Welcome to Gaia! ::

The Blessed Path is a long and dangerous road to take. There are many who seek it and never find it. The few that do face even more hardship and most die somewhere along the way, either losing themselves to the void beyond the Path or their bodies give out under the strain and their souls are lost to the realms of the dead. Still others lose a part of themselves and remain shattered and hollow shells, their will unable to cope with what the Blessed Path demands out of those that would seek its power.

But those that succeed…

If you seek the Blessed Path for power, for personal prestige, or for any selfish reason it would be best to turn back now. But if you seek it for the sake of the hidden knowledge it holds, of the truth it brings, and the lure of serving something outside of all mortal comprehension then you may find yourself taking the first step upon the Path.

Be warned that it is a difficult road. It raises more questions than it answers, it tests the walker against every aspect of their person, and it forces them to experience all aspects of mortal life.

If you are brave enough, continue on, seeker. If not, turn back now.


Risen, if you seek the Blessed Path, you must first seek solitude. Find a place of isolation and determine why you are seeking the Blessed Path and for what reasons you desire to walk it.


((no one but Rhina is allowed to post here without permission from both myself and Rhina))

Something rustled in the short mountain underbrush not too far from where Risen was reflecting. It stopped still for a second, and then the noise came again, slightly off to the left and further away than before. This happened several more times in quick succession, as if several creatures were moving about where Risen was but there was nothing visible that the dragon could see.

Then everything went still and a breeze started up, blowing small bits of dirt and sending a small scattering of rocks tumbling down the slope to where the earth dipped and blocked out most of the sunlight. Then there was no wind, just an unnatural stillness.

There was a faint trail in the underbrush, very soft footprints that appeared to be human. They led into the dