Welcome to Gaia! ::

"...!"

His eyes widened at the movement, even as he went to restrain the girl and save Owle from a literal beatdown. "The hell's gotten into---" And then the singing would come.

He'd heard the voice before, and felt his own voice freeze up as she sung. Before he knew it, Ta'ka was limp in his arms, and he wrested her away from Owle.

"I'm...sorry... I think."

He'd never had women fight over him, and the last thing he was expecting was for the young one to go and try and kill the person he probably sorta was in love with.

Or at least infatuated with.

She shook her head, lightly grinning at Vahn: "No worries. But if you asked me, I'd say it might be better to leave the girl behind. I could make sure she can stay here while we're gone. Even if it doesn't seem so, this here is a safe place - when you're under the right guidance and protection.

She could make some money even. Err..I mean, with doing the dishes or something like that."

It was pure and refreshing water what Lucind had served Owle - that the woman didn't drink alcohol she got to know a moment later, after T'aka was laid down, a clean but otherwise undefinable piece of cloth under her head: the Half-Siren asked the other two if they could do with something stronger to drink, recommending the pub's stout.

Lucind ordered whatever Vahn wanted to have, or not, and a wheat beer for herself.
Until their drinks were served, she wouldn't say a thing but apparently was lost in thought.




A swig from her beer. A clonk from her beaker when it was put back on the table.

"Alright. Let's start with a...bedtime story: Once upon a time.."
She chuckled, before her eyes focussed on the table top, on the weathered wood that had gone through all kind of treatment..mistreatment.



"Actually...the reason why we're here now, or why I called you, has its origin only five hundred years back in time. Five hundred years...a Siren's life-span.

Back then, two clans were banned from this continent.

Every member of each clan was to leave, even though only a few of them had been accused of committing a crime, worse enough that many councils all over Gaia* approved of sending those fifteen or twenty culprits to the last sea - means, to execute them.

Never have I heard about what exactly it was they had done. How horrifying, unforgivable their deed must've been.

It's almost a taboo to ask. You simply don't talk about it.

As a child, I inquired about it, feeling it was something forbidden - which only made me all the more curious. But no answer. Only phrases...tales. As if it was something back in the past you couldn't be sure about that it had ever really happened."


They've broken the code.

They've done murder.

They had to be punished.


"I've spent hours, days in the lhor aven to find any kind of information. Without success.

The lhor aven is like an endless psionic library, bigger than you're able to imagine. And if someone wants to hide certain data...well, there're countless ways to do so.

But.." She finally looked up, her eyes wandering from Vahn to Owle and back. "This isn't really relevant now.

What you have to know is:

Those two Siren clans were banned. Their destination - Azum."




Lucind wet her throat with more beer, then went on.




"In agreement with the tennin, the Siren leaders of Azum, the clans were given an area in the south of the continent.

No contact to other Sirens already living there - first part of the penalty.

Plus, the female Siren were denied access to the lhor aven...

I..suppose you can't comprehend...what this means.

Just let me tell you that this is a very cruel sentence for a fullblood Siren." Lucind frowned. "The lhor aven, our psionic plane..it simply is part of a Siren's life - or that of a female Siren, the male can't really use it.

Not being able to 'swim' in it, communicate with other Sirens, gather strength, meditate or whatever - it's simply...unthinkable.


...


So, five hundred years, I said. Around five hundred years ago, those two clans were banished.

And, as we all know, 440 years ago, Azum was afflicted with this traumatizing rain. The Rain, as they call it abroad."


The woman made another short break, maybe to make it a bit more interesting to listen, to add some dramatical spice.

"Years upon years of chaos. Nobody able to leave or reach the continent. But when the first news spread throughout the media, or whatever channel being available at that time, that Azum had gotten back its connection to the world - even then the Sirens here and on the other continents still weren't able to track the outcasts. Nor any other Siren in the 'cursed' land.

All of them must've died, or so they thought.

And now we come to a point where it's hard to give explanations.

It's this what. And why?

If you believe the stories, Sirens from Gaia and the other continents went to Azum as soon as it was possible - only to find that, even though many Sirens had survived, none of them was able to be 'reconnected'. The Rain, it is said, had altered their psionic abilities in a way that made them incompatible to the lhor aven. It was tragic. But irreversible.

However...

