Thread: Full Circle

Title: Arrivals and Mysteries Abound.

Flickering lights dance in the gloom of the night. Mists intertwine between 4 great stones, disappearing into the shadows surrounding a crumbling arch. The moonlight glints off a figure atop a white charger. "The Arius Gate... I wish Lord Fireclaw would have left me other methods of contact than this unstable device. " mutters the armored stranger, "But, there is no choice, the decay has begun. His place is here."

The soft sound of the stranger's breath seems to echo in the silence. He slowly dismounts from his charger and approaches the crumbling arch. As he apporaches, tendrils of crimson energy travel along his body and gothic armor. The etching in it burn softly as he stops a few feet from the gate. Moments pass, and the same tendril begin a slow crawl up the acrh, arcing beneath it with a crackling sound.

The sound grows with intensity and the archway, even the surrounding stones begin to pulsate in time with the crimson energy.

*FWOOOOM!* A massive halo of energy blasts outward from the gate, the sound is deafening, the ground shakes...

The light subsides, leaving a figure standing beneath the arch. "Lord Fireclaw...?" The armored stranger inquires.

A figure wrapped in billowy black robes groans and moves on the ground.

The concealed figure raises himself to his hands and knees and shakes his head groggiluy.

The armored stranger moves closer and removes his helm. The moonlight reflects of the polished armor, revealing a young lupine face staring at the cloak. "Lord Fireclaw...?" The voice inquires again.

The wolven knight stands silently watching the arrivee, hoping for a reply that it is Fireclaw...

The figure stills for a moment and looks over towards the sounds from the concealed darkness of the robe. In a very bizzare accent, and stumbing over a few phonetics, he says, "Loud? No, not too very loud."

Michael pulls his feet under him and stands, the hood falling back to reveal his furless face.

The wolf scowls and looks up at the arch, "Like I thought, unstable. Worthless, useless artifact..." After a moment he looks back to the strange and horribly disfigured creature. o O {Ugh, I hope I didn't burn it's fur off.} He seems to be asessing if this...thing, is dangerous.

Michael looks around cautiously for a moment, absently dusting off his gold-embroidered robe. Blinking for a moment, then looking around in alarm, he asks, "R'kkkana! I am where?"

Finally, the wolf speaks, "Greetings, sir. I am Sir Arik, knight of the order of Crydon. Second to Lord Jarik Fireclaw. I was attempting to summon him. Instead, it seems the Arius Gate summoned you." He smiles apologetically, "You are on Crydon, sir."

Michael cocks his head and smiles. "Jarik? Jarik is friend mine. He is back over..." He turns and points confusedly back through the arch, obviously expecting to find something that's not there.

Arik blinks, "You...you know Lord Fireclaw? Have you seen him recently?" The voice seems rather excited and distressed at the same time.

Michael says, "Yes, Jarik is friend hree...he fell from sky, many days ago."

Michael thinks. "I saw Jarik just before. Back there." He points his thumb over his shoulder.

The wolf takes a breath, "Then the Arius gate almost worked. It was a long shot, but..." He stops, seemingly in thought. "Perhaps you could deliver a message to him? Er, wait. The Arius Gate is one way only." He frowns. "I'm not sure how to get you back."

Michael peers hard at the wolf, trying to make out his meaning. "I not get to Nexus?"

Michael growls ferally under his breath at no one in particular.

Arik shakes his head, "I'm sorry. The Arius gate is one way to here. Lord Fireclaw would have been able to get you back, with the gating amulet he has." He looks off into the night, "I didn't consider what would happen if someone else was brought. Then again, I didn't expect that to happen, either."

Arik hmms and looks to the stars... "Perhaps... It's worth an effort, anyway."

Michael scratches the chin of this flat face in thought.

Arik looks back to the stranger, "First, may I ask your name? And second, will you accompany me back to the Hall of the Shadowed Mountain? Liaris should be there now, she may have a way. And if not, the archives may."

Michael stands up straight, something glinting beneath his robes as he does so. "Michael, I am."

Arik's head tilts, waiting for an answer to his second question.

Michael looks unsure of the question, but answers, "Yes," after some thought.

Arik nod and smiles, "I brought Lord Fireclaw's steed with me. You are welcome to ride him and follow me." He motions off the hill and a shadowy shape moving at it's base. "We shall leave immediately. Hopefully, you'll be home before daybreak." He smiles.

Michael nods and smiles.

Arik returns to his mount and guides him down the hill...

Michael follows, his eyes glancing all over, taking in all the many new sights to be seen.

Arik motions toward a muscular warhorse with almost pitch black fur. "Please, he's very gentle and he'll follow me. You just need to sit on him." With a quiet sliding sound of metal on metal, Sir Arik climbs into the saddle of his white charger.

