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Whenever people begin to think that things couldn't get worse, something worse happens. And that's exactly what happened right after Vadinmael put forward his question. Out of a shadow a Myddraal appeared--a female Myrddraal. "I'll go." -Shadar Mai The Maiden of the Dark
***
Sundara shook her head at the man's lack of manners, and since he was ignoring her question, ignored the fact that he hadn't actually answered it out loud.
"My mother certainly taught me proper etiquette," she retorted a little primly, "and when to and not to balefire was high on her priority list of what to know when in polite company. Of course, she was Black Ajah," she added as an afterthought, and turned to the newly-arrived stranger. Ignoring the rest of Vadinmael's questions, which was only fair.
"Welcome to our little group. And you are?"
OOC: Shadar Mai? Are you Nsanyi?
Regarding Sundara's Black Ajah mother, I just invented her on the spot, but it fits. And as for this prim-and-proper Miss Manners streak... *shrugs* I'm not quite sure where it came from, but it seems a properly surreal response to the situation.
Sundara
Sister of the Dark
Expert on Shadow-related etiquette
***
"Your mother may have taught you proper etiquette, but you don't seem to use it. After all proper etiquette requires anwsering others sane questions."
Vadinmael turned to the newly arrived Myrddraal, at least someone wasn't ignoring him. "Hello, I'm Vadinmael," with that it was time to force them to come with him.
Taking hold of the Third Power he undid his Kiriath illusion. Then wove Balefire. A rod of liquid light momentarily connected Vadinmael to the Portal Stone. And where the Portal Stone had been it was no more.
With his job done Vadinmael started a small cook fire, and took out some marshmallows. "Who wants smores."
Vadinmael
Roaster of Marshmallows
Maker of Smores
***
As he quietly slipped out of the inn, Malkor looked in every direction for his prey. As he completed his search of the ominously dark evening Malkor saw a blazing white light, emanating from some unseen wielder of balefire he supposed.
Haha, at least whoever it is is woolheaded enough to leave a shining beacon for all to see!
Malkor quickly made his way through the dark toward where he had seen the balefire appear. As he got closer to where he thought the deadly light came from he heard the snap crackle and pop of a fire. Slowly and stealthly the big warrior reached for the gold and iron wrought hilt of his sword. These bloody fools got themselves into much more than they were hoping for.
Suppressing a small laugh at his prey's insolence Malkor slowly lifted his sword from it's resting place at his back and strode into the camp with death dancing in his eyes.
Malkor Ha'lden
***
More little surprises. Balefire etiquette? An extremely pale and... Catriona jerked reflexively as she realized that the woman in black had no eyes. The big stone pillar with the funny squiggles on it was suddenly gone, and the strange, formerly-tall-now-not fellow had lit a fire. What was a s'more? Catriona felt very much like a country bumpkin. With a sigh, she glanced at the others before once again turning to search for the presence she had felt, now feeling it much closer.
She "watched" Malkor's progress toward them in the all-but-black. As he got closer, she sensed his aggravation and a hint of smugness. Interesting combination. She saw his dim outline a moment before the others, likely, and stepped back. While Vadinmael's balefiry antics were certainly unnerving, she knew she herself most likely couldn't dodge them, if directed at her, and she acepted that. However, Malkor's sword scared the Light out of her. (It's kinda of like facing two people, one with a gun, the other with a bow and arrow. Which is the more intimidating picture? The gunslinger or Robin Hood? No! Birgitte! *nods* Birgitte. BEWARE OF WOMEN WITH BOWS! BWAHAHAHAHA!!! *ahem* sorry.) She wasn't exactly certain why he was angry, something sense some sort of disruption, but she backed away from him as he advanced. She wasn't afraid, really, but she certainly wanted nothing of the tall man's blade.
Catriona
Her player likes Archery too much...
***
"I would have thought," Carra remarked in a vaguely disinterested tone, "that balefire etiquette would basically sum down to 'don't miss your target.' There doesn't really seem to be a need for much more."
She stretched her limbs and wandered over to the now-extinct Portal Stone. "Did that make you feel better? It won't really do much else, you know."
Carramaena
who is laughing her head off at the Miss Manners argument
***
Around what use to be the portal stone, the light began to bend and swirl in a hypnotic pattern. Creating vivid blurry images that appeared to phase in and out of reality faster than the blink of an eye. Very disturbing to the stomach, and well just plain down nauseating. Slowly the images began to meld into each other in a chaotic pulsing dance. The wild surge of the true power died down, as the fully combined image materialized.
