When RP takes control IC thread

[katalynn]

Kryss sat on the pillows, watching and listening to Jas. Her smile brighten with his every movement, his words seem to flow just right as the story went on. She didn't wish to speak, not now anyway. If at all, not of the story she had endured, instead, she let Jas take on the story for her.

Still lingering in the depths of her eyes layed the anger, sadness she felt. Anger for what she allowed to happen, saddness of what she had done to Jasleth. He may have forgiven her, but how was she to do the same? Every once in awhile he would say or make some movement that would make Kryss laugh, which was helping in more ways than he would ever know.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Athyna watched how Thalryn took off, he seemed confused. His aura wasn't as clear as it normally is. From that point she knew how he really felt, even if he didn't. Humans, elves, monsters, animals... It did not matter what they were, as long they walked on this earth they had the same auras, and Athyna was able to see them. Unable to manipulate them like Jas can, still, she knew what each color meant, each movement of body and mind meant.

Shaking her head with some resentment towards the whole ordeal, she walked off in the direction of everyone else. Athyna and Luathas paused at the entrance, seeing nothing at first, able to hear voices and how Jasleth was telling of tales. Her and the big cat exchanged looks, at first she wasn't sure if he would be welcomed, figuring he has been thus far.

"If you have to go, I'll leave to... I am not even sure what it is I seek anymore.. m'love.."

Yea, so she called the cat her love, right now he is all she has and she knew if she was to leave this party, he would follow and protect her to the ends of the world.... Athyna would do the same for him, to her he was her companion, not just a pet or some wild animal.

"Shall we?"

Luathas rubbed his nose against her hand and they both walked into the blackness. Moments later seeing everyone watching and listening to Jasleth, wasn't surprised to see Skyler and Dominic, fo she watched as they left. Staying behind at the entrance just watching for now, waiting for someone to tell her that the cat had to go outside. She wasn't quite sure what Jas was speaking about, it must have been before her time with them.

 

[Armphid]

The Sages

The little human boy interrupted the story once again, his pure tenor voice floating upward in chant. "The Shackled Archer comes to the Sages on Sanctuary." "Her heart is uncertain, and still she fears betrayel and ill use."

"Ah," there was a sad note in the unison of voices that responded. "Let not thy heart be heavy or troubles, long have we awaited your coming, as with all these others." "Take your place with the Company of Doom now, Shackled Archer, no matter where your path will lead tomorrow."

An elven woman of remarkable beauty, though to look somewhat middle aged as he did meant she was truly ancient, rose and bid Athyna sit. "A place has been prepared for you, and for your great friend." "Here, you are welcome."

 

[NyghtRayne]

Skyler

She helped Dominic along, he seemed to grow stronger on his feet the more they walked. They reached the hut of the Sages before she had realized it and entered. She was awed by the room and it's inner dimensions as it seemed limitless in space once inside.

She smiled as she realized Jasleth was telling their story, and then a soft smile towards Kryss as well. She even looked better than she had in the last few days.

She looked around as the boy stepped up and spoke, announcing their arrival. She thought it strange that he had called them by more prophetic names and not their own. She thought about it for a moment, Dominic's seem to fit, as most of his visions so far had shown bad scenes, which luckily they had been able to change the outcomes on.

But hers, it only confused her even more than she was already, she knew she was changing to much, maybe even too much to return to the life she knew. She hoped the sages would in time answer that question among the many others they had.

She helped Dominic to sit and then took her place beside him. She thought about all they had done since meeting as Jasleth told the story. She smiled as he put all his usual vigor into the re-telling of their tale.

 

[Xenocide_613]

Thalryn

A small smile crept to his lips as he watched the lady necromancer jump from her perch. He was glad to see that she had recovered, though the light had yet to return to her eyes.

“No…I just…I guess I came…to thank you, m’lady, for all you’ve done. I know I must seem strange for showing up here like this…truth be told, I really don’t know why I have come.”

As the sun rose, a beam of light caught the elf, setting his hair aflame with its radiance. Thalryn’s smile widened at the warmth of the sunlight. Then Elistraee’s voice was in his mind.

Thal, everyone has gone to the hut of the sages. I followed Skyler and Dominic there, so you don’t need to go back for me, but I think the sages are waiting for you…and maybe the necromancer as well.

The elf cocked his head to the side as he listened to his familiar. As Elistraee finished her message, he looked up to Vivre.

“It seems I am wanted at the hut of the sages,” he announced. “Elistraee made mention of you as well. I would be honored if you would accompany me, Vivre. If you are looking into your past, the sages may have answers for you.”

His emerald eyes appraised her, noting that she hadn’t bothered to put her over clothes back on.

“What say you, will you join me?”

 

[Apollo Wilde]

Zhu and her servants

Lang glared at the elf. I’m sure that you don’t know why you came… he thought bitterly, his mouth twisting slightly. His mental anger had sparked the other men awake, and they lurched slowly from the ground, seeming as if they were rising from the graves anew.

Contemplating what the elf had said to her, Zhu shook her head in a negative. “I can’t go. My past is not a mystery that I wish to unravel - if I look into it, it will mean my death. My memories with my servants will more than suffice,” she said thoughtfully.

“Besides, I don’t feel welcome among your party. They set both me and my servants on edge.”

