Illusion Vale: A Spirit's Cry

Than and Varic

Than slugged down what was left in his tankard, and then emptied the rest of the pitcher into it. He stood, holding the tankard and looking down at Varic nodded his head saying” naw, it’s your purse paying for it, ‘magine I’ll let you lead the way. Age before looks and all that.” Varic lead them to a second floor hallway lined with doors on both sides, the elf showed him his room, Than look at the elf and whispered “thanks for the meal and room” taking a swig of ale, Than said louder, ”recon this’ll have to do.”

Than walked into the room shutting the door, he surveyed the area; it was a modest accommodation, nothing fancy, kind of what he expected from an Inn such as this. There was a bowl and pitcher on a small table, an over sized bed and that was about it, at this point it was all he needed. Than poured a little water in the bowl and splashed his face, running his hands through his hair. After polishing off the ale, he walked over to the bed and lay down, he started recalling the events of the day, the arrival, Varic, the trip. He didn’t realize how tired he truly was for he drifted off to sleep rather quickly.
 
Asterion Explores the Ship

The main hold of the ship was nearly vacant. The area which could have held nearly 200 tons of cargo had only a few dozen small casks of water, salted meats, and various breads and fruit. The large area was mainly kept clear, with the provisions stacked on the starboard side and a large hammock strung between two posts on the port. For however long this voyage was going to last, this would be his home.

“Was this ship brought here specifically to take me to the mainland?” Asterion thought as he felt the ship heave and sway with the sea and wind. He had never been on a ship before, and felt himself begin to sway in rhythm with the rocking vessel. He had heard that people either got their sea legs or got seasick. Seeing as how he wasn’t bent over a rail revisiting everything he had ever eaten, he was relived to be getting his sea legs.

The rest of the ship was more desolate than the cargo hold. The crew quarters were completely barren. No hammocks swung between the posts, no footlockers cluttered the floor. Even the stench of sweat and saltwater did not permeate the air. The captain’s cabin was equally devoid of all decoration and function. No compass, no sextant, no desk, no mapping table. It was a simple blank room. It was as if the entire ship had been built, or summoned, to fulfill one function without fanfare. As he walked, the dull echo of his hooves reverberated through each open door and into each empty room as he passed.

Finding little of use below decks, Asterion returned to the main deck and made his way to the wheel where Fell was floating noiselessly.

“Fell, that shadow in the mirror spoke of a Spirit and Guardians. I understand that he wants me to kill these Guardians, and eventually this Spirit, but how will I know when I come across these Guardians? If they have changed form like I have, won’t they blend in with everything else that lives here? Or will they have bodies that stand out and will be easy to spot?” The questions came quickly as Asterion’s mind raced. He almost didn’t expect Fell to respond, but the questions needed to be asked if for nothing else to help Asterion adapt to this new world. “And will they be trying to kill me as well? And if they are going to be trying to kill me, I’m going to need a little more protection than a leather jock strap. And what’s the deal with this Spirit and why does the guy in the mirror seem to have such a grudge held against her?”

He stood there for a minute as Fell hovered behind the wheel and the ghostly crew tended to their ghostly duties. The thin tendrils of light from the sunrise began to claw their way into the black night sky.
 
Fay was getting pretty fucking tired of this guy thinking he was hot shit and looking her up and down like she was some cheap whore who's sole purpose in like was to stand there so he oogle her like that. She had hoped that by trying to calm down the wolf and acting calm herself that he would want to go away but that seemed to not be the case.

He seemed to want to stay and make trouble just because she was trying to avoid it. The avian was surprised to see such a big scaly hand clasp down on the wooden's shoulder. She was't sure if this was a good thing or a bad thing really. It could get really bad really fast.

"oh, was 'ther?"

The man was sent away for which Fay was eternally grateful but she hadnoticed that he had given her the up down as well. Of course she had a great body, not all too different from her one back on earth but still were the men here kept from having sex she wondered.

She refused to focus too hard on it however. Life, even if it wasn't real, was too short.

"Faelin, good to see you. Why didn't you come to the front?"

"I was hoping not to attract attention, Grinly. I've got business here that I would prefer to keep out of the governer's sight."

Fay was glad to see that Faelin had some other friends staying here as well.

"Very well then. I'll try to speed the line along as much as I can, old friend. But I can't promise much. Just stay away from Wickim,"

"I assure you he won't be the first person I look for," Fay said without hesitance. That man was a strange cookie that was for sure and she wanted nothing to do with him. Surely they should get him out of the town and away from normal people. It made sense to her anyway.

"Keep out of trouble. You know where to meet me, Sister Wolf."