A humanoid figure clad from head to toe in a hooded cloak from material darker than the deepest black. An aura of malevolence and murder radiated so strongly, one would think that it was seared into ever fiber of body and soul of this entity, if it has a soul that is. The entity lifted back the hood of his cloak to reveal a ghostly pale eyeless face shrouded in black glossy hair cascading down broad shoulders.
The Myrddraal gave a sneer as it darted away from the gathering of people with a most inhuman speed. The aura that once radiated so strongly hate and death, shifted suddenly into terror. With much haste it reached the top of a hill on the near horizon, and passed out of view.
The sound of steel on steel broke out from over the hill. Not just any steel though, flashes of blue could be seen dimly radiating in the air. The dance of death still raged on as the clashing of blades rang out there melodious cry, echoing there wielders defiance to taste sweet oblivion. For a moment that felt like eternity silence hung in the air as if an omen of peace. That moment was shattered into a thousands shards and cast to the wind, as a wail of agony roared up into the sky.
The wind carried the scent of the shadowspawn's scorched corpse over the hillside, as a figure loomed over the hill and strode down to the gathering of people...
~Mua'an'dred
***
Striding graceful the tall thin figure came into view. Arms, legs, and chest were shrouded in white silk wrapped about in layers with what appeared to be a rune etched sword sheathed into the layers of silk around its waist. At a second glance the blade had a strange curve to it, and how it caught the sun in an unusual way made it all the more alien. If that wasn't enough the bearer certainly made the assumption of being a human was out of the mind. Its narrow elegant face was framed nicely by glossy white hair that flowed to his shoulders. Something was definitely odd though in how the light was cached on its skin, a certain gleam to it. Its vertical slit black pupil eyes drank in everyone in one long gaze, with a quick sneer at the Myrddraal before it settled on Vadinmael.
"You have done what is forbidden human, and broke the agreement forged by your ancestors," Mua'an'dred hissed in a harsh deep male voice while glancing at the spot where the portal stone once was. "So there for you shall pay the consequences."
"Since it appears that he is disturbing, I will let you create the consequence. Except the shadowspawn," said in an amused grin glacning at the gathering of people.
~Mua'an'dred the Aelfinn
***
"What agreement, made by who with who?" Vadinmael was upset by this. For one this new "person" had not said what he had done wrong. Although from his glances at the where the Portal Stone had been, he guessed it had to do with Balefiring the Portal Stone.
"And, who are you to punish, or have others punish me, do you not realize I can do to you what I did to the Portal Stone." Well actually he wasn't so sure. Unconsciously he touched the ter'angreal in his pocket; it could be useful if it came to escaping quickly.
Vadinmael
What, me? I didn't do anything
***
"No, no. That wouldn't be good etiquette." Carra turned to look at the newcomer, and blinked...
Since there are so many new people around, I'm going to explain again for the record how Carra blinks. She has one purple eye and one silver eye. When something surprises her, they switch colours. That's her equivalent of a blink. OK?
...and blinked, tossing her hair back. "A Finn? How did you get here?" She turned and pointed. "Do you know Kiriath? He lives in the Tower of Ghenjei. At least, in our world he does."
Carramaena
***
As Malkor strode into the camp he didn't exactly get the sort of reaction that he had expected. What in the Light is going on with these people? He expected them to at least be surprised by his silent entrace, perhaps this wouldn't be the bloodbath he was hoping for.
At that thought Malkor quickly allowed the void in his mind to weaken; however, that flame was still strong in his mind. "Prepare for the worst and expect the best," it seems my father's proverbs are still strong in my memory, unlike most things. Adding that last part to his thought was like hitting his foot with a hammer. Malkor always felt uneasy admitting the fact that he can barely remember who his parents were or where he grew up. Trying to reach for those memories yet failing always panged him in such a way.
After releasing his hold on the void Malkor made himself as noticable as possible to the small crowd, "Well, well, well what in the Light is a group with with such fine-looking women doing with the likes of a freak with marshmellows and a talking lizard?" While announcing his words Malkor slowly surveyed the small group, noticing the infantisimal detail of each person through the minor reactions of face and body to his sudden appearance.
Malkor
***
Sundara turned slowly to look at the most recent arrival. Things were getting madder by the second. No doubt the Creator would turn up before long.
"Good evening, stranger," she replied pleasantly. "My apologies if we failed to notice your arrival: I'm sure it was very dramatic, but the number of dramatic arrivals we can divide our attention between are limited, and there have been quite a few to notice. As for your question... I'm not entirely sure." She turned to the pair. "What are we doing with you?"
Sundara
***
Mua'an'dred eyes blazed with rage when the newcomer referred to him as a "lizard." Such bloody insolence was expected from these primitive versions of humans. Just because he look somewhat snake like in comparison to those flaming hairy apes, doesn't mean he was a lizard! After all he did not have scales. Idle thoughts though he thought wearily. Better to be done with this whole ordeal before he was punished.