Michael moves up beside the horse and greets him with a pat on the neck, skillfully mounting up into the saddle without using the stirrups. "You can lead."

Only a couple hours later, the two have travelled deep into the Shadowed Mountains. The path twists and forks many times, passing great waterfalls and lush vegetation. The spray generates ripples of color in the air, even in just moonlight. Young Arik tries to learn just what Lord Fireclaw told Michael as they travel. Periodically, they gain a companion for a bit; a curious wolf cub, a night owl, and various other nocturnal creatures. Finally, thet stop infront of a massive cascade of water, cold and clear. Arik turns and looks back at Michael...

Michael cocks his head with curiosity at Arik.

Arik says, "Well, we're just about there. I hope you don't mind getting a bit wet?"

Michael says, "No."

Arik nods, "Great."

Arik nudges his charger forward and he passes just behind the water cascade. Shortly after, Lord Fireclaw's warhourse follows, carrying Michael. The next few minutes and in complete darkness, only the sound of the hooves on stone to remind the travellers that they continue on.

Michael sits silently and looks around in the darkness, even though there is little to see...

Finally, the darkness ends and the two are standing on an overhang, looking down into a small valley. Crumbling spires rise up from the fog and mists that cover the floor of the valley. The gentle night breeze moves the mists about, giving glimpses of a large structure below. A light appears within the fog, and a faint outline of a large circular window is visible. Arik looks back to Michael, "Welcome to the Hall of the Shadowed Mountain. Very few have ever been here who were not members of the order." He sighs softly, "It isn't in the best shape anymore. Then again, neither is the order anymore. We're just three members now."

Michael nods slowly, but through subtle cues, it looks like he only understood half that.

Arik nudges the horse again and the two begin to make their way to the valley floor. It takes almost fourty minutes, but they finally wind their way down and stand before the gates of a crumbling castle. Perhaps in ages past, it would have been a magnificent sight, now it's just a crumbling monument to a belief the world left behind. Without a word, Arik gudes them beneath the gates and into the courtyard.

Michael gazes about in semi-astonishment.

"It's about time you returned, Arik..." echos a decidingly female voice, "I recieved your message and hurried here to find you gone. Care to explain? And just WHO did you bring with you. He better have a good reason for being here. You know that non-members aren't supposed to see the way here."

Michael looks up and around from trying to undo the knot on his robe's belt, trying to identify the voice.

Arik's ears perk, "And that would be Lady Liaris, Michael. The third and most recent member of the order."

Michael hmms.

"Indeed..." says the voice again. This time it's attached to a female feline of jet black fur. She's clothed in a silvery metal material that flows with her movements. At her side hangs a rapier, glinting in the moonlight.

Michael cocks his head curiously at the feline. "Hello to Lady Leeris"

Michael nods his head slowly.

Arik sighs, "Liaris, must you always be so...brash. Just because your father nearly disowned you because becoming a knight wasn't ladylike doesn't mean you have to prove anything."

Liaris seems to muffle a chuckle, "Amazing, he finally speaks. And who might you be, sir?"

Michael says, "I am Michael."

Michael smiles.

Michael begins to rattle off a long list of names, starting with his own, and ending with 'Dinrinial, the Third.'

Liaris' ears twitch, "Well...welcome to the hall, Michael. What brings you here? Are you a new recruit of Lord Fireclaw's?"

Meanwhile Arik goes to putting the horses back into the stable, leaving Michael alone with Liaris.

Michael furrows his brow. "Um, Arse's Gate?"

Liaris frowns, "Arius' Gate? That thing? Don't tell me Arik was trying to use it? *sigh*"

Michael gestures off in some random direction, his sopping black robe spraying some water on Liaris.

Liaris snarls and jumps backwards, "Mind you manners, sir. You are a guest here. Do NOT get me covered in water."

Michael makes a face of surprise and embarrasedment. "Yes, I think. I am sorry, you please excuse me?"

"Liaris, lighten up!" echo's Arik's voice.

Michael finishes untying his robe and takes off the soaking garment, revealing the gleaming golden armor underneath as he wrings out the robe.

Michael smiles, "A guest, yes...Not wanting, tho."

Liaris snorts, "Lighten? LIGHTEN? Would you have me prance around in some silly dress and act all danity? Is that what you want? I'll tell you what I told my father...."

Liaris blinks, "Really?" She sighs, "Let me guess, Arik was trying to summon Jarik, wasn't he?"

Michael nods and smiles. "Yes. Jarik. But Arik got me."

A soft blue spark flashes briefly in the air above Michael's head, there and gone very quickly, almost wholly imperceptively... and then is gone again, not leaving any signs that it had been there.

Michael sees the blue reflect in Liaris' silver, and looks around. He steps back as soon as he determines the source was above his head.

Liaris nods, "The Arius gate is dangerous. It has never worked correctly. Thats why it was abandoned ages ago." She blinks a few times, then realises she did see something just a moment ago.

