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L'Aurel's Journal (A Kingdom of Ashes) -updated 3/23
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<blockquote data-quote="Laurel" data-source="post: 1820384" data-attributes="member: 17067"><p><strong>Chapter 2- “Scions of a Dying Age”</strong></p><p></p><p><em><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Day Eleven - The Crossing to Oceanus </span></em></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">For the third time that night I awake to the soft bell sounding from the crow’s nest. Shaking off the mornings cold fog, I go quickly go to the bow of the large ship. Just as I had remember it, I feel the cool spray hit my face. I look down quickly seeing the sleek shape of the helpers. The sailors say they guide ships in times of trouble and give messages of good omens. I see Justice come above deck just before dawn, looking around with a purposeful questing. She then takes long strides to the stern apparently happy with the pacing distance between Wheel and rail. She stands for a long moment, and even at this distance can hear the Apectan creed echo through my mind. As she finishes I feel my lips stop moving, and turning back to the waves try not to think on that fact.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Finding myself bored and in need of activity I follow Xath as she learns the ropes of sailing. Some of the scragly crew are more willing then others to give me a lesson knowing that though it will slow them down it will be a long journey. Arhconus and Xath seem to catch on more quickly swinging and tying ropes that I am still struggling with. One of the crew told me I just needed to get my sea legs. I thought mine were fine and sturdy, but if these sea legs help me for this long journey I would gladly welcome them. </span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Farathier scoffs at the idea of helping the lower hands on deck, but offers to take watch in the mast. The crow’s nest I believe it is called. Arfin has yet to keep anything down, but with Kareth at his side he seems to be doing better. Justice- she is as she was. I have heard her by the captain talking of wind and currents, so it is not that she does not know of this sailing bit. But she contentedly spends her days with her journal or practicing her movements with her long sword.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">As the stars began to grow in their light, we gathered round on the deck. It was a pattern we had set, and I was glad for some normalcy. As the pale moon light lit Xath’s face she asked Justice about her life, where she came from and what her dreams where. Though it took a few careful sips of her tea, Justice finally spoke of her time at the Jade Forest academy, her Fairweather name told of her parentage, she was child born at sea adrift. Her mother had come occasionally to see her, but never stayed for too long having given her to the Order. </span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Xath next looked to Arfin who told us of his lost wife and child, of his need for the drink he had hoped would bring death. He also spoke briefly of his strange religion, to someone called Dumotheon. He spoke little of this, but even the two short sentences where more then we had gotten before.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Kareth wisely saw he was next in line and before Xath could ask he told us in his own way of his home, One Oak far in the east. He also told us of his master, the one who had taught him all he knows. He also spoke lovingly of his mother, a gentle human woman.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Continuing around the circle we all looked to Farathier beside Kareth, and though he had to swallow a few times he finally told us of his time North and with the talons. </span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Xath spoke sadly of the death of her parents. Her voice telling the happy life she had lived both with them and later with the high alder that raised her. She spoke of how she didn’t want to leave here home near Sylvanus, but her elders had decreed it would be better for her. As she turned her gaze to me, she smiled urging me to continue the sharing.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">It was easy to speak of Michael. It was not so easy to speak of his death, and it was even harder to tell them I had keep something a secret these long days. Hoping they would not hate me for the deception I told them of my connection to Link Woodshadow and all that had been said in the monastery. Looking to Farathier, I asked his forgiveness for not trusting him then. I had learned so much about them since them. Feeling the weight lifted when I was done, I knew there was nothing I would keep from these people again. Looking to hear what the last member of our group would say- <em>well, maybe one thing…</em>I admitted to myself.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Archonus sat quietly not having said a word, and not even having given notice to what was said thus far. As all eyes turned to him, he sat there continuing his meal not seeming to notice the looks. Finally Xath pushed, “Archon, wha’ of ye? Wha’ would ye tell us?” He glanced up slowly looking around at us all. “What would you know?” was his simple reply. He answered our short, yet broad questions, thinking before each answer. I felt for some reason that he never lied, but he also made a point to answer no more then what was asked. How like him. But we did find out that he had a mother and sister in Sylvanus but they were both dead now. He had trained with the Talons never fitting in, his mark always getting in the way of close relationships. As they asked him questions I start to realize they called him Archon. For some reason this felt wrong… he was Arhconus. Archon’s were angels, messengers of the Light; they were truth, honor and love combined. No, he was simply Archonus.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Finally we left off, knowing he would answer, but not wanting to intrude on his privacy we quieted. As the others began to move about, going below for the night or to find a more private area to brood, I sat next to Xath. She had a stick in her hands her short torso bent in concentration over a small pile of sand. She moved it about with the tip of the wood, but then uttered a curse and wiped her small foot over the sand. I asked her what she was drawing, and she replied easily a symbol for the army we were to lead. Symbols held a power of their own, and should never be over looked.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">I sat quietly by watching as she again and again made pattern in the sand some intricate some like a child’s drawing, but soon they all took the form of a bird rising from the ashen sand. A Phoenix.