RPG: The Gift and the Riddle

[Pirate Toast]

OOC: Well to clear things up I have Tim (Tetsanosuke) and Corey(Faro Domisai) as Co-Gm and this is where you all introduce your characters


BIC: FOR almost as long as she could remember, Maerad had been imprisoned behind walls. She was a slave in Gilman's Cot, and hers was the barest of existences: an endless cycle of drudgery and exhaustion and dull fear.

Gilman's Cot was a small mountain hamlet beyond the borders of the wide lands of the Inner Kingdom of Annar. It nestled at the nape of a bleak valley on the East side of the mountains of Annova, where the range split briefly and ran out, like two claws, from near the Northern end. Its virtue, as far as the Thane Gilman was concerned, was its isolation: here he could be tyrant of his domain, with nothing to check him.

It was a well-defended fortress, though no one came to attack. At the cot's back was the stone cliff of the Outwall, the precipice cutting sheer some thousand feet from the Landrost, the highest peak in that part of the range. Around the cot were walls of roughly dressed stone, rising to a height of thirty feet from a base twenty feet wide. They tapered to four feet at the top, enough room for two men to walk abreast. At the front were stout wooden gates which eight men or a wagon could enter with ease. The gates were barred at night and most days, except for hunts and when the hillmen came in their big wagons to trade goods, salted meat and cheeses and dried apples for swords and arrows and buckets and nails.

About a hundred and fifty souls lived there: the Thane Gilman and his wife, beaten to a shadow after bearing him twelve children, of which five still lived, and his henchmen and their women and bastards. The rest were slaves like Maerad, captured in raids in Gilman's youth, or bargained for at the gate, or simply born there. They lived in dormitories, long huts at the side of the cots, under the shadows of the walls.

The buildings were ancient, older even than Gilman guessed, the walls raised in forgotten times by grim Northern men to keep out wolves, and worse. Under Gilman, the walls were mostly used to keep people in. The small enclosed meadows were tilled and harvested by slave labour, his tables and cloths and cheeses and sour drinks were all made by slaves, and Gilman wanted none running away. His many guards served to reinforce his tyranny, and, not inconsequentially, gratified his own opinion of his authority. Like many who ruled far vaster territories, Gilman was not above the pettiness of vanity.

If anyone did escape, there was nowhere to run to; their most likely fate was to be hunted down by untamed beasts in the forests that stretched below the mountains. And even to this isolated cot came rumours of stirrings in the outside world: whispers of unnamed shadows which haunted the forest deeps, or of forgotten evils which now woke and walked in the daylit world. Grim though Gilman's Cot was, these vague stories of horror worked as well as any wall, gainsaying any attempt to leave.

Maerad was still too young to have given up hope of escape, although as she approached adulthood, and began better to understand her own limitations, she understood it to be a childish dream. Freedom was a fantasy she gnawed obsessively in her few moments of leisure, like an old bone with just a trace of meat; and like all illusions, it left her hungrier than before, only more keenly aware of how her soul starved within her, its wings wasting with the despair of disuse.




The Springturn began like every other day of Maerad's life, with the iron clang of the dawn bell wrenching her from sleep. It dumped her on the rim of consciousness, sore and heavy and blind, and her dreams sank into the darkness of her mind, as if they had never been.

Yawning, she staggered out of the slaves' quarters to the courtyard well, her skin wincing at the icy air. She hunched her cloak around her shoulders, and, scarcely glancing at the dim shapes of the buildings around her, pumped some water and splashed it over her head. Gasping, she shook the water off her heavy hair, and her breath plumed in white swirls out of her nostrils and through her chattering teeth. Her limbs still felt like lead, her face was numb as a brick, but at least she was awake.

She was drying herself with her cloak when she heard a heavy step behind her. Maerad turned quick as a wild dog, her hackles bristling: but it was only Lothar, the huge, doltish man in charge of the buttery.

"Late night?" asked Lothar, sniggering.

Maerad turned contemptuously back to the well.

"You could hear the lords until cockcrow," he said. "And who took you last night?"

"Shut your muddy mouth, peabrain," she said shortly. "Or I'll put the evil eye on you." She turned to face him, glaring, and began to raise her arms.

Lothar went pale and crossed his hands before his eyes. "Ward! Ward!" he cried. "I meant no harm, Maerad."[/FONT]

"Then keep your mouth from evil gossip," she hissed. "Get! Go!"

Lothar scuttled off, and Maerad permitted herself a grim smile before she savoured a precious minute to herself. The cot was only just stirring; it was before cockcrow, and there were a still a few moments to the summons bell. Most of the slaves huddled greedily into their little patches of sleep-warmth, reluctant to leave until the very last second.

Maerad leaned back and breathed in hard, gazing up at the distant stars, tiny points of frosty fire high over the mountains. She searched as she always did for the dawn star Ilion, burning brightly over the Eastern horizon, and sniffed a new freshness in the early air. It's the beginning of spring, she thought. Despite her tiredness, her spirits lifted. Then she looked down at her callused hands and sighed. But not for me; I'm already withering. What will become of me?

She stared at the miserable dwellings around her with a dull hatred. Apart from the Thane's quarters and the Great Hall, which were better maintained than most, the cot consisted of dirt-floored stone hovels, roofed with rotting wooden shingles. Many were crumbling under their age and had been badly patched with clay and straw poultices, giving them an odd, diseased appearance. They stank of rotting middens and human filth and despair. From inside the dormitory Maerad could hear the high, thin cry of a sick child, and someone else shouting angrily, and then the dry sob of a woman. What will become of me? she asked herself again, uselessly; and then the clang of the summons bell broke into her thoughts and she shook herself and tramped to the commonroom for her meagre breakfast of thin grey porridge, and to be assigned her tasks for the day.

That morning Maerad was sent to the milchyard, Lothar's section. She grimaced at her bad luck. She would have to deal with him all day after she had slighted him, and today she was especially tired. Last night had been one of the Thane Gilman's riots, a special gathering to mark the first spring hunt, and his men had come back hungry, wild haired, spattered with blood, quarrelsome, shouting for beer and voka and roast meats and music. For Gilman it was one of the high points of the year, and the work of all the slaves was doubled for the day. Maerad had worked an extra shift in the kitchen, turning and basting the deer carcasses on the iron spits. Then, because she was the only musician in the cot, she had sat in the Great Hall all night playing the ballads she found so tedious: tales of the slaughter of deer and the valour of men and dogs; and later, drinking songs, and the bawdies, which Maerad hated most of all.

The Great Hall was a grand name for what was really a large barn roughly crossbeamed, with a blackened hole in the roof to let out the smoke from the great fire that always burned in the middle of the floor. Maerad sat with her lyre in a corner, blank-faced to hide her contempt, while twenty men seated at a long, roughly hewn wooden table set against the wall tore meat from bones with their bare hands and drank themselves insensible on the voka, a harsh, eye-stinging spirit distilled from turnips and swedes. They hadn't bothered to wash, and their acrid smell and the woodsmoke made her eyes water. No one tried to paw her, to her infinite relief; but even so, the hot red eyes of the men made her feel filthy. As the night wore on the hall grew hotter and stuffier, and Maerad felt dizzy with the reek and her tiredness. She played badly, something she seldom did even in such circumstances, but nobody noticed.

The riot finished shortly before dawn, when the last drunken thug crashed face down on the long table and snored among the rest, who lay dribbling on their hands or fallen in their own vomit. Then at last, trembling with weariness, Maerad picked up her lyre and left the hall, stumbling between sleeping dogs, tossed bones and filth, spilt voka and snoring bodies to the sweet air outside. She stank, but she was so exhausted she had simply made her way to the women slave quarters and slipped onto her meagre straw pallet for a bare hour of sleep.

[Nespa]

Mutt stood up a hill looking down at looking down the road wondering how much further she would have to travel till she would find a city or villiage. she yawned a bit 'hmm maybe i should consider taking a small nap' she looked at the sky, the sun was coming up but the wind was stil chilly. Scratching her head and probely causing a few lice anoyance she started to walk again deciding that a nap would be better when the sun was up. In this cold she could stil get sick though her health was probely like iron by now. Also she did not want to be a sitting duck for slave hunters or raiders, she was fairly close to the mountains and had heard alot of people suddenly dissapeared around these area 'though i doubt they could have use for a mutt' she grinned a bit since before she became a mutt, she was the daughter of a rather wealthy farmer however since her brother was loved more she decided adventure was more her thing. And so far as she knew they had not even started a search of placed posters with rewards around which she feared a bit in the begining. She saw a small tavern in the distance but remaint her calm pace maybe she could get a job there but they didn't need anyone she would just leave again.

[Ranryou Roga]

Kotaro slowly walk in the forest as a bug buzzed beside his head. He ingored it like always as he thought about his next move. he had been wondering around the lands for as longas he could remember. HIs body had grew stronger over time and now he was as strong as anyone he had killed overtime. Kotaro continued to walk at his normal slow pace intel the bug again interupaed. Kotaro went to hit the bug with his strong arm but the bug grabbed it and quikcly jumpped over it landed on his left side. Kotaro growled as he continued to walk.

*******************


That was the thrid time Kotaro-Kun had tryed to hit him. Mizuki was used to it now but Kotaro was trying more and more everyday. Mizuki followed Kotaro even if he was older and wiser then Kotaro-kun. Muzuki had felt a sense of lostness inside kotaro when he had first met him. he never felt anything like that in all his years,but for some reason he understood some of the lonlyness inside of Kotaro's heart. Mizuki seemd to buz around Kotaro has he called his name asking where they were going. He was stopped when Kotaro had finally got a hit. For the first time in the 3 years they had travel together Kotaro-kun was never able to even come close to Mizuki's face. Now he had finlly hit him and it seemed to make him happy. Mizuki grabbed his nose as he looked up at kotaro his sense of childness came into effect as he seemd to turn into a type of child's toy.

"Kotora-Kun that really hurt........you are starting to become meaner then you ususaslly are but that ok but that really did hurt,and it makes you happy doesnt it?" Mizuki continued to whimper as Kotaro's body faded away in the distance. Mizuki's eyes widened as he noticed the growls from behind.

"Kotaro-kun wait for me!!!" Mizuki ran forward and ran straight into Kotaro's back as Kotaro slowly came to a stop.

"Kotaro whats wrong this time?" Mizuki's eyes widened in shock as he look past kotaor's large body and into the forest ahead of them.

[Luzifer]

When the sun found Bayard it was on one of his rare excursions outside of his room. He was in the orchard of his village running a quick check of this years apple blossoms to make sure they would be fertilized and produce the properly swollen fruits. He was pleased enough with the results that he didn't expect to have to come down from his room until his food an water supplies ran low, which wasn't likely to be soon because he had used his sojourn to resupply his room with the food and water needed to last him at least two more weeks.

He carried his bill at his side, more a habit than because he would need it. There were no apples to pick and no monsters to fight so the bill had no use in either of its two functions at the moment. Still, whenever he left his room he carried it with him and leaned on it like a walking staff much as he was doing now. His brilliant red hair only sharpened in hue under the orange light of the new-dawn sun, that bright eye's natal color bringing out his own. But that color of hair was unusual in his village. Most people had blonde hair or perhaps brunette but he was the only red haired person. It made him appear... otherworldly and perhaps he was. His light grey eyes (verging perhaps on the white) were also strange. The flesh which he wore was slim, he ate rarely and would ritually deny himself food for long periods so that he could focus on his own meditations. And also to distract him from the voices. For that, it was still somewhat apparent that he was no weakling. While not among the poorer families that had to eke out an existance in the fields, he was still well enough aquainted with labor and the drills of the town militia that he could be counted own to defend himself against the average foe. That was not to say he was a master... not at weapons no... he was a poet... the skill that he possessed with the bill was only as much as he needed to have in order to be left alone to his writings.

So having done his necessary work Bayard began to walk back home before the people of the villiage began to stir. That had been the reason for Bayard staying up until before dawn to leave the house, he did not want to have to be out when people were around. He perfered to be left alone and while he could laugh and pass jokes with the best of them, it always seemed rather pointless to him and not something he went out of his way to do, especially if he had a good concept to ponder, as he always did. So he snuck out where he could, allowing himself the solitude to think and ponder alone.

But even at night there was always the voices of those damn birds. He could here, even now, their fight conversations. It had been almost a year since he had begun hearing their voices after having spent three days unconcious after a poem had consumed him and not let him go until he had finished it. Ever since that time he had been able to here the birds voices, especially crows, ravens, and other carrion eaters. These vessals to the afterlife had tried to talk to him before and he had killed more then one of their number so that he could remain alone... he had even kept one of the skulls from a raven as a knick-knack on his writing desk.

The black birds always talked to him about how things should be and how he should act. They had a strange manner of speaking, ornate and... archaic that reminded him of how kings of lands long dead would talk. They offered him intimacy, the ability to feel and to sense the world as but an extension of himself... or rather the ability to recognize himself as an extension of the world. He feared such intimacy. He wanted solitude. He wanted to be his own being.

He entered his room. Getting up had been a slightly annoying affair as he had traded words with his father, who was just rising, 'Good mornin' lad' he had said

'Good day, sir' he replied with an eveness of tone and a defference of expression that denoted to the two men to seperate realities.

' Up all night again, I see'

'Yes... there was a midnight oil fire in the orchard, I just had to see it' Bayard smirked off... his father laughed briefly then the two men moved own and put each other out of their respective minds.

Now that he was in his room he sat at his desk... the thought of the ravens had given him a poetic idea... but how to capture it? How to meld the spiritual beauty of the concept with its ugly physical nature? the duality of it... the duality of it! Of course! One of the the primary philosophic and mythical motifs! The raven represented that. In eating the dead they took the soul to the after life which was a beautiful exhonoration of the soul but at the same time they digested the body which was disgusting. The planar nature of existance perhaps? Echoing the transfer from physical to spiritual? Now... yes... yes...

he wrote

All kinds of things I fear
as I lie and dying here
some stranger comes to me
and says "be calm you will be free
from flesh and mournful bone
into a place where you atone
and I will take you there
when I fly and take to air
your gore will soon take flight
inside my belly into the night
where you will find reprieve
and your family will surely grieve
but I shall keep you warm
though you must give up your sacred form
and blend yourself and die
release yourself into the sky
your body leave behind
while your bone i slowly grind
'til all you were is gone
then we take wing into the dawn"

[Opinionated]

The coin whirled around the table until a hand slammed it flat. Rahgnild kept his hand flat as he pulled the coin to the edge and then flipped it over into his palm. Heads. He set the coin between his thumb and forefinger, and repeated the action. Heads again. Well, for getting a coin so round, he could forgive the maker for stamping heads on both sides.He was through licking and biting all the coins he'd gotten of this newest questionable job. Everything was as it appeared, which was a good sign. Also a good sign was that this tavern was partially owned by the men who just paid him. The Pig Sticker, he thought, could stay under his shoulder. No Songbird was he, utterly lacking an ear for music. Thankfully, there were kindred spirits in the world who shared a laugh when he first introduced the name of Songbird. Using one of his longer knives, Rahgnild stabbed a peice of meat and pulled it to his mouth. He savored the juicy chunk, bought with tainted money.Rahgnild had been hearing about this place supposedly nearby called Gilman's Cot, known for it's metals and a small part in the slave trade. The slaving buisness was one that he'd yet tried out. Slaving, supposedly, was profitable, but limited in scale and the Songbirds in charge were quicker to pick up on it. Nearby, though, could be anywhere from here to the afterlife. And being so opposed to life-threatening risk, he wasn't sure he wanted in. Still, it'd be nice to get a lay of the land there.

[Nespa]

Mutt looked at the tavern from outside it seemed decent enough. Scratching her head again she moved in and glanced around the room, her eyes rested on a man with a coin in the corner and assumed he was a wanderer like her. Which probely meant she would better off leaving him alone, she walked to the tavern owner whom looked at her in slight distaste. Pulling her shirt up her shoulder though it almost imidaitly sank down she spoke to him "do you need a pair hands" the owner pulled a face as he spoke "you can clean out the horse stables and sleep there, i don't want a flearidden mutt like you in here". Mutt shrugged and nodded turning and walking out again, she stopped and glanced at the man with the coin again before moving outside again.

[Petrol Gas]

Lenuss walked into the small town slowly. He had been traveling for days in the wild between these two towns and found the sight of civilization a relief. He found himself gazing at the small village with scrutiny and corrected himself in an attempt at optimism. "It's just another normal town. Look at the normal tavern. I bet lots of normal people meet there." He thought to himself. "I'll see if I can make some money before I take some rest." But upon further scrutiny of the village, as he walked towards the tavern, Lenuss realized that besides the one tavern and a few houses the whole town consisted of farms. He knew that mountain farming meant frustrated farmers and so he braced him self for a stingy crowd.

As soon as he walked into the tavern two men in the back of the room began to stare at him. He walked over to the nearest table and sat down. Besides the two men in the back of the room there were four other people that he could see. They all looked particularly rough and angry. Lenuss didn't pay them any attention however and ordered a drink for himself. "Well if the rest of this town is as angry and upset as these guys then maybe I'll relax first." He thought. The sound of a coin rolling caught his attention from across the room but he stopped looking when he saw the man who had dropped it.

His drink finally arrived at the table and he sat back to loosen himself up a bit.

[Pirate Toast]

OOC: Hunny?! *She whines for Faro* Could you look over the RPG while I am going the mall....not sure when I will be back...and I also asked Hollow Ichigo if he could help if he wanted. The choice is still his to make.


BIC: In the cowbyre she leant her forehead into the warm flanks of a dark-eyed cow, who stood patiently chewing cud as she kneaded her full udder. The milk splashed rhythmically into the pail. Maerad was on the brink of sleep when suddenly the cow almost kicked her and then tried to rear. Maerad started awake, rescuing the pail - spilt milk was not worth a beating - and tried to calm the animal. Normally a word would do, but the creature kept snorting and stamping, pulling the chains that held her hind leg and head as if she was distressed or frightened.

Maerad's hair prickled on the back of her neck. She had a strange, taut feeling, as if there was about to be a storm and the air was crackling with electricity. She looked around the byre.

A man stood there, not ten feet away, a man she had never seen before. For a moment shock stopped her breath. The man was tall, and his stern face was shadowed by a dark, roughly woven woollen hood. In the dim light from the doorway, she could see the outline of an aquiline nose and a glitter of eyes. She stood up and reached for a rushlight, uncertain whether to shout for help.
"Who are you?" she said sharply.

The man was silent.

She began to feel afraid. "Who are you?" she asked again. Was it a Wer out of the mountains? A ghost? "Avaunt, black spirit!"

"Nay," he said at last. "Nay, I am no black spirit. No Wer in a man's skin. No. Forgive me." He sighed heavily. "I am tired, and I am wounded. I am not quite - myself."

He smiled, but it was more like a wince, and as the rushlight fell past his hood and illuminated his features, Maerad saw that he was grey with exhaustion. His face was arresting: it seemed neither young nor old, the countenance of a man of perhaps about thirty five years, but somehow with the authority of age. He was high cheekboned, with a firm mouth and large, deepset eyes. He held her gaze. "And who are you, young witchmaiden? It takes sharp eyes to see the likes of me, although perhaps my art fails me. Name yourself."

"Who are you, to ask me?" said Maerad pugnaciously. It occurred to her, with a pang of surprise, that she didn't feel afraid; although, she thought in that split second, she ought to be.

The man looked hard at her, searching her face. He staggered slightly, and corrected himself, and then smiled again, as if in apology.

"I am Cadvan, of the School of Lirigon," he said. "Now, mistress, how do they name you?"

"Maerad," she said, almost whispering. She felt suddenly at a complete loss, confused by his politeness.

"Maerad of the Mountains?" the stranger said, with a wry smile.

"Of... of Gilman's fastness," she said haltingly. And then with a rush - "I'm a slave here..."

"A slave?"

Steps sounded outside and Lothar's bulk darkened the door. "Where's that milk? What are you doing there, have you lost your wits? Are you looking for the whip? If the butter doesn't turn, we'll know who to blame..."

He was not pleased with her, after her rebuff that morning. But again Maerad caught her breath in shock. Although the stranger stood plain in his sight, Lothar seemed to look right through him.

"I'm - I'm sorry," she stammered. "The cattle are restless..."

She sat on her stool and leaned forward to the cow again, who now stood patiently. Lothar watched her while she milked. She willed him to go away. After a short time, she heard his steps leaving and she relaxed a little. She kept milking, because she needed time to gather her thoughts. The stranger still stood there, watching her.

"Maerad," said the stranger quietly. "I wish you no harm. I am tired, and I need to sleep. That's why I'm here." He passed his hand over his brow, and then leaned against the wall of the byre.

"He didn't see you," she said blankly, still milking steadily to cover her amazement.

"No, it is a small thing..." he said, almost abstractedly. "A mere glimmerspell. What is interesting is that - you saw me." He stared at her again, with that searching, disturbing gaze.

Maerad felt suddenly shy before him, as if she were naked, and turned her face aside. She felt his eyes upon her, and then a kind of release as he looked away. Involuntarily she shook herself. She heard him shift and sit down.

"I wish I were not so tired," he said at last, and then asked: "You were not always a slave?"

"My mother wasn't a slave," Maerad answered, speaking reluctantly, as if against her will. "Gilman bought her and kept her here, when I was very little. I think he wanted to ransom her, but none came to ransom." She paused, and added flatly: "And then she died." She coiled around to face him, with a flash of anger. "What business is it of yours?" she demanded. "Who are you to ask me?"

The stranger seemed unperturbed, meeting her gaze calmly. "What was your mother's name?"

"Milana. Milana of Pellinor, Singer of the Gift, Daughter of the First Circle. My father..." She stopped milking, and her hands flew to her mouth in astonishment.
"Oh!"

"Oh, indeed," said Cadvan.

"I mean, my mother was called Milana, that's all I remember..." Maerad trailed off in confusion. "She... she died when I was seven years old... I don't know anything about... about the rest. Did you make me say that?"

"Make? No, I can't make you say anything. I asked, and the doors of your mind flew open. There is more in that treasury than most people realise. The School of Pellinor," he said, as if to himself. "That was sacked, oh, years ago. It was thought all were killed." He fell silent.

Maerad, shaken, continued milking. What was this man talking about? Was he mazing her, as wild spirits were said to do, bewildering her senses before snaring her? But he did not feel evil.



"By what right do you come in here and say... and say such things... I could call the Thane's men -" She stuttered to a halt. Somehow she knew she wouldn't call the guards.

The stranger put his face in his hands and didn't answer her. Maerad glanced at him angrily. She finished milking the cow and turned her loose, bringing in the next one. Cadvan was still sitting, unmoving, in the same position.

"You can't stay here, if you are of Pellinor," he said at last.

Maerad looked across at the stranger with a sudden wild hope. Did he mean that he knew some way to free her? But no one could escape from the cot...

He looked up at her. "Could you - perhaps - spare some milk?"

Wordlessly she offered him the milk pail.

After a long draught, he wiped his mouth and smiled. "A blessing on you, and on your house," he said. Maerad nodded impatiently, brushing off the courtesy. "Will you have to come to the byre again?" he asked. "Today, I mean."

She examined his face suspiciously. "Yes, I am sectioned here today," she said at last. "I'll be milking again in the evening. Why?"

"Good." He stretched and yawned. "I'll sleep now. We'll talk later, yes, when I am less tired." He cast himself down on the hay and was asleep almost instantly.

Maerad looked down at him, considering whether to kick him awake and make him answer her questions, or whether to call the guards after all. But for reasons she couldn't trace, she did neither. Instead, she finished the milking and left him there. She was beaten for the missing milk.

[Luzifer]

OOC: Damn... those guards take precise measurements if they could tell there was so little milk missing... and psychic if they knew it wasn't that the cow was drying up after a long time without pregnancy... strange...

Bayard plucked at the window pane. Glass notes sprang from his scratching fingers and illuminated the room with a symphonic melody of atonal tapping. How strange it was, perhaps to other eyes, to stare across the town all day, without fail and without rest. He could see someone (he did not know their name for he knew very few names, never taking the time to learn them) cross the street to the well where the ravens preen themselves and tossed idle jabber in their runic tongues. He sighed as he watched the young girl, not much older then himself, bring up the pail. She looked up at his window briefly and smiled when she saw him. That wasn't unusual. He was a bit of a town fixture, one of those calm, dependable, walking charicatures that people came to rely on because they gave their lives stability and because it ment there was someone who was stranger then themselves. Some people waved at him occasionally but that was as far as their amiablity extended. They then left him to his own devices and ignored him the rest of the day. That was fine with Bayard. He didn't really want them to talk to him. He was on a journey inward and all outward focus was a distraction.

Sighing he slipped a book from his shelf... Politics it was called... it was his fifth time reading it but every time he read it, it always illucidated some concept which he had been tossing through his head at the time.

[Ranryou Roga]

"Kotaro-kun are we their yet?" Mizuki walked slowly behind Kotaro. "My god my feet hurt." Mizuki continued to walk in tel he again ran into Kotaro's large steel framed back. "Owwww Kotaro-Kun why did you stop?" Mizuki looked at Kotaro's face and he had the face of a warrior written all over it.

Mizuki looked forward ahead of them and noticed a few robber's ahead of them and sighed deeply. "Kotaro their no need to fight them they are to weak and are few in number." Mizuki was shut up quickly when a few bullets soared past his head. " Holy mother of......!!!!!!!" Mizuki jumped back as a few more connected with the trees and a few hit the small animals that had followed Mizuki's good nature.

Mizuki looked at the dead animals as the thiefs grinned and laughed as they grew in number's. Mizuki's anger raged forward as his red hair grew spiky,and his left arm grow some type of Gauntlet. Spikes rose from the gauntlet's shoulder pad's and a sword spread from Mizuki's hand. The thiefs stepped back a few times and turn to run but ran into Kotaro's steel from.


************************

Kotaro looked down at the thiefs with a serious eyes. His body flexed once or twice before one of the thiefs were sent flying back. Kotaro reached into his sleeves and drew out his weapon. The silver gun flashed red as bullets sent wave after wave of thiefs flying back. The remaining thiefs turned and ran back toward the other direction, only to run into Mizuki who was angry and at the point where he could kill them easily.

*******************

Mizuki growled as he used the dull side of his blade to send the remaining Thiefs backward knocking them out. Their money fell to the ground and spread before Mizuki's eyes. Mizuki slowly picked the money up and placed it in a bag,before tieing it to his waist. "Those that kill the creations of the high one should be punished and killed,but with the kindness in my heart i will let the go free." Mizuki turned around and walked beside Kotaro as they continued on their way.

[Nespa]

Mutt walked pas the left side of the tavern since the stables were probely behind it and nearly fainted from the smell. She groaned as she covert her nose and tryed to see through her watered eyes muttering "bloody esdoorn when was the last time the owner cleaned this place" scanning through the stables she saw that there were two infact one was a neat stable, nicely painted and minimal filth and manure the second one looked like it could collapse any second and was ridden with filth. She sweatdropped 'wel i can tell which ones are for the highclassed and which for the commoners' sighing she pulled her shirt over her nose and grabbed the pitch fork 'better fix the whole thing after cleaning it, or those poor horses get a piece off wood on there heads' taking a good hold on the pitchfork she started to shovel the filthy straw out and into a wheelbarrel she found behind the good stable.

[Zanethose]

OOC: Nerili's color

BIC:
Nerili lay on the forest floor, 70 or 80 some odd feet from the main roadway that would lead her to who knows where. The remnants of what was obviously a fire that had blazed the night before were now nothing but ash and soot laying about pieces of charred wood. A ring of dirt had encircled the flame, the outeredges of which were now written with charred and burnt grass from when the flames had become slightly too large for the pit to hold.

The grass bristled against the women's face due to the wind that barely pushed the grass to sway. It was cold, rigid and crisp, the wind that is, but only moved in short bursts of quick wind followed by long periods of cold, clean breeze. The grass tickled under her nose, making her twitch her head slightly. If it wasn't the grass that would awake her, then it was the wind that would.

Nerili slowly opened her eyes, her vision blurred by both the tiredness she still held within herself and the sun that blared down on her face from the late morning position in the sky. She took a moment, blinking several times, then sat up, stretching, and looked back up to the sky before her eyes grew wide and she spoke out to nobody in particular.

"Oh crap!" Her voice soft and sweet but seeming worried still, "I've overslept again!"

She quickly rose to her feet, brushing off theback of her white kimono style clothing before reaching down to grab her bow and arrows, which she then fastened to her back. She looked around, as if inspecting to see if she had forgotten anything before setting off.

"Hey, Ghael," Nerili started, turning around as she spoke, "Ghael, you ready to...."

As Nerili finished her turn, she realized that her friend, or whoever it was that she had been addressing, was gone, or, not there to begin with. He expression grew blank as her shoulders slumped down slightly. She slowly lowered herself and sat upon the grassy surface.

"Figures he would run off without waking me up..I guess I'll just wait for him here then..."

She took her quiver and bow off her back again, laying back onto the grass and staring at the late morning sun as it blazed over head. The sky seemed clear for the most part and seemed like the day would be beautiful for traveling. It was only her second day out of Norloch, and she hadn't a clue where she was traveling, all she knew was that she longed to find some place, some town or village where she could tell her tales, being a bard and all, and hopefully make a coin or two.

She sighed, waiting for her companion to return, hopefully with breakfast.

[Pirate Toast]

OOC: Rules:

1. You can post up to 5 post per day but unlimited during the weekends

2. No godmodding what so ever. The first I see you godmod it will be the first strike the second time you will be out of here

3. Have fun!!


BIC: That day Maerad was so absentminded she was lucky to escape a second beating. At her tasks in the milchyard, churning butter or setting the milk in bowls for soured drinks, she scarcely saw what she was doing. At first she didn't know what she felt about the man in the byre. Her mind, practised at the evasions of survival, skipped over the thought of him; he was, in a way, unthinkable. But every now and then an image of his dark face rose unbidden in her mind, and with it an unsettling feeling she couldn't name: a skin-prickling premonition, not exactly unpleasant, but not quite comfortable either. If she had been a child used to name-day celebrations, she might have likened it to the feeling of anticipating a gift; but she knew no such celebrations. At the same time, the blank, impassive mask under which she survived, secret even to herself, seemed to have disappeared, leaving her exposed and a little frightened. It was as if the stranger had opened a door long shut in her mind, and a cold fresh wind blew in, waking her from a stupor. Who am I? she wondered: and the question hurt.

She was used to her own strangeness. It had often been a protection as much as a curse. Because of her blue eyes and black hair, the fairhaired Northerners called her a witch, and she had played the part from an early age, making a virtue of what set her apart. And Maerad did possess the power of cursing: if she glared at someone, they might trip over and fall for no reason, or a beaker might fall from a shelf and break on their heads, and once she had blinded a man for three days. She was also especially good with animals, another sign of a witch; those she tended grew fat and yielded twice the milk of the others. Most of the slaves feared and avoided her, and Gilman's men... well, the Thane's men had also learnt to leave her alone.

Gilman was deeply superstitious and, like all bullies, a devout coward. He believed that if Maerad were murdered her ghost would drive him to a grisly death - madden him until he ran out into the wolfhunt, perhaps, or skewer him slowly with invisible knives of fire. So Maerad escaped the worst details, which caused comment and petty malice among many of her fellow slaves. Recently this resentment had flared into open violence: a month ago six women had attacked her and tried to drown her in the duckpond. They had almost succeeded, but Gilman had rushed out of the hall, redfaced with panic, and hauled her out of the water. Though Maerad was cuffed for the trouble she had caused, the slaves who tormented her were whipped and given no food for three days. Saved by Gilman! She grinned humourlessly at the irony. It had stopped the persecution, for the moment; but now no one spoke to her at all, apart from idiots like Lothar.

If it hadn't been for her music she might have killed herself, or let the demons in her head taunt her into madness. Or she might have just turned into stone and become like the rest of them, brutalised of all feeling. Her lyre was her one possession, the only thing she still had of her mother. It was small, fitting into the crook of her arms like a baby, a bare wooden instrument with no decoration except some indecipherable carvings: but its tone was pure and true. One of her earliest memories was of her mother playing it, plucking the strings and singing to Maerad - she guessed she must have been very young, because then her mother had not been sad.

Maerad could play like a true minstrel; her ear was accurate, and she only had to hear a tune once to repeat it. Mirlad, Gilman's Bard, discovered her talent after her mother died. She was only seven years old then, and he somehow persuaded Gilman to relieve her from morning duties so he could teach her. Mirlad, gruff, taciturn, sometimes cruelly harsh, had been her teacher until she turned thirteen: then Gilman demanded her labour in the fields again. Maerad remembered her misery at that decision, and Mirlad's odd response. "I've taught you everything I know about music," he had said, shrugging indifferently. "Anything else would be a waste here. You can play in the evenings, anyway."
Her musicianship compounded her isolation, but it was another reason Gilman tolerated her: Mirlad had died some two years before, although perhaps only Maerad mourned his passing, and she was now the only person in the cot with the skill to play at his riots. She played for herself, privately, whenever she could, and those snatched moments were the only consolation of her degraded life.

Milana. My mother. How long since I thought of you? You braided my hair each night, even if your hands shook with tiredness, and you played me pretty tunes when I felt sad or when someone beat me, and kissed me, just there, on my forehead... Maerad's mind flinched from the memory of her mother's death, how she had sickened, wasted by fever and pain and grief. She had died, that was all, and after that Maerad was alone.

For as long as she could remember, Maerad had dreamed of escaping Gilman's Cot. But year after year passed and brought only the knowledge that escape was impossible. Hope had ebbed little by little, until, had Maerad known it, she wore the same sad beauty that she remembered of her mother. Now, this Cadvan - she said the name to herself, privately - had appeared out of nowhere, as if walls and guards and dogs did not exist.
As the day wore on she turned over the morning's conversation with an increasing impatience. Sometimes she convinced herself that she had dreamed the stranger, that he was an illusion of her exhaustion, a shadowy projection of the longing that burned inside her. She had thought hope was dead inside her; but now she realised that it merely slumbered, like ash-grey embers which held yet a glowing heart, which the merest breath might fan into flame.

[FaroDomisai]

In the northern region Psoron slept in a tent peacefully,but was suddenly woken by his team of furry white snow dogs. He got up and left the tent to see what was the matter, saw it was hailing, he put on his jacket and hooked the dogs up the dogs to their harness then hooked the sled up to the dogs. He yells over the storm "Move!" in the SPEECH, He rode along the storm covering his head for it was below freezing and everything was ice. The wind howled at his ear all of the dogs came to a stop in front of a big stone figure,


"Oh, Crap!" he said starting to turn into his demon form as the storm dogs started to appear and hit him with stone and ice. He yelled at his dogs to move as fast as they could to get away from the storm dogs. He could barely hear the dogs yelping in pain over the howling of the storm. He threw up a magic barrier to keep out the stone and ice from hitting him.


