Ryland attempts to open the door to the house. "Must have been the wind"
the door opens easily to your touch.
before rhoekk can step through the door, the door slams shut.
"Must have been." Fia smiles wanly
Analin slowly stands and dusts herself off. "Has that happened before, Ryvin?"
"It has not," Ryvin replies. "Last time a portal slammed shut on me, the tree was on fire. This one's fine."
Hearing a door slam behind him, Dengorin draws his sword and turns, looking to see what threats may be in there, but seeing no one.
"I'm not sure what happened," Ryvin says, looking at the tree with an appraising eye. "Blood and ashes... I've half a mind to push on back to the original gateway, but the fire is still with us. You two want to try again?"
Ryland walks in and looks at the aiel warrior. "What are you doing?"
Rhoekk looks back from where he kneels next to the door, "Another of this place's... idiosyncrasies. The door was locked when I returned. I was able to bypass the lock, but then... I saw the portal inside close when this door opened. It was open but a moment, but then it slammed shut again, of it's own accord. I'm not certain why, but I'm reluctant to open it again, in case there is more going on here than I understand."
Alathea speaks slowly, although the alarm rising in her voice is readily apparent. "I...I do not know what happened. We cannot open the portal again, but I believe that Ryvin can, yes? But...she may need to find another maple tree to do so." She looks at Argrand, her worry written all across her face. "From where we are, we are no help to her. We can only hope that the Light keeps her, yes?"
"So where are we then Aes Sedai and where are your other companions?" Argrand asks Alathea.
"We are...I do not know where exactly we are," Alathea admits. "But this is where we came from to enter the forest, yes? It is a place connected to a ter'angreal, one that allows travel to many places. I do not know where it is in the world, or even if it is at all."
With a worried shake of her head, Alathea answers the other, more important question. "I do not know where my friends are," she murmurs. "I hope that they are here, too--there is more to this place than just this room, yes? I hope that they are safe, but I am much more concerned with those I know are not."
Analin sighs. "Try again, then if that happens again we can make for the other portal."
Not seeing how she can be of any use to either group of her as yet missing companions, and feeling a need to be doing something, Fia returns to the blood soaked hall to try to piece together whatever she can regarding Litheene.
Suddenly overcome with dizziness, Dengorin leans back against the wall, sliding down to the floor. Looking at Alathea , he says, "Fortune prick me, I do feel very weak. I do no suppose you can do anything about it, can you?"
Alathea pulls herself away from the wall she's leaning against. "Of course, my lord. I am sorry to have left you injured for this long, yes? It has been a trying day." Kneeling at his side, she takes his hands in hers and wraps his body in healing weaves. Seeing nothing more important that she can do at the moment, she knits together not just his superficial wounds, but also the deep ones that a more hurried healing would miss.
The healing takes care of most of Dengorin's wounds, but he still feels incredibly weak and looks ashen. He suspects that whatever those pod things were, they had done far more damage than appeared. Still, he says, "Thank you."
as you all stand about wondering what to do next within your dome, you all spot an odd flaming shambling mound moving through the burning woods. small flames burn along its edges, and you realize with a start that you see a Trolloc on fire.
it slowly limps forward, left leg dragging in the ash, its gaze clouded and unfocused. it's shoulder slumps to the right side, right arm hanging limp as it swings forward and back with the movement. It bumps into a tree and stutter steps in an attempt to keep its balance. Charred body clings to its frame, and you see the unmistakable whiteness of bone sticking out from its chest.
as it rights itself and begins to walk again, you have the odd sensation that it is looking at you, as it begins to shuffle its feet towards you.
Ryvin tries to initiate the link again...
"Alright. One more try," Ryvin says as she draws on the Power. "Nothing fancy this time. Everyone pile in. If I get separated from you, use the keys in the gate room to get me. Here we... go..."
The One Power flows into the Key.
I'm a bit discombobulated.. like usual ;) Which door do I hear Alathea's voice through? The portal room?
As to perception / survival, her thought was to begin at the 'finger' spot and track Litheene's movements from there. However, if that was in the portal room, she would see Rhoekk paused outside that door and wouldn't go in if he advised against it.
"Alathea? Is that you?" Fia queries from the other side of one of the doors.
Argrand looks to Alathea, "So your friends did return here then. But are you sure it is them and not a trick of the Dark One Aes Sedai Alathea?"
Argrand draws his blade just in case.
With a weary sigh, Dengorin stands and prepares for combat, while hoping that this is one of the other people he had found.
