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Realms of Enlightenment: The Grey Companions (final update posted 02.14.10)
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<blockquote data-quote="Jon Potter" data-source="post: 4800552" data-attributes="member: 2323"><p><strong>[PLAIN][Interludes #12] Synchronicity[/PLAIN]</strong></p><p></p><p>Del could see that there was more to be told about Ixin's former companions, and he perked up at the prospect of information related to the story that he and Maleko were pursuing.</p><p></p><p>"What can you tell us of your time spent with these Grey Members?" he encouraged, unable to completely mask the anxiousness in his inquiry. Ixin looked at him, her eyes smoldering.</p><p></p><p>"They were my friends," she said, her voice heavy with emotion. "Like Ayremac, they stood by me when I had no one else. But as I said, they have all taken the Walk of 100 Days."</p><p></p><p>"For how long did you travel together?" he went on. "Where were they headed?"</p><p></p><p>"I don't know," Ixin faltered, stumbling over her imperfect memory. "Half a year, perhaps." Ayremac stepped in, sensing his companion's growing discomfort.</p><p></p><p>“Funny that the gods would put us together like this... on a neogi ship, chased by pirates, in a world foreign to us all,” the Officer of Umba mused and Maleko nodded.</p><p></p><p>"It does amuse me at times what the Gods put mortals through," he said. "It cannot just be a coincidence that we have found you here." Now it was Ayremac's turn to nod in agreement.</p><p></p><p>“I am not sure how our stories will intertwine, but it seems that combining our efforts here may be the best course of action,” he said.</p><p></p><p>"It might be beneficial for us to travel together, for a time, given that we now have a common enemy," Del suggested. "There is no guarantee that the sword and coins are together here on the Astral plane. But as we are each in search of something, maybe we would be smart to band together toward that end. Depending of course on where we go from here."</p><p></p><p>“I am not sure if you believe that the gods help control our destiny, but I traveled with the party you speak of... Ixin and I both did, as a matter of fact," Ayremac admitted, and Del started as if someone had poked him in the ribs with the haft of a spear. "I never carried a coin, and by the time I joined the party no one had even met the Grey Company. They were simply carrying on a shared mission. A mission passed down by those whom had traveled with them and died.”</p><p></p><p>Maleko opened his mouth, but then stopped, aware that Del would ask about Ledare if he wanted to know more and respected the former janissary's choice not to ask for more details. He imagined it would open a flood gate of emotions the half-elf did not wish to share or struggle to control in his weakened state. </p><p></p><p>"It must be a most worthy cause if these people continue on the path laid for them by their comrades," Maleko said and Ayremac nodded.</p><p></p><p>"It is most worthy indeed. The fate of the world hangs in the balance," the holy warrior admitted and even Ixin nodded sullenly.</p><p></p><p>"Then why are you two no longer with them?" Del asked, carefully noting the pair's reaction to his question. Ayremac looked stung, but Ixin seemed positively defeated.</p><p></p><p>“I was pulled away by a disagreement of faith," the Officer said. "My companion here was dead, so perhaps she can be forgiven for abandoning the quest."</p><p></p><p>"Dead?" Maleko asked, shocked. He knew that there were divine miracles that could pluck the souls of the recently dead from Purgatorium, but there was always a tremendous toll to be paid for such meddling in the natural order. He'd never known anyone who'd petitioned the gods for such a boon, much less anyone who'd actually returned from the Walk of 100 Days.</p><p></p><p>"Yes," Ayremac assured the elf. "But it is, perhaps, a tale for another time." Maleko looked at Ixin and noticed that the woman's demeanor had worsened as the conversation wove its way toward the subject of her death. He was unsure what it meant, but he was diplomatic enough to let the subject lapse. He nodded and Del picked up the thread of the dialogue.</p><p></p><p>"Will this disagreement of faith you speak of be a problem should we meet your former companions?" the half-elf asked.</p><p></p><p>"I don't see how," Ayremac told him. "That issue is passed and I find it interesting that you not only search them out but that you have the tool that would help me find them.”</p><p></p><p>"The gods have their hands in this," Maleko said with a reverent nod.