She gestured idly to Lang, his lowered hands still tense on his spear. Shihou said nothing, but as he stood, the long curved blade of a scimitar was seen at his waist. If he had been carrying it the entire time or just acquired it, it was impossible to tell. Huozai rose to his feet, folding his arms across his chest.

As if taking some unseen cue, she stepped to the side, and began to pull her over clothes on. Tugging the shirt over her head, she reached behind her to free her hair from the shirt, flipping it back over her shoulders. Grabbing her customary headwrap from the side, she began to wind it about her hand, twisting her hair within the fabric.

"I appreciate the offer, though...." She seemed to have shrunk, the cold intimidation of her voice and gaze gone, replaced by another girl. "But if I get attacks by just dreaming about things, having my past spilled out to me could make my heart burst. It's apart of the curse," she said, her tone slightly sad before picking up again.

"Go, your friends are waiting for you."

 

[Xenocide_613]

Emerald eyes watched the other two zombies rise from the ground, and the image was a bit chilling. Slowly the elf nodded slowly to Vivre, contemplating her response.

“I wouldn’t want to put you in any sort of pain, m’lady, so I’ll not press the issue, but the sages may be able to remove this curse, or tell you how to remove it.”

He looked over his shoulder at the gate, then back to the lady necromancer. “If you reconsider, the hut is the tallest in the village.” The elf stated as he started to back away. “Sorry to have bothered you, and I hope to see you again.”

Slowly he turned away from her, but he looked back over his shoulder and spoke as he walked away. “Thank you again for all you’ve done. Farewell, my friend.”

With that he turned and started from the cemetery, as if the morning sun itself were spiriting the golden elf away on its rays.

 

[katalynn]

Athyna was taken back alittle at how the boy called her a shackled archer.... Never really thought about herself being shackled, but in alot of ways it made sense.

"Thank you kindly m'lords and m'ladys.."

Took her bow in respect for the sages and took her place next to the one beautiful elven maiden. Luathas was right by her side, ears were perked up with curiousity and alertness. Mostly out of curiousity. All of Athyna's thoughts were jumbled, were in no way of a rangers way. In the back of her thoughts she still wondered if she should stay or take her leave.... She was obviously welcome in the group, she would lay her life down for them... Even Kryss now, though, how long would that last? Nothing lasts forever, she wasn't looking to fall, specially the way she did. Yet, here she stays.

Unconciously her fingers ran through Luathas' fur, making trails through out the silky strands. Her thoughts were distant while listening to the tales.

 

[Apollo Wilde]

Zhu and her servants

"Here, where the sea shines
and the wind howls,
on the old terrace beside the ocean
A man embraces a girl after the tears,
then clears his throat
and continues the song.."

As they walked away from the graveyard, the distant gold of the sun brought out a single voice singing. The timbre was pure and unshaken, the emotion barely constrained as the voice reached the edge of the chorus.

"I love you very much
very, very much, you know;
It is a chain by now
that heats the blood inside the veins,
you know..."

It seemed that the grass, the trees, the flowers were leaning closer to this voice, so joyously uplifted. The long shadows of four figures were thrown carefully across the path. One was of a tall young man with deep red hair, another, a glacial looking blonde. On his right side was a young woman with midnight rooted sunrise hair, and to her left was a young brunette man of incredible beauty. It was him that was singing now, more to himself than to the rest of his party.

"But when he saw the moon
emerging from a cloud,
death also seemed sweeter to him.
He looked the girl in the eyes,
those eyes as green as the sea.
Then suddenly a tear fell
and he believed he was drowning…."

Where they were going was anyone’s bet, but it was hard to think straight with such a voice issuing forth. They had left the graveyard under the forced smile and pretense of Zhu that she was hungry, recalling aloud of how long it had been since her last meal. She walked now, her eyes closed. Lang was making it hard for her to be able to sort her thoughts, her feelings out. Every time he sang this song, it made her want to just sit down and cry. It was an old ballad that he had heard from ages before - before he knew her. He said something about how it was from his old home…But where that had been, or was now, neither one of them knew. Every time that she would approach the thought, it made her chest ache, cave in on itself. Even the usually stoic companions seemed to be touched by this idle song that had been borne from silence. Lang had said little [ unusual of him ] when they left and on the way back to the Inn, and then…had just broken into song.

Lang didn’t know why he was singing now - he had started out quiet, as a way to soothe himself, his own thoughts. He had felt odd, like he was on the verge of remembering something important - he felt it when he had tried to comfort Zhu after the dream. Her flesh had been warm under his fingertips, singing to him of something long ago, of life…and that thing tucked deep within his heart. In that fragmented touch, in that unbroken moment, his eyes had been opened to the door of his memories, the long shadow of a past love thrown across the threshold.

"Where every drama is a hoax;
with a little make-up and with mime
you can become someone else.
But two eyes that look at you,
so close and real,
make you forget the words,
confuse your thoughts,
so everything becomes small…"

Zhu didn’t know how to react. It was rare for Lang to sing now, although he had been full of song when she was younger. As she got older and the world started to angle out her face and start the foundations of deep lines on her forehead, his songs had stopped. At least, songs like this. The songs she used to spin around idly to [ when she called that dancing ] when she was but a child and heard him singing to no one but the moon in the depths of the night. Her feet on top of his as he pushed her gently from side to side, as if trying to recall a dance through her chubby features. This song had been her favorite - her lovers bedtime story, devoid of princes and princesses, and rife with the love of the normal people.