Alathea scowls and motions for the men to sheathe their blades. "There will be no need for that, yes?"
Hobbling on still-too-weary legs, Alathea hurries to the door and throws it open. "Fiallain! It is so good to see you, my sister! I was worried that we were separated from everyone else, yes?" After embracing her, she looks the other woman up and down, searching for wounds or burns. "Are you well? Did you take injury in the woods?"
Fia smiles slightly and returns Alathea's embrace. "I see you, sister. No, I am unhurt, and am glad you made it back. Do you need healing? Is everyone else with you?" She frowns before continuing, as if she had noticed that not all have yet returned. "We have a problem. Litheene...." She cuts off suddenly with a frown and a glance at the two strange men, one of whom with blade half-drawn. She grabs her sister's elbow and draws her away before whispering.
Argrand sheathes his blade, "Well met my Lady" he bows to Fiallain though his face strains to smile at her.
Sheathing his sword, Dengorin tiredly leans against the wall and says, "It do be good to see that she do know others here. I do no think I do be up to a fight."
Looking at Fialla he says, "I do greet you, Aiel. My name do be Dengorin Kaltaneos, and I am a Hunter for the Horn. Although, in truth, I may return to Illian after this day. It do be far more dangerous than I did think."
Fiallain glances up from her whisperings and then straightens to her full height. She gives a slight nod to Dengorin, then another look for Argrand. The aiel woman rarely missed much, and had not failed to notice the strain in his expression although she wasn't sure if it was for her, or for the whispering.
"I see you Dengorin Kaltaneos, and you, wetlander. I am Fiallain Bo'Airr of the Chareen Aiel. May you find shade this day. Forgive my rudeness."
If the door as yet remains open, Fia gestures for those outside that they may as well enter if they wished, and then shuts it. Oddly, she begins searching the room...
"Where are the others? How did you get separated?"
"I am Argrand Malean, Fiallain is it?
Alathea Aes Sedai, Dengorin, I and my steed walked through then the door simply slammed shut. Inexplicable, but then this entire place is a wonder.
A strange group assembled here. Aiel and Aes Sedai working together. What brings you all out here to the Borderlands? I was under the impression that the Aes Sedai were against the Dragon and the Aiel, unfortunately, for him."
As you scrutinize him Fia, you notice the Asha'man pin on the left side of his chest. The sword sheathed on his back is heron marked.
Argrand pulls a bag of oats from his saddle to feed the horse, "Rest easy my friend".
Alathea nods in agreement with Argrand. "What this man says is true. I thought that Ryvin and Analin Sedai were right behind us, yes? But when I turned to help them through the doorway, it had already shut."
Turning to Argrand, Alathea bows slightly. "I am no Aes Sedai, Asha'man. I know that you mean respect, but you should not give me a title that I cannot claim, yes?"
To Dengorin, she says, "If you wish to return to your home, we will arrange for such as soon as we can,yes? But for now, you are most welcome here."
Argrand shrugs, "You are a woman who wields the One Power but yet not an Aes Sedai?"
The trolloc slowly moves forward, its gait odd and disjointed. Seeing you and your shapes as it gets closer, it raises its arms as if wanting to grab you. it mouth hangs open, fangs and teeth gleam in the firelight.
slowly it moves closer to you.
Looking at the writing on the wall, you see that whatever came over Litheene, it has excellent penmanship, even if it was using something other than a quill
Alathea's shoulders slump even further. "I trained in the Tower, and I was once Accepted, yes? I had hoped to take the Shawl before much longer, but then the Tower cracked into two factions. I refused to be raised by the false Amyrlin, and it seems that I have burned my bridges with the true Amyrlin's faction as well."
Argrand shakes his head, "Does a test make a man a warrior? No it is what is in heart that does that, some men can swallow their fear and fight against all odds and some cannot. I believe the same can be said of anyone pursing anything. Does a test make an Aes Sedai or do your actions dictate that you have the heart of an Aes Sedai? Think on that Alathea before you despair".
"Will someone put the wretched thing out of its misery before we go?" Ryvin growls.
Keelix moves forward, his great blade coming up as he adopts a defensive posture, Swallow Takes Flight. As he closes on the Trolloc, the greatsword slashes at the beast, its keen edge seeking the Trolloc's lifeblood.
Ryvin focuses her gaze on the Trolloc while the gateway opens and tells the others, simply: "Go. Go, go, GO!"
While the others pile through, the Ebou Dari calls out to the Trolloc: