Thar Shaddin

Both women nodded at Kate as she bowed.

One of the terms between Kate and I is that she knows the purpose of our mission.She is an old family friend and will be of more assistance if she's kept informed of things.

Salovuje nodded, but it was Elemire who replied. "I trust your judgement."

Salovuje chuckled at the banter between the pair of them. "Obviously you've known each other for a while. Perhaps you could share stories about Yyan." She grinned. She never could resist a story. Even Elemire bore a slight curve on her lips, to show that she too was amused.

"Better to travel with friends and humor, than to travel with enemies and sorrow." An old adage reworded to suit the situation was Elemire's reply to Kate's comment. "We are ready to leave as soon as your ship is ready."

We're aware of the dangers. We shall be prepared.

Elemire nodded, but Salovuje looked mystifed. She was unaware of the water's fickle state during the autumn months. She made a face. "I'll remember to bring some ginger root with me, then." Elemire looked amused as she glanced to Salovuje from the corner of her eye. "We will go see an herbalist once we finish here."

Elemire pursed her lips. "I cannot think of anything at this time." She went on to list the items purchased so far. "Is there anything else you suggest?" Elemire slid a glance to Salovuje, "Excluding of course, the visit to the herbalist."

Salovuje gave a ladylike snort. "I can't help that I get seasick on rough voyages."

When Yyan turned his attention to the black box, Elemire placed the box on the table. "I can only assume it contains maps we need." Her green-gold gaze lifted to meet Yyan's, then dropped.

"Will you open it?" asked Salovuje.

Elemire nodded. "An old elf, a son of Baresi, is the one who provided it to us." I will open myself to you, should you wish to review the experience, she thought spoke to Yyan; even as she flipped open the lid of the box.

Within lay thick, vellum parchment, yellowed with age. Elemire wore her gloves, as she always did. Lifting the parchment from the box she carefully unfolded it and lay it flat upon the table. Salovuje just stared at it, a sadness rearing itself once again. She reached out to touch the paper and a soft smile curved her lips.

"It is a map of home." There were two maps, one a star chart for navigation; the second a topological map of the land.

Yyan mostly kept his gaze on the box, but he stole a quick glance of surprise at Elemire for her internal remark to him. You can do that? It was a lesson he had never learned, and he wondered if Elemire would be willing to teach him how. Such a trick would be useful.

It was not necessary, however, for him to review the memory she referred to. At the moment, Yyan was far more interested in the maps contained in the box. With tentative movements, he reached out and brushed a fingertip along the edge of the land map. A sharp tingle raced up his arm, the mark of age and importance utterly saturating the document. It’s genuine, all right, he said reverently. This will be invaluable to us when we reach the lost lands.

He leaned back in his chair and took stock of their progress. Provisions accounted for, passage found, and now these maps in their possession. Yyan grinned. He couldn’t have planned a better day.

Elemire shook her head. No, I thought you might be able to do so. This is as sophisticated as I get. Elemire gave a wry, amused smile.

"I suppose we wait now?" Salovuje looked from Yyan and Elemire. "If so, then I will start my notes for your friend." Salovuje pulled out Misumi's notebook and a pen.

Dear Misumi,

Today, when I awoke I found myself... you. Your friends, Yyan and Elemire, were very concerned. I am sorry to worry them, but they know now that you are safe - only sleeping. I was confused as to why I came forward, but now I know. I must help you and help them. We must finish something that should have been finished a long, long time ago. When... when the darkness was unleashed, we did what we could to save as many people as possible and contain it.

Today we obtained supplies and a ship. Once the Captain of the ship lets us know, we will be underway. Perhaps, with Yyan, Elemire, and others whom they might recruit we can find a way to better resolve a problem created long ago. We also received copies of maps to my home. The discovery of these maps and the case in which they were laid was a surprise to me. I had not thought to see anything belonging to my husband in this time. I hope you do not mind sleeping a while longer, Misumi. I will do my best to keep you from harm.

Be Well,

Salovuje

Elemire leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. She looked to Yyan, subtley indicating that in Misumi's absence he was the designated leader. "I suppose you could play a few tunes," she commented.

Yyan chuckled at Elemire’s suggestion, then lifted an eyebrow and shrugged. Why not? he said. We’ve made far more progress than I could have hoped for. I suppose a little respite is in order.

He reached around and unslung the lute from its usual place at his back. The rowdiest of the tavern patrons had already left, and only strains of casual conversation drifted about the common room. Yyan picked at a few strings experimentally, the instrument’s vibrant voice carrying to the corners, then played a soulful chord. The music seemed to hover in the air, stirring memories and feelings just out of reach, like an echo of a pleasant but incomprehensible dream.

And as all attention focused on the young man sitting at the bar, a shadow appeared in a corner.

It moved like a wisp of stormcloud, or an old drape caught in the wind, sometimes assuming a vaguely humanoid shape. But none observed it or even felt its passing. In this form, it was less than a ghost, except to those who were already dead…

Salovuje…

Her presence had shone out like a beacon when it first appeared, a presence he had recognized immediately. He drifted through the room, a tendril of inky mist reaching toward her. Salovuje…

Should he kill her outright here? He was so close… and surely she would seek to stop him again. Did he possess the substance to commit such an act?

No… it was too soon for that. More important was to discover why she was here, and what she intended. Centuries had passed since the days of the black sun and scarlet rain. Perhaps she would come to her senses, come to understand as he understood…

“Salovuje.”

Afternoon sunlight dappled the room with color and shadow as it filtered through the stained glass, diamond pattern of the small windows.

Why not? We’ve made far more progress than I could have hoped for. I suppose a little respite is in order.

The normally reserved elf granted Yyan a flash of a rare smile. "I look forward to hearing your music." And Elemire was not disappointed. She was an excellent artist, but not musically proficient. She could sing. All elves could, but she was no virtuoso. She appreciated true talent and Yyan was possessed of it.

To her sensitive hearing the voice of the lute was warm and vibrant. The open chord Yyan strummed lifted something within her chest. The tense lines of her body, indicative of the control and reserve with which she carried herself, softened and a melancholy smile curved her lips. Lulled by the music and her own thoughts, the manifested shadowy figure appeared and passed unnoticed through the room.

Salovuje signed her name, then stared at the page. Why had her soul been woken from its slumber? She had not been completely forthcoming with Yyan and Elemire. She was not just memories. She had, for all practical purposes, taken possession of Misumi's body through the blood link they shared, though the possession of the young woman's body had not been intentional or sought. Doors had been opened; perhaps, through divine providence. She had left the clues as she had been directed. She had not expected to be the one to help find them. Her clues were supposed to lead the children of Numen back to the beauteous place the Mother and Father had given them with a warning to not make the same mistakes. But, something did not seem right. Misumi had dreamt of shadows.

As that soulful chord filled the room, she gave Yyan her full attention and propped her chin in her palm. She had known another once who had played as beautifully. He had asked her to write his biography and she had agreed. He had always been a little arrogant, but it was that confidence that had drawn her to him in the first place.

A cloud passed over the sun. Startled, Salovuje looked around. She could have sworn someone spoke her name. A violet-blue gaze searched the room for a moment, before she gave rueful smile. Ghosts from the past haunting a ghost from the past. Salovuje shook her head and wrote:

P.S. Don't forget to ask Yyan to play for you. He plays beautifully.

I really should finish his story, Salovuje thought to herself.

As Yyan brought the song to an end he thought he heard... well, not a sound, exactly, but more than his imagination, already gone by the time his mind wondered over it. Still strumming casually at the lute, he altered his vision and swept his gaze across the room. He saw nothing strange, however, and reverted his sight. Old habits, he guessed. Nothing ever remained this easy, not for long.

Or perhaps he really was just getting paranoid.

His fingers began to skip faster across the strings, his head bobbing lightly to a playful rhythm. Yyan liked to play this one at dances. It needed a violin and a set of pipes as accompaniment to get the most enjoyment out of it, but the lute line was just fun, and very quickly all murky or gloomy thoughts melted away. There was simply life, high-spirited, innocent, and there for the taking.

The shadow, displaced from human and Elven perception, withdrew itself from the scene, and the will behind its mask grinned darkly. He could find her now, whenever she appeared. No place to hide, so he could afford to be patient, plan things as needed, carefully. In a few hours, she would be alone... and one way or another, she would not be allowed to oppose him this time...

Yyan changed the tune, making it more lively. Soon, one or two patrons decided to give in to the infectious rythym. Elemire declined an offer, but Salovjue did not. One should not pass a moment of joy when it is granted one, and so she danced. She glanced to Yyan, smiling with Misumi's features but not Misumi.

Tips found their way into Yyan's possession. Coin was not unusual, just not common for city residents. The afternoon passed in jovial and pleasant companionship. Their boots were delivered and the sun slowly set beneath the horizon. Soon, it would be time for Yyan to speak with Captain Kate. All too soon, the trio would be on the way to Darleone.

I would give it all of tomorrow, Yyan was saying as they were sitting down to dinner in the inn, and most of the following day for Kate to get the ship prepared. Then the open seas await us. He turned his attention to Salovuje. Misumi mentioned to me yesterday that she was going to put in the necessary paperwork for her to take a sabbatical during this voyage, but I don't know if that still needs to be done. I... don't know if you have any control over whether she is awake or not...

Yyan's words trailed away with an embarrassed grin and a hand through his sandy hair. He still had little knowledge of how Salovuje had been awakened, and he hoped that she wouldn't be offened by his ignorant lack of tact.

A quick glance out the darkening window told Yyan that it was almost time for his meeting with Kate. If you aren't too tired, Salovuje, I actually recommend that you come with me. I told Kate that I would speak the truth of our journey, and you may be able to fill in further details that I currently lack. Then he looked over at Elemire and chuckled. You both are more than welcome to join, if you won't get weary of listening to the good captain and I eventually trading barbs and old jokes back and forth.


(OOC: I may have auto'ed the time-shift a little. Let me know if I should change anything.)

(OOC: no worries on that. You've got full rein on the boat journey, so feel free to go hog wild! Thanks for thinking of sitting down to dinner as my brain obviously wasn't working!

OH! for those who might want to join, you could be another passenger or two on the ship or we might even pick you up in the coastal city at Darleone - nonElves are allowed and are not unusual in the port cities - so feel free to just write yourselves in! Not sure how to join, post in the plot thread and we'll work you in! )

"I ... do not." She looked down and back up to Yyan, "I am sorry."

Salovuje paused, then frowned slightly and moved to dig in the satchel Misumi always carried. "These were on her desk. I picked up everything in case it was important." Salovuje laid out a folded set of papers, the biography of Kern Jarrell, her own memory book, and Misumi's notebook. Picking up the papers, she opened them, scanning the contents. "This appears to be a leave of absence request. The format seems fairly simple - name, dates... will we say a 12-month's sabbatical for her?" Salovuje produced the pen and wrote in Misumi's name and the dates. "We can have them delivered by courier, so I am not forced to answer questions I may not know the answer to."

Salovuje tilted her head as she listened to what Yyan had to say. She nodded. "Of course. I will provide as much information as I can. We could ask one of the sailors to deliver the paper work, no?"

Elemire gave one of her small smiles and genuine warmth lit in her gaze. "I will come." Granted, Elemire would have journeyed with them regardless. She would protect Salovuje in order to see this mission through. To do that, she had to be nearby.

The dinner passed in bouts of companionable talk and silence until it was time for them to head to the ship.

Yyan finally shoved his plate away with a satisfied sigh, got up from his seat and stretched his arms high above his head. If you ladies are ready?

Trusting Elemire to watch their rear, he led the way out into the streets and down to the harbor, keeping his newly purchased staff in plain view. Just after dusk was a prime hour for thieves and cutthroats looking for easy marks. Sometimes the sight of an openly displayed weapon was enough to discourage such encounters, and they remained unaccosted all of the way to The Starling’s berth.