Sometime later that night, after running his dogs to near death, he finally made it out of the winter kings territory, he still continued to run well into the night to get away from the storm dogs howling storm. He made camp around 2am in the morning fed the dogs and gave them fresh water. He pitched his tent and crawled inside changing into his human form slowly not even bothering to make a bed to sleep on.

[Tetsanosuke]

Tediously and in a bit of rush the long silver haired instructor seemed to scribble her lessons for the day on a sheet of parchment as she stumbled her way towards her class. By the sun brim time she was in the thought that she'd be but only five minutes late, yet this day was off schedule and it was a full fifteen at her nerves as she arrived. Her deep and stunning azures came upon her class of third years as she strew upon her desk her class plan and the other countless scrolls she was bearing. Oh how she just had to be late, the class would laugh to themselves, they loved to see the perfect teacher this way. In their young minds though this was exactly the reason they thought she was perfect, she was flawed.

With a sigh of ending relief and a bit of a breath into the cold morning classroom she would reach out to the black-stone board with a piece of white-rock, a chalky substance mined east of the school near the foothills. She brought the horizontal lines of scripting into view with each stroke from left to right, then scribbling out the notes for the lesson that day she'd take another breath before turning towards the class once more.

"Have we are flutes ready, class?" Her voice such a repercussion of a faded sorrow, relinquishing the light of her intelligence upon the space of the red wooden room, the desks of ebony and the students in their smocks and robes sitting patiently now.

The children started to giggle to one another, and then laugh at some point as Arlona pulled out her Aquios, ready to go over the notes of the day and the tune to go with it.

"What is it my learners?" The teacher couldn't help but smile as their innocent laugher kissed her ears.

"Today is string practice, remember Raen?" Using their formal label of teacher, learned from Arlona earlier in the year by their speech practice.

As the words would enter her mind she let Aquios back into it's sheath at her side and pulled into herself some, blushing lightly from embarrassment. "Oh, yes that is right my Learners, I was perhaps testing you all, hehe." He would let her enlightened slime radiant upon them as she went to the wall stand and pulled a nice mahogany sitar, taking a seat upon her satin cushion near the front of the class she bade the class to come along, them all unlatching their cases and pulling out their respected instruments.

In her mind she scolded herself, but found it quite humorous to say the least. "I'm getting older ever so quickly."

[Pirate Toast]

OOC: I am going to post again so quickly because Luzy's character is waiting for mine and I am trying to get there so Luzy's character can have something to do quickly

BIC: The hours dragged, but at last it was evening. Just before she went to the byre, prompted by a sudden impulse, Maerad slipped back to her quarters and took her lyre from where she kept it under her pallet, wrapped in sacking.


Cadvan was still there, lying on his back in the byre, his hands folded behind his head, apparently studying the ceiling. He was not so grey-faced now, although there were still dark circles under his eyes, and he smiled at Maerad when she entered. She looked back at him expressionlessly, waiting for him to speak. He sighed and stood up.

"Well, Maerad, I've had a little time to think," he said. "This is a foul noisome place, although to be fair the animals are well treated - better than the people here. That is unjust enough." He paused. "Do you wish to leave?"

Maerad almost laughed. The cot was guarded day and night, and the guards were vigilant. Some slaves had, indeed, tried to escape, but all her life Maerad had heard of none who succeeded, although she had seen many savage beatings and, once, a man torn to pieces by Gilman's hounds. It was enough to gainsay the attempt.

"Leave this place?"

"Seriously, Maerad."

"I've dreamed of nothing else these long years," she said. "It's impossible. Why do you think I'm still here?"

"So you do wish to leave?" Cadvan paused and looked down at the ground. "I guess it would be surprising if you did not. I am in a little dilemma, then, as to what to do. It would be most unwise of me to take you with me. I am flying from danger into danger, and the world ever darkens; and I do not have my full strength."

Maerad's heart dropped with disappointment; she hadn't realised, despite her frank scepticism, the resilience of her hope. But Cadvan continued.

"But neither could I leave you here, if you are indeed Milana's daughter, and you indeed wish to leave. Perhaps I could come back, when I was stronger; but I have duties I can't abandon, and I would not be free of them for months. And my heart tells me..." He fell silent again, looking at the ground, as if he were weighing a difficult decision.

"I must leave now. If you want to come with me, you may. Leaving will be a simple matter. Other things will not be so simple, but we will have to take them as they come."

Maerad was suddenly breathless, and could make no reply.

"Yes?" the stranger said. "Or no?"

"Why are you asking me this?" she said. "It's impossible! Are you tricking me?"

Cadvan merely looked at her, without answering.

She stared back at him stubbornly, refusing to lower her eyes.

"There come few times in a person's life where there is a clear choice," said Cadvan at last. "The difference between one person and another is how they meet that choice." There was a short silence, and then he gestured impatiently. "I have no time. I have made my offer. You can stay or leave as you wish. I am asking what you want. If you don't know, it is no concern of mine." He brushed some straw from his cloak, and turned to leave the byre.

A feeling akin to panic surged through Maerad. For a second she felt as if she were plunged into suffocating mud again: only this time there would be no hand to haul her out onto the bank.

"Wait!" she called out. "Wait."

Cadvan turned again to face her.

"I'll come," she said.

Cadvan looked at her bundled lyre. "Is there anything you must fetch?" Maerad shook her head. "Well, that is good. We'll go now, then."

"Now? What about the cows?" And indeed, they were lowing, asking her to relieve them of their burdens of milk.

"Someone else will milk them tonight," said Cadvan. "I do not think Gilman will let his beasts suffer; they are too valuable. Now, quickly. Come here."

Maerad approached him warily, and he made her stand square in front of him.

He put his hands on her shoulders and spoke.

The words sent a thrill through Maerad, like plunging into cold, fresh water from a spring welling from the morning of the world.

"Larnea il oseanna, lembel Maerad inasfrea! Turn the eyes of men from Maerad so she may walk unseen, is roughly what I have said," he explained, dropping his hands. "Now no man could see you, though you stood a span from his nose. The virtue will not work on objects, if you drop them. So keep your bundle close! Now, we must scale the walls."

He picked up a pack Maerad had not noticed and walked towards the low door. As he did so, Maerad was assailed by another wave of panic. Somehow she already felt her decision was irrevocable, yet she didn't know what it was she had decided: why trust this man? She knew nothing of him. But her doubts were overwhelmed by a fierce longing, as if all her desires for freedom, crushed by hopelessness for so many years, came back in a single urgent wave. It can't be worse than here, she thought, because here I'm certain to die, and out there - who knows? She took a deep breath and followed Cadvan out of the byre.

"We must hurry," he said. "No speaking. I cannot make us unheard as well."

They left the byre and made for the South wall. Maerad found it hard not to flinch in the open squares, where the Thane's men stood lounging against the walls toying with their weapons; it was difficult to believe in her invisibility when she felt so visible to herself.

Their way led them straight past the Great Hall. The chained dogs looked up and sniffed in greeting as they passed, but the men looked through them.

She kept close behind Cadvan, tiptoeing despite herself, until they came to the least guarded section of the outer walls. The wall itself was not hard to climb; Maerad had often considered the logistics. Impossible, however, under the vigilance of the guards, whose sight covered every inch of the wall and who knew their lives were forfeit if any left.

Cadvan set his foot on the wall, and Maerad helplessly showed him her sacking-wrapped lyre, which she could not sling on her back. He stopped thoughtfully, took it and stowed it in his bag. Then they started again. When they reached the top, Cadvan paused, looking each way for the guards who patrolled the way. Choosing his time carefully, he took Maerad by the arm and pushed her across the narrow path, and then together they went down the other side.

As they did, Maerad heard the bell ring, once, twice, thrice, before it began a long urgent peal. It was the signal for an escape. She started, feeling horribly exposed. Lothar must have discovered her absence already, but it was very quick - no doubt he wanted to be revenged for her slight this morning, for she would be whipped for sparking an alarm. A commotion rose in the cot. She half scrambled, half fell down the wall, beating Cadvan to the ground.

"Now you make the pace!" he said, laughing. "I thought I'd never get you out of there!"

"They'll send the dogs after us!" whispered Maerad, panting with fear. "There's no escaping Gilman's hounds. They'll track a stag for a week and they can tear a grown man to pieces in a minute!"

"Dogs are easy to deal with," said Cadvan. "Don't be afraid, Maerad. If dogs are the worst we have to face, we will be fortunate. But now we must move on. See the end of this valley? I want to be well clear of this before the night is over. Our doom tonight is, I am afraid, a long walk. Then we'll rest."

Maerad looked down the valley where she had been imprisoned most of her short life. The ground swept away before her, a constant steady decline of boulders and mountain rubble covered with sparse scrub and the odd tree bent against the harsh winds that swept down from the mountains, the Osidh Annova, Eastern border of the Inner Kingdom. A rudimentary track wandered down the centre of the valley, strewn here and there with stones from some landslide.
She suddenly felt very small and frightened. She looked at the man who stood at her elbow and swallowed.

His face was dark and closed; the great dogs which figured in her nightmares, with their yelping bays and their long loping gait, were but small trouble to him. No doubt he knew far worse. He now seemed remote, charged with some hidden power she only sensed.

She didn't want to seem foolish before such a man. She squared her shoulders and took a deep breath.

"We'll walk then," she said, turning her face towards the broken path. At her back, behind the cot, reared the Landrost, its tip stained red by the setting sun, its massive bulk throwing all the valley into shadow.

[Opinionated]

Rahgnild slapped the side of the thickly-built wooden cart he was riding on. For the recon value of it, he'd decided to make a visit to Gilman's Whatever-it-was. Following the instructions of a hastily-drawn map, he'd hitched a ride with a man going that way on a cart. But, unfortunately, the man was't going to Gilman's, only past the offshoot. But, hey, it was a free ride. The setting sun was only incentive to get up to the place. He hopped off the cart and waved the driver goodbye as he started up the trail up. He had to kick away some rocks in areas, but since the trail was for carts, it was pretty clean. Not for the first time, that nagging little voice in his head wondered at the wisdom of going up to a fortress in the evening and asking to talk to the owner and negociate a buisness deal. More importantly, what was his angle? Buy a slave? Buy some other goods? Negociate for future trading parties? Well, any angle would have to wait until he knew better the man he was dealing with.And so, thusly, Rahgnild started up the rocky path.

[Nespa]

Mutt sighed and wiped the sweat of her forehead, he shirt clung to her because of the sweat and she smelled of manure and filth. But atlist both stables were clean and she had managed fixing the run down somewhat scratching her head she squashed a bug between her fingers and wiped the remains on her shirt. A yawn escaped her as she stretched herself "hmmm i wonder if there is a river around here" she started to walk in search of a river knowing the owner probely wont give her a bath. A snort came from her like she needed hot water to get clean. After walking for like 20 minutes she came upon a small river that was deep enough. Quickly she shedded her clothes she sat in the water, it was deep enough for her to sit and stil be above water with her head. She dunked her head under and came up again frowing she felt like being watched. Looking towards the bushy side across her she noticed two cat eyes looking at her causing her to smile "wel hello there kitty" she brushed a piece of hair back.

[Pirate Toast]

They had not gone half a mile when Maerad heard the long halloo of the hunting horn and the bay of Gilman's hounds. Her heart constricted. Before long the gates of the cot flung open and three of the Thane's men emerged, shouting, roughly horsed, and the hounds poured after them, loping in the low light. Noses down, they cast around for a scent, the bloodlust already a fire in their eyes. Maerad fought a rising fear and unconsciously shrank towards Cadvan.

He glanced at her swiftly.

"Maerad, they cannot harm us," he said softly. "The men cannot see us."
She nodded and trudged on, trying to contain herself. Suddenly another bay went up - the hounds had found their scent, and were running. The horsemen followed, spurring on their mounts. Cadvan was still walking steadily.
"But the hounds can see us," whispered Maerad hoarsely. "The hounds can see us, and..."

"They won't harm us," said Cadvan. "They're savage beasts, but innocent. They serve no dark purpose. Have faith."

The hounds were nearing them swiftly. As they drew close, Cadvan stopped and wheeled around. He raised his arms, and to Maerad it seemed that suddenly a light was gathered about him, or within him, although she could see no source.

"Lemmach!" he said.

The leading hound stopped dead in its tracks, so the dog behind it tumbled over its feet. The pack wheeled around and stopped.

"Lemmach ni ardrost!"

The lead dog came up to Cadvan and whiffled around his knees. Cadvan stroked its nose. "Ni ardrost," he said again, gently, and the dogs each sniffed him and then, as if they had just gone for a drink at a pond, trotted casually back to the riders.

Maerad stood stock still, her face a cipher. "What did you do?"

"I told them to stop, and asked them to go home," said Cadvan. "And being friendly beasts, they obligingly did so. They'll not hunt us now, no matter what their masters do. They obey older laws."

At her back, Maerad could hear the riders cursing the dogs, and their yelps as they whipped them. She realised she was trembling. A massive exhaustion swept over her, and she stumbled.

Cadvan caught her elbow in quick concern.

"I'm sorry to drive you, Maerad, but we cannot rest here tonight," he said. "Gilman's hounds are no danger to us, but other things are. This is an unwholesome place. And already it grows dark."

Maerad shrugged off Cadvan's hand. Other things? she thought. What other things? All the recent rumours of Wers and other creatures of the night crowded uncomfortably in her mind.

"I'm all right," she said sullenly.

"It is safest if we keep moving," said Cadvan.

The night had a cold edge, but this early was still mild and clear. They walked for some time in silence, and as Maerad began to get her second wind, they started talking. Maerad asked Cadvan what he was doing in Gilman's Cot, but he evaded the answer, instead asking about her life there, and whether she had earlier memories, from Pellinor. She could tell him little on that point. "Fragments," she said. "A man - I think it was my father, a handsome man, tall, with long black hair, laughing. A chair with beautiful carvings with a strange coloured light falling on it from a high window. A few scraps of music. I thought that I dreamed it."

"It's no dream. The Schools are places of high learning and much beauty," said Cadvan sadly, as if he spoke of something loved that is vanishing. "There the Lore is upheld, and the Light shines over all who dwell there. But now their power wanes, and darkness reaches into Annar."

"What are the Schools?" asked Maerad, feeling ignorant and coarse. "Is that where you learned those spells?"

He glanced at her, and to her confusion he laughed. "Maerad, it is so strange to me that one of the Gift should know nothing at all of the Schools."

"The Gift?" said Maerad. She looked down the valley; a long way before her she could see the stars glimmering between the spurs where it ended, opening out onto the wide world, of which she knew nothing. She suddenly felt more alone than she ever had in her life; and she was so tired, more tired than she had ever been. A ball of grief rose in her throat, and she couldn't speak.

"Please forgive me, Maerad," Cadvan said. "I do not mean to tease your ignorance. Perhaps more tutored, you would now be dead, and your lack of knowledge has protected you from the sight of those who would otherwise have done you harm." He smiled at her, and Maerad, not quite understanding him, smiled wanly back. "Perhaps I should turn Loresinger for a while?" he said. "Tonight we could have an introductory lesson. It will pass the time."

"All right then," said Maerad, glancing across at the shadowy man beside her. "Tell me about the Gift."
They had a long way to go, but they were making a good pace, despite boulders and loose stones which constantly threatened to turn an ankle. The last traces of daylight were retreating from the mountains, and it was the dark interval before moonrise. Her legs felt heavy and sore with tiredness, but talking took her mind off her discomfort.


"Where to begin?" said Cadvan. "What is the Gift? How to answer that, when nobody really knows?" He paused, as if gathering his thoughts. "Well, those of the Gift are like to the Loresingers of Afinil. All Bards are of the Gift, and it means they have certain powers and abilities. The most important is the Speech." He paused. "Bards do not learn the Speech, but are born with it already living within them. In the mouths of those with the Gift, the Speech holds its innate power; it is the source of our Knowing and much of our might. Those with the Gift also live for three spans of a normal life: I am already an old man by normal reckonings, although you would not think so, perhaps."

"An old man?" said Maerad, looking dubiously at Cadvan. He did not look old to her; she had already guessed his age to be about thirty-five years. She wondered briefly if he was making it up; but then she thought of how he had made her invisible.

"Not old in the measure of Bards," said Cadvan, smiling, "but old enough. A long life is a double-edged privilege, believe me. But there are other signs; Bards know other Bards, which is how I knew you. This morning I thought for a second my powers had wholly failed me, when you challenged me." He clutched his breast. "My heart stopped! But then I saw your eyes..."

Maerad glanced at him, again uncertain of what he meant, or whether she should laugh. She noticed that as he spoke Cadvan was constantly alert, but in ways she didn't recognise. He never looked around or behind him, but seemed rather to be innerly attuned to something she couldn't hear, as if inside him flowed a music that, at times, demanded intense attention. It felt a bit odd, as if he were only half there.

"There is much you should know about Bards, and the Light," said Cadvan. "To have the Gift, and to be ignorant of what it means, can be a terrible thing." He began to speak in an oddly formal tone, almost a chant, which at first nearly made her smile.

She had a swift unbidden vision of a stone hall with high windows, and of many people seated in a circle, their heads bowed in concentration. The vision vanished, and she looked around her at the empty night and the gloomy shadows of the mountainside; but Cadvan's voice continued steadily in the darkness.

"Know then, Maerad, that in Annar and the Seven Kingdoms the Bards are charged with the keeping of the Light. The centres of Knowing are the Schools of Bards, but it was not always so. Many lives of men ago the centre of the Lore was Afinil, citadel of Song, builded when the first Loresingers came to Annar. Some say a terrible cold drove them from their home, and others that they sailed here on great ships from a foundered land, and still others say we simply appeared here among other humans; whatever the truth, our origin is lost in legend. However they came, Bards appeared in Annar, bringing with them the remnants of an ancient Knowing from the very dawn of the world: the Gift of the Speech, and Reading and Making and Tending, the skills and knowledge known as the Arts of the Light. And here was built the great city of Afinil, which was the centre of the Knowing in the ancient days.

"Many songs tell of its unmatched beauty, of the unwalled towers that rose like lilies beside the mere, pure face of blessed water. And within this citadel dwelt the Loresingers, all those who loved and tended the beauty of the world. The Speech was on all tongues, and all met with understanding."

Cadvan's voice shifted subtly into a chant.


Maerad's heart quickened; she couldn't remember the last time she had heard a new song. Even in her surprised pleasure, the musician in her noted coldly that Cadvan possessed a very good baritone."Dashed into darkness, deeper than heartgrief,

All voices mourn thee, high and humble,

Treespeech and beastspeech, manspeech and bard,

All voices mourn thee, fruit of the dawn,

Flower of ice enchanting the sunlight,

Shadow of moonbeam woven from marble,

Throat of the morning where all voices mingled. In Afinil, O Afinil!

Thy dreams are lost, thy music still,

The briars creep where thy towers were

And the stars are dark in the shadowmere.

[Zanethose]

OOC: Ghael's color

BIC:
Ghael was kneeling behind a bush, a small section in which he had parted in order to look through. He had thought he had heard a disturbance in a body of water, which, more than likely, meant fish, which meant food.

He had left the encampment before the sun had even risen, searching for food. The sky was now growing dark and he hadn't found anything, not even so much as a deer or a river of fish. But now, he hoped, now he had found something, and he could go back and feed Nerili, presuming she hadn't left. But even if she had, she would be easy to find.

Ghael looked through the small opening, making sure to make as little noise as possible. He looked for a moment and found something that wasn't to his content. He sighed standing, brushing of the shins of his tan cloak. All he had found was a human bathing. And he was, after all, no peeping-tom.

"Sorry to disturb your bath," he stated, his eyes staring off back toward the direction he thought was camp. Nerili had to be mad by now, "I was just looking for food for my companion and I."

He stood still for a moment before looking back down at the human and quickly back to staring off into space. He sighed, deciding that he would just go back to camp and hope that Nerili would have had the inciative to find food for them, which she usually did.

"Once again, I apologize." Ghael stated, his voice smooth but not too low, before taking a step in the direction he was facing. He wasn't sure who the person was, but it was odd to see them bathing in a river, and she was obviously underweight...not to mention that the clothes on the bank were old and torn....

He sighed, stopping after his first step and turning his head to face the women.

"You can come back to the camp with me if you wish, im sure my friend wouldn't mind. We can get you some food and maybe some new clothes, if we have enough money."

Ghael stood for a moment, waiting for this person to accept or decline his offer. He hoped Nerili wouldn't mind too much if this person said yes....

[Nespa]

Mutt frowned "so your a guy instead of a kitty" she climbed on the shore and grabbed her clothes but instead of pulling them on she started to was them. She smiled at him but stil was on her guard though it seemed as if she was used to males disturbing her bath "if you wait a minute i can get you some fish". Laying the clothes on the side again", she dived into the water, came up and threw a splattering fish on the side. The process was repeated a few time and when she climbed out and putted her clothes on five fish were on the side. She looked at the male atlist she thought he was one and back at the tavern. She suddenly ran back to the tavern and came back after a few minutes "keep you money" moving back a bit she jumped over the river and looked at him "i got my own" placing her hands on her hips she glanced him over a bit weary "the name's mutt and wandering is what i do" she pulled her shirt up but it sank down right away.

[Ranryou Roga]

OCC: Omg i don't even know where I'm going........im just walking...........Wow.

Kotaro saw the end of the forest but didn't slow down,or speed up. It didn't matter to him where their were. He was alittle hungry but that to didn't matter to him. All he need to do was continue looking forward and continue on his path to his destiny. He noticed in his side vision,that his favorite little bug was missing. Kotaro came to a stop and turned his head slightly to his right. He didn't see Mizuki and didn't care. All he cared about was the money Mizuki had on his waist.


Mizuki had taken the wrong path as they came to a fork in the road. He was in the middle of a bear den in the middle of dinner time. Mizuki looked around and whimpered as the large bear stood to its hind legs and roared. Mizuki slowly back away,and then with a burst of speed he ran. The bear charged after him as he ran back toward the fork in the road. He grabbed one of the trees near the fork and used it to swing around onto the right path. The bear charged and turned the corner with a slide and ran after his dinner.


Kotaro continued to watch as Mizuki flashed by his body. Kotaro turned around and looked as Mizuki ran out of the forest. He shook his head and raised one arm as the bear sank its fangs into his strong arm. Kotaro watched as his blood slowly dripped to the ground. Kotaro swung his arm and the bear back sending the bear sliding back into a few tree. Kotaro turned his head and looked at the bear. His cold eyes sent the bear rushing back to its cave where it stayed their Intel Kotaro's scent disappeared. Kotaro continued on his way out of the forest and as he exited its thickness a large tree branch struck him in the head. The branch split in two as Kotaro looked over at Mizuki who was looking around like noting happened.


Mizuki continued to sweat as Kotaro looked at him. He had threw the branch away and was looked around trying to find the real person that hit Kotaro. Mizuki sighed a breath of freedom when Kotaro continued toward the small village that lay ed before them.

[FaroDomisai]

OOC: Arcana's colors

Psoron woke up at about 3pm in the afternoon starving "Oh man I am hungry" he had eaten his last bit of food 2 hours ago. Now he was freezing and starving, he had ran into some storm dogs along the way but he fled and finally made it across the winter kings territory and ran into the night until 2am, he slept. Psoron walked out of his tent and saw one of his white sled dogs had caught frost bite "Damn it!", he couldn't bare to hear the pore dogs whimpers and howls of pain. Psoron had to act fast or the dog would surely die or if it tried to walk its paw would fall off.


Psoron walked over to the dog and knelt beside it, the other sled dogs were whimpering in pain and starving as well as Psoron "Psoron why not eat him?" Arcana hissed inside his mind "He would make a lovely treat for us and the dogs" Psoron shook his head "We can't do that Arcana it is to cruel...although...the dogs are hungry..and I need the rest of the dogs to get across the whole northern region..so I guess it wont hurt." Psoron slowly changed into Arcana. Arcana stared down at the dog "Your time has come filthy mutt!".

Arcana drew his claymore from his back and raised it high into the air "Fellow sled dogs! I give you your meal for the rest of the night!" he sliced down onto the dogs back hearing the dog yelp and cry in pain made a small tear from Psoron run down Arcana's face "It was worth it...now eat" He slowly started to change back into Psoron.

Psoron knelt beside the now dead fresh snow dog and took a chunk of meat from its stomach "Well it is survival of the fitest these days" he took a big bite out of the red fresh dog meat. He choked and gagged in distaste trying not to puke, the other dogs crowded around devouring the now dead fresh snow dog. Psoron watched after he finished his meat as the dogs devoured the dead dog to the rib and bones leaving nothing but small pieces of meat. "I hope I don't have to do that again" He sighs.

Acrana laughed in Psoron's mind "You will later in the days"

Psoron growled "Don't even joke like that"
P.S.: Wednesday will be my last time posting, Firday I am leaving for a cruise and I wont be back for two weeks, so I am leaving Yukari112(my beautiful girlfriend) to take control of my character

[FaroDomisai]

Double posted by mistake sorry

[FaroDomisai]

Mistake double post sorry

[seraphic_demon]

COLOR="Red"]OOC: Sorry for the Low Quality Wordings, I'll come up with something better next post. This is Fu's Color.

BiC:

Fu felt pain in muscles he didn't even know he had. He had helped rigging the tents and arranging their trades. The caravan master had given them leave for today, he decided to go to the village to relax a bit. He went inside the the small tavern called the Verses, he headed to the common room were most people hang out. He chatted with them a bit and found that the villagers are easy to cope up with. They asked him about the caravan and he filled them in.

When they learned that he was a bard, their eyes went wide. They were eager for stories...stories of long ago...and stories of the road...songs of the ancient and of the new. They pressed a finely crafted lute unto him and crowded around him. Apparently, no Caravan had ever passed that village for years now. He obliged them.

"A thousand memories since time began,
As random as our destiny...
The ancients warred with all they had...
Until all the world was shaken..."

He sang a few more verses and found, to his delight, that the villagers were so taken with his song. The ballad ofcourse, was an account of the start of the great wars. Everybody knew it by heart, but the stories come alive only with a bard's retelling of them.

Most of the specators that listened gave him coins of gold, silver and copper. The tavern owner gave him food, off the tab ofcourse, and some requested for an encore. But he rose up.

"Come see as at the Caravan and I assure you a better show." he said, bowing courteously, and gave his thanks and gratitude to the crowd and left.

The night was dark, he went out of the village and started towards the caravan...[/COLOR]

[Pirate Toast]

"So it is remembered in song, as an ache, a memory of something lovely, now lost for ever. The story of its loss is an evil one. But you must know it, if you are to understand the Bards. For in the gifts of the Light, alas, were its own undoing."


Maerad stumbled again and this time fell, scrambling up immediately.

Cadvan stopped. "Are you all right?" he said.

"Yes," she snapped, embarrassed, pressing her hands together where she had grazed them on the rock.

Cadvan looked at her sharply. "You haven't rested, and after a heavy day's work, no doubt," he said. "We must press on; but perhaps we can stop for a little while now, to go all the faster afterwards." He sat down on the ground, just where he was, and gratefully Maerad sat down next to him.

Her legs were shaking.

Cadvan opened his pack and drew out a bottle. "This helps weariness," he said. He drank some, and offered it to Maerad.

It tasted like water, but with a faint hint of herbs. A fiery tingling rushed through her body and some of her exhaustion immediately lifted. In the sudden quiet the valley felt oppressively silent, and when Cadvan began to speak again Maerad almost jumped.

"Afinil, as I said, fell in part because of its generous provenance. Once in the South there arose a king, who feared to die like ordinary men and sought instead endless life, freed from the doom of the world's circle. He envied the powers of the Light and desired them for his own. Masking his intent, he approached the gentle Bards of Afinil and asked for tutelage, and harbouring no suspicion in their hearts, gladly they gave it him. He was an apt pupil and in time became more powerful in the ways of Speech, more subtle in the Lore, more skilled in the arts of making and unmaking, than any before him. When he was satisfied he had learnt enough, he returned to his own land in the South, the kingdom of Dén Raven.

"The intention of the knowledge of Light is to make fair, to make grow, to keep the sacred Balance. But this king bent this knowledge to his own purpose. His first wrong was to cast off his Name."

"How can you cast off your name?" asked Maerad, fascinated and puzzled. "What did they call him, then?"

Cadvan laughed. "He still has a usename, this sorcerer, though it is seldom said. He is usually called the Nameless. Every Bard has a secret Name," he continued. "You do not know my Name. You do not even yet know yours. A Bard's Name is given at Instatement, when you come into your powers: it is, if you like, your true Name, in the Speech. It says who you are. To cast it off is to reject yourself."

"But that's impossible!" Maerad objected. "How can you not be who you are?"

"Alas, it's not impossible at all," replied Cadvan. "The king rejected his Name, because then he could also reject death. But with the gift of death, he cast away also the knowledge of those who die, and found his heart was empty, a pain sharper than any that he had known. For he was not of the immortals, and had not the right to deathlessness. He looked out on the world, and his eye was dark. He sought then the dominion of all on the earth, and the destruction of all that rebuked him with its beauty, and challenged the Law of the Balance, and overthrew it. And then, with massed armies, he marched on the lovely citadel of Afinil, and cast down its fair towers and darkened the mere, so the moon no longer bathed there and the stars fled its lifeless face. Then began the Great Silence, when the Song was no longer heard in the wide lands of Annar.

"That was not the total of his evil, but it was among the most grievous. Many things then were lost to the world beyond restoration."

Cadvan sighed.

Maerad listened in silence, overwhelmed with wonder, not only at the tale, but at the sweet tautness the names began to awaken within her: Afinil, Loresinger, the Light. They recalled much of the scent and sound of her mother, her voice as she plucked the lyre, the dark fall of her hair as she kissed her, and other memories that she could not trace. She sighed also, and looked around them. They were now more than halfway down the valley, and the stars were massed above them, bright around a moon waxing to the full. She picked out the Five Gemmed Daughters, swinging high over them in their ceaseless dance. Ilion was now sunk beneath the horizon.

Cadvan stood up. "We should move on," he said. Maerad scrambled to her feet, and they began again the slow trudge down the valley. Maerad felt her exhaustion beginning to return, but she forced herself on, and Cadvan returned to his lesson.


"Have you been there?" asked Maerad, when he said no more.

"Yes," said Cadvan. "Many times. For I am no longer part of any School, and travel between them as I must. The Light once more is under attack. And Bards now are sent on dangerous and secret ways to spy out the tracks of the Dark, rather than singing the leaves of spring in the old ways, bringing increase."

"Was that why you were near Gilman's Cot?" asked Maerad.

A shadow of pain passed over Cadvan's face. "It is a little close to speak of that," he said. He was silent then for a long time.

In the quiet Maerad again felt the oppressiveness of their surroundings. It was now some three hours since sunset and the moonlight illuminated the sheer edges of the mountains with a white dew, casting the ravines into impenetrable shadow. In the distance she thought she heard faint howls and shrieks. She thought also that Cadvan's face held traces of some great strain, although his voice had betrayed nothing. Maerad remembered his exhaustion only that morning, and that he had said he was wounded. She saw no sign of a wound.
At last she ventured another question. "Do you think that I might be a Bard?"

"Didn't you hear anything I told you?" said Cadvan shortly.

Maerad cast him a glance of dislike. Her feet were beginning to throb with pain, and she marched on in silence, wondering if they would ever leave this cursed valley.

Cadvan halted then, and gasped, and Maerad saw that sweat stood out on his forehead.

"Maerad," he said. "I must ask your patience. I contest the will of the spirit of this place, which would not have us leave here. It bears down on me, and it gets worse the further we go."

After a short time he walked on again, but more slowly, as if he was pushing through deep water.

Maerad saw with anxiety they still had a long way to go before they passed out of the valley. She could feel nothing herself, apart from an increasing sense of dread. She didn't dare to speak. It was difficult walking, as now they picked their way through broken boulders and piles of scree slipped from the sides of the mountains, and at times the track almost vanished altogether. Her feet felt bruised and sore. And, for the first time that night, the cold began to trouble her. It seemed to creep into the marrow of her bones, forming crystals in her joints that made it hard to move. She gradually descended into a dull nightmare of exhaustion, and finally was concentrating only on putting one foot in front of the other. The mouth of the valley drew closer and closer, but as they neared it, so the cold increased and Cadvan's steps became slower.

At last he stopped altogether. Now sweat ran in runnels down his face, and the edges of his mouth trembled. "Maerad," he said hoarsely. "I must rest, just briefly." He seemed to collapse slowly to the ground.

Instinctively Maerad reached out and clasped his hand.

All at once she felt it: a cold, cruel will that crushed her mind like a vice. She dropped his hand as if the touch scorched her.

"What is it?" she whispered.

Cadvan looked at her in amazement.

"You can feel it?" he said.

"Something," she said, wincing. "Something horrible..."

"Take my hand again," he said.

Maerad looked at him fearfully and flinched away.

When she had touched Cadvan, it was as if her mind had been invaded by a malignant consciousness, implacable and terrifying.

Cadvan let out his breath in a gasp, and then braced himself to breathe again, like a man in pain. He held out his hand towards her, speaking steadily. "Maerad, at this moment I keep the entire mountain from toppling on our heads. Perhaps you can help me. Take my hand!"

Reluctantly Maerad reached out and clasped it again. His fingers were cold as ice. The feeling came back, worse this time. Cadvan clutched her hard, as if he were drowning.

"Hold it back," he said. "Command it to retreat."

Maerad felt bewildered. What did he mean?

Hold it back!

The command seemed not to be said out loud, but inside her head. It was Cadvan's voice. In the midst of the baleful darkness which disordered her mind, his voice seemed to be a light, a small white flame... she turned towards it, fighting down her terror. She focused her thoughts. Go away! she cried. She didn't know if she said it out loud. Begone!

At once the crushing sense of malevolence lightened. Cadvan let out an enormous sigh.

"By the Light, Maerad, that is some Gift you have. Now perhaps we will be able to leave." Slowly, holding her hand so tightly she could feel the bones crunching, he stood up.

They crept on steadily, bent over as if they carried heavy burdens. Maerad found it difficult to concentrate both on walking and on shielding her mind. Once she twisted her ankle on a rock and almost fell, crying out, but Cadvan kept fast her hand and she limped on. The end of the valley came closer with excruciating slowness.

At last, as the mountains began to turn silver-grey and then rose-pink with the approaching dawn, they reached the end of the valley. As they passed the last of its outrunning hills, Maerad felt the will snap shut behind her, like a gate, and suddenly her body walked freely again. She laughed with relief.

"We're out!" she cried, turning to Cadvan with an open smile for the first time.
Cadvan glanced at her sombrely. "But still we must walk! Even in its shadows, the Landrost has power."

