or not. "I doubt it will be defended save for the wizard himself. You should snatch the construct and head for Moren Aiga as soon as you can. Do not concern yourself with me, just be quick about it. The west wing of the castle bears runes that will protect it from trawlers and otherwise irritating things."

Yeah, nice of you to let me do that dangerous part. She nods a litle, though. He does understand the construction process better than he would. "Fine, and noted."

"Don't bitch, Felina. I have no stock in this." He looks away for a moment, considering as always. "Let me attack the wizard."

She pauses at that a moment, then nods just a little. "Once his energy starts to re-focus, you're going to have to back off in a big hurry. You do realize that."

"Tell me," Moorn idly speaks, his hand busying itself within a pocket, "do you remember this?" He holds up a jewel, one that should bring back memories of a certain halberd-wielding warrior and his doting wife.

Felina's eyes widen just a little before a light smile touches the corners of her lips. "That helps."

The citadel looms before them after a moment's walking, the entire building aglow with barrier runes. Even through the seals, a power signature can be felt nearly tearing through the unnatural spectrum, the growing force of a construct in creation.

Moorn walks calmly up to the building, and begins tracing his fingertips over the runes. "I need your aid to rewrite these symbols. Analyze their energy signatures and relay the information in my mind. Be aware, there are snares set..." the sorcerer blinks, "... five thousand and seven snares, actually."

"Lovely." Felina sets the tips of her left claws gingerly against the wall, carefully making sure that the spots are clear of runes and traps, and closes her eyes, relaying quick, detailed information of each and every potentially active signature on and around the building.

"You will love this," Moorn whispers to her as the greenish runes fade gradually into red. "I would find cover, were I you."

Felina narrows her eyes a little but doesn't waste time wondering, taking one long jump back and wrapping her cloak over her head.

Moorn backs off as well, just in time to evade a sonic wave of mind-numbing proportions as the powerful defensive runes' energy redirects itself into explosive energy. The frontal area bursts in a flash of blue and red flame, crippling the structure and sending debris all across Wu Yuan. There is an audible 'what the fuck' from within the building once the smoke clears. 

"Felina, this is no time to lick yourself. Inside!"

Felina scowls but leaps for the hole without much transition, heading for Rei-ono's chamber with virtually all her speed, not bothering with her feet hitting the ground except for quick direction changes. She knows this bastard can keep up.

The chamber glows in soft blue, the central rune radiating a tremendous amount of light into the air. Ahmin Rei-ono is just in the process of rising from his seat, fury twisting his features into a supremely ugly mask. The construct stands in mute silence in the center of the rune. 

"Lashrael, kill them!" This the wizard shouts even as he flings bolts of pure psionic force in the direction of the approaching invaders. Lashrael hesitates, but leaps for Felina's throat from the left side of the room.

Felina's ears press back. She simply vanishes, reappearing only a few feet from Ahmin Rei-ono to be on the other side of his attack and to kick off the wall, and springs towards the construct, hoping to hell Moorn is going to hold up his part of this.

The sorcerer moves in his tried and true fashion, each turn and dash producing multiple images of himself, until Ahimin Rei-ono finally gives up on the barrage and assaults them more directly. An enfeebling spell seeps out of his hands with the stench of a tomb.

The Marei orb rolls lights up. The sound of Ahmin Rei-ono's voice growling in sudden weakness is music to Radivishe Moorn's ears.  The way is clear for Felina.

Felina races to the new construct's side. She glances down, claws glowing with a vivid yellow light, ready to sever whatever energy ties bind it in place.

Lashrael leaps again towards Felina, knives flashing in the air while Moorn is busy flinging his tendrils around the throat of the weakened wizard.  Rei-ono's powers, though dimmed, are sufficient to protect himself for the moment.

The ties attached to the construct are light... it's essentially finished. Only a few slave crests remain attached to it, their work not yet completed.

Felina raises a powerful shield between herself and Lashrael, hoping it will hold, and spins around the construct to get the new being between she and the mer. Claws slash at each of the crests in turn.

