Thread: Full Circle

Title: Realizations.

The sun burns brightly overheard now that the clouds have cleared. It's mid-morning and the three are well on their to the 'Forked River' crossroads, the town Jarik mentioned. It's been about half an hour since they left the runs of Jarik's one time home and all have been rather quiet. Only the sounds of the insects and birds break the silence...

Delachiel follows Jarik, clearly hindered by the brightness, often glancing back to see how Timothy is doing.

Timothy has been quietly following behind Delachiel during this time. Looking around with a mixture of awe and uncertainty at his first alien world. He looks at the veiled figure in front of him and the fox in the lead. He's keeping up well enough, even with the spear and pack.

Timothy finally breaks the silence, "Are you doing ok Delachiel? If we can find some glass I can try and smoke it and make you a sun shield for your eyes."

Jarik is extremely quiet, even moreso than normal. He moves with an air of confidence but it's probably just an illusion. He's nervous, young, and uncertain. He's got a world depending on him and he fears he's doomed to fail.

Delachiel shakes her head. ~~Thank you, Timothy, but I think haste is more important now. I'll get used to the brightness.~~

Timothy nods, "I mean when we get to where we are going. If we have some time."

Delachiel smiles. ~~We could try that, yes.~~

Jarik keeps following the overgrown trail. He doesn't glance back at his companions. He's lost in his thoughts...

Timothy looks at Delachiel as he hikes along, "I take it your friend has a plan to deal with this...creature?"

Delachiel shrugs a bit. ~~I'm not sure, to be honest, whether any plans will be useful. Careful preparation is the best plan I can think of.~~

"Actually, I don't." Jarik says.

Delachiel nods. ~~You've been very quiet.~~

Timothy blinks at Jarik, "So what do you expect us to do? This is your world."

Jarik's ears flick and he keeps focused on the trail, "You wanted to come, Timothy. I haven't decided what to do yet. I need to speak with my students. I'm hoping they've gathered some useful information, at least."

Timothy frowns a bit but nods.

Delachiel says, ~~Will we meet them at the city?~~

Jarik shakes his head, "No. They should be waiting at the hall in the shadowed mountains. I requested that they do so." He sighs, "I wish I had some way to contact the dragon who aided in founding the order. He would know something, I'm sure."

Delachiel nods. ~~Wouldn't he know that the threat is coming back?~~

Timothy uses the staff/spear as a walking stick as he follows along, listening quietly.

Jarik adjusts his pack, "Oh, I'm certain he would. If he's even still alive."

Jarik says, "But, I can't count on that."

Jarik looks to the horizon, "I could still end you both home now, if you wish."

Delachiel shifts her backpack around a bit. ~~No. Stop worrying about us, please.~~

Timothy looks down at the ground a bit then shakes his head, "I agree with Delachiel. We chose to come."

Jarik stops, "You're both students of magic. How would you two handle a creature that doesn't have any form and delights in mutating reality? I don't even know where this thing came from originally..."

Timothy hmmms, "No form? You can capture a gas in a bottle."

Delachiel grins. ~~Well, everyone's a student, and there is always more the learn, isn't there? I will gladly give my place to any of those archmages that are rushing to help, mind you, I'll just hang around until they get here.~~

Jarik says, "Archmages? Sorry, we're it on help. My student Arik is the only actual mage that will be there."

Delachiel smiles lightly as she nods, her sarcasm ineffective on the paladin.

Timothy blinks and hmms, "So you have an apprentice scholar mage, a elfin mage and your mage?"

Jarik tilts his head a moment, "...perhaps...perhaps...could that be a reference?" He shakes his head, "Yes, Timothy."

Delachiel says, ~~Well, Xardeth. And I'm not exactly a mage, especially since I really haven't had much of a chance to figure out how well my magic works on this world.~~

Timothy nods to Delachiel, still unsure what a "Xardeth" is, and not sure he wants to know that. "How was this thing defeated before?"

Jarik looks back at Timothy and Delachiel, "I think I just realized something..."

Delachiel seems amused by something. ~~Oh? What might that be?~~

Jarik sighs, "I'm not sure, Timothy. There are no records on HOW it was stopped. The founder of the Order disappeared while stopping it."

Jarik says, "Nothing much, or a great deal. There was a reference in a book I read in the achives. I read it while I was still in training, I thought it was mainly symbolic, but..."

~~I like symbolism. I used to be a priestess.~~

Timothy looks intrigued, "Symbols always have some meaning."

Jarik shrugs, "T'Aris asked me to read a book on the purification of the soul. I only remember bits of it. It was just short entries written by people on the study of attempts to purify the soul throughout the centuries. There was one bit that just now is surfacing in my mind..."

