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For what seems to be years, all you have experienced is silence. Perhaps you were taken during the first year of conflict, or maybe even just a last minute pick after the decades of deliberation by the Neutrals. Either way, you now dwell in the darkness of your mind. Your body does not move as you sleep in the Void, but during the short bursts of consciousness you think you have, you feel weightless.
Now, you feel a shift. Gravity takes its hold on you once again, pulling you down back to the surface of the.. a world. Flashes of memory rush through your mental being, from your first memories as a child up to the moment you were taken by the gods. They remind you of your task... your commitment to serve them... or die trying.
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The flashes of memory end with a bright light, forcing you awake. You lie down on a large stump of wood upon which is burned a symbol of your deity, its roots extend from its base only to join with the roots of nearby trees. You are in a small clearing in a very thick section of a forest, bushes taller than you blocking most of the view. The only source of light seems to come from high above, where sunlight has managed to break through the tree tops but even that is scarce.
You feel lost, and do not know where to go exactly, but you know your task as a voice from memory echoes:
"Find the others, each one holds a key to find the Pantheon."
Olli sits up. Crosses his legs, and waits. Quietly he breaths out "Where is Jack?"
Isaac walked away from his stump, stumbling into the clearing, his mind still mostly asleep. As he takes in the surroundings he slowly awakes.
Ugh. My head. I'm tall. My voice is different and I have a beard.
What is going on? Find the Pantheon? UGH!
He doubles over in pain as the words of his memory flash through his mind.
I suppose I should find the others.
Raffe awakens curled up in a ball on a surprisingly comfortable tree stump. The bright light was finally receding, and his memories of his sister, his father, the academy with them. All that remained ingrained in his mind's eye as his physical eyes began fluttering open was that final image of his mistress, Lissala, ordering him to awaken once more. Find the others? What others? Surely she hasn't found others to assist me... I was supposedly special... unique.
His thoughts are interruped by the sound of flapping wings. His familiar, Xin, lands right next to his head.
A very good question... this certainly is not Varisia.
"I am not sure, but whereever we are, we should probably get going. My mistress wishes me to find 'others' to obtain the keys to some Pantheon. Not sure what any of that means, but I best obey her."
But which way to go... Deciding to go the same direction Xin went when leaving Azlant with his followers, he begins to head northwest.
With a start Fariza would jolt awake upon the wooden stump. Her eyes opened and she began pulling herself up, her long dark hair spilling across her shoulders and onto the wood. Her head swam with memories, and as she looked around her she saw the gruesome icon of the Mantis God burned into the stump beneath her.
A smile would creep onto her lips. 'My Master Who Walks In Blood,' she whispered in the Infernal tongue 'I see your path, and I shall follow it.'
She looked down at her hands and saw the long, wicked nails that curled from the ends of them. Memories of lives taken for her god, young lives, flowed through her mind and she would swear that she still felt that they were slick with their rich blood.
She stood up upon the stump and even with her considerable height of six foot and two inches was too short to see over the thick bushes surrounding the clearing. Shading her eyes with her hands she'd look up and see the sun beating upon her pale skin. 'Find others, hmmm?' she'd mutter in the common language, her voice still hoarse from the dark language she spoke moments before. She'd sigh and step off of the stump, heading towards one of the wider gaps in the bush that she would see.
NE
Haikyu opens his eyes slowly, blinking a few times in uncertainty. 'It would appear, as though this is real.' he thinks, forcing himself into a sitting position. Glancing from the tree stump to the bushes, Haikyu notes that he was not placed here of his own volition, as there are plenty of sticks around for him to have made a proper nest, not to sleep on a stump like some kind of halfling.
Sitting up, taking in a view of the clearing, Haikyu's memories begin to return to him. 'Ah, of course.' he thinks. "Grandmother Crow, lead me to the flock." he mutters, cocking his head and sweeping his vision around at the treetops.
Finally standing, Haikyu notes with some pleasure that his favourite stick is with him. Picking up the large staff in his talons, he glances around, trying to choose a direction based on the position of the sun. Realising that he has no idea where he is going, and that he can't possibly know where to go, he begins to head NW, but pauses after a second, and turns around. For some reason that he cannot describe, the tengu is compelled to travel South, walking between the trees, and searching for a path, and the reason he was brought.
