The Summons...

[Beethoven'sFire]

Solitude could be both a blessing and a curse. Either way, it was a path that Onatah had chosen for herself. Long before she had started off on this journey, she had resigned herself to be alone.

It was not that she disliked the company of others. Contrarily, she found their presance a comfort... from a distance. Onatah hadn't really a clue how to speak with them, or how to act. Besides, she had seen tense conflicts between most of them, and the woman wished no part of such nonsense.

And so she had ridden with them, but not alongside. While her fellow companions took the main roads, Onatah skirted the outside of the paths at a short distance. Not only was the reason that she could scout for any trouble and avoid confrontation, but in her solitude she had time to think, and seek solace for many things.

All doors except the entrance from this room cannot be opened by those who do not possess the Gift, the Witch-woman had said. And yet after she had left, Onatah found herself rising from the throne on which she sat, and exploring the room around her. There had been food in the cabinet nearby, and Onatah had hungrily snatched up what she could take until she had her fill. And then the doors had beckoned, like the curiosity of a child who has been forbidden something. They could not be opened by those who did not possess the gift- Shota had said this. Then why had the door opened when Onatah was peeking in the keyhole?

Onatah was snapped out of her thoughts by the loud bickering of two of her companions. They had traveled for a time to a modest inn, where Onatah was now sitting alone in a shadowed corner. Letting her hair veil her face, the woman watched all about her in silence, halfheartedly wishing she had a reason to speak. She hadn't heard her own voice in days.

Others, however, were another story.

 

[BlazeofLife]

Waking abruptly in the morning, Alicia blinked drowsily, her sleep-addled mind prodding her sluggish body to move. Shielding her eyes from the bright sunlight streaming in through the east-facing window, she cast her rheumey gaze about the room. Something was nagging at her, something that she was supposed to do...
Bloody hell! The others! They were supposed to leave at dawn!
Fumbling for her glasses on the small table beside her bed, she sat upright, standing so quickly that she had to pause to allow the blood to stop rushing to her head. Scrambling about, she quickly fumbled her few possessions into her small leather scrip, checking the journeybook for messages at the same time, and finding none, raced for the door. Yanking the handle, the door sprang from its jamb, crashing into the wall with a resounding crash, and she stepped triumphantly into the hall. She looked both ways, seeing no one else about, and then glanced down.
bloody hell!
Racing back inside, and shutting the heavey foor behind her, she hurriedly doffed her sleeping gown, exchanging it for more suitable garments, a short, homespun shirt that exposed her midriff, and matching breeks. Smiling, and waiting for the embarrassed flush to disappear from her cheeks, she stepped into the hallway once more, discreetly this time, and walked toward the stairs, praying that the others hadn't become too impatient with her delays yet. Judging from the position of the sun, dawn couldn't have been more than an hour earlier...
Alicia paused again at the top of the stairs, gathering herself, and took a deep, cleansing breath. She was calm. She was collected. She was...
Taking the first step onto the steps, she slipped, stumbling, and skidded down the remaining flights on her backside, finally catching herself against the bannister at the bottom.
Jumping back up, red-faced, she whipped her head about, trying to see if anyone had seen her, and surepticiously rubbed at her aching tailbone. Spying the table where the group had sat the night before, she began to make her way through the crowd toward it, the throngs of early-risers in the tavern impeding her progree and making it impossible to see who might be sitting there. She could only hope they were all gathered, waiting for her...

 

[Paendragon]

Darren entered in through the door to the Inn at dawn. The fletcher had been closed last night, so he had asked one of the maids to get him up before dawn, so he could get some supplies.

She had woken him an hour before sunrise, with a giggle and an offer, and then a slight blush when she had seen he wore nothing to bed. Regretfully, he had to turn her away. Too many things to do today to get slowed down already.

He had found the fletcher there just as the sign had said the night before, and bought out the straightest shafts he had, along with some broadhead arrowheads, the kind made to punch through armor. He also bought some feathers. He always assembled his own arrows, prefering to put his trust in arrows that he KNEW to be crafted well, as opposed to ones that he HOPED were.

He walked over to the corner table, and sat. It was still slightly befor dawn, and he was the first one down. No matter, it would give him time to make a few arrows for the journey. He motioned the pretty maid over, flirted with her a bit by way of apology for not being able to play with her this morning, and ordered breakfast.