</p><p></p><p>“Would you join my quest and in return I will aid you in yours?" Ayremac asked the two men. "We will find those that carry these coins, and then we will find Fedifensor.”</p><p></p><p>Maleko looked at Del and the two shared a moment's unspoken debate.</p><p></p><p>"Our quest is merely to find these men. I will have to see what their agenda is before I could in good conscience pledge my service to your cause," the elf explained. "I believe it to be a great cause, but I would first wish to see what happens with these men we seek."</p><p></p><p>"I understand," Ayremac said and he looked at Ixin. After a moment, Del stood clapped his hands together.</p><p></p><p>"What now?" he asked and Maleko reflexively looked at his bracelet. Then the elf looked up at Ayremac.</p><p></p><p>"How do we find Fedifensor?" he asked. "You do not have a jeweled bracelet as I do."</p><p></p><p>"True, but we already know where Fedifensor is," the Officer told him. "It is being held at an outpost on the astral plane called Akiv-tchai."</p><p></p><p>"J'inn and J'ann know where that is," Ixin added. "They agreed to show us the way in exchange for eliminating the threat of the deathspider."</p><p></p><p>"Which I'd say we've done," Del said and his assessment was met with nods all around.</p><p></p><p>"Yes," Ayremac said. "Let's find the Buommans and complete our bargain."</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>They were on the boarding deck. J'inn had opened the double doors at the front of the chamber and was standing watch there with Cerrakean. J'ann had opened up two lockers that contained a variety of weapons and other objects mounted within. There were plenty of curved swords of a sort similar to Cerrakean's scimitars, some sized for use by creatures of smaller than man-like stature. The majority of the items within, however, looked superficially like crossbows, ranging from hand-sized designs up to weapons with heavy brass-plated stocks. All of them lacked actual bows, their missiles likely propelled by magic, but it wasn't hard to imagine how they were used.</p><p></p><p>"We found their weapon lockers," J'ann announced. "Most of it's pretty standard stuff. Nothing magical." Ayremac's eyes swept over the contents and settled on the Buomman.</p><p></p><p>"I think that we've fulfilled our part of the bargain we struck earlier," he said and J'ann nodded.</p><p></p><p>"Of course. Of course," the Buomman nodded. "J'inn and I have already sent a <em>Whispering Wind</em> to the Cabal. Others of the Dirge will be here shortly to secure the ship."</p><p></p><p>"Which means that you'll need this," J'inn said from the front of the chamber. He held a small piece of stone cut in a diamond shape in his hand and offered it to Ayremac. "This is a bit of Avik-tchai, itself. Concentrate on the stone and it'll point you in the right direction." Ayremac accepted the object and smiled gratefully.</p><p></p><p>"You have my thanks, J'inn," he said.</p><p></p><p>"No worries," J'ann replied.</p><p></p><p>"What will you do with the deathspider now that it's yours?" Del asked as he once more gazed around at the marvelous craft. J'inn and J'ann both shrugged.</p><p></p><p>"Strip it," J'inn said.</p><p></p><p>"Burn it," J'ann added.</p><p></p><p>"Leave it as a warning that the neogi are not welcome in the Chain of Tears," J'inn finished. And Ayremac looked concerned.</p><p></p><p>"Certainly, I won't stand in the way of you burning this evil contraption," he said. "But might I just say that for one... much of this ship is wood, if you start a fire, you may not be able to put it out. Also the pillar of smoke will be seen for miles, and you may have visitors... scavengers, or previously defeated evil captains, coming back to see what happened."</p><p></p><p>"Don't worry... 'bout a t'ing...," J'ann sang in a strange lilting accent. "'Cause every little t'ing, is gonna be alright..."</p><p></p><p>"Just so," J'inn agreed nodding his head to the rhythm of his twin's song. "We'll wait until our fellows arrive before engaging in any pyromania."</p><p></p><p>"In that case, I suggest we leave now," Ayremac announced, turning his attention from the Buommans to his companions. "I have not tired while on this plane, and I don't think we will."</p><p></p><p>"The astral plane has the timeless trait," Maleko assured him. "We'll have no need for sleep other than the recovery of spells."</p><p></p><p>"So we just leave?" Del asked and Ayremac nodded.</p><p></p><p>"I have no more business to tend to on this ship and I am eager to see old friends," he said.