She smiled at that smile he had sent their way and she knew, she wasn't sure how, but she knew that they would be fine here. Surely they would not have that hard of a time finding someplace to stay and the things they would need...

"Good Fay. Now we have a friend inside the city. I had hoped not to get him involved, but, just as well. I'll explain later."

She didn't ask about the man, rather she kept a eye out for the man hoping to avoid him at all costs. "Fay.... Thank you..." She said reaching down and scratching her ear. "It means... a lot to me that... that you would stand up for me like that..." She explined with a delicate grin.

"Just... thanks," she finish trying not to sould horrbly silly or like a damsel in distress.
 
Eeth was disappointed that his attempt to sweep Rolyn had failed due to some fancy dancing on Rolyn’s part. He smiled a little at Rolyn’s approving nod. Then it hit him. Now that Rolyn knew that Eeth could attack, he would wait for Eeth to attack, and then counter. Seeing that Rolyn was waiting for an attack, Eeth continued to smile and obliged. With the blade in his right hand, he brought it up and then down in a diagonal cut above Rolyn’s left shoulder. He put enough force into it that if it had been a real blade, it would have cut half-way to Rolyn’s right hip. He used this attack as a diversion, as he delivered a punch to Rolyn’s stomach, which would be quickly followed by a round-house kick. And if that didn’t land, Eeth would follow through with a hook kick aimed for between Rolyn’s shoulder blades.

“You know Rolyn, this situation is starting to sound like something that needs to be fixed between Malas, his son, and the queen. And a good psychiatrist, which I am not. What you need to do, Rolyn, is contact Malas, explain the situation to him, and tell him to get himself and his son over here. And if he refuses, go over his head to the Spirit; he’ll have to listen to the Spirit,” said Eeth, as he pressed his attack. He was doing pretty good at dividing his mind, and not being distracted. The smile was gone from his face, though, for he was serious about what he was saying. He definitely was not qualified to treat mental cases such as this, because to his untrained mind, the story behind the queen’s mental problems made it sound like it was a rather extreme and odd case of depression. “And here’s something that might be a revelation to you, Rolyn: just because I’m a Guardian doesn’t mean I can fix every single problem that comes before me. Nobody is perfect, not even me.”
 
Jay

Jay finally managed to heave himself up on wobbly legs, although his head still hurt. Lots of things swirled around in his head as he took in what was (painfully)real and what the rock monster guy said. Images and memories of daydreams flickered through his mind. Fantasies of being the dashing, strong and popular hero of saving worlds and having cool powers and stuff and now he was either living out his daydreams...or he was completely fucking mental.

But nowhere, nowhere, in his daydreams was he supposed to be a HORSE!

*So what do you want from me? I mean, what am I supposed to do? I mean, look at me, I'm a fucking horse for fuck's sake!!*

Jays thoughts were becoming more and more agitated as he paced, snorting and stamping while his tail flicked about.

*What? Does the Spirit need a ride or something? You need me to pull a plow or some shit like that? No, let me guess, there aren't any horses here either and you need to drag the queen's wagon! Fuck, this is such bullshit, I mean, this isn't the way it was supposed to be! I wanted to be a hero or get the girls to notice me or.. just be someting special!*

As he paced, his hooves struck the same roots he had fallen over earlier. Jay staggered, but managed to catch himself this time. He stood silent for a moment, legs splayed out and his head down.

*Man, this totally fucking blows.*
 
The blood lust.

Dinnie looked down at Goreab, but started to feel dizzy. He placed the imp down and held his head, he felt strange a hunger spilled through him and racked his body with pain.

He was scared, it was the same longing, the same pain he felt when his family had died. . . when his life had died.

He looked at Goreab, "What is wrong with me?" He fell on his hands and knees and looked at the imp with scared eyes, racked with pain - but yet his body still held imense power and he clawed at the ground as the pain coursed through his sytem. He screamed out into the moon lit night, the stillness taking the sound into the distance. He held on to a rock and squeesed so hard it exploded into shards. Then the pain ebbed enough so he could hear the imp. . .high above the moon shone down with a mocking glow.
 
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Kat and Rylia

“Illusion Vale where is that? A Demoness you called me, is that what form I’m in? And for what purpose am I here?”

Rylia nodded, swaying slightly from side to side in a strangely serpentile way, though she was clearly archnoid. It must be some of her drow heritage coming through, "This," she gestured around them, "Is Illusion Vale. All around you," she smiled, her teeth glistening, wickedly sharp, "You are in a completely different world, a completely different realm now. And unfortunately, you're stuck here,"

"You were transformed for the sole purpose of keeping you alive. Your form before was banished a long time ago from this realm and different magicks keep you from living. So we changed you," she hissed softly, her smile growly wider, more sinister. She couldn't help it, really.