Michael says, "That was what?"

Another spark snaps above Michael's head, this one a little larger, and much more noticeable, now that everyone's staring at it. It's still brief, however, and vanishes rather abruptly.

Liaris' voice softens a bit, "I'm not sure what that was." She turns to shout at the stable, "Arik! Get out here, we've got some sort of magic disturbance occuring!"

Michael adopts a fighting stance and looks upward, his palms glowing a faint green.

She grimices, "You know I don't have any magic ability. You'll have to identify it! It's Jarik's signature color though...it might be him!"

From the stables a massive clattering is heard, "What? Where...?" The next thing that's seen is Arik running toward Michael and Liaris, still carrying one of the feeding bags for the horses.

Once again, the spark flashes, though this time it doesn't fade out so quickly... rather, it doesn't fade out in the slightest. It slowly expands and grows, altering and shifting in the process, glittering almost akin to a star, though nowhere near as bright. The spark shifts and alters until it's a very, very sharp white hue... and starting to get steadily brighter.

Michael nimbly dodges well out from beneath the bright spot, hands still glowing faintly.

Michael says, "Arik knows that? It is what?"

The light gets brighter and steadily brighter, to the point where one's eyes close themselves against the glare in protection...

Arik's armor begins to get the soft red tint to it. It looks as if he's preparing for some sort of magical assalt. At the same time Liaris has drawn her sword and leaped at least fifteen feet backwards, muzzle contorted into a snarl.

Michael squints his eyes, backing up a bit more.

A sharp snap is heard through the air, the pop of some barrier being broken. It sounds almost distinctly like the sound barrier snapping, but slightly stronger, slightly sharper, and not so lingering. A shape can be barely seen through the incredibly light... as it shoots out of the spark like a bullet down a barrel, directly at Liaris, careening into her with rather potent force.

Michael blinks, following the shape with his eyes, trying to determine if it is friendly or no.

Liaris' scream is cut short when the object impacts her. The rapier goes flying wildly through the air, and she goes skidding backwards before comming to rest another fifteen feet away.

Another flash of steel breaks the night's gloom. Arik is moving rapidly toward his fallen comrade, blade in hand.

The shadowed figure becomes less and less shadowed as the spark vanishes into the oblivion from whence it had come. A gentle groan is heard from Liaris, but it's certainly not from her lips, a discernably male sound. A white feline has been shot into the black one.

Michael sees its definitly not Jarik, and runs forward, picking the white creature up off the black one, holding it towards Arik. "Friend?"

*WHAM!* Liaris kicks whatever has collided into her, sending it flying into Michael as he holds it. She starrgers to her feet, looking annoyed.

Calidan mmmphs groggily. He shakes his head sharply as Michael pulls him up and off of Liaris, growling softly as she kicks him. His eyes crack open... then suddenly widen.

Michael oof's as the white body is kicked into him, but doesn't fall back or loose his grip.

Liaris dusts herself off as Arik moves to her side. "Are you alright?" he asks, obviously concerned.

Liaris grimices, "Fine...fine." She moves closer to inspect her attacker.

Calidan inhales very, very slowly, his back straightening a little. Cal's tailtip flits very gently against the ground, but, other than that, he stays perfectly still. Very gently, he murmurs, "...kik... ch'tikkik rik... taktikkiki..."

Michael looks curiously over Calidan's shoulder at Liaris and Arik.

Arik stands there, not sure what to make of the new visitor. Liaris, however, looks like she wants to make lunch out of the new visitor. She gets less than an inch away fom his face, "Mind telling me just what you were doing colliding into me? Hmm?"

Calidan lifts his eyebrows and very carefully warrants, "Raekshia? Draem no'aeen raethadousuoen?" He blinks at Liaris... and lifts his eyebrows a little further, "By Ardi. You bloody well DO talk..."

Arik lets Liaris say her peace. If he doesn't he knows she'll not let him forget it.

Michael blinks at calidan. "Takikrit ktakt ti."

Liaris scowls, "Of course I speak. You, sir, have some explaining to do."

Calidan sighs very gently and reaches the palms of his hands up to his eyes. He murmurs, "...oh, bother. Please don't tell me I've got to get into another fight?" He shakes his head gently, "...'s only so much a cat can take..."

Michael still holds Calidan firmly still, just in case...

Liaris' posture relaxes a bit as she starts to calm down. She moves back to a comfotable distance and looks at the two strangers to this world. After a deep breath she looks to Arik, "He's no threat. His scent is wrong and so is his posturing." Arik just twitches his grey tail and observes. "Liaris, this is the first time I've seen you calm down. Good."

Calidan murmurs softly, "Crik stikkki taktak riktuu. Mikshak riknifik, kikikikk rikshik."