Nothing was stirring on deck, but all of the lamps aboard were burning, providing a well-lit path to Captain Burling’s stateroom. Kate herself in a chair with her boots perched on an empty chart-desk, reading through a sheaf of documents in her lap. “Help yourself to refreshment,” she said without looking up. “Be just a moment.”

Yyan looked around and saw a tray set out with a plate of honeycakes and a decanter of wine. He allowed Salovuje and Elemire have first pick of the refreshments, choosing instead to sink into one of the well-worn chairs about the table. After a few moments Kate tossed her papers back on the desk and got to her feet. “Latest activity reports are several months old,” she groused. “Nothing against this country, but the naval intelligence here would be late to report the sinking of the world.” She seemed to notice for the first time that Yyan hadn’t come alone, and offered a smile to the two ladies. “Pay my complaints no mind. We should make fine time as long as the weather stays kindly.”

Did you have any trouble on your journey here? Yyan inquired.

“Nothing brewing down south, but it will be a different matter once we turn west.” Kate poured a cup of wine for herself and plunked down into a tailor’s position on the floor. Her green gaze traveled between her three guests until finally settling on Yyan. “I know you too well, old man. When you told me this was of import, I confess to a shiver down my spine because you don’t fling words like that with no meaning. So… who wishes to go first?”

Yyan leaned forward in his chair to rest his elbows on his knees, his palms rubbing together thoughtfully and his expression serious. All right, Kate. The situation is this…

And up on the deck, a man-sized fragment of gray shadow stirred.

With keen eyes, Elemire scanned the area around them. Like Yyan, she knew that the city was not always safe; especially down by the quays. The boat smelled of lamp oil and soap. Obviously, the Captain kept her ship in top shape. In the lamplight, brass fittings gleamed. Elemire inhaled a deep breath taking in the scent of sea air. A small sense of excitement filled her. She would be going home, soon, if only for a little while.

When the Captain offered refreshments, it was obvious she did not expect conversation just yet. Elemire chose to decline either choice. They had just finished a meal. She took a stance near to a window, looking out upon the water. Salovuje opted to have a glass of the wine and murmured a thank you before taking a seat near to Yyan.

Elemire turned as the Captain spoke. "May the Lady see fit to grant us a smooth and steady passage," she replied. Yyan spoke, then, including them in his conversation. He provided the information he had been given and Elemire included information on her investigation.

Salovuje remained quiet, allowing Yyan to speak. He even told the Captain that she was no longer Misumi. This was the first she had heard of Elemire's experience. There was no doubt that what Misumi had felt was real. Something must have happened to one of the twelve.

"One must have fallen," she said softly, staring down into the glass of wine. Her gaze lifted to the three of them and she spoke a little louder.

"Twelve souls gave themselves to create the seal, or perhaps it was always imperfect. Simply put, we must confirm whether this is the case or not and should the seal be broken, it must be repaired." Salovuje smiled at the three of them, but it was a sad smile. She looked at Elemire for a moment, before looking to Kate and Yyan. "There is always the option to leave it and provide Elemire passage back to Darleone. She has found the answers she needs."

Elemire arched a brow. Salovuje spoke as if she were giving them a choice. What choice was there, but to put things back to the way it should be?

Salovuje continued. "There is much power to be gained by leaving it and letting the seal slowly crumble. Skills like the ones Yyan and Elemire possess would be easier to master. Like the twelve, you have a choice. Perhaps to us it seemed like the end of the world, but perhaps it was not. Perhaps we were too inexperienced with the powers that came with it. Perhaps those who were born into a world that had been touched by the shadows have a better ability to control it. We knew nothing of shadows then. To us, it was unfettered chaos... but now? Would it be?" She shook her head and shrugged.

"I did not expect to awaken. I did not want to awaken, to remember." An almost bitterness tinged her voice. "The releasing of the shadows cost us greatly, but the sealing of it also had great cost. So, the choice is whether you think it is the end of the world or the beginning of a new one." Salovuje used arguments that had been tried on her... power, change is not necessarily bad; all these she had heard before.