"Go ahead and weave your sorcery on me if you want I am not afraid of death, I embrace it," Mua'an'dred replied coldly to Vadinmael. "Though my Mia'Cova would be very displeased with you. Now for what transgression you have done human, is quite obvious if you put your futile mind to work," Mua'an'dred said dryly. "Destroying what you refer as portal stones is VIOLATING a pact that your human ancestors made with my Mia'Cova. Which still is valid, so therefore punishment is called for."
"Sadly I have not been to the tower of Ghenjei in quite some time, my Mia'Cova would disapprove greatly," Mua'an'dred responded sadly to Carramaena. "As for what I am doing here, my business is with this bereft of intellect." Gesturing to Vadinmael. "Though it is good to see one who is familiar with whom my kin are. There seems to be such a lack of it after the breaking." Mua'an'dred made a slight grin. "Since you are obviously not primitive as this fool is here, I will give you the honor of deciding his punishment."
Mua'an'dred
***
As she watched Malkor's approach, her sense alerted her to the entrance of Mua'an'dred, and she faced him, blinking (like a normal person!) in another small bit of surprise. She became aware of everyone talking almost all at once, her eyes zooming around crazily, trying to figure out who was speaking, what they were saying, and how it all fit together. If it weren't for her extreme confusion and frustration, she might have blushed at Malkor's compliment, comment, or whatever it was, though she never would consider herself part of the intention. She wanted to make everyone back up and start over again, but after a minute she thought she... sort of understood.
The snake-man was mad at the shrinking fellow, the sword-wielding man seemed a bit slighted that she was the only one who really noticed him enter, the short lady wasn't overly pleased with the snake-man or shrinking fellow, and the lady with the strange eyes seemed to somewhat know what was going on. Boy, did she ever envy her for that. But, what she had for now would have to do. Having never been one for extreme extravagance in an entrance, she eyed the Finn doubtfully. Had she not been so overwhelmed with new arrivals and happenings, she would have noticed more that Malkor was quite handsome, but... oh well.
Catriona, the Confuddled but Mostly Sane?
***
"Why, thank you." Carra turned to look at Vadinmael, considering available means of punishment. "Ah," she said with a wicked smile, "I have it. As you seem to have prevented us using this Portal Stone to continue our journey, I sentence you to travel with us until we find another convenient one or the rest of us have driven you insane, whichever comes last. And no balefiring," she added, and turned to the Aelfinn.
"Perhaps you would also like to accompany us, to witness this sentence being carried out?"
Carramaena
There, now both of you have an excuse to keep hanging out with us.
***
After hearing the party give their thoughts on the situation, Malkor stared blankly ahead. What in the Light is wrong with these people? Whatever it was he was sure that they were all on the rather insane side of the spectrum.
"It's a good thing I showed up. Maybe I can share a little of my sanity?" Malkor slowly begane shifting his gaze from woman to woman until it finally rested on the quiet man who said nothing. He will, perhaps, be the only real threat. " So, what were you all planning on? Having a bloody group hug and become one big bloody happy family? Last I checked the world wotked a little differently."
Malkor then began to move his way around the group, weaving amongst the odd group of fools. He eventually came to a stop beside one of the women, gently resting his arm atop her shoulder anxiously waiting for a response.
Malkor
***
"I think I can take you on your word, better if I was back to..."
Every muscle on Mua'an'dred tensed to the extreme in an instance, while his eyes bulged with vast torment. Sending him hurling to the ground in intense convulsions, while screaming violently. From the depths of Mua'an'dred's mind a shrieking torrent of sheer pain boiled up with fury. Surging mercilessly through ever vein and fiber of body and soul. Consuming him like a raging inferno, kindling everything to ashes in its path. Roaring wildly rending him from limb to limb, heart and soul. Death was his greatest lust now, as the tempest still ravaged through him like a rabid beast.
Then as quick as it had begun the pain stopped abruptly, though he could still feel the wailing echoing through his mind. Gasping for air while weeping uncontrollably Mua'an'dred manage to get out these few words.
"I will obey.... I will obey Semirhage... I will go with these people."
~Mua'an'dred
***
Melissande stared at the man who had put his arm around her, then, since their cover had been well and truly blown anyway, embraced saidar - her mouth twisting at the taint - and gave him a hard shove backward.
"No," she replied with a faint sneer in her voice, "I suspect a group hug was not quite what was planned. So refrain, if you please, from attempting to start it. As for sanity - " she began and was interrupted by the sudden convulsion of the most recent newcomer.
"Light," she murmured when it was over. "What was that about?"
