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 Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 5:49 pm
Wraith once again drew closer to Aer. "Since I seem to be having a hard time getting you alone at the moment, I'll just raise a few wards against other ears." With a small gesture of his hand, several weaves sprang up around them and were quickly concealed.
"I assume you detected the sleep spell that was laid upon you? I must apologize, but it was necessary. This place you now stand in has remained at peace for several centuries now thanks to the spells that protect it. None may find it on there own, they must be led. For years, my predecessors and I have shielded this place from the outside world. Free from the burdens of other lands, these people know no other existence. Any tracking spells you may have had upon you were shorted during your slumber. Your sleep also provided a convienient way to bring you here without knowledge of relative locations. I merely sought to maintain this isolation from others. Surely you understand."
Wraith sighed. To go any further was to pass the point of no return. "It is tradition for the ruler of this place not to place the fruit of his loins upon the throne, but to journey out and find one who is deamed worthy by the ship to continue in the place of those who came before. Do you understand?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 6:07 pm
Aer's face went through several expressions, notably surprise, comprehension, confusion, and finally suspicion.
"I believe I may," he said slowly. Several possibilities, at least, had touched in his mind. A question, though, had suddenly presented itself.
"Who is the ruler of this place, if I may ask?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 6:12 pm
((OOC: No apologies necessary. I was just incredibly confused.))
Tekira noted that Aer and Master Rhackam appeared to be talking. She had politely stationed herself far enough away that she would hear nothing, unless they started talking far above the normal volume, in which case it certainly couldn't do any harm if she heard it.
So instead of listening to them, she watched the people in the painting move around. It was oddly fascinating.
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Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 6:16 pm
"You're looking at him. You know me now as Jack Rackam, I was born as Amryk Galadriel. I have been called many names: Wander of the Wastes, The Hearrteless One. Yet most know me as The Wraith."
((Gtg, dinner time. Be back on in an hour or so.))
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Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 6:46 pm
((Awh, this is getting good, Bard... *sigh*))
Aer frowned. Hearrteless? But he said he had found his Hearrte. Odd.
"I have a feeling that I am going to want to sit down for this," he said slowly, and gestured toward the painting. "Shall we?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 7:06 pm
((I'm back!))
Wraith frowned at the lack of suprise. "Have you not heard of me? Of The Wraith?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 7:21 pm
Aer suddenly realized that this 'Wraith' must be more well-known than Aer had thought.
"I've, erm," he said, "led a rather sheltered life. I was never allowed out much. I finally left home against my family's wishes, not so very long ago. I wasn't expecting an adventure like this, but I suppose it is quite interesting, at that."
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Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 7:48 pm
"Hm." I don't know whether that is a good thing or a bad, if he does not know me. "Sit and let me tell you a tale. One second please." Wraith dropped the wards for a moment to tell Tekira and Janika that they should feel free to seat themselves at any time, and that he and Aer may be a minute.
"Twenty thousand years ago, mere days after the spliting of the worlds and the creation of the wastes, Merq, the Guardian Spirit of Vretoaz, decended to the waste lands, to a struggling man that was near death. Taking pity on the man, Merq granted him the gift of vitallity. Yet such gifts come not without there prices. Upon this man, she placed a task. To roam the world, gathering the Hearrtes of others, collecting them untill the Day of Reclamation, when they shall be presented as a gift to the chosen one. Every century, the Seeker would go out into the world on a different mission, to seek a replacement. My ship, the very one you rode in upon, is composed of an untold number of Hearrtes. I am the twenty- ninth to seek the Hearrtes in the service of Merq. And the time has come to choose another. My predecessor once told me that I was chosen by the ship, that it had reacted oddly to my presence. So has it for you. I did not send the gondola to remove you from the waste area. That was the ship. Never before has it performed an action without my order. To confirm that it was indeed you that I sought, the ship had been reluctant to lay the strands of slumber upon you. For these reasons, I believe you are the next in line for the job. To seek and collect the Hearrtes of others untill the coming of the Chosen. This city was founded as a haven for those who gave their Hearrtes willingly and there decendents. In respect for their sacrifice, the Seeker, known outside as the Wraith, is guardian of these people. You are to be the next to serve."
