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Post by Aradia on Nov 4, 2001 14:07:48 GMT -5
Kagegiro sleeps fitfully.
At first he has dreams of his mother, the pretty and petite elven mage Kasalawthyn...he dreams of her days on Rezen, and then sees her sucked into a whirlwind of mist and dust, her screams wretching his heart...he sees a sea of blood...and knows not what this means, for his mother had a peaceful journey over to Nykas many years ago, by the hands of one of his two fathers.
After waking in a cold sweat, he gets up and kneels by his bedmat, pouring a glass of cold Tadak tea--a Rekiki specialty--into his cup to cleanse his mind from the bad dreams. After finishing two cups of the tea, he meditates for a half hour and returns to bed.
The dreams continue, but this time...a different tack.
Although Kagegiro follows a Rezenite god, the god of his mother, he also pays the reverance due to the gods of the Rekiki during each of the holidays. So it is not that he does not recognize the four Braided gods of the Rekiki...it just surprises him, since he does not pay them the same dedication and honor he gives Chian, the god of knowledge. But there they stood: Clever Kahi, short swords at her side....kind and compassionate Sherek....the laughing Maikym, a grin from ear to ear as always....and the wise Turan. Kahi steps forward to speak, and Kagegiro gives a reverent bow to the one warrior of the Braid. Speaking in the tongue of the Rekiki, she gives a grim smile to Kagegiro. "You are the chosen of your god, and you are the chosen of the Rekiki...fitting is it not? We both need you, and we both need you to go to the world of your mother. For us, we need assistance. As you know, the Dark God T'kul has rampaged across Nykas, and we remain in the shadows to escape his wrath. He destroys more and more each day, eating away at the spirit of Nykas. All of Nykas will fall if he is not stopped, for his ways demolish the fragile balance that Nykas needs to thrive. The one who can stop him, the Wild Card, has been born. He is little, but he is safe. The Nine must train him when it is time. The Nine are hidden in the caves of the Great Dragon, and we cannot reach them nor help them because not a one worship the gods of the Rekiki. But we need them to live, and we need them to live safely, until they are needed. Additionally, they each bear the seed of the Great Dragon, whose death...sadly...is imminent. They must be protected twofold: they must be kept away from Nykas until such time as it comes for them to retrieve and train the wild card, and they must be helped in their pregnancies to carry forth the last seed of the Great Dragon of Nykas. They are attempting to hop to Rezen. But unfortunately, they have latched onto Antir as a Port for their travelling, and Antir is magicked against teleportations to their place. Not even with the Orb can they break that shield. They will need to teleport onto another place on Rezen. You must find them, protect them, and carry them back to Antir to the temple of Vristinakal to hide until the time is right. They will be safest there. Anywhere else, T'kul will find them. This is your duty we ask of you." As Kahi finishes her monologue, she bows back to Kagegiro and steps in line with the other goddess and two gods.
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Post by Aradia on Nov 4, 2001 14:08:41 GMT -5
Then, from the side, the tall and cold presence of Chian strides in front of them, with a quick nod to acknowledge their presence. "I am greatful for the Rekiki gods to allow me here, as my force is not strong here with a mere handful of worshippers to come of my own will. Greetings, Kagegiro. I have need of you. As you do the duty to the Rekiki, keeping eye for the Nine to appear, and ferrying them back to the island of Antir, I wish you to travel with another group. You remember the legends of the 5 that your mother taught you, yes? Well, your blood mother I should say", he scowls, shaking his head. "Damned Braiding system, so strange. Two mothers, two fathers...seems hard to keep straight. Anyway, one of the Five has been found. The armor. The gods of Rezen are asking that this group find all of them before others get ahold of them and use them for ill. To find them, and keep them safe as they resurface across the world. Their leader is an elf, Ilvanas Mithrilmoon. And his consort Ren O'the Star is half elven herself. Several members of the group speak elvish, which is good since you do not know Rezenite common. You won't need to seek them out, I'm placing you right there on the ship they are sailing on, as they make their long journye to find the amulet. You need to journey with them and find these artifacts. If you agree to follow the word of your liege, that is", he adds, his eyebrow raised for a moment. As Kagegiro replies that his liege's wishes are always his own, Chian smiles. "Good, good. Pack up your things on the morrow and wait by the Silver Pond. I will let one of your people transport you from there." He pats Kagegiro on the back and Kagegiro feels a wash of super charged energy that nearly sends him to his knees.
