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Message: <blockquote data-quote="megamania" data-source="post: 833566" data-attributes="member: 9255">UNDER A DARKSUNSEGMENT 044“Musing over Life”Mania was tired and depressed when he finally made it to the House of Blewes compound.  The guards gave him a hard time at the gates.  Generally they are closed at nightfall and the delay with the thugs meant he was going to miss it.  Only with several coins and Keela’s name did he get in.The compound was quiet.  A few people were there watching over the building but none of the caravan people.  Jocasta and Dogg were both out.  He climbed the stairs to see if Greene was in his office.  He wasn’t.  Bored, Mania checked out the papers and maps on his desk.  “Trademan’s Road?”  Mania didn’t know what to make out it.  A road going through the Ringing Forest and mountains beyond Tyr Valley?He saw a book and opened it.  He couldn’t read it.  He didn’t even know if it was written in common.  It was old based by the feel and smell of the book.  Searching for pictures and finding none he placed it back on the table as he had found it.It was hard to figure out what to do.  He found himself bored.  He hates bored.  He wanted someone to talk to…anyone at this point.  Going to his room he gathered up what little money he had left and went out to the closest tavern to him.  The Merchant’s Coin.  It was a simple place with little atmosphere.  It was a place to get a cheap meal and drink and a job with the merchants and caravans.  It was late so few were here.Sitting down he asked for a water.  It was too soon for a stronger drink.  Across the room was a robed man.  He was drinking water also and eating a Bulla Root.  No one else was here except for the bar maiden and keep.  Mania knew he should eat but didn’t feel like it.  Even the water wasn’t good.  He stared at the flakes of minerals in it as they settled.  He felt almost entranced by the floating and twirling shapes.  This is why the man got so close before he saw him.“You look to have a need for company,” said the robed man.Mania looked up at him.  He wasn’t sure how old the man was or even race.  The skin was pale and showed no signs of sun damage.  Somehow this didn’t bother him.  Instead, it comforts him.  “Have a seat- it’s free” and he motions for the man to sit across from him.“Is the water here always as such?”Mania’s eyebrows arch.  “This is clean.  As clean as it gets without being summoned.  Who are you?”“A traveler on a quest” answers the mysterious man.  “And you are…?”“Mania” a long silence goes by.“That is an unusual name I believe.  It suits you however.”  A smile crosses the face of the man.“Suits me?  What do you mean by that?”“Your name means conflicted emotions.  You look to have such.”Now suspicious of the guest, Mania tries to take in more details of the man.  He may be a ½ elf.  His eyes have a twinkle that resembles an elf but a human jaw line.  His hands are undamaged.  He isn’t a worker.  His manners and clothes suggest he is not a noble either.  A lone simple ring is on his hand.  He seems uncomfortable within the building but not in a way he can pin point.  Perhaps he is a mage.“Conflicted emotions?   Never knew that.”“That your emotions are conflicted or the meaning of the name?”  The man takes a bite out of the root again.“What do you want?”“What do YOU want young Mania?”   The man’s eyes seem to sparkle again.  Mania feels a warm sensation on his neck.  Certain psionics are being used; he places up mental barriers.  The feeling doesn’t go away.  “Answers.”“Answers.  First you must understand the question to find an answer.  What is the question you muse over?”Mania, relaxing, answers his question.  “Meaning of life?  Why must everything be so hard?  That kind of stuff.”The man smiles a warm smile.  “The meaning of life and why it is so hard to obtain…long have I wondered that myself.  Do you have any faith young Mania?  Faith is good.  Faith brings hope.  Hope brings strength.  Strength brings results.  Find faith…find a purpose and you will find results.  You will find answers to your questions.”Mania can’t escape the feeling this man has been a friend to him for his entire childhood.  “I’m sorry- I didn’t get your name.”“You may call me Savos.”“I once knew, well heard of, a…person called Sar-Savos.”The warm feeling grows again.  Mania gets lost in his thoughts.  He is trying to remember the image of Sar-Savos.  “Faith.  As in an element worship?”“Perhaps.  For some that is it.  No, I mean faith or a belief.  Something to believe in.  Something to gage your actions to.”“You sound preachy Savos.”“Sometimes it takes a preacher to mull through the darkness to find the light.  Most everyone has light and darkness within him.  The question is- succumb to the darkness and let it control you or seek out the light and let it give you sight.”  “I don’t see how that will help me right now.  My problems are …complicated.”The robed man turns his head to the side as if imploring a further explanation.  When none comes, he asks for it.“There is a woman, of faith and goodness, that I have hurt.  I hurt her by giving in another woman.  She has faith also.  She is a templar.  Her folks don’t like me however and I fear they are pushing her to leave me.  Sometimes I think…” The words end as Mania takes a drink of his water and stares at the glass.“You think…?  What young Mania?”“That she may be using me.  That makes no sense to me.  I have done nothing to her.”It is quiet for a few moments. Before Salvos speaks up.  “Deciding what is right and what is wrong is hard young Mania.  What do you feel inside?”“Inside?”“I have gone against my family to travel Athas looking for something.  They fear this something I seek.  They fear it’s unknown and it’s unpredictability.  I fear what will happen if it is found first by another.  One without faith or belief.  Inside, in my spirit, I feel this is important.  What do you believe?”Perplexed by the depth of these questions Mania just stares at the water.  “I don’t know.”“Find a belief.  Find a purpose.  And you will find yourself.”  He gets up to leave.  “It has been good to talk to you again young Mania.  It has given me more insight on my own quest.  I hope the words we shared will do the same for you.”He leaves out the door.  “…Again?” with a sudden look of surprise.  He runs outside and sees no one.  “Great- I ask for help solving my questions and get more questions.”  Shaking his head he returns to his water inside.Above him, a black bird watches.  It’s head cocked to the side as if trying to get a better view, a better understanding, of the young man below him.</blockquote>

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