Elemire's hand tightened on the hilt of her blade. "It must be stopped. It is unnatural." She looked to the Captain, "Passage to Darleone is needed whether it is Yyan or I who charters with you." Salovuje smiled softly into her cup. She had expected Elemire to say as much. Elemire reminded her of herself, but Salovuje now had experience and loss and a lifetime between her and those moments of surety.

"Certainly, a journey should be made. We should see what is there and what has occurred. For all we know, some fool found the lost city and looted it."

When Salovuje offered her own voice to the matter, Yyan studied her carefully. She held it in check well, but she could not disguise it. The memory of heartache, of loss, of suffering was stark in her eyes and at the edges of her voice. She spoke of letting the matter be, as if the release of untamed power was an inevitable progression of nature… or the consequences of her peoples’ actions. Perhaps the outcome would not be so dire as those of Numen had feared, but Yyan suspected that that was not why Salovuje suggested it.

She had already suffered through the sealing once; she feared that she lacked the strength to see it through again.

“Aye, we must see what’s what,” Kate replied to Salovuje’s last words with a thoughtful nod. “But I agree with the warrioress. This power can’t be allowed to muck about unchecked. I’ve no great power in me, but if it’s a ship you need, then none will serve you better than The Starling. Then… we may see what we shall see.”

Yyan drew a deep breath and let it out slowly, got up from his chair and walked over to where Salovuje sat. He sank into a crouching position beside her chair, and from that position he was nearly eye-level with her. I think we need to clear something up right now, he said gently. I am not a mage. What skills I possess have nothing to do with magic or arcane power. It is focused will. A… Yyan frowned, struggling to explain in terms that would make sense. A different way of ordering the mind. But this power? The true danger is not what it will do unchecked. It is what will happen when someone does learn to command it.

He sighed sadly, feeling much older than he truly was. I have seen what new power does to those without the caution and resolve to command it wisely. The loss of Numen would be a pale imitation to the destruction this world would witness.

“You’re preaching, old man,” Kate remarked dryly.

Yyan glanced at her over his shoulder. Then maybe I’m a priest today. He looked back at Salovuje and smiled. Hear me, for this is only for you. I know that you are weary and afraid. You faced this chaos once, and it cost you dearly. But you will not be alone. Elemire will stand by and guard you with her life if she must, I know she will. And I will do what I can. Whatever you ask of me. But… we cannot do this without you. I hope that you understand.

Something flitted at the corner of his eye, near the door of Kate’s stateroom. Yyan turned his head quickly, startled, but saw nothing there.

The tension in Elemire's body relaxed slightly. Passage was secured no matter what happened now. She watched as Yyan approached Salovuje and spoke with her.

Salovuje's brows raised and she clasped the glass of wine in her lap. With eye contact, the fact that this was not Misumi was very obvious. The gaze into which he looked was deep and old. Salvouje blinked once, but then slowly smiled at Yyan with knowing. She said, "I am familiar with this skill," but fell silent as he continued, voicing the concerns that had resulted in the seal being sought in the first place. She nodded and replied softly, "Aye..."

He was preaching and to the choir. What he said next, though, nearly undid her. It was not that she did not wish to be alone. On the contrary, she did not wish to have others experience the loss she had as well. She knew nothing of these people. Were they all alone, too, or would they be missed?

Oh, how she cursed the day she had let him into her life. Let him into the Hall of Knowledge... She had believed in him. Naive and innocent as the others, she had never believed any of their kind could harbor desires for more than they had been given by the Mother and the Father. It was all her fault, all of it, all because she had believed ...

Even now, in her thoughts, she did not wish to say his name. He had been taken down into the shadows he had wished to unlock and been sealed within them. She did harbor some compassion in her, who of her kind would not? The hope that he could be restored to the Mother and Father lay in her heart, even if her head thought differently.