“Rylia, you seem so intelligent, but then of course you’re also beautiful perhaps I can learn something from you. First, where might I find some type of clothing I’m not so comfortable to be walking about naked.”

Rylia gave a tinkling laugh, "Oh you flatter me, Demoness. I am honestly surprised that one as.... pure as you would have been born of a darker side in this world," she grinned and suddenly spread her hands out, her fingers splayed wide and long thin strands shot from them.

"Don't move," was all she said and began moving her fingers, it was as if she were weaving in the air. The long strings of white raced towards Kat and moved around her, wrapping her in soft delicate silk. The weaves made by Rylia's fingers provided some pattern and definition to the make shift dress, but that was really all it was.

It was strong, like polyester yet soft and billowing. It moved like satin and felt like velvet. It was completely white, not a burning white, but a soft shimmering white that complimented her hair.

"The Spirit forbid I become a steamstress, but this will be enough to get you by before you can buy an outfit somewhere," she smiled and hissed deliciately, "You're beautiful,"

Rylia could have easily just told her to use her own store of majick, but she had enough sense to know that the Demoness almost knew nothing of herself and Rylia was going to take full advantage of that fact. She would allow the demoness to have too much power before she could fully control her.
 
Danae and Sishota

Sishota chuckled slightly, it didn't matter as the horses would most likely get used to the selkie in due time. Besides, it would be a long journey to get to Nariel, at least a week.

"Do I...keep the dress on? Or, you carry it for me? And shall I swim up stream, or down stream from here. Shall we meet at noon, or sunset?"

The Air elemental smiled softly and held out a hand, "If you're ready to go, I'll hold the dress for you. Just take it off and fold it up," the questions kept coming and Sishota silently approved, Danae would be a good and sensible traveling companion, "Up stream," she pointed to the south east, "That way,"

"We will meet for the first few days at both noon and sunset, just to keep an eye on you. Don't swim too deep, and not too far from shore. We'll be traveling on land right next to you. I promise,"

"What should I do if I get in trouble?"

"You run, use your speed and run. Get to the surface and get on land as soon as possible, I'll keep close enough to see you. I'll take care of the rest, I promise you that," she smiled reassuringly. She would take care of the Selkie, apart from it being her job, she realised that she actually cared. Besides, she wanted to try out some new dishes on the Guardian!
 
Than and Varic

” naw, it’s your purse paying for it, ‘magine I’ll let you lead the way. Age before looks and all that.”

Varic chuckled and shook his head, choosing to let the giant get away with that little barb, truth was, he was older than Than. It was just an elf thing.

Once at their rooms, opposite sides of the hall, Than gave him a low thank you and disappeared into his room. Varic smiled, swept him a dramatic bow and opened his own door, disappearing through the wooden portal. Once inside, he sighed and took off his belt, his scabards and sat down wearily on the slightly hard bed.

He blinked and rubbed his eyes for a moment, collecting all of his thoughts over the past day and took a deep breath. Then he got up, strapped on his twin scimitars and closed his eyes. Slowly drawing his two blades, he began to step around the room, practicing several sword forms, his blades shining in the candle light. Soon he was a blur of action as he performed several weapons based Kata's his father had taught him and did his nightly training.

Tomorrow would be a busy day, and then they had more travel to look forward to. "Where in hell am I going to find a big enough horse?" he muttered to himself.
 
Asterion and Fell

“Fell, that shadow in the mirror spoke of a Spirit and Guardians. I understand that he wants me to kill these Guardians, and eventually this Spirit, but how will I know when I come across these Guardians? If they have changed form like I have, won’t they blend in with everything else that lives here? Or will they have bodies that stand out and will be easy to spot?And will they be trying to kill me as well? And if they are going to be trying to kill me, I’m going to need a little more protection than a leather jock strap. And what’s the deal with this Spirit and why does the guy in the mirror seem to have such a grudge held against her?”

Fell was silent as the minotaur spoke and for several moments after that, the answer was not forthcoming. It floated soundlessly behind the helm and the wooden wheel moved, seeming to be under its own will.

It considered the run of questions and considered them carefully, it could not make a mistake now and it knew that the trip would most likely constitute of endless questions.

"As we's heards from the mirrorss, we's will knowss when we's sees thems," it hissed quietly, the dark shadow billowing in and out with an unseen breeze. "They'ss nots knows we's comings. Theys not wants to kill, they's not knows of usss,"

"Anythings we's needs we's takes. We's has power here, we's takes anythings we's wantsss, we's needss,"

It went silent then, thinking about the Vale's history and the last question on Asterion's current list. What was between his master and the Spirit? It truly did not know, but it did know that it had a job to do, and that was to destroy Her.