As if to emphasise his words, a deep rumble echoed from behind them and a great slide of rocks and boulders slipped off the side of the mountains and fell in dust to the ground. Maerad turned and looked into the valley for the last time. Strange, she thought; she felt no emotion at all, neither gladness nor regret.

Nothing.

Then she turned away.
Before them she saw the turfed knees of the mountains descending to a great forest, obscured by mists that even now were drawing up to the sky. The sun was rising over the green hills, and its pale light fell on her face.

[Ranryou Roga]

Kotaro remembers leaving Norlack and he was glad. People never shut up there and someone always wanted to sell him sonething. Kotaro sighed softly as they continued to walk. He was tired but didnt care all he wanted was to be able to get where he need to go. Unfortunelaty for him be had a large bug on his back taking a nap. Kotaro shook his head and continued to walk as if nothing was wrong.


Mizuki had jumpped on Kotaro's back his body was small and his attentiopn spad wasnt good. He was tired as well and need to rest before they got to where ever they were going. He was to tired to even noticed the figures walking in their direction from a few miles apart.

[Zanethose]

Ghael grunted as he pulled himself up the steep hillside by the camp. It was the last of the obstacles they would have to climb before they reached the camp but it may have also been the hardest. It was a good 50 feet at least and the incline was too steep to walk, it had be scaled.

They had been traveling all night, himself and the human girl, and it was approaching dawn, he hadn't eaten all day, except for those fish that the girl had caught which they stopped and ate halfway through their journey. He was sweating and tired, his legs trembled but he push on, his arms burning ever time he pulled himself up a little more.

Ghael looked down at the girl, remembering her saying her name was Mutt or Stray while they were eating. He looked back up and continued to pull himself upwards.

"Hey, Mutt," he managed to say inbetween gasps, "How old are you exactly? You never did manage to tell me that. And why are you out here all by yourself, it isnt exactly safe, ya know."

He continued to push himself forward, eventually meeting the breaking point of the hill and looking over to see Nerili laying on her side, facing away from him. He sighed in relief, she hadn't left, and better yet, she was asleep, he wouldn't have to put up with her complaining tonight.

Nerili's eyes snapped open as she heard the grass rustle behind her, crunching under the weight of someone's foot. She didn't care who it was at this point, she was mad. She had waited all day for Ghael to return from where ever he was and he hadn't yet.

'If this is him,' She thought, 'I'm gonna tear him a new one...'

She slowly reached out for her bow which lay in front of her, an arrow resting on top of it. She grabbe the bow with her left hand, took the arrow with her right, strung the arrow, and quickly sat up, turned and fired the arrow at Ghael, barely missing the side of his head.

"That was a warning shot! Leave or I'll....Ghael? Where the heck have you been!?"

Nerili stood up and approached Ghael, her expression seeming dark, her teeth clenched.

Ghael's eyes lit up as the arrow took a few of his stray hairs off the side of his head, he looked at Nerili's figure as she stood up, walking over to him.

"Ah crap...," he said under his breathe, "So much for that..."

[Nespa]

Mutt had started to follow him after she spoke with him. Though she could not really tell why she following him in the first place 'either i am curious or really in need for companionship for a while' she thought. she blinked at his question ï am 17 and i know but i have been alone on the road since i was 13 years old" oddly enough she felt comfortable with this guy. Faintly she was aware that the hill they were climbed was rather steep but she did not have much bother with it after climbing some mountains her phsysical body was pretty strong. She giggled when geheal was almost shot by a arrow "i take it she did not like the fact that you left her alone?" she wondert after a woman started to scold the guy.

[Pirate Toast]

MAERAD limped on, her legs heavy, aching for sleep. An hour after sunrise, when the mouth of the valley had vanished in the larger range, but before they had reached the edges of the forest, Cadvan stopped beside a small grove of white-barked trees. Maerad saw they were ancient, with wide, scarred boles, and grew in a circle close together.

"The birch is a tree of high virtue," Cadvan said. "Even here, we can sleep in peace. This is a dingle planted of old by the Northern Bards. It has a name: Irihel, Icehome, and travelling bards would stay here. It is well placed for us!"

They passed between the closely planted trunks and Maerad saw that within them the grass was short and close leafed, making a soft, fragrant ground that dipped down like a bowl. The branches met and interwove over their heads, the new leaves filtering the light green-gold.

Cadvan sat down, throwing his pack to the ground, and stretched out his legs.

"We are not permitted to make fire here," he said. "More's the pity. My bones are frozen."

Maerad cautiously sat down with him. Her rough life in the cot had taught her to be wary of men; it had taken all her guile, all her summonings of witchfears, to ward off Gilman's thugs. She had seen what they did to women and any others weaker than they were. She was acutely aware she was alone in a wild place, wholly in the power of this Cadvan; but he wasn't like any man she had met before, not even Mirlad, Gilman's dour and taciturn singer.

Cadvan eyed her empathically. "There is a rivulet near by, if you would like to wash," he said. "I'll show you, and leave you there briefly. You will be within call, should you need me. If you are unable to call, shout my name in your head. I will hear you."

Maerad nodded, and he led her to a small stream that flowed, fresh and cold, from the mountains. Behind high bushes of gorse and bramble, a small bank of smooth grass shelved up from a pool, almost as if it had been made for bathing. Cadvan left her and Maerad washed for the first time since the day before, gasping at the cold water, and soaked her swollen ankle. The sprain was not too bad: it would be better in a day or so.

Then she returned to the dingle, where Cadvan had taken a blanket from his pack, and her lyre, still wrapped in sacking. He had also spread some food: dried fruits and meats, and a tough-looking biscuit. "Eat," he said. "I'll be back in a minute."

Maerad picked up her lyre, shaking off the sacking, and cradled it, but she was too tired even to pluck the strings. By the time Cadvan returned, ten minutes later, she was already sound asleep with the blanket wrapped around her, the lyre tucked in the crook of her arm like a baby, the food untouched. He smiled wryly, and ate some of the biscuit. Then he too wrapped his cloak about him and slept.



Maerad was awoken by hunger pangs. The sun was already low in the sky. Cadvan was sitting with his back to her and turned when she stirred. He was eating, and offered her some supper, and they ate in silence. That simple food, seasoned only by hunger, burst on Maerad's tongue like freedom, as if her entire body were glowing with the taste of sunlight, of wind blowing in wide spaces and trees reaching their burdened arms to boundless skies.

When they finished eating, Cadvan brushed the crumbs off his cloak with almost fastidious care. "Now, Maerad," he said, not looking at her. "We must think of our plans. I must travel many hundreds of miles, through dangerous country, and quickly. And now I have a passenger, and no extra food. And I notice you brought not a blanket, nor any food, nor even spare clothes - only a harp, like a true Bard. What shall we do?"

Maerad looked at him, schooling her face to betray nothing. "How should I know?" she asked. "You asked me to come with you." But a sudden fear plucked her. What, indeed, was she to do? She knew nothing, and no one. As far as she knew, her family were all dead. She had no home. And she could be nothing but a liability to this man, who had freed her from slavery though clearly in danger himself. Would he abandon her?

As if he read her thoughts, Cadvan said quickly: "Of course, I wouldn't leave you here. But we must have some thought of where to go. My way bends to Norloch, where I must report to the Circle. I can either take you to a closer School, where you may rest, and heal, and be taught, or take you with me to Norloch."

"I don't mean to be in the way," said Maerad, a little sarcastically.

"Maerad, Bards learn that little that concerns them is the consequence of mere chance. Our meeting seems to me of more weight than that. Those of the Gift are rare enough: to find you in a cowbyre, in such circumstances, is too strange. And I doubt I would have made it out of that valley without your help. That much is clear to me. It is also, to my mind, astonishing to find such power as yours, wholly untutored. I would not have believed it, if I had not experienced it. There's much I should tell you, much you should know. A gift of any kind is a double-edged blade, and its possession can damage you, if used wrongly. You are a puzzle."

He smiled at her, but Maerad sat gloweringly and would not smile back. There was a short silence.

"May I look at your lyre?" he asked. "It caught my eye..."

Maerad picked up her lyre, unconsciously stroking it, and passed it to him.

He took it and examined it closely, his interest quickening, his long slender fingers testing its weight and balance. He drew his hand across the strings in a gentle chord. The notes rang out sweetly and hung in the air. Cadvan whistled softly.

"This lyre," he said. "Was it your mother's?"

Maerad nodded. Cadvan sat thoughtfully, turning it over in his hands, running his fingers over the carven script.

"Have you ever had to tune it?" he said. "I suppose you have never replaced the strings?"

"No," said Maerad. "Should I have? I didn't know... Mirlad never said..."

Cadvan laughed, startling her. "Oh, Maerad," he said, when he regained his breath. "Should you have strung it?" He laughed again, softly, wonder palpable in his voice. "This is a thing precious beyond the ransom of kings. What would Gilman have done, had he known such a treasure lay hidden in his small cot! It is worth ten times, no, a thousand thousand times, the worth of everything in it. Such lyres have not been made for many a long age, not since the days of Afinil. It was carved by a great craftsman. I don't know this script at all, and I know many that are long fallen into disuse; no doubt it tells the name of who made it. Dhyllic ware, they are, and a great potency is woven into their making. The virtue on its strings is one now long lost. I have read of these instruments, but I have never seen one. It was thought they were all lost. What a riddle you are!" He looked at her, still smiling.

Maerad had no idea how to answer him. She felt staggered. Her humble lyre, a thing out of legend?

But, suddenly serious, Cadvan reached out and patted her hand.

"We shall have to be friends, if we are to travel together," he said. "And we must trust each other. Don't mind my teasing. Nevertheless, we must decide what to do."

Maerad looked uneasily down at her hands and said nothing. She didn't know what to say to this man: did he mean her ill? How could she tell?

"In any case, we won't leave here tonight," continued Cadvan. "I am still weary, truth be told. And I need to think. Here we are safe, for the time being. Rest will harm neither of us. And there is a long road ahead, whatever we decide."

He opened his pack, and drew out a lyre. "Of less noble lineage than yours, but noble enough to keep it company," he said. "And still true, and my first love." He struck some chords, tuning it, and then plucked a cascade of notes which pierced Maerad's heart. It was a song she knew well, the beginning of the tragic lay of Andomian and Beruldh, which Mirlad had taught her many years before. Cadvan began to sing the part of Andomian in a clear, beautiful voice.

Speak to me, fair maid!
Speak and do not go!
What sorrows have your eyes inlaid
With such black woe?

He paused, plucking the melody, and Maerad realised he was waiting for her to respond.

She was still holding her lyre, and began to play the antiphon, singing the answering verse. She hadn't played duet since Mirlad had died. They continued to sing the alternate verses of the ancient duet, Cadvan's baritone and Maerad's contralto filling the grove with music. Maerad had the odd feeling that the trees were listening, bending inwards the better to hear them.

My dam is buried deep
Dark are my father's halls
And carrion fowl and wolves now keep
Their ruined walls

Stay and heal your hurt
Lay down that brow of stone
From this day forth my hidden heart
Will be your own.

The curse of Karak binds me
My brothers are his thralls
And I must turn all joy and flee
To his foul halls...

Maerad stopped, suddenly faltering.

Cadvan ceased his play, and after the rippling chords of music there was a deep silence. "And so Andomian and Beruldh met, and wended their way even to the dungeons of the Nameless, and there died, beyond hope or help of the Light," he said. "But none of the legends speak of his regret." He struck a sudden harsh, impatient chord. "You're right, Maerad. This is no song for such a place, unhoused, in the dark, where Wers howl in the distance. You play well: you've had some good teaching, clearly, although with some odd variants... I see you know more than you choose to show. I should have expected that, I guess. We'll talk of this later."

He put away his lyre, and spoke no more for some time, and now his brow was dark and troubled.

Maerad sat disconsolate, wondering if she had been impertinent or coarse. This man was beyond her ken: he seemed to regard her with tolerant irony, and then, without warning, his mood would change and he would become distant and withheld. He was nothing like the men in Gilman's Cot, who were moved only by coarse, violent impulses, nor like Mirlad, who had been brusque, but whose gruffness concealed a deep kindness. An instinct had told her Mirlad was deeply unhappy and so she excused his disillusion and his odd moods. He had never spoken to her of the history of Annar, or the Lore, or the Speech, although he had taught her many songs, saying dismissively that they passed the time. Thinking back, she supposed he saw as little hope as she did of her escape, and so sought to protect her from dreaming, as perhaps he did, of another life. A life where Bards and Song were held in honour, and were not merely the entertainment at crude feastings.

And he had died there. She felt a new compassion wash over her for the degradation of Mirlad's life, and his lonely death.

Cadvan, though, was quite different, and much less easy to feel out. He seemed more mercurial; his face was mobile, and his thoughts flowed over it like the sun rippling over water. Yet paradoxically he seemed more hidden, more full of secrets beyond even those he hinted at. Perhaps, she thought, all real Bards are like this, at once more present and more remote. At least he had got her out of the cot: but she couldn't think of what she should do now, unless she followed Cadvan. He said himself this was dangerous country, and she had no knowledge of any dangers, save those of being beaten, and fighting off the Thane's men. She would be as vulnerable as a baby rabbit.

Maerad leaned back against one of the birches and gazed up through its branches, which twined black against the deep blue of evening. A few early stars shone through, white jewels snared in an intricate net. I cannot understand this pattern, she thought tiredly. But the stars, at least, remain the same.

At last Cadvan said curtly she should get some rest, and so she curled into the blanket. It didn't take long for her to sleep, despite the disorder of her thoughts.

[FaroDomisai]

Psoron sighed as he looked at the rib cage and the bones of the devoured sled dog "Well....it wasn't all that bad" Arcana laughed "The killing was fun" Psoron growled again "Shut up!" the dogs tilted their heads looking at Psoron with their big blue eyes like he was crazy or something Acrana yelled at the dogs through Psoron "What the hell are you looking at you mangy mutts!" he growled in frustration Psoron growled at Arcana "Don't you dare yell at them! they didn't do anything to you!".


Psoron put the dogs on their harness's and connected them to the sled,he stood on the sled and cracked his whip on the ground "Onward!" he said in the SPEECH. The dogs picked up the pace quickly as they ran through the thick snowfall crashing down upon them "Let's pick up the pace! we have to get to dry land quickly before we run into anymore storm dogs!" the dogs yelped in fright when they heard that word. Psoron had his eyes halfway shut for snow clung to his eye lashes making his eyes heavy and trying to get him to fall alseep "Onward Mugen!,Rain!,Jack! and Yuki!" he said in SPEECH.

"These mutts have names!" Arcana laughed and howled inside Psoron's mind "I thought they were just normal sled dogs useless....well not useless they do make rather good food." Psoron shook his head "Remind me to find a trumpet player when we reach dry land." Arcana said in a confused tone "And why would I want to do that and why would you want to find a trumpet player?" Psoron laughed a little "So I can have him blare it into my ears so I can go deaf." Arcana was again confused "And why would you want that?". Psoron laughed again "So I wont have to hear the complaints and idiotic remarks of you".

Arcana growled "I was only kidding when I said that!, god some people can't take a joke". Psoron shook his head "Not when it is about dogs...these dogs are my grandfathers and were passed down to me when he passed away". Arcana laughed so hard he sounded like he was going to die "T-then why did w-we just eat one!"

Psoron sighed "Because it was your idea and we didn't have any choice....now shut up for a few minutes I am getting a head ache"

[Pirate Toast]

Maerad woke with a start. For a moment she forgot where she was and wondered why there had been no bell; then a shaft of light striking through the branches shone in her eyes, and as she blinked, the events of the past two days came back with a rush. She sat up, rubbing her eyes, and saw that Cadvan was already up and had laid out breakfast. He had been to the stream, for his dark hair fell wet across his forehead.

"Good morning," he said, bowing. "The mistress of the house must forgive our fare, which, alas, is the same as last night. But wholesome, for all its monotony. Does my lady wish to wash first, or after she breaks her fast?"

Maerad laughed. "Later, I think. It's a better breakfast than I'm used to!"

They ate in a companionable silence. Then Cadvan packed up.

Maerad wrapped her lyre in its sacking and Cadvan stowed it.

"We must leave here today," he said. "I have decided to vary my course somewhat, and go to a place I know about sixty miles hence. At a good pace, and all being well, we will make it in about a week. We need supplies, and you need some clothes. Bards are not welcome everywhere these days, and we will have to disguise ourselves. But I think they will not turn away travellers in need."
Then he paused, as if he was uncertain. "Now, I wish to ask of you a favour. Maerad, you are a sore puzzle to me, and such is the importance of my errand... I want to ask if I can scry you."

"Scry me?" said Maerad. "What does that mean?"

"It's hard to explain, if you don't know," he said. "But I must tell you, that if you refuse, I will respect your decision and will attempt to place no weight on it. Scrying is a hard thing, and no Bard performs it lightly. It means - that I wish to look into you and see what you are."

"Oh," said Maerad. She still had no idea what he was talking about. Doubtfully, she asked: "Does it hurt?"

"Well. Yes, it does, in a way. It's a little like my asking if you would take all your clothes off and stand in front of me while I pore over you with a seeing glass."
Maerad stared at him, nonplussed. Cadvan eyes were frank and open, and there seemed to be no guile in his request. Still, she felt misgivings stir within her.

"It sounds like you want to magic me," she said suspiciously. "Don't you trust me? Is that it?"

He sighed. "It's not a spell, not as such. At least, I would do nothing to you, apart from look."

Maerad still said nothing.

"I don't like to ask," Cadvan said. "I brought you out of that place in good faith and I would not ask if all that was at risk was myself."

"What if I don't agree?" she asked.

"Then I won't do it," said Cadvan. "And we shall continue with our journey." His face was suddenly inscrutable, and he bent to pick up his pack.

"What do you have to do?"

Cadvan paused.

"I look into your eyes. I see into your mind. That's all."

"That's all?" Maerad considered for a short time. It seemed important to Cadvan. And she didn't believe he would hurt her; he had had plenty of opportunity already, if that was what he wished to do. "All right, then," she said, shrugging. "If it makes you feel better. What do you have to do?"

"Are you sure?"

"Do you want to do it, or not?" she said.

Cadvan dropped his pack again. "Then stand square in front of me, like you did in the byre. And place your hands on my shoulders."

She did so, and he put his hands on her shoulders. They stood face to face and Cadvan looked in her eyes. Maerad had a sudden desire to giggle.

"Don't laugh, Maerad," said Cadvan softly. "Empty your mind."

He spoke words in the Speech, very rapidly so Maerad couldn't catch them. It seemed then to Maerad that the light around them darkened, and that all she could see was Cadvan's eyes. They were a very dark blue and burned with an inner fire that seemed at first cold, but then, she realised, was hot at the centre, hot enough to burn. And what was that sadness in them? A deep sadness, a wound... a face much loved, she could almost see it... and something else, a darkness, like a scar... But then suddenly she was whelmed with memory of her own life: memories she had forgotten, or pressed back into the anterior of her mind. They came in a flood, in no particular order, almost as if her whole life were occurring in a single second; but some stood out.

Memory after memory of Gilman's Cot, numbing exhaustion and boredom and pain, the humiliations of the riots and beatings, playing with Mirlad when she was a child, and his dour teaching... Her mother, and an old woman, blue eyed, holding her, and a garden full of sweet scented flowers, and singing and music and laughter in a great hall filled with men and women and children in fine clothes and lit with great branches of candles... Her mother clutching her in terror and sickness and grief, lurching in a wain. A small table, piled high with fruit... Her mother holding a small baby, her brother Cai, who was chortling and reaching for a red flower... Her mother's despair and her mother dying, her mother yellowed and wasted on a pallet, her lips cracked and ulcered, her voice a whisper, brushing back her hair and saying, "Maerad, be strong. Be strong..." And the death rattle... And then crows wheeling in a dark sky, and men shouting, and terrible screams, a man she knew was her father felled with a blow from a mace, falling among many bodies, and a high tower burning in the night and a shout as the roof caved in, sending forth a leap of flame...

An intolerable anguish possessed Maerad, beyond even the grief she had felt at her mother's death; it was as if all the pain she had ever experienced gathered into a white hot node in her centre of her mind. It grew and grew, a coruscating distress of her whole being, until she could no longer bear it. Beyond her conscious will, she screamed No! and burst into a storm of scalding tears.
She was aware of nothing else for some time. After a while, she realised she was on the ground, weeping on Cadvan's shoulder, and he was stroking her hair. Her sobs subsided at last and she sat back, thrusting Cadvan away and rubbing the back of her hand over her eyes.

Cadvan looked pale and distressed. "Maerad, I am truly sorry," he said. "I am very, very sorry."

She wasn't sure if he was sorry for the scrying, or for what the scrying had revealed. She felt limp, and the beginnings of a slight headache pulsed behind her brow. She hid her face in her hands.

"It did hurt," she said in a muffled voice.

"I shouldn't have asked," Cadvan said, after a silence. "For all your power, you are not much more than a child, and even the great find scrying a hard thing. I was in such doubt, whether you were a spirit of the dark, sent to trick me."

"Me trick you?" Maerad looked up in surprise.

Cadvan grinned at her crookedly.

"You have the consolation that I have paid for my doubt. The cry you sent out threw me over to those trees. I was lucky my neck wasn't broken! "

"I did that?" She stared at him, her mouth open in astonishment.

"Indeed you did. But it wasn't your fault." He grimaced, rubbing his head, and Maerad saw there was a mark on his forehead. "You need to learn how to control your power."

"You'll have a bump there," she said.

"Yes, I will."

"Is it all right, then?"

"What?"

"I mean, it's all right?"

"Oh, yes." Cadvan answered her almost distractedly. "There is no darkness in you, if that's what you mean, I know that even though I couldn't finish the scrying. If there were, I would have found different walls and different kinds of refusals." He looked at her oddly, almost, she thought, shyly. "It's a strange business, scrying. I haven't done it very often. But I can tell you, Maerad, that I have not scried one with so much anguish as you. I shan't do it again in a hurry! And you almost scried me instead!" He shook his head, and they both sat unspeaking for some time.

Maerad's headache ebbed away. She felt dazed and emptied; but also there was a strange sense of relief, as if she had been lanced of a large abscess.

Abruptly Cadvan stood up and brushed himself off. He seemed possessed by a new decisiveness, as if the doubts that had troubled him earlier had now been resolved. "We must leave here," he said. "The sun is already high, and we have a long way to go."

Maerad squinted up at him. "Where are we going?"

"I think I must take you to Norloch. But that is a long way from here. First we must find food, and maybe some horses."

He stood in the middle of the dingle and bowed to the trees, signing to Maerad to do the same. She scrambled to her feet. "We must thank the trees for their hospitality," he said. "They have been good to us." Then he picked up his pack, and walked out of the dingle.
Maerad lingered briefly before they left the shelter of the birches, for a last glimpse of the early sunlight shafting through the spring leaves. She thought the grove was the most beautiful place she had ever seen. The light scattered itself in silver and gold glints over the ground, and the intricate shadows of the branches danced with the gleams over the soft grasses, which rippled gently in the spring breeze. Thank you, she said silently, and bowed, feeling the ceremony strangely appropriate: the birches seemed more alive than most trees. For a moment she almost felt they were about to speak back to her, and they seemed to rustle a little sadly, as if they were friends waving farewell.

[FaroDomisai]

They rode for another hour or two the ice slowly started change into rock,dirt and mud. He started to have a conversation with his little demon friend weather or not to kill the dogs Arcana spoke clearly in a low tone now out of the storm he didn't have to yell, "So what are we going to do with the rest of the mutts?." Psoron growled "Enough with calling them that they have names you know!" Acrana laughed "Stupid names, I want to kill and eat the pour pathetic mutts."

Psoron nodded "You know what when we reach the city the whole world will know you want to eat my dogs!". Suddenly out of the blue a Ordine rose up from the ocean and roared in rage of anger. Psoron yelled "Oh crap!" Psoron changed into Arcana and yelled in SPEECH.


"We have to protect the mutts! weather I want to eat them or not!" villagers ran or just stood there aimlessly in shock or just because they wanted to see some action. "Mugen,Rain,Jack,Yuki go!" he said in SPEECH as the dogs lunged at the Ordine biting the hell out of the monster "I don't think this will hold out to long" Arcana knelt down and started in SPEECH "Racin Des Sujo Ana Ordine!" suddenly a dark cloud appeared over the Ordine, lighting struck the Ordine but also the dogs.


"Jack,Yuki,Rain! NO!" Psoron said as he saw the dogs fall from the Ordine "Arcana you idiot"

Arcana sighed "Well we can steal the meat from the dogs and the Ordine". Arcana watched as the Ordine sunk back into the ocean slowly "Hahahahaha! that was to easy"

Acrana changed back into Psoron and sighed "Mugen...all I have is you left.." Mugen whimpered as he layed down, Mugen was a black sled dog with yellow catish eyes.

Acrana looked through Psoron's eyes and gasped "Psoron Mugen is a Elidhu!"

Psoron tilted his head "A Elidhu?"

Arcana laughed "They are shapshifters and can take form of anything"

Psoron smiled at Mugen "Is that what you are boy?"

Mugen nodded and slowly started to change "Yes that is what I am...your grandfather before he passed away told me to watch over you and take form of one of the sled dogs"

Psoron laughed happily "Oh, Mugen! that is sooooo cool!"

[Petrol Gas]

OOC: Really sorry guys, but this'll have to be my last post for this thread. It's not that I don't want to keep going, it's just that some things have come up at home and my brainstorming time is being cut down on. I really do appreciate it though. Also I would like to say that you can feel free to do anything with Lenuss's body or his character within reason. thanks, ^.^


BIC:Lenuss looked down the cliff side at the snowy crevice in the rock that he could see below him. It had been a long walk so far and it would be a long walk to pass this mountain range. He knew that he was tired, and he knew that he was cold. But he had never felt cold like this before. The ice that had frozen on his face and chin was solidification from his own breath which had condensed. The man he had spoken to at the base of the mountain path had been completely right about the weather.

"Cold, cold, and colder. Trust me on that one..."The old man stopped looking directly at Lenuss and began to gaze at the mountain behind him. "When you get up there you have to remember two things. The first thing that you need to remember is that the whole of the pass will be covered in ice and snow. So watch your footing wherever you go. The second thing that you need to remember is that these mountains are rumored to be guarded by an Elidhu. You know of them from your stories?" He glanced at Lenuss for acknowledgment but kept talking without any. "If you cross that creature, you may find yourself dead. If you can somehow keep it's trust, you might just survive the whole ordeal. Mostly, though, the Elidhu keeps into a cave that is seated atop one of the mountains." Now he looked deeply into Lenuss's eyes for acknowledgment of what he said. Lenuss saw the need and nodded his head.

Lenuss snapped his attention back to the present. It was the third time that he had caught himself drifting in thought since he reached the snowy caps of the ridge. Around him he saw nothing but white and valley, and below him he could see the mountain outstretch into a river valley. He turned to face the cold pass before him.

Half of the journey was making it over the mountain top and Lenuss hadn't reached that point yet. He could sense that he was beginning to freeze though. Fearing the worst, and to calm his mind he began to sing one of his ballads to the Ice spirits. He began to remember when his father had taught him the song at a very young age.

The song told the tale of a beautiful ice woman who lived in the Large cities of old. Then for some reason she was chased out of the town away from her love and she lived the rest of his life outside and away from him. she spent the rest of eternity mourning her loss and hiding from other people. It was one of the first songs his father had taught him and by far it was Lenuss's favourite.

That's when Lenuss snapped back to attention. He felt cold to the bone in his arms and legs. His fingers had become too numb for him to feel and his boots were poor cover for his sore feet. He began to think of the warm spring meadows that he had encountered before he passed across these mountains the first time. Then he snapped back to attention.

"This is bad." Lenuss thought in disbelief. "I can't believe I'm going to die in this white pass." Lenuss began to see that the white was even more white than he thought that it had been. Slowly his eyes began to curve out shapes from the white glare. Behind all of the glowing snow he could see something else...It looked like....

Lenuss had to shake his head to break free of the cold this time. There was no way that he was going to make it if he kept indulging his thoughts. He thought that if he ever made it out of the mountains he would have to write a song about his ventures. Something with two different choruses. A nice bridge as well. He knew it would have to include several different embellishments, but he could add them later, after he'd finished his journey. Then he saw the rhythm that his melody would have. It was carved into the tops of the mountains by time itself.

He could see the shape of his music and the sound of the notes. It followed the rise and falls of the tops before him. He suddenly became excited about the fact. This was his perfect song. With this he could change the world. He thought the sound out and began to write the first verse in his head.

But time for Lenuss's music stopped. He didn't know it or realize but he had fallen to the ground beneath him unable to see or hear the things around him. The old man had told him to keep moving...even when things got rough...but it was too late for Lenuss. Fate had at last grabbed him. His message for the world was lost. The Nameless one's evil magic was beginning to spread.

[Tetsanosuke]

After a true day of teaching several classes the evening was about her. She felt a tingle in her bosom, her lace blue cloths of beautiful and lavish design seemed more for uses then just clothing, perhaps armor like? The cloths were made from a special weave, her herself wove these robes and so, she made them so they would aid her.

The tingle though, carrying on as she would make it to the top floor of the great hall, the school was so vast she almost had to strain to remember every stone and speck of dust. Though this was so, she was one of the few who could in fact remember that much of the school, and this being a fact made others wonder why she was always late to class in the morning.

Every time someone questioned her about it, she would smile or laugh it off. "Ladies are allowed to be 'fashionably' late, are they not?" Is one of her many responses. Though this all etched in white against the board of knowing, the true meaning of the Knowing was always questionable. Though she knew her Speech well, the Knowing that was the teachings of everything seemed to spread farther in her mind. Spinning and weaving in itself, she'd think about it constantly at times. Though her mind was vast, and her aptitude was well varnished, she had trouble at the very core of it all. Perhaps that's why she wasn't a master yet, not a part of the Great council.

But her mind would turn again, the wind blew her savory silver hair towards the west, and she could feel something very far off in the distance. The image of a fellow bard hit her, it was Cadvan, the one who had left earlier in the month. Or was it only a week? Time had flew for her in many ways, i and out then back around. But nothing seemed as intriguing as this force she felt.. was it perhaps a Gift? But what sort could it be, she had never found such a Gift anywhere before.

"He's coming... I can feel it. Cadvan is bringing onto us the one who will spare the masses.. or send them to their doom..." Arlona's face became tense at the thought, so little but the worst could really do this when she was relaxing on the roof, the castle like structure gray and brown in stone high in the hills over the town.

She would then retire from the roof, making her way towards her room with an even pace down the stone laid halls. Each step was an etch in the stone, or sounded like it with her boots clamping upon it.

[Pirate Toast]

"WHY is it so quiet?" Maerad asked. "Is it always like this around here?"

"No, it's not. I don't like it," Cadvan said. "There are birds, very high up. I can't see what they are. Perhaps they watch us. It's like the quiet before a storm, but there will be no storm tonight. Tomorrow, perhaps, I think. No, it's something else."

"Can you guess what it might be?"

"Yes. But I might be wrong. What I guess is that the Landrost has sent his messengers out, and that the hunt is on. I have only seen crows today, all other birds are in hiding."

"The hunt?" said Maerad, faltering. She realised Cadvan was correct about the crows; she had seen no other birds all day.

They were steering South East, with the mountains on their right and the forest on their left. The sky was clear and cold, a high pale blue, and all through the morning the sun scarcely warmed them. All around them the earth was alive with the pale green of early spring; snowdrops and jonquils pushed through the tangled herbs and grasses, and marjorams and wild mints released sharp fragrances as they bruised beneath their feet. Low thorny trees and scruffy clumps of pines grew in the lees of the hills, bent by the winds, surrounded by tangles of gorse and bramble. Everywhere crept a pale blue flower shaped like a star, which Cadvan said was called aëlorgalen. "Dawnflower, in the Speech," Cadvan explained. "It only grows this far North." Maerad tried repeating the name, but found that her tongue tripped over it, and afterwards she couldn't remember it at all.

It was a beautiful countryside, but Maerad thought it curiously lonely. Their footsteps sounded loudly in the emptiness; they seemed the only things that moved as far as the eye could see. There was no sign of habitation anywhere, although strange grass-covered ridges and mounds, which seemed too regular to be natural, constantly threatened to trip her up: perhaps they were remains of buildings long vanished. And she saw no animals - once some rabbits propping and running in the distance, but that was all.

"I thought the Landrost was just a mountain," she said, looking back at its high snow-tipped peak. "You talk as if it were a man... and what's the hunt?"

"The Landrost is a power, yes, a person... the mountain is merely his dwelling. He is not a man, and never was."

"Like the Nameless One?" said Maerad.

"Not so powerful as him: although the Nameless was once a man, even as I am. He is but one of his slaves. I will not speak his name here, although I know it." Cadvan paused, and Maerad noticed again the exhaustion on his face: it was, she saw, a deep exhaustion born of long struggle and pain. "He captured me, and held me in his fastness, deep in the mountain. I saw things there that he would rather I did not know, because in his pride he thought to make me tremble before I died. But I escaped, and his vengefulness is deadly, and we are not beyond his reach, not yet. I only just held him back in the valley, with your help: he would have brought the mountain down on us, else. His power wanes the further we go, but here we are still too close.

"He does not easily countenance escape from his claws. I think he sends out the Wers, and that is why it is quiet. Their shadows track us, although they can do nothing while the sun still shines. Only in the dark can they take their forms. It will be a bad night."

He was silent for some time. His words seemed to magnify the stillness around them, and Maerad again looked around her uneasily. The landscape seemed peaceful and unthreatening, but some more subtle sense told her otherwise. Her skin began to creep with an indefinable dread.

"Maerad," said Cadvan at last. "I think I should have left you, rather than draw you into my own danger. I didn't think enough, when I stumbled across you in that cot. I was too astonished, and too weary. And now it is too late to turn back."

"No," said Maerad warmly. She thought of the suffocating despair of Gilman's Cot. At least here, now, she could breathe freely. "No, you were right to ask me to leave. I would rather die than stay there."

"Well, you might die," said Cadvan.

"At least I won't die a slave," Maerad answered. Proud words, she thought to herself; but she meant them.




Cadvan pushed the pace and they walked in silence, wrapped in their own thoughts.

Maerad still couldn't quite believe she had escaped the cot; every now and then she caught herself thinking idly that she should be performing some task - weeding the fields or churning butter or spinning the rough wool which made all their clothes - and then she would catch herself, with a tiny shock: perhaps she would never have to do any of those things again. Even with the increasing sense of watchfulness, a feeling that the very stones were spying on them, the present moment overwhelmed her. She couldn't imagine anything more amazing than the mere fact of her freedom. Where she was going, or why, were questions she couldn't even contemplate. And this Cadvan - who was he? Why did she have this strange feeling she could trust him? She knew nothing about him. She had never trusted a man before, save Mirlad, and even that trust had taken years to establish. Why start now?