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Finally I drew enough courage to ask about her time with the high elves of Sylvanus, not knowing much more then basics of their history, their way of life, their handling of the shame. She easily dealt with my pile of questions, shifting through them and asking me to repeat some she may have missed. Finally long after the second bell for the night rang we said good night. I smiled knowing oddly that Xath was one of those people I would be bound in friendship to for the rest of my life… no matter what came in our future.</span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Laurel, post: 1820384, member: 17067"] [b]Chapter 2- “Scions of a Dying Age”[/b] [i][font=Verdana]Day Eleven - The Crossing to Oceanus [/font][/i] [font=Verdana]For the third time that night I awake to the soft bell sounding from the crow’s nest. Shaking off the mornings cold fog, I go quickly go to the bow of the large ship. Just as I had remember it, I feel the cool spray hit my face. I look down quickly seeing the sleek shape of the helpers. The sailors say they guide ships in times of trouble and give messages of good omens. I see Justice come above deck just before dawn, looking around with a purposeful questing. She then takes long strides to the stern apparently happy with the pacing distance between Wheel and rail. She stands for a long moment, and even at this distance can hear the Apectan creed echo through my mind. As she finishes I feel my lips stop moving, and turning back to the waves try not to think on that fact.[/font] [font=Verdana]Finding myself bored and in need of activity I follow Xath as she learns the ropes of sailing. Some of the scragly crew are more willing then others to give me a lesson knowing that though it will slow them down it will be a long journey. Arhconus and Xath seem to catch on more quickly swinging and tying ropes that I am still struggling with. One of the crew told me I just needed to get my sea legs. I thought mine were fine and sturdy, but if these sea legs help me for this long journey I would gladly welcome them. [/font] [font=Verdana]Farathier scoffs at the idea of helping the lower hands on deck, but offers to take watch in the mast. The crow’s nest I believe it is called. Arfin has yet to keep anything down, but with Kareth at his side he seems to be doing better. Justice- she is as she was. I have heard her by the captain talking of wind and currents, so it is not that she does not know of this sailing bit. But she contentedly spends her days with her journal or practicing her movements with her long sword.[/font] [font=Verdana]As the stars began to grow in their light, we gathered round on the deck. It was a pattern we had set, and I was glad for some normalcy. As the pale moon light lit Xath’s face she asked Justice about her life, where she came from and what her dreams where. Though it took a few careful sips of her tea, Justice finally spoke of her time at the Jade Forest academy, her Fairweather name told of her parentage, she was child born at sea adrift. Her mother had come occasionally to see her, but never stayed for too long having given her to the Order. [/font] [font=Verdana]Xath next looked to Arfin who told us of his lost wife and child, of his need for the drink he had hoped would bring death. He also spoke briefly of his strange religion, to someone called Dumotheon. He spoke little of this, but even the two short sentences where more then we had gotten before.[/font] [font=Verdana]Kareth wisely saw he was next in line and before Xath could ask he told us in his own way of his home, One Oak far in the east. He also told us of his master, the one who had taught him all he knows. He also spoke lovingly of his mother, a gentle human woman.[/font] [font=Verdana]Continuing around the circle we all looked to Farathier beside Kareth, and though he had to swallow a few times he finally told us of his time North and with the talons. [/font] [font=Verdana]Xath spoke sadly of the death of her parents. Her voice telling the happy life she had lived both with them and later with the high alder that raised her. She spoke of how she didn’t want to leave here home near Sylvanus, but her elders had decreed it would be better for her. As she turned her gaze to me, she smiled urging me to continue the sharing.[/font] [font=Verdana]It was easy to speak of Michael. It was not so easy to speak of his death, and it was even harder to tell them I had keep something a secret these long days. Hoping they would not hate me for the deception I told them of my connection to Link Woodshadow and all that had been said in the monastery. Looking to Farathier, I asked his forgiveness for not trusting him then. I had learned so much about them since them. Feeling the weight lifted when I was done, I knew there was nothing I would keep from these people again. Looking to hear what the last member of our group would say- [i]well, maybe one thing…[/i]I admitted to myself.[/font] [font=Verdana]Archonus sat quietly not having said a word, and not even having given notice to what was said thus far. As all eyes turned to him, he sat there continuing his meal not seeming to notice the looks. Finally Xath pushed, “Archon, wha’ of ye? Wha’ would ye tell us?” He glanced up slowly looking around at us all. “What would you know?” was his simple reply. He answered our short, yet broad questions, thinking before each answer. I felt for some reason that he never lied, but he also made a point to answer no more then what was asked. How like him. But we did find out that he had a mother and sister in Sylvanus but they were both dead now. He had trained with the Talons never fitting in, his mark always getting in the way of close relationships. As they asked him questions I start to realize they called him Archon. For some reason this felt wrong… he was Arhconus. Archon’s were angels, messengers of the Light; they were truth, honor and love combined. No, he was simply Archonus.[/font] [font=Verdana]Finally we left off, knowing he would answer, but not wanting to intrude on his privacy we quieted. As the others began to move about, going below for the night or to find a more private area to brood, I sat next to Xath. She had a stick in her hands her short torso bent in concentration over a small pile of sand. She moved it about with the tip of the wood, but then uttered a curse and wiped her small foot over the sand. I asked her what she was drawing, and she replied easily a symbol for the army we were to lead. Symbols held a power of their own, and should never be over looked.[/font] [font=Verdana]I sat quietly by watching as she again and again made pattern in the sand some intricate some like a child’s drawing, but soon they all took the form of a bird rising from the ashen sand. A Phoenix.[/font] [font=Verdana]Finally I drew enough courage to ask about her time with the high elves of Sylvanus, not knowing much more then basics of their history, their way of life, their handling of the shame. She easily dealt with my pile of questions, shifting through them and asking me to repeat some she may have missed. Finally long after the second bell for the night rang we said good night. I smiled knowing oddly that Xath was one of those people I would be bound in friendship to for the rest of my life… no matter what came in our future.[/font] [/QUOTE]
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