Melissande Amaline Isten
Aes Sedai of the Medium Blue Ajah
President of Elaida Haters Worldwide
***
"All right, no group hug, I can deal with that." slowly Malkor tested his limbs to make sure that he was free to manipulate his body. Bloody Aes Sedai... His thought was cut short as Malkor swiftly snatched and un-sheathed his sword from it's scabbard. Attemting to dodge both drool and flailing limbs Malkor realized that the Mia Cova lizard guy was the source of it all. With his mind emerged deep within the void Malkor made the decision that he would have no complications in simply removed the grotesque head from the lizard's body. Once he decided to take action the sporadic convulsions abruptly ceased. Face in a dark scowl and sword in hand Malkor managed to get in a quick "What in the Light..." before choosing to allow the odd moment fully sink into his mind through the void .
Malkor
***
With the small prescience innate to his Eccentric nature, Kiriath's eyes bulged out. Whether this would prove to be an alternate future or the actual, the Finn getting its head chopped off - Kiriath desperately hoped the bugger could regenerate - could very probably make the fight that Eval - Eval? - suggested come to pass.
Sir Kiriath Machin Ni, Machinwarder to Arie
***
'Someone here is sane? There's a concept and a half...,' Catriona thought to herself. She stepped away from Malkor as he passed her, still not thrilled by his seeming enthusiasm to use that sword of his. Wistfully she wondered what had happened to her peacefully life of only a few hours before.
A sudden shift in the dynamics of the energies in the group nearly knocked her over with its shocking force. She snapped her head to stare at Mua'an'dred who was just beginning his shocking spasms. The exchange between himself and whoever was on the other end made her head buzz. The energies were like a swarm of bees stinging her brain, and she fell to her knees in a daze until the terrible static suddenly stopped. She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head, trying to rid herself of a hazy after-feeling. (You know what I mean.) When she opened her eyes, she saw everyone else's attention on the Finn as well.
Catriona sighed as her ears stopped ringing, and spoke just at the same time. "What in the Light is WITH you people?! WHO ARE YOU?! WHAT ARE YOU?! Light..." She started to get up, and her braid flopped over her shoulder. She made half a mental note to redo it when she had her answer and the time. It had bristled like a cat's tail.
Catriona
She Who Finally Speaks (Not Having Done So Since Her Second Post)
She Who Is Maker of Lame Double Entendres and Puns
She Who Wants REALLY BADLY to Read a New Installment of "Long Live Insanity"!
***
"Master is not happy with me," Mua'an'dred mumbled in between gasps for air and groans. "Master wishes for me to see the punishment of that fool to be carried out. So I must obey," Mua'an'dred moaned while glancing at Vadinmael.
Mua'an'dred eyes caught Malkor's blade hovering over his neck ready for the kill. Suddenly Mua'an'dred burst out with a roar of laughter, tears began steaming down his face. "Do you think it is that easy?" An amused grin beamed on Mua'an'dred's face. "I have been cursed to be a slave for eternity fool, maybe you can destroy this vessel of flesh," Mua'an'dred laughed hysterically while clawing at his face. "But I will only be reincarnated into a new vessel, to serve again. Not even balefire can break the chains attached to my soul." Mua'an'dred stopped laughing and weeping. Then settled a dark gaze full of malevolence on Malkor. "That is the epitome of torture and pain human, something you will never understand."
~Mua'an'dred
***
Sundara sighed, ignoring the byplay between Malkor and Mua'an'dred, and crossed the rough ground to Catriona.
"It would be easier," she said softly, "if you simply imagined this to be a very strange dream. My friends and I are travelling this world for reasons of our own; these people decided they had business with us. You, I am afraid, got caught in the middle. As soon as this is sorted out, you may return home if you like. In the meantime," Sundara shrugged. "Enjoy the ride."
She turned back to the others. "If no one else has any melodramatic gestures to make, perhaps we can discuss this. You." She pointed to Malkor. "Which of us is your business with? And what is it?"
Sundara
***
Looking up at the short lady, she nodded. Strange dream indeed. Well... she had her answer. Now she had time. While Sundara went over to question Malkor, she contented herself to fixing her hair back in a neat braid, smoothing the brown shafts with her fingers and dividing them into three roughly equal parts, then weaving them together quickly and retying the ribbon around them, before turning her attention back to everyone and everything else.
Catriona
In need of a comb, hairbrush, or a mirror ("Is my hair bumpy?")
***
Vadinmael was stunned. How could anyone suggest thathe give up balefire. Balefiring thingswasn't just a tool, it was also a way of life. His way of life, to him it was like a drug, a very addicting drug, a drug with no side effect to himself other than the addiction of using it. But then the addiction was worth it. He would not give it up. But then he had reasons to give it up. His orders involved these people, and he couldn't travel with them if he kept using it so...
