IA: A Teacher for Laynie

[Bront]

"Pardon me dear Teller, I am Vanitri Duskrider, a fellow 'folk. You must guard your crystal ball with your life, for the Nesfylim seek it for a dark ritual, for it seems it is an orb of great power. Lady Lyrue over there will do what she can to halt the army coming to this spot."

Vanitri finaly takes a breath. "And, do you perhaps have a horse we can ride, we have one more warning we must pass on."

 

[Rystil Arden]

"Duskrider...yes...an apt name for one who rode upon the winds and raced the sun towards its cloud-enshrouded perch below the horizon."

"I have not a horse of my own, my friend. But there are many horses among the 'folk, and none who would begrudge a bit of sharing as is Mongrel's way, particularly in such dire circumstances...The Nesfylim, you say? I am not sure I could survive such an assault, but this old woman's bones shall never leave this tent if e'er the villain makes away with what he seeks."

 

[Bront]

"Good madam seer. Warn the rest of the folk to be on guard, and see if you can't care for my mount, she's served me well."

Vanitri heads back to Lady Lyrue, "I think we have one more message to deliver tonight. Ya up for it?"

 

[Rystil Arden]

"Sure. Where to next,"

*There is the sound of a horn and the thunderous hooves of many horses, and a small Medibarian squadron of several hundred soldiers pulls up to the camp, but their weapons are sheathed. A robed man pulls up to the front of the group, and a few of them ride forward to where Lady Lyrue and her rescuer are standing.*

"Princess Elayna, I am truly relieved that you are alright."

"Thank you for your concern, Lord Galton. I was actually not alright until very recently--I was abducted by the Nesfylim and saved by this man, the one that they are calling Duskrider. The Nesfylim have tried to trick you into fighting so that they can steal your talisman, to unbind their Dark Master."

"I see...then I must head back post-haste to prevent this. Come with me, princess, and I'll take you back where you belong."

"Not yet, Lord Galton. I will return when I am ready. After all, I must attend to my mother's wishes and continue my arcane studies as she has commanded."

"Continue them here?"

"I wasn't going to be the one to balk at mother's commands. If you would like to tell her you question her judgment, we can go and you can say that to her face."

*He pales a bit.*

"Well no, princess, I mean of course not...I..."

"Good, then it is settled. Guard the talisman well, Lord Galton. You will be doing our people a great service tonight."

 

[Bront]

"Well, that seems to be well tended to then. I'd best make sure Eirian is taken care of then."

"So, continue your studies here eh?" Vanitri asks, looking at the princess with a smile and a curious look.

 

[Rystil Arden]

"I won't let something little like a Nesfylim kidnapping plot get in the way of one of my few escapes from palace life...Speaking of which, I'd best put my necklace back on now--I left it off so that Lord Galton could scry on me if he wished to assure that I was fine. I think I have a lot still to learn out here, Mister Duskrider."

*Taking his hand in hers, they walk back to tend on the noble lunari, as the sky fades to the dark of night, sprinkled with stars, and the world itself seems to fade away into a timeless mist.*

*As the mist clears, Vanitri finds himself back in the darkened candlelit room in the catacombs. The first professor who brought him there annoints him with a wine of a fine old vintage.*

"You have learned from what was and what has come before. Now you must conquer your inner demons and wrestle with the uncertainty within you. Are you ready, Vanitri Duskrider?"

 

[Bront]

Vanitri sighs. He was looking forward to the 'studying'. "I am ready."

 

[Rystil Arden]

"Very well. The second is for what is. Walk into the archway."

*As Vanitri steps inside, he feels that same unusual feeling as before, of losing himself and swirling through countless realities. This time, when it clears, he finds himself in a beautiful forest clearing filled with all the prettiest girls he has ever met, scantily clad and each beckoning him to follow, saying variations on:*

"Come with me, Vanitri. Let's experience all the world has to offer!"

(OOC: By the way, I'm collecting feedback on that flashback bit--was it fun? In case you couldn't tell, that was the original Duskrider )

 

[Bront]

Vanitri looks around, admiring the views, and trying to orient himself.

OOC: Yup. It's possable he's a decendant of him (or even them). Who knows. I figured it out towards the end of the ride.

 

[Rystil Arden]

*A voice that sounds like his own, but far more sinister speaks to him.*

"Wake up to the real world, you fool. Awake from this idle dream,"

*Vanitri tries to orient himself, perhaps to follow one of the winsome lasses, but he finds that now he can barely move. His muscles have shriveled away and his body weakened to the point he can barely hold himself up. And suddenly, the nymphette-filled forest melts away and reveals a tiny drab gray room with bars on the window like a prison, and a seemingly-insurmountable stack of books before him on the table.*

"You are so weak...dreaming of a life like that. But you gave that up long ago. Now look at yourself!"

*Another Vanitri walks out from behind the stack of books. This Vanitri is buffly well-muscled and physically perfect, much moreso than Vanitri ever was. His perfect white smile is belied by the cruel look in his eyes.*

"Why don't you take a look at what you have become."

*He offers up a mirror, and looking within, Vanitri finds that he has become a sickly and enfeebled shell of his former self, wearing thick glasses and arthritically unable to bend his joints like he used to. Even though he is still the same age, he has become as frail as a venerable old man.*

"You gave up your freedom. You aren't worthy to be called a Freefolk," the other Vanitri draws his swords, "Why don't you just die here and surrender yourself to me? I am everything you ever wanted to be, and I can bring you your desires."

*Some of the girls rematerialise and head over to the other Vanitri, pointedly ignoring the real Vanitri, simpering and cooing in his arms as he runs his hands along them.*