Welcome to Gaia! ::

::He was there. No one really saw him approach, not due to magic means, he was simple very quiet. He had practice at making himself inconspicious at times so as not to intrude. But there he was, right when he was needed most. For those who watched, it was amazing to see how he surfed the crowd, weaving through people without saying a word, and without truly being noticed.

His look could only be described as a figure, a figure of black. He wore black pants, and a long black jacket with a black hood to shield him from the sun. Protuding from his sleaves were black gloves, and from the cuffs ofhis pants were black loafers which seemed to silently pressed against the sand. And each bit of clothing seemed to perfectly ironed and pressed. From the silver trimming which ran from the neck of his jacket to its fringe, around the ankles, to the intricate designs sewed into his black hood. His hood was not a veil of black, but rather one could easily see the lower half of his face, and the solemn look at was upon his aged and pale face. He seemed to be somewhere in his late 40's and his face was perfectly clean shaven.

In his right arm was....something. His arm was carefully wrapped around it like one would wrap around a football. And tit seemed to be no larger than a loaf of bread but it was entirely wrapped in a black cloth.

As Sunstrike mentioned the infirmary his left hand reached out, and he spoke, with a strange voice. Strange for these parts at least, it had an accent of sorts to it, not quite british but not quite english either.::

I'll take him. He will be fine.

::He said, with a low tone, as if still trying not to draw too much attention to himself.::

::The figure, was as silent as he was solemn. His left hand reached under Vahn's rib cage and he lifted him up and over his shoulder like one would lift a small child, and with just about the same amout of strain, and lastly he gripped Vahn's sword to carry with him.

He waited and watched without movement as Sunstrike vanished, his gaze took in all the characters in this play, but not a single event here was part of his business, no one mattered but the one that was over his shoulder. And as the drama came to an end, he walked away.

Again he sifted through the crowds not saying a word or making a sound until he reached a short brown and rather plain house. It blended in so perfectly with the rest of the local homes. The quiet man gently pushed open the door revealing, a beautifully decorated room, with 2 beds and several windows which leaked in the bright days sun, and of course a fan which whizzed overhead powered by a rat like creature the size of a dog which was running in a small box on the far side of the room. Between the beds there was a strange black cabinent with odd etchings scratched all about it.::

"Hmm..."

::A small moan, escaped his lips as a beam of sunlight struck his eyes, and he set Vahn down, on the closest bed and placed the strange package he was hold directly on Vahn's chest. And placing his sword directly next to him. It remained in its wrapping but still one could feel an intense amount of heat gushing from it. Yet to Vahn, this heat really wouldnt seem so bad. It wasnt due to any natural resistance that he had, but rather due to the object itself. It heated in pulses, pulses which traveled through the object on Vahn and simultaneously through the sword, and the boots.

Vahn's gracious host then walked to the strange cabinent and opened it, letting out a loud creak as wood and rusted hinges protested against the motion. He spent a few minutes digging through the cabinet, the clink and c***k of glass and liquid swishing could be heard as well as the sound of repeated chopping. And finally after a few minutes the man returned with a black tea cup filled with a thick green liquid. The smell of the green paste infested the air, it was like a mixed blend of popouri and freshly cut grass. He sat beside Vahn in the bed and using his gloved hands in a most gentle fashion he just slightly opened Vahn's mouth, just enough to let in a bit of the liquid which globbed and seeped down his throat.

Next came the torso, he carefully slipped off his glove and layed it neatly on the counter beside the bed, and then dipped his hand in the cup and carefully rubbed the green paste across Vahns chest, giving special focus to his visible injuries. Strangely the substance didnt burn to the touch, it was soothing, even cooling. And finally he set the paste down on the table and backed away to the opposite bed and waited. It would take all of 30 seconds for the paste to vanish and seep its way into a human system, at which point it would move with precision and speed to heal any and everything that was not correct. Broken bones, severed limbs, cuts bruises, concussions, diseases, even death if it was caught soon enough.

Life Leaf as it was called was a very powerful cure, and a very valuable one, unfortunately the leaves of the 3 leaf life leaf tree, only grow once every 3 months, making it very rare. Rarer still considering the tree does not grow, nor has ever grown on Gaian soil. But in this case, the medicine was worth it.

Judging by Vahns desire to live it could take anything from 3 seconds to 2 minutes to be fully healed, and 7 minutes to be fully energized. He would need that energy for what was to come.

And all the while the hooded man sat on the opposite bed simply watching with that solemn look across his aged face.::

::The substance works quick, and seeing his eyes open, normally the man would have smiled...but not today.::

Are you up?

:He spoke, his voice was cold as his solemn face. His face was still mostly hidden with the exception of his mouth and cheeks and the wrinkles of his old age. His eyes traced the path of Vahn's from beneath the black cloth of his hood. Something about his air, his presence, seemed to say that this was not a joyous moment for him, but that he wished it could be. This visit was more something brought about by duty, and not out of kindness, as he would have liked it.