"I request that I recieve three conditions in which I can use balefire. One if the mission requires its use. Two if balefire is required to save my life. And three if I really want to use it."
"Aelfinn who is your Mia'Cova, and if balefiring you will not release you from his bond, then what about balefiring your Mia'Cova. I know someone who would love to balefire him."
Vadinmael
Grand Death Marshall
***
As usual Ulrike kept to the background and just listened. The situation became more and more confusing with the arriving people. We attract strangeness, she thought. Who is next? The local Forsaken? The Amyrlin? That reminds me...
With a side look to Sundara who tried valiantly to sort out the conflicting ... motives? Persons? Story lines? Whatever ... she slipped away. She was fairly shure they wouldn't go far, especially without portalstone, and she wanted to do a bit investigating in the meantime.
By now the guests of the inn should have calmed down. The male Aes Sedai deserved a closer look and there was something... in the air, for a lack of better words. She had missed something important earlier there.
She used the conventional way to approach the inn. It wouldn't do to alert the Aes Sedai that a woman was channeling nearby.
OOC: I'm trying to return to the script. Newbies, please take a look at Sundara's The Other Side of the Wheel or you won't understand some of the earlier references. Sundara, what do you think? Has Daimon already arrived?
***
Since Sundara was busy with Malkor, Carra turned to answer Vadinmael.
"You can use balefire in the first two instances only if other weapons won't do the job. And you can use it in the third instance only if you pick targets who won't affect the Pattern by being balefired, such as inanimate objects or Long Live Insanity characters. Alternatively, you could balefire Kiriath, since I don't think he'd really notice it."
***
"Me?" The woman's question somewhat startled him considering the extent of the problems throughout the entire group, but he supposed the questioning had to start somwhere.
"Well," he replied, "I was simply roused from my melifluous dreams by some maniacal channeller whom seems to enjoy the use of balefire." Malkor glared for a moment in Vandinmael's direction. After a moment he swiftly returned his attention to his questioner and asked, "So, I would like to know what is so important that you and your little Aes Sedai followers must awaken a hard-working boarderlands soldier from his slumber?" Thankful for no longer being the subject of the cold-steel-stare of hers, Malkor returned to examining his blade and striking it home, back into it's scabbard.
Malkor
The misplaced outcast of a forgotten society...
***
"Companions, not followers," Sundara corrected. "And only one happens to be an Aes Sedai. Although that is, I suppose, a moot point. So. You followed him." She turned to look at the assortment of newcomers. "You," she nodded at Lay, "followed us for study purposes. You," Anya and Catriona, "got caught up by accident. You," Vadinmael, "went on a balefire shooting spree and you," Mua'an'dred, "came after him."
She sighed and looked around at all of them again.
"In short, we are all the beneficiaries of a ridiculous array of coincidences. Now that that seems to have been sorted out, does anyone have any more points to make, questions to ask or melodrama to use up?"
OOC: Question to you all. As Ulrike said, we, the original group, are taking a stroll through my story. If you haven't read it or aren't interested, you're welcome to head on to another world and we'll catch you up later. Who's going where?
Sundara
***
Catriona was certainly glad that the short lady had finally figured everything out. It was all now... more or less clear. She pondered for an instant being rather silly and pretending to melodramatically faint... but she decided not to. Why add to the insanity. They all did so well on their own. But one thing did bother her. She timidly looked around the group. "I've got a a question, yes."
She met the short lady's gaze simply as she looked at her expectantly. "Yes? What's that?"
"Well... out of sheer and utter curiosity... what is everyone's names?" At that moment, she made a gesture, cupping her right hand and circling it thrice over her heart, the sign of her name. "I am Catriona." As her gaze flitted about looking for the first to speak, she did notice how handsome Malkor was, finally, but shows no sign, continuing her search.
Catriona, the Deaf One of the Mish-Mash
Pronounced 'Kat-REE-na', btw... (Sound familiar? ^_^)
Who ever said the Maidens of the Spear were the only ones with a sign language, eh?
***
Mua'an'dred mutters something under his breath to Vadinmael about fool humans, messing with the pattern, going over his head. "My master likes to remain anonymous at the moment," Mua'an'dred replied. "Also if you would like to be eradicated be my guess in assaulting her."
Mua'an'dred heaves himself up and turns his attention to Sundara. "My paths are linked with yours until the punishment of that foul human is finished." Mua'an'dred began dusting himself off. "So until then I am at your service.
"You may refer to me as Mua'an'dred if you wish."