Michael lets go of Calidan. "I am sorry."

Liaris almost makes a remark to Arik then returns to looking at the white stranger, "Well? We're still waiting for an explaination."

Michael raises an incredulous eyebrow. "Rtkita, tkataka ka itk."

Calidan clears his throat softly and grumbles, "...stupid Kikkirian..." Now that he's actually been let go, he takes a long, careful look around the courtyard, then lets his eyes settle on Liaris'. "M'lady, verily, you know about as much as I do, in sooth."

Michael steps away from Calidan a bit.

Liaris looks impatient, "Well, then tell me the part I don't know."

Calidan's right ear swivels toward Michael... but he refuses to comment on the statement, his eyes on Liaris.

Calidan nods slowly, dangerously close to a very deep bow. He murmurs, "My apologies, m'lady, but I am not aware of which parts of the tale you don't know and which parts you do. If you could find it within you, perhaps, to be merciful and pity this one?"

Michael looks around and wanders off into the underbrush.

Liaris snorts, "You must be a politician...or a lawyer. But, you're obviously not a threat."

Arik says, "Michael...? Please remain here. I do need to speak with you..."

Michael rummages around in some shrubbery. "yes, yes..."

Calidan blinks a few times and nods quite slowly. "I... verily, no, m'lady. I am a courtier." His eyebrows lift a bit, "My dearest apologies if I have offended your graciousness."

Michael comes back towards Liaris and offers her her blade.

Liaris blinks at Michael and actually smiles at him. "Th...thank you." She looks rather surprised.

The blade is returned to it's proper place in it's scabbard.

Michael smiles back and finds a sturdy tree to lean against.

Arik speaks up, "Sir, the only thing that offends Liaris is treating her differently than you would treat a male. Hitting her just makes her cranky." He shrugs when Liaris glares at him.

Michael blinks in surprise and confusion. "But..."

Arik looks at Michael and shakes his head, pointing at the white cat.

Calidan stays exactly as he is, his head lowered very slightly, standing in front of Liaris, silent. After Michael's response, Cal apparently assumes the comment was for Michael, not himself.

Michael still looks confused and whispers something to Arik.

Arik blinks and tries not to laugh.

Arik shakes his head chuckling before replying.

Michael smiles innocently, still looking befuddled.

Liaris relaxes a bit, "So. How did you get here. If you would tell us, please."

Michael smiles and nods, as it is all so clear now. "Oh!"

Arik blinks at Liaris actually being polite but doesn't say anything.

Calidan glances up at Liaris and nods slowly. "In all honesty, m'lady, I'm not wholeheartedly certes. I was doing little more than taking a casual stroll through our courtyard... and suddenly was propelled along, apparently, time and space."

Liaris eyes Calidan, "I see..."

Calidan shrugs slightly, "M'lady, I know not e'en where I'm at presently, I swear."

Liaris sighs, "You stand in the courtyard of the Hall of the Shadowed Mountain on Crydon."

Michael shrugs at Calidan.

Calidan lifts his eyebrows and murmurs, "Um. M'lady, I'm afraid that... does very little to help me. What... do you know your celestial co-ordinates?"

Liaris hms, "I have no idea what you just asked is."

Calidan smiles very faintly and nods a touch, "That... will make things a touch trickier, then, in sooth. Ah... your celestial co-ordinates... they're... well, essentially, they're where this place is located on the greatest scale of things. Crydon, you say? Hnn."

Calidan looks around him, clicking his tongue softly.

Michael stands quietly and looks between Calidan and Liaris.

Arik glances over to Michael, "Shall we head inside, at least? I've got to go search the archives to see if I can find a way to send you home."

Michael says, "Going home...Yes, that is good..."

Liaris' ears flick, "Sorry, can't help you. I don't know the location of this place in the 'grand scheme of things'"

Calidan nods a bit and murmurs, "...obviously." He sighs softly, then shakes his head a little bit, mumbling gently, "Well, then. It looks like I'm going to be staying here, lost in the middle of the multiverse, for a bit. Is there... an inn, hotel, motel, some place I can stay?"

Arik motions to Liaris, "Why don't you come with us? Drag whoever that is with you and keep an eye on him."

Liaris smirks and points off into the darkness, "About 3 days travel that way by foot. Have fun."

Calidan rolls his eyes and murmurs under his breath, "...yes, yes... quite imposing, AREN'T I..." He nods a little to Liaris and starts to turn toward the darkness, frowning very slightly.

Liaris glances at Arik, "Then he'd have to stay here for the time being. Something about him I don't trust..."

Michael glances at Calidan curiously before going off to follow Arik.

Arik sighs, "All the better to keep him here. You think it's safer to have him wandering the shadowed mountains at night? Just bring him. He can't cause any harm here."

Calidan starts walking into the darkness, wrapping his arms around his upper body, squinting very slightly in order to see what, exactly, lies before him.

