Free States of the Crescent

[The Stormfather He/Him]

8 hours ago, Spark of Hope said:

@The Stormfather

 

Mark and Astra arrived at the station, and he went in to ask somebody where Marewill was.

They explained to him that she was on the way to the hospital, because her injuries were too much for their limited equipment to handle.

“Um…Where is the hospital? I’ve never been there.”

[Through the Living Hope]

31 minutes ago, The Stormfather said:

Mark and Astra arrived at the station, and he went in to ask somebody where Marewill was.

They explained to him that she was on the way to the hospital, because her injuries were too much for their limited equipment to handle.

“Um…Where is the hospital? I’ve never been there.”

The officer gave him directions to the hospital. 

[Lotus Blossom she/her]

30 minutes ago, The Stormfather said:

Mark and Astra arrived at the station, and he went in to ask somebody where Marewill was.

They explained to him that she was on the way to the hospital, because her injuries were too much for their limited equipment to handle.

“Um…Where is the hospital? I’ve never been there.”

Astra raised an eyebrow.

"Why didn't you send her to the hospital earlier? How far away is it? Is she in an ambulance?"

She surveyed the area. "Get better equipment, my god."

[Through the Living Hope]

5 minutes ago, Lotus Blossom said:

Astra raised an eyebrow.

"Why didn't you send her to the hospital earlier? How far away is it? Is she in an ambulance?"

She surveyed the area. "Get better equipment, my god."

“Ma’am, we had paramedics here, and we were unsure how well she’d maintain in a trip to the hospital. We got her stable, but we don’t have all the equipment she needs.”

[Lotus Blossom she/her]

1 hour ago, Spark of Hope said:

“Ma’am, we had paramedics here, and we were unsure how well she’d maintain in a trip to the hospital. We got her stable, but we don’t have all the equipment she needs.”

She turned to Mark. "Hospital it is, then."

@The Stormfather

Edited July 28, 2025 by Lotus Blossom

[The Stormfather He/Him]

1 hour ago, Lotus Blossom said:

She turned to Mark. "Hospital it is, then."

@The Stormfather

 

3 hours ago, Spark of Hope said:

The officer gave him directions to the hospital. 

“Yeah. Guess we have to walk. Again.”

[Lotus Blossom she/her]

1 hour ago, The Stormfather said:

“Yeah. Guess we have to walk. Again.”

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timeskip?

 

[The Stormfather He/Him]

3 hours ago, Lotus Blossom said:

 

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Yeah

 

[The Stormfather He/Him]

On 7/28/2025 at 5:41 PM, The Stormfather said:

 

Mark and Astra arrived at the hospital, asked somebody (There's probably a front desk, I'd think), where Marewill was.

The pair made their way over to her room. He knocked on the door before entering.

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I've been so busy lately, I haven't really been able to keep up with the RPs and stuff.

I'm free for... geez, today and tomorrow morning, before I go camping. Once school restarts, I'll be a lot more active.

 

[Through the Living Hope]

32 minutes ago, The Stormfather said:

Mark and Astra arrived at the hospital, asked somebody (There's probably a front desk, I'd think), where Marewill was.

The pair made their way over to her room. He knocked on the door before entering.

 

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Yay!

Tinker opened the door. “How did you guys-“

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-know where we were? Is the end of the question 

 

[The Stormfather He/Him]

5 minutes ago, Spark of Hope said:

Tinker opened the door. “How did you guys-“

 

"We asked the person at the desk," Mark answered with a chuckle. "How's Mare?"

[Through the Living Hope]

21 minutes ago, The Stormfather said:

"We asked the person at the desk," Mark answered with a chuckle. "How's Mare?"

“She’s.. she’s getting better. She still needs to rest though. I’ll be right back.”

He left the door cracked, and came back a moment later. “She says you can come in.”

[The Stormfather He/Him]

8 minutes ago, Spark of Hope said:

“She’s.. she’s getting better. She still needs to rest though. I’ll be right back.”

He left the door cracked, and came back a moment later. “She says you can come in.”

"Thanks." 

Mark went in.

"Marewill? Are you okay?"

[Through the Living Hope]

1 minute ago, The Stormfather said:

"Thanks." 

Mark went in.

"Marewill? Are you okay?"

“I’m conscious, that’s something.”

[The Stormfather He/Him]

2 minutes ago, Spark of Hope said:

“I’m conscious, that’s something.”

"Astra and I were looking for those papers that we took from the... The Marksmen. Do you have those?"