They stopped for the midday meal beside one of the many streamlets that ran down from the mountains. Maerad's ankle was beginning to swell and she eased it out from the boot and held it in her hands, massaging the muscle.

"It hurts?" asked Cadvan. "Let me see." He took her foot in his hands and gently turned it. "It's a little swollen. Nothing very bad. Now, breathe in." He pressed his hand hard over her ankle and Maerad gasped with pain; then she gasped again, because the swelling and pain had vanished.

"It's gone!" she said. "Are you a healer as well?"

"All Bards are healers," said Cadvan softly, still holding her foot. "You should have shown me before." He smiled at her.

Maerad felt suddenly uneasy and withdrew her foot abruptly, wriggling her toes in relief.

"What's happening?" she asked. "I mean, there's so much I don't understand. Maybe I could help?" She looked up at him from under her tangled hair. "You said you were wounded, but I can't see any wounds on you. Did you heal yourself, too?"

Cadvan stood up and squinted at the sun. "We should move on," he said. "I'll tell you things in time, Maerad. I was sent here on a secret task, and I am not at liberty to tell you everything. But yes, I was wounded, and no, I couldn't heal myself. It's not a wound you can see. I am weaker than I should be, here without protection in the wild."

"But you can trust me," said Maerad, beginning to feel angry. "You said so yourself. And if you're in danger, then so am I, if I am travelling with you. So you owe it to me."

"I owe you nothing, Maerad." Cadvan's voice was even, but Maerad saw the flash in his eyes.

"You wouldn't have got out of the valley without me," she said. "You said so yourself. What was it in the valley?"

"Peace!" said Cadvan harshly, and his face closed against her. "Maerad, you are a child. Don't bother me with all these questions, at least not now. We have a long way to go."

Maerad was suddenly furious. "And who are you?" She didn't care that she was shouting, although her voice echoed loudly in the empty land around them. "You turn up out of nowhere in rags and then expect me to believe you're some kind of grand person from the South, with your talk of Bards and magic? You could just be a tinker full of tricks, for all I know. And then you tell me I'm just a child, go sit in the corner and be quiet. Shut up Maerad, you'll find out later! I'm not a child. I'm sixteen summers old!"

"There are more important things than the vanity of a young girl," Cadvan said coldly.

Maerad realised she was standing before him, her fists clenched, trembling with anger. She flushed.

"I'm not a child," she said again, but with less conviction. All at once she felt very childish. Cadvan looked weary, but his eyes were hard. He turned and began to walk away. Maerad paused a while, and then followed him, afraid of being left behind in this eerie silence. He was walking very fast and she had to run to catch up. When she did, she didn't draw even with him, but walked just behind. Her temper had ebbed as suddenly as it had appeared, but she didn't want to apologise.

They walked in stubborn silence for more than two hours. The sun was warm on their backs now, and Maerad was tiring. Cadvan kept the pace fast, and she was by no means used to this punishing trekking, no matter how trained she was to hard labour. She was too proud to ask him to slow down, and gritted her teeth. She was beginning to hate his straight, unbending back, always before her, always unforgiving. And there were still hours to go before sunset, when presumably they would stop, although it was quite possible that Cadvan would insist they keep going through the night. She had just swapped one tyrant for another... When they got to this place they were going, Norloch or whatever it was called, maybe she could find her own way through the world. For the moment she was stuck with him. Sweat trickled down her face. She was thirsty as well, and Cadvan had the water bag.

"We're making good pace," said Cadvan, turning at last. Maerad scowled at him, and he looked surprised. "Are you still angry? Put anger aside, child. It's no use."

"I'm not a child, I said," said Maerad sullenly. "Stop treating me like an idiot."

"If you are not a child, don't behave like one," Cadvan snapped. He turned to move off, then stopped, sighing, and turned back to her, holding out his hand. "Maerad, this is ridiculous. I'm sorry. I'm used to travelling alone. If I have been less than courteous to you, forgive me. I'm tired, and we have a long way to go unhoused. And this place worries me, I don't want to be out in the open tonight. Let's stop this bickering, yes?"

He held out his hand, and slowly Maerad took it and nodded, swallowing. She felt ungracious, hot and sulky under Cadvan's grave gaze.

"I need your help," he said. "Maerad, be sure there are things that I will tell you, when it is the right time, and that I don't tell you now because I can't bear to, not because I think little of you. And there are other things I can't tell you, because I may not."

"As you like," said Maerad. Suddenly she didn't care. Let him have his secrets.

He gestured Southwards. "I want to get to a place I know before nightfall," he said. "It's not a protection, like the Irihel, but it will be safer than the open. It's still a league or more hence and the afternoon is half gone. That's why I hurry."

"Can I have a drink of water, please, before we start again?" asked Maerad.
He pulled the waterbag out of his pack and handed it to her, drinking some himself. Then they began their trekking again.

[Ranryou Roga]

Kotaro shook his head and looked again only seeing a few trees that seemed to be alive due to the effect of the blood he was losing. Kotaro continued to walk toward the village that was now nly half a days walk even without Mizuki on his back. Kotaro's arm was covered in blood and his vision was slightly blurry,but he didnt care for that he only cared about getting to the next village so he could dumb Mizuki onto the ground in the courtyard and sleep inside of a real house this time. Kotaro growled as his foot slipped on a rock the was hanging from the downward hill they were on.

Kotaro began to fall over as the rock popped from its location and began its travel down the hill. Kotaro used his left leg to push himself back up but was to late. Kotaro slammed into the ground and with Mizuki slipping down the hill Kotaro was forced to act fast. Using his speed Kotaro used both hands to push himself into the air. with this he drew the oversized sword and threw it like it was nothing down toward mizuki who was about to hit a tree. The sword connected and pinned Mizuki to the ground right infront of the tree. Kotaro landed on the ground and growled with exhastion. he drew his sword form the ground and threw Mizuki on his back he didnt understand how he could have slept through all of that.

[Pirate Toast]

Mearad followed Cadvan to a hill with what looked like stone piled on top of each other.

Cadvan stopped at hte bottom of the hill and looked around "This will do for the night. Mearad do you know haw to start fire with magic?" he asked. The sun was already sinking behind the hill.

Mearad looked up at him confused "No, remember I just became a Bard about a three days ago. Of course I don't know"

Cadvan nodded "Then I will show you after we get enough wood for a huge fire."

Mearad started to ask a question but Cadvan cut her off "I will tell you later why. Just go get enough wood and bring it back then go get more till there is only a bit of light in the sky and hurry back as fast as possible. This depends on your life." he said in a serious tone.

Mearad nodded not knowing why he said that but he hadn't lyed to her yet nor told her he whole truth.

Mearad walked into he woods near the hill and pile of stones that were actually parts of an old watch tower that looked out over the Landrost to watch for enemy during the Great silence but the Nameless One had destoryed it along with most of this land. She picked up wood as much wood as she could carry and brought it back to the watch tower. She went back to gather more wood but heard a howl and froze. "What is that sound?!" It wasn't a hounds howl but it sounded very distant what ever it was. She finished gather wood and headed back to the watch tower with just a bit of light in the sky.

Cadvan was alreayd there building the wood up. He looked up when mearad had enter the litte watch tower. The walls of stone blocked out most of the wind and some of the cold. He motioned Mearad over to him and said "Mearad let me show you how to light a fire with magic so if you have nothing else to use then you can at least light fire with magic."

Mearad nodded. She was finially going to learn how to do some magiceven though she didn't know how to use the Speech she could light a fire, right? She watched Cadvan intently.

He said a word in Speech and pointed to the stick in his hand and a flame appeared "Now, you repeat after me and point the the stick in your hand and pictrue a flame there" he said and odded for her to do so.

Mearad closes her eyes and concentrated on the stick. She pictrued the stick with a flame on it. She said fire in Speech like Cadvan had and opened her eyes. SHe sighed and looked at Cadvan for help. her stick had no flame on it. "I thought you said it would do it"

Cadvan shakes his head and smiles one of his rare smiles "You misunderstood, Mearad. You have to practice to get better. Now continue to practice."

Mearad sighed and shot him a deadly look ut she laughed softly and smiled. She closed her eyes abd tried again.

Cadvan put his hand on her arm to stop her "Send out your hearing. Close your eyes and pictrue yourself then a barrier around you. Then extend your barrier and listen quietly."

Mearad nodded and did as he said. She listened and heared foot steped then low growling and mummbling but in a language she didn't understand. She opened her eyes and stared up at Cadvan "What is that?!" she whispered in a hushed tone.

Cadvan put a finger to his lips to singel to be quiet and just then these things came down out of no where.

Mearad jumped up at the same time as Cadvan "Mearad! Get behind me and put your back to the wall!! Now!!" Cadvan yelled over the horrible howls of the Wers. Cadvan drew his sword and slashed at one Wer and it went down howling in pain. Cadvan turned just at the right moment and slashed at another Wer but the Wer had also got him in the shoulder and he was bleeding.

Mearad heard bits and pieces of what he said. Mearad picked up a piece of wood and yelled fire in Speech. To her surprise it lite with a flame along with a Wer that was coming towards her. She swang her stick blindly knocking Wers and they caught on fire quickly and they howled in pain. Soon everything went quiet and she droped her stck and sank against the wall tiredly.

Cadvan walked over to Mearad holding his arm as her healed his wound "How are you, Mearad?" he smiled weakly and sank down beside her, she fire was still a blaze.

Mearad looked at Cadvan "Tired and a mess or more of a mess the usual. When will be in a village?"

Cadvan thought "By tomorrow" he replyed and nodded "Get some sleep. I will take watch."

Mearad curled up into a ball and fell asleep.


In the morning they were up early and were on there way the Innail. The closet city. They walked into the city and Mearad smelled fresh food "Cadvan! Food!! Fresh not hard as stone food!!"

Cadvan shot her look "If you don't like the food I brought you could have straved" he said and smiled. They walked past some orchards gong to the School of Innail. "I have a friend waiting for me in Innail. Let's go"

[Luzifer]

Bayard was lying asleep in one of the apple trees when they passed by... or at least he was trying to sleep. There were a bunch of birds in the next tree over and they were, as always it seemed, yapping, they were trying to tell him something about how all souls were linked and that individuality was nothing more then an illusion. "Go carry dead souls to the after life!" he shouted and hoped down right behind two people, an man of middle age a girl not much younger then himself... "Damn buzzards, why can't they freaking shut up? I don't want to talk to them! Just because I'm the only human in this village that can understand birds doesn't mean they have to bloody well talk to me!" He put his hand over one eye and then his other trained toward the two people who he, heretofore, had not noticed, "oh... don't pay no mind to my ravings?" he said with a forced smile. He hoped these people would just think him insane or something an go away... he really didn't want to put up with talking to someone right now.

[Pirate Toast]

Mearad turned and looked at the man "Ummm....ok" Mearad thought he was carzy or maybe he was a Bard like Cadvan. "cadvan could he be.....?"

Cadvan nodded abd looked at the young man "Boy, you should come with use to the school, if you like. You seem to have the Speech and that is way these wonderful animals are talking to you. Bird are the most friendly and are also chatter boxes of all animals. They freely talk and sing to anyone"

Mearad smiled and looked at the young man "My name is mearad and this is Cadvan. We are heading to the School to relex and get cleaned up. We came from Gilman's Cot." She didn't tell him anymore because she wasn't sure if she could trust him. If she told him she was a runaway salve then he might think he could have his way with her and then send her back to Gilman's Cot. Get a reward and live happily while she is beat and then straved to death for running away.

She then edged away from him and looked up at Cadvan. "Maybe we should just go to the Innail School. I am hungry and tired and dirty. I would like to get cleaned up." she said trying to keep her voice even to not show that she just figured out that she could be sent back to Gilman's Cot.

Cadvan nodded "Well you are welcome to join us, sir." Cadvan said bowwing a little. He would ask the people at the school what this boys name was and what talents he had.

[Luzifer]

Bayard looked at then with a sarcastic grin, "Yeah... I want to be a pedantic bard... casting the milken coins of morning before the pig troth." smirk disappeared, "No thanks... have no need for such wan nonsense... my life is my own and unattached to that of these... obnoxious buzzards... I'm sure enough doors between me and them will silence their ruckus. But thanks for the offer... I appreciate the generosity i just don't want what you have to give" he smiled more friendly... he was just being genial so they would move on...greasing their cogs so to speak.

[seraphic_demon]

Fu saw the glow of raging fires in the distance. The camp! he thought as he ran as fast as wobbly feet could carry him. His face filled with fear and terror as he tried to guess what could have happened. bandits? thieves? raiders? he thought, or slavers? the blood curdling thoughts raced as fast as his heart beat.

After a couple of minutes of running and rummaging through what could be and what can't be, he got to the camp. He looked around. His sword drawn and at the ready. He felt a tap on his shoulder and heavy breathing from behind. He swung his sword in desperation.

"Good heavens!" the caravan master exclaimed. "First, one of those drunken riggers accidentally put the gunpowder keg ablaze and now my bloodthirsty bard tries to kill me?"

"I'm sorry sir, I though we were under attack."

"It's okay," the rotund caravan master replied, "But could you help us put the fires out with your bard magicks?"

"I'll try..."

Fu murmured something in some seemingly incomprehensible speech, well atleast for the caravan master and the others, as small fountains of water erupted near the the burning tents. Dousing the hungry fires and raising cheers from the other caravan riggers. The underground stream had heard him and decided to help.

"Good heavens, my boy!" the caravan master, wide-eyed and teary. "Thank you."

Fu smiled at the sweaty caravan master, he thanked the underground stream using the Speech. Everything went black afterwards...silent...he had collapsed from fatigue and exhaustion.

[Pirate Toast]

OOC: Yay! Playing 7 characters till Zanethose comes back on Sunday then I will be playing 5 characters till I leave July 2nd through th 5th

BIC:

Mearad looked up at Cadvan. Wasn't the whole reason that he saved her from Gilmon's Cot was because she had power and wasn't able t control it. It seemed like This young man was the same.

Cadvan stopped and turned back around the face the young man "I am surprise none of the other Bards have not forced you into the School. Have you been hiding in a hole the whole time. You must become a Bard or die. That is the law and I, as an Bard, must uphold that law. You will be coming with us, noq." Cadvan said seriously with a smile no longer on his face. He was now glad he stayed around the young man long enough to know he has had no schooling. "WHat is your name and if you come along with no resistantance then I will not be forced to drag you along."

Cadvan had a badly feeling that things were taking a turn for the worse because never has he found a Bard child with no schooling for the 100 or so years he had been alive.

Mearad looked at the young man. SO he wasn't a salver or someone interested in selling her back to Gilmon's Cot. He was someone like her. A little afraid of meeting new people and staying with them.

_____________________________________

Psoron had stolen a horse in order to get anywhere faster and not have Arcana annoying him about not having the pleasure of not walking but riding. Maybe he really should have ordered that Trumpit player back in town. "Psoron! How much longer till we get another good meal. What if we killed Mugan! We could have dog again!" Arcana was stupid when he was hungry. That was one of his flaws. Psoron started to wonder how much longer he go before he went insane. Arcana was always complaining about something. How is the world had he been so big and bad that he had to be sealed in a book? "Hey! I know what you think too!! I guess I have to retell my story to you again" Arcana loved to tell the story of why he got imprisoned in the book.

Psoron sighed deeply and closed his eyes. God! Not this story again. How many times had he heard this story. One too many times that is. Psoron covered his eyes trying to block out Arcana. Psoron opened his eyes to see another port on the ocean. The smell of fish came from town.

Arcana stopped in the middle of his story of course smelling what Psoron smelled and took over Psorons body. He kicked the horse into a gallop and entered the city. He stopped in front of a tarven and roped the horse. He stomped inside, he stomach was growling as usually. He sat at a table. Everyone of course was looking at the freak. Arcana stood out in the armor of the old ages. He called a waitress over "Hey doll. I would like everything on the menu and make it snappy!" he said snapping his fingers.

Psoron sighed and forced himself back into his own body. "Sorry Miss. Excuse my other half. He can be very rude but yes everything on the menu." Psoron may be hungry but she doesn't complain because of the way he grew up in his family.

_______________________________________

Nerili stood up and put her hands on her hips. God only knew that she hated being left behind. She walked up to Ghael and smacked him. "Come on. Let's go to the Hollow lands but first a village for food." she said walking off leaving Ghael to follow her.

Ghael rubbed his cheek where he had gotten slapped. He should have known not to leave her alone. SHe wasn't at her happiest then and he liked to see her happy. He sighed and followed her out of the small encloser. His cheek was bright red and hurt. She was a powerful woman when she was mad.

Nerili walked out of the Great Forest and was heading for the Hollow lands but stopped by a village first. They didnt have much money but they were strong and could run fast. She entered a tarvern and sat at the bar. She order some food for her and Ghael. She now felt bad for slapping him but he did deserve it.

[Luzifer]

"oh? heh" Bayard smiled a bit... "unfortunately i already know this is going to kill me... I'm pretty well read you see" his expression then began to wax philosophic, "But... I don't really mind dying. Its a poet's life to burn out young and leave behind something that will allow others to burn...perhaps... a little longer and a little brighter. I accepted my own death when I told my parents I wasn't going to seek schooling nor let my gift be known when it began to manifest itself a year or so ago." he then grinned in a melancolic manner, "of course they didn't mind. They don't really love me, oh were on friendly terms but, well, how can you love someone you never see? But I digress... " he then bowed formally, "I thank you for your offer... but... I suppose I'm going to be forced to accept it won't I? I have no means of defending myself, I left my bill at home and even that would doubtlessly be a poor defense against your magic especially since even among the peasant levy here I'm not known for having any talent for fighting... after all I'm a Skald... so I suppose I don't have a choice? You'll just knock me out and drag me along behind you like a loose sack if I refuse, which I do in spirit if not in action"

[Ranryou Roga]

Mizuki awoke a short time later in a small town in who's name he did not know. He blink a few times before noticing he was on the ground in the middle of town. Mizuki sat up slowly and looked around he then noticed Kotaro's aura and entered the hotel. He asked where the large man was and was sent down the hall and to the right,four doors down with a red sticker on it. Mizuki entered the room and was almost hit by Kotaro's over sized arm. He sat down away from him and looked at his arm. Kotaro had all ready healed and was eating food Mizuki hadn't tasted in ages.

[Pirate Toast]

Cadvan shrug. If the young man wasn't going to go peacefully then he guessed he should knock the boy out or maybe make a deal "Well, I see that you really don't want to come. What if we made a deal?" he said pacing around the young man. "What if you came along with us. What is teo people compared to about 500? Hmmm? And I could get the bird to leave you alone and you could also continue with your writing as long as you can write in a while riding a horse." Cadvan said. It sounded like a pretty good deal to him. The boy wouldn't die and would still learn and still do what he likes. So why not?

Mearad didn't know what was going on. Was this young man going to come with them? She sighed. Another guy...when was a girl or lady going to join them. SHe scans the boy. She has never seen someone with such red hair.

____________________________________________

Psoron ate everything that came out. There was beer too! When was the last time he had beer? Oh many many ages ago. More for Arcana because he was in a book the whole time. Psoron laughed. A book?! He was a bit on the not so much sober side. He got up and was walking towards the door. He didn't pay.

"Sir! You need to pay?!" said the waitress.

Arcana laughed and jumped onto a table swaying a bit "I don't have to pay!! I am the great Arcana! Fear me!!" he hicups and falls to the ground. "Oh! When did that get there?" he laughs. He had had more beer then Psoron.

While Arcana had made a sence by jumping on the table. Psoron had slipped away and hopped on the back of the horse and rode out of town leaving Arcana to do the dish.

Arcana was wet. He had passed out and the waitress had poured water on him to get him up. Psoron had left him to do the dishes. He! He had to wear a hair net and yellow gloves to wash the dishes. Oh and don't forget the nice disgusting apren! He was so going to kill Psoron for this.


Psoron had made camp and Mugen was sitting with him. They had found Arcana wondering the streets. He had to listen to what he had been through the whole day but it was funny!

Mugan changed into Eric nd sighed. He was about the lectrue these boys "Man! What did you get yourself into? Do you really think your grandfather would have been pround of you today?! If you're going to drink then at least make sure you have money to pay instead of leaving another behind to do the work!!" Mugan hit both of them upside the head.

Aracana yawned "Done yet?" he was back into Psoron's body. He could stay very far from it. He was also back to his usually rude and not caring self.

Psoron signed and looked down now feeling bad for doing what he did. He was suppose to be the responible one. "Sorry...I won't do it again." heh! Yeah right.

________________________________

Nerili ate her food and payed for their bill. They barely have any money left. "So! Ready to get moving onto the Hollow Plains? I heard that the White Sickness has already found them. We did a good job, huh?!" she smiles and stands up brushings crumbs off of herself.

Ghael nodded. The White Sickness was very easliy caught by others. You slowly start to lose your sight then you are eaten from the inside out. A very painfull sickness. Some villagers burned people alive in their house because they were afraid to get it. Kinda sad but he didn't care much as long as Nerili was happy.

Nerili walked out of the tavern into the sunshine and smiles. It was a wonderful day beside what had happen that morning. She skipped along the street with Ghael not too far behind her.

[Luzifer]

Bayard looked at the man with a dry sarcasm, "That deal is not any different from what I would have gotten anyway by submitting to the fact you would beat the crap out of me if I said no." he then turned his back on the two of them, "If you'll excuse me I need to get my bill and my writing utensils from the house... and Maedred?," the name didn't come off on his tongue easily and he left the name before continuing on regardless of whether she responded or not, "don't worry... the disappointment is mutual." He then began to walk of toward the house.

Once, he was a few paces away his smile melted off his face as he no longer felt like maintaining it... he looked at the apple trees... he had read poems where people would write about how much they were afraid to leave their home or how much they would miss it but for him there was only an indifference... he didn't care if he stayed or left it was all the same to him. He carried his isolation with him, though being around people for as long and for as intimatly as he figured this journey would prelude would test even his patience...

So this place I shall pass and leave
to all who care they may now grieve
a passing leaf shall rest on eves
of this house but don't once believe
that it will stay and never leave
to all who care they may now grieve

Eh... not his best effort... he wouldn't write that one down

He walked into his home, his father was out and his mother was in the kitchen working on the lunch meal... she didn't look up or ask who it was... she knew it was him and asking would only tax both of them. Bayard slipped upstairs and began to gather the things he would need... He would get his bill on his way out the door so he focused on his writing implements... quill... book... more books... paper... a few more books... ink... how about one more book for good measure (he was a very fast reader)... and his raven skull.

As he was packing he took a glance out the window and so the girl from a day or two or three... or even four ago (the days ran together in his head). She looked up to his room, as she always did and smiled at him... the sort of detached, rout, pointless, grin that he figured typified the ideal human interaction. He knew nothing about her for having smiled and she knew nothing about him for having seen him in the window. They were both utterly seperate entities not link by common spiritual matter, they were no mere cells of a collective conciousness nor were they representations, mere visages, to an underlying soul which used their flesh as mere puppets to stage its plays across the earth... no... they were humans... they were different... they would never look at each other with recognition of thier own self. Such thoughts were not only folly but... sickening... delicious... lovely... insidious.

Bayard shook his head... the girl had long since walked on and he turned back to his work. He took his wool bed sheet, undyed as it wes, and threw it around his body to create and over cloak, he then set the raven skull on his shoulder and put two pins through its eyes to hold the cloak together. The skull hung their on his shoulder in a mockingly morbid sort of way which made him smirk musingly.

He walked down stairs and slipped into the kitchen and retrieve a whetstone from a drawer...his mother paid him no mind... he grabbed his bill from beside the door and walked out back toward where Meadred and Cadv-whatever... were.

Soon enough he had returned...

[Pirate Toast]

OOc: Sorry I didn't post earlier....I was talking to Corey over the phone before his ship sail at 4. He won't be back I think till like wednesday or thrusday. Anyway I will be posting now. *a little sad that Corey is gone with any communtation and a ship that could shink or be hijacked by pirates*


BIC: Cadvan pushed off from the tree he was leaning on waiting for the young man "You never told us your name. I am Cadvan of Lirigon and this is Mearad of Pellinor." he gestrued towards Mearad.

Mearad stood up from the ground and dusted herself which didn't work well. Mearad smiles at the young man "Hello. It is nice to meet and I am glad we didn't have to resolve this matter in blood." she hoped she sounded smart even though she didn't know what to do. Back at Gilman's Cot she was a salve and not one of the best treated ones either. When new guest came she was shut in her room. If you called her little hole a room.

Cadvan nodded "Well, I am tired and I want to go get a nice, warm bath and them eat 'not hard as a rock' food." he said teasing Mearad. He laughed and started walking towards the school.

Mearad followed behind Cadvan blushing because she was teased. She would get Cadvan back for that. She also didn't mind a nice hot bath and some good warm food and a soft place to sleep and clean clothes.


Mearad looked around amazed by everything in the School. It was just so beautiful! "Wow.....Did bards make all this?!" She was wraped up in the murals and even the stair case had complex and small designs on the handrail. The steps even had patterns inside them. Not on top but inside!! She turned around and around trying to take in everything before Cadvan pulled her into the next room. Every room was more and more beautiful! "Is every School like this?!" She said softly.

Cadvan nodded and laughed "Yes Mearad. Every school. Even the ones with barely any people are like this. Bards love to make things beautiful and make it their own art work." They were waiting for someone the come and show them to their rooms. He had someone here to meet before traveling across the Hollow Plains then through the Great Forest then to Norloch, the Center of Light.

_________________________________________________

Psoron woke up first and nuged Mugan with his foot "We need another horse....Arcana took over my body when we found his yesterday and took it out on the horse then ate it." Psoron laughed softly. What was with Arcana and killing the animals then eatting them?

Arcana yawned and looked at Mugan "Your a shapeshifter! You change into a horse and let us ride you!!"

Mugan bite Psoron for what Arcana said and smiles "I will not change so I can have your butt on my back for the next league of our journey through the Great Forest."

Arcana growled "Then how about a donkey?! It fits you perfectly." He laughed at his own insult and took of Psorons body to go steal another horse. Maybe he could kill this one as well.


Arcana had hijacked a horse from a traveler and rode off into the great forest laughing like an idiot and yelling stupid things as usually.

Psoron took over his body again. He hated when Arcana took over his body without asking or being attacked. He would punch Arcana if he took his form and stole the horse.

They rode the rest of the day into the Great Forest not doing much causing Arcana to tell sotry after story then have Psoron yell at Arcana and Arcana yell back at Psoron that if he didn't want to listning to him that he should ignore him and Psoron yell back well I can't because your in my mind moron!! It was a usually day for them.

__________________________________________________ ________

Nerili walked onto the Hollow Plains and smiled. It was still a beautiful day but looked like it was going to rain tomorrow. She hoped they could walk to the next Town or find a rock to hide under till it passed. "Hey, Ghael! Your old and remember things better. Is there a town a day's walk from here?" she said.

Ghael looked at Nerili. Had she just called him old?! He looked what maybe 22 to 25. "No there is a town in a twos day walk though. Why do you ask?"

Nerili nodded and sighed. "Well, because there will be a storm tomorrow and I don't want to get wet!" she walked ahead. She would just have to make the two day walk n a one day walk.

[Luzifer]

Bayard hid his mouth behind the wool of his cloak as he watched the two distract themselves with their own teasing before he followed behind there retreating forms. They seemed caught up enough in their own existances that he didn't need to respond to the earlier query or even to the girl's wishing of good knowing... he would just slip behind quietly and be content in being ignored... after all... it would be better for his poetry if he stayed objective and merely observed

He never gave his name.

----

Bayard looked at the Bardic school and noticed it was indeed quite pretty but it was, "...profoundly disappointing" he muttered into the folds of his cloak. It was so...gaudy... it was almost sickening actually... Its not that he didn't respect the artistry... the people who made this were obviously quite skilled but there was just... too much... it was too complex... it was beautiful for the sheer sake of being beautiful and lacked a cognent philosophical message behind it. He had always disliked things so shallow and so blatant... so void of depth. He hid his disgust behind his wool blanket and hoped it would not offend anyone if he didn't take as much joy from it as they did.

Actually... he had expected to be able to craft a poem upon arriving her but this school seemed to drain away his inspiration, it was so taken with itself that he doubted his poem would be to the liking of the school anyway... they would probably want a word smith who talked about love or hatred... or some overarching emotion ina blatant way or perhaps the same about trees... or stories... but... it was just so... confining... he had just arrived and Bayard couldn't wait to leave.

[Tetsanosuke]

Afternoon, her class was canceled for some reason. The students all seemed to have an open study and creation period for this hour, and she wondered why the higher up wanted this. But again she felt that feeling at her chest, a pale hand being placed near her heart as word came to her.

Cadvan had came, and with a child.

"Cadvan?" She inquired to the officer of the library, she was standing at the great entrance, leaning against the wall with her sliver hair gliding over her shoulders. "I best see for myself, this child..." The graceful woman stepped from her lean down into the hallways, several steps in fact as she followed a sense of intuition. Her blue cloths swayed at every turn like a beautiful wraith, floating down the road to the damned, ready to make entrance into the world of light to become an angel. Arlona hoped that, perhaps her eyes may open wider once she had seen this child, she felt her, and her own Gift was reaching out for her like the lashing twin lightnings; static back and forth and out in a blue and crisp violet flip of color.

Entering a room off along her way she leaned onto the door frame and looked to the Bard, he looked gruff at this time, weathered from the outside after his long journey. She found it attractive in a slight sense, but disregarded that, she wasn't bound to any man, and attractions were of natural thing to her.

"Cadvan, you have someone here who might be... a candidate?" she looked to the girl, a sheer smile on her face, her azure eyes seemed to wrap her up in their tenderness as she pulled back her hair. She noticed the other that had followed, be he was none of her business.

[Luzifer]

Deleted Post

[Pirate Toast]

Cadvan stood up and hugged Arlona "You look as beautiful as ever! You don't look a day over 20." he looked where Arlona was looking and gave Mearad a resuring smile "Arlona, this is Mearad. Yes she is the one. The Foretold. She will save us from the Nameless." Cadvan sat back down. A shadow drew over his face. "On our way here we were attack by Wers. Thanks to Mearad panick we got out of there. She beat most the Wers with a flaming stick and caught someone of them on fire without speaking some Speech. She has a great gift. Maybe even part Elidhu." He said quietly so only Arlona could hear. It was bad news. The Dark was moving and was moving fast.

Mearad looked at Cadvan. What was he whispering about. She through out her hearing to listen in. She knew Cadvan knew she was but continued like nothing was wrong. She was suppose to save all of them but how many of them were their. How many does the Dark have? Will the light be able to win. All these questions ran through her head.

She sighed softly and looked at the young man that followed them. She smiled a him friendly. She didn't know who he was but guessed he had had just as hard a life as she did. She gestrued to the seat next to her for him to sit down if he liked.

Cadvan ot and looked at Arlona "If we may speak alone. I have urgent news that you must heard. Mearad and boy someone will come to show you to your room and then to the baths." Cadvan waited for Arlona to get up and follow her to where ever they can talk privetly.

__________________________________________________ __

Arcana was bored out of his mind. If he even had one that is. He quit telling stories when Psoron threatened to put him back in the book.

Psoron smiled. Arcana had believed that he could put him back in the book. Arcana was so dimwited. He didn't know how to tha kind of magic. He could barely control an animal much less cast a spell.

They weren't even very far into the great forest when thngs ran and jumped on or in front of them. One actually made Psoron fall off the horse and kicked. It was funny but soon Arcana felt like it was just too quiet.

Mugen was looking around and jumped at everything. Something was wrong with the forest and he felt like they were about to find out what was wrong. Just then the tree around them moved. Moved! Mugen changed into Eric. He said a few things in Elidhu and the tree caught on fire but the fire just burned out barely doing anythng.

"Oh crap!!" yelled Psoron as the tree next to him grabed him by the shirt and held him in the air. She squirmed and ripped his shrit falling on the ground with a dull thump. "Arcana!!"

Arcana smiled evilly and took over Psorons body and took hold of his weapon and changed at the tree cutting it down a bit.

__________________________________________________ __

Nerili walked into the town tha was two days away. It was a deserted. Houses were burnt down and the dead in one piled. It smelled of rotting meat. "Seems the White Sickness has took hold of this town." her soft voice seem too loud for this quiet town.

A little boy came out behind a building. His eyes were white. There was no pupil at all. He had servived the White Sickness but at the price of losing his sight. "Mother?! Is that you? Are you my mommy?" said the little buy.

Nerili took a step back then looked at the boy. He was dirty and thin. He wouldn't last very long "Ghael what should we do. The boy it blind and straving. Should we take him to the next village?"

Ghael looked at the boy as well "Yeah. I think that would be wise. You go get him. It seems you remind him of his mom."

Nerili nodded and walked up to the boy and took his hand and got him to follow her "What is your name? We are going to take you to a new town." She just relized that there was still a strom coming.

[Luzifer]

"Oh for the love of all things holy get a room!" Bayard pulled the hood of his cloak down and the fold of fabric around his mouth up so that he could neither see nor be seen, they couldn't see his face twist with disgust... "If you people are like that with everyone I'm leaving... I shouldn't even be here in the first place..." What were these people doing... what were they whispering?, "If you Bards have something to say, then say it to the rest of us!" Even Bayard felt he was being needlessly hostile but he had gradually started to hate these people. They were so arrogant and moronic... he could almost feel the contempt they had towards him... he wasn't even woth consideration in whatever damn plans they were forming, he was less then a pawn in their eyes... and the girl next to him... merely a rook... By the bloodgutted streets of No City he hated Bards now... before, from his books, he had just felt they were lazy fools to fluffed up with the power of their Gifts and detached from the need for spiritual fulfillment and the horrendous pain of the quest of for the streets of No City... now... he saw them as manipulative little fools that played the strings of the worlds harp, plucking each person to make the note they desire him or her to make. They were... evil... They were evil! He had never felt so powerless... but that didn't scare him... it was the fact that no matter how much strength or knowledge or wisdom he had he would only ever be a tool to these people, heheh... not even that... they would never have a use for a Skald... an anti-Bard... they would take the first opprotunity to get rid of him... but he wouldn't be used! and he wouldn't let them use anyone else either... "Maered..." he whispered... "I think you should get out of here... I don't like the looks in their eyes..."

[Tetsanosuke]

A hug? A hug!? Arlona stood still the let herself loose, her eyes glazing to a narrow halt. it wasn't like this before, she never seldom hugged anyone let alone have any hug her. Her kindness came from her heart and mind, not the physical being. But she bit her lip on it, and she stepped back with a look towards the boy, her azure eyes became frosted with the ice of weary vibes. The boy hated them already and she could feel it, just know it.