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Post by Aradia on Nov 4, 2001 14:26:50 GMT -5
As the storm worsens, there is a loud crack in the air--not of thunder, but something more unusual sounding. There is a brilliant flash of silvery light that dances across the waves, sending a beacon to Yindarwe's ship. He stops tugging at a rope as he sees it, and turns to Liandra. "Wonder what the hell that is!" he yells, and then stares at it as it begins to fade.
As Thamior, Orn, Krillian, Katrina and Kothoses head down towards the decks to tend to sick passengers, the noise drags them back up again. Ren quickly pops out of her room with Ilvanas, curious looks on their faces as they follow behind the others in a mad dash to get up on deck and see what has happened.
The sight before them is not what they expected.
A warrior, brightly adorned in colorful armor of plates that are blue, yellow, red, green, and purple stands tall next to a petite woman with pale purplish skin, and dark black hair with sharp blue eyes. She is not dressed except for in her tatoos, and she quickly places a hand on her hip as she cocks her head, staring intently at the crewmembers who oggle her and the party members tumbling up above the stairs. The man carries two swords at each side, a daggar in the middle, a small backpack with a naginate on the sides, with a bow on it and several quivers attached onto the backpack. All the weapons are sheathed in black, and all weapons except the bow have tassels. In short, a warrior dressed like nothing you'd ever see on Rezen.
Ren agilely dodges and weaves between the others to head up to the prow, putting a hand on the captain who has drawn her sword in confusion. "I've lived on Antir long enough to expect the unexpected. Stay your weapon until we know that's an enemy. Whoever it is, is not from HERE, I can assure you of that." Her beautiful emerald eyes narrow as she studies the Rekiki mage back, eyes flickering over her body and tatoos of mystical symbols as she then switches her gaze to the warrior. She attempts to greet them in Rezenite common. She sees that they do not respond and stare at her, so on a whim--noticing the vaguely elvish cast to the warrior, she tries elvish. "Greetings. I am Ren O'the Star of Antir. Who are you, and what is your purpose here?"
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MasterD_Evil
Peasant
The things we do to the people that we love...
Posts: 50
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Post by MasterD_Evil on Nov 4, 2001 14:41:41 GMT -5
Kagegiro looks at the men and women on the deck, finding them to be strangely dressed along with pale (to him) skin colours. He glances at the woman besides him, speaking to her in Rekiki, "Lijkt erop alsof we op het goede schip zitten, zij beweerd Ren O'the Star te zijn... maar ik stel voor dat we toch op onze hoede blijven, zij zijn en blijven vreemden voor ons, en voor hen zijn wij nog veel vreemder..."
He then hears Ren speak Elven and replies to her in the same language, "I am Kagegiro and this is Yalanwa, we are from Nykas, she is Rekiki and I am half-Rekiki... I am a warrior sent here by your god Chian to protect the group as you seek the legendary five. She is the one who brought me here under the guidance of Chian."
For now he decides not to tell them the rest of the story, just in case.
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Post by Aradia on Nov 4, 2001 14:57:57 GMT -5
Ren smiles, and nods. "Ah, yes, we are still down a party member or two even with your addition! Is Yalanwa staying with you, or departing back to ...Nykas you say?" As the captain starts a firey protest, Ren quickly slams a fist full of gold coin into her palm. Turning to her, she smiles and uses her charm. "This should pay for their passage with us. You have more room for them?"
The captain replies, after scratching her head for a moment, that there are no more passenger rooms, but that if they didn't mind there was a small room with a few kegs of beer and some casks of wine in it...enough room to spread out two bedrolls and store some stuff, if they needed to do so. Ren nods and replies that this is acceptable, then translates it all into elvish for Kagegiro. The captain then takes Ren and the two newcomers to the storage area to place their belongings should they desire to do so. "Are you well for food?" Ren asks them, concerned. "I will introduce you to the others as soon as you tell me you are ready to do so." Yalanwa just looks up at Kagegiro, perplexed by the babble of two languages she does not know.
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MasterD_Evil
Peasant
The things we do to the people that we love...
Posts: 50
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Post by MasterD_Evil on Nov 4, 2001 15:05:04 GMT -5
Kagegiro listens attentively to Ren as they're guided to the storage space, "Yalanwa will depart again once her powers are regained... And some food would be nice yes if that is within your power to grant us. Although I am able to meet the others if they wish to meet me."