[Through the Living Hope]

1 minute ago, The Stormfather said:

"Astra and I were looking for those papers that we took from the... The Marksmen. Do you have those?"

“… take off my [left/right, don’t remember which one rn] boot.”

[The Stormfather He/Him]

28 minutes ago, Spark of Hope said:

“… take off my [left/right, don’t remember which one rn] boot.”

Mark hesitates slightly, but takes off the [whatever boot is was] boot.

"Thank you," He said. "And Mare... Don't trust anybody you don't know."

[Through the Living Hope]

19 minutes ago, The Stormfather said:

Mark hesitates slightly, but takes off the [whatever boot is was] boot.

"Thank you," He said. "And Mare... Don't trust anybody you don't know."

She nodded. 

[The Stormfather He/Him]

12 hours ago, Spark of Hope said:

She nodded. 

Mark opened the papers, looking for the map he had seen earlier, where the people's bases of operations were marked. The three places marked were the construction site, a farm on the city outskirts, and a house in a more populated area.

"That farm must be where they took us, when we were in that cell. It did kind of have a smell to it..." Mark wrinkled his nose. "And we've seen the construction site. That house... If we want to get anything done, it'll be there, or in the area."

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I'm going camping for the next few days. I should be back around monday evening (Although my evening might be morning or just tuesday to you idk)

 

[Through the Living Hope]

2 minutes ago, The Stormfather said:

Mark opened the papers, looking for the map he had seen earlier, where the people's bases of operations were marked. The three places marked were the construction site, a farm on the city outskirts, and a house in a more populated area.

"That farm must be where they took us, when we were in that cell. It did kind of have a smell to it..." Mark wrinkled his nose. "And we've seen the construction site. That house... If we want to get anything done, it'll be there, or in the area."

 

She nodded. “I should rest…”

[The Stormfather He/Him]

On 8/21/2025 at 10:37 AM, Spark of Hope said:

She nodded. “I should rest…”

Mark nodded. "Yeah, you probably should. I doubt that the Marksmen are going to stop, though. I'd bet that a few of them might have gotten convinced from my...speech, I guess, but others will just be more angry with us after that escape."

"I don't know where they'll strike next. I don't see any of us striking back against them anytime soon, though. They... Well, they might try to attack your family, try to use them as leverage. Although if they did, it would be odd that they didn't do that in the first place."

Who's the most vulnerable person for them to strike?

"If Astra and I are both away, they might charge straight in at them. Or, if I'm alone at home, they might show up..." Mark shook his head, mostly just muttering to himself at this point. "No, they've seen what happens when they try to fight me. Their main target so far has been Adris and the Steeles, harassing them when they go out on jobs, but they've never gotten violent, not until the Marksmen showed up."

Where will the hammer fall?

"It wouldn't be Astra, I don't think. The gambling dens she goes to usually have fairly high security, unless they have a Shardbearer, but surely... Surely no Spren would bond one of them." He paused, thinking. "Lee and Sharp[I can't remember which iteration this is] are usually near enough to us, and quite good at fighting themselves."

Depleted of resources, funds and Invested, yet eager to strike again. Where do they go?

The Killer itched at the back of his mind, though Mark ignored him. "I wouldn't be surprised if they attack somebody while they're at work or something..."

Mark, listen to me-

Mark. Remember the oaths you swore. His Spren manifested as some vines creeping along his arm. 

I will remember those who have been forgotten.

I will listen to those who have been ignored...

"I... I can't let him through, Meryyn!" [Honestly not 100% on whether that was the Spren's name or not] "I can't become a Killer again."

Do you have to be a Killer to listen to one? 

"If they're living inside of your head, I think the conditions are a bit different!" 

Words, Mark. Words.

"What Words?" His voice was barely a whisper.

The Words.

"That's not exactly helpful." Mark frowned. "I... I haven't said new Words in six years, Meryyn. Why now?"

Because now is when it is needed for you to speak them.

"Have you been taking lessons on being confusing from a drunk rabbit?"

He heard his Spren huff in his mind. Since when was it able to do that?

Mark, your sword Oaths. You need to uphold them.

"I...don't know if I can."

You've held those oaths for the last six years. You can hold them for however long this conflict lasts. You should know where they're going to strike, but the thoughts of the streets are out of your mind. Has six years living moderately peacefully destroyed all the instincts you built alongside the Rusted?

Alongside Sereine?

"Don't you mention that name. Tell me what you mean to tell me, then leave."