Olli still sits dazed upon his stump of wood while the others wander through the forest.
As you walk through a thicker portion of the woods where the shadows are deep, you notice that one of your pockets seem illuminated from the inside. Digging into it, you feel a smooth round shaped object inside. As you pull it out, you remember it as the only gift the mantis god has given you, a plain white orb only slightly larger than a marble.
Now deep in the shadows of the forest, it seems to emit very faint. Turning it around, you realize that most of the light is concentrated on one direction only no matter how you turn it around, south-west. This spot of light trembles from time to time, but the general direction is unmistakeable.
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This damn forest...
Isaac started. He had never known himself to curse before, but he also knew he wasn't a 20-something man before, so all sorts of things were new. He decided to try going another direction.
The brambles caught on Farizas hair and she'd swipe and snip at the branches with her long nails. As the sunlight above her was blocked by the thick canopy she'd notice a faint glow illuminating the leaves. She'd stop and look for its source, finding it emanating from one of her coats breast pockets. She'd gasp as she realized what it was and the changeling would take the small, precious pearl-like object and gaze upon it.
One side of it was alight from within, shining always back the way she came. She would smile and wicked words would spill from her lips 'Thank you, Bloody Master,'.
She held the pearl in her fingers as she turned around and began heading back to the clearing. When she returned she would stand upon the stump, but she would turn her head to the side as she was surprised the light was not shining towards the burned icon of the Mantis God. It continued lighting a path out from the clearing. 'I see your path, Master, i will follow.' She could taste the faint hint of blood in her mouth, the dark tongue tearing at her feeble mortal throat.
She would follow the path that her gods gift showed her.
SW
After continuing to find these others Lissala had spoken off (Or any sign of where I am for that matter) Raffe stops for a moment.
"Do you have any ideas Xin?" he asks the raven on his shoulder.
The bird cocks his head to the left and does a decent facsimile of a sigh.
After listening to the bird, Raffe nods. Not much I didn't already know.
Taking a moment to concentrate, Raffe casts Ray of Frost at the nearest tree, using it to mark a small section of it. That done, he the heads due East from there.
As the goddess' words fade from his memory, Isaac comes to a realization.
Come on, Isaac! Use your head!
Isaac mutters quietly under his breath as his hands make a few quick slapping motions.
A small spot of bark on the tree froze slightly but it starts melting almost immediately, leaving only a tiny mark where a portion of the bark broke off.
While you were doing so however, you notice that your component pouch seem to be glowing from within.
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As you scan the area, you can only feel faint traces of magic to the north east of you. It's rapidly fading now though... from movement or duration of a trace, you do not know which.
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After Olli clears his mined and obtains control over his nausea, he prepared from memory the acanic power of which he studied. Then he stands up and walks over to his backpack. A sinking feeling sets in, when will I see Hiara again? He walks over to pick up his backpack and feels movement within. He unstraps the top flap and a powerful raven flies out. Coming around and lands on Olli's arm.
Speaking an angelic language, but with the eloquence of a toad, Jack cries out "Saah aais nel!" Almost singing, but with anger. Olli responds and Jack sings back a question.
Olli: I know my friend. Thank you for coming with me.
Jack: Where are we, anyway?
Olli looked around. Felt in the beauty of the greenery. Stood in silence.
"I feel compelled, though," Olli said. "Lets wander," knowing that Jack didn't speak common, he like to talk to him in the language anyway. He lifted his arm and Jack flew high into the air.
He placed his backpack on, over his robes, and picked up his staff, picked up his spell book and headed east.
Noticing that the position of the light was moving in an unexpected direction as he walked, Haikyu changed his mind yet again. 'Should always trust my first reaction.' he thought to himself, turning and heading in a Northerly direction.
As Raffe begins to head east Xin flaps his wings and caws excitedly, jumping off his shoulder. It is then that Raffe notices the glow coming from his spell component pouch.
Odd... I don't remember casting anything that required reagents recently...
Fishing inside, Raffe finds a plain white marble is the source. He spins it around, but the glow never ceases to remain on the sphere's portion that is currently going north east. Almost like a compass, but one that doesn't point north...
Xin interrupts his studies.