Or so she had thought.

Each word tenderly opened up the old wounds placed carelessly on her heart, causing her to wipe at her eyes.

"You turn and see your life
through the white wash astern.
But, yes, it is life that ends
and he did not think much about it,
on the contrary, he already felt happy
and continued his song…"

Shihou was silent, merely listening to Lang. As long as they had been by Zhu’s side, the young man was still a mystery to him. Although he knew [ or thought ] that Huozai had been with Zhu since the time before time, Lang had the deepest connection. Not to second guess his own, though. He just wished that he had the words to tell her. His head bowed, he watched the ground as he walked, careful not to crush a brilliant pink flower in his path. The rest of the world seemed to be lost in a wash of midnight, growing darker with each passing moment. He caught the hurried movement of Zhu wiping away her tears, and a dull ache grew in his chest. He wished to all the gods that Lang would stop - this song brought up painful memories of things forgotten, that couldn’t be reclaimed. His eyes burned, desperate in their own attempt to shed tears, but brought starkly back to the reality that dead bodies shed no tears.

"I love you very much,
very, very much, you know;
it is a chain by now.."

His own thoughts ran and buzzed angrily into and against each other. Huozai crossed, uncrossed, crossed his arms as he tried to block out the piercing ethereal nature of Lang’s voice in this most pure of states. There were more important things to be worried about - this meeting with the Sages, if she would travel with the other group, if they could even trust that party. It was typical of Lang to forget the reality to bathe in the fantastic. Did he think that everyone could stop what they were doing on the account of his siren voice? No, there were greater problems. The love he sang about, thought that he had remembered - what was he getting at? Was he trying to make the Lady upset? He could smell her tears, feel them warm his calloused fingertips, feel the heat of her breath as it escaped in a long sigh. What was he doing, dangling the imaginary prize of a fairytale love in front of her in the first place? He wanted to cut the boy’s throat to halt the music…

But found himself unable to do anything more than to keep his lips tightly creased.

With his own steadied hands, he would guide their Lady to a place where she could eat, to rest, to exhale the worries. That was what he was going to do…

"That heats the blood inside the veins,
you know..."

*lyrics from "Caruso"

 

[Xenocide_613]

Thalryn

The cemetery gates whined in protest as he left the lady necromancer and her company behind. Thalryn walked slowly, almost reluctantly, toward the place Jasleth had pointed out as the hut of the sages. His thoughts were a jumble.

The gold elf had no clue what to expect from the sages. He wasn’t quite sure why he was even here. When he’d joined the party, it had seemed he was more or less along for the ride. He was a sword for hire, having no real ties to the quest. Thinking back, he didn’t know what had motivated him to follow Seth the day he had stopped the man from stealing the cure to Dominic’s petrification. He wasn’t even sure what made him stay with the party for so long. Sure, he enjoyed the company, but once they had fled the castle, he could have just as easily broke away, no harm, no foul. Lost in thought, Thalryn looked up to realize his feet had carried him to his destination. With a sigh, the elf moved forward.

A long silhouette was cast as the elf stepped in through the door to the hut of the sages. The gold elf entered slowly, listening to Jasleth recall the battle in which Dominic was petrified.

 

[Armphid]

Jasleth & The Sages

Jas paused as Thalryn entered, knowing that he would be interrupted anyway.

As if on cue, the fiery haired boy's voice sang out, "The Elf Born of Man comes to The Sages of Sanctuary." "His motives unclear, he seeks a purpose for being of the Company of Doom."

"Ah," came the chanted reply from hundreds of throats. "Welcome is the Elf Born of Man, blessed be his days." "The ties of Fate bind him to his purpose, though it is not yet clear to him." "Rest your heart in that this too, shall become clear with time."

A saintly looking old satyr, his horns curling back several feet past his head, gestured to one of the empty sitting mats. "Join us, Elf Born on Man, and soon some of your questions shall be answered." His eyes flickered to Jasleth and he chuckled, "It would please me to know one as collected as yourself is present for the tale." "The Man With Two Lives does get carried away at times."

Jas cocked an eyebrow, "What's a story without a little...jazzing up?" "Come on...you guys do a lot of sitting, I wouldn't want it to be boring or you might just doze off." There was a collective laugh from the Sages, much to Jas's relief. They seemed like they had a good sense of humor, but you could never tell. He looked at the elven swordsman, "You want to spin the story for a while Thal, or do you want me to keep at it?"

 

[Xenocide_613]

Thalryn

It had been quite some time since the elf had been asked to call upon his bardic talents, and he was loathe to disappoint. He went to the mat next to the Satyr and unclasped his cloak in a flourish, letting it flutter to the ground and puddle about his feet before he settled onto the mat himself. Seeing her master settle, Elistraee bounded from where she had been laying near Skyler and jumped into Thalryn's lap. The elf smiled warmly at his familiar before speaking to Jasleth.

“If you wish, I will take up the tale from the day I first met my companions,” he said, nodding to Jasleth in acceptance. The gold elf sat poised, eyes searching through the crowd of sages that were assembled on floor mats. He gazed into all their eyes, and his voice seemed to spin melodically into the air as he started his story.