Mark... His Spren sounded dissapointed. Have you heard of how empires fall? You know that the Capitol held control of huge swaths of land across the populated world for decades upon decades. Nobody outside stood a chance against them. A few gangs banding together from within topples the entire government. Do not let yourself be like them, Mark. Listen to those around you. Remember the ideals and the oaths of those before you.

Say the words, Mark.

"No. I don't need you to solve my problems."

He raised his voice back to normal, and turned back to Marewill. "I'm going to go back to my house, alright? Send word if you have any troubles, or if you need anything from us."

 

 

[Through the Living Hope]

4 minutes ago, The Stormfather said:

Mark nodded. "Yeah, you probably should. I doubt that the Marksmen are going to stop, though. I'd bet that a few of them might have gotten convinced from my...speech, I guess, but others will just be more angry with us after that escape."

"I don't know where they'll strike next. I don't see any of us striking back against them anytime soon, though. They... Well, they might try to attack your family, try to use them as leverage. Although if they did, it would be odd that they didn't do that in the first place."

Who's the most vulnerable person for them to strike?

"If Astra and I are both away, they might charge straight in at them. Or, if I'm alone at home, they might show up..." Mark shook his head, mostly just muttering to himself at this point. "No, they've seen what happens when they try to fight me. Their main target so far has been Adris and the Steeles, harassing them when they go out on jobs, but they've never gotten violent, not until the Marksmen showed up."

Where will the hammer fall?

"It wouldn't be Astra, I don't think. The gambling dens she goes to usually have fairly high security, unless they have a Shardbearer, but surely... Surely no Spren would bond one of them." He paused, thinking. "Lee and Sharp[I can't remember which iteration this is] are usually near enough to us, and quite good at fighting themselves."

Depleted of resources, funds and Invested, yet eager to strike again. Where do they go?

The Killer itched at the back of his mind, though Mark ignored him. "I wouldn't be surprised if they attack somebody while they're at work or something..."

Mark, listen to me-

Mark. Remember the oaths you swore. His Spren manifested as some vines creeping along his arm. 

I will remember those who have been forgotten.

I will listen to those who have been ignored...

"I... I can't let him through, Meryyn!" [Honestly not 100% on whether that was the Spren's name or not] "I can't become a Killer again."

Do you have to be a Killer to listen to one? 

"If they're living inside of your head, I think the conditions are a bit different!" 

Words, Mark. Words.

"What Words?" His voice was barely a whisper.

The Words.

"That's not exactly helpful." Mark frowned. "I... I haven't said new Words in six years, Meryyn. Why now?"

Because now is when it is needed for you to speak them.

"Have you been taking lessons on being confusing from a drunk rabbit?"

He heard his Spren huff in his mind. Since when was it able to do that?

Mark, your sword Oaths. You need to uphold them.

"I...don't know if I can."

You've held those oaths for the last six years. You can hold them for however long this conflict lasts. You should know where they're going to strike, but the thoughts of the streets are out of your mind. Has six years living moderately peacefully destroyed all the instincts you built alongside the Rusted?

Alongside Sereine?

"Don't you mention that name. Tell me what you mean to tell me, then leave."

Mark... His Spren sounded dissapointed. Have you heard of how empires fall? You know that the Capitol held control of huge swaths of land across the populated world for decades upon decades. Nobody outside stood a chance against them. A few gangs banding together from within topples the entire government. Do not let yourself be like them, Mark. Listen to those around you. Remember the ideals and the oaths of those before you.

Say the words, Mark.

"No. I don't need you to solve my problems."

He raised his voice back to normal, and turned back to Marewill. "I'm going to go back to my house, alright? Send word if you have any troubles, or if you need anything from us."

 

 

“Mark, are you alright?” Tinker asked. 

[The Stormfather He/Him]

39 minutes ago, Spark of Hope said:

“Mark, are you alright?” Tinker asked. 

"I... Yeah. I'm okay." He paused. "As okay as you can be when waiting for an attack that you don't know where it will fall,"

[Through the Living Hope]

Just now, The Stormfather said:

"I... Yeah. I'm okay." He paused. "As okay as you can be when waiting for an attack that you don't know where it will fall,"

“Mark.. it’ll be okay.”

[The Stormfather He/Him]

13 hours ago, Spark of Hope said:

“Mark.. it’ll be okay.”

"I hope so. I just feel like I've run out of tricks, out of ways to somehow survive when I shouldn't. This time, we might have to win by actually winning, not dumb luck."