</p><p></p><p>"Are we sure we're heading in the same direction?" Maleko asked, holding up his bracelet and angling it about until he was sure of the proper heading toward the mithril coins. </p><p></p><p>Ayremac looked at the glowing bracelet and held up the touchstone he'd gotten from J'inn. It lay flat on his palm for a moment and then it spun like the needle of a compass to point off into the void. Its path and the path set by the Maleko's jewelry seemed the same and Ayremac smiled.</p><p></p><p>"It seems the fates are confirming we quest together," he said and Maleko smiled, happy to have their ranks bolstered.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>"Do you think we should stick around to see the helm destroyed?" Maleko asked after they'd taken a final pass through the ship. "Just to be sure."</p><p></p><p>"We are close now, my friend," Del countered. "Are you really sure we should stay to watch this ship burn when what we've traveled so far for may be within reach?" Maleko looked at the half-elf and could see that despite Del's attempts to conceal it, he was extremely eager to press on. The mage-priest would not stand in his friend's way.</p><p></p><p>"Let's go," he said, patting Del reassuringly on the back.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>It was with mixed feelings that Del left the deathspider, knowing as he did that its helm would soon be engulfed in flame. He had felt a part of the ship, briefly, in the cage. It had tugged at his physical will and drained him in a way that was impossible to describe. It had certainly not been pleasant; he pitied the creatures who had been sucked dry and left as little more than husks by such an instrument. But it was exhilarating just to know that powering a vessel in such a way was possible. It opened up a whole host of possibilities for his family's shipbuilding trade back in Awad... If Del had been in a position to share this unique experience with them... But he was not. Still, it was something new to consider. Someday when he was old and gray, perhaps he could return to the shipyard and take his family's business in a new direction. Would they welcome his experience? His brothers might. His father... well, who knew what the world would look like by then...</p><p></p><p>"Are we ready?" Ayremac asked, his question lifting Del from his reverie and plunking him back into the cold hard reality of the present. The marshall looked at his companions and nodded.</p><p></p><p>"Ayremac, you and I will take point," he said, having already determined that they two were the fastest amongst the group. "The rest of you stay together, but not too tight."</p><p></p><p>"Yeah!" Cerrakean barked. "Stay out of-"</p><p></p><p>"Fireball formation," Ixin finished and the two shared an appraising look. After a moment, Cerrakean snorted laughter and slipped into position.</p><p></p><p>"What she said," the hobgoblin croaked.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Jon Potter, post: 4800552, member: 2323"] [b][PLAIN][Interludes #12] Synchronicity[/PLAIN][/b] Del could see that there was more to be told about Ixin's former companions, and he perked up at the prospect of information related to the story that he and Maleko were pursuing. "What can you tell us of your time spent with these Grey Members?" he encouraged, unable to completely mask the anxiousness in his inquiry. Ixin looked at him, her eyes smoldering. "They were my friends," she said, her voice heavy with emotion. "Like Ayremac, they stood by me when I had no one else. But as I said, they have all taken the Walk of 100 Days." "For how long did you travel together?" he went on. "Where were they headed?" "I don't know," Ixin faltered, stumbling over her imperfect memory. "Half a year, perhaps." Ayremac stepped in, sensing his companion's growing discomfort. “Funny that the gods would put us together like this... on a neogi ship, chased by pirates, in a world foreign to us all,” the Officer of Umba mused and Maleko nodded. "It does amuse me at times what the Gods put mortals through," he said. "It cannot just be a coincidence that we have found you here." Now it was Ayremac's turn to nod in agreement. “I am not sure how our stories will intertwine, but it seems that combining our efforts here may be the best course of action,” he said. "It might be beneficial for us to travel together, for a time, given that we now have a common enemy," Del suggested. "There is no guarantee that the sword and coins are together here on the Astral plane. But as we are each in search of something, maybe we would be smart to band together toward that end. Depending of course on where we go from here." “I am not sure if you believe that the gods help control