Oh yes... now I remember... she had sent me to find it in that Varisian ruin... she never said what it was or why I needed it though.
"Yes Xin, you are right. I guess it was meant for now. It seems to be pointing north east... shall we continue heading that way?"
Xin nods and lands again on his shoulder.
Isaac immediately takes off toward the source of the aura.
I suppose that's as good a place to start as ever.
Haikyu hears definite rustling of the bushes behind him. When he turns around to look though, it suddenly stops.
Before he can investigate further, he notices the sounds of a raven behind him (again? ). The languange it was speaking was unknown but felt good to the ears. After a short while, from out the bushes he sees a frail looking man with a raven on his shoulder (Olli). He does not seem to notice you yet and continues walking towards the east, although the raven on his shoulder stopped 'talking' and is now looking at you.
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Issac maintains his concentration while walking slowly. He realizes now that the trace is definitely moving, heading southwest in fact, but its fading fast until it suddenly dissapears from your range.
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As Raffe continues to trek through the jungle brush, following the token Lissala provided, he stops for a minute. He speaks to Xin in a quiet voice.
Xin nods in understanding and flies over head, scanning the brush. Raffe does likewise, though keeping a low profile just in case.
The changeling held the pearl before her and would continue to follow its light. As she walked her other hand would reach out to her side, allowing her curled nails to carve shallow gashes in the trees beside her, mostly out of distaste for her surroundings and partially in case she would need to return to the clearing.
Well. That didn't work as I hoped. Still, not as if I have any other ideas.
Isaac continues in the direction of the aura.
The languange it was speaking was unknown but felt good to the ears.
Haikyu observed the half-elf for a moment, cocking his head at the raven as if to ask it what its business was being on someone's shoulder. Noticing that the man, taller than Haikyu, looked equally lost, Haikyu let out a greeting caw to the raven, and then began speaking in the Common tongue to the man. "Are you of the flock?"
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Fariza hears someone behind her ruffling through the bushes. It's unmistakeably heading towards her direction.
The source of magic abruptly stopped moving and you are able to catch up to it. After a while of walking, you are certain that it is behind the trio of very thick trees in front of you.
Ok, moving closer. Don't know what's happening, though. Better get closer and investigate.
Isaac will sneak up to the trees and hide behind one, slowly and quietly working his way around to see what's on the other side, ready to jump back behind the tree if it looks dangerous.
Not seeing anything, and with Xin seemingly not seeing anything either, Raffe presses forward toward the north east. Still, he is wary and has his quarterstaff ready in his hands. Xin holds the orb for him in his beak.
As she hears the sounds of movements behind her Fariza would suddenly stop in her tracks and turn around. Placing her marble back into the pocket of her coat she would stand be be ready to meet whatever was behind her before. Her hands raised and ready to strike with her claws if needed.
Olli never met a Tengu before. He always wanted to. Their lifestyle is fascinating to him. "They call me book wyrm. What may I call you?"
Isaac raises his hands up in an arcane pose. His face broadcasts his fear quite clearly, but he still stands his ground.
S-Stay back! A-are you one of the people I am supposed to find? I don't know what's happening here. His words come out increasingly quickly until his voice strains like he's trying not to cry.
Haikyu cocks his head at the half-elf, noting the man did not answer his question, before leaning forward into a deep bow. "I am Haikyu." He paused for a second before continuing. "I search for the flock."
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@Book: Yes, Knowledge Local works just fine and you recall that Tengu's are rare but not a dangerous race from where you are from.
@Issac & Fariza: Yes Issac, you were actually following the magical traces of Fariza's orb. You come out very silently from behind the trees, and despite the fact that Fariza was facing the bushes to your left, you spoke loud enough for her to hear you.
@Raffe: /
You do not see or hear anything unusual although your familiar can hear very faint echoes of voices. It is not clear yet where they come from however as it seems to come from all around the bird as it scouts ahead.
Xin shakes his feathered head as he lands.
Blast... still at least that means I am on the right path. I guess there is nothing for it but to head forward... and hope these "others" aren't overtly hostile.
Raffe, quarterstaff in hand, continues to head forward toward the north east through the underbrush, keeping his eyes open.
"Pleased to meet you, Haikyu. This is Jack." Gestures to the raven perched in the thicket. Jack sings a greeting.