“There was a chill wind that day, such that I kept my cloak pulled tight around my body and my hands ever present on the hilts of my twin blades. I too was traveling to the castle, but I had quite the run in with a small band of orcs who happened to be an advanced party to a much larger band of orcs. Needless to say, the orc chieftain wasn’t too happy about having his raiding parties slaughtered, and he stalked me with much more tenacity than I would have given an orc credit. Now when I say he stalked me, I mean he and the entire tribe tried to chase me down.”

He paused, letting the story settle a bit before continuing. “Having run for almost two days straight, I was quite exhausted when I stumbled upon a lone monk as I fled for the safety of the castle, and he was quite helpful in revitalizing me. He introduced himself as ‘Jasleth, The Prodigious Youth!,’ and we went on our way toward the castle, only I much faster than he. There I saw two ladies,Skyler and Kryss, respectively, being treated rather badly by a knight, one Sir Sethford Falcon, if memory serves. What I found most peculiar was the statue of a man that they carried with them…”

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Dominic

"That statue would be me." I said sheepishly, with a little laugh. "I tend to have very bad luck. First I was deafened, then I was turned to stone. Obviously I don't remember any of it, but my iguana Slip filled me in on the rest of it." I nodded to the lizard on my shoulder. "But my bad luck didn't end there. My friends managed to find the supersoft that cured my petrification, although that 'knight' Falcon tried to double cross them. Skyler managed to send him back using a domination spell, but he was murdered that night and the blame fell on Jasleth and mine's shoulders."

I turned to Jas. "We were arrested and there was a big trial with a head knight Avrice presiding over it. Little did we know there was more to that man then we knew. And he was about to change things for the worse. He turned out to be a necromancer, and despite our best efforts for escaping, Avrice managed to slaughter almost the whole town. All because of us." I looked down. "When we got there, Avrice was there, controlling the dead bodies of friends and foe alike. He proved to be a horrible nemisis...he managed to tear the bones right out of my leg and attack us with them. And he replaced it with the blight...a horrible death disease that until now had sapped away the life of my body."

 

[Armphid]

The Sages of Sanctuary

At the mention of Avrice's name, the multitude of the Sages chanted again. "The Twisted Usurper enters the Tale of the Company." "The Queen of the World will not come to the Lodge of the Sages." "The paths of the destinies becomes clearer, and the time for our counsel draws nigh."

After Dominic spoke, the giantess that had bid Jas speak at first gestured for the story to pause. "We thank you for your take, Company of Doom, but we know well of what came after you clashed with the Twisted Usurper." "Now is the appointed hour where many of your questions may be answered, and much that was hidden shall be made clear." Her starry eyes seemed somehow warm as she gazed down upon the companions. "You have endured much to come to us." "Ask what you will of us, and we will will give what answers we may." "Only when you are satisfied, will we speak of what is necessary."

The Sages as one, pressed their hands together, then raised them palms up toward the dome of Heaven far above. "The hour of questioning has come." "The Sages of Sanctuary give counsel unto the Company of Doom, and the second book of the Frozen Flame draws to a close." As before, all spoke in perfect unison. Unlike the previous communions, this did not break immediately, as thoudands of eyes looked as one pair upon the party. "Ask," spoke hundreds of voices, "for this chance shall not come again."

 

[NyghtRayne]

Skyler

She watched as the others spoke of their tale. When the sages stated it was time to ask their questions, she stood up and looked about briefly before starting to speak. She wasn’t sure what to ask first, but figured the most important thing would be…

“I am sure my companions all have their own questions, but I will ask of you only what we came here initially to find out. We began in a game, that has become real. Our quest began as one to correct that and return to our lives. I would say my question has several parts. Can the game be fixed, can we return to our real lives or is this our new reality?”

She bowed her head respectfully to them as she stood and awaited their responses. She wanted to know more about the changes within herself, but getting the answers they came for was more important to even her right now.

 

[Armphid]

The Sages of Sanctuary

"The Blood Protector asks of the beginning of the Second Book of the Frozen Flame." "So it shall be told." The assmebled Sages chanted. Then they began to speak individually, one picking up where another left off as though they were finishing one another's thoughts.

The elven woman spoke first, her ageless face mysterious. "All of the races of all the worlds have blessings and powers." "The Elves live long lives, and are naturally talented with magic." "The Orcs are strong and fertile, and so on for races beyond number across the starry universe." "All but one, or so it first seems." She gestured down at Dominic and Jasleth, "Humans have not the strength of the Orc, the magic of the Elf, the fortitude of the Dwarf, nor any other advantage." "They live such short lives, and cannot find peace." "Yet thier power, may be the greatest of all, hidden though it is."

An amorphous being made of iridescent fire spoke in a voice like a bonfire. "Humans have a great will, facing odds no others wouold dream of, and risking all for their dreams." "This will reaches out to shape the very fabric of the world, as the vast multitude of humanity wills things to change." "Change happens slowly, as they dream different dreams into being."

The red-haired boy spoke in a piping but firm voice. "Yet this is not always so." "Almost two hundred years ago, in your world, a large percentage of the population dreamed of a better world." "Better transportation, better medicine, of finding new and imporved ways for old tasks." "Thus started your Industrial Revolution, a burst of rapid development and change started by the focusing of the will of humanity." "Soon there were more humans than ever, and yet the future they had made was disapponting to many." "They dreamed of many places other than their own, their wills seeking them out." "Out of this came books, your movies, and your video games." "Then something remarkable happened."