He then started assembling his arrows, and waited.

 

[PmTick]

Benedict heard a crash coming from downstairs. He rose from his bed and ran down the stairs to see Alicia getting up. Apparently she had slipped down the steps, again. He also noticed Darren sitting at a table waiting.

"Everything OK down there?"

 

[Paendragon]

His eyes snapped up at the series of thuds. He saw their guide, sliding down the stairs, feet in the air, on her arse.

He chuckled to himself, as she jumped to her feet, rubbing her sorer parts.

She seemed to be alright, and she immediately started walking toward him.

Benedict came flying down the stairs after her, the only difference between their entrances was he stayed on his feet.

"Everything OK down there?" Benedict called out.

Darren glanced at him and grinned, then eyed the Sorceress. "So far," he answered.

He waited until she got closer, and kept assembling his arrows. He kept his eyes lowered, but couldn't hide his smile.

"You sure can make a graceful entrance..."

 

[darkscribe]

Cullen was awakened by a series of thudding noises. Startled at first, he then got his bearings. Sleep did come well the previous night. He was still bothered by the reluctance of the supplier towards what had happend to his family and their farm. He rose from the bed and got his few belongings. He walked out of the door and down the stairs to where they were sitting last night. He noticed that Darren was laughing and that Alicia's face was beet red. He knew what the thudding sound was now and a smile rose on his face. He sat down with the two at the table and waited for the others to be ready to go.

 

[PmTick]

"I see it's almost that time eh?" Benedict went back up the stairs to gather the rest of his equipment. He came back down the stairs and sat with Cullen and Darren, waiting to leave.

 

[BlazeofLife]

"You sure can make a graceful entrance..."

Blushing furiously, Alicia grabbed one of the chairs near the opposite side of the table, and fell into it with a pained expression. Leaning forward, she shifted, trying in vain to find a more comfortable resting spot for her bruised backside, and wishing that the chairs had been padded.
Seeing the others beginning to arrive, she smiled, comforted by the fact that she hadn't been late after all, and sat back. Immediately, the smile disappeared, a pained expression chasing it across her face.
Oh great, she thought. Its just going to be such a bloody treat to ride a horse like this...
Hearing the next question, asking if they would leave when the others had arrived, she simply nodded, not trusting herself to speak without snapping at someone at the moment.

 

[Beethoven'sFire]

Onatah had been up before dawn. Her straw, lice-infested mattress had not been to her liking, and her room was shared with two ill-appearing people who she did not know. The room's chamberpot was full, and Onatah was not going to touch it. It clouded the room with a foul stench quite foreign to her nose previously.

Next time she would opt to pay for a more costly room. Call it a life lesson... some things are worth steep prices.

The woman had been out to watch the very beginnings of the sunrise, and had even ventured out into the market while the shopkeeps were setting up their wares for the day. Onatah had purchased a tart green apple, whose tangy flavour had contradicted the creamy goat milk she had also aqquired. Never in her days could she recall a meal so satisfying. The chill morning, with dewy grass underfoot, the tartness of the fruit, the cool smooth slide of liquid relieving her parched throat, and then the piercing light in the eastern skies- a vivid pink that was indescribable, but cut like a dagger... the morning was filled with wonderful sensations, and all of them seemed to breath life into Onatah.

When the others began making their way down the stairs, Onatah was sitting in the same spot she had been when they retired the previous night. Bent slightly over, her cheeks covered by her long hair, it didn't seem that she had moved at all.

 

[The GrandMage]

Egan- Tending the Wee Hours

Egan had gotten up an hour before dawn, and gone to the stables. He'd checked over the group's horses, and given them all a good grooming, just to be sure they were ready for the day. He'd then gone out for a run around the entire village they were in. After the dawn's light had welcome itself over the horizon, he'd wandered back to the Inn. No one, though, was up.

He'd shrugged, and pulled loose his sword from it's scabbard. Around at the back of the Inn, Egan had spent a good hour of morning light practicing with the blade. Now, he sheathed the blade, and wandered in to look around. They were all sitting around as if time was on their side. He rolled his eyes, ducking back outside. He sat down, leaning against the building. His eyes closed, and he could almost hear the bells that had rung through the People's Palace an hour earlier. The feel of stone as everyone kneeled as one, giving the devotion.