The whole thing stinks. So much I've been wondering why nobody else has ever tried to start some investigation. Or well, maybe some have, but were stopped...in one way or another. I myself found it nearly impossible to get some information, be it from my clan members or the lhor aven. And I fear everybody just got so used to...taking it as it is, or as it was said: the Sirens of Azum have been cut off from the normal Siren society, they've kind of formed their own civilization over the years and maybe everybody of us, me included, bears a part of some sort of collective guild, for forgetting, or not caring and...ah, sorry...I digressed.

It's just that...there must have been something else. The real reason why the Sirens of Azum are still a delicate subject, a matter preferredly pushed away. And it doesn't have something to do with whatever crime some members of those clans might've committed hundred of years ago.

I believe something happened when the first contact was made after the devastation of Azum. A conflict. A deep going conflict... Well, there is indeed the rumor that the Azumerian Sirens started a fight when they were just supposed to get support...

All the time, both sides have been avoiding getting into contact. Only a few of us here can remember ever having met one of the others.

And up until today, the Sirens of Azum are called kahy - 'not of our kind'".



So much for the background.

Lucind's beaker was only half full by now. She hoped she wasn't boring Vahn and Owle with all those details. But she needed them to understand why this journey would be risky.


"A month ago a group of four Azumerian Sirens arrived here at the port.** Two women, two men.

They went to the Siren clan being closest which happens to live a few miles north of this town.

They were here, they said, to forward a message of friendship and peace - and the humble request to be aided by their 'relatives'.

The tennin of Gaia counseled, discussing the matter - and gave their okay...announcing that, after such a long span of ignoring each other, it was about time to overcome old grudges. ...sounds fine, doesn't it?

Noble, one might say."


Lucind leaned forward on her chair, raising her left index finger to stress her next comment. "Dubious, says I."


She knit her brows as if she was to solve a particular heavy math exercise.
"You can smell there's something wrong. You just can't point at it.

I don't think everyone across the board has ulterior motives. Still...I don't dare to fully trust both sides." More beer ran down her throat. The back of her hand cleaned her lips.

"Well, so far it might be a more or less normal mission for guys like us. They've chosen me to find out what's going on in Azum. What the Sirens there are capable of. Analyse their reasons.

But: here we have another fact that makes me worry a wee bit.

They've chosen...me."



Lucind leaned back, seriously wondering if she'd managed to explain the basic problem this trip held - or if everything she'd given was confusion and questions.

And there was even more to say.

Finishing her beer, Lucind shifted on her chair and put one foot back on the table just like she was doing when Vahn and T'aka had entered the pub.

"On the whole, there're three things making me think this trip is going to be a little...uncomfy..."






((* For me, Gaia is the name of the planet but also that of the continent we're currently on.

** Actually, I first made them arrive on the day Latent was attacked. But since at least half a year's gone by IC wise I now decided to change this detail.))

"I have to ask you to hold out a bit longer," Lucind chuckled. "But all your questions will be answered, my dear Vahn.

One reason, however, why I've asked you two to accompany me is that...I wanted to have friends on my side. People...I can trust."









Three weeks later they would meet at Latent's port. At sunrise.

Tagis had told Sunstrike they'd only set sails the next morning since her friend had asked for delay, that woman whose name Tagis never mentioned needed to finish some business that couldn't wait first.


Lucind awaited Vahn and Owle at one corner of the docks to guide them over to the Fairuza.

Another group approached from the opposite direction. It was Larhien, Lucind's twin brother, apparently relaxed as usual, leading four persons: the Siren delegation coming from Azum. All of them wore either a thick coat or a long cloak, one of the woman also protecting her face from the cool wind under a large cowl.

For the three of them arrived a minute earlier, Owle and Vahn got the chance to cast a look at those they would acompany to their homeland - maybe remembering Lucind's thoughts with which she had finished her speech at Duncan's Hole - to give them time to ask whatever they wanted, and then to ask herself if they were in.


On the whole, there're three things making me think this trip is going to be a little...uncomfy...


Firstly, I doubt my own people's motives. Officially, I was asked to build a small team to find out what the kahy really want, if they're planning to use whatever support we might give them against us.
However, some of the clan leaders surely have been considering their own scenario in case...they don't like the information we're able to dig up.

After all this time, they still consider the Azumerian Sirens to be a threat.


It had something of a cheesy movie scene. Them waiting next to the Fairuza that gently swayed and emanated a calming security - while Larhien led those four Azumerians along the dock: Lucind's brother, his whole appearance showed nothing extraordinary but that he was part of this continent's life, whereas the other Sirens distinguished themselves by the combination of their clothes, hairdo, features, everything made clear these people came from the Far East.
Even the way the walked seemed to tell they weren't born on this continent...though the latter could've been imagination only.