The giantess's silky voice thundered down from on high. "A technology was made that allowed humans to connect to one another as never before." "This created great surges of will, as humans from all over their world could come together and dream." "Then came The Game, soon after it's appearance the most popular of its kind, hundreds of thousands of humans and more every day, dreaming the exact same dream all at once."

A gravelly voice from behind growled, "The Game changed slowly, it began to become a world of its own." "Beings that had been shreds of information came into being as true entities." "Such was the Twisted Usurper...the one you call Avrice." "He was created to be the greatest menace of The Game, and now, dealing with humans ignorant of his true nature, and constructs with no true mind...he was capable of fulfilling all of his terrible potential."

"The will of the humans worked within rules in The Game," continued a woman with compelling catlike features, "and thus it came to pass that the cataylst that would change The Game was fit into those rules." "The gathered power of those wills was fused together into an item of power; The Frozen Flame." "As soon as it was created, the humans playing The Game knew of its existence." "But so did the Twisted Usurper, and he knew it's true power." "He gathered others to him, and through much toil, and treachery, they attained the Flame." "The Twisted Usurper laid his hands on the Flame, and what he wished came to be...or so it appeared."

The man of ice and gold's melodic tones came next. "The chagnge ripped space and time, reaching back to change the history of this world to match what he wished it to be."
Yet all was not as he liked, for the Flame had been made with the desire to do good and heroic intent, so where it could, it saved things and people, creating a new destiny that would compete with the one the Twisted Usurper had forged." The Flame scattered, it's power spent, though even now it re-forms and it's horrific might waxes."

A figure completely covered in cloth spoke, a strange chittering quality in its voice. "The Twisted Usurper forced the humans who played The Game into the game world made real, but with the past rewritten so that for those made for the Game, years passed from the moment the Flame came into his grasp." "If you would sunder the realities and return to your own, you must rest the Frozen Flame from it's hiding place and use it's power as he has done." "That is the only way, and it is then that you must truly choose to destroy this world or to save it."

 

[Xenocide_613]

Thalryn

“Wait, I remember no ‘other world.’ Am I a creation of human will?” The elf spoke out to the gathered sages, bewildered by the prospect that his entire existence was all a game to a bunch of humans. The sages referred to him as the elf born of man, but he remembered his father quite clearly. He had noticed a shift in the world not long before he’d met up with the rest of the party, but he’d attributed it to the will of the gods, not a game construct gone wrong.

“So where do I fit in to all this? I have no other life in another reality to go back to, not that I know of anyway. This reality is my home, be it good or ill. I’ll not see it destroyed, but I’ll not allow Avrice to twist it to his whim either.”

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Dominic

This was...a lot to take in. I knew this world had become so realistic, but to say it has become a whole other reality, that was too much.

I couldn't wait for the sages to answer Thalryn. I immediatly spoke up. "Where is this Frozen Flame? Does anyone know it's resting place?"

 

[katalynn]

Its been long since Athyna has been in this *other world* she had no desire to return to it either.

"What if one has no desire to return to this other world? This place, this world is all I have known for so long.. If I return to the mortal world..... I will die, least of all I could not bare to distroy this world..... What of that?

She spoke up, but it was softly. Barely heard, though she knew everyone around heard. Athyna stayed seated, her head low in thought and fear. She remembers her mortal life, barely, but it was there. Athyna was sick, on the verge of death. She took up this game with lost hope, here she was healthy, free to do as she wished. Unlike the mortal world, stuck on a machine in bed. Everyone around her taking care of her every need, she took up this game for she was to die, she would die happy, her mind in this world instead of out there.


"I do not know what is leaft of our mortal lives, but I do know I do not wish for Avrice to have control of the world I've grown to love. If it means distroying this place then.........."

Unable to finish her sentence, no way did she want this world of which it lays now distroyed, she would do anything she can to save it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kryss sat on the side quiet, she had her questions, but for the moment they were being answered through the questions of others.

"My only question is, if we are mortals playing a game. A game that is taking over... What is happening to our bodies in the other world? Are they just simply disapearing and turning into who and what we are here as we become more real?"

Her other questions were not at this moment revelant, for it concerned of what she held. Also knowing that they would sooner or later take care of that... somehow..

As well as curious as to how she was able to have the fire ability within her when she shouldn't be able to do so. Again, that question is to remain silent for time being.

 

[Armphid]

The Sages

A roughly man-shaped creature of roots and leaves spoke with a voice like the wind through tree branches. "You do not recall, Elf Born of Man, because you do not wish to." "Perhaps of all those who loved the Game, your love was greatest." "So great was your devotion that you made your guise far more than that of others, you forged a history, remembering it better than the one you had lived." "When the change occured, you embraced it so fully that you turned your will inward." "You became the elven mage-warrior you so wanted to be, willingly, even joyously condemning your first identity to waste away."

The Elven woman spoke again, "It is within you now...we can feel it." "Your human side." "But it is so very weak...unless you choose to reach out to it, it will soon be gone forever, dead." "Indeed, you are a creation of human will...but solely of your own." "You have become an elf, more elven in action and through than most who bear it through blood."

The Sages did not wait for a reply but moved to answer the other questions. The twisted thing that spoke may have been a man, but so deformed was he that it was difficult to tell. "Eyes of Doom, if you seek the Frozen Flame, it lies to the North." "In the ruins of the kingdom that the Twisted Usurper conspired to make his own even before he knew of the Flame's existence." "There is waits, its' power returning, and hopes that those more worthy of its' might will lay claim to it this time."

