Shards of Memory-Prologue: Fractured Union

[Rystil Arden]

Yuriko:
[SBLOCK]
*Shinoa shakes her head.*

"No, I am sorry. We haven't heard anything much from that direction..."

"Actually, that may be good for you, since we usually only hear about the bad things, like avalanches or floods," Shinoa adds with a wry smile.

*Yuriko inspects the house again. As Shinoa had mentioned, they had taken down the old sutras and put up the new ones, which are clearly of fine quality--except for the guest house of course.*
[/SBLOCK]

 

[Rystil Arden]

Diedrik:
[SBLOCK]
"Ah, you are well-informed then sir. That is indeed what the mission is all about. It has come down from the Archduke of Eldiz himself, and so whoever participates will gain his esteem, and it is a journey to explore a strange and exciting phenomenon in the far-away corners of Wildspace. If you're OK with it, then, we can just skip to the process itself--you're right that its been a busy day. I'll let you know off the bat that a lot of people have been so excited to get to go on this adventure that they have been offering to go for free--getting to keep any treasure they may find along the way for themselves of course--so this may affect your chances, particularly if you would not wish to do so. With that out of the way, now we get to the fun part--tell me your name, where you're from, a little about yourself, and your Spelljamming experience."
[/SBLOCK]

 

[Keia]

Yotsu Yuriko, Martial Artist

Rystil [SBLOCK]

"Actually, that may be good for you, since we usually only hear about the bad things, like avalanches or floods," Shinoa adds with a wry smile.

"No news is good news, yes?" Yuriko agreed.

*Yuriko took her belongings and moved them over the guest house retiring for the night. She followed her nightly ritual of thanking the fortunes and her ancestors for guiding her and asked that they watch over her. Yuriko set her metal travel cup on top of the door handle (or jam), and slept with her sword within a hand's reach.*[/SBLOCK]

 

[unleashed]

Zaeryn T'Erilan, Male Altanian Arcanist

Rystil

[SBLOCK]“Of course I did my love,” Zaeryn replies affectionately, “We must celebrate and who knows when we’ll get a chance like this again!”[/SBLOCK]

 

[Rystil Arden]

Yuriko:
[SBLOCK]
*Yuriko drifts off to sleep, but she is awoken some time later, in the middle of the night, when she hears Tao whisper to her in her dreams.*

"Wake up, young one..."

*She feels a preternatural chill, and a shiver runs down her shoulder-blades as she awakens.*
[/SBLOCK]

 

[Rystil Arden]

Zaeryn:
[SBLOCK]
*Valyssa giggles.*

"You're quite right, my Zaeryn. And this is such a wonderful place to celebrate at that!"
[/SBLOCK]

 

[Keia]

Yotsu Yuriko, Martial Artist

Rystil:[SBLOCK]

"Wake up, young one..."

"My thanks, blessed ancestor" Yuriko said reverently.

*Yuriko shivered . . . and it wasn't just because of the chill she had just felt. It had reminded her of the time Tao had told her to go to sleep . . . bad things had happened. She drew her daisho and glanced around the room . . . if she saw nothing, she would open the door and look outside.*[/SBLOCK]

 

[Rystil Arden]

Yuriko:
[SBLOCK]
*There does not appear to be anything in the room, and she sees nothing waiting for her outside, either. But she looks to the main farmhouse and sees that the front door stands ajar.*
[/SBLOCK]

 

[Bront]

RA:
[SBLOCK]

*Vanessa's eyebrows furrow in sadness and her eyes begin to tear.*

"Oh Kirkesh...you...you don't think I really care about you? You think all of this is just an infatuation...a fantasy?"

*Although it makes little sense to seek solace from the source of one's sadness, Vanessa tries to find comfort from Kirkesh's own words by burying her head against his chest and sobbing softly.*

"I ment no harm in the words I ask. But I must, for it would not be unknown for someone to create an unrealistic dream of me and my life. So, I had to ask. Take the question not to heart, as I believe you when I see that you feel this is not."

*Vanessa hears Kirkesh's last words and stops crying, wiping away her tears from her eyes as she thinks about the answers to his questions.*

"My dreams?...Sometimes, when I'm in a deep slumber, I dream of shedding off myself, this naive and feeble body of mine and becoming a free spirit, a bodyless soul, and soaring through the stars!"

"My hopes...its something like my dream. I want to break free of the oppression of my life as a noblewoman--hypocritical as it may seem to call it oppression when it is a life of luxury, I know--and soar through the stars, wandering free..."

"As for where I see myself...I can really see two futures..."

"In the first, I see you holding me in your arms, smiling in delight as we sail through the stars on our very own Spelljamming ship along with maybe some friends and comrades that we have encountered throughout our many travels, laughing together and kissing as we head out on another adventure..."

"In the second...I see myself forcing a pleasant smile that I do not share in my heart at some big fancy dinner party, wearing a skimpy dress, while a rude and obnoxious man that I hate but must obey in all things, shows me off like a possession to other such men, occasionally reaching out with his meaty hand under of my dress to grope me in order to assuage his sexual appetite or perhaps just to display his dominance, who knows. Meanwhile, three snivelling little boys pull at my skirt and demand to be given more sweets, more money, more toys...the eldest is only gone because he is dawdling somewhere with a maid in another room...and my only solace is my one sweet little daughter who always stands by me...at least until they take her away and train her to become some man's simpering plaything...and then, when life has eaten away my beauty, I will be cast aside in favour of someone younger and prettier, no longer able to fulfill my role as my arranged husband's trophy wife and pleasure pet..."

*Vanessa shivers and begins to cry again as she thinks about wht is in store for her if she stay on Tymadeau.*

Kirkesh Smiles "Vanessa, you are an amazing woman. If not for the wanderlust in my heart, I could easily settle down and worship a goddess such as yourself. But alas, I am a wanderer and explorer by nature, and that I can not change. I see much of that in you, that you have been unable to explore for whatever reason."

"I have always had a dream of wandering the stars in my own Spelljammer ship. It is a dream I have shared with none, for I would need a partner, as it were, to drive the ship, and such ships, even small ones, are quite expensive. This dream seemed barely feasable to me, so it remained, just a dream, never spoken of to others."

"But now, I can begin to see this dream. Finding a partner, a companion, a lover, who can be by my side as I wander the stars. I'm picturing a beautiful Rowani woman, with soft golden blonde hair, deep blue eyes like the deep seas of the worlds, and a magnificent busty phisique to turn the heads of any who lay their eyes on her."

Kirkesh gazes into Vanessa's eyes and says "So, you know where I can find someone like this?" with a silly grin on his face. His eyes tell a different story, he has already found her, and is looking right at her.
[/SBLOCK]

 

[unleashed]

Zaeryn T'Erilan, Male Altanian Arcanist

Rystil

[SBLOCK]*Seeing the server bringing the first of their dishes, Zaeryn slowly releases her hands and watches as Valyssa takes her first morsel of the meal before beginning his own. During their meal he playfully offers her various choice pieces from his own food.*[/SBLOCK]