"So she is.. and maybe part of the Elidhu." She would then hear the boy's calls, she never intended on whispering but she supposed Cadvan thought it wise. Her eyes looked up and down the boy before approaching him with a glazed look of apathetic rays shooting from her pupils.

"He of hating eyes, by how you seemed while I entered, you weren't intent on getting into our business. If you were so ready to join our conversation then by all means you should have made it clear. In fact I would be happy to inform such a person who would offer their ear and lend a hand to the occasion let alone stare at you."

Arlona's eyes melted some, though they remained firm. "People like you in this world only think about your end, your self gain, your lust and greed. Haven't you thought about what Bards actually do? How would the Knowing be spread without word of mouth and scriptures of writing? How would it spread if not for these walls of learning and self sacrifice? Prison to you is another man's castle, and how people are is none of your business."

She would then shake her head and walk towards the door, not caring to hear 'He of hating eyes' and his onslaught of self rendered hopscotch, she would have nothing of it. She tapped her fingers upon the wall as the roomers came in, and she motioned for Cadvan to get a move on into the next room.

With that she vanished.

[Luzifer]

Bayard chuckled... "Contemptuous... I'd say she doesn't like me much!" He pulled back his hood and a friendly and good-natured smiled and a jovial eye-twinkle was all that was to be found... "Me? Desire? I think she has it wrong... there is nothing I want in this world... for a poet must have control over the emotion he scribes...ah well... I'm sure she was having a bad day or something..." But all her words had only proved him right... she had spoken without thinking of what he said or rather what he hadn't said... she had been arrogant and was quick to spurn him... had hated so quickly that which she had not taken the time to understand, had thought that he knew nothing without bothering to ask whether he did... she had been all the evil he had thought to exist... now he knew... without doubt he did hate bards... because bards hated him. "All I care about is breaking free from the streets of No City"

[Tetsanosuke]

In the other room she took a seat awaiting Cadvan. What was becoming of her? She felt her hand come to her forehead and a cold sweat ran through her fingers. She lost the one thing she usually had, and she had dealt with types like him before. This time was different, she felt a new aura of feeling, a new time seemed closer at hand.

"I lost myself... The feeling in my chest, the palpitation in my soul and the arc that halves the wheel of time and place... I fear the Nameless is indeed upon us." Her words were to herself, deep and low so only she could hear. This was the feeling of a shadow growing within, and her mind tingled and turned with the power of Speech dangling on a string at her center.

"I will never revoke my name..." She drew her Aquios, the blue aura tangled and wrapped around the blade through the many holes as she focused and brought herself to the floor on a knee. "Purge from within, this tumor, this disgusting feeling. For I am losing my light in the dark path of my name. Fahra’Oasa’Saen...." She stood the blade before her, tip at the stone ground cracked through years of wear and tear. She brought her smooth and graceful hand to the hilt holding her forehead to the crest at the guard.

"Sarah Halrah Nal Mah... Lasso haulu nalosaen... " She acted her Speach, her eyes closing from a powerful glow as she reached within, the long strands of water wrapping around the darkness in her heart. "He of hating eyes, you will effect me no longer..." She said under her breath as the lengths wrapped her up in a rose of blue energy before whithering away at her final chants. "Sarah Halrah Nal Mah..."

As the light faded she stood up, her body becoming loose and her heart becoming lighter, her face dried of any perspiration.

"Now let's see what that Cadvan has to say." She said taking her seat again.

[Pirate Toast]

Mearad didn't understand what was happening. The young man that had been quite and who seemed nice had just shown something different. "E-Excuse me..." she said quietly and got up and hurried out the door. SHe didn't stop when Cadvan said he name. She was confused and didn't know what to do.

Cadvan glared dagers at the boy "You think we judge you before we get to know you? I don't but you seemed to judge us before you got to know us and even scared Mearad. Should I give you a round of applase for your handwork?" he said coldly. He followed Alrona into the room and sat down.

Mearad leaned against the other side of the wall and closed her eyes. Maybe all men were like those at Gilman's Cot and what was an Elidhu? Did she get her power from her Elidhu part? She sighed and opened her eyes.

Cadvan looked at Arlona "The Nameless One is upon us and we are in grave danger. If Mearad doesn't trust us then the Light can't win....who knows how many of the Light have been tainted by the Nameless One. How many have gone over to the Dark and are sharing our deepest sercets to the Dark." He sighed and put his face his hands and rubs his eyes. "We need to get to Norloch as soon as possible but I can't go in this state. I am too weak. Has anything been going on here lately?"

__________________________________

Arcana charged at the tree and swung his sword hard cutting down the tree and killing it.

Mugan said many more things in Elidhu. The most powerful of all languages. The tree sank under ground and burst into many pieces making a deep hole in the ground. "I don't understand....when I set it on fire it seemed to only get strong and not burn. What is going on here? We better hurry today and get away from here as soon as possible."

Arcana with drew into Psoron "Yeah we should. I have never been attacked some much before!!" They rode for some time before stoping to make camp.

[Luzifer]

Bayard smirked as he watch Cadavran or whatever his name was storm and he leaned against the same wall as Maedred... some distance away from her of course, he didn't like getting to close to people... His smirk vanished and he turned meticulously thought full as he spoke to the air and bicarious to her, "I'm being serious... I don't think you should do this... I've read about the Nameless, though the books were all written by bards and would obviously be somewhat biased, but even the words of my books seemed to exude an aura of malice when written about those beings... But... I still don't like this... It sounds to me, and this is just my opinion, "here he smirked jokingly, "and i know thats not good for a lot, "the smirk vanished once more, "but... it sounds like your going to be Martyred... You are going to be used and manipulated to serve their grand designs... maybe it will save lives... I don't know and I don't care... the world can burn for all I care, I can be raped and murdered by Nameless, and I would take it gladly before I let any be used... before I let anyone give their lives up just for anyone elses sake..." he looked somewhat whimsical... "I suppose that makes me a bad person... but... I don't mind... I do what I believe and I believe you are goning to be exploited..." He sighed... "If you do this, I'm not gonna help you... I'm weak and I can't fight so I wouldn't be useful if i tried... if you do this the most I'll do is maybe visit your grave... but I doubt that... You'll be walking the streets of No City by then..."

[Pirate Toast]

Mearad's anger came aboard "You know what! You're rude and selfish...you may or may not do this or that....you don't care about this and that.....you make it sound like everything in this world has lost it's beauty and that this world is no longer aloud to be joyful and happy....you don't even know what I half been through.....I saw my father get killed....my brother dragged off crying for my mom and me and dad....my home town burned to the ground and then put into salvery where my mom died as a salve.....You make Cadvan sound like her is a salver but he had take me from my imprisonment and gave me food and safety for the first time since my mom died. The only thing I have from her is this harp! I doubt that you can even enjoy the beauty of music through your tone-deaf ears!" she wasn't just mad at him but at Cadvan and that lady for being so mean to the boy. Wait. He never told her his name.

Mearad sat down and cooled herself, she needed rest. "I am sorry I should have never said anything like that......and may I please ask for your name again?"

Cadvan went on "We need her. We need her fight for the light. If the Nameless One gets a hold of her then we have lost all hope of serviving"

[Luzifer]

"..." Bayard looked to the side... not looking her in the eyes... suddenly he smirked... "I'm not selfish... May be you disagree with my opinions... but remember if you follow my advice I may loose out as much as anyone else... I'm not doing this... for my benefit... I've never asked anything of anyone... " he held his head, "I've never taken anything from anyone... and I've...never done anything for my own material benefit... so why?" he shouted " WHY DOES EVERYONE CALL ME SELFISH!?!? WHY... I'm might be rude... I may not have tact... I may be aloof and not like people very much but WHY AM I SELFISH!?!?" All the vitality left his body... "Why do you people have to demonize me? I'm saying this just to hurt you! I'm saying it because I believe it is true! I'm just... flaming hell!" he slammed his fist against the wall causing no noticable chance...

He pulled inward, covering his entire body with his cloak... staring at the blackness... god it hurts... I should never have come along... I should have just stayed in my room and continued writing... at least then... after I was dead... someone would find my work and maybe... they would feel whole and they would go out to be an individual and break free from No City... "Just... just... leave me alone..." he said quietly and in the nicest way he could...

[Pirate Toast]

She looked down and nods "I am sorry Cadvan forced you to come along....but I am glad we met even if you aren't.....I am sorry I called you selfish....I am the selfish one for wanting friends and a better life then I had.....to want to save the world and help others.....I am sorry and will leave you alone..." She got up and walked to the other side of the small room and sat down. She brought out her lrye and plucked a few strings. They rang their beautiful tone through the air. She started to play a song and began to sing the lyrics

One the singer, hidden from sunlight
Two the seeker, fleeing from shadows
Three is the journey, taken in danger
Four are the riddles, answer in the treesong:
Earth, Fire, Water, Air
Spells you out

She started another song to pass the time. She sang out closing her eyes. Her voice was soft and gentle.

O raven, where are you flying
Over the ice and snow?
O revan, surely I'm dying
And my mother doesn't know

Fly through the bitter weather,
Fly through the starless night,
Where my people come together
To sing by firelight

Find my mother and kiss her
For I'll not kiss her gain.
How sorrowfully I miss her
Staunching my final pain.

Find my darling lover
WHose lips are sweeter then wine.
Tell her my life is over
And she will never be mine

O raven, where are you flying?
Over the ice and snow?
O raven, now I am dying
And my mother doesn't know

She plucked the last strings of the song and the ring hung n the air then disappeared. All was silent again.

[Luzifer]

Bayard listened as she sang and played, carefully listening to each word and weighing its worth in his mind, cutting the song up with meticulous jeweler's skill. As the notes ebbed into oblivion he sighed, "Not bad... singing was good so was the music... the lyrics aren't bad just not my style...but... it sounds like it was special to you so I guess what I just said was pretty meaningless..." He stood up and leaned more comfortably against the wall... "Its sounds... filial... from you mother... or maybe your father?... actually forget I asked I don't really want to know..." he didn't see any real point in know it would just be a waste of breath... the only end result of this is that she'd reply and he would have to pretend he cared and at some point he'd fail at that and offend her... but at the same time he was curious cause he could use the story for a poem... but nah... he could fill in the story in his own mind with much less inconvenience for all involved... he was even starting to regret having even spoken... he really didn't need to know about her... and it would only cause him annoyance or pain later on and preventing from escaping the Organism...No City...

[Pirate Toast]

She looked up at him "My father I don't know much about....when Pellinor got attacked...her steped in front of an axe what was meant to behead me...instead he was behead and his blood spilled oer me.....my mother took my hand as I cryed out Father....my mother was smart.....she was part of the grand circle.....she took me and tried to grab my brother but he was taken by someone else....My mother and I ran through the passage ways of the city...we came to a dead end but she said something and the wall slide back....we walked in then and man appeared and took me hostage....he said he would kill me if she didn't tell him where my brther was....she didn't speak...his blade bit into my neck and warm blood spilled down my neck and my mom spilled everything....he said a few words in Speech and she collasped to the ground...I bit his arm digging my teeth into his skin then hit bone....I was knocked out and we woke up in Gilman's Cot. That is my life...." she didn't notice she was crying. It was a painful memory to retell but she knew she would have to retell it over and over again and that everytime she will get stronger. She cover her face with her hands and cryed.

[Luzifer]

His was just about to snip something to the effect of 'what part of my question sounded like "please, tell me your life story' but he thought better of it when suddenly she broke down crying. He pressed his back against the wall trying desperately to seep through it, he felt incredibly awkward and he didn't really no how to respond to a person randomly breaking down crying... "oh god oh god..." he muttered under his breath as he struggled to come up with a solution but the only things he could think of would compromise his emotional integrity and draw him back towards Departitioning... He did not want that but at the same time he didn't want to listen to the horrific sound that the girl was making with her voice... it was... grating... "Um... ah... sorry... sorry I...uh... shouldn't have asked... calm down... yeah... thats it... calm down... its i-its okay... " he held his arms out in front of him in what was supposed to seem like a comforting posture but looked more like he was terrified out of his wits and trying to keep as much between him and her as was possible. Which was probably closer to the truth of it... "yeah... so you sh-should calm... calm down... oh god... " Apart of him, in the back of his brain just thought She has to stand... endure the pain and bring about her own Severance... and, the fool he was, Bayard put voice to that thought "The pain... the pain is part... of Severance... Its good... to hurt..."

[Pirate Toast]

She wanted to become invisable. She wanted to get out of here and she did become invisable but her weeping was still heard. She didn't know she was invisable. She got up and wiped the tears from her face. She hugged Bayard "Thanks for trying...." she walked out of the School onto the school grounds. She didn't feel like she had to be invisable anymore. It was night and the moon and stas were bright. She walked to the pond and sat down and her feet were in the pond. It was a warm night.

[Luzifer]

As soon as her arms enclosed Bayard he began to struggle against her grip, a nameless terror shot through him, and he pulled away desperately. The feeling of being...touched made his skin crawl and filled his mind with nausea... he hated this feeling... as he pulled away and slammed himself back against the wall he pulled further inward and hoped she would go away... he didn't like touching...

And some how she spoke to you
you ask yourself her words
but then you broke in two
and so fast like dying birds
which were plummeting out of your eye

And what horrorshowes appeared
inside of your mind when skin
which boil, scorched and seared
all you were and all you sinned
until you fell close and swam to the sky

that was random... he thought... it actually... rather sucked... he definately was not writing that down... not worth the thought it had taken to think of... When the girl left the room he sighed with relief... it was so discomforting to have people around him... he eased up and decided he needed to calm down... so he slipped a book out of his pack...

[Tetsanosuke]

Arlona heard him, and closed her eyes as he had reiterated. "I see, I see then Cadvan. And let us not lay our anger on the boy, I have been feeling clouded lately and his being seemed to bring out the dark in me." She would shake her head and stand, her hands staying still at her side as she would look to a painting upon the wall. Within it's display, a sword in the ground before the lyre and harp, a flute against the blade propped in a grassy plain.

Her mind would flow with the notes of a song, the moment came to her in a spiral of notes and words. She worded them as she would near the door slowly.

"From the bowels of the dark depths
The Ice witch not so long,
The thwarting plan of our destined
So sweetly thrown into the wheels of time
Oh graciously we seem to be
Our hearts and soul said of divine
How graciously we have parted humility,
Like our taste for the finest wines."

"Cadvan, I hear crying, I hope our guest hasn't upset our Child... " She said before walking out to the hallways, singing to herself lightly the words that came to her.

"Now and again we take the bend,
So far up and down
Upon our heads golden crowns
But what if I want only one of branches?
False prophets may lie
But how far is their truth?
Can't be signs of life
How are they so dead in proof?"

Her face turned to a pungent smile, she saw the boy attempting to calm the girl down. But then she went invisible.

"Oh, interesting... Don't you think Mr. Eyes?" She asked the one boy with a tender smile, such an interesting emotion she felt at that time. He had no effect on her any more, and so she nodded before waving off Cadvan.

"I'll get our little precious, we wont let her fall, never." She said as she ran out to the court yard, her silver hair swaying back as she would search, running then to the larger grounds. She saw a finger near the pond and she smiled once more before descending upon her, the only time she really hugged anyone out of her own decision. She wrapped her arms around the child from behind, brushing back her hair slowly like a mother with her child.

"Mearad... Such a boundless gift and such a harsh emotion upon you, yet you are calm. Have you the strength to accept your future, your fate?" Her voice was low yet a bit whimsical, she had her own little way of expressing her voice, which would float and ring in a slightly high tone, yet stretched slightly.

[Pirate Toast]

She watched her reflection in the water as another person appeared and put her arms around Mearad. It was the lady from before that talked rudely to the boy. She still hadn't gotten his name. She would get his name though. "I don't want this gift I have. It makes me stand out and makes me more important above everyone else. It killed my mother, brother and father. I don't want to have this gift because it will bring many more deaths. Maybe even yours or a friends." SHe thught of Cadvan and the boy. Maybe she would meet other people as well and get them killed.

"Why do I have to bare the power to stop the Nameless One. Only a week ago was I a salve and trying to work for my next meal and now I am sitting here knowing I have to save the world. I don't even know that to look for. The only thing I own is my lyre and the closes I wear. Why can't you take the power?" She was scared of what she would become. Scared that if she tryed to touch someone again they would turn to ash or blow up. SHe was scared of herself and didn't trust herself.

She wanted to go home....but there was no home she could return to. She was homeless and had no family to turn to. She lady probably had a nice little family of her own and Cadvan probably had a mother that care for him and waits for him to come home. Even the boy had a family, a house, and people that loved him. She had nothing but a lyre that was suppsed to worth a fortune. Why was she stuck in this life?

Cadvan got up and walked into the room where the boy was "You know, you're a really bad person to make Mearad cry. She had a bad enough past. Don't make it a bad futrue or I will have your head." he said coldly "She doesn't know what she is suppose to do. She was born with the power to destory the Light or the Dark. She had the power of a great and powerful Elidhu as well as a Bard. She could kill you if she wanted to but she sees something in you that she finds she wanted to help. I would have killed you if I was in hear and you made her cry."

Cadvan felt like Mearad was kind of a daughter. After the week they spent together. He felt like a father and didn't want Mearad to cry or be hurt anymore then she had. Even though she wasn't going to be hurt alot he didn't want it to happen and would give up his life to keep the One alive and to help her along on her journey of destroying the Nameless.

[Tetsanosuke]

Arlona would only giggle, not as if anything about her situation was funny, only about how she was so similar to her in a few ways. She grew up on the streets, and then with a master bard. She doesn't even remember her parents let alone know if they are alive. Her eyes closed as Mearad's words would ring into her ears.

"Well my Girl... We can't all choose where we end up in life at times. Only the path in which we get there is what we can control." She then brought herself next to her, letting her knees up to her chest as her elegant form pulled together.

She turned her eyes to the girl and spoke with her emotion from within, her eyes going to the stars above every so often as she spoke. "Well.. I know kind of how you feel... I never knew my parents and I was alone until a great master found me on the streets. He told me that I held the Gift and I felt like I had to uphold my power, my responsibility. How many are there out there who have such a Gift? Not as many as you would think."

She then brought her eyes glowing azure in the night upon Mearad, and she blinked once before going on. "Well, you have a choice. You can learn to wield your power and take a step in the direction you believe, or you can give yourself to the tides of this confusing word and become lost in the masses, perhaps find yourself a cozy corner to live until the Nameless finds a way past us." She would then take in a deep breath and let it out with the frost of night upon her. "And well, if you choose to save lives and learn about your gift then, I'll be by your side. And if I fall well, Ol' Cadvan will be there for you."

[Luzifer]

Bayard sighed in annoyance... "Why is everyone blaming me? She sang a song, I asked whether she had gotten it from her parents. Then, all of a sudden she starts going on about her parents dying and cries all over the place! What did I do? I didn't ask her for her story... I don't really want to know... Maybe this is something I'm supposed to pick up on by scent but, tell me, how good would your social skills be if you spent weeks at a time locked in your room alone ritually starving yourself... maybe once in a blue moon having your parents knock on your door to make sure you didn't get sent to No City."

"Listen..." here Bayard stood pulling in his cloak tight around him... "My problems aren't her problems and her problems aren't mine... I'm not gonna hurt her on purpose but... I don't think helping her would actually... you know... help her... she needs to learn to draw strength from her self or she'll just end up a puppet... and I don't want anyone to be another puppet of the Spiritual Imperative."

"Now... go away... I don't want to talk to a bard... your words cloud my mind and seek to twist me away from doing what it write... nothing personal... but I disagree with almost everything you people stand for... I'm not saying you a bad person... I'm just saying your wrong..."

[Pirate Toast]

Mearad took comfort in the lady's words. "Miss....what is your name? i only know Cadvan's name....I want to ask the boy but he is so with draw into himself he doesn't see that there is still beauty in the world to keep safe and save it from the Nameless One. I can tell by looking into his eyes that he is lonely but is afraid to let people in. Afraid he will get hurt in the end so her hurts others. Your eyes tell me that you were once lonely but now you have friend and people you call family that love you and that you love. Cadvan's eyes show that he is hard worker and that her had a distant past he doesn't want anyone to know. That only the higher up know his sercet and keep it a sercet." she said as she moed her finger in the pond scaring anyway little fish.

"I want to help save the people that have been kind to me like you, Cadvan, and the boy. Yes her made me cry but he also tryed to comfort me. Though I am not sure if that was just something to get me out of the room quicker because he strongly dislikes me."

Cadvan laughed "We are wrong? Is it wrong to keep the beauty of the world safe or to heal the wounded or feed the hungry. Is that wrong? Is it wrong to fight against the dark?" he laughs then stops "It is wrong for Mearad, who is a Bard, to try and help you? Is that wrong of her to care for you? Is that wrong? My opinion tells me no. I don't think it is wrong for her to try to save the world and help the weak. She is the strongest of all to want to do that. She strong not only by her power of Elidhu and Bard but also she is stong in the heart to have the compassion to care and want to help."

"You tell her thanks the next time. You may not like people because you made yourself that way but people will like you weather you like them of not and mearad thinks of you as good friend and puts her life on the line for you if there is need be of that. If you think of her as a friend you would do the same." before the boy could answer Cadvan had left and walked towards his room to take a bath then go to bed.

[Luzifer]

Bayard smiled... "Running away from the truth, eh? Scared that my reply would be like liquid gold flowing across my tongue... tinkling across these soul-shrugged steps and stones?" he shrugged... "or maybe... just maybe... you people are so concieted that you can't possibly believe that I had actually spent time analyzing what I believe and had infact, asked myself the same questions you ask me now? The more you Bards talk to more arrogant you are... and so I will match your contempt with my own..."

Still one thing rankled him... people were going to care about him? bah...well... let them get stuck in the winding maze of No City... let them fall to the knowledge that they are humanS, he would strive... strive to be A human.

Bayard sighed and leaned back against the wall... feeling somewhat... fogotten... and he reveled in the feeling.

[Ranryou Roga]

Mizuki smiled as he ate. Kotaro had eaten and was leaning against the wall with his sword on his shoulder. Mizuki finished and left the room. He walked around the village for a while and came upon a pond he walked at its beauty. The moon reflected from its waves of grace as Mizuki placed his hand on the water. The water seemed to be drawn into Mizuki as his red hair turned blue. His eyes turned blue and his body became loose and free. Mizuki moved his hands around the water as his ahir grew longer and fell down to his waist. Twin blue ribbons slowly wrapped aound his ahir making twin ponytails that hung down to his knees. Mizuki grinned as the blue traveled up his arm and down his other arm. Mizuki played with the water intel his old lovers face reappaered in his face. The water fell to the ground and was absorbed by the dirt. Mizuki shook his head and stood by the pond with bluw tears flowing down his cheeks to the grond below.

[Tetsanosuke]

The woman would gracefully stand and look down at the girl, her eyes showing the caring feelings, her inner instincts. She would then turn towards the school with a smile, her arm reaching back to the girl's shoulder.> "Well I'll tell you this, believe in what only you want to believe, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't listen to others."

She would then take a step forwards towards the school, the night light of the moon shining upon her silver hair. "You should sleep, we'll see what the new morning brings us." With that she would walk towards the school, assuming the girl was right behind her all the way so she could show her a room.


(Short post. >.> ))

[Pirate Toast]

Mearad followed the women in and saw the boy still leaning against the wall "I can find my own way to my room...I would like to talk to the boy for a bit before I go to bed." She walked away from the lady. The lady was nice and sweet.

She walked up to the boy but keep a good distance because she knew he hated her. "I know you hate me but I would still like to know your name. I am Mearad as you know." she still wanted to know his name. Why hadn't he told her his name when she had asked other times. Maybe because her hated her. She keep her distance from him for him feel more comfortable.

Cadvan got back from the bath nice and clean. He looked like a new person. His hair was clean and wet and he was a whiter color compared to a dirt color. He through on some close and layed down in bed and grabed a book before falling asleep.

______________________________________________

Psoron complained. "When will we get out of this stupid forest?!" his butt hurt from sitting on the horse so long.

Mugan growled. He had heard way too much complaining lately. "Will you just shut up!! God! Shut up! We are half through the forest thanks to my tarveling skills!!" Mugan growled and snapped. God was he tired of the complaining.

Arcana complained anyway "Only half way?! That is way too long!! Can't to change in a huge bird and fly us out of here?!"

Mugan was just tired "Fine! Fine!" Tomorrow I will be I have had enough rest."

They settled down for camp and went to sleep waiting for tomorrow.

[Luzifer]

Bayard looked up... "oh...I don't hate you... " he smiled as if she had told a joke and infact he did find the notion of him hating a person rather humorous, "I don't hate people... I hate philosophies and institutions... like that woman you were walking with seems perfectly fine... I disagree with almost everything she believes an hate what she represents but just what she represents not her. I draw the distinction between from the Spritual Imperatives and the Fluxuations of Conciousness from the people who are manipulated by them..."

[Pirate Toast]

She smiles glad he didn't hate her. She nods still smiling. She was happy to know that "But you still keep avoiding the part where I have asked your name. Please may I have you name? I am not asking for your truename but just your name that friends or family call you by" even if he gave her his truename she would never use it against him. She would hurt a friend. EVen if he gave a fake name she wouldn't mind at all. At least she wouldn't call him the boy or young man anymore. She just hoped he didn't advoid the question this time.

[Luzifer]

Bayard shrugged, "I don't consider names to be of much value... actually thats not quite correct. Names are beautiful things to have but humans use them incorrectly... humans don't deserve names only a human deserves a name and I'm not a human yet I'm just part of humanity. Its like naming a hair folicle... sure its a seperate manifestation of you but is it really its own conciousness outside of you? Is it so seperate and discrete that naming it would not rather pass the name to the greater whole to which it is a non-divisible part? No... its pointless..." he looked back up... "but... I suppose Bayard can be my handle if only for ease of use then for any real signigance on its own... and true name? what those Bards speak of is a farce! People don't have names by nature of their existance, there is no right of possessing a name... a name is something you craft for yourself by going through a Severance... you aren't given a name... you make it."

He sighed and stood up... "you ought to go to sleep... you're probably exhausted..."

[Pirate Toast]

She smiles warm-heartedly at him. She reach out to hug him then brought her arms back to her sides. She hoped one day that she could hug him without him flinching away from her. "Well Bayard. I disagree with you on some parts. Yes you should make your own name. But I think that names are who we are. My name and my harp are the only thing that says where I and from and who had me and who care for me. A name is a powerful name. Even your name tells people where you are from and who you are but your eyes says more about you the what you say about yourself. You may say that you want to be left alone but really you are crying out for attention and the love you never gone." She was really glad she could tell him this and actually use his name.

"Bayard, you were lonely and had a hard life to make yourself so closed off. You eyes show the loneliness you with hold. You want someone to care for you and I want to be of many people to care for you" she smiles softly and nods "Well good night and sweet dreams, Bayard. I hope you get plenty of rest and don't disappear before morning"

[Luzifer]

Bayard smirked and said dryly..."Yeah... I think they might try to kill me off too. I'll be outside over there in the that grove if you reconsider leaving... I'll come with you if you want and I'll do what I can to keep you from falling back into their grip"

With that Bayard slipped off his cloak making a wisping noise as he walked ahead and out of the building... he was amidst the tree soon and the utter solitude of the night enveloped him... "what a stupid girl..." he said to himself with a sarcastic grin... "me? Desire? Love? hah... she thinks I had a hard life... no... it was pretty easy by all respects... I did what I loved and was able to begin work on this great endeavor... stupid girl..." his words never once held the mean-spiritedness that they might seem to have but then... his words rarely did.

[Pirate Toast]

She followed Bayard out of the room. She had thrown out her hearing when she was going to go find her room and heard him. "Stupid girl...." she felt her eyes get hot. She was stupid, huh? Stupid to have thought he would think just some kindness of her. Maybe she really was stupid.

She runs out of the school and to the opposite direction of him. She wpuldn't be able to face him. She goes around the School and sits down in the grass and leans against a weeping willow. "How ionic. A weeping willow. Of all trees. When my eyes are hot with tears and weeping willow finds me."

As she said that is seemed like the willow understood her and puts its branches around her in comfort and the small fireflies seemed to fly closer giving off a soft gloow. She looked up at the moon and stars.

[Luzifer]

Bayard for a second thought he had heard something in the brush but dismissed it as some small rodent. Gingerly he sat down at the base of gnarled oak tree and cross his legs... tonight was his vigil night... every other day he would sit up all night and free himself from emotion and belief... anything that connected him to others... he quietly began to purge himself of thought and feeling and ceased to be a participating member of reality... a sharp pain came from his stomach, since he was currently fasting and had not eaten since about sundown yesterday and would not eat until the coming sun rise. So for this night he would sit... sit and cease to be... and one day... he would no longer be human but rather... he would be A human

[Pirate Toast]

Mearad layed down at the base of the tree and the branches hid her from view. For once she felt as safe as she could be in her life beside in her mother's arms. She closed her eyes and whishing of the branches sounded like a soft whisper formimg words....words. She heard the whispers of the trees and the plants and the snimals that put her to sleep. SHe came into the speech that night and understood the plants that took many many Bards years to reach. SHe had just became a full Bard. A bard that bayard may hate because she was a stupid girl that was irogant and wanted to help him. She slowly drifted into sleep in the grass at the base of the weeping willow. A small tears sliped from her eyes as she slept. She still felt alone in the world.

Mearad dreamed about the land that she is suppose to save. She ran north. The land was black and dead. The trees and ground cryed for her to heal them. The animals that were still alive cryed for her to take their life so the didn't have to suffer from hunger. She tryed to cover her ears but when she tryed to she saw her hands a paws. She was a wolf. She howled and ran on. She passed people. She passed Cadvan with a sword through his chest and the lady weeping over him. She saw Bayard trying to take his life. She saw another lady and guy. The lady was holding a blind boy's hand. She saw a black wolf and guy that seemed to have a comversation with the wolf and hisself. Who were this peoples.

She heard a cry and her eyes shot open. She was covered in cold sweat and she was the one that scream. She shook and looked forward. How many people had she woken or scared.

[Luzifer]

A scream shatter Bayards vigil and before he worried about what it was he noted that he had been so close to a realization... bah... he shook his head... "whose there?" he called... and ran in the direction of the scream... he ran and ran until he came to a weeping willow and ducked under its boughs... he walked right past Maedred without actually noticing her and looked out the other side... "hello?... bizarre...maybe it was those damn ravens... they never do shut the hell up!"

[Pirate Toast]

Mearad stood up so quickly she became dizzy and fell to the ground again. She saw Bayard “Bayard!! You were in my dream!.....you tried to take your life!” she then remember she came into the Speech and she was now a bard and Bayard hated bards so her must hate her. “ I came into the Speech last night and heard the animals and plants talk….I am a true bard now….I am no longer a lose cannon but I am unstable…and a stupid girl” she quoted Bayard.

She turned and talked to the willow in her mind and it part its branches then closed behind her as she walked out. She was sad but she wouldn’t show it. She had been called many many worse things in her life but some how being called a stupid girl by him hurt the most.

[Luzifer]

"...wha?" Bayard just turned around completely perplexed... "what... did... I... do? maybe..." he shrugged and sat down completely perplexed... "was she mad? or was she just stuck in the stupor of the dream still? I don't know... its not my concern anyway..." Bayard sighed and leaned back... god he was pretty tired... so she could here plants and what not eh? well... that meant she'd have to put up with the damn ravens too.

[Pirate Toast]

She stopped in front of the school. She wasn't sure what to do. Should she take Bayards advice and make a run for it or should take the lady'd advice and do what she want or should she take take Cadvans words and save the world. She was confused, hurt, sad, and a little scared from her dreams and a bit shakey.

She run the dreams over in her mind. It seemed to tell her to head north but Cadvan wanted to go to Norloch. First thing was first. She needed a shower. She knew she had awaken many people with her scream. She walked to the baths and took a bath and changed into something nice. Food was left in her her room.

SHe finished her food and heard and knock on her door. She said something in the Speech and the door swung open. "Hello Cadvan."

Cadvan's eyesopened wide with amazement "Y-You came into the speech....so you know your truename right? What is it? Is it as the song goes?Elednor?"

Cadvan then smiled softly "It is great you came into the Speech. We can now continue to Norloch!"

When he said her truename, her heart tightened like he grabed her heart and gave a big squeeze "I thought we weren't suppose to say our truename. And only give people we really trust our name. Wasn't the one who came up with the song stupid because he put the Truename of the one to save the world in a song and let the evil get hold of the song and then the One's truename." she snapped a little.

Cadvan was caught off guard, What was Mearad being so rude. Was it because she would no longer be free. Everyone who knew the song could get her to do their bidding even the Dark.

[Luzifer]

Bayard sighed as he listened to the people begin to wake. He wondered what little rituals they had upon waking... how one would twitch his hair to the side or would rub a fatigued hand across his eyes to drive away the sleep that still clung there. Bayard wondered... why did this thing called humanity desire to send its probes out like this... to create this outward facade of seperateness while on the inside being one being...

and he thought back to something the girl had said... "You were in my dream... you tried to take your own life!" Him? Take his own life? And acknowledge failure? No no no... Maedred was dilluded if...no... she wasn't speaking literally... if there was one thing he had learned from reading his stories is that if one took dreams to literally and got cocky they always got caught from behind when it was interpretted metaphorically. But if interpretted as a metaphor it was subjective... and therefore only Maedred had the perspective to interpret it... what he thought was logical might be "suicide" to her... therefore any attempt to interpret it was pointless... only she could since the dream would have been made to speak to her it would speak in ways only she understood.

He sighed... well... he supposed that was good... if he thought too much like her he'd loose his chance to be A human

[Pirate Toast]

She got up and left the rest of her food on her table. She got her bag and put it over her shoulder. Someone must have made it for her. She had put her lyre inside earlier. She needed to go norht. That was what her dream said but she also needed to go to Norloch. To warn the center of light to gather all Bards for the battle of their lives. She didn't know if she could trust anyone anymore.

She walked past Cadvan. "Get your stuff. We are leaving today. If that lady would like to come get her too. We need to head out of here. Something big is coming and we need to stay on the move or these people in this school is as good as dead....maybe you too." she walked down the hall.

Cadvan looked at Mearad. What has gotten into her. Was it that boy again. Had he hurt her. Cadvan was going to have to talk to the boy. "Elednor!"

Mearad stop dead in her tracks. She could move. Her body turned to face Cadvan "Why did you call me by that name? Are you trying to make me do something for your bidding and not for the light?"

Cadvan eyes widened again. So she really is the One. The Foretold. As she said maybe everyone can make her do their bidding even the dark and that was bad. As long as the one that said the name did not say the name again then they had Mearad under their control forever or until someone said her Truename to get her free of to do their bidding.