But before doing anything else he first turns to Yalanwa, "We kunnen hier blijven voor de nacht, er is blijkbaar niets anders vrij, maar het is beter dan niets... Ren zei ook dat ze voor eten zou zorgen... Maar blijkbaar zitten wij hier tesamen voor deze nacht, alhoewel ik zeker ben dat de nacht doorgeraken geen probleem zal zijn." the last part said winking at Yalanwa.
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Post by Kothoses the Tyrant on Nov 4, 2001 15:05:39 GMT -5
Kothoses swirls round, hands instinctivly going for his swords and drawing them as he jumps infront of Katrina to protect her from what ever is happening. He spots Ren makeing her way with much agility to where the new fgiure is "By the mother of all mystry, what in the BLUE HELL is that?" Koth asks slightly astounded, then spotting all the weapons and Ren Unarmed he makes his way, with much less agility, to where the two are.
The strange man starts spouting forth words he cant understand "Oh great another one that talks gibberish, as if Krillian wasnt enough, can you understand what he is saying Ren?, it sounds familiar Elven perhaps, but I cant place the accent" Kothoses stands with swords lowered but ready to fight the newcomer should he prove hostile.
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MasterD_Evil
Peasant
The things we do to the people that we love...
Posts: 50
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Post by MasterD_Evil on Nov 4, 2001 15:10:18 GMT -5
Before following Ren, Kagegiro eyes the man holding the sword near her carefully. Oddly enough, he then proceeds to watch the sword he's holding, grinning, "Brol vergeleken met onze techniek van smeden." he says to Yalanwa.
(the other translations have been given to our DM through ICQ, but posting this one here) Translation: "Junk compared to our technique of smithing."
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Post by Kothoses the Tyrant on Nov 4, 2001 15:18:30 GMT -5
Kothoses tries not to act aggresivly round the stranger "Ren what did you mean he is not from round here, I mean by the gods I am used to seeing strange things round you, but heavilly armed and armoured warriors DO NOT JUST APPEAR IN THE MIDDLE OF BOATS REN ITS NOT NATURAL" Kothoses says not knowing if to laugh, or if to just stand there, like he was, open mouthed gawping at the fact a fully armourerd man had just dropped out of the sky "holy samurai from the sky batwoman, Ren, I think even you might have trouble working this one out"
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Post by Aradia on Nov 4, 2001 15:50:08 GMT -5
Ren laughs. "Aren't you used to odd things by now? Remember Devon's dream that he told to us, of the Nykasians? They are both from Nykas, of a race that is called Rekiki....he is only half, and the other half must be elvish, because he speaks elvish. He is our replacement for one of our disappearing party members." With that she guides him to the room, and after hearing his need of food, Ren goes to snag two meals from the mess hall even though dinner time has passed. With Ren's charm and presence, it is not even a question that she can't procure the food, and arrives shortly afterwards with a tray of cold roast beef, a hunk of white cheese, a loaf of bread, a couple of oranges and two mugs of mead. When Ren enters the room, she sees the bedrolls are already out, and that the Rekiki woman is thoroughly entwined on Kagegiro's back, nibbling at his ear. Ren's eyebrows raise, surprised but not shocked, and she sets down the food quietly. "When you are done with...whatever...feel free to track me down. I'm one floor up, first door to the right from the stairs. Ilvanas is with me in that room. I'll show you the others at that time. Good to have you along!" And she nods to them and leaves.
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Post by Kothoses the Tyrant on Nov 4, 2001 16:02:44 GMT -5
Kothoses shakes his head and returns to Katrinas side, "well ive seen some weird things in my time my dear, but that has to be the strangest yet, and coming from some one thats seen the Darkarwyn bobbing along like a beech ball, drank brandy with Juslin, watched a drinking contest with the head of the mages guild and a preist, and even been kissed on the head by shuliu thats saying something" Kothoses takes Katrinas hand inside his own, "now wasnt there some sick people you wanted to visit?" he asks softly.
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Post by Aradia on Nov 4, 2001 19:11:23 GMT -5
Katrina blinks, still not moving at all of this that she sees in front of her. When Kothoses reminds her of the task that was interupted, she nods mutely to him and heads back down the stairwell to the cabins. She finds the door of the young noble miss who scurried downstairs, and knocks quietly. An older gentleman that they had seen on deck with the young lady appears, looking stern. "Yes?", he inquires with a serious face that shows wrinkles etched like roads all over his cheeks and forehead.