Liaris reaches out and grabs Calidan's collar, "You heard Arik, come along..." She starts to try to drag Calidan toward the main doors.

Calidan mmphs! And reins up neatly at Liaris' pressure on his collar. She manages to drag him for a decent time before Calidan hurridly tries catching up to her, ""...but...! ...BUT...!"

Arik pushes the aging doors open and motions for Michael to enter, "After you..."

Michael intones with surprisingly little accent and the air of much practice, "Thank you very much, kind sir." He steps over the threshold.

Liaris eyes Calidan, "Be quiet or your 'butt' will be sore..." She contines to pull him along and inside the main doors. Arik quickly steps through and closes them with a loud bang. *Not to mention stirring up an extreme amount of dust...*

Calidan shuts up abruptly at Liaris' words, quite clearly not having expected them. He just follows her with a very silent determination, confusion clearly evident on his face.

The lighting in the hallway isn't much, a few torches flicker casting erie shadows along the walls. Arik gides them through a small maze of narrow corridors past several large doors before stopping infront of an intricately carved set of oaken doors... With a shove, the doors swing open on squeaky hinges and light floods into the hallway....

Michael blinks as his eyes adjust to the light.

Calidan murmurs very gently, his eyes noticeably glowing a very faint white light, "...a few more torches in here wouldn't be altogether bad, you know... kind of lighten the place up? It's a bit dreary... and oh! Dusty... how... uncouth..."

Before the four is a huge room, easily 2 stories tall. Books...books everywhere. Every inch of the walls are covered in books, journals, mage tombs, just about anything imaginable. Only one wall isn't entirely books. It contains a large marble fireplace in which a cheery fire burns. Light pours from above due to a large wrought iron chandeller with at least two hundred candles on it. Also, each of the posts that stand in the corners of the room boast torches to aid in the light.

Michael smiles warmly. "It is much like home."

Michael says, "You have good...hmm..."

Michael scratches his chin and thinks.

Calidan mumbles softly, "Literary skills."

Arik steps into the room and looks back, "Well, you're welcome to come in and find a seat. I've got to go look through the mage archives for a solution to sending Michael home."

Calidan's eyes scan over the walls, widened very slightly in the process. He seems to be more than a little astonished.

Michael steps in, still scratching his chin. "No, no...good thoughts on what is good to see.

Michael stands under the chandelier, gazing up intently at it.

Arik looks around, "Feel free to read anything execpt the personal journals of the guild members. Most are in Crydonian, so you may not be able to."

Arik wanders off to a far corner of the room, leaving the three behind.

Calidan slips into the room quietly, behind Liaris... and starts looking the tomes over, not seeming to be concerning himself about whether or not Arik's words were even remotely aimed at him.

Michael cocks his head, still gazing upwards. "I thank you, but, I cannot."

Liaris stands like a statue, eyes cold and piercing. She keeps watch on the two strangers to the hall...

Calidan slides a seemingly random tome out of a bookshelf, opening the front cover very gingerly, beginning to quietly scan over the pages, though it's not sure if he can even read them or not.

Michael mouths silently, his finger tracing a pattern in the air as he is still looking up.

The books' subjects don't seem to be in any particular order. One book is titled, 'Observations on the race known as the Xardeth." another; "The Stratagy of War and the Beauty of Peace"

The book Calidan has seemingly found is actually readable, "How to craft Perfect Stoneware." It's faded and yellowed, but bits are readable.

Arik seems to be getting frustrated in the corner, books are being tossed from the shelves as he digs through them.

Calidan's eyes scan briefly over the tome, though he does take the time to fli pit from cover to cover. He pauses for a few moments, clearly lost in thought as the book is closed, then moves along, replacing the Stoneware book and grasping at another.

The next book is entitled, "Theories on Perfection of the Soul"...

Calidan smiles faintly and takes a little more time leafing through this new book, his attentions clearly fully removed from anything else in the room.

Michael wanders over towards the fireplace, where he pulls out his robe and stretches it out on the floor before the fire.

Unfortunately, very little is readable in the book. Bits and pieces are in a language Calidan can read but seemingly make no sense.... "...evil exists in all but one...possible because...legends spoke that...drove it from them... But...did not destroy....exists...waiting...devouring...corrupting..."

The fire in the fireplace seems to dance before Michael's eyes, then it abuptly shudders and Michael can feel a hot breeze rush out of the fireplace...

Michael looks up and into the fireplace, but takes a step backwards.

The fire has returned to the dance, the breeze gone. But, every so often there seems to be an almost imperceptiable shudder in the floor.

Michael steps closer to the fire, leaning his head around, wondering if there's something above or behind the blaze.

Calidan keeps his attentive eyes on the book, squinting on occasion, just trying to make more sense of it before snorting softly and flipping through quickly.