"Creator guide me. Creator teach me. Creator protect me. In your light I thrive. In your mercy I am sheltered. In your wisdom I am humbled. I live only to serve. My life is yours." Changing the words to suit his new quest, he said the devotion loudly to himself. The others would be finishing now, chanting their following of the monster called Lord Rahl. "Dear creator, what have I gotten myself into?"

 

[Jerahmeel]

After the old man rambbled sometihng about our chnace and walked away. I left for outside of the Tavern. I had never liked being confiened to any place for long. So I found me a tree and sat in it. Get a few hours sleep. But at all time knowing what was around me. Most moring I get up have a short run this moring I doubled it. I need to be ready for lays ahead. But the questions is can we be ready. Is it it at possiable that we can win. My promises was that he would die. But I never plained on living . I always thought I would die to. But what if we live. I wouldn't know what to do if I didn't have my hate. Well that is a bridge to cross at another time.I walked in as Egan was saying something. He was talking to the Creator. I hated him as much as Lord Rahl. If there is one he should have stopped my parents death. But he didn't so eithere he doesn't exist or care. So eithere way I hate him/her."Egan don't take this wrong but we have no time for prayers. No Creator is going to help in our journey at the most that Lady might but I doubt that. In the end we live or die by our action and our sword. I figuered someone as old as you would know that by know. As someone for help is like talking to that wall over there it will give about as much help"

 

[Beethoven'sFire]

Out of the silence, and into recognition, the woman who had been thusfar unnoticed spoke.

"Is it that you truly disagree, or is it that you both so enjoy the confrontation that arises in argument? I've listened to nothing but bickering and confrontation this entire trip... and frankly I can not see that it has accomplished much." Onatah raised her head as she spoke, her strange copper eyes emitting a sense of authority. "If you truly wish to concentrate on something that will help in our tasks... if you truly wish to give up that which is pointless to our goals... then please, by the name of the sun and moon, and the air we breathe, cease your pointless bickering!"

Her words out, the woman grew quiet again. As she lowered her head, hiding within the veil of her hair, she almost seemed to fade into obscurity.

 

[Jerahmeel]

Jerahmeel

"Well that maybe so but trust is not something we are use to givining to people. Let alone people we don't know. I agree we must all get along but don't expect that to happen in a day. If we gave into and trusted everyone. We would eithere be dead or the wrong people. We as a group can be stronger than the indvidual. But if we come with nothing we give nothing to the group. The things you call stuborness or distrust is what we are. It is who we are. So we will learn to trust each other or we will die. We all know this and don't need to be told it. But don't think we will learn this in a day.I am sorry if that offfends you. But it is the truth." I sat down getting me something to drink."Now enough with that less get to what really matters. What is the plan and when do we start."

 

[Beethoven'sFire]

"Well that maybe so but trust is not something we are use to givining to people. Let alone people we don't know. I agree we must all get along but don't expect that to happen in a day. If we gave into and trusted everyone. We would eithere be dead or the wrong people. We as a group can be stronger than the indvidual. But if we come with nothing we give nothing to the group."

Onatah stared down at the table, listening to the man as he spoke to her, realising that not one word he said had anything in relation to what she had just said.

"The things you call stuborness or distrust is what we are. It is who we are..." he continued.

Stubborness? Distrust? When had she mentioned these things? The man had stepped up to the other immediately after his prayer, and told him that his faith was useless. He obviously didn't know that such things are the cornerstone of great feats accomplished.

She folded her hands together, pressing her thumbs hard against each other, and staring down at them. The flesh at the tips grew white, and the skin underneath the nail a faint red. Push things one way, and it always affects things in another way. The law of cause and effect. She decided to remain silent for the rest of the trip.

 

[darkscribe]

Cullen had watched the arguing between Jerahmeel and Onatah. He remembered how he had argued and almost fought with Egan. He just shook his and said "Jerahmeel............do you have to be arguing with someone constantly?!?! When we were at the plains you argued and almost fought with Egan. Is there ever a moment a of peace in your life!! It's early, we all just got up the last thing any of us want to hear is you arguing yet again!"
Both of them just stared at him with disbelief, that he would even say something to them. Cullen also had noticed a small smile growing on Darrens face because he openly stated what Darren knew all along.