our destiny, but I traveled with the party you speak of... Ixin and I both did, as a matter of fact," Ayremac admitted, and Del started as if someone had poked him in the ribs with the haft of a spear. "I never carried a coin, and by the time I joined the party no one had even met the Grey Company. They were simply carrying on a shared mission. A mission passed down by those whom had traveled with them and died.” Maleko opened his mouth, but then stopped, aware that Del would ask about Ledare if he wanted to know more and respected the former janissary's choice not to ask for more details. He imagined it would open a flood gate of emotions the half-elf did not wish to share or struggle to control in his weakened state. "It must be a most worthy cause if these people continue on the path laid for them by their comrades," Maleko said and Ayremac nodded. "It is most worthy indeed. The fate of the world hangs in the balance," the holy warrior admitted and even Ixin nodded sullenly. "Then why are you two no longer with them?" Del asked, carefully noting the pair's reaction to his question. Ayremac looked stung, but Ixin seemed positively defeated. “I was pulled away by a disagreement of faith," the Officer said. "My companion here was dead, so perhaps she can be forgiven for abandoning the quest." "Dead?" Maleko asked, shocked. He knew that there were divine miracles that could pluck the souls of the recently dead from Purgatorium, but there was always a tremendous toll to be paid for such meddling in the natural order. He'd never known anyone who'd petitioned the gods for such a boon, much less anyone who'd actually returned from the Walk of 100 Days. "Yes," Ayremac assured the elf. "But it is, perhaps, a tale for another time." Maleko looked at Ixin and noticed that the woman's demeanor had worsened as the conversation wove its way toward the subject of her death. He was unsure what it meant, but he was diplomatic enough to let the subject lapse. He nodded and Del picked up the thread of the dialogue. "Will this disagreement of faith you speak of be a problem should we meet your former companions?" the half-elf asked. "I don't see how," Ayremac told him. "That issue is passed and I find it interesting that you not only search them out but that you have the tool that would help me find them.” "The gods have their hands in this," Maleko said with a reverent nod. “Would you join my quest and in return I will aid you in yours?" Ayremac asked the two men. "We will find those that carry these coins, and then we will find Fedifensor.” Maleko looked at Del and the two shared a moment's unspoken debate. "Our quest is merely to find these men. I will have to see what their agenda is before I could in good conscience pledge my service to your cause," the elf explained. "I believe it to be a great cause, but I would first wish to see what happens with these men we seek." "I understand," Ayremac said and he looked at Ixin. After a moment, Del stood clapped his hands together. "What now?" he asked and Maleko reflexively looked at his bracelet. Then the elf looked up at Ayremac. "How do we find Fedifensor?" he asked. "You do not have a jeweled bracelet as I do." "True, but we already know where Fedifensor is," the Officer told him. "It is being held at an outpost on the astral plane called Akiv-tchai." "J'inn and J'ann know where that is," Ixin added. "They agreed to show us the way in exchange for eliminating the threat of the deathspider." "Which I'd say we've done," Del said and his assessment was met with nods all around. "Yes," Ayremac said. "Let's find the Buommans and complete our bargain." They were on the boarding deck. J'inn had opened the double doors at the front of the chamber and was standing watch there with Cerrakean. J'ann had opened up two lockers that contained a variety of weapons and other objects mounted within. There were plenty of curved swords of a sort similar to Cerrakean's scimitars, some sized for use by creatures of smaller than man-like stature. The majority of the items within, however, looked superficially like crossbows, ranging from hand-sized designs up to weapons with heavy brass-plated stocks. All of them lacked actual bows, their missiles likely propelled by magic, but it wasn't hard to imagine how they were used. "We found their weapon lockers," J'ann announced. "Most of it's pretty standard stuff. Nothing magical." Ayremac's eyes swept over the contents and settled on the Buomman. "I think that we've fulfilled our part of the bargain we struck earlier," he said and J'ann nodded. "Of course. Of course," the Buomman nodded. "J'inn and I have already sent a [i]Whispering