The shuddering stops. Nothing but the crackling of the fire is heard....

Michael looks back into the room, wondering if any of the others are noticing any of this.

Calidan seems MUCH too interested in his book-reading to notice much of anything.

Neither Liaris or Arik seem to have noticed the shudder or the change in the fire...

Michael blinks and looks back to the fire.

*BOOM!* A thundering sound echos through the room. Something, or someone, has knocked. A very BIG something.

Calidan, astonishingly, doesn't look up from his book.

Michael jumps and makes a little 'eep!' sound, surprised.

Michael looks around for the source of that...

Arik jumps backwards, looking extremely surprised... Liaris' hand drops to her sword and she seems tense...

Michael says, "This happens often, yes?"

Moments pass and a rumble fills the hall once more. This time, it's a voice. Both a roar and and a cough by the sound of it, "Lord of the Order, I seek an audiance with you!"

Calidan sighs very, very softly and closes his eyes, gently closing his book at the same time. His ears swivel a little bit, but he doesn't turn or say much of anything, mostly staying to himself over in a corner with the books.

Michael says, "R'kkkana?"

Arik hurries back over to the others, "Um, no. Actually." He looks extremely nervous. His ears are twitching and his tail swishes from side to side.

Arik looks to Liaris, "Should we go find out what that was?"

Michael says, "Um, it is bad to dry clothes by fire?"

Liaris nods, "But, those two are coming with us. I do NOT want that cat digging though the private archives."

Michael touches his robe. Practically dry.

Arik nods slightly, "Okay folks, we're going back to the main doors. On your feet."

Calidan lifts his eyebrows and turns around slowly. He blinks faintly, murmuring, "M'lady, I'm certainly not a fighter... this is nae my world, nor my place to make a stand, you see..."

Michael picks up his robe and puts it on, tying the belt as he proceeds towards the door out. "Yes."

Liaris grabs Calidan by the scruff of his neck, "Tough. Now MOVE!"

*BOOM!* Whatever it is, it's getting impatient.

Michael's fingers wagle agitatedly, but he otherwise seems calm enough.

Calidan erps softly and nods, trying to move to keep up with Liaris without being carted around by his scruff. "Okay! Okay! I'm coming!" He sighs, "...bother... every bloody time..."

In less than a minute, the four are standing infront of the main doors again. Arik has his hands on the doors, looking nervous, "You two, stay back a bit. I don't think it's dangerous. It said it wanted an audiance..."

Michael cranes his head over Arik's shoulder.

Calidan frowns and nods a bit, staying behind Michael, seemingly quite content to be in the back of the group. He keeps his hands clasped behind his back, the frown deepening slightly on his muzzle.

Arik shoves the door open... Wait a minute! Someone has built a wall infront of the main door now? Then it ripples and Arik realizes something. He's staring at someone's leg. He backs up, nice and slowly...

Michael says, "^kkkana fri! Sna!"

Michael smiles widely.

The foot moves away from the door. "Come out. I wish to speak with the head." rumbles the voice.

Calidan mumbles softly, "...don't think we have any your size..."

Arik looks at Michael, Liaris, and Calidan, "Well, should we go out there...?"

Michael is utterly distracted by what's outside, and would probably have run out himself already, were not Liaris and Arik in the way.

Calidan shrugs slightly to Arik, mumbling, "...I guaruntee that I'm not the head..."

Liaris smirks at Calidan, "True. But you could be lunch."

Calidan smiles and nods, "Quite true. So have fun, folks. Let me know how it goes."

Arik sighs, "Okay, you three wait here. I'll see what it wants."

Arik steps through the doorway to face the creature beyond...

Calidan starts to nod... and closes his eyes. He murmurs, "...they won't let me, will they...?"

Michael steps up to the edge of the door, peering out eagerly.

Arik seems to look up, and up, and up... "Greetings, um, dragon?"

Michael smiles out the door, muttering quietly to himself.

Through the doorway, they can see the creature lower itself down, so that it's eye level is at the door level. It's most definately a dragon, a very large dragon. But, there's something more noticable. It sees through only one eye. A deep scars travels down the other side of his face. The scales are patchy and some are missing. Whoever this is, he's _old_.

Calidan keeps his eyes carefully on the back of Liaris' head...

The dragon rumbles in laughter, "Are you the current Head of the Order, good knight? And...who are your friends? They need not hide inside the doorway. Please, have them come out."

Michael steps out quickly, even slightly ahead of Arik and bows his head. "Ksar eh tx ano-ss^kk."

Arik shakes his head, "The head of the Order is not here. He's off on a quest. I am Sir Arik, great-grandson of T'Aris and second in command." He motions to Liaris, who promptly exits into the courtyard, pulling Calidan by his shirt. "That is Lady Liaris, our most recent member to the order."