"The Spiritsss iss the rulersss in the Valess," he hissed, his eyes brightening with anticipation, "The Spiritsss blood is what they's wants and we's has the powerss to givess it to them..."

Not really an answer, but then again, he didn't really have one.
 
Fay and Faelin

Faeline just rolled her eyes and enjoyed the little scratch behind her ears. She endured the embarrassment of the Avian and said nothing, giving Fay a little dignity and moved up the line some more.

Below her breath, she muttered to Fay, "The governer here is call Pheldom. He is the fifth governer since the institution has been implemented. All governers before him have been assassinated. He had great political power but most see him as glorified sheriff. Despite being under the protection of the Spirit, it seems that her arm does not reach this far anymore,"

"Abark was set to become a new capital city, back when there were plans to make three other major cities. South Haven was to be the capital of the South, Abark the North. Vale City is in the west and Nariel to the east. But people get greedy and the resources weren't available.

Vale city has The Spirit and the rest have corrupt governors. I'm not sure why the Spirit keeps them in office, I guess she doesn't see everything. Some think that She doesn't care, but I know otherwise. Truth is, if it weren't for the Governors, the cities would be rife with evil once more,"

Faelin shrugged and barked a short laugh, "I guess having an evil and unjust ruler keeps the townsfolk honest and good. Values...." she shrugged again, "The Spirit is not what she used to be,"
 
Eeth/Rolyn and Van

Rolyn saw the attack coming, it was a classic diversion tactic. He was beginning to see that Eeth's main attack strength was diversion and distraction. He knew that misdirection was a perfect strategy and once again marvelled at his student's ability. It was easy to dodge, spinning around and rolling into the attack, making both the sword attack and the punch miss. He caught Eeth's leg and set it down again as he countered the kick, "Good," he nodded and smiled, "Faster and more streamlined and you would have gotten me. Right now you're clumsy with a long weapon, you need to give allowances for just how long the blade is and try to minimise your movment," he stepped back and smiled again, "Good first try, I'm impressed,"

“You know Rolyn, this situation is starting to sound like something that needs to be fixed between Malas, his son, and the queen. And a good psychiatrist, which I am not. What you need to do, Rolyn, is contact Malas, explain the situation to him, and tell him to get himself and his son over here. And if he refuses, go over his head to the Spirit; he’ll have to listen to the Spirit,”

Rolyn shook his head, "Do you think we have not tried that?" he gave a disgusted look, "Malas had tried. Varic had tried... but the Queen wanted too much of them. We saw that they were needed elsewhere," a bitter cast came to his lips, "She was too far gone. This chance, what we have now, is the only one we're getting. This spell has to work and you are here to help it,"

"For what its worth, any man that had loved the Ilandria couldn't do what we're asking you to, he just couldn't," Rolyn shook his head, "Like I said, you're our last hope,"

He would explain more about the Spell designed to essentially remake the queen. But first he would have train Eeth well enough to be a worthy opponent, a worthy distraction.

“And here’s something that might be a revelation to you, Rolyn: just because I’m a Guardian doesn’t mean I can fix every single problem that comes before me. Nobody is perfect, not even me.”

"We know that, we're just asking you to do one thing Eeth. Just one thing, it just happens that it might give us a chance to change our future if you do it,"

He had never met a man that was so reluctant to become a hero in his life. Didn't Eeth ever aspire to anything? Here he had a chance to save an entire race of beings, a chance to make a better world for everyone involved and he was arguing semantics? Rolyn shook his head, he would just have to make him a fighter. He would have to be, to survive the Queen.
 
Jay and Coudron

*So what do you want from me? I mean, what am I supposed to do? I mean, look at me, I'm a fucking horse for fuck's sake!!*

Coudron didn't understand some of the words that the horse was projecting into his mind, but he assumed that it was some sort of curse word. It seemed to make no sense though.

*What? Does the Spirit need a ride or something? You need me to pull a plow or some shit like that? No, let me guess, there aren't any horses here either and you need to drag the queen's wagon! Fuck, this is such bullshit, I mean, this isn't the way it was supposed to be! I wanted to be a hero or get the girls to notice me or.. just be someting special!*

Coudron just sat there, letting the horse vent and placidly listened to Jay's ranting. He was a patient man, a very patient man in fact and you wouldn't realise just how firey he could get.

*Man, this totally fucking blows.*

When Jay didn't seem inclined to say anything further, Coudron assumed that he was done and began speaking again, "I ain't sure if it 'blows' but I do know that you'd rather be a horse than what you were before, kid," he'd decided that this particular guardian had to be a young one to be reacting like this.