Wind[/i] to the Cabal. Others of the Dirge will be here shortly to secure the ship." "Which means that you'll need this," J'inn said from the front of the chamber. He held a small piece of stone cut in a diamond shape in his hand and offered it to Ayremac. "This is a bit of Avik-tchai, itself. Concentrate on the stone and it'll point you in the right direction." Ayremac accepted the object and smiled gratefully. "You have my thanks, J'inn," he said. "No worries," J'ann replied. "What will you do with the deathspider now that it's yours?" Del asked as he once more gazed around at the marvelous craft. J'inn and J'ann both shrugged. "Strip it," J'inn said. "Burn it," J'ann added. "Leave it as a warning that the neogi are not welcome in the Chain of Tears," J'inn finished. And Ayremac looked concerned. "Certainly, I won't stand in the way of you burning this evil contraption," he said. "But might I just say that for one... much of this ship is wood, if you start a fire, you may not be able to put it out. Also the pillar of smoke will be seen for miles, and you may have visitors... scavengers, or previously defeated evil captains, coming back to see what happened." "Don't worry... 'bout a t'ing...," J'ann sang in a strange lilting accent. "'Cause every little t'ing, is gonna be alright..." "Just so," J'inn agreed nodding his head to the rhythm of his twin's song. "We'll wait until our fellows arrive before engaging in any pyromania." "In that case, I suggest we leave now," Ayremac announced, turning his attention from the Buommans to his companions. "I have not tired while on this plane, and I don't think we will." "The astral plane has the timeless trait," Maleko assured him. "We'll have no need for sleep other than the recovery of spells." "So we just leave?" Del asked and Ayremac nodded. "I have no more business to tend to on this ship and I am eager to see old friends," he said. "Are we sure we're heading in the same direction?" Maleko asked, holding up his bracelet and angling it about until he was sure of the proper heading toward the mithril coins. Ayremac looked at the glowing bracelet and held up the touchstone he'd gotten from J'inn. It lay flat on his palm for a moment and then it spun like the needle of a compass to point off into the void. Its path and the path set by the Maleko's jewelry seemed the same and Ayremac smiled. "It seems the fates are confirming we quest together," he said and Maleko smiled, happy to have their ranks bolstered. "Do you think we should stick around to see the helm destroyed?" Maleko asked after they'd taken a final pass through the ship. "Just to be sure." "We are close now, my friend," Del countered. "Are you really sure we should stay to watch this ship burn when what we've traveled so far for may be within reach?" Maleko looked at the half-elf and could see that despite Del's attempts to conceal it, he was extremely eager to press on. The mage-priest would not stand in his friend's way. "Let's go," he said, patting Del reassuringly on the back. It was with mixed feelings that Del left the deathspider, knowing as he did that its helm would soon be engulfed in flame. He had felt a part of the ship, briefly, in the cage. It had tugged at his physical will and drained him in a way that was impossible to describe. It had certainly not been pleasant; he pitied the creatures who had been sucked dry and left as little more than husks by such an instrument. But it was exhilarating just to know that powering a vessel in such a way was possible. It opened up a whole host of possibilities for his family's shipbuilding trade back in Awad... If Del had been in a position to share this unique experience with them... But he was not. Still, it was something new to consider. Someday when he was old and gray, perhaps he could return to the shipyard and take his family's business in a new direction. Would they welcome his experience? His brothers might. His father... well, who knew what the world would look like by then... "Are we ready?" Ayremac asked, his question lifting Del from his reverie and plunking him back into the cold hard reality of the present. The marshall looked at his companions and nodded. "Ayremac, you and I will take point," he said, having already determined that they two were the fastest amongst the group. "The rest of you stay together, but not too tight." "Yeah!" Cerrakean barked. "Stay out of-" "Fireball formation," Ixin finished and the two shared an appraising look. After a moment, Cerrakean snorted laughter and slipped into position. "What she said," the hobgoblin croaked. [/QUOTE]
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