 

[Jerahmeel]

Jerahmeel

"To be honest I don't give a dam what any of you want. I am here to kill a man. I am here for revenge and that is it. I am not here to make friends or anything else. So get this I will go to the wall for any of you because it gets me closer to my goal and that is the only reason. Right now you are need to kill the man that killed my parents.Do you understand me?"

 

[BlazeofLife]

Alicia simply stared around at the group as they fought around her, the pain in her backside disappearing swiftly beneath the weight of her indignation and outrage. She was so damn tired of their constant bickering!
Listening to the heated exchanges among them, as they switched from adversary to adversary, she cast aside the shy demeanor which came so naturally to her, and assumed completely the power and authority of the 468 year old sorceress that she truly was.
Her power flared, and the chair beneath her screached as she stood, flying away from her and shattering into splinters against the wall behind the group. She placed her hands on the table before her, clenching, and added the force of her gift to the hold. With a creak, the thick oak began to warp and distend at the point of contact, and with a cracking noise, a fracture snaked away from her hands, slivering across the width of the tabletop amid a cadence of popping tearing sounds. She pressed downward, buckling the now-brittle slab, and with a quick wrench, tore it asunder.
Striding forward amid the dust that billowed up from the destruction, she clenched her fists, and the debris began to lift from the ground in an arc around her, pushing itself away, gaining speed as it went until it seemed a small maelstrom with her at the center. the air itself began to move with the force, swirling in a whirlwind around her, the wind of its passing lifting her hair from her shoulders, whipping it behind her as her loose clothes billowed to its fierce dance.
without speaking a word to any of them, Alicia lifted her hands out and turned her palms up, and a blazing light began to form above her splayed fingers, swiftly coalescing into a ball of corruscating energy, its roiling form casting a pall over her grim features.
She shifted her balance, and the construct came to rest directly above one outstretched hand. Bringing the other around, she extended a finger toward it, her delicate touch calming its energy, and it slowed, forming a perfect sphere of golden light, casting back the scattered light of the torches and sunlight in a cascade of effervescent hues.
Smiling, she retracted the touch, and the energy matter clung to her, distending its perfect shape, clinging to her fingertip with viscous tenacity. The ball began to quiver, resonating in time to her heartbeat as she increased the distance between her finger and its core, the distension elongating almost to the breaking point, and then beyond.
With a crackling hiss, the severed tendril snapped back toward its source, leaving behind a golden sheen upon her raised digit, the sound of its retort lost amid the fury of chaos that erupted within it at the moment of recoil. Following the motion, continuing that small tendril's momentum, the sphere left her grasp, roiling across the common room toward the door. Most of the patrons had left when she had first begun to manifest her powers, and those few intrepid souls who still remained now scrambled to clear the path, as her construct flew unerringly toward the exit, leaving a wide, cleared swathe through the tavern, and disappeared into the daylight beyond.
Spearing each of her companions with her gaze, she gestured with her still-raised finger, and a trail of light appeared, mimicing exactly the movements of her finger, radiating from the stain which still coated her fair skin.
She murmered, the words themselves lost as she spoke, blending together into an indecipherable sybilance, and with her finger, she began to draw.
Outlined in the air before her, she first drew a circle, her practiced movements forming the shape almost of their own volition, and followed it with a square, its corners just touching the inside of the previous shape. Hardly pausing, she scribed a smaller circle within the square, just touching its edges, and placed her finger at its center. Moving in controlled gestures, she outlined an eight-pointed star, centered within the circle, and extended it all the way through the inner circle, square, and then the outer circle. Every other ray of the star neatly bisected a corner of the square, creating a marvel of symmetry.
When she finished, she wiped her finger casually on her blouse, and the glow disappeared from it as though it had never been, leaving only the airborne depiction to mark its passing.
Glancing at each of them in turn, Alicia gestured to her creation, and began to speak, her voice hard, and exhibiting none of the shy demeanor of before.
"Each one of you is destined to be on this quest. You all have necessary skills, talents, or abilities, which are crucial to the outcome of this battle. This constant bickering and infighting must stop. If you have personal grievances, settle them after you've settled with Lord Rahl. Its time to decide which is more important to each of you.
"This," she said, pointing to the emblem in the air, "is a Grace. The grace is a depiction of the Gift, represented by the rays: From the Creator, through life, and, at death, crossing the veil to the underworld. It is also a powerful symbol, and can command great power when drawn by one with the means to summon it. Lastly, the Grace can be used for prophecy. There is a reason there are eight of you. Eight of you, and eight rays on the Grace. One for one. you represent the power of the Creator, sent here now to battle for the future of the world against Panis Rahl. If you fail, the world will be plunged into a darkness from which there can be no escape. If you do not find the talisman before Rahl, you will fail. If you continue to fight amidst yourselves, you will fail. If you do not learn to work together, to utilize those strengths which each of you possesses, you will fail."
Her eyes measured them, searching for reactions. "And lastly, if you do not now follow me, and cease this meaningless posturing, you will fail. Time is against us. Even now, Rahl has more than half of his army in the Old World, and more are arriving every moment that passes. Your horses await you outside. It is time to leave."
With that, she turned and strode from the room, her path carrying her directly through her depiction of the Grace, and it shredded before her, its tattered remnants fading away before they reached the floor.
Reaching the door, she continued forward, catching hold of the bridle of her own mare, and swung herself up into the saddle, waiting impatiently for the others to catch up.