"But ya are special, ain't ya? Well, ain't all horses can talk!" he chuckled, "Besides, you'd be dead if ya weren't one," he looked around, "An I'm sure there's plenty a she horses 'round,"

He gestured around them, "I ain't rightly knowin about what your doing here, but I know I should get you to the Spirit. She can help you out, maybe she can help you get home?"
 
Dinnie and Goreab

"What is wrong with me?"

Goreab gibbered. And spluttered and squealed with fear, shaking like leaf and rocking back and forth. He stammered and began chattering in that strange tongue again, as Dinnie was hit full force with the Hunger. Goreab knew what is was, and he knew what it would do if it went on for much longer.

He looked around desparately to see if there were any animals around. Unfortunately, the dry desert night yeilded no appropriate meal for the hungry vampire.

Goreab shuddered and suddenly dropped to the ground, scampering away. He disappeared into the night and seemed to be deserting the pained vampire.

He returned soon though, sporting a small chalice of dark, thick red blood. It was his own... he has slit his wrist and poured what he had had into the chalice, but he didn't want Dinnie to know that. For some reason, although he was scared witless by the vampire, he felt that he needed to do this, to at least bring Wolfie back.

He offered the chalice to Dinnie, his arm stretched as far was it would go, his hand shaking and his eyes firmly squeezed shut.
 
Michael was wounded by the sight of Sila's suffering. She was so innocent, "Is this how it always is?" he thought to himself, thinking of all the terrible things he did on Earth. "Did i cause this sort of thing to innocent people?" he wondered to himself ashamed of himself more then ever. Michael heard her words, "I only wish i could have shredded more of them into tinier pieces lass." he said, puffing his pipe and nursing his beer.
 
Asterion Returns to the Hold

Asterion snorted at the shadow captaining the boat and his answers before turning and heading below once again to the main hold. As he walked below decks, he thought of what the shadow had said. The silence and hesitation in the shade’s voice was almost more interesting to Asterion than the answers Fell gave to him.

Yes, he had told him that the other guardians didn’t know of Asterion and what he was planning to unleash. They would be unaware and unprepared, like lambs ready for slaughter. But if he had changed into this beast, who knows what they could have changed into when they were brought to this place. Images of all the beasts he had seen as a child in his dreams began to pop into his head: dragons, gremlins, gryphons, elves, demons. Maybe things would not be as easy as he had thought, especially wearing next to nothing. He would have to find some more appropriate clothing, or armor, once they reached shore.

He would take what he needed. He had the size, the intimidation, the brute force to take what he wanted. His instincts began to creep back into his head, suppressing the rage and glee for a moment. Living on the streets had taught him a few things, one of which was to blend in and not be noticed. Those who got noticed got caught, and those who got caught rarely came back. He might have to temper himself when they reached port and try, even if it difficult, to not stand out.

And that shadow, Fell, he almost seemed confused – or searching for an answer – when asked why we were to find and kill the Spirit. Fell didn’t know why they were sent, only that they were. Asterion felt more on guard now. He felt like a puppet again. The Mirror had sent Fell to guide Asterion with no reason, only function.

He drew his axe and admired it again. Maybe he would keep the shadow around, for now at least. He needed Fell to get to the mainland, but after that, well, he thought, we’ll see about that. He felt the weight of the axe in his hand.

“Maybe I can convince someone else to tell me why I am here,” he said softly to himself. “Maybe I’ll have to ‘inherit’ one of the other guardian’s guides and make them tell me why I’m here and why this Spirit is so important.”

He began to swing the axe in the open space of the cargo hold, familiarizing himself with the weight and momentum. If the other guardians were as well equipped, things could become complicated.
 
Michael/Sila/Tula

"I only wish i could have shredded more of them into tinier pieces lass."

Sila turned her face towards Michael and her innocent eyes got rather large and wide, rounder than they should have been, at least. She hadn't realised that he would have heard what she said, but she supposed that a wolf had very sensitive ears.

"I'm sorry Michael," she whispered softly to him, her throat not allowing her anymore volume after her recent 'meal', "Its all my fault, if... if you had gotten another guide... you would be on your way to the Spirit now..." she suddenly coughed, her face crumpling in pain. Her spit came up red.

"Oh Sila... I will call the healers again," Tula suddenly surged to her feet and left them alone, not wanting to see Sila in pain yet knowing that she would have to endure it anyway. Her poor daughter, thrown into the middle of a war and given an almost impossible mission. She fought away tears as she hurried to her fellow fairies and appraised them of the werewolf and Sila's conditions.

Shela came bustling into the small infirmary room that they occupied and smiled broadly, "Good to see yer up lass," she said in a booming, yet gentle voice. She raised an eyebrow at the wolf, "An nixt time, mind how many cuts yer get. Right bled over me floor yer did," but she gave him a smile and another cup of frothy Ale.