Calidan mmphs! He blinks a little as he's dragged out, seeming a touch expectant and a touch shocked at the same time. He grumbles softly, though keeps standing somewhat at attention, paws behind his back and at rest.

Arik continues, "The cat is Calidan, a visitor, as is Michael."

The dragon cocks his head and a smile appears on his lips, "Greetings then, Sir Arik..." He moves to the left a few steps, limping slightly, "And to you, little one. Far from home aren't you?"

Calidan lifts his eyebrows up, looking FAR up at the beast, "Me, good sir? Ahem...?"

Michael smiles. "Sa...R^bbt ^thhat."

The dragon moves his head closer to Michael, "Forgive me, my eyesight is failing... My, it has been a long time since I've seen your kind..." The dragon flicks an ear, "Taken? Howso?"

Michael says, "Eh ^tfaam...Arse Gate."

Calidan exhales very slowly and sidesteps slightly.

The dragon nods slightly, "I see. Well, little one. It is easily rectified. But, I need to speak with the knights first. Hopefully one of them can contact the Order head..."

Michael tenses his jaw and looks nervously at the others around.

The dragon's tail *fwumps* down, right next to Calidan...

Calidan blinks once, but doesn't jump... he doesn't even MOVE, in fact, though he keeps his eyes clearly focused on the tail.

Arik politely waits for the dragon to speak to him again. Liaris just remains in her usual statuelike stance, observing everything that is going on.

The dragon chuckles or coughs, hard to tell, "The Arius gate, eh? Dangerous device."

Michael steps a little closer to the dragon, looking a little nervous and fidgeting.

The dragon swings it's head around to focus in on the cat, "Now you. What are you?" Calidan finds himself only a few feet from some rather large teeth.

A very slight snarl, almost unseen by anyone, slips onto Calidan's face for a brief moment, then is replaced by a quite amiable smile, "I'm a feline, sirrah, but then, I'd thought that a touch obvious, yes?"

The dragon snorts, nearly knocking Calidan over, "You are more than that. I may be old, cat. But I am far from stupid. Do not play your silly games of politeness with me. Why are you here?"

Calidan lifts his eyebrows very slowly... and murmurs softly, "I'm merely a cat, sirrah, little else, I swear on my father's grave." He cocks his head slightly, "And I guaruntee that I didn't come here by choice."

The dragon moves dangerously close to Calidan whispers to him, "You reek of the Moor, cat. Why are you here? Are they not satisfied with harming themselves? I warn you, your kind is not welcome here."

Michael distractedly rubs his face and watches Calidan and the dragon.

Calidan's smile quickly vanishes, though his paws stay, almost noticeably now, behind his back. He whispers softly, his eyes narrowing a slight bit, "I'm here by accident. Are you deaf as well as dumb?"

This time when the dragon snorts Calidain finds himself sitting rather painfully on his butt, "Your kind were always stupid enough to insult a dragon. But, I have no time to deal with you now. There are more important things." The dragon rears up to his full height, "Do any of you know who I am?"

Calidan growls very softly, but stays where he's been blown... almost as if he had intended to be blown over.

Michael cocks his head. "Hmmm..."

Michael smiles, "Eh tx ^to^bbs."

Arik speaks up, "You're the one from the legends of the Order, aren't you? The one the founder saved a millenium ago..."

The dragon chuckles, "You are both correct. I am here to deliver a message to the head of the Order. The Order that I helped create long ago." The dragon's voice seems to get deeper, "As you know, the shadowtime draws near once again. But...it has been prepared for. The plan was set in motion nearly ten centuries ago and I have waited for this time. The message is simple: The end is near, the moment was prepared for. Tell the head to finish gathering his allies. I assume that is what he is doing... Then all of you must journey to the abyss. There, I will meet you again."

Michael says, "Kainudydragon?"

The dragon tilts his head, "Who do you speak of?"

Michael says, "Kainudydragon. She is friend of Jarik?"

The dragon hms, "I do not know this dragon, I'm afraid. Now, as for you little one. You want to return home, correct?"

Calidan stands up very slowly and brushes his rump off. He growls very softly and turns, starting to walk back into the complex.

Faster than he can blink, Calidan finds himself staring at a swordblade. "Stay right here, cat." warns Liaris.

Michael says, "Sa...R^kt kmao?"

Liaris smiles coldly, "You were not given leave."

Calidan hisses softly and GLARES at Liaris. He whispers, his voice cold and sharp, quite noticeably different than it had been before, "Take your weapon back, knight. Now."

The dragon shakes his head, "No. This is something I must do alone. Thank you for offering, little one. Now, let me see... The nexus...ah, yes."

Michael nods...

Liaris simply repeats herself, "You were not given leave."

Calidan snarls, growling slightly ferally. "Pull. Your weapon. Back. Before I am forced to do something we'll both regret."