"My name is Katrina, and I saw the young lady disappear down below looking sick. I am a witch by trade, and I thought I might help her?" Katrina smiles with just a hint of her shyness shown, as her eyes just can't meet his as she speaks.
The man blinks once, then nods and lets her in. He almost shuts the door before Kothoses goes inside, a brief look of concern crossing his face. But when he sees Kothoses' determination to follow, he allows him inside. However, the man continues to stare at him very intently, as if he was trying to determine that he already had met this man somewhere. The young lady lies on her bunk, moaning, the stench of vomit in the air already as a bucket near her bed reeks of her stomach's contents. Katrina goes over to the girl immediately, her mind solely on the task of making the pretty and frail girl better. She starts by examining the girl, and asking her some whispered questions.
The man frowns at Kothoses. Then his frown deepens more, as his eyes narrow angrily. But he says not a word.
Katrina, after a few moments, sighs. "I need to go back to the cabin, Kothoses, and fetch a different bag. Plus a washbasin and a rag, to clean her up. I'll be back in a moment." And before he can protest one whit, the girl is off in a flurry of long reddish hair, the gust of wind from the slamming door ruffling the clothes on the man. Who is still staring at Kothoses with a death gaze in his eyes.
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Post by Kothoses the Tyrant on Nov 4, 2001 19:18:53 GMT -5
Kothoses stands in silence admireing the work Katrina does, he tries to shake off the gaze of the man, but the burrowing eyes seem locked onto him, as if trying to peer through the walls Kothoses has placed up beyond his soul.
Kothoses nods as Katrina announces she is returning to the cabin, he turns to the strange "ermm I dont know if its just me being paraniod but if looks could kill I get the distinct impression that you would have had me burried by now, have I.. Have I done something to upset you good sir?" Kothoses tries to ask in the way the more outgoing party members would ask such a question, though he trips over his words and the whole question is delivered genuinely, with concern if not with any real flair.
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Post by Aradia on Nov 4, 2001 19:36:02 GMT -5
The man scowls, and says, "You are one of them. I can see the family resemblance in your face, in your carriage. I can spot a Whitehall spawn anywhere." The girl on the bunk stops moaning for a minute, and fear crosses her face as she looks up at Kothoses, her already pale skin growing taught and even paler.
Before Kothoses can even react, Katrina whirls into the room in a flurry, a washbasin and rag in one hand, another bag in the other. "Well, NOW I have the right herbs", she says cheerily. "The other herbs were not right for a woman in her condition. Although I am concerned enough about that as it is", she says, a worried look fleeting across her face. "You're so tiny, and so young", she whispers to the girl just barely audible for Kothoses to hear, and not loud enough for the man glaring at him to hear. "You do know you're pregnant, yes? You've skipped enough cycles by now to tell, I'd think...." Kothoses notices the girl burst into tears, as he watches Katrina shake her head. "I guess you didn't know for sure then. I'm sorry, my lady", and she reaches out to hold her hand. The older man brushes past Kothoses and gruffly interjects the moment between Katrina and the young lady. "What is this? Tears? She cries for what? I want to know!" The girl looks wan, and says through sniffles, "I'm with child."
The man howls in rage, clenching his fists. He turns to Kothoses and snarls, "YOU! You and your bastard kind, YOU did this to her!" Katrina reflexively places a calming hand on his arm to keep him from going to Kothoses, looking a little bewildered.....
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Post by Spelman on Nov 4, 2001 19:45:21 GMT -5
When the new warrior appears on the deck Thamior is at first amazed, and then decides that he has seen too many things recently to be surprised anymore. This is far too much like the elven Tales of Dreams in which anything imaginable can happen. The female on the other hand, gains his attention for a moment. He whispers to Kothoses that her method of fashion would probably save a lot of time in laundering....and perhaps in other concerns, as well. When it is disclosed that he is Rekiki, Tham becomes very interested. This means there is the chance to gain another story or two, perhaps a song and if there is any luck at all, one of them may even know how to play an instrument, and show him some of the songs of their homeland. Gazing at the clothing of the male and the weaponry, Tham thinks of his own bard's costume in the sack by his bunk, and thinks "I must find his tailor." Going below decks with Koth and Katrina, Tham enjoys the staring contest between Koth and the older gent. He watches as Katrina goes down the hall to get her things. After a few moments tension, he can stand the thick silence no longer. Then the older man speaks. Tham's hand rests calmly on the hilt of his rapier and he smiles at the older man, indicating that he hmeans no threat. When the older man rages Tham still waits to see what will happen.
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