"How ye doin lass?" she asked gently, but Sila wouldn't answer her because when Shela looked over to her, she was fast asleep. "Ahhh... poor thing must be hurtin a fiercely," she shook her head. Then she looked Michael up and down, "Don worry lad, she'll never blame ye,"
 
Asterion and Fell

The journey was long and boring for the most part. Though the shadow wraith had no idea the meaning of boredom. It had a job and it steered through wind, rain and fair weather alike. The ship never faltered and it stayed its course with unnerving precision. The shade crew never once made a sound, the creaking of ropes and wood the only sounds that accompanied the travelers.

The occasional conversation between Fell and Asterion would punctuate the silence, but their talks were often short; comprised mainly of questions and answers. For the most part, the Minotaur remained below decks and the Shadow Wraith above.

At the first sighting of land, Fell briefly left its post and floated down the gangway into the galley. Looking for Asterion, it located him and told him of the new development. Then it hissed, "We's wills be theres ssoon," an evil chuckled escaped the shade, the first it had ever uttered.

"Thens we wills destroysss!" its white diamond eyes glowed brightly, an inner fire playing across the white pin points of light.
 
The Spirit and Malas

"Have I done the right thing, my love?" She asked softly and looked behind her to the tall elf that waited patiently for her to reenter the room. She turned and looked over the balcony, the Blue Tower swaying as it always did this high up. She looked over the land and her tears began to flow once more. "Have I given the Vale enough to save them?" she whispered more to herself than to anyone else.

Strong arms came to wrap themselves around her and Malas' soft voice whispered into her ear, "Come my love, we have done all that we can,"
She turned and looked up into his eyes, Her's glistening with unshed tears, her cheeks moist, "Have we?" She asked again, Her lower lip trembling.

In the privacy of their own room, the Spirit and Malas could act as lovers should. They could hold and comfort each other, they could share weakness, doubts and pain. He could see deep in her eyes the pain she felt for a land that she could no longer govern. A land she could no longer heal.

"I hoped... I hoped the seeds would be sown," she whispered and leand her forehead against his chest. Her feet touching the ground, the cold tiles beneath her feet giving her a slight chill. His arms around her warmed her though; body, soul and heart.

Malas smiled and smoothed down her hair, whispering gently into her ear. Reassurances and confidences, his fears, Her fears.. what they had planned and what was coming. He was always there for her, in private he was there for the woman. In public, he was there for the Goddess.

Suddenly she ripped away from his arms, ran across the floor and stopped at a wilting rose on the table. With trembling hands, she reached out and touched it, her tears wracking her body with spasms of guilt and pressure. The dying flower lifted, some colour leeched back into it, then it fell, completely disintergrating; dead.

"My power! It fails!" she wailed and her tiny fists balled up in hopeless rage and sorrow. The sound of those fists striking the wooden desk helplessly ripped into Malas as he swiftly crossed the room to wrap his arms around her once more. "Hush, my love, hush," he whispered, trying to calm her down, trying to heal her.

All they tried, it had failed. All they did, they had not succeeded. But they had kept it a secret, they had kept it even more under wraps then they had their son when he was born. The Spirit was dying. Every day saw her weaker and weaker and her power even more dimished. The Vale's Goddess was wilting and there was nothing to do about it.

All they could hope for, all they could pray for was that their latest endeavour would work. That they would see the Vale carry on without them.
 
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Michael smiled as only a critically injured werewolf could and gratefully accepted the ale. "Faith an' begorrah, sorry about your floor love," he said to Shela. "I think my quest to save the Vale will start with a thorough war against goblins, hopefully with stout dwarves and faeries at my side." Michael said, his quiet rage apparent in the fire in his eyes, "Another fill of tobacca love?" he asked, tapping the last ashes out of his pipe.
 
Eeth

Eeth was again disappointed as none of his attacks found their mark. But that quickly disappeared as Rolyn said that he was impressed. He stepped back a bit, relaxing from a fighting posture, but still ready to strike or block if need be. Eeth frowned a little as Rolyn spoke, and his frown turned into a slight look of confusion when a spell was mentioned.

“So, you want someone who is as detached as possible from the queen, and it just so happens that you can’t get anymore detached from her then me,” said Eeth with a small frown. “And you basically want me to distract her while you do something with some spell, is that right? And just what is that spell you mentioned, anyways?”
 
Janelle on the shore...

Janelle's jaw dropped and she stopped singing as Hiran turned and left her standing there. Fish?? Well, that was uncalled for. A slight grin curled her full lips and she shrugged, not entirely an insult though considering.