Mearad slowly was able to move. She turned towards the door to go tell Bayard if he wanted to go. She was a true Bard so he probably would want to travel with her now. Or even be around her.

Cadvan was too lost in his thought to relize that Mearad had broken free of his hold on her own without him saying her Truename again.

Cadvan walked the other way to go get Arlona. He walked up to her door and knocked on it waiting for her to answer.

_____________________________________________

As usually Psoron was the first to get up. "Hey Mugen!! Get changin'!!" he said loudly. Finially they would get out of here.

Mugen groaned and would have vit Psoron but was tried of the forest too. Mugan changed into a giant raven. Mugan looked at Psoron. "Ready. We will be out of here and to hollow plains in about maybe eight hours." Mugan grabed Psoron shirt and flaped his large wings. They were off the ground and into the sky.

Arcana looked down and felt dizzy. "I feel sea sick!" he didn't like height so why did he sugest a bird?!

Psoron laughed"Sea sick is when your on the ocean of lake or a body of water! This would be air sick I think." he laughed and smiled. Arcana lived in a book and didn't know a thing.

[Tetsanosuke]

Arlona had been awake all night, but not standing or running about, she was meditating the whole night in the corner of her room after a much needed bath and change. Much to her surprise she heard a knock at her door and forced herself up.

"They leave now..?" She questioned the air lightly, walking towards the door with her hair flowing back slightly at her speed. She opened it slightly, and saw Cadvan. With that she nodded and grabbed her things, sheathing Aquios at her side. With a bag over her shoulder she made her way out and followed Cadvan, no words about it.

[Pirate Toast]

Mearad walked out of the school and took a deep breath. She looked around for Bayard and found him where she left him "We are leaving soon....something follows me and will kill everything if I stay in one spot too long....If you wish to travel with us then you are welcome....just know tat there will be many dangers along the way and you would probably be safer to stay here...." she turns a little. SHe was still hurt a little over being called a stupid girl by him.

She sighed softly wondering a little what his reply would be.

Why was everyone today pushing past him and walking away?! Had he done something wrong that everyone was mad at him for. Did he sleep walk? He sighed and grabs his bag and walked to the front door of the School.

[Luzifer]

Bayard smirked, "Woman, I long ago stopped fearing death. Besides, I still think they are using you and I'm not gonna just give up and let them win... I'll watch you're back against those bards alright? Plus," he gave a coy shrug, "This seems like it might be an insightful experience frought with misery and pain. That and I think I'm more in danger here then anywhere else... those bards won't kill me if i stay near you... but as soon as you leave...well...I seem to make bards uncomfortable and they might decide they don't like that anymore"

[Pirate Toast]

She looked up "You think they are using me and are you not also using me to stay alive?" She was glad he wanted to come along. EVen if he used he to stay alive. She was glad. At least she had someone closer to he age to talk to. She sighed with relief. They would have to leave in the next hour or so to get away before the Dark found them or something much much worse then the Dark. The Nameless One was looking for her and she knew that for sure and would send even an army to sreach high and low to find her. Her dream may just come true.

[Luzifer]

Bayard laughed at how easily offended she was, "silly girl! That was a joke... " he smiled but like all his smiles it was from a great distance, a gulf of miles that stretched on without ending, "Sigh... you three bards don't have a sense of human among you! Learn to take a joke." It was odd. Even Bayard realized it was odd... he was heading head long to his death (for he knew he would not survive this...) but it didn't bother him in the slightest... maybe this is what her dream meant by commiting suicide?

[Pirate Toast]

She looked at him. What had gotten into him? Last night it seemed like he didn't even want to talk but now he was joking freely "Do you have moodswings or something?" she laughed and walked away. Maybe he did. She could take a joke and give it back. She back in a good mood. She didn't know who to trust but if she had to pick. She would probably pick that she trusted him more because he was blunt and too the point. He hadn't lied to her yet and Cadvan keep too many sercets and the lady was nice but she didn't know the lady that well.

[Luzifer]

He followed at a distance... deciding he had talked enough for what the situation warranted. He didn't doubt that she was right about him having mood swings poets were by nature moody and he had never bothered to learn how to hide his intent... he always said what he thought and damn the concequences. Now Bayard leaned back and stretched... he was starving... he hadn't eaten in...a day and a half... but he supposed he would have to wait for lunch... it didn't really bother him... he had gone longer without eating..

[Pirate Toast]

SHe was happy again. She walked out of the School area into town. She was eating a roll to hold her over since she had breakfast so early. Did everyone have an early breakfast. SHe shruged and stopped by a horse buyers place. "Hey Cadvan. You said we should get horse. We need 4 of them. Do you have enough for four?"

"WHy not call 3 from the School? Try it with your mind." he had said 3 on purpose. He didn't include Bayard in their group even though he knew Mearad did.

"Why 3? I need four. On for Bayard, you, the lady, and myself." she smiled and called four horse with her mind. The horse came in about 10 minutes. SHe hoped onto an all white horse. She took another horse reins over to Bayard. "This one will fit you perfectly. He doesn't like to talk much so you don't have to worry." She smiles.

[Luzifer]

Bayard sighed looking at the horse to make sure it was in good condition... he knew a little about how to judge horse meat and this seemed fair enough... "It doesn't really matter... I can only hear carrion-eating birds." He supposed that that made him a low class bard if he remembered... most bards could talk to birds and animals easily while some, after many years could speak to plants... since he could only speak to certain birds (the easiest of all) that meant that he probably would never be a good bard... which suited him fine. He didn't want to be a bard anyway...

Bayard mounted the hourse awkwardly, he could judge horses yes... but he rarely had to ride one and his skills were not a sharp as some other's in his village but he would be fine if left on his own. Still he slipped a book out of his pocket... it would be a long ride... he would be glad for this later.

[Ranryou Roga]

Mizuki continued to think by himself as he looked at the dazing sky. his blue eyes slowly turned green as his hair fell to the ground and his head was now spiky as normal. Mizuki grinned and walked back into the room after his hair and eyes turned red again. He lay ed down and looked dover at Kotaro who was against the wall still. Mizuki smiled before rolling over and going to sleep.


Kotaro silently slept as he dreamed of his past and of his present. he laughed to himself in his dreams and turned his head as he awoke and watched Mizuki enter the room. he shook his head and closed his eyes. He didn't care about Mizuki's problems he had his own,but it was good to have someone that always had life interesting.

[Tetsanosuke]

Arlona watched as Mearad called the horses, and found a smile came out of it. She was indeed the one. She mounted the horse like a man and tied back her long, silver hair before taking the reigns of the horse and whispering to it.

What she was saying couldn't be heard, but she was telling it to ride well, and
be at it's best so they could get to Norloch. After she spoke with the horse, she turned to the others awaiting the lead of Cadvan and Mearad, it was their journey, she was only there to make sure they got there.

[Pirate Toast]

Mearad smiled and told the horses to gallop. She patted Imi's neck. Imi was her horse now. Imi was a nice horse and held her head high. "We need to make it to the Hollow Plains. We can stop om Desor there then in Ettinor and restock a lot of food and once we run out of that food in the Great Forest we will have to hunt. Once in the Great Forest we will head south west. After we are out of the Forest we will have to cross the Aleph River then onto Norloch!!" She yelled a little so the others could hear her. They were making good pace but it would still take them about a week to cross the Hollow Plain. A week of sitting on horses.

She was fine with riding the horse. She talked frequently with Imi to pass the time. Imi was a very though horse. She just kept running. No complaining or slowly of her pace. She was a wonderful horse. Soon they would stop for lunch.

Cadvan rode his horse as always. His horse was named Darsor. Darsor was a black horse. It's coat shined in the sunlight. Darsor held his head high with pride. Darsor could quite run anything and still have energy left over. Cadvan and Darsor talked a little here and there getting to know each other a little more.

[Luzifer]

OOC BTW: yukari horses can only gallop for about two miles before they need to rest... go for much longer and the horse can literally die under you

Bayard let the horse go... digging his heels slightly into the horses flanks to impel it into motion for a while just enough to keep pace... he didn't want to drain his horse out to early... this would be a long trip... set his book against the horses neck and used it as a prop to read... in retrospect he should have used his time in the school to steal some books... oh well... he could do that at their next stop...

he vaguely noticed that the others were talking to their horses... which slightly annoyed him but not enough to warrant further thought... it was merely and observation

[Pirate Toast]

OOC: okie dokie I never knew that.

BIC: Mearad slowed the horses down a little. They would have to camp tonight but right now it was time for a lunch break. "Let's Break! Time for lunch!!" she smiles and pulled Imi to a stop nears some trees and hoped off of Imi.

She sat down on the ground and pulled out some food. Cold meat, cheese,and bread. She made herself a sandwhich and took a bite of it. "You may have as much as you like. The bards at the school packed plenty to get us to the next town."

Cadvan brought Darsor to a stop and jumped off of the horse. Cadvan sat down and grab some food also making himself a sandwhich. He leaned against one of the trees. His butt hurt from riding the horse.

[Luzifer]

Bayard took the liberty of grabbing his own food, not much, just a little meat which he rolled up and ate. He ate very little... not enough to drive away his hunger but enough to make sure that in the event he didn't eat again till morning he would not starve to death... Having finished well before the others he slipped back into the saddle to continue reading...

[Pirate Toast]

Mearad finishes her sandwhich and picked up a roll. She walked over to Bayard. "It is going to be a hard journey. You should eat more then what you had." She hands him the roll and smiles. "It will be good to stay healthy and eat well."

She looked at his book. "What are yu reading?" since she was a salve she was never thaught to read. They letters just looked like girbish to her. "I never did learn how to read or write due to my past but I am fine with that. I am just glad to be out of Gilman's Cot"

[Luzifer]

Bayard gently pushes the roll back towards Maedread(?)... "No thanks...I'm an ascetic." his reply was even and perhaps it might have been taken as a bit condescending but only if the person listening was looking for offense. "This book though... is A Rational Treatise on the Intellectual and Contractual Foundations for Human Institutions and Societies. Its a great book... Actually not many in my village know how to read, for they are but a poor village. I had to teach myself."

[Pirate Toast]

She pushed the roll back into his hand. She refuse for him not to eat. "No eat. It is a wheat roll. I don't want you to like kill over." she laughs then looked dumbfounded by what her said "The what on human something-another-thing....." he lost her in this conversation. "I don't think I really will ever need to read or write. Why should I learn? Most people don't even seem to know." she actually just foundit too hard and boring. She didn't want to learn. Even if it would save her life one day.

Cadvan watch Mearad and Bayard talk then turn his attention to Arlona. "What do you think of those two becoming friends? I don't like it. He can't be trusted but she seems to trust him no matter what I say."

Vadvan personilty hated Bayard. He thought that Bayard was a bad influence on Mearad but if he ever told Mearad that she would just smile and nod and would say I think he is a good influence and he will show that he can be useful in many ways. Mearad always tried to see the good in people no matter what.

[Luzifer]

A wan smirk passed over bayard's features as he shoved the roll into his pocket, "My mind... is my most precious gift... its the part of me for which I would sacrifice all things... my body... my soul... my chance at Severance. For it is through the power of the mind that I will one day find freedom... But...maybe there is no point in learning... but then... if there is no point in learning there is no point in living... for if knowledge gained ebbs away when life is gone, like footprints in the sand, then perhaps so to does suffering and joy... all these things are so transcient in the face of No City... before the Grand Soul... if there is no point in learning... there is no reason to live."

[Pirate Toast]

She smiled and looked up at Bayard "Well life is the grestest thing we have and we should live like we want to because we only get one chance to live....I want to live my life with no chains bounding me to something....I never got a choice though....I am already bound by unbreakable chains to save this world...until then I can't live my life to the fullest but that doesn't keep me form trying....now eat your roll and we will be off in a bit" she smiled warm-heartedly at him again.

She liked to be around him. She felt at ease even if he didn't/ She was glad she could tell him these things on her mind now.

[Luzifer]

Bayard smirked... "I'm almost afraid to tell you this but... we live more then once..." she had a lot to learn about the world... about No City and the Organism... he didn't feel like teaching because it was something one had to discover on their own... "Fate...can go to the Nameless one... Fate is my enemy... for Fate is just another name for something far worse... Fate is but a mud puppy to the true evil that exists... and which both Bards and the Nameless one help to propogate...You are the one that is letting yourself be chained to fate... what would happen if you let yourself die? then your Fate would be unfulfilled...but if it can go unfulfilled then it is not Fate...Therefore Fate cannot hold you completely... it can try... but you can escape..."

[Ranryou Roga]

OCC: Omg Omg Omg Im lost


Kotaro and Mizuki continued to walk toward no where as they were a few miles and a two day walk away from the forest. Kotaro listened as Mizuki continued to walk around and talk his head off. Before long Mizuki was on Kotaro's bad again, kotaro growled under his breath and continued to walk. He slowed down after the day was spent and his high velocity of walking and carrying dead weight cause kotaro to crash beside a large rock surronded by nothing but open feild of grass. kotaro shook his head as his fie started. he slowly ate his food before going to sleep with he fire still burning high.

[Tetsanosuke]

Arlona made a sort of smile that could only be called 'quite odd' for what had happened. But she stayed to the ways of the Light and the Knowing, not letting anything Bayard said get to her. Opinion and fact where on a blurred line most of the time in this word and she knew that. He was right in some sense, but to her she had her own views. And besides, by her knowledge Mearad would be kept safe, and taught what she needed. Her life would improve if only she let it happen and work her way into it.

Arlona shrugged at Cadvan's question, not trying to whisper at all. "I don't know, I think it's a good learning experience for her." She then smiled and rode on ahead some, her hair pulled back and fluttering into the ind as he smile grew, a kind laughter rung out from her lungs into the wind.

[Pirate Toast]

OOC: I would have replyed earlier but keep get bumbarded by PMs lol. I don't mind really keeps me entertained and confussed *thinks of Luzy's PM*

BIC: Cadvan shrugs and hoped onto the back of Darsor and begins to ride. They would have to ride a while before they stoped to make camp. They would have to rough it tonight because the city was a two day ride from Innail ever on horse back.

Mearad smiled and shruged "Have you died and came back remembering your past? I know I haven't. I believe we have one life and should live it to the fullest." He smiled faded as she hoped onto the back of Imi. She told Imi and Bayards horse to walk at the same speed so she could talk to him "I already know that I am chained to Fate. Since I have elidhu blood in me I am immortal unless killed by blade and it seems Fate doesn't want me to die till I have gotten rid of the Nameless One. So I am indeed chained. It many take me a thousand years to defeat the Nameless One but I will have no choice but to do so because the Nameless One is also Immortall like I."

[seraphic_demon]

Fu opened his eyes and was surprised to see the caravan master's face hovering around his own, smiling.

"Nice to have you back my boy," The caravan master greeted. "You've been asleep for weeks now."

"I'm sorry sir," Fu replied, blushing.

"Don't be, anyways we'll be heading to Dersor right now," The caravan master said, his smile wider now. "Heard some bards are heading there, you might know some of them that may be ab;e to help you get your memories back."

"Thanks," Fu felt his head swim, his head pounded with pain. The caravan master helped him sit up.

"It's us who should thank you," The caravan master said, placing a pillow to support Fu's head against the wall. "You did some mighty advertisements at the last town that we were able to resupply the burnt stocks. Either ways, you saved the caravan, this is the least we could do to help."

"Thank you..." Fu tried to say something more but fell asleep.

[Luzifer]

"Ah but death wipes our memories..." Bayard said taking on a didactic voice, "You see if memories were allowed to acumlate everyone would go insane. You see death is rest for the soul. All the pains are sloughed off. If that didn't happened all the pain would pile up in ones memory and eventually it would become to much to bear... all those feelings of lose, repeated for eternity... there would be chaos. Also, then People would have an infinite amount of time to obtain a Severance... that could accumulate and accumulate wisdom until the manage to seperate from the Grand Soul and become their own Individuals. The Grand Soul would gradually cease to exist and thus, like all organisms, it has to ritually destroy its "cells" to maintain its vitality... it destroys those cells then uses the molecules as building blocks for a new cell... made of the same stuff and made the same way but fresh and viral... and properly ignorant... Apoptosis is a natural part of life... things must be martyr for the sin of the 'Greater Good'"...

"Maggot!" he yelled at her harshly... " Only worseless fools refuse to fight a battle they cannot win... and I'm not wasting my time talking to idiots... I'm coming with you because I realize that you need more strength then most to be free from "Fate" and in so doing I am sacrificing my life... So don't give me this crap about how you can't fight it... because you can... anyone could deal with it... don't think your special... unfortunate... yes... Special... no..." he sneered in disgust, "anyone could do what you are supposed to do if they had your power... so stop acting like your different... your the same. If you don't realize your the same right now. You'll never be different and you will play right into the hands of fight... and if you do... well... I just might decide that you don't deserve the life you have! So quite the maggot talk before I decide I'd rather go back to my village"

[Pirate Toast]

Mearad felt hurt and had a sudden urge to slap and guess what! She did slap. Right on the face. She rode off before he could see her cry. He didn't have to yell at her or make her feel useless. How did he always make her sad when he yelled at her. She didn't think like him. She shouldn't have been yelled at. She was glad she slapped him. He needed it.

OOC: Heh. Luzy you made Mearad one upset and mad girl

[Ranryou Roga]

Mizuiki awaoke in the middle of the night to the smell of burning clothes. He opened his eyes and noticed that the fire had grown and was the size of Kotaro. Wait the was Kotaro. Mizuki yelled and stomped out the smaller fire before his hair turned brown and his eyes did the same. Mizuki slammed his fist into the gorund and sand slammed into Kotaro not hurting him at all. kotaro seemly awoke and growled before dusting himself off and going back to sleep. Mizuiki was amazed at how much punishment Kotaro could take. Mizuki's hair returned back to normal before he slipped back to sleep.

[Luzifer]

Bayard shouted after her, "Don't get made at me because I tell you the truth! If you want to her niceties than go talk to a silver-tongued bard, I'm sure he'll tell you whatever you want to her to get you to do what he says! But thats how you're going to die! Your going to die not because you can't fight your gonna die because you refuse to! I don't care what or who you are! If you don't fight you're worthless in my eyes! But don't talk to me if you want to hear something sweet! Because I speak only the truth! No matter how harsh it is!"


OOC: Well, then maybe she shouldn't be such a little ball of self-pity

[Pirate Toast]

OOC: lol yeah but she will get stronger of course

BIC: She yelled back at him "No! You don't tell the truth! The truth is different to everybody and anybody!! All you tell the truth of is in your point of view!! No wonder people in your village steered clear of you! You too much of a (your word of choice. Bad of course right now) to see anything of another person view. Maybe if you were nice every onc and a while you could actually become human. Maybe make a mistake or two and become human but no way will you become human the way you are, (again word of choice)!!" She yelled at him harshly. She wished she never asked him to come a long but soon she would regret that wish because she really is glad he came along.

[Tetsanosuke]

Looking back to the ruckus Arlona shook her head, sighing with the utmost of annoyance at her brow. Instinctively she rode after the girl, she made a commitment to ensure her safety and she wasn't about to let that go. By way of the Speech she would call a wind to her backside to swiftly gain upon her, and throw her voice to the horse.

"Stop, for your riders sake." She whispered to the horse, bringing it to a slow stop with her own. She knew her own horse didn't need to give her it's name, because they were one, rider and steed. Her face became smooth from the light of the oncoming night, her eyes came upon her like two wide jewels of blue light, before her face melded in with the picture.

"Take a breath, and we'll be on our way." She said in a stern, though assuring voice, crisp with the air about them. "He thinks as he thinks, and he displays as he would, but take everything you hear with a grain of salt, that includes anything you hear, that doesn't cross me out either."

She would then turn their horses about to ready their leave. "As for me, it's my job to make sure you get where you have to go, no tears from his words, because that's all they are. You decide what's true to you, and that's what it means to take the world into your hands."

[Luzifer]

Bayard laughed up roariously... great peals of laughter echoed from him and he almost doubled over in his saddle, "No one loves me in my village because I don't want them to! And I don't want to be human! I want to be A human, I want to be an Individual. Something no one has ever been!" Honestly nothing she could say, would ever both him. Nothing she could say would ever offend him. He had long ago stopped caring what people around him thought. He would pursue the truth within himself... every other truth was false because one day... his truth would be the only truth which could be true to him.

[Pirate Toast]

Mearad nods and wipes her face. She would just ignore him until he said sorry. Til then she would act as if he was never there. Even if it was a bit childish and stubborn. She nods and tells her horse to go. "Thank you, Miss. I will remember that. I just wish that sometimes he would return the kindnes I have given to him but I should have known beter the to wish such a wish with the way he is."

[Ranryou Roga]

Kotaro had awoke early and threw mizuki on his back. He walked toward the city of Densor. It was closest and it would only take a day walk with Mizuki on his back. Kotaro held Mizuki on his shoulder with his arm wrapped around his waist so he wouldnt fall. He continued to walk intel mid-day. He saw the city and it was only half a days walk. Kotaro turned his head to see if Mizuki was awke only to find him no where. Kotaro signed before turning around and bumpped into Mizuki. Ktoaro shook his head and turned around walking toward the city.

[Pirate Toast]

Mearad was the first to wake to the sounds of the bird singing in her ear. She smiles and feed a few brids some bread. She gently shook Cadvan and Arlona awake but kicked Bayard to wake him up. She still hadn't forgiven. He kick was that hard but it would wake him. SHe had set out breakfast and began to eat. "Good morning Cadvan and Arlona. I hope you slept well. We should be near Dersor soon. It will take us till mid-day to reach the city."

Cadvan smiled and almost laughed out loud when Mearad had kicked Bayard awake. Well, he had to say. Bayard did deserve it. Ok maybe Mearad was acting a little childish but he still didn't like Bayard in the least bit. "I slept very well." Cadvan ate his breakfast.

________________________________________________

Psoron watched as they landed near a town. They had passed over one town that was like a ghost town but tis one seemed promising. Maybe more trouble.

Mugan put Arcana and Psoron down then changed back into his wolf form. He looked at both of then. "No funny business, ya hear?"

Arcana nodded "Of course. We never get in trouble, do we Psoron?" said Arcana trying be as sincere as possible. It didn't sound right.

Psoron smuthers a laughter and nods. "Yes we never get in trouble. We are little angels!"

[Luzifer]

Bayard rose slowly after being kicked, he hadn't slept for 42 hours and he was not to quick to rouse. He rubbed his bruised rib roughly, not really all that affected by it, before he sat up. He had had dinner and felt no real desire to eat breakfest. He sat erect with his legs crossed, already prepared and merely waiting for the others to get their acts together.

[Pirate Toast]

Mearad hoped onto the back of Imi. She rode till mid-day when they saw Cersor. She walk Imi up to the gates and was stoped to be searched. She had a sword but everyone did these days. She wasn't hiding anything. She walked through the gates and waited on the other side for the rest of the group.

Cadvan was searched. He didn't think this was ok. He had nothing to hide even when he told them he was a bard. Something was wrong for them to still search after he told them they were bards. He was done being searched and went towards Mearad on the other side of the gate.

[Luzifer]

As soon as he was touched to be searched Bayard leaped back, "Don't touch me!". His skin crawled his breathing stopped, "No one touches me!". He hated being touched, above all other things in this world it was physical contact with another human that he hated the most. He didn't know why but whenever he was touched a sudden terror filled him and his heart locked up. This feeling was only strengthened if the one who touched him was of the opposite sex.

The people who were to do the searching were quite obviously surprised by his sudden over-reaction. "Sir, its part of are policy to search all who come here"

"Well, here's my bill," he showed them the polearm/apple picking tool, "thats the only weapon that adorns my person unless you would call my tongue or pen weapon which, "here he smirked as he made a joke that of course only those in their group would understand, "they may very well be."

[Pirate Toast]

She smirked when she saw Bayard jump at contact then frown when she remember what happen when she hugged him. She turned Imi down the street to the tarvern where they could eat and drink and stay the night. She was ignoring Bayard but it was hard to ignore him. She still thought of him as a friend.

She whispered in Imi's ear the stay still and don't wander too far and send a long the message as well as if anyone tried to mount them that they should go wild.

[Luzifer]

Eventually, after some amount of shouting and a great deal of annoyance, Bayard finally manage to get free from the town guard and followed Maedar- no... -May- no... the girl, to the tavern. He looked at it and realized he had absolutly no idea how to judge tavern quality, but compared to the one back in his home village he thought that it was pretty decent looking. He sighed and leaned against his horse as he waited for the others to go in... he wanted to be last to enter.

[Pirate Toast]

Mearad entered the Tarvern and was going to order 3 rooms for the night but instead ordered 2 rooms. One room for her and Arlona then another room for Bayard and Cadvan. She also ordered them all something from the menu for lunch. She would pay for them all. Well maybe not for Bayard. Depending if he says sorry or not. She doubted he would say sorry though.

She sat at the table. The Tavern wasn't that busy during lunch time but would get alot more people for dinner.

Cadvan say beside Mearad and waited for his wine and food to come out.

[Luzifer]

Bayard sighed as he entered and slipped into a seat across from Cadavan and at a ninety-degree angle from Maedred. He said nothing and instead watch the people lazily trying to think of something to write... he had his quill and paper out and his ink pot was resting on the paper to keep it from being shifted in the bustle of the tavern. All and all Bayard would have much rather just camped out for the night.

[Zanethose]

OOC: Sorry i havent posted sence i got back, i took a day off to rest and then WABAM, crap loads of posts to read @.@

OH and thanks You for taking over my character while i was gone, i appreciate it.

BIC:
Nerili yawned, sitting up off the grassy patch that the group had stopped to rest on. She streched as she stood up, yawning again and rubbing her eyes. It had been a day or two sence they had passed through the village which had been ravished by the White Sickness...The horrible images still shot through her mind, the burnt buildings, the dead bodies...everything...

She sighed, looking down at the child who had somehow survived the sickness but had lost the use of his eyes. It was sad, and truely, she felt sorry for the child. She had no idea what she would do with the child...maybe take him to the nearest town and then drop him off at the orphanage?

She sighed, remembering her days as an orphan and shook her head. She wouldn't do that to a child. She pressed in on her temples, rubbing her fingers in a circular motion as she applied pressure to her head. She was getting a headache.

Nerili looked around and sighed again. It was the first time that she had awaken before all the others in several days. The sun hadn't even begun to raise and the wind was some-what chilly, but not too bad.

She looked down at the hands and her clothing, she hadn't bathed for several days, and her clothes hadn't been washed for even longer. She sighed again, going over to Ghael and kicking him in the side.

'We better reach a town, soon.' She thought.

Ghael twitched and rose after several light kicks to his gut. He looked around, the sky was dark, the fire was dim, and the wind was chilly. He rubbed his eyes and stretched as he sat up, looking into Nerili's dirty face. He knew she wouldn't be too happy about that, but he didn't quite understand, she still looked great to him...

"What?" he started quietly, preventing from waking the child. "Do you want to get going already?"

He waited a moment after Nerili had nodded before sighing and raising to his feet. He grabbed the tan cloth sack that had carried what little things they had, such as Nerili's lyre, and the few pieces of gold that they had made at their last stop. He slung the pack of his shoulders as Nerili put her bow and quiver on her back. He walked over to the child and picked him up, making sure he didnt awake. He sighed again, looking up at Nerili and nodding before beginning the long walk to Derosa.

Nerili groaned, they had been walking all day, switching between carrying the child to prevent him from having to walk. She was tired, longing for a bath, food, and a warm bed. The long days hot sun had finally begun to sink behind the tree-line and was finally readying to drop beyond the horizon, which meant either good or bad news. They were either close to the town, or they would have to sleep for another night in the forest. Nerili prayed it was the second.

And, luckily, not more than an hour after those thoughts had run through her head, the town had come into view. It was still about a mile away, which would take about 20 minutes to walk to, but at least they would get to sleep.

Nerili sighed, saying "Finally" within the midst of it. She looked over to Ghael, smiling, and continued to walk down the hillside toward the town.

[Tetsanosuke]

Arlona had nothing to do or say as the events went on, she would only nod or shake her head in response, and she slipped past the guard with a simple Speech of persuasion to their ears. They were in fact too afraid to search her though, she looked to well and an odd feeling struck them every second they laid eyes on her.

Whether the Speech spell worked or not, they really didn't want to near her.

Arlona was stuck beside Mr. Eyes, but that didn't bother her much, he had pulled out writing materials and she sought the same. Nothing really was of her attention, and nothing really grasped her there. She sat and wrote out some things on the paper, before folding it up and placing it in her bosom under the cloth of her clothes.

She awaited the order that Mearad had set, and kept her eyes to her writing on a second sheet.

[Pirate Toast]

Cai woke up on Nerili's back "Miss....are you a hull? One who serves the dark?" he didnt know why he thought she was one. She was so kind to him. He didn't want to go back to the Dark. he was afraid of them. They did terrible things to him.

___________________________________________

Cadvan dranks down his wine when it came and began to eat. He really hasn't had a decent meal in god knows when. He smiled and ate his food.

Mearad smiled and ate her food as well. "Well will stay the night here then get some supplys tomorrow. We will then head to the next town. Grab a lot of supplies there. Then we will stey the night there and the next morning leave for th Great Forest." she said.

____________________________________________

Psoron walked into the village and saw the tavern mearad and co. were in. "Oh! Arcana! Look a bar!" Psoron could wait.

Aracana looked and of course saw the bar. He walked inside. "Ah!! I would like a keg of beer for me and my pal, Psoron. Wait where di Psoron go?!!"

Psoron walked past Aracan while he had been dreaming of beer and had already taken a saet. "Over here, Moron!" Psoron laughed.

____________________________________________

mearad looked up at the two making a sence. Who were these guys? And why did they have such big mouths and loud voices? They may get thrown out.

[Zanethose]

Nerili turned her head, smiling at Cai, her expression soft and loving through the dirt that had collected on her face.

"Oh of course not, honey. Now why would you ever think that?" Nerili said, still smiling, "As a matter of fact, im the exact opposite. I'm a Bard, I'm here to protect people from them."

She continued to smile at the child for a bit before turning her head and letting the smile fade from her face, her eyes seeming to fill with pain and sorrow. It was odd that the child would ask such a question, she understood that he was blind, but why that question? Had the child realized the feelings that she had been having?

Yes, it was true, she had been having dark thoughts. She had been thinking about it may be like to fight for the dark. But how did this child know this? She sighed, there was no use pondering upon it, it wouldn't do her any good.

Ghael looked over at the child and Nerili as the child spoke, confused at the question. Why would this child ask a thing? It was like the child was ungrateful for all that they had done for him.

But he had to admit, he had noticed that Nerili had been seeming more and more absored with dark thoughts. She would more often stay silent, seeming to stare at the ground in deep thought. And, Ghael admitted to himself, it even made him feel depressed seeing her like that. He just sighed in unison with Nerili and continued to walk until they came across the town tavern. He opened the door for Nerili and child, stepping in after them...

[Ranryou Roga]

Kotaro entered the city of Dersor and checked into an inn,where he slept with Mizuki shopping. Kotaro thought about everything Mizuki had got himself into,and the things that caused Kotaro to get in the mix. He thought about dumpping Mizuki in this city and leaving,but he normally liked the idiot type things he did. Kotaro choose to let him stay but let him know that he needed to stop with all the stupid ideas he normally gets.

[Pirate Toast]

Cai looked at Nerili, even though he couldn't see. "Why do you lie? WHy do people lie? Miss, I think you are just being used by the Nameless One. Like I was once. They say I have the power to destory many things and want me to destory the light. They were nice at firs. They gave me a puppy then when it got older, after I loved the puppy so much, they told me to kill it or get killed.....I killed my first friend...."

He hated the Dark. Why were these people part of the Dark. Why were they being so nice to him? He wanted to know.

____________________________________________

Mearad looked around. Why was everyone at her table so quiet. Maybe they shouldn't stay the night. It was best to alway stay on the move. She sighed and the food was brought to the table and served to everyone.

She ate her food in silence thinking about her plan. She would go to Norloch and warn the First bard there then take a ship to the North where he dream told her to go. She had to go the the north. SHe just had to. No matter what Bayard or anyone told her to do. She would find her answer in the North and some a long the way.

Cadvan watched Mearad carefully. She was actting strange. Something was going to happen to her or someone else. He ate in silence. No one else talked. It was like the quiet just before a big storm. No one talking or moving. There was a very big storm coming. He didn't want to here when it passed through.

[seraphic_demon]

The caravan Reached Dersor late in the afternoon, Fu said his goodbyes to the crew and the rotund caravan master that took him in.

Today he thought, I might just find something.

He asked around the townspeople for the location of the tavern and was surprised to hear that a group of bards had checked in before him. He dashed as fast as he could, and as soon as he entered the tavern he found them...the group of misfits the townspoeople had been talking about.

"Excuse me?" he finally ventured to ask the young girl who seemed to be lost in thought. "Do you have room for one more?"

[Luzifer]

Bayard sighed looking up,　”I highly doubt that she does have the room　for someone who just randomly comes in and asks without introduction. Perhaps this seems like some ship, drifting admist toiling waves of some lonely typhoon where most any wayward soul, clingling like a rat to flotsam, can find cool asylum and I don't doubt that it is to some degree but... these are hard days, cold winds blow across fields left fallow as men fall to starvation in the cold and wolves in the forest." it became increasingly obvious that, while forest." it became increasingly obvious that, while Bayard was talking to the man he was not actually talking too the man. Bayard was actually writing something unrelated on a piece of paper and his tongue was moving on its own accord," in light of such unpleasantries I do not think it an undue request that you give us a name and a reason for why, in all the sinless streets of No City we should let you come. Mayhaps I seem cruel but... I could care less about the lives of others so much as the concepts and the ethics which are enshrined upon the Unscaled Mount. Besides, I have more important concerns... Bardic concerns... and you should no how many webs those arch-arachnids spin... ensnaring wayward flies and even, " here he seemed to be paying attention and almost looked up towards someone but moved his eyes back down " lesser spiders. they then spin their threads and drain the life from that victim and use his or her life to sustain their own. Such games of the mind would be taxing on most but i have more important and complex concerns then even that. All of this leaves me very lacking in compassion for you."

[Pirate Toast]

Mearad sent a deadly glare towards Bayard then smiles to their visitor "I am Mearad..." she points to Cadvan "This is Cadvan..." she point to Arlona "This is Arlona..." she points to Bayard "And he is a moron..." she still hasn't forgiven him. "We have plenty of room and enough food. And ignore him. He remables on about the No City or other stupid things."

Mearad found a chsir and sat it at the table. She smiles invitingly and sat back down in her chair. She didn't feel anything evil from him so she trusted him.

Cadvan nodded and smiled. Maybe this kid wouldn't be so mean and rude as, Mearad so bluntly put it, moron over there.