Michael sighs.

The dragon scratches a symbol on the ground with it's claw, "Please, stand here and I'll return you home."

Michael stands where he is directed. "Wait! Arik has message for Jarik?"

Arik nods, "Ask him to hurry, please."

Michael smiles.

Michael touches the dragon's claw gently. "Ksar..."

The dragon smiles, "Thank you." Tension builds in the air surrounding Michael and the symbol on which he stands begins to glow faintly. With a flash Michael is gone. The dragon then cranes his neck to look at the stars, "..clear skies..my journey is soon to end."

Liaris eyes Calidan, "Do not threaten me, cub. You did not ask for leave, therefore you stay right where you are."

Liaris smirks, "For a courtier, you seem to know little of protocol."

Calidan growls and snaps his paws sharply, extending two sets of five claws, one from each digit on his paws. The claws are lengthy things, a good three inches or so in length and quite clearly magical, startlingly white. The claws themselves are slightly turned, looking quite a bit more like talons than like claws. He narrows his eyes, "And for a knight, you seem to know very little of combat banter. I ask you a third and final time, Lady Liaris. Move your blade, or I will move it for you."

The dragon sighs and lowers his head close to Calidan again, "Cat, you even try and harm her and you'll find yourself a very quick trip to death. These knights are all that will be standing against the darkness that is to come. I will not have a waste from the Moor threatening them."

The dragon snarls slightly, "And besides, this is MY home. I constructed this hall long ago. If you want someone's leave, you simply ask."

Calidan whispers harshly, his eyes still locked on Liaris', "Then you tell her to lower her sword, dragon. I don't make threats lightly, especially not to a knight, but I've been knocked around from place to place, time to time, area to area, without a minute's rest. I just want a nap. Do you understand that? One, single, little catnap."

"Did you ask?" asks the dragon coldly.

"It's simple, ask her if you may go rest in the hall." prompts the dragon.

Calidan snorts softly. "No. No, I most assuredly did not ask. Nor did she ask to bring me here." He lifts his ears and his eyebrows simultaneously, "Or does the asking trait only fall unto me? Are we prejudiced here, is that it?" He turns slowly to face the dragon, Liaris' blade at his back, "I'm getting really bloody sick and tired of THAT, too."

Liaris speaks up, "Your arrival prompted it. Until your origin is acessed you will be in the company of a knight. Understood? You are a guest in this hall."

Calidan keeps his eyes on the dragon, completely ignoring Liaris for a little bit... then turns around slowly. He shakes his head, "No. No. I appreciate the offer, lady Liaris, but I have to decline." He frowns slightly. His words are polite and kind, but the tone that he'd used before is completely gone, replaced with one a bit more sure of itself, almost pompous. "I think I'll walk to an inn."

Liaris sighs, "We do not bring people to this hall except on rare occasion. You are perhaps the tenth non member who has ever seen this place. The archives contain information gathered through the ages that is NOT for anyone to see."

Liaris sighs again, "We'd have to escort you out of the mountains and we'll willingly do that tomorrow." She puts her sword away, "In case you haven't understood yet. We're facing a bit of a crisis. There's a room on the second floor, right wing you can use for the night. Please." Arik nods slightly, "We are normally a bit more hospitable, but, things have not been well here as of late."

Calidan shakes his head, closing his eyes, "...I thank you, but I should go." He looks up at the dragon, before starting to walk away from the hall and the entire area, murmuring, "...it's quite obvious that, regardless of my actions, or perhaps in spite of them, I'm not welcome nor wanted here. I'll not stay where I'm not welcome. Thank you both."

Arik places a hand on Calidan's shoulder, "Please stay. I'll escort you to town tomorrow. It's only one day on horseback from here. I'd at least like to hear how you came to be here."

Arik sighs, "And try to forgive Liaris? I know she's not the most gentle person, but."

Calidan inhales incredibly slowly, obviously tossing options around in his head. After a little time, he slumps slightly, claws resheathing easily. He rubs at his eye with the back of a paw and murmurs, "I'm being a Rone-damned idiot." He sighs, "I'd be more than grateful for the chance to stay." He shakes his head, "And Liaris needs no forgiveness from me, rather I do from her."

Arik nods, "You do, yes. Let her sleep it off. I imagine she had a fight with her father today. It would explain her attitude."

Calidan nods slowly and rubs gently at his eyes, "I'm being an ass. Please. Take me wherever..." He waves his paws vaguely, "Wherever it is that you throw idiots."

Arik, Liaris, And Calidan head back into the hall, closing the main doors. Arik guides Calidan up to the room in the right wing. Little used, but not terribly dusty....

The dragon look back at the hall, "Yes...the end is near. Rest well. I will meet you again at the Abyss..." With a gust of wind, the dragon leap back into the starry skies, and fades into the darkness.