The symbols pop open, spilling out their contents of sorcery and withering. Lashrael's knives glance off of the shield, shaving it down through the ethereal power contained within them. The construct, not quite aware, only blinks where it stands. Much of its form is still in shadow, requiring a little bit more time to fully detail.

"Hurry, Felina. The orb fails." Moorn knows full well that he has about ten seconds before the wizard's power regenerates. In the meantime, he's having quite a bit of fun choking the life out of him. 

"Excuse me Miss..." Felina mutters. She scoops the construct somewhat gently into her arms and vanishes for the ether plane, then to a certain spot on the plane, then to Moren Aiga. As soon as she feels Moorn's energy shifts his a point where it's feasible, she drags him along after her.

---

Felina approaches the destroyed section of the walls with caution but not fear, senses alert and searching as she steps inside, eyes narrow. The master of this place is defeated. The rest, if they haven't fled, she can handle. She turns towards the throne room at a jog.

It's still a hostile place, reeking of spent magics and decaying runes. As for signs of life, only one seems to be flickering on the inside of the citadel. Lashrael sits upon Ahmin Rei-ono's throne, her scaly legs crossed and her eyes clouded with thought.

"What do you want," she demands of Felina, "come to finish me off?"

"I have no qualm with you. A friend has gone missing, and this is one of the few places she could be taken without my immediately sensing her."

The mer shakes her head. "No one here but me and a half dozen corpses. Girls from out of town." She really sounds like she's drunk or stoned or something, as hers isn't the precise voice that usually commands attention.

"Right." Felina can't place why, exactly, but she doesn't think Lashrael is lying. "Well then. Sorry to bother you." She turns to leave.

Lashrael simply lowers her head and returns to whatever drunken stupor she'd been nursing before Felina showed up.

Felina ponders as she heads for the door. Okay. Can't completely rule this place out, but my gut says no. This isn't right. Amilei, where are you? She moves on to the other cloaked place, drawing her own cloaks tighter. Haven of Wen it is.

---

A mile or so west of the citadel, Felina examines the vast tracts of open land. Yes, this might do nicely. She considers Lashrael...good, evil, or whatever she may or may not be, she's having a tough day. She vanishes again and ends up another three miles away. There's still plenty of room.

Memory squawks. "So how do you propose to get him to come here? I know that Chen Mai can find you. I've see... uh... heard that she is a good tracker. No problems there."

"'Seen,' huh?" Felina glances at the bird, eyes just a little narrow. "I swear to god I can't go five hours in this plane without being use. Well, in any case...I'm still trying to figure tht out. If I just find him and get him pissed enough, he'll follow if it's not obvious that I'm trying to lead."

"Hmph," Memory nips at the air, beak clacking. "You aren't being used. And aren't you agnostic? It doesn't matter. There are just some things you aren't ready to know yet."

"My apologies, then." She's somewhat distracted, looking over the area. Yeah. This should do. She sits down, just waiting for the other Dumen, mind in a state of chaos at the prospect of preemptively striking Moorn. She just...doesn't work that way. She's a Guardian.

Mai takes her time to show up, though granted that she is travelling on foot. When she arrives, it is with another large bag over her shoulder, a bag which she promptly sets down in front of Felina. "Hello again. Good spot, I like your sense of irony." She begins to arrange more of those orb necklages, tossing them around at seemingly random intervals.

"Makes life interesting." She watches what the hunter's up to with something that looks suspiciously like boredom. "So do I have to watch my step with these lovely shinies as well, or are they target-specific?"

"Try not to step on them. You ought to be able to feel them in a moment, like pinpoints of emptiness that stand out against the landscape." Mai sets down the last one, steadying her gaze upon Felina. "You can back out anytime. I won't force you to help."

"Thanks. I'll figure it out momentarily and commit one way or the other...there are just very logical cases for both pro and con."

Mai tilts her head slightly, and moves to sit cross-legged in front of the Serinian. She removes her hat, so that her hair hangs freely to the ground. "Tell me which direction you want to go, and I can persuade you."