[FaroDomisai]

Psoron saw the group of people sitting at the table as he walked up to the group of people he said in a drunk tone "Yu gentlemen and lady are yu all travelers?" he hiccups as he stumbles falling onto the floor.

Arcana came out of Psoron's body and shook his head "Tsk Tsk Tsk, Psoron I told you not to drink so much" he looked up and saw the group of travelers.

"Please excuse my friend, we haven't had anything to eat or drink in days, you guys look like you have been traveling for a while"

Arcana bowed "My name is Arcana spirit of the cursed book, but I live inside this boys mind since he was the one who opened my book I took over his body"

Psoron was still out cold, probably still drunk inside his mind he wants the trumpet player

Arcana looked down at him sighing "Unfortunately we don't have the money to afford all of this, sad I have to distract everyone while he hulls his butt out of here"

Arcana growled "Sometimes I want to kill this kid, after all I am evil and stronger than him"

[seraphic_demon]

"Good sirs," Fu paused, bowing low, "Forgive me for my rudeness, I am Fuyutsuki, a lost bard. A group of merchants told me that they have seen a group of Bards come here, and thus is why I am here." He stood up, and knelt in front of Maerad. "I thank thee, dear saint for thine patronage, perhaps I might be of some help when the time comes."

[Pirate Toast]

She smiles to the people who came up. Two of them seemed decent but the other looked really really drunk. "Well...hello...I am Mearad as I had said and you know thw other...I think I can get one more room for the three of you but that is all...we need the rest to get supplies before going through te Great Forest." she said

She got more chairs for their table. "Is he ok?" she pointed to Psoron. He looked out of it and she laughed. She had seen many drunk men but this one was different. Most of the drunk men in Gilmon's Cot would try to rape her but this one seemed to just want a good time.

[FaroDomisai]

Psoron woke up with a hang over 3 minutes later "Uh-uhhh I have a headache" he saw Mearad and the rest of the travelers "Ummm....hello..." Psoron thougt the girl Mearad was cute so he blushed a little "My name is Psoron"


Arcana hit Psoron over the head "We already did the introductions and we know eachothers names" Arcana looked to Mearad "We can promise you we wont be using many supplies I can't eat but this one" he points to Psoron "Loves to eat always hungry...a glutton"

Psoron growled and absorbed Arcana back into his body "I am not a glutton my stomach is a black hole"

Arcana made Psoron nod and say "Like I said glutton"

Psoron shook his head "No I am not a glutton!"

The waiter came over to Psoron and Arcana "Excuse me but you have to pay your bill"

Psoron coughed and looked up at the waiter he looked strong having more muscle mass then Psoron :Ummm...I have the money...hold on" he goes into his back pocket checking all of his pants "It seems I have misplaced it

The waiter scuffed "You boys are in big trouble!" he held up a meat cleaver attempting to cut Psoron

Psoron dodged the first blow "Crap! I am sorry I will pay it back!"


Arcana got up on the table and did a pose "Have no fear I will do the dishes!" Arcana's eyes widened "Jesus what am I saying?!"

The waiter smirked and laughed "So you will do the dishes, alright then have at them!" he picked up Arcana and threw him into the kitchen

Arcana crashes into some pots and pans and then into the sink. Arcana wound up wearing pink rubber gloves, a pink hair net and a pink apron "Thanks a lot Psoron" he said as he continued to wash dishes angerly shattering one of them be accident then getting hit upside the head with a frying pan "Ow! Psoron!!!!!!"

[Zanethose]

Nerili sat down at a table within the tavern, sighing and rubbing her face. She had ignored the child's last question, wishing not to go any deeper into the dark feelings she had been harboring than she had to. Her heart felt heavy with emptiness and her chest felt withdrawn. She sighed again, rubbing her face with the entirety of her hands.

She looked up and around the feeling of bards was surrounding her. She looked over her left shoulder to a table where two men were sitting with two women and another man was obviously introducing himself, all of which, she could feel, held to the gift.

Ghael noticed the group as well and nodded to Nerili as she turned her head back around. He put his left arm up and signaled for a waitress to come over, which didnt happen until about 10 to 15 minutes later.

"I'm terribly sorry sir. What can i get for you?"

"A bottle of Surilie Vintage 817, a glass of milk and two plates of roasted chicken." Ghael looked over to Nerili, receiving a nod of approval before finishing off with a "That will be all, thank you."

Ghael looked back over to the group. The child, Cai, sat to the left of Nerili, both of them across from himself.

Ghael folded his hands, resting his elbows on the table and supporting his head with his arms. He looked at the table with the group of bards. He knew one, no, two of the bards, but not personally he did not think. He had at least heard of them. But then again, he may have had seen them while they were traveling. He could not remember.

The only thing that came to his mind was the name of the oldest male bard at the table.

Cadvan....

[Ranryou Roga]

Kotaro was awake at the fitst rise of light. Kotaro had left Mizuki asleep and was walking thought town. He stopp and bought some bread before he noticed that that was the last of their money. Kotaro growled and whent to the closesy law inforcement station. thier and found work and was sent to find a group of thief that had kidnapped a little gril from a rich family. Kotaro seacrhed and by the end of the day he had founf her and killed the thiefs. He was given a large amount of money to the poit where he didnt need to work for at least 3 mouths. Now he only needed to make sure Mizuki didnt speand the money on unless items.

[Luzifer]

Bayard slipped away from the table. He doubted highly that he would be much missed and even if he was he would have left anyway. He hated groups. Talking with on person was taxing enough but once a group got to talking there was no point in the ordeal. He lacked the forthwith to talk over people and so rarely go a word in and even if he did the conversation moved to fast. Groups tended toward more shallow discussion, missing deeper meanings, or at least, barrelling through the facts so fast that no pearls could their swinish mouths injest.

He walked out of town.... this night was vigil and fasting, so he would have refused food anyway and beds would only tempt him to sleep. Better to be out in the forest, sitting on a knotted root, then in a warm room with those bedbug-infested slabs of straw they called beds. Come to think of it... it probably wouldn't make much difference.

He held his hands together and muttered to himself, "Taste, Touch, Sight, Smell, Sound, Body, Soul, Nothing." frame of mind established he focused his mind outward into the wilderness within his conciousness. Towards those drifting thoughts left unkept in...

and you can seek in the dark of the rain
all the firey thought that dance 'round your brain
as you gaze through your soul like a cold frosted pane

And you will bleed all your questions a-cross the ground
begging for answers that will come like a sound
chiming inside you they will peel and resound

crushing your mind and your body and soul
slowly realize that you are none of a whole
and from you bed you will hear a bell toll

and it beats through you and in you and out
sending you running forever in rout
but now turn to the pain and the loss and the doubt

embrace it and take it and make it your own
drink it all in till it will fill up your bones
and from your sorrow build up a home

and craft a person from nothing but none
where you can lie and be asleep in the sun
and all truths and answers forever shun

actually... he kinda liked that thought... he thought with a vague smirk... The forest rolled over him and there he was bend his sould out of it, above it, so that his form danced above the trees

[seraphic_demon]

Fu took his leave for the group and went back at the common room. He unpacked his lute and started to sing. Ladies, both middle-class and upper class, huddled to watch him perform.

He never sang but played beautifully instead. He noticed Bayard slip out from the group as well. I guess he doesn't like people much...or trust them...He thought, I certainly know how he feels.

[Pirate Toast]

OOC: I am closing the RPG for about a week

Something happened and I will tell you all when I get back. I just can't think right now much less RP.

[.Gogo]

RPG closed as requested by the GM.

EDIT: Reopened.

[Pirate Toast]

Mearad looked around. Bayard left. She shurged and finishes her food. It was well into the night and they needed to get moving. "Well..." she said standing up from the table "I need rest and I am off to my bed room so good night everyone" she turn to leave and saw a little boy looking around.

The boy seemed rather familiar. SHe shook herself to clear her thoughts and head up to bed.

She walks into the room and changes into her night clothes for the bed. She ordered her group quite good rooms. Just alittle mind control then Cadvan had taught her came in handy but she couldn't use it on Bards.

She layed down in bed and closed her eyes and slowly drifted to sleep before she could count to 1.

Cadvan stiffed in his seat. He felt eyes were watching him. She looked around and spoted the pair of eyes. Ghael. He smiled ruefully and turned his head back to his food. He had ordered a lot and needed to eat it all.

He still felt the eyes on his and ignored them. He moved in his seat and rolled his shoulder like it would get rid of his discomfort.

Cai looked around as if he could see. He felt a familiar presence. He was quite for a long time trying to figure out what was happening. He was a little afriad of knowing but more afraid of not knowing. It was actually harder not knowing then knowing what was happening. When will it happen. Why it was happening. How it was happening. It was like trying to tell a blind boy what red was.

[Zanethose]

Ghael ate slowly, note taking his eyes from Cadvan. He had seen this bard before, he knew him. But from where? He couldn't remember. Maybe he traveled with him at one point or another? It was beyond him. He could not remember what had happened to bring this person into his knowledge. All that he knew was that this bard was named Cadvan and that for some reason, he was troubled by him...

Nerili looked up after feeding Cai a small piece of her chicken to see Ghael still looking over her shoulder. She turned slightly to see another bard sitting at a table, eating peacefully by himself. Nerili sighed and looked back at Ghael.

"It's quite impolite to stare you know, stop that."

[Tetsanosuke]

The events for the day were over and her eyelids came to a drop as she laid back in the bed. Her room was with the girl, and she knew that she was asleep. She could only but ponder what would happen in the days to come, but nothing really worried her. If anything would happen, she'd be there.

OOC: Short post... >_<;;

[Ranryou Roga]

Kotaro continued to walk throught the city of Dersor. He was working his butt off. Trying to earn back the money Mizuki lost. He was working as a hunter for a local meat gallery. He had to go out and find kill and bring back as many anmals as he could. His first day he brought over 400 pounds of deer to the man. Kotaro hated the job. All the job did was continue to allow himself and the slob to live at the local inn. Kotaro would kill Mizuki if he lost the money this time around.

[seraphic_demon]

Fu saw his new companions disperse from the table. He smiled and continued to play for his audience who reuqested nonstop. Fu set down his instrument and unpacked his lyre. He plucked each string with such grace that every one seemed to be floating with the melody. Relaxed. soothed.

[Pirate Toast]

Next Day:

__________________________________________________ ____________

Mearad woke up in bed in a cold sweat. She had another dream in volving everyone that she saw tonight. She sat up in bed panting heavily. She was shaking alittle. She got out of bed and order for hot water.

The hot water came and she poured it into the tub. She undressed and got in the water to take a bath. It was still earlier morning. She ducked her head under and washed her grimy hair.

She got out and dried off and changed into a fresh pair of clothes.

Cadvan was still asleep in bed not moving much. He was out cold.

[Luzifer]

Bayard sighed with tired eyes that seem to look past the coming dawn... another day had come and gone and he was no closer to his Severance... he was still so painfully Unenlightened. But yearning for wisdom did not a wise man make it was the burning out of many long hours, many vigils spent on legs that ached from having been held in uncomfortable postures for hours at a time... it was from minds whos boundries that had been worn away by the constant sandpaper-grating of a lack of sleep. Still more work was to be done... always more...

His legs buckled as he tried to stand, so long had he sat unmoving that the muscles had to adjust once more to moving. However, he had long ago grown accustomed to such discomforts of the ascetic lifestyle and it was not long before he was once more moving at his full capacity.

Soon he was at the edge of the wood, the sun was climbing but it was on the opposite side of the wood so that he was completely covered in shadow. He could see from where he stood the inn slowly becoming bathed in light but he merely smirked and remained where he was...

after all. Why would he want to walk towards the light?

[.Gogo]

RPG closed as requested by the GM. [again ^^;]

Yukari has also asked me to let you all know that she is unable to access the internet until further notice due to disputes within her family, and that is the reason why she has asked for the thread to be closed. She doesn't know how long she will be gone either. I am sure that she will be able to elaborate upon her return if she chooses to do so.

EDIT: Reopened.

[Pirate Toast]

Mearad got out her Lyre and plucked a note. She began a tune then stops. She gets up and packs her bag, She gently shakes Arlona awake "We need to get going. The Dark is moving fast and I don't want to be here when it comes. I will get the boys up."

She walked down the hallway and beat on the door before entering "Cadvan! Get up we need to leave. The dark appraoched us and quickly. I will get Bayard."

Cadvan jumps out of bed and fell. "Ok ok. I am up" He closed the door on Mearad and got dressed. He hurryied downstairs.

Mearad went outside and looked for Bayard. She spotted him near the trees "Bayard, we need to get going. The Dark will be here soon." she walked back into the inn. She was still mad at Bayard though not as mad. She wished he would just say sorry already.

Cai heard the commation going on next door "Miss! The people from last night as leaving. Maybe we should leave too." he tripped over Ghael and feel on his face "Ow...."

[Kitanoru]

Characters: Kitanoru, Voice
Location: Crystal Waters [village]

In the village of Crystal Waters, Kitanoru was minding his own business selling fish that he had recently caught out on the lake by his house in the town square market. He had tons of visitors, but not many buyers. After hanging around for about two hours time he packed up and headed home. As he was walking home he noticed a wallboard had a posting of some event on it. He didn't pay too much attention to it and continued walking off in the direction of his house.

Something didn't seem right to him at the time so he decided to go and investigate the ruins. As he approached the ruins he discovered a glowing emblem in an engraved statue. It appeared as a rune like object and gave off an incredible essence of energy. He didn't know what was going on at the time but he was so fascinated by his discovery that he remained there for a while wondering what might happen. He heard whispering and it seemed to calm his soul so he endured it and stayed to hear the whole thing. It spoke of a darkness approaching a village off in the distance and its people will need all the help they can get in getting rid of it. The last words spoke nand asked were "Are you willing to protect the lives of others and fight along side your family Kitanoru?"

He didn't know what to say... he was puzzled by the words and how they knew his name. The voice soon repeated itself and asked again...

"Well... I would for the sake of my family and friends, but I don't really know if I am worthy enough to take on a task like that though."

"Excellent! So it has been decided that you will take on the task to protect those that you love and treasure. In this case I bestow upon you this as a token of my gratitude in accepting this task."

An engraved boomerang appeared in front of Kitanoru. He didn't know whether to retrieve it or not... but the voice told him something about receiving something. He said in a remark "What? A boomerang? What is this for?"

"Learn to wield it, it will serve to be very helpful once you master it." The voice answered and the emblem disappeared off the stone engraved satue.

"That was strange!" He picked up the boomerang and headed home where he would fry up some of the remaining fish he had not sold at the market earlier and make a delicious meal out of it.

[Ranryou Roga]

Mizuki growled once he awoke. Kotaro was gone again. Mizuki sat up and looked around. They could only live here for another two days then they would leave. He didnt know what but something deep inside told him to stay in the city of Densor. It was like something was coming to get him. He didnt know what but if it wasnt here in another two days he would leave. They had to be on their way.

[Kitanoru]

Characters: Kitanoru, Unknown Sender [will be revealed later]
Location: Crystal Waters - Off to The Great Forest

Kitanoru ate the dinner he cooked for himself and tried to take a nap but he couldn't seem to get to sleep. It was as if something kept him from sleeping. I walked around in his house trying to find out what he could do to bide some time but all he could think about was that time at the ruins and the boomerang appearing in front of him, which he now owns. He grabbed the boomerang and headed outside...

"Wow it sure is beautiful at night here in Crystal Waters, with the moon gleaming off the water, and the stars shining off the mountains. It is almost as if someone is keeping watch over this town."

He looked towards the ruins and then as he was about to step back inside the house he heard something rustling around in the bushes by a great cluster of trees. Legend has it, a mysterious creature wanders in the night, but no one has ever been able to capture it, or spot it. He took another glimpse towards the bushes and could have sworn he saw eyes glaring through the bushes, he ran inside as if he spotted a ghost and remained indoors until morning.

As he awoke a new day he stepped outside to take a great whiff of the morning fresh air in hopes to clear his mind from the other night. There was a package on the floor in front of him as he opened the front door. The package did not specify the return address or the name of the person who sent it to him, all it had said was that this package must remain safe.

He took the package and glared at it thoroughly, it looked safe to open so he began unwrapping the package...

"Oh? What is this? A letter for me?"

"Dear receiver of this letter, I wanted to inform you of an urgent situation. If you could please meet me in the Great Forest I would be ever so thankful! yours truly, sender."

"What! How am I suppose to go to the Great Forest if I don't know the way or don't know who or what to expect! This better not be some scam!"

He began packing to set out for The Great Forest making sure he had enough stuff to last him a good while in case he was gone for some time.

"Well... I best be on my way! Cheerio Crystal Waters, and here I come Great Forest!"

[Pirate Toast]

She went to go check on the horses. Imi was glad to see her after the night being apart "Hey Imi. I missed you too" she unhooks Imi and then unhooks the other horses. SHe says follow in speech and jumps on Imi's back. she rides out of the stable to the Inn and waits for everyone in the front.

Cadvan was dressed and had breakfast and was outside. "Good Morning Mearad. How was your sleep?" he cheerfully. He hopped on Dersor's back and whispered a few things in the horse's ear.

[Luzifer]

Bayard followed in long lanky but unrushed strides, not quite grasping the severity of the situation. How he was still able to keep up with Meadred and was on his horse quickly and without a word. He was still somewhat caught up in his own thoughts, and the twittering people around him came to him from a long distance, muffled and almost soundless.

[seraphic_demon]

Fu heard the sound of maerad's lyre suddenly stop, he got up and found her talking to cadvan about something. He quickly went to the lobby to get the yew bow and two quivers that he asked the inn keeper to go fetch for him.

ooc: short post

[Kitanoru]

Characters: Kitanoru, Aerue
Location: The Great Forest

Kitanoru had all the necessary equipment he needed to head out for the Great Forest now; he even brought along an old compass to help guide him in case he were to get lost. On his way he talked to a few people and asked them whether they knew the way... They all pointed in the same general direction, which this information would lead him to his destination, however, they did all warn him to be careful when trotting through that terrain. Those who enter do not often return, if they do... they never speak a word about what went on in there. They just advise others to stay out! There are even signs posted outside the Great Forest... STAY OUT! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

He was a bit nervous to be taking this route but he knew deep inside he had to... for the sake of others and for his family... especially his grandfather who taught him all about the ruins. The ruins announced to him he must go on this journey and if that is the case... he plans to follow them the whole way out.

Kitanoru took out his compass and headed towards the Great Forest. When he arrived at the entrance he peered around to see if anything stirred... not even a single trace of movement was seen. He slowly entered cautioning himself in case anything came up. A few words sprung to mind... and he began speaking a bizzare phrase... that he seemed to keep repeating over and over again as he got deeper and deeper into the forest. The words spoken were...

"Shine light upon the past! Divert the shadow and bring fourth light... disperse!"

This seemed to relieve him of the worries he had about all that surged through his mind, soul, and body as he wandered the trails deeper into the Great Forest.

A flash of light shone ahead... he didn't know whether it was a good sign or bad but he did choose to follow it anyways... It led him straight to a stream that he could follow. He noticed the water seemed strange... there was a dark patch that followed him along the edge of the stream... He was beginning to fret that it could be dangerous! He declared for the mysterious creature to reveal themselves using 'the speech' to try to communicate with it.

"I can feel your presence and I can see that you are here, please reveal youself or I will take you down by force."

"Hmm... that isn't very nice of you to be saying to someone that is trying to help guide you..."

"Helping to guide me? What! Psh... ha ha ha very funny!"

"Do you think I lie?"

"No... it is just how could you be helping me?"

"You saw that light back there didn't you? You came to the stream didn't you?"

"Yes... and your point?"

"I guided you here... this will take you to your destination... however if you wish to not have help I can leave you on your own if you'd like?"

"Um... I am sorry... I just don't know my way around here and I have heard bad things about this place..."

"Oh? Bad things?"

"Yes... I have heard that some people do not make it alive out here and that whoever do never tell the tales behind this forest."

"Hmm... very strange... the creatures here are very docile and gentle... I don't know how the towns folk could have been injured, frightened, or killed. The only way that would happen is if they cause harm to the forest themselves. But I can see in you that you sir are a kind person and you have no intentions of doing such matter, that is why I have come to guide you on your journey, if you'll allow me that is?"

"Um... I don't see why not. I think that having someone that knows the forest better than I do would prove to be very helpful in my situation!"

"Alright... I will help guide you! My name is Aerue by the way and it is a pleasure to meet you!"

"It is nice to meet you Aerue, my name is Kitanoru. Thank you once again Aerue!"

"You're more than welcome! I hope I can prove to be helpful!"

"You already have been a great help! Thank you!"

"Your'e welcome!"

Kitanoru continues wandering the forest a long side his new companion Aerue who he just met in search to find his destination, with the help of Aerue it should be a breeze now or that is what he thought at the time anyways.

[Zanethose]

Nerili yawned and raised her head from her pillow as Cai fell over Ghael's body. She yawned, stretching her arms above her head as she did so. She would then sigh, grabbing the sheet before it fell from her body and looked at Ghael, whose eyes were blinking open. She giggled slightly at Cai who had tripped over Ghael's feet. She smiled and looked at Cai who was wishing to leave.

"Dont worry little one, we will be leaving soon enough."

She felt the darkness closing in, but yet, for some reason, didnt feel the need to leave the place....

Ghael blinked his eyes open, yawning, and stretching. He looked down at the child who had tripped over him and leaned over, picking him up. He rose and walked over to Nerili's bed, sitting the child down at the foot of the bed. He looked over at Nerili who was pointing at the door, obviously wanting to get dressed. Ghael sighed and walked out, picking up his broadsword and cloak as he aproached the door, fastening his broadsword to his back and then his cloak of his loose black outfit.

He sighed as he closed the door, walking down the hall and into the main area, then out of the Inn, standing out front, leaning against the bulding, next to the front door. He looked up from small rock he was rolling over with his foot to see Ghael on the back of a horse with the group of bards from last night.

It still bothered him, why was he there, and where did he know him from? He couldnt understand it, but it dug into the back of his mind, bothering him to no end.

Nerili walked out of the front door, carrying Cai on her shoulders.

"Alright, I figure we can just hang out for today and then leave tomorrow morning...sound good to you Ghael?"

[Pirate Toast]

Mearad saw the boy from last night and Imi backed up alittle. "What's wrong girl?" Mearad said soothingly. She look then looked at the people with the boy. Her eyes widen. "Dark!" she said to herself. "Cadvan over here!! Quickly."

Cadvan came over quickly. "What's up?" he said. He looked at Geal where mearad seemed to be looking.

Mearad whispered in Cadvan's ear "They are from the dark! we need to head out now!!" she looked around for Bayard. She saw him on the horse "Bayard we will be leaving shortly. I hope you can handled it." she said ruefully. She was still mad at him.

Cai smiled. "Miss are we outside? What are we going to do today?"

[Luzifer]

Bayard shrugged somewhat calmly, perhaps his mind was a bit fuzzy do to lack of sleep but he knew he would recover given some time. "I'm ready whenever needs dictate." he then looked up slight, "By the way... spite doesn't suit you very well." he then returned to staring off at nothing in particular.

[Ranryou Roga]

Mizuki had seen the girl alot of time in the city. Mizuki ran after the girl as she past him again. He grabbed her on the sholder and turned her around. It was her. It was the one he had protected so many years ago. He didnt understand how she could be alive after so many years.

[Pirate Toast]

Mearad was jerked back "Hey! Oh hello. Do I know you?" she asked. He seemed familiar like the boy. Who were these people? Imi shifted under her and whined to get moving. "You should get out of the city quickly. The dark is coming quickly. Do you have a friend that you need to inform?" she asked.

[Ranryou Roga]

Kotaro come from no where and stood beside Mizuki. He looked down at the girl and then at Mizuki. They didnt have time to play with these other fools. Kotaro didnt understand why Mizuki knew this girl. he growled and picked Kizuki up with one arm. He looked him in the face and spoke to him in a clam but dark way. "We dont have time for this ok." Kotaro dropped Mizuki and turned to leave.

Mizuki slammed Kotaro into the gorund and looked him in the eyes. He had a mission he had promised to protect the women with that face forever. he would and nothing could stop him. "please allow us to come with you?"

[Pirate Toast]

Imi shyed away from the fighting of the two "Well if you must come along though I am neing chased by the Dark. You may die or get ingured. If that is what you wished." she knew that Bayard hated people and now two more juist joined there group. She knew it would make Bayard even more uncomfortable. SHe smiled. "The big one can ride with Cadvan and You, sir, can hop on behind me on Imi. She is strong and sweet." she patted Imi's neck and smiled.

She held out her hand for the youth to climb on.

Cadvan looked at the other and laughed at what Dersor said "You sure youy can hold us both, Dersor?" Dersor nodded and seemed to laughed as well. "Then my friend hope on behind me and we can be on our way.

[Ranryou Roga]

"Ill run no thank you........" Kotaro poped his neck and arms. he grinned and then stood. He looked down at Mizuki. This was the first time Mizuki had been serious with him. Kotaro grinned. Their was something different about Mizuki.

Mizuki hoped on and grinned at Kotaro. he turned back toward the girl and nodded.

[Pirate Toast]

Arlona was quietly standing by as everyone got organized. She waited on her horse. She would watch over Mearad and make sure she would live through this. Arlone's horse troted up to Mearads "I am ready and it looks like everyone else. Mearad do you trust these new people." She studyed them carefully.

Mearad nodded "I trust them with my life. Well at least this one behind me." she smiled and kicked Imi into a gallop out of the city to the next where they would get stocked up.

Cadvan shrugged and followed Mearad out of the city. They were always on the run.

[Ranryou Roga]

Kotaro looked behind them as they rode off. He looked at the city and the darkness he felt coming toward them. It seemed to call out to him. He turned back around and began to run after them. he seemed to be running fast but to him this was joging.

[Pirate Toast]

They were making good time. She knew this was going to be even harder from here on out. She pulled her hood over her head. "Cadvan! It is going to rain tonight. There isn't a tree in sight and no village either. We will have stay in the rain tonight unless we find a rock to crawl under." she yelled to Cadvan. She looked over her shoulder "So what's your name and your friends? I am Mearad and that is Cadvan. There is Arlona and Bayard. bayard doesn't like people and is rude." she said smiling.

Cadvan looked up at the sky and nodded. "Yeah it will ran. Maybe we can dig a hole....." he said outloud thinking to himself. He rode next to Arlona. "What do you think of those two? They seem harmless enough to me." he said loud enough for only Arlona to hear.

[Luzifer]

Bayard followed the others... his horse matching the others in speed but staying well back. Not far back enough not to hear what Meadred was saying but he did react to her words in the slightest. What people thought of him was not his concern. Besides it wasn't like she said anything that wasn't true. He knew he didn't fall such foolish conventions as etiquette but then again he never saw a very good reason why he should, in fact he saw many reasons why he shouldn't.

So he closed his eyes and began to meditate.

[Kitanoru]

Characters: Kitanoru, Aerue
Location: The Great Forest - Waterfall Caves

Kitanoru passed the time by talking to Aerue and by following the stream. Every animal he passed would look up in his direction. Kitanoru hearing a faint whisper amongst the trees... "Is he the one?" He couldn't seem to get that out of his mind... so he asked if Aerue could hear a faint whisper saying "Is he the one?".

"Did you hear that Aerue? The voice just now? It sounded like a faint whispering amongst the trees?"

"If it is a voice you hear, pay no attention to it. It doesn't concern you."

"If it doesn't concern me, then why was I able to hear it?"

"I don't know... those types of things you should just leave them be."

"Hmm... if you say so, I guess."

He kept those words in mind making sure not to lose track of a single letter. He heard rustling in the trees and a shadow forcing its way towards him. Then from out of no where he heard Aerue call out a phrase.

"enable cloak unto thou wanderer."

"What did you say Aerue?"

"Quiet down or they'l hear us!"

"Who? Who will hear us?"

"I'l tell you later, hush now!"

Kitanoru kept his mouth shut and silently treaded along the edge of the stream, not making a sound! He saw an opening in the patch of trees and began looking at the compass and it did indicate to go in that direction. He began striding off to the side in the direction of the opening.

"What are you doing! Get back here! That is the wrong way! It is a trap!"

"Oh?"

Kitanoru slowly headed back towards the stream where Aerue demanded him to return.

"Alright the coast is clear now. We can continue our conversation... Oh and one more thing... do not stray from the stream!"

"Why? How come I can't stray from the stream?"

"If you get caught by the others... you'l be torn a part!"

"Whoa! What... others? Are you implying that you are one of them?

"I was... but I no longer follow under their command. They are blood thirsty demons is all they are... I could never come to harming a living creature in my life! But them... they take it with ease!"

"Gulp! Um... you aren't... you know... planning to harm me are you?"

"Of course not! I came to guard you! That saying back there, you heard me recite... that was a protective spell I learned while living here. It makes the individual become invisible to others. The only person that can see you is me, and that is because I was the one who cast the spell."

"Oh okay, I see now! Wow thank you for protecting me back there Aerue!"

"It was no problem. Anyways... we are almost at the entrance to the path that takes you straight to your destination. Along that trail there should be no signs of danger what so ever!"

"Oh awesome! Thanks! Hmm... if you don't mind me asking... how come you haven't revealed your true form to me?"

"Oh... well... um... you see..."

"Is everything alright?"

"Erm... well... that isn't important now, we must reach the waterfall... There I will reveal myself, alright?"

"Um... okay."

"We are almost there... just a little further."

Both Kitanoru and Aerue continued along the stream as they were nearing the waterfall to where Kitanoru will set fourth in search of his destination. The path is near and the danger there will be less in abundance where Aerue is taking him.

[Ranryou Roga]

"My name is Mizuki... the large male ahga male back their is Kotaro."
Mizuki looked at the sky. He could bent the water to his will and allow it to slide to the sie before touching them. Mizuki grinned. The rain reminded him of the old days. Once they stoped he would try and get Kotaro to use his strenght to punch a hole in the ground causing a large pice of land to cover them. Mizuki would use his powere to bend the earth and make a large but small house to hold them and the horses.

[Pirate Toast]

Mearad smiled and leaned against Imi. "Why did you want to come with us? You seem very familar to me. Have we met somewhere? Well we couldn't have because I have been a slave most of my life." she said a little sadly.

[Kitanoru]

Characters: Kitanoru, Aerue
Location: The Great Forest - Waterfall Caves and Out into an Open Field.

Kitanoru was led by Aerue to the Waterfall. The water fall was enormous! There was a less turbulent flow from the Waterfall on one edge of the waterfall and that is where Aerue took Kitanoru. Behind the waterfall were some caverns and tunnels and burrows. The ceiling flourished with millions of stalactites and the ground floor contained loads of stalagmites. Every so often the ceiling dripped of calcium carbonate filled water droplets adding layers to the stalagmites. If the individual weren't careful enough, the stalagmites could cause the person to trip. and fall into one of the pits that lie deep within the cave. Aerue went out of hiding and revealed herself to Kitanoru before his departure.

"This will take you to where you want to go, may you have a safe journey Kita."

"Thank you so much Aerue, you have been a great help! I will always remember you for this!"

"You're welcome, it is the least I could do for someone that is on a quest to search for good in the world."

"You really are too kind! thanks again for everything you've done for me!"

"It was no problem at all! It was my pleasure to assist you!"

Kitanoru waves to Aerue and begins walking off into the distance down the path that should lead him straight to his destination.

"Farewell Aerue! We will meet again I promise!"

"Um..."

He keeps walking and doesn't notice but Aerue is slowly approaching him.

"Um... excuse me Kita do you think you'l be alright on your own now?"

"Yeah yeah! I will be fine! thanks Aerue!"

Aerue begins to shed tears...

"Huh? What is wrong Aerue?"

"Oh it's nothing... it is just... I feel as if... well... I shouldn't leave you alone, that is all... I know it sounds silly... I am sorry!"

"It is alright Aerue... if you want you can tag along with me... I don't mind."

"Would that be alright?"

"Yeah sure, why not!"

"Thanks Kita, you are the best friend I could ever have!"

Kitanoru now had a companion by his side for the journey, the companion being Aerue. They both traveled the cave together in search to find other people to discuss this strange darkness that clouded over a particular area.

"Hey Kita... I really hope you don't mind me calling you that... I was wanted to know... well... do you want to get to your location faster?"

"It would be convenient if we could, but I don't know how we would?"

Aerue shapeshifts into cheeta.

"Get on!"

"Gulps! Whoa! How'd you do that!"

"Ha ha! Oh yeah... I forgot to mention I am an elidhu."

"Whoa! I have heard of elidhu's! They are said to be very powerful!"

"Ha ha!"

Kitanoru hopped on Aerue and they were out of the cave in no time!

"Here we go! The town should be only a little ways a way now!"

"I wonder if we'll come across any travelers?"

"Possibly! Just possibly!"

Kitanoru hopped off of Aerue because it started raining all of a sudden; they took shelter under a few trees and spent most of their remaining time there. Giving Aerue some time to rest while Kitanoru got planning on what might come up a head on their journey.

[Zanethose]

Nerili sat down at the table they had eaten at the night before. The day had passed by what had seemed to be awfully quickly, and the dark of night was beginning to role in. She sighed, leaning her head against her arm as the waitress came up to take their order, Ghael just quickly ordering the same thing as the previous night.

She would sigh again the food was brought out to them, the wine and two glasses placed on the table. Cai seemed happy and content with the doings of the day, Ghael seemed tired and weary, something was still bothering him. She sighed, she hoped something exciting would happen within the next day or so....

Ghael quickly ate his dinner, polishing off half the bottle of the wine with it as well. He would stand as soon as he had finished, wipe off his face and pants and look at Nerili blanky before walking to the room.

He sighed, taking off his cloak, revealing his black clothing that he wore underneath it. He sighed and down where he had slept the last night, closing his eyes and quickly drifting off to sleep, thinking of the way that things had been going down hill...the darkness, he felt, was finally coming.

[Ranryou Roga]

"No No i knew someone that looked just like you many many years ago. I gave my life trying to save her." Mizuki smiled and looked down from the house. His memories still gave him nightmares. All the fighting and the killing he did to save the few people he was able to. Mizuki looked back at Kotaro and grinned. Maybe he could save this one aswell.

[Pirate Toast]

Many Many years ago went through her mind. Was he possibly another from Pellinor. "I use to live with my mother in Pellinor. Milena was her name. She was the first Bard of Pellinor. She died when I was 7 and now I am 16. I do not know my father or brother....they both died in Pellinor on that faithful day." she looked behind her at Mizuki.

[Ranryou Roga]

"Yes that name is very very close to my heart." Mizuki had protected and fought by her side and the side of his sense of justic for many many years. he thought he died saving her but he was sent into a deep sleep by the very person he swore to protect.