A great dragon with scales the color gold turned it's starry eyes on the companions, "Salvation or destruction of this world, will lie with the one who next tales hold of the fully charged Frozen Flame." "As they will, so shall it be." "The Flame's power to resist was spent on the Twisted Usurper, to allow this one chance for a better destiny than the one he created." "It is that person who will decide the fate of our world, and of those who came here from yours." "That is the Event that all in this world are waiting for, and though the Heavens tell us much...there is no knowing who will make the choice, or what they will decide."

A wizened gnome turned a kindly smile on Kryss, "The events of the other world are little known to us, other than how they caused ours to be." "The two are seperate now, our stars are not theirs, and we are blind to that place." "Be comforted in the knowledge that the Flame will make reality as its' master wishes, and it does remain connected to both our worlds." "If you attain it, then your bodies in the other world shall be in whateve condition you wish them to be."

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Dominic

I nodded silently at the words. To the north...that meant they had to cross the scorching Arid Desert, then cross the expansive Emerald Sea, and then the massive Glaciers of the Ice Cap would stand in their way, depending on how far away the ruined kingdom was. And when they got there...Avrice would be waiting for them. I shuddered at the thought of his piercing eyes.

If I didn't know any better, I'd say this Frozen Flame Story that the sages were commenting was already written. It's so story-like; difficult obstacles, rag-tag party of good guys, an arch-nemisis. Like it was all lanned out. Knowing these oracles, I wouldn't say it was far-fetched. They probably already know the outcome of our "story". I began to wonder just how much they knew.

I was deeply entrenched in thought and didn't see the woman next to me moving closer until I felt her hand on my shoulder. I looked up and saw a slender woman with long red hair and tanned skin. She was wearing a long dress that was very tight around the bodice area. She reached in between her breasts and pulled out a note, scribbled on parchment. She placed it in my free hand and walked off.

I stared after her, then looked at the note.

Meet me in the Oracle's School.
I'll be on the twenty-third floor, out on the main balcony.
I'll be waiting for you.

- Ashlin

I folded the note up and slipped it into my pocket.

 

[Xenocide_613]

Thalryn

The sages continued on without his reply, but he made no reply. Instead, he turned within, to feel and see for himself what he truly was. Thalryn closed his eyes, letting the images of his life run through his head.

He saw his mother, a moon elf, with long raven hair and fair skin the color pearl. His father was a proud gold elf, the patriarch of House Amastacia in the great elven city of Evereska and a member of the bladesinger tradition his son would grow into. Thalryn’s father was a bit harsh, but his mother made up for it with how much she cared for him.

No! Thalryn thought, pushing away his memories. The sages had said his memories were his own creation. He would have made himself flawless, with no holes in the armor of his created history with which to crawl back from. Thalryn sought his human self in his lack of memories, clearing his mind of all that he remembered.

In the darkness of his vacant mind, a dark, curly haired boy of no more than 18 faded into being. The boy was lanky, possessing little muscle, and he lay naked, prostrate on what appeared to be the floor, though as Thalryn looked around it seemed he was surrounded by nothing but infinite blackness.

“Hail and well met, Thalryn of House Amastacia,” The boy said weakly, his voice cracking from lack of use. “I knew you would come for me eventually.” Nathaniel Walsh coughed as he tried to rise, but his effort proved futile and he collapsed back to the floor.

The boy sighed in resignation at his fate. “I am proud, in a way, that it took you this long to realize my existence as your creator,” Nathan smiled weakly. “A…testament to my attention to detail.”

“Why didn’t you control my body, like the others control theirs?”

A proud grin lit human’s gaunt face. “The back story I’d thought up for you gave you your own history, so you no longer needed to be chained to a human ‘player’. That, and you are much stronger than I, of body and will. You could say I abandoned my self to live through you, seeing as you see, living as you live. It was good, for a time, until the withering started.”

“Withering?” the elf questioned.

“Have you looked at me yet, elf? I am all but dead. I take heart in knowing that I still live on through you, but my being is fast fading from this existence. There ain’t enough room in here for the both of us, apparently.” Walsh chuckled at his own comment, making a raspy, wheezing sort of sound.

“Is there anyway I could help you? Keep you alive, maybe?”

The human weakly waved away the elf’s comment. “Let me go, I was so much happier being you.”

Thalryn nodded gravely, and he quickly reached out to try to steady the boy as he attempted to rise again. As Thalryn’s hand touched the human’s shoulder, all of Nathaniel Walsh’s memories flooded into the elf, causing him to stagger backwards as the information stormed his sensibilities. He saw machines, and great glass towers, and bridges of metal spanning great rivers. He briefly relived Walsh’s life, and his eyes were wide at how starkly different everything was. He saw the needless killing in great human wars; saw the starvation of thousands of children. He winced at the brutality of this all human world, this “other” reality.

As the elf returned to his senses, he saw Walsh’s form fade from the shadows, a pained smile on his face.

“Whatever happens, don’t let fantasy die.” His lips spoke even as they faded away, leaving a disembodied voice.

“Sweet water…and light laughter…my…friend…”

The elf felt a rushing sensation, and his eyes snapped open to reveal the council of the sages.