The grin faded as her mind mulled over Hiran's reaction to her singing. He had told her to sing, it's what he had wanted, so why was he so angry with her? She contemplated following him but decided to wait. Maybe he needed to be alone right now. Maybe she needed the same, she needed to think. She sank down to the sand and wrapped her arms around her knees resting her chin on them. Her eyes looked out over the water of the lake and she let the gentle movement of the breeze soothe her.

Okay, so here she was, pulled into some strange alternate reality and transformed into some fantasy creature. She could deal with that. Add to that her apparent gift of song that seemed to have quite the effect on other creatures. That might be useful...not to mention fun. Her gaze flickered in the direction Hiran had gone. She'd apologize to him when he came back. She hadn't meant to upset him, she just wanted to see what would happen. She'd always had a problem with impulse control...the problem being she didn't have any. If something struck her as a good idea in the moment she went with it, and usually got herself in trouble.

She sighed deeply and looked back out over the water. When Hiran came back she would apologize and promise that she would never sing to him again. Unless he asked her to....no, that was how this had all happened in the first place. She just wouldn't sing around him, period. He may be cranky but he was the closest thing she had to a friend here. Well, maybe not a friend, he wasn't exactly all that friendly...but he wasn't all that bad. She kind of liked him actually. Plus he seemed to know something about where she had come from and how she had come to be here. So when he came back she would promise and then she would ask him what he knew about why she was here. Her gaze flicked back to the treeline and she felt a little concerned.

He would come back...wouldn't he?

Of course he would, she told herself. He wouldn't just leave her sitting here on the sand in the sun all alone. Janelle looked up at the sky. It certainly was getting warm, and the sun was so bright. She couldn't remember the last time she had seen a sky so clear. No smog, no noisey smelly freeways, no giant highrises messing up the landscape. She sure could get to like it here, but it would be nice to have some sun block. Her skin was feeling kind of warm and itchy. Maybe she should find some shade to wait in.

A dull throb began in her temples and she suddenly felt so tired. Maybe it had something to do with her singing? She remembered from stories she had read when she was younger that sometimes using a magical talent made the user lose power. Maybe she needed a nap to regenerate or something. But not here in the sun, it was starting to feel uncomfortable.

Absently she scratched at her forearm and her eyes widened as she saw her skin had gone from smooth and soft to dry and papery. She was thristy too, very very thirsty. She looked up and down the shore quickly and the pieces all finally clicked into place. She was a siren, a mermaid...a creature of the water. Hiran had called her 'fish' and what happened to fish if they were left out of the water for too long??

The water of the lake seemed to call to her urgently, but the distance between her and it now seemed so far. Janelle felt shaky and weak as she tried to stand. It was all she could do to get to her hands and knees. 'How ironic,' she thought to herself as she tried to crawl to the water's edge, 'Get magically transported and transformed and have a chance at a whole different life and you blow it because you are too slow on the uptake and don't realize you need to stay hydrated.' It was almost funny.

Her arms gave out on her and she toppled onto her side in the sand. The water was so close, but still so far away. She wondered if she would dry up and blow away like dust, or maybe go all leathery and shrink down to almost nothing. Not appealing thoughts. She wondered if it would hurt. She wondered if Hiran would know she was sorry.....
 
Asterion Arrives at the Beach

The journey took several days to complete. Had the boat been crewed by men of flesh and blood who required sleep and food, it well could have taken them a week longer to cross the sea. The wind also seemed to always be at their back, pushing them forward like some unholy companion.

Asterion spent his time in the hold practicing with the axe. At the end of the voyage, the hold deck and support pillars are had several deep gouges in them from errant strikes and swings. The empty casks were had been hacked and shattered as targets and lay in a heap in one corner. One wall in particular, the wall separating the hold from the crew quarters, had taken a particular beating as Asterion used it to practice throwing the axe. The last few days, as he grew more and more comfortable throwing the axe in an overhand swing, had been particularly tough on the wall. Much of it was splintered and gouged, testament to the true strikes thrown against it. Asterion knew he would never be able to throw the axe with any accuracy over a distance, but in a pinch, he knew he could heave in and score a solid hit at ten paces.

Fell came down into the galley as Asterion was sitting at the empty table, eating some of the salted pork and dried bread from one of the casks. The sight of the shadow below decks took Asterion by surprise. It was the first trip the shade had taken away from the wheel since the voyage began. Land had been sighted and the ship would soon weigh anchor and the two of them would be off for the mainland.