"I am glad you feel that way, but I ..." It was on her lips to make it know that all this was her fault, to tell about him, but Yyan turned toward the door with surprise showing on his face. Salovuje looked as well, but saw nothing. "Is something wrong?"

Keeping her eyes trained on Yyan, Kate slowly set her wineglass on the ground and inched her fingers toward the hilt of a dagger. Yyan himself frowned at the door for a moment. I thought I saw...

Then another flicker of movement teased his peripheral vision. This time he kept still, resisting the urge to turn and look, and his pupils shrank within his pale irises. No splashes of color, just a gray, smeared image of the stateroom. Yyan reverted his sight. Once again, everything was still.

"Yyan," Kate murmured, moving to get to her feet, "what-"

Everyone stay still.

Heart pounding, Yyan slowly scanned the room. Something was circumventing the room, probably trying to get in behind them. A figure slid into view at the very edge of his sight. Man-sized, gaunt frame, raggedly clothed, features hidden by a shadowing hood, twin scimitars in its hand...

Kate, to your right! Yyan yelled, and put himself in front of Salovuje.

Kate rolled to the side just as the space seemed to part in the space where her head had been. A blade of darkness streaked through the air. For a few eyeblinks the figure materialized: a sallow-skinned man, clothed in rotten garments, eyes milky and dead, lips pulled back in a mad snarl. Then it folded back into the empty air.

Keep it at the edge of your sight! Yyan warned, and got his staff up just in time to block a savage swing toward his stomach. Again, their horrifying assailant appeared on contact, then vanished.

flashback

We have discovered what we think is the famed city of Numen. In the central atrium is what we were told we would find: Twelve statues carved in such likenesses that one could almost expect the statues to speak; each statue bore a look of intense concentration. Each statue held against its chest what appears to be a crystal of some kind. ...

One of the men gave a low whistle.

"If the rumors are true, we could live out the rest of our days like Kings. Hell, we could be kings."

"it's weird how quiet it is here after going through that jungle."

"Yeah, I know. Just means we need to be extra careful. We've come too far to fail now."

"You know, I thought for sure there'd be some kind of pit or something, but it's smooth as glass. It looks just like the rest of the place."

"Yeah, cold, white, and dead. Like bones. It gives me the creeps. Come on, hurry up and pick one already. Remember, we have to be out of here before dark. Supposedly dark is when the place gets bad. Real bad."

Choosing one of the statues the group pried a crystal loose. Within the crystal danced the soul of the person who stood upon the dias, for these were not statues but the bodies of those who sacrificed themselves, their chance at rebirth, to forever be a sentinel at the edge of Darkness. The crystal was the focal point through which the seal was formed. When the crystal was removed, the statue crumpled like a person falling down. That was startling enough that the men ran before they could remove more of the crystals, but the damage had been done.

In the shadows beneath the fallen body, tendrils of darkness leeched out and spread like a virus over the pristine white.

End flashback

I thought I saw...

Salovuje looked in the direction of the door. She saw nothing and looked back at Yyan just in time to see his pupils shrink, leaving a sea of blue. When he said to remain still, she did so. Salovuje's head jerked to look in Kate's direction as the woman dropped and rolled away from a black and shadowy blade that appeared and disappeared just as quickly.

Horrified, she put her hand to her mouth. She recognized that face. The seal had been broken and his body had been taken by the shadows. No!

"Eifandir, do not do this! You gave your life to defeat the shadows. Don't let them control you now!"

But, he was gone.

Elemire tensed and opened her senses. She had tasted the darkness and knew what to look for this time, though she was unsure whether she could defeat it. From her standing position, she suddenly leapt. Her blade hung scant inches from Salovuje's head and wavered as if pressure bore down on it.

The elf clenched her fist and punched as soon as the creature manifested itself. That milky white gaze flicked to her as the figure's head fell backward and forward in recoil. Disgust filled her gut. Unnatural! Before she could strike again, it was gone. Doing as Yyan instructed, Elemire found a point on which to focus in order better use her peripheral vision and waited. Would it try to strike again.