"Be comforted in the knowledge that the Flame will make reality as its' master wishes, and it does remain connected to both our worlds."

The elf vaguely listened to what the council was saying, but he was more interested in that moment at reviewing all that had just transpired.

 

[Armphid]

Jasleth & The Sages

Jas waited until the ancient gnome had finished speaking, then cleared his throat. "I know that this may bother my friends, and I'm sorry I haven't mentioned it to them before now, but I have two questions of my own." He had intended to ask the hard question first, but found the easier one slipping out of him before he could stop himself. "Why do you call me The Man With Two Lives?"

The giantess shook her head, "That is not what you want to ask us, Man with Two Lives, but we will answer anyway." "The two questions are closely linked."

A youth, perhaps in his mid-teens, composed of inky darkness save for two bright yellow eyes, clad in the garb of a wandering swordsman picked up the answer. "In the land where the Twisted Usurper first began his ill deeds, before he took the Flame, before the worlds split, part of you resided." "That land is your birthplace, though none knew of your parentage, and thus you came into the temple." "Your master advised the king, and so you came into the presence of the Queen of the World."

Jasleth stared at the Sages, unable to voice the negation he felt within.

A ghostly apparition of a young woman spoke next, her soft voice somehow easily reaching the party's ears. "Around him, the Twisted Usurper gathered those who played the Game, to best make his move and seize the Frozen Flame." "Thus it was that your other half came to that land, as your enemy." "Many did He bring around him, playing along with one of the scripted events of the Game so that he could find the Flame amidst the chaos of the coup." "The mask of the one known as Kyle was such a one, and most eagerly did he fall upon the defenders of that lost kingdom."

The giantess continued, the stars in her eyes dancing as he gaze seemed to root Jas to the spot. "The you that was the boy Jasleth did battle with the you that was the game mask of Kyle." "Each a being of a different world, but with similar abilities as novice monks." "At the climax of your battle, while Jasleth strove to make his way to the Queen of the World and Kyle did block his path, the two unleashed their most powerful technique upon one another." An image came into Jas's mind of when Kyle had used the Soul Cannon against the undead knight Seth in Beoulve Castle. "Twin weapons of pure soul met at the exact instant that The Twisted Usurper laid his hand on the Frozen Flame."

"And so it came to pass," continued a gleaming crystal in tones reminiscent of silver trumpets, "that as the lines between worlds were blurred, so were these two souls." "The magic released at that instant fused them together, and cast them far in time and space." "So it was that Jasleth remembered being the mask worn by Kyle, and yet is haunted by the memories that still exist deep within him." "Two minds, two souls, merged together in a body that reflects the mind who is strongest at any given moment." "Thus, the Man With Two Lives."

Jas couldn't say anything. He felt the eyes of his party on him, but he lowered his head refusing to meet their gaze. Within him, he felt Kyle's shocked amazement, and a sudden guilt from them both. Twice he opened his mouth to try and speak, but no words came. Wishing desperately that one of the others would speak to thw Sages, do anything to call attention away form him, the Prodigious Youth covered his face with his hands and cursed both his selves for wanting to know the truth.

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Dominic

I listened to the explination of Jasleth's name and sighed. Poor guy. He felt sorry for him, but he had wanted to know the truth. And Thalryn...he had never put two and two together and realized the elf didn't think this was a game. He honestly believes this is real. Like everyone else was beginning to do. I knew I had to keep my mind out of the clouds for everyone's sake.

I looked around the room, then turned to Skyler. "I have to meet with someone." I said to her. "I'll meet you back in the Pagoda." I stood up and nearly crumbled to my feet. Oh yeah.

Suddenly, a kid tapped my shoulder and handed me a walking stick. I managed to lift myself up. "Thanks." I nodded to him. To Skyler, I added: "Don't worry. I'll be fine."

Using the stick as a crutch, I made my way out of the building and down the streets. It was night out now, so we must have been in that lodge for a long time. I could see the Oracles School from a distance. It was a very tall tower that stretched into the sky. I eventually reached the school and entered the building. A series of marble staircases greeted me and I cursed. But despite my leg, I hobbled up the long flights of stairs and made my way to the 23rd floor. The hallway was decrated in shades of green and a large glass door in front of me led out onto the balcony.

I opened the door and walked out. As promised, Ashlin was waiting for me. She was looking out over the edge of the balcony. I walked over next to her and set my stick against the railing, then leaned against it myself.

"The stars are pretty." Ashlin said simply, not even pausing to look at me. I pulled out a cigarette from my pocket and lit it up.

"Yeah, I guess so." I replied just as simply.

"It's hard getting to see you." She said after a few moments of silence. "You're like a celebrity."

"So I've noticed." I puffed out some smoke. "Apparently my party is pretty important."

"Yes, you are." She finally turned to me. "It's good to see the Blight has hbeen treated. I was scared when I heard the news."

"Yeah...it's healed." I nodded.

"Well not exactly healed." Ashlin said. "There is still a trace left in you. Not enough to do any damage." She added quickly. "But if you were to meet up with Avrice again...he might be able to take advantage of that again."

"Yay. Well, I guess I'll have to try and steer clear of him then." I took another drag of my cigarette. Ashlin bit her lip. I noticed and sighed. "We can't avoid him, can we?"

"No..." She said. "I had a vision about you. You will meet the necromancer again. And you will be at his mercy."