Then the wraith laughed. It was really more a chuckle than a laugh, but it seemed strange to Asterion. Fell had shown no emotion since they had met, and now chuckled. It was almost the sort of chuckle you see in movies just before the villain completely loses it and goes on a three-state killing spree. A small shiver ran down Asterion’s spine. It could have been the presence of the wraith, that had always put a small shiver down his spine, but the laugh amplified the eeriness of it tenfold.

The wraith left, again to guide the ship to its berth. Asterion finished the crude meal and began to head topside. He was growing weary of the barreled foodstuffs that had been loaded onto the ship, but with no other option he was forced to eat them. It tasted almost worse than what he had always been able to scrounge out of garbage cans before he came here. Maybe once they reached land he could have a decent meal.

The deck, still crewed by the soulless sailors, was nearly deserted. The sails were slackened and the creak of the rope was only overshadowed by the sharp metallic clinks of the anchor chain as it slackened and tightened with the bobbing of the ship. Walking to the rail, Asterion saw that the small skiff had been lowered and was waiting for him. He climbed down the rope ladder and into the small boat and rowed ashore. He didn’t care at the moment if Fell wanted to follow; he just wanted to get off that damned ship and onto solid ground again. And even without the skiff, Fell could simply float over the short expanse of water and join him whenever he felt the desire to do so.

The sandy beach was deserted and quiet, save for a few small crabs and birds which played in the tide. A small river, perhaps 20 feet at the widest, emptied into the sea nearby. Asterion began to walk along the beach, looking for some sign of life beyond his own. The grassy plain to his right seemed to breath as the breeze tickled the tops of the grasses before heading out to sea. The serenity of the moment was lost as Asterion’s instincts sharpened and the hair on his neck and shoulders raised in alarm.

There was motion ahead. He had seen it, just beyond the next rise. Asterion took into a slight crouch, pulled the axe off his back, and began to creep towards the top of the dune.
 
*Yeah, great...* Jay projected. * I'm Mister fucking Ed. Somehow I don't think that saved Ed from becoming a bottle of Elmer's when he wasn't useful anymore...*

"I ain't rightly knowin about what your doing here, but I know I should get you to the Spirit. She can help you out, maybe she can help you get home?" The rock-man said.

Jay looked up, his long neck raising also as he did. *Yeah OK. Anything's better than staying out here I guess.*

The two started moving off with Jay plodding along beside Coudron. Jay was still unsteady on his feet at first. It felt wierd, walking like this...hell if felt wierd being a horse, but at the moment, Jay was still getting used to walking again. It was like walking on all fours, which of course what what he was doing, but every now and again he absently thought to scratch an itch, or brush a stray hair out of his eyes or poke at a low hangoing branch, but he did't technically have arms anymore to do those things so every stray thought caused a stagger or stumble. It was also wierd because his balance was ...different. Not off really, his new body was porportioned to his new weight and balance, but there was a different center of gravity and stride. Jay was more aware of it from his runner's training than perhaps would be normal, but Jay, seeking something, ANYTHING that might be 'normal' that he could understand had focused on his new stride and balance. As a result, his walk became a bit more sturdy rather quickly, even though there was still the occasional stumble as his non-existent hands tried to obey a command from his still-too-human brain.

There were other things to get used to too. His eyesight was much more keen and his periphial vision had widened as well due to his new eyes placed on his new head. Just by turning his head a bit on his equine neck, he could easilly see both ahead and behind him at the same time. In fact, by turning his head a bit in both directions gave Jay a great perspective of a 360o radius about him.

All of his senses had changed to the more heightened senses of a horse. Jay was having some difficulty analyzing new smells, but his hearing and sense of smell was keener than before. This new flood of sensation had brough Jay out of his sulk while they walked in silence for a time.

*So is the Spirit like a ghost or something?* He said suddenly. Almost as if it were on que, his stomach rumbled.

He sighed, * I suppose a cheeseburger is out of the question, right?* he projected, his sigh comming out as a snort.
 
Danae felt a twinge of bashfulness of removing her clothes...but it wasn't like she hadn't been naked in front of the air woman yesterday...so she let the shimmery cloth pool at her feet. It made a remarkably small package when folded.

"Upstream, noon, run." She nodded. "Got it." Biting her lip and holding her breasts in place with her hands she jogged back down to the rivers edge and leapt in. As a human it would have shocked her, the cool water, but her new body felt no shock, only homecoming.

She discovered that like air, water had currents that moved at different speeds at different levels, and found one that wasn't to much of a stuggle to head upstream in. She chased and ate fish, saw strange murky shapes hidden by silt, and once saw a woman's face looking out from under an overhang. It scared her so she surfaced, ready to run.

A second peek however showed her that the woman wasn't a dead body, but some sort of nymph, living there. She didn't speak to it..her..but rather just put on a brust of speed to leave it..her..behind.
 
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