"I'm having trouble differentiating what I want from what I'll regret." Felina looks over at the dumen, quiet a few moments. "Tell me something, if it's not prodding too far: why is it that [i]you're[/i] interested in Radivishe Moorn?"

Mai glances away under Felina's eyes, but back up after a moment. "Imagine that, as a Guardian, you met someone who held a titanic portion of the Barrier's shards in his private vault, a device literally impregnable in every way. Not a bad man, but a man unwilling to give up the shards, violently so. Would you destroy him?" Mai smiles. "To those who respect ability he is too beautiful to let live. He is the curve, he is the upper one percent. He must be eliminated." Her smile brightens. "This as well as the large amount of money I'll receive for it."

"I can see how that may be a perk." Felina thinks quietly for a bit, and finally shakes her head. "No. I wish you luck in this venture and hope that this arena is absolutely suitable. I hate him. And for all the crap I get exposed to, he's one of the only creatures in the universe that can claim that fully. " She looks up to the dumen. "But I cannot help you further. I am sorry...it's just not in my rights to execute a preemptive strike. I'm reasonably sure he'll attack Senowin before long. If you can wait for that, I will help you."

"Really..." Mai smiles brightly at that. "You can't deny hatred. Besides, if you know that he's going to attack, preparing isn't a sin. Defeat the enemy before it can strike, and you might spare this Senowin's life." 

"Preparing is common sense. Being ready to defend is survival. But defeating an enemy before he strikes, will always leave the possibility that I may have been wrong," Felina notes.

"Yes indeed. And waiting will allow him time to strike." Mai smiles more brightly. "You are so adorable, with your moral code."

"Oh, really? See, the answer to that is, 'you're such a headcase, with your moral code.'" Felina grins wryly.

Mai nods, most appreciatively. "And what an ass." But then, it's not really as pointed a statement as it could have been. "Look, I know that you don't want to start trouble. But this guy is dangerous, and not likely to get any better. You're the best chance I've got to lure him into a surprise attack, which is the best way to beat someone who is worlds stronger than me." She tilts her head. "Or I could ask this Senowin to be bait."

"No. It's too dangerous for her."

"So you definitely aren't going to do it, and I can't ask her." Mai shrugs. "Okay, just let me know when he's finished mopping the floor with Senowin." She pulls her hat down over head head again, snugly tucking her hair, and wraps the muffler around her lips. "Be careful out there. He probably smells blood in the water, if he set up Kaishen like that."

"I didn't say that I won't help you. Only that he has to prove himself hostile first." Felina thinks. "Though I suppose that going to him seeking his intentions is as effective as waiting for him to broadcast them..."

"Going to him seeking his intentions?" The mage hunter grins a bit. "You were going to just... ask him?"

Felina shrugs. "He'd tell me. And then probably try to kill me."

"I had a boyfriend like that once," Mai answers, nodding most sarcastically. "I suppose either way will end the same, but if you want to ask him and provoke him that way, if's up to you."

"Heh...and people wonder why I don't date." Felina's quiet a few moments. Moorn's fond of setting terrain advantages up for himself. Moren Aiga not the least among them. "Challenging him in any way on his own own terms and territory is idiocy," Felina observes. "But that's what I do best." She stands up, looks to the mage hunter. "In the very likely event that things turn hostile, I'll try to get him here."

"I'll set up some more sorceric dampening fields. If he can cast any spells at all while he's here, it will surprise me." Mai gets up, and pats Felina's head with a smirk. "Go get 'em, tigress."

Felina smirks. "Yeah, yeah...see you you soon." She jumps into the air, scanning carefully for anything resembling Moorn's signature or a blacked-out area that's appropriate to his power type. "This is a good time to take off, Memory."

Memory chirps. "I hate to agree with you, but I agree with you. Listen, keep your head up. I smell a rat." That said, the bird vanishes in an explosive puff of feathers, as if he had never been.

Moorn's signature is quite obvious, and emenates from Yuan Orchards.

Of course, any time his signature is being obvious is means for investigation. Not just now. Felina takes a deep breath and heads that way.