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Message: <blockquote data-quote="nopantsyet" data-source="post: 408087" data-attributes="member: 3109">The Seven Pillars, Part 2Sunday, September 29After eating, the Vek stranger was strong enough to speak and relate his tale.  D'owaaji of Garugh Natta, he was among their greatest warriors, having slain many Shatwe in their ongoing wars and having numerous times performed the Rite of the Warrior's Heart.  (Although the people called Shatwe and the nature of that rite was unknown to the Zakh patrol.)  And he continued in his warfare until he had a dream in which he was transported into the mountains where he saw a pillar of unfathomable height with all manner of strange engravings on it.  He didn't know what, but something about that dream filled him with dread in waking, and he knew he must find it and know what would move a man in this way.The three Zakh and the outlander were equally surprised to hear these words, for in many parts they mirrored those which had just been related.  What the significance of this was could not be understood at this point, but they must make great haste to present this to Drakha and even S'Gath, the Elder Sage of all Zakh.  But it was agreed that for the sake of the Natta, they must wait until morning.In the night, Andrinador was startled by a faint rockfall in the distance.  There were only two things in this place that could cause that rockfall, and they were one of them.  They could only hope that it was those coarse creatures so base that the Nephelym took them as slaves and called them ahgre,  meaning "beast of burden."  For if it had been Nephelym, their numbers were too small, their experience too short to survive.As he approached the area from which the sound came, he suddenly felt a heavy blow strike the back of his head and he fell to the ground and slid a short distance down the rocky foothill.  Fortunately his cry of surprise (for it would never be of pain) was sufficient to rouse his companions, who made their way towards the fray with great haste.The darkness combined with the rough terrain made the ahgre, of which there were but two, a formidable oposition.  The four Vek were able to navigate the rocks and keep their balance on the slope enough surround their foes and begin harrassing them from every side.  Ashgon, however quick he was to his feet, found the rocky terrain too different from the soft earth of his native lands.  But he was able to engage in time to deliver the final blow to the first creature, making the death of the second quick work for the four warriors.This finalized their decision: they must not stay here any longer, not even to complete the sweep of their patrol route.  Rather it was most prudent for them to return to the main encampment of Ammah as quickly as they were able.After running from dawn till dusk, they finally arrived at the camp under twilight.  But they were able to find audience with Drakha despite the lateness of the hour.  After relating all they had seen and heard, their dhiin sar was stonefaced and unmoved."We have no use for dreams or prophetesses.  We battle the land to take from it food.  We battle the giants to ensure our safety.  We battle the seasons for our health.  That which does not give us these things is of no importance to us.  We will grant these strangers safe passage out of our lands in the morning, but that is all."Ashgon spoke, trying to emphasize the importance of his quest, even to the Vek.  Their constant struggle for survival was clearly proof of the broken world, and if finding these pillars could fix that, then the Vek would benefit as well."There have been those who thought the land was too harsh for them.  Our fathers destroyed and scattered them, for they were weak and wished to subdue the earth and the beasts to make their lives easier.  But this was weakness, and for that they were destroyed off the face of the earth.  And but for the assurance given you by my son, I would have a mind to do likewise to you.  You will leave us at dawn and will speak no more of these visions."Andrinador, Jakolat and Turbac were deeply disturbed by the response of their leader.  A great leader he was, possibly the greatest since Zakh himself.  But he did not see things as they did, and they knew the importance of the words that were spoken.  So they took their pleas to S'Gath, khirad bara of all Zakh.As they entered his tent, the smelled the strange herbal aromas that seemed to always accompany him and his strange cheyla from Siau Sept.  They related all things to him, and he listened and thought on their words."Truly these are strange things you speak, and foreign to our custom and thinking.  But each of you seems convinced of their importance and the coincidence of two strangers in our lands speaking of the same things cannot be ignored.  Although I cannot claim to have seen or felt any of these things, I am stirred by their retelling.  I will take council with dhiin bara and advise him to give you leave to accompany the strangers in search of knowledge that will explain or disprove these things.As they left the tent of S'Gath, they noticed an unusual stirring in the camp for the time.  Clearly the presence of strangers, much less a depraved Nattan and an outlander, was arousing interest, and sidelong glances and whisperings were passed unhidden as the three, Adrinador, Jakolat, and Turbac, moved through the camp.Finally the word came, S'Gath had prevailed upon Drakha.  They would leave in the morning.[Final segment of this session still to come...]</blockquote>

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