~Mua'an'dred
***
Though Lay was not used to keeping himself quiet, he had certainly done so for the last few minutes--and was utterly surprised by that. Smirking, he made a quick survey at the three newcomers. A female Myrddraal. An Aelfinn. A soldier. Nothing seemed out of place to him--except one: the Myrddraal's hair was red. Now he knew what exactly is wrong with this particular Myrddraal.
"Well, Sis, what a wonderful coincidence," he remarked.
-Lay
***
Arie looked up from her notebook that had appeared. She had been scribbling all this down to send to the producer of a David E. Kelley *is that the name? tis been far too long....* prime-time soap and wondering who would play Carramaena. The eyes would have to be computer generated or some such....
"Oh, I'm Arie'Nerys, pronounced airy nerees, but most people call me Arie. Well, I've been called a few other names, but I'm not guaranteeing I'd respond to those."
~Arie'Nerys
The In(s)ane Traveler
Machin-bonded to Kiriath
Wishing to balefire the cold virus
***
"I'm Carramaena, usually called Carra. Sometimes called worse things than that, but we won't dwell on those."
Carra, who can't actually think of much to say at the moment
***
"Name's Kiriath, random schizophrenia's not my game but a usual concoction, the only real definite thing about me. Some people are predictable, some aren't. I'm predictable in that I'm not."
Everything but his eyes blinked out, and blinked in again. "Sir Kiriath Machin Ni, if you must be ornery. My -ahcoo - now-with-cold Aes Sedai inadvertently added the Machin but recently. And the Sir, curiously enough."
To whoever a certain other was addressed to, Kiriath winked. If no one, he winks randomly. He does it anyway. The image, all the image. Well, when he has one. Literally or the other way.. "I'd rather stare down a length of balefire anime-style, actually; being balefired is a bit too extreme for my taste."
Sir Kiriath Machin Ni, Machinwarder to Arie
***
Catriona looks at Kiriath with a sort of stupified look.
"So that's what's wrong with you...," she mutters to herself. Without thinking whether she insulted him or not, simply because she didn't mean to, she continues searching for the next speaker.
Cat
And the Light comes on!
***
Vadinmael looked around at the surrounding people. It seemed that many of them were introducing themselves to the newcomers.
"Hello I'm Va..."
In the middle of the word Vadinmael cut off and started to stare blankly toward the horizon. "He who has been reborn before is reborn again. He who can touch the two halves has touched them again. He who conquers has conquered again. He who has come before comes again"
Vadinmael collapsed to the ground. Lightning struck from the clouds and thunder roared in the air. "What did I say," Vadinmael asked softly.
Vadinmael
He who has foretold... and doesn't like what he foretold
***
The Myrddraal snickered.
"Indeed, little brother," she (it, whatever) said in response to Lay's question before turning to Catriona, "ehm, well, you see, I'm Shaidar mai, the Maiden of the Dark, and this is *gestures at Lay* my half-genius, half-insane brother Lay. The rest I know only as much as you do."
Shadar Mai
***
Can this bloody group get any more insane?! After inwardly scolding himself for getting mixed in with these people Malkor stood quietly, staring blankly at the dirt landscape. Suddenly he looked up, " I am Malkor Ha'lden and I have been traveling, chasing my past, so to speak," taking a deep breath and retaining his confidence Malkor continued, " I am not from this world. Of all my past memories that remain, that is one of which I am sure. I do not know how I came be here but I have been constantly moving, searching for a way to find my former self. Many of my past memories have fled from my mind, others seem as if they happened just yesterday. I do know, however, that I grew up on a farm near Fal Dara. My father was a soldier and I too was a soldier. I grew up battling trollocs and myrdraal, fighting what most people believe to be myths and gleeman's tales." As he spoke Malkor look everyone straight in their eyes, weighing each one, calculating their reations to his tale. Hoping that they would accept his offer, he continued, "My past is gone and I can't find it on my own. My only clear option is to travel with you people, if you will allow me."
Malkor eyed everyone suspicously, hoping that noone would attampt to stick a knife into his back. His lingered a bit longer on the woman calling herself Catriona, I suppose traveling with them could be nice. Amazed at his own thoughts, he hurriedly returned his face to his usual scowl, repremanding himself for foolishly allowing the corners of his mouth to slide up into a small smile. Fool!
Malkor
***
"Certainly you may join us. My name is Sundara, my usual title Sister of the Dark or if you switch it around, the Dark One's sister. Adopted, of course."
She placed a hand lightly on the still-silent Eval's arm. "This is Eval Ramman, my Warder."
Sundara
***
Catriona looked over at Va(dinmael) oddly. "Va?" After a moment, she replied. "Well, I think you were telling everyone your name, sir." She then nods to Shadar Mai, and Lay, thinking that they really look nothing at all like family, seeing as one has eyes and skin tone and the other.... doesn't. But if they're brother and sister, then they're brother and sister. Stranger things have happened to her tonight.