He reached across the nearby table and slipped his second glove back over his hand, covering the pale skin with the shroud of black. And then he waited for his answer.::

Hmmm...

::Was the only responce which escaped the mans lips as Vahn described his awaredness at the moment. But as he quickly stood up, the object which was placed on his chest was flung off of him and soared toward the ground. With a blinding reflex motion the mans hand whipping and caught it before it fell and placed it on the bed beside him.::

They are already gone. All of them.

::He said, there was certain measure of pause, before he took took a small gulp and turned to face Vahn. Though that turn was highly relative due to the fact that the top half of his face wasnt visible. There was one more piece of news he had to deliver. And while he couldnt be sure of the reaction, it didnt seem it would be a pleasant one, but still he spoke.::

Your red haired companion left you with me, and departed with them.

::He paused for a moment, he wished so much that could hop up and go on adventure with Vahn, a rescue against some horrid creature, like back in his youth...but not today. Theres was still some bads news to deliver, and there was still a job left to be done.::

Please sit down, we have alot to discuss...Master Vahn...

::If only this could be a happy one. A small smirk broke through the gloom on his face, as he reached his hands up and gently pulled back the hood revealing a head of white hair which was pulled back into a pony tail, an aged face, and an eye with a monacle. Walter, former butler, former champion, former host.::

Indeed Master Vahn, I do not know where they went, only that they went, and that we have business to attend too.

::His eyes scanned across the floor, looking for strength, he had plenty in his body, but thats not where he needed it the most, right now.::

I see you've kept good care of your weapons, the two part set...Have they served you well?

No, no nothing like that...

::Walter said trying to muster the last bits of strength he could before trying to surmount this staggering hill...His eyes dropped to the floor like dead wieghts as he forced out the solemn words attached to a horrible realization that was burnin into his soul.::

...Lord Maximos...has passed away...

::Silence. You could see the strain on his face as he tried to hold back tears. Granted his work for Maximos's bloodline was forced upon him by his own foolish deal. And granted for the first thousand years it was "just business", but you dont spend that much time with anyone, cooking daily for them, conversing with them, sparring with them, and not feel some sort of wieghted loss when that person is gone.

He faught those tears with tooth and nail, he fought a frown as if his life depended on it. And after a few silent moments, he was finally able to continue. He reached beside him to the package in black cloth, lifted it onto his lap, patting it gently.::

This...was in Lord Maximos's personal collection. It is the final piece of the set...its yours.

::Walter lifted it and handed to Vahn with a look of pride, in his eyes, not selfish pride, but the pride that comes with finally overcoming difficult odds.

Inside there was an ashy black object, matching the look of the fang, and the graves. It looked like a tube of sorts covered from one end to the other with small runic etchings in a dark crimson color, sort of like blood engraved into the metal of the object. Near the center of the object toward its top half was an orb of sorts, it was a dark red, and as it was touched by Vahn's hand only it seemed to faintly glow and a pattern inside it whirled like burning flame, this caused the two other members of the set to heat up as well. Infact the Fang would begin burning a hole in the bed sheets if it was moved.::

::He couldnt help it! Despite the sadness Walter simply had to laugh, the way Vahn whipped up to put out the sheet, or maybe just the moment in general. Whatever it was, the sadness gave for long enough for him to laugh.

When the danger of his rental home burning down had passed. Walter continued, the smile on his face was quickly devoured as the sadness rushed back in like a crushing wave.::

I do not know how, or when. I know that there was a great power in the east, and suddenly Shadow Island fell into the ocean. I know that I felt happy for a moment but I did not know why, it was as if I was feeling someone elses happyness.

::He looked down at the third final piece, and back up at Vahn, looking at him, but never meeting his eyes, such was not the practice of a bulter. To look a master straight in the eye was most disrespectful, but he continued.::

I continued to cook for him, for days...for weeks...for months...but he never came. He also wished to give this item to you himself, on the day when he could finally muster up enough courage to approach you...that day...

::Walters eyes fell to the ground once again.::

...will never come. And so I carry out his final wish. I present to you, The Hand of Efreet. Please, put it on. Slide your hand through the opening opposite the Efreets Eye. This may sting.

::As Vahn would slide his hand into the shaft of the gauntlet, he would feel sort of tingly sensation in his fingertips. And as his hand began to escape the other side he would feel a bit of cloth in his path, as if it was folded inside the gauntlet, as his hand pushed through he would find that it was a glove, and a glove that fit perfectly at that. The glove itself was black, and from wrist to fingertips it carried similar markings to the ones on the rest of the arm, only these were much more elequent. And as his hand fit perfectly into the glove, the runes sketched in it would glow a brilliant red, as would the orb.

But no power worth attaining comes without a price, this object happened to feed of the presence of another of Vahns gifts...blood. And without warning a series of sharp pains would rip into Vahns arm, it was like thousands of burning needles poking into his forearm at exact same moment. And infact thats is exactly what it was, the arm now held a very tight grip on Vahns arm, but the stinging pain soon faded.::