There was silence again. I watched the smoke rings from my mouth twirl up into the air then slowly dissapate.

"Is that what you wanted to tell me?" I asked.

"Dom...come on. Why are you so cold?"

"I have a lot on my mind." I said.

"Can I help?" She asked.

"Probably not." I said, but continued anyway. "I had a vision here...I was stabbing one of my teammates...someone very important to me."

"The vampire?" Ashlin asked. I nodded.

"I keep seeing it." I said slowly. "Over and over and over."

"Well, not all haunting dreams are visions." She said. "Just because you are an Oracle doesn't mean you don't have normal fears. Not every dream comes true."

"It feels so real though."

"Don't worry about it. You will have enough to worry about." She turned away again. "There is another hazard you should know about."

"What now?"

"A player named Roland." Ashlin continued. "A high level mage knight."

"I've heard of him. He's heralded as one of the top five players of The Game."

"Well...he has been killing people. Other players, purposely. Whereas the Necromancer believes he is of this world...Roland knows he is a player trapped in this game. And he believes it to be a contest; the last man alive wins. And he is determined to win."

"Let me guess...we will meet him too." I said, already knowing the answer. Ashlin nodded silently. I grunted and stared out at the stars. "Great. More good news. I didn't think this could get worse."

"You don't need to go." Ashlin said quickly. "You could stay with us. Stay with me."

I glanced sideways at her. "I'm not going to leave my friends behind. They need me."

"You'd leave an old friend behind?" Ashlin asked. "I need you too."

I sighed and drooped my head. "You don't mean that."

"I do. I just want you to be safe. I need you to be safe, Dom. For me. I can't lose you to a necromancer."

"We've barely shared a few words since you left for the Sanctuary months ago." I told her. "We've been apart."

"I thought about you every day." Ashlin said, almost begging. "Honestly."

"Look," I turned to face her. "I know there was something between us a while ago. But we didn't even have a relationship. Hell, you didn't even tell me how you felt before you left. I agree we had some romantic tension, but that was it. You can't go away for months without talking to someone and expect some fairy-tale romance. It isn't going to happen."

"Look...I know you had a fling with that vampire, and that's okay! I'm willing to overlook..."

"A fling?" I looked at her incredulously. "Dear god...you actually believe that, don't you?" I turned away from her. "Ashlin, whatever you were hoping to get from this reunion, you aren't getting it. I'll give you a distant friendship, but that's it. I appreciate your warnings, but, please, let go of this romantic dream of yours."

"But I want you so bad..."

"You want your dream so bad." I said curtly. "But not every dream comes true." I tossed my cigarette butt over the edge and, grabbing my walking stick, I walked to the door.

"So...is there any hope...for us?" Ashlin asked quietly. I thought I could hear her sob lightly. I closed my eyes.

"No." I said simply. "And I don't need second sight to see that." With that, I opened the door and left the balcony.

 

[NyghtRayne]

Skyler

When Dominic spoke softly to her, she looked up to him, he said he had to go see someone. She nodded, but was on her feet quickly as he stood and staggered. She was about to say she would go with him, when a young boy tapped him and offered him a walking stick.

He then assured her he would be fine and turned to go. She watched him leave the room before turning back to the Sages. Like Jasleth and Thalryn, she wondered about her place here and the name they had called her. She wanted to ask but was unsure if she should. It didn't take long before curiousity won out over her reluctance to ask.

Once everyone quieted down, she once again stood before the Sages and spoke. "I know I have asked one question, but I am sure we all are more than a little curious as to what our prophesied names mean. Is it something we should know at this time, the others of us who haven't heard, or are we to be kept in the dark as to their meanings?"

 

[Apollo Wilde]

Zhu and her servants

The night air was cool, tugging long fingers through her hair.

She was standing outside, clad in a thin white robe. Her hands clutched it close across her breasts, and she looked out into the distance. The soft calls of night birds reached her ears, painted mournful shadows across the moon. A few of the little creatures flitted back and forth at her feet, feeding on the bread crumbs that she tossed to them. Every once in a while, one of the little creatures would be daring enough to take a morsel from her outstretched hand, and allow her to pet his feathers calmly.

Sighing, she looked at the moon. She had no idea what she was going to do, or where she was going to go. Maybe it would have been in her best interests to have accompanied the elf - everyone needed guidance now and then. When she was younger her path had been linear - now it meandered and curved back and made no sense at all. Like something that she was looking for had suddenly vanished…


“I smell in the air the scent of you
Little dreams had lived with me
Now I know, I don’t want to lose you
That sweetness which has no age
Your beauty has no rivals
My heart wants only you…”*

Lang’s voice startled her awake from her musings. His voice was soft, as he was singing to himself. Pushing some hair away from her face, she sighed. The birds glanced up at her with shiny button eyes, and she tossed them the rest of the crumbs. Without a glance up to Lang, she disappeared within the butter light depths of the inn.
______________________________

Her lithe body slipped through alleyways and corners easily, trailed by three long shadows. The hut of the Sages loomed before her, and she narrowed her eyes ever so slightly. She took her first steps towards the place, hardly aware of Lang’s soft steps at her side.

They may not have had her cure, but they could tell her where to go…

With a deep breath, she pushed aside the curtain over the entrance. Behind her, the three men tensed up, Lang’s lips parting slightly.

*(lyrics from "Per Te")