"I would be part of the flock you speak of, sensing from the feeling in my gut. There must be others, shall we?" A moments hesitation, as he looks around, not really sure of which way is which. "Soooo, which way did you come from?"
As Book Wyrm talks about the feeling in his gut, Haikyu takes a few moments to preen his feathers, feeling oddly embarrassed by his disheveled state in front of both Book Wyrm and Jack. "I came from the South. I followed the light." He gestures upwards, cocking his head at it.
"Tell us, Book Wyrm, have you any idea where we may be?"
She stood motionless for a while, awaiting whatever it was that she had heard following her to reveal itself. The woods around her seemed to have become quieter, and for a moment she wondered if it had simply been her imagination. Just before turning around and continuing her path she heard a voice call out "S-Stay back! A-are you one of the people I am supposed to find? I don't know what's happening here."
She started and spun around to face where she had heard the voice come from, her fingers fanning out and getting ready to slash with her claws. Hair flying as her head turned and faced the young man standing in the unusual stance. For a moment his words were said too fast for her to fully understand, but after a second she realized what he had said.
"Supposed to find?" She lowered her hands and tried to effect a relaxed posture, though she still kept her dark gaze on the man and his hands. "Yes, I probably am. My name is Fariza, I recently awoke here in this forest." The tall Changeling nodded towards the man "And you?"
I... I... ok. My name is Isaac. I just woke up here too. I have this orb and I remember things the old lady told me. She told me to find the others but I don't know who the others are and I don't know where I am... his voice gets progressively more and more strained before it finally seems like he's about to burst into tears before he stops and recomposes himself.
Sorry. I'm just very confused. I feel very strange. My memories are all gone and I don't know where I am or what we are doing here.
Fariza tapped her chin with the end of her nail as the man spoke. He sounded nervous and confused about being here. She coolly raised an eyebrow as he seemed to talk himself almost to tears, she wasn't expecting He Who Walks In Blood to have her meet such a person.
"An orb, you say?" She'd reply, unconcerned for the mans mental state. She would attempt a charming smile and reach out one of her long nailed hands, stooping slightly to reach his height. "May i see it?" After a moment she added "Please?"
Fascinating he thought as he watched the Tengu preen himself. "Oh no...no idea." Book said, with an aloof look on his face.
Jack cocked his head and sang out...
"Please answer my friends question, but shall we continue towards the light?"
Hearing the conversations (or at least those he can understand), Raffe decides that he has indeed found some of these others he is looking for.
Well, Lissala wanted me to find them, I found them. Time to make an appearance and see if the next logical step is to kill them, dominate them or work with them.
Raffe presses forward into the small clearing seeing another man with a raven... and a bird man?
Seeing the other raven, Xin cocks his head to the left and calls to it.
Raffe rolls his eyes.
"No, let me do the introductions Xin... stay on my shoulder please. Well, you to must be the others that our goddess Lissala spoke of. I am Raffe Crymoff, professional wizard and chosen hand of Lissala. This is my familiar, Xin."
Raffe bows and doing so attempts to identify the bird creature the man was talking to.
Um, you seem nice I guess, but I'm not too sure if I'm supposed to do that... Do you have one?
Isaac looks suddenly concerned and takes a few steps back.
Hearing the crow of a language very unfamiliar to him, Olli faces the noise and sees a man talking to a bird, what a wierdo, laughing to himself.
Olli, without any forethought, responds to the man, "Hello Raffe, folks call me book wyrm. I am afraid I do not serve Lissala."
He then thinks back to what he knows of Lissala and Irori's relationship with them.
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@Issac: You're utterly convinced that Fariza is a nice person.
@Raffe: You recall just enough Tengu's are a rather uncommon race, but especially so in Cheliax where oppression reigns supreme. From your native homeland, they are known to be either thieves or swordsmen, highly skilled and appreciated in their respective fields.
@Book: You are certain that there is no direct relationship between Lissala and Irori. But it is your belief that, even though Lissala is evil, Irori can respect her strict adherence to her ideals. Also, you recall that Lissala was introduced to the kingdom of Thassilon more than 11,000 years ago by the First King Xin, the same name as the raven perched on Raffe's shoulder.