Turning to Malkor, she "listened" to him with a bit of surprise. No one else had been so forthcoming with information, certainly not so much in depth, and.... what under the Light was he babbling about? Not of this world? Didn't one of the others say that? Fal Dara? These Trollocs again, Myrddraal... (I can't spell...) So, somehow, she assumed, he was from the same "world" as these other people.
Just as she was about to wonder if he knew any other expression than a scowl, he surprised her again with the tiniest of smiles. Of all the strange things. But, there were still people's names she had yet to learn and she turned her eyes away from him after a moment, focusing then on the short lady and the tall guy with her. She supposed she couldn't think of them that way anymore, not really, and she nodded.
After a second, though, something sank into her mind that had been there for several minutes, since Malkor mentioned it, but she hadn't really pondered. Aes Sedai? Warder?! So they could channel! But... they were WOMEN! Women weren't Aes Sedai. Wait... the... other world. Female Dragon. Other world. Female Aes Sedai. Warders... Things were starting to click into place in Catriona's simple mind.
The entire time her face was a rather comical mix of confusion, enlightenment, overwhelming, and surprise. And then something else hit her, and her gaze snapped back to Sundara.
"THE DARK ONE'S SISTER?!?!?! ADOPTED?!?!?!"
Catriona
Getting It Finally
Having the Shock of Her 19 Year Life
***
"Adopted. And so am I." was Lay's response to Catriona's startled reaction. "And if you think that's weird enough, well, you'll see for yourself what do we call 'weird' in a few minutes' time."
-Lay
***
"Yes, Lady Catriona." Eval spoke for the first time, his tone courteous though with an undercurrent of amusement. "The Dark One's sister. The origins of the title are obscure, but the fact of it quite undeniable. I can personally vouch for His acceptance of the relationship."
He studied Malkor, Mua'an'dred and Vadinmael, weighing up the danger they might present. Satisfied that they were no immediate threat, he nodded.
"You would all be welcome to join us."
Eval Ramman,
lord of darkness
***
Anya sighed and scanned the group of people that she was stuck with. The guys from the inn, plus one female myrddraal that turned out to be Lay's sister (He never told her that he had a myrddraal for a sister. But somehow it fits him having a myrdraal for a sister. Hmm...), one really odd guy that's supposed to be an Aelfinn, Sundara's warder, who had popped out of nowhere, and this Malkor who seemed to have a particular interest in Catriona from the way she's the only person he didn't scowl at.
Anya sighed again. She seemed to do that a lot today. And she's sure as hell she'll be doing more of it as the matter progresses. Well, at least that Va-whatever guy had stopped Balefiring everything that strikes his fancy (Or perhaps just simply -everything-), and Sundara had put some orders to thing ( Well,sort of). Anyway, she can't just stand here and gawk at everything. She need to get back. Fast.
She cleared her troath.
"By the way, in case you guys had forgotten that I exist, My name is Anya. I'm lost in this world and anyone who might know how to get back to -that- world, would be very welcomed."
***
"Alright, now that everybody has introduced themselves, let's.... uh, er, not exactly everybody... well, to complete the list, that bf-wielding SOB is Vadinmael, that lady over there is Melissande Amaline Isten--you can call her Lissa--, the one who went for the city a few minutes ago is Ulrike, and the Aelfinn--uh, wait a minute."
In the end Lay decided that he needed some help from the guy on the other end of the line. He took the cel'fonn out and dialed the first number that came into his mind--in fact, the only number he knew since that was the number of the person who had called him back then in the inn.
"Hello?"
"Yep, Insanity Inc. at your service."
"Knock it off. Now, I really need your help."
"What sorta help?"
"What's the Aelfinn's name?"
"Oh, so that's the problem. Wait a sec... he's Mua--Mua---uh, Mua'an'dred, if I'm not mistaken."
"Thanks."
"Never mind."
*click*
"Heh, that's about the first time that son-of-a-pig ever gave me some really useful information," Lay said, putting the cel'fonn back into his belt pouch, "the Aelfinn's Mua'an'dred. Period. Now that everybody's beenproperly introduced, well,..."
Lay raised his hand, and a few wisps of luminescent mist converged on it, wisps that grew steadily thicker and more noticeable until when they reached Lay's hand they were solid bodies of light some two cubits in diameter. Slowly, the light interweaved with each other,enveloped the entire group, and all in a sudden they were standing in front of the inn they left quite a few minutes ago.
As the wisps of light died down, Ulrike's figure appeared on a corner of the road some distance away, very much surprised by the group's sudden apparition.