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Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 8:03 pm
Narrowing his eyes, Aer opened his mouth to respond, but said nothing before the voice of his own father made him jump.
"Master Wraith," Rivus said loudly, more than loud enough for Tekira and Janika to hear, except that they hadn't yet entered the painting yet. "Or are you using a different name for the time being? I see you've taken an interest in my son, unless I am mistaken." He slid into a seat as if he owned the place, taking hold of a turkey leg and biting into it. A few seconds later, he swallowed, and said, "I wish you would have told me what you intended," he said sorrowfully. "If you had, I might have offered you my help."
A lie, as Rivus well knew, but a lie he had already scripted and planned.
"But," he continued, "now that I've arrived, why not put my worries to rest and tell me exactly what you plan to do?"
Aer looked at his father, startled. That was the man he had seen before, and he felt a fool for not recognizing him sooner.
"I shouldn't be here," he said, shaking his head. "Not with him. I don't want to be near him."
"Come now, Aer," Rivus said loudly. Aer had never heard his father speaking so obnoxiously. "You wouldn't just run away from your father like that, would you?"
'Run away'. Coincidence?
"I already did once," Aer said. He looked at Rhackam--Wraith--and stopped in his movement for the painting gateway. For whatever reason, Wraith seemed to need him here. And who knew? Maybe the ship wouldn't let him leave, since it wanted him so badly.
"That's a good boy," Rivus said, slightly sneering. "Now, Wraith, my good friend! I do believe I asked you a question, if you care to answer?" He took another bite of turkey.
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Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 8:22 pm
"Rivus? Is this one kin of yours?" Wraith turned to Aer and smiled. "Don't worry, if I had him for a father, I'd run away too." Turning back to the figure seated at the table, the Seeker gestured and his form began to change. dropping the Gortul disguise, he stood straighter and taller.
"He is no bussiness of yours now, River of Death. The Hearrteship has chosen him as my sucessor, and it's will, the will of Merq, can not be cast aside." Wraith shifted his form, allowing for several changes to make combat a bit easier, includig an extra set of arms, some claws, and a barbed tail. "If you wish to take him, you must withstand the might of ten thousand Hearttes and the wrath of a God, all such forces under my command. You had your chance at greatness, and it is gone along with your Hearrte."
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Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 8:41 pm
Aer stared at Wraith. The man could shapeshift? It would almost be worth accepting his offer just for that! But he cast a grimace at his father, who was unfazed.
"I never said I wished to stop you!" Rivus said, throwing his hands up while still holding the turkey leg. "You've answered my question, though, so I can't say you're giving me much trouble. Put away that frightening mask, friend, I want only to talk."
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Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 8:46 pm
The added on features turned to smoke and dissipated. "Very well. Talk."
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Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 9:08 pm
"Well, I did say I would be willing to lend you my... considerable skills, yes? You want to teach Aer to be the Wraith? Let me help."
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Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 9:24 pm
"As I said before, you had your chance at glory, and you threw it away." Wraith moved between Rivus and Aer. "You have not the knowledge nor the ability to tap the powers that I possess. Only I can instruct another in ther use. I offered you the chance long ago, yet you turned it down and so lost your Hearrte to the Ship." Wraith gestured and the tables and chairs faded away. "My turn for the questions. How did you find this place?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 9:34 pm
Tekira felt odd, watching all this happen. Almost detached.
She stood up.
Whatever was going on, there was clearly no need for her to be here...
But she didn't think she could go. The doors were closed, and she was getting the idea that they were locked.
She just didn't know why.
((OOC: How amazingly awkward. I have no idea what my place in this is anymore.))
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