Jarik says, "It was a tale of a race that did achieve perfection of the soul through magic."

Delachiel smiles lightly. ~~Please, tell us more. That sounds interesting.~~

The young chipmunk mage's ears go back a bit at the mention of magic that affects one's soul. "Such arts are very dangerous. But we may need to know about them to fight something that has no corpeal form."

Jarik's tail swishes, "Apparently, they learned how to extract the corruption from people and contain it and they proceeded to do it for centuries. Their container of 'corruption' however, began to gain conciousness."

Delachiel nods slowly.

Jarik adjusts his weight to his right leg, "It waited until it was powerful enough to escape and proceeded to destroy the very race that created it. I had always just assumed it was a fable along the lines of accepting all parts of yourself but...what if what we face is what was in the story? I never even considered that story might have been true."

Delachiel says, ~~Well, if that story is true, we have a very evil, and very powerful creature. But everything can be defeated, and do we really have a choice but to try? However, knowing more of how it was created and the ancient magic definitely wouldn't hurt.~~

Timothy hmmms, "So it's a soul without a body?"

Jarik nods, "Unfortunately, I don't remember any of the other details. But, if this is an amalgamation of evil..." He hrms, "Well, I hope the book has the name of the race and it's world of origin."

Delachiel says, ~~Perhaps your students have found out something useful indeed.~~

Jarik shakes his head, "Not exactly, more like a combination of millions of fragments of souls."

Timothy's countenance gets even more serious as he nods, "Truly horrible magic indeed. We'd best get moving then."

Delachiel regards the young chimpunk with a smile, and does as suggested.

Jarik nods, "The story mentioned that they never even realized it became a living being." He nods in agreement and continues along the path, a gentle breeze blowing across the plain.

"So tell me. What exactly does that spear do?" asks Jarik as they slowly make their way across the plain.

Delachiel almost whispers, more to herself, ~~One has to wonder if it is better to have a bit of evil in everyone and learn how to deal with it, than to meddle with the natural order of things.~~

Timothy shrugs, "It's very hard and sharp. It also seems to allow the focus of magic through it. It's supposed to be something that interferes with Chaos. I dont' know how or if it will work for that, but I felt it couldn't hurt."

Delachiel touches the spear curiously, but decides to examine it closer after it gets darker.

Jarik hms, "Similar to what my sword does, then. Interesting."

The spear looks a lot more like a piece of technology than a magical item, but it's purpose seems unclear.

Delachiel walks quietly, lost in her own thoughts.

Timothy feigns impatience to hide his nervousness, "How much further to our destination?"

The three reach the top of a small hill overlooking the union of three rivers. Surrounding their connction point, a small town has grown. "Behold! The Forked River Crossroads." announces Jarik, "Here we should be able to procure horses. You two can also learn a bit about the society of the world here. Most people are friendly, but do be careful. I'll deal with getting some horses from the stables. You two are welcome to look around. You're easy enough to find."

Timothy blinks, "Horses? Are they like Gambzars?"

Delachiel nods, listening carefully, taking in the scents, before slowly starting to descend the hill. ~~I think I would like to use the time for resting.~~

Jarik grins at Timothy, "Not as scaley."

Jarik heads off toward the stables, "I'll meet you two in about an hour."

Timothy blinks at Jarik and nods, "Maybe I can make an eye shield for you Delachiel."

Near the rivers lies a grove of large oak-like trees. Their branches block the bright sun, and provide relief for weary travellers. The river flows by the grove at a lazy pace. The only sounds are of birds and rustling leaves...

Delachiel smiles as she sees the shadow, the rustling of the leaves and gentle rush of water music to her ears. ~~I think I'll stay here for a while. I can guard your possessions if you wish to explore without them, Timothy.~~

Timothy nods and lays most of his posessions by Delachiel, he keeps the staff and a pouch tied under his tunic, "You'll be safe here?"

Delachiel grins at timothy and nods. ~~I'll take care of myself.~~

Timothy smiles and nods, "I'm sure you can. I have one quick request though. Can you lift your veils for a minute?"

Delachiel unfastens her veils, and looks at Timothy, her head tilted slightly?

Timothy kneels by her and leans close, and reaches his hands up to curl around her forehead to her ears and he grins, "I'm just taking your measurements" as he leans closer to look into the Xardeth's eyes.

Delachiel places a kiss on Timothy's cheek. ~~Hush, off with you, my young friend.~~

Timothy nods and blushes, "I will. Take care m'lady, I'll be back in a while."