 

[PmTick]

Benedict had been quiet as the events around him unfolded. After Alicia's presentation he silently rose from his seat and walked outside, mounting a horse. He felt uncomfortable around Alicia for a few minutes. Finally he turned to her, "So the weight of the world rests on our shoulders? I don't know if I'm up for that, I mean I can't even remember anything that happened to me before yesterday."

 

[BlazeofLife]

"Yuur memories are irrelevant, Benedict", she said coldly, her attention on other matters and paying little attention to him. "It is your talents and skills that are required, not your recollections of how they were attained. From here on, you will forge new memories. Let them take the place of those you have lost."
Turning away, she glanced toward the door of the tavern, waiting for the rest of the group to follow as swiftly as Benedict had.

 

[PmTick]

Benedict turned back to Alicia, "Yes but how do I know what those skills and talents are? I assume I'm a knight of sorts because of this blade but how do I know I'm not an artist or perhaps I'm a bard?" Benedict began to sing a few lines that sounded similar to wounded animal. "Ok I wasn't a bard. Seriously though, do you know what I am here?"

 

[BlazeofLife]

"I know nearly nothing about any of the group, and even less about you. You were unexpected...
"Everyone was summoned to Agaden Reach, including you, but you never arrived. I received word of this from Shota, and you were presumed dead. How you came to be here, I cannot begin to guess. I suspect that in this, you know more than I, regardless of the state of your mind."

 

[PmTick]

Benedict pushed his blonde hair back, past his right ear. "So your as much in the dark as I am." Benedict figured if he could figure out more about Alica or Shota, he would remember how he was connected to this group, in turn remembering important facts about himself. "How did you come to be involved with the group? Are you from around here?"

 

[Beethoven'sFire]

Onatah was standing before Alicia was out the door, and followed her outside wordlessly. Silently mounting her bay mare, she kicked at its sides spurring it forward, the image of the symbol burned into the back of her mind.

 

[darkscribe]

Stunned by the display of power from Alicia, Cullen sat listless in his seat watching her and a few others walk out. "This is great......Well I hope we all come together real soon."
Cullen rose from his seat and walked out the door. He walked over to and mounted his steed. He waited for the rest of them to come out so their journey would finally start.

 

[Jerahmeel]

Jerahmeel


What a jorney this is turing out to be. First I have a Woman knock me down with a thunder bolt. Now I pissed off anothere magic lady. If I keep this up I might not make to the end. But I had never plained on living to the end any way. But this was not the time to think about that I need to try and join in. I had been alone so long that I didn't trust anyone. I couldn't afford to trust people. When I first lost my parents I trusted people and it lead me to sorrow and pain. People that took advatage of my youth and ripped me off. So I learned over time to never trust anyone. This had got me this far but would only get in trouble in here.I walked over to Alicia. " This may mean nothing to you but I am sorry. All my life trusting people has got me hurt.When my parents died many told me i could trust them. But normally they would work me and beat me. The rest would take what money I had when I was asleep. So being called hear and asking to do this is hard.Being asked to trust these people is like asking to forget what has happened. But to be honest I have not been trying as much as I can. For that I am sorry that I upset you.I give you my word that i will try harder" I walked out and got one my horse. Waiting to see if she woulf reply with anothere heartless remark. My mind wondered if would stay with the group or go on my own. This group thing was not working out. But first I want to see what Alicia says and wait a few days to decide.