Two of them were fullbloods, Lucind had informed Vahn and Owle. One of the men - about Vahn's height, seemingly lanky but with compact, well trained muscles hidden under his garments; his thick, middle blue hair was neatly tied at the back of his head from where it fell down to his shoulder blades in many thin braids, wooden beads worked into them; his expression was much like Larhien's, he even looked a bit tired while he wrapped his dark brown cloak tighter around him. His name was Eshnared.
The woman with the hood deeply pulled over her face was Shankar, a fullblood Siren as well, a delicate, almost frail looking person, followed right behind Eshnared. A slender hand, slightly red from the chilly morning air, clasped the fabric of her cloak right under her left shoulder where a golden brooch, a piece of filigree held the upper part of the garment together. From time to time, sunlight made its way under her hood, giving you an idea of what beauty lay hidden there.

What required an explanation was the fact that Shankar's features were what you call Eastern: a fine built face, high cheekbones, almond shaped eyes, while Eshnared was pretty much the Gaian type and without the clothes he nearly could've thought to be part of some of the local Siren clans - only that his skin was of a soft olive, just like that of the other three Azumerians.

The woman on Shankar's right was pleasant to look at as well, though her beauty had its origin in a certain roughness and ferocity written all over her form. She was as tall as Lucind, so something like 5'9", and apparently, her only hobby was working out, training, fighting - you could tell even though she wore warming clothes as well. Her hair, shaggy, cut on chin length, was bleached, or dyed, or both, matching the rich orange-red of the dawn and tamed by a black thin shawl wrapped around her head.
Without cease, Yaranahe scanned the area, staying close to Shankar - she was one of her bodyguards, after all. For a second, fierce yellow eyes focussed on Lucind, Owle and Vahn before the woman exchanged a few words with the fullblood Siren, her enlarged ears twitching.

The most imposing figure of the Azumerians however was the second man, the other Half-Siren who tromped along next to Larhien.

Onroy.

Kaled Onroy.

If he had stood right in front of Sunstrike you would've noticed that Kaled was indeed a couple of inches smaller. But his bulky form gave you the impression that this man was huge. Broad shoulders packed with muscles. Light cotton pants stretched over mighty thighs. The shock of dark blue hair ran in broad corn rows over his head that were tied in his nape and only ended at his waist.
Yet, he was gifted with the same fine features Shankar and Yaranahe had as well. With his smoothly sculptured face - a tad more tanned than the others -, the prominent cheekbones, dark curved brows, full lips and well proportioned chin you couldn't help but call him handsome. In some ways.

Nevertheless, his whole demeanor indicated you were to face a warrior.

Or did his grim expression trick you?




They call themselves Aishwarya.

Can be translated with "new generation of helping hands".

As far as they let us know, this group of around four hundred Sirens consists of the direct ancestors of those two clans that were bannished and of original Azumerian Sirens.

What's different between this group and the other clans I will tell you later - and it's not that much anyway. The details are on our...my to-find-out-list as well.

It's the wish to build up a well working network between them and the clans all over the world. To start over anew, so to speak. Knowing their image isn't the best, especially in Gaia.

Which brings me to the next tricky question in this play, which is as simple as the first one:

What do they really want?

Can they be trusted?

Or are my people here right to be extremely skeptical about this approach?




They had arrived at the ramp. Larhien greeted Vahn and Owle with a broad grin that didn't want to fit the atmosphere of the scene.

The Aishwarya stopped, though, and Lucind welcomed them with the usual Siren greeting: index and middle finger touched forehead, lips and chest in a flowing motion - it was returned. Kaled stepped in closer.

"Lucind..." He slowly bowed his head, displaying deepest respect towards the Half-Siren without exposing or putting himself down.

"Onroy." Lucind lightly nodded in reply. "A pleasure to meet you again." Her eyes flitted over the other Sirens. "All of you."
A friendly smile lay on her lips, nearly turning into an amused grin.

"The pleasure is mine," Kaled Onroy answered in Gaian common tongue, his sonorous voice thick with a heavy accent. He still looked as if he was in the mood to crush the wooden ramp with one crush of his fist, but Lucind knew he wasn't angry or displeased. He was a serious man, she had figured back when they'd met for the first time in her clan's village. The type of guy that rarely allowed himself to relax, to let go, to get wasted. And if he did, you'd hardly notice any difference in his behaviour.