"What the heck are you...damn! Didn't I say that you-should-not-do-any-channeling-and-such-like? Light, what did I do to deserve these people?" her angry voice echoed down the now-deserted stretch of road.
"Well, I think that wouldn't be much of a problem, as I sensed the presence of a very strong male channeler inside, which means that Daimon is already there," Lay replied, "Vadinmael, it's your turn." He nodded, motioning Vadinmael to balefire the door.
-Lay
***
"I have a better idea. Let's not." Shaking her head, Sundara wielded the True Power to place them quietly and invisibly back within the common room. Subtlety did have its place.
She eyed the tall, dark-cloaked man dominating the room. Oh yes, he was a Forsaken all right.
"Ideas?" she murmured, raising a sound shield before speaking. "Shall we let this play out or do something about it?"
Sundara
***
Catriona looks rather disconcerted by all this shifting of place and visibility and whatnot. It's getting rather ridiculous, really, for her tastes, but in a way, it's exciting as well. Exciting in the way, in our ooc modern world, that a rollercoaster is to a novice rider. Scary, thrilling... and a bit nauseating and dizzying (if that's a word.)
Cat just sort of slipped to the back of the group, leaning wearily against a wall. She didn't really care much what all they did, so long as she didn't end up dead or in severe pain. She might as well tag along with them, though. She didn't have anywhere else to go, or anything else to do.
With that thought she merely shrugged non-commitally, and bent over to put her head level with her knees to easy away the dizziness.
Cat
Not used to this yet
Betting this is how the world looks to Kir with those whirly eyes
***
Carra watched the tableau (now how's that for an Eval-word?) with interest.
"Well, technically, he's on our side. But I like the others better, especially since she has red hair." Carra patted her own coppery tresses. "So how about we explain to him what he's doing wrong and then balefire him? We can always fix their memories up again later."
OOC: Sundara, you said Daimon wasn't the only Forsaken around. WHERE'S TEMAD? He's my favourite!
Carra
***
A gateway snapped open in the air just above Carra. A letter dropped through. The gateway closed as suddenly as it had opened.
Dear Carra, the letter read,
I'm here, of course. Where else would I be?
TEMAD
Ignoring the letter, Sundara agreed with an amused smile. "Yes, let's explain a few things to him. Would you like to be first, or shall I?"
Sundara (and Temad)
***
Something hit Carra's head. She reached up and grabbed it before it slipped off.
"A letter? For me? Hmm..." She opened it, read it and grinned. 'All right, that answers that question. As for him?" She looked at the threatening Forsaken. "You go first. You can explain to him about melodrama."
Carra
***
"What about false balefire?" Lay opened up, "well, in case that you disagree, you can do anything to him--just make sure that there's something left for me."
-Lay
***
"By all means." Sundara crossed the floor toward the tall man, and dropped invisibility when she was about a metre away.
"You're really doing this very badly," she told him, ignoring the abrupt startled looks from everyone else involved. "I know walking in here and taking what you want is a typically Shadowed thing to do. It's dramatic. It's in-character. The problem is, it's also quite likely to get you balefired."
She pointed to the young man and the two young women clustered by the door. "They are the main characters. Main characters can't die at the beginning of the story. Evil minions can. Are you paying attention? If you were smarter, you'd have taken a more subtle approach. Of course, if you were smarter, I'd have had to have written in someone else to play your part."
She shrugged. "All in all, this lecture doesn't serve very much of a purpose. But we find it entertaining." She turned on her heel, walked away and vanished again as she came within the illusion of invisibility.
"Who wants to go next?"
Sundara
***
Vadinmael was getting very tired of being moved around. First Sundara had transported them all to the hill, then Lay had somehow moved them all back to the inn, and then Sundara had put them back in the inn. It was getting quite annoying. He might have to do something about that. At least no one had noticed his fortelling. At least that was what he though it was.
"I'll go," Vadinmael said in anwser to Sundara's question. Steppin out of the weave of invisiblility Vadinmael surveyed the room. The patrons of the inn were again in shock. Some how all of the balefire wrought destruction had been repaired. And it was quite obvious that the people in the inn didn't remember him by the fact that they were not running in panic. I can sove that, he thought to himself. But later.
"Well Forsaken it seems that you just let that little girl tell you off. You can not stand for that," shock is more evident on the forsaken's face than before. Quicly weaving a ward against eavesdropping he contiuned.
"Now you walk across the room and show her who you are."
"But, I can't even see them any more," the Forsaken protested.
"That's because there behind a weave of invisiblility. Just walk over there and you'll find them." With that Vadinmael crossed back to the everyone else, stopping only to balefire a small mouse.
Vadinmael
Weaver of Trouble
And Ultimate Pest Controller
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