[Pirate Toast]

Mearad smiled. "Then you know my mother!! What was she like when she wasn't ill or sad?! Please you must tell me!! And what was Pellinor like?! Was is as beautiful as people say?!" more and more questions came from her. She found someone from Pellinor!!

[Ranryou Roga]

Mizuki smiled and looked Mearad. "It was beatiful in its own way from what i remember. I looked to walk along the pond and watch the fish eat the bread i threw to them. You mother always loved to paly with the ducks. She had a kind heart and was one of the sweetest people i know. Her life was full of danger and she held on every single day. I never left her side. I fought her battles and toke the blows she was to have. All in all she had the biggest heart. it was so big that she couldnt allow me to fight her battles and protect her. She used some form of magic or something and put me into a deep sleep."

[Kitanoru]

Characters: Kitanoru,Aerue, Voices
Location: In a remote area - traveling to the small village a head.

Kitanoru hears a noise off in the distance and takes a battle stance.

"Who goes there!?"

There was no response... He went closer to where the noise was coming from and heard a voice...

"Don't hurt me please! I am innocent! Here take this..." Kitanoru was given a key that gave off some strange aura. He saw that the man was looking off into the distance at something... when Kitanoru turned around to look at what he was looking at... nothing was there. He turned back to the man and he was gone.

"Uh... sir? Where'd you go?"

There was no response... Kitanoru returned to Aerue and told her that they must leave right away and get to the closest city as soon as possible as they might be in danger!

"Aerue! Aerue! Wake up! We must get going... Aerue?"

There was no response...

"Oh no... this is not good!"

Kitanoru took Aerue and began carrying her because she was not well.

There was a faint whisper that brushed past Kitanoru...

"Thank you!"

Kitanoru looked around and no one was there...

"Who's there? Reveal yourself now!"

There was no response... so Kitanoru made haste for the closest city... When all of a sudden he felt some sort of energy surge go through his body...

"What is this? Why do I feel different?"

He looked around and couldn't notice anything different... He checked every inch of his body... nothing. When he reached for his boomerang a symbol of that very key he was handed appeared on the under side of his left wrist.

"Huh!? Where'd that key get to? I just had it! Second of all... how'd an imprint of the key get on my wrist... and why does it only appear when I reach for my boomerang?"

Kitanoru thought he was losing his mind... he ignored it for a while and just continued on going towards the city with Aerue in his arms.

"I'l protect you, like you protected me, with my life!"

"Thank you Kita!"

A faint whisper came from Aerue...

[Luzifer]

Bayard sighed as he was jostled from his meditative trance by the percussion of his horse cantering down an incline... his tired eyes opened and he heard Meadred and Mizuki's conversation as a dull, annoying buzz in his ears. The world stretched out before him... and from the distance he heard a raven caw...

and then he began to cry... he smiled and cried... and laughed... he was beginning to escape... beginning to escape this infernal hell of bardom... He look at the sky... he reached up... no... he did not reach for the sky... rather he dragged it down to him...

[Pirate Toast]

mearad pictured it in her head then came back to herself seeing that is was also sunset and the clouds had already begun to get larger. She stoped Imi and said in speech to the other horses to stop. "We will make camp her for the night though it will ran on us. It won't be very comfortable."

[Luzifer]

Bayard didn't here Maedred and kept on riding... he was to caught up in his own thoughts... in his own blissful misery... the echoing tear that was just now beginning to split his heart from the Heart of the World. It was painful... but it was the most invigorating feeling that had ever entered into his body... he couldn't stop crying... was it his body, his mind, or his soul that was crying? Perhaps they all were...but each for a different reason.

[Ranryou Roga]

OCC: Omg Luzy. That post just get me confused. My brain is going to explode.


Mizuki hopped off of the horse and patted it on the head. He was greatful for the horse. Mizuki looked around a dn saw nopthing he could use to make a small tent. Then he remembered Kotaro and his metahuman strengh. "Kotaro-kun. Could you use your power and punch the ground for me."

Kotaro growled and punched the ground. The sheer force from the energy released from his fist caused the ground itself to eise a few inches into the air.


Mizuki grined and moved his handa round changing the land into a small tent around the ground. It was large snough for the horses and had a few placed for them to rest.

[Pirate Toast]

Mearad yelled out Stop in Speech to Bayard's horse. She ran to the horse and saw Bayard crying. All her anger for him melted away "Bayard way are you crying?" she went to put her hand on his but then pulled her hand back knowing he didn't like to be touched.

She guided the horse back to the others.

[Kitanoru]

Characters: Kitanoru
Location: Strange Village - Meets up with a group of travelers and their horses.

Kitanoru continued to carry Aerue in his arms and kept moving towards the direction the man was looking. Soon enough he spotted what appeared to be a village in the distance, or a village at one time anyways! He took caution and entered the walled village that appeared to be run down and damaged by an event that must of taken place a long time ago. Once he entered he searched every square inch of the place in search to try and find others. He noticed something moving in the distance and he took a few steps forward to take a closer look. It appeared to be people and a set of horses under a covered area. He took caution and approached the group of people and the horses.

"Hello everyone! My name is Kitanoru and this here is my trustee companion Aerue. Unfortunately though she hasn't been feeling very well and I was wondering if we could hang with you guys for the time being? You guys seem to have quite the nice little pad going here out of the rain and all, as well you guys seem like you'd be nice people to hang around. So what do you say?"

Kitanoru waits for a response from the group of travellers.

[Luzifer]

Bayard smirked... "heheh... A bard wouldn't comprehend the long answer but I think you will understand well enough the short version. I can't hear anymore... the crows... the birds... they just sound like animals again! Its...wonderful! I'm loosing my touch with the world around me... soon... I'll loose my ability to manipulate the Gift entirely... just a few more months or years... or decades... or centuries... it doesn't matter really." he began to laugh... "It means... I'm right... "

[Pirate Toast]

Mearad looked at bayard "You haven't had anything to eat or had any sleep, have you? I will make sure you sleep and eat tonight. "She smiled and guided the horse back to the group.

Mearad had only heard the last part of what Kitanoru said but she nods and smiled "Yes of course you can join us."

[Luzifer]

Bayard chuckled... "Such is the life of an ascetic..." He let his horse be guided back to camp... he really didn't care much right now. At the moment he was floating somewhere distant. He probably could use some sleep thought... his eyes ached just to stay open.

[Kitanoru]

Characters: Kitanoru, Aerue, Voices
Location: In the village with the group of travelers.

Kitanoru paused and looked at the girl who welcomed him and Aerue for joining the group.

"Thank you kindly miss! We are grateful for your kind hospitality."

Kitanoru noticed Aerue slowly opened her eyes...

"Aerue? Are you alight?"

"What happened? Where are we? Who are they?"

"Oh thank goodness you are alright! Let us go where we are out of the rain and I will tell you everything alright?"

"Hmm... okay. One question though? How long have I been like this?"

"Since we stopped and rested at the tree..."

"What happened back there?"

"I don't know... nor do I wish to know for that matter..."

"What is that on your left wrist?"

"Huh?"

"That! It looks like a scar... but in the shape of a key?"

"cough cough... I do not know what you are talking about!"

"Look!"

"I refuse!"

"Something happened back there didn't it?"

"I refrain from discussing this any further! Do not mention the scar or the incident... please! Not now!"

"Um... Kita... are you alright?"

Kitanoru tries to hold back his tears and keeps walking towards the covered area.

"All that matters is... that you Aerue, are alive!"

Kitanoru gently lies down Aerue on a soft hay pile that was rustled around into a bed shape. Kitanoru took a seat in the corner close to the hay pile and tried to get some sleep... but just couldn't manage to sleep. He could not get the key image out of his mind and that person and the strange voices... Then he heard something...

"Keep those dear to you close or you'l end up losing them... just like your parents and your grandfather!"

"Don't you dare speak of my parents and grandfather as if I casted them a side! I would never do something like that!"

"Ha ha ha... you can run but you can't hide forever! Did I ever tell you... I was your parents killer!"

"How dare you! I will kill you!"

The voice vanished from his mind...

"Are you alright Kita? I heard you say something about your parents. Didn't I?"

"It is of no concern to you... it is something I must do... for the sake of those dear to me."

"What If I were to say I am in search to do something for those dear to me too? It is true... I do search for something. I just haven't found it yet. Who knows... it may just be that we are searching for the same thing?"

"It couldn't be!"

"It is a death isn't it? Family members too right? The same happened to me to... my parents were taken from me... I am in search of the killer as we speak. I am sorry I did not tell you till now."

Kitanoru sheds a tear and wipes it a side...

"I will not take this! I will avenge my family members and those dear to the family!"

"I will help you!"

"Why?"

"That is what friend's are for aren't they?"

"Well if you put it that way... thank you Aerue!"

"You're welcome!"

Kitanoru attempts to take a nap and successfully does. Aerue does the same and takes a nap after a long day. Both in good spirits to be with a good crowd of travelers. They hope to learn more about them at the break of dawn when they set fourth on their journey.

[Pirate Toast]

Mearad went inside and left Cadvan to watch the night sky and land while the rest slept. "Bayard eat this and sleep." she said handing him a roll with meat and cheese.

She looked at the newcomer and tilts her head as he talked to himself. "Sir....is something wrong? Is there anything I can get you? Food? Water?"

[Kitanoru]

Characters: Kitanoru
Location: Sheltered Area with the group in the Abandoned Village

Kitanoru awoke from his snooze and began smelling that of food in the room...

"Snort snort... whoa! I'm awake I'm awake! Mmm... something certainly smells good! What is that delicious smelling aroma?"

He looks up at the girl...

"Oh! I forgot to ask... what is your name by the way if you don't mind me asking?"

He heard her mention something about if he wanted food or drinks? He responded with a few words...

"Whoa! I would love some food and tea if it is alright by you that is kind miss. Whatever that person over there is eating smells really good! Did you make that yourself? If so, I would love to try one if that is okay with you that is!"

He sits and waits patiently for the kind lady to respond while Aerue slept soundly on the bed of hay next to him.

[Pirate Toast]

Mearad laughed and smiled. She got him some tea in a cup and a roll with meat and cheese. "Here you go." She sits next to him. " I am Mearad. That is Byard" She points the Bayard. The one she gave the food. "And Arlona. She has white hair. Cadvan is outside. There is Mizuki. I just met him today but he seems to know me from Pellinor. Then his friend. The big guy. Is Katoru (sp?)" she said introducing everyone.

[Kitanoru]

Characters: Kitanoru, Aerue

"I am pleased to meet everyone, thank you for letting us stay here and tag a long with you guys. I am sorry it was so sudden! Thank you Mearad for the tea and meat and cheese, as both are incredibly delicious!"

He remains sitting with his knees bent so they wouldn't get stiff and lock up.

"I lo..."

"Huh?"

Kitanoru turned to face Aerue... but she was sound a sleep...

"Hmm... that was strange... I wonder what she was about to say?"

Kitanoru turned back towards Mearad.

"Sorry about that... I worry for Aerue as she saved my life a while back and I feel as if I must pay her back for it."

He sips his tea and slowly eats his meat and cheese.

"So... what brings you guys in this direction? Is there anywhere in particular you guys are off to?"

He awaits a response and continues with munching down his food and sipping his tea that Mearad was ever so kind to bring him.

[Pirate Toast]

Mearad looked down "I am being chased by the Nameless One...the Dark is after me. I have friends that have come along to help me battle the Dark. We are going towards Norloch now. The center of light."

"It will be dangerus for you to come with us...was can drop you off after we get past the Great Forest. If you like. you should be safe then."

[Kitanoru]

Kitanoru noticed that Aerue woke up once she heard 'The Great Forest' and advised Mearad that it is dangerous in there without a guide.

"Hey Kita... I know we just came from there... but maybe we can help them out? As they have kindly helped us out."

"Great idea Aerue! Maybe we'll even find what we're are searching for while on their journey!"

"Yeah!"

"Hey Mearad... me and Aerue here have decided that we would like to team up with you and the others in search to find the city of Norloch. Maybe there we will learn more about who we are dealing with... the one, or those who killed our parents in the past."

Kitanoru awaits a response... and out of no where Aerue gives Kita a hug.

"Thank you Kita!"

"Um... you're welcome Aerue? What is the hug for may I ask?"

"Oh no reason at all I guess... I am just happy that you decided to agree to go along with this adventure and not bail out."

"Ha ha! I wouldn't bail out on something like this! The more I see, the more I learn, and the more I learn, the better skilled I become. I believe the same goes for you too, right Aerue?"

"yeah, and I couldn't say it better myself!"

Kitanoru and Aerue sat patiently waiting... when all of a sudden Kitanoru was about to finish the remaining few bites of the meat and cheese and half cup of tea he was provided by Mearad he passed it over to Aerue.

"Um... is this for me?"

"Yes, I decided that I would leave you half of the meat and cheese, and half the tea for when you woke up, because I was almost certain you'd be hungry after enduring a long day!"

"Awww... thank you Kita, you are too kind!"

Aerue began eating the remaining meat and cheese and sipped on the tea that Kitanoru left for her. They both waited patiently for sunrise to approach and for Mearad's response to be announced.

[Luzifer]

Bayard looked at the roll oddly for a moment... his mind seemed to be exploding and expanding and this small little token seemed to be fascinating. Or not. He looked at it only in so much as he was looking in its direction but he was not seeing it... he was staring through it and back into himself. He blinked. Shook his head. Ate.

He looked up at the new comers... if he had been in a state of mind to register what was going on around him as something which actually pertained to him then he would have been annoyed that another obnoxious person was going to be staying with them... but instead there were no thoughts crossing his mind and he merely noted that there were people. Besides... there were so many more important things to be thinking about.

[Pirate Toast]

Mearad smiled. "Well Cadvan had gone in and out of The Great Forest. He was going to be our guide but I would be honored to have one like yourself guide us along with Cadvan." Mearad leaned against the wall of the hole Katruto had made for them and her eyes closed.

Mearad fell asleep. In her dreams she was in the great forest being called by her Bard Name. She followed willing not forcefully. A song was being played and a shifted figure was guiding her away from the group. She didn't even notice. If someone called for her she didn't hear them. She lept following the voice that called for her.

"Elednor" said the voice she followed "Follow me my daughter. Follow me."

[Ranryou Roga]

Mizuki sat outside of the land tent and looked at the sky. looking at it cold make anyone lost in thought. he laughed to himself and then looked back at Kotaro who was leaning against the tent from the outside. Mizuki laughed again and then looked into the tent. Mearad layed asleep. Mizuki looked at her and her mothers face flashed before his eyes. Mizuki shook the thought off and then turned and walked back outside. He continued to thinking of his past life and his sorrow and apin slowly returned. This caused his hair and eyes to turn blue. Mizuki gave off a slight blue aura as he thought about the pain that his past caused to himself and others.

[Kitanoru]

Characters: Kitanoru, Aerue

Kitanoru was sitting down with Aerue and Mearad by his side. Aerue finished up the remaining meat and cheese and little bit of tea that Kitanoru saved for her and rested her head on Kitanoru's shoulder.

"Hmm? Is everything alright Aerue?"

"Everything is fine, now that I have you by my side!"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Oh nothing. He he!"

"Hmm..."

Kitanoru looks over towards Mearad and begins to ask her...

"Is it alright if we tagged along with you and the crew to Norloch?"

Kitanoru noticed her sound asleep.

"Oh darn... I guess I will have to ask in the morning."

Kitanoru chose to go to sleep and noticed Aerue fell asleep on his shoulder.

"Oh darn it! How am I going to sleep now..."

Kitanoru gently moves Aerue and sets her down on the hay bed and is just about to find a corner to sleep by when Aerue grabs hold of his arm.

"Aerue! Let go! Now!"

"Snore... snore..."

She was sound asleep! Kitanoru slid her arm off of his and moved to the other corner and took a nap.

[Luzifer]

Gradually the two days without sleep caught up to bayard. He was indeed very tired but he wanted desperately to stay up just a little bit longer. He felt that he was on the cusp of an even greater Severance from No City. But it was too much for his frail body to take. He collapsed to the ground, passed out.not even having enough time to close his eyes.

[Kitanoru]

Important Notice to all fellow Role Players of the RPG "The Gift and The Riddle": Due to yukari's wireless connection not working properly for some unknown reason, posting on AF is not working for her tonight. So, she has given me her permission to post for her. She told me to mention that tomorrow her wireless connection should be working properly again, so she should be able to post again tomorrow.

1. yukari's post:

Mearad was shaken awake by Cadvan “Hmmm…What time is it?” she would ask sleepily. She sat up and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. “I will get the horses ready.” Cadvan shook his head and helped her to stand. “I already got the horse ready. The Dark are upon us in a few minutes! We need to move now!!” he said urgently.Mearad instantly was all the way awake and the adrenaline pumping. She shook everyone awake. She spoke a few words in the Speech and water came to take out the fire. She shook Kitanoru awake. “Sir we need to get moving. The Dark is coming and unless you want to die you should get up and get moving.”

Mearad ran outside and hopped onto Imi’s back. Kitanoru would ride with her. Mizuki would ride with Cadvan. She knew Katoru would probably rather run. Aerue would ride with Arlona. Arlona pushed her horse towards Mearad. “Let the other girl have her! I am going to try and hold off the Dark so you all can get away, i'l meet you all in the Great Forest.” Arlona ran towards the Dark.

Mearad shouted after Arlona “Arlona! Stop!!” Imi then took off towards the Great Forest and all the other horses followed.


2. Kitanoru's Post:

Characters: Kitanoru and Aerue
Location: The Lost City - The Great Forest [In the group]

Kitanoru woke up and rushed over to the horses and hopped on to Imi's back and rode with Mearad and noticed her hauler to Arlona to return. Kitanoru took out his boomerang and tossed it towards the trees ahead of Arlona blocking her path from going fourth to fight off the Dark and in doing so stalling the Dark from reaching everyone at a faster rate. He caught his boomerang and called out to Arlona.

"Hurry up! You're falling behind! I've stalled them for the time being, let them go for now. Our safety is more important, and the bigger in number we are, the more powerful and safe we can be!"

"Agreed! Well said Kita!"

"Thanks Aerue!"

With the path blocked temporarily, it gave way to a good start for the group.

"Well I guess onwards we go, to the Great Forest!"

"I recommend taking the caves! It is safer that way!"

"It actually is! Great suggestion Aerue! Is there a route in the caves that goes to Norloch, Aerue?"

"Yes... but that route I have not ventured for quite some time... so there are no guarantees that it is safe or not. But... I am sure it is!"

"Hmm... let us see what the group thinks of this first! Hey everyone, how does the cave idea sound?"

He waits for a response from the group as he sits patiently on Imi's back with Mearad.

[Luzifer]

Bayard graddually slid awake... his body shuddering from fatigue and malnurishment... "why is there a din in darkness? Darkness is supposed to be peaceful!" he smirked vaguely to himself as he slowly manage to push himself up to a half standing position, still to disjointed and out of touch to full raise himself. His mind felt like it was filled with muck and it reminded him somewhat of trying to pick apples on a foggy day... it could be done but it was draining and aggrevating. He picked up the bill which had been lying beside him and used it as a prop to force himself erect.

[Kitanoru]

yukari's post:

Mearad shook her head “The horses should know the way.” The dark had already came from the fallen trees and have met up with Arlona. She growls and rides Imi harder into the Forest. The horses weave in and out between the trees.

Imi’s hoof got caught between two trunks. Mearad and Kitanoru fell off of Imi. “Go on with out me! I can take care of myself!! I will meet with you when I get Imi free!!”

Mearad sets to work with Imi’s hoof and she cooed softly to help Imi stay calm.

Mearad stopped working on the hoof as the knife dropped from her hand. It was her dream.

“Come my daughter. Come to me” said a voice that was irresistible.

Mearad stood up and walked towards the voice. She wasn’t herself. She couldn’t hear any sounds. She walks steadly. She followed the voice farther from Imi and Kitanoru. She wouldn’t stop. She couldn’t stop. She appeared in a meadow with a strange figure standing in the middle then it all vanished and a Hull appeared in it’s place. She gave a blood hurdling scream “G-get away from me!!” she backed up but was soon entangled by vines.

2. Kitanoru's Post:

Characters: Kitanoru, Aerue

Kitanoru was tossed off of Imi along with Mearad. He noticed Mearad begining to help Imi and then suddenly stop and walk off.

"Is everything alright Mearad? I will not leave without you!"

He begins helping Imi... with slicing the tree's into smaller chunks to free her from being trapped. Once the tree trunks were sliced into small pieces Kitanoru saw Imi begin to rise.

"Alright, now to save Mearad! Leave her alone! I cannot see you, but I can definately feel your presence!"

It got quiet all of a sudden and noticed the vines beginning to unravel and releasing Mearad.

"Huh? Am I doing this?"

"Peek a boo!"

"Ahhh! What the heck are you doing here!"

"I came to rescue you and Mearad, silly!"

"How'd you know we were in trouble?"

"I could sense trouble stirring back a ways towards the Lost City. So I made haste to see if it could be you! Sure enough it was, and I am glad I caught you two just in time!"

"Eh?"

"I call upon thy blessed morning star! Bring fourth "Heikuro's Guard!"

"What is Heikuro's Guard Aerue?"

"I will show you with a little demonstration."

She tosses it in Mearad's direction.

"What are you doing!"

"Don't worry! It will not cause her harm."

"It had better not!"

It hovered above Mearad giving off some similar aura to that of the strange aura that seeped from the key which now remains as a mark on the left wrist on Kitanoru.

"It will prevent those foul creatures from touching her or even getting too close. If they dare try to grab for her they are sliced by the sharp blade around it giving them slight paralysis to what ever limb or body part touches it."

Kitanoru looked at the foul creature and gave it an evil glare.

"Step away from her! Your opponent is me!"

Kitanoru tossed his boomerang at the beast and having the beast deflect it with a flick of its wrist it came back to Kitanoru.

"Oh no! Not good!"

"Whoa Kita what is that aura!"

"What aura?"

"Gulps... the one surrounding you! It flickers of a white shine!"

"I have no idea what you are talking about!"

Kitanoru tries tossing his boomerang again... misses his target again.

"Oh man... this is not working!"

Kitanoru takes a step forward and is knocked to the side by the beast.

"Ouch! I am so going to take you down for that!"

He reaches for his boomerang and has his boomerang kicked to the side, leaving him without anything to protect himself with... when all of a sudden a tune floats into his mind. He begins humming a strange tune...

"In time we'll part... not looking back at where we walked, but at the memories we have never seemed to have unlocked. Shift!"

The boomerang began winding round and round as if it were becoming something far different than a boomerang.

"Erm... if I could only reach my weapon... but why and how did it change into a staff I wonder?"

The staff slid over to Kitanoru...

"What is this? How did it just do that! Oh whatever... this'll do I guess!"

Kitanoru countered the next strike by the beast with his new weapon the staff and tried to find ways to fend off this creature.

"Erm... how the heck do I use this thing!"

"Let the words come to you, the staff will guide you!"

"What did you say Aerue?"

"Trust me on this! Listen to the words that come into your mind. Concentrate! You have been gifted with magic abilities, but you must discover them!"

"Whoa! Are you for real? I can do magic?"

"Yes! But concentrate! Think of those you care about and what you have come to do and accomplish your goal!"

"Alright! I will and I will make sure to accomplish it for the sakes of my family and the friends I care dearly about!"

Kitanoru begins seeing a phrase in his mind and begins mumbling it...

"Let the light be drawn in, shatter fragmentation expel!"

Shards of glimmering light pierced the beast infront of them injuring it to the point it nearly escaped... when Aerue retrieved the Heikuro's Guard from Mearad and aimed it straight at the demon of the dark and vanquished it from existence.

"Are you alright Mearad? If so, we should best be on our way now. Thank you Aerue, you were a great help back there!"

"Awww... no... you did most of the work! Great job Kita!"

"Thanks, but I really didn't..."

Kitanoru tells both Aerue and Mearad now that the coast is clear that they should probably get going.

"Let us be on our way for the Dark will be not too far behind us. Onwards to the Great Forest!"

"Kita... want me to shape shift so that we can get there faster? I am sure Imi's injury will hurt if more than one person is on her."

"Good thinking Aerue! Alright, if you are okay with it, then sure!"

"Alright, I will shape shift into a horse so that Imi can keep up with us."

"Alright, sounds good! Thanks Aerue!"

"You're welcome Kita! I'd do anything for you!"

"Um... o...kay? I hope you know, you are not a slave, you do not need to always feel you need to protect me."

"B...but... I do! I want to protect you forever Kita!"

"Gulps... Um... anyways... we should probably be on our way now."

"Um... o...okay."

Aerue shape shifted into a horse and Kitanoru got on, and waited for Imi and Mearad.

"Ready to meet the others Mearad and Imi?"

[Luzifer]

Bayard brought his hand up in front of his face to cover his eyes... the world around him was swirling together and his head was exploding like a tree during a cold winter day. He leaned heavily upon his bill and looked at all the people rushing around him but felt oddly detached from them. It was like watching the scuttling of leaves in the wind, fascinating but wholely unrelated to himself. He began to slowly walk off in a direction chosen at random. It felt right... he was to numb to think

[Ranryou Roga]

Mizuki watched the one that tryed to stall the dakr and looked at Kotaro. One of them had to go with her. It didnt matter what. Mizuki jumped from the horse and made his way towards the Dark. Kotaro would stay and protect the rest of the group. Mizuki nkew about the darkness and all things that were bad and evil. He could get thier faster then anyone else and could get the lost one back.

[Luzifer]

As Bayard continued to walk his steps became more awake and more filled with confidence... soon he began to walk with greater vitality then he did even on a full nightsleep. It didn't seem at all that he had actually been awake for the past 40 hours with only a few minutes of sleep. All this animation seemed to ebb out of some light in his mind. It lead deep into himself and he followed himself deeper into the darkness of the forest, away from the twittering lights of the camp and the annoying buzz of his comrades voices. There was only the sound of vain physical struggles behind him... vague people acting on their own spiritual ignorance and their communal nervous systems... their minds to bogged with the euphoria of No City to realize they were not who they were named to be.

He closed his eyes. He walked with grace. He knew the path. Everything was part of one spiriutal entity... even the rocks and grass were an ether of souls and essence and if one were to realize that they could tap somewhat into the that stream and not need such deceptions as the senses... but Bayard wanted the senses so bad... he didn't want this sixth sense that Acknowledgment of Departitioning gave him but rather he wanted to be limited only to himself and finally be free of this burden of collectivism... he didn't want the happiness of all but rather his own misery of one...

He gazed out into darkness... among the moon-waxed shadows of the forest and he smiled. He had always liked the darkness... back home he normally slept during the day(on those rare occasions when fatigue finally caught up with him) because the night always seemed to ebb the ambiguious wisdom that the strong mind reached for, clutched, and then realized was not truly in the minds hand but rather within oneself to be dredge up. The blackness always exuded potential and... ignorance....

Of course! Thats why he liked the night! It made sense. The night represented an ignorance. A cutting off of a sense. And was that not what he was trying to accomplish? He was trying to cut of his sense of others. Trying to seperate himself from the spiritual mass that was the Collective Conciousness? Indeed! Why hadn't he thought of that sooner! Bayard smiled and leaned heavily against a tree as his chest spasmed in laughter.

[Pirate Toast]

Mearad looked at Kitanoru then to the form of the once Hull. She looked past the form and saw a form flickering in and out then words came to her ears.

"When Arkan deemed an endless cold
And greenwoods rotted bleak and sere,
The moon wept high above the world
To see its beauty dwindling:
To earth fell down a single tear
And there stepped forth a shining girl
Like moonlight that through alabaster
Wells, its pallor kindling.

A wild amazement fastened on
The Moonchild's heart, and far she ran,
Through all the vales of Lirion
Her voice like bellnotes echoing:
ANd from the branches blossoms sprang
In iron groves of leafmeal wan
And spring herself woke up and sang,
The gentle Summer beckoning."

Mread walked slowly towards the creture. Whatever it was. She felt like it meant her no harm.

"Mearad! My daughter! You have returned to me!" said the figure as it flicked from shape to shape but the eyes stayed yellow with black slits. The eyes of a cat.

Mearad tilts her head confused. She watched the figure flick shapes. From a bear, to a human, then a bird to a human again and so on with all creatures known to here and some she didn't know. It seemed like this figure couldn't keep the shape of a human.

"I am Ardine. I am one of the elementals. The oldest to exist. Your mother was a daughter of mine to and so on through her family. You are my only daughter that lives today." Ardines hand then produced a reed. A musical instument. Ardine passed the reed to Mearad's hand that seemed to want to hold nad play the instrument as soon as she could. "Do not play this reed unless you need. When you play it I will come as soon as I can." Ardine seemed to disappeared then. "Farewell my daughter. Till we meet again. Triple-tongued and fire lilly be on your way."

[etsonis]

Yumi began in the Ancient Ruins where she started her journey and would always go into the town "Crystal Waters" to buy fish from the towns people. She would purchase from a fellow named "Kitanoru" who seemed to have disappeared from the town and had no one else to purchase fish from. She went out searching for Kitanoru and as she spotted him entering the Great Forest she decided to follow him to where he was headed. Sure enough she was sneaky enough to follow him to and out of the Lost City. As she saw him leaving she noticed he was not alone but with a group of others... she continued to follow them. She caught a glimpse of Mearad and Kitanoru as well as Aerue fall into a trap where a Dark appeared in front of them. She kept watch when all of a sudden she tripped and fell landing nearly right infront of Kitanoru.

"Um... Hello there... I am sorry to have come at a bad time, I hope I am not intruding. But may I ask if I may join up with you and the crew because I am but a wanderer searching for a group? If I could join I would much appreciate it! My name is Yumi by the way, and I am pleased to meet you!"

She waits for his response... and continues to follow him whether he does or does not respond.

[Luzifer]

Sometime had passed and Bayard was now several miles away from the others. He was pillaging this darkness of all solace and all joy... Its blackness screamed into him like the lute of some musician he would never have taken the time to hear, echoing through him and growing in power. He heard the caw of birds and in his mind they were squeals of warning... ignorant warning. Fearful of what he would become for he walked now, where no man would follow, and no creature dared go. He was getting close to his Severance... his own spiritual death... He was approaching the frontiers of No City... he could feel it. But still the last trial was the toughest and he knew it would be somtime before he had obtained his enlightening solitude.

But oh how the world reverberated! He smiled. When he touched a tree the fabric of the world seemed to ripple, though perhaps that was the fatigue. There were explosions going of in his head as his body struggled to hold together against the waves of fatigued that threatened to drown him beneath their lapping tongues. Oh and now he was mixing his metaphors! Deliciious! Was that even a proper description? He couldnt care... there were notes bending through the air... everything seemed to lose definintion, like things seen from a distance, all the sounds blended into one, colossal, mind-shattering note! And it was like the world was some great ocarina and he was going to be the first one to blow through it. To make that first note.

But he sighed... somewhat sad, beneath the layers of ecstasy now running across his senses... if he obtained enlightenment alone... no one would no the path he had take... the would all die in ignorance... He did not look back though. They had an infinite amount of lives to have their chance...

He looked at the moon and its seemed to pulse with life, beating in the sky like a fishing lure bobbing on the surface of a pond. He smirked, beginning to calm. He was to tired to continue... he pasted out on the ground to sleep... far from where others might find him...

[Kitanoru]

Characters: Kitanoru, Aerue, Yumi's Voice
Location: Advancing towards the Great Forest

Kitanoru heard a voice just a few feet back from where he was traveling and he took precaution and grabbed his staff to ready himself in case a battle approached him. Aerue came to a halt and steadied herself so Kitanoru could take aim if he had to.

"Is everything alright Kita?"

"Yeah, everything is fine!"

He got off Aerue and walked forward towards where the voice was coming from... He heard it call out to him these very words...

"Um... Hello there... I am sorry to have come at a bad time, I hope I am not intruding. But may I ask if I may join up with you and the crew because I am but a wanderer searching for a group? If I could join I would much appreciate it! My name is Yumi by the way, and I am pleased to meet you!"

Sure enough there was a girl standing before him... He didn't know who or why she was there but all he did know was that she didn't seem to pose a threat.

"Hmm... may I ask why you wish to join us? Also, do I know you from somewhere? I see no problem in the matter but I am just curious as to why you want to join so suddenly?"

He begins to place his staff back over his shoulder and on his back out of the way to show that he means no harm.

"What are you doing Kita?"

"I am simply putting away my weapon because this young lady means no harm."

"Oh okay, I see!"

"Well... if you wish to join along with us you may, but it might be dangerous so please do be careful! Welcome to the crew Yumi!"

He hops back on Aerue and begins slowly advancing towards the Great Forest with his friends and the new acquaintance who just joined the group.

[etsonis]

Characters: Yumi and Kitanoru's Voice

Yumi gets up after falling down and walks over to Kitanoru... She hears him ask her something...

"Hmm... may I ask why you wish to join us? Also, do I know you from somewhere? I see no problem in the matter but I am just curious as to why you want to join so suddenly?"

"Well... um... I have no where to really go and I have been bored ever since I left town and I thought it might be fun to join up with others for a change. I used to go into Crystal Waters to purchase fish from time to time so you might know me from that. I just told you... I have nothing to really do... I think you repeated yourself... ha ha!"

Yumi follows along with the group and provides support for her new found friends that she just befriended.

[Pirate Toast]

OOC: Please ignore everything Yumi said. She has yet been approved.

BIC:

Mearad was left dumbfounded with the reed in her hand. She looked and the reed then carefully placed it in her back. SHe walks up the Kitanoru. "Sir, we should catch up with the others."

She walked to Imi and hopped onto her back. She rode up beside Kitanoru for him to get on behind her. "Wrap your arms around my waist and hold on tightly. We have far to go and in little time." she smiles comfortingly.

Cadvan constantly looked behind them for Mearad and Kitanoru. The other girl seemed to disappear. He shook his head and looked around them. They were deep into the Great forest. Though it would take them still a week to get to the other side. The nights were growing colder.

[Ranryou Roga]

Kotaro listen to them speak and ignored them all. mizuki should be back in a few minutes if not second. If not then kotaro would forget about the man and focus on what he wanted to do.

Mizuki was making his way back to the ground. he looked at the grat forest and sighed. It would take him forever to ge to them. He had no sense of direction and would get lost even if he tryed his best. Mizuki growled and began to way towards the group. now ohnly if he would find them without running into any bears.

[Pirate Toast]

Mearad kicked Imi into a gallop and focused on getting to the group. SHe closed her eyes and entered Imi's mind helping her along. somewhere in the process she had fallen off Imi and tranformed into a horse herself from the eildhu blood in her veins. It was a part of her and she could become anything.

Meard didn't know she was horse and her sense of course sharpen grandly. They soon caught up with the group.