It was also obvious that he was analysing the situation, evaluating and rating his and his mates conditions.
Just as Lucind was doing.

"After you," Kaled mumbled, making a respective motion with his hand.

Lucind thanked with a smile, asked Owle and Vahn to follow her.


Thus they finally entered the ship that would bring them - hopefully save - to Azum's East Coast.


Before searching for Tagis, Lucind turned around to glance at the Aishwarya walking over the ramp.

"..."




And finally, we come to your question, Vahn.

Why me?

They, I mean, the clan leaders of Azum, simply told me it's a test.

A test to see if I'm worthy to play in their league.

I don't like this talk 'bout being exceptional, being something special. Still I can't deny the fact that I'm the only halfblood on this planet known to be able to use the lhor aven.

This access was created during the devastation of the Leviathan Stadium, on the day the walls bleeded.
When I faced the shadowgod Nocturne...and helped Maximos to pass away.

Ever since then I was watched. Observed.


Sirens are picky when it comes to changes in their order. And it's not causeless. The lhor aven is a very subtle, complicated plane. It's the center of the Siren world. Any serious disturbance can have vast and fatal consequences for every single, female Siren.

I knew I was in the focus of invisible eyes.

My clan leader and my aunt have been doing their best to shield me, hold their protecting hands over me.

But I've been giving them a hard job, even if I didn't really plan to present myself on the silver tray.


Once the door was pushed open while fighting The Destroyer a chain of actions followed that...ah, doesn't matter. I was never fond of the word 'fate' anyway.


Several incidencts tested my new ability. Everytime I nearly died.

I saw through Kraun's eyes. Barbeque of my synapses, I can tell you.

The mental fight with Victor...as the result of which I...activated the tower of Babel.

The encounter with the Behemoth on the day Latent was attacked. ...and the contact with Vahn's Fang and his black flames...


I know it sounds cheesy, but - I didn't die, but found my powers to have grown every time instead.

My clan leader never talked it out, but I've heard and seen more than she probably knows.
I am categorized as a threat, too.


But: why then send my out for such a mission, to 'prove' myself. Why not simply cut off my connection to the lhor aven?


They said it was a test...


The hands of Hetel, my clan leader, are bound now. I'm convinced she knows much more than she's able to tell me. It seems...she isn't sure herself what this is about. Or rather...I could see a foreboding in her eyes. But she was scared to accept it might be true.

Do you know those cryptic messages wise people like to give you when clear words fail them?
Here's mine.

"Make allies over there.

Not for us.

But for yourself."



Is it a test?

A trap?


Nobody can tell right now.

Only that...we could have a helluva fun in Azum.


So...


What says you?

Feel up to it?

With Vahn, Owle - and the Aishwarya several feet behind - Lucind made a few steps over the deck, searching for Tagis. But she didn't have to ask for her whereabouts: the captain left the control room at the very next moment.

The introduction of everybody Owle had hoped for followed, though Tagis already knew the Azumerian Sirens.

"So, guys: bring yer stuff under deck - there's plenty of room there, you'll have the luxury of sleeping in a cabin not packed with fine smelling seamen up to the ceiling." She grinned.

"Lucind, Kaled - you'll help me setting sails, I take it?"
Both of them nodded.

"Great. What about you two? Vahn? Owle? Fit with taming the rigging while wind and rain give their best to pick you like a ripe apple?" Her grin broadened and before they could answer she added, waving a hand: "No worries dears! There're enough duties to be arranged here...and if it's just hanging over the railing, showing the fishes what ye had for breakfast..!"





Around half an hour later, the Fairuza would slowly plane out of Latent's port. Right then it became evident to everybody who hadn't yet seen the control room with all the high-tech devices that this ship looked old, but that it had been adapted to defy the depth of the sea: with the help of two motors on the ship's stern they made their way out of the docks.

Makes it less romantic, or so Lucind thought. But we have to arrive safely, that's what matters.

She knew that there were still many question left unanswered. But once they were on the open sea they would have enough time to discuss everything Vahn and Owle still wanted to know.



Only when the main sails were set and the port started to shrink bit by bit, Lucind realized for the first time what she was doing, what was happening right now.

"..."

A wave of melancholy hit her, one of the kind the woman couldn't really define. But it made her turn around, facing the horizon and the few ships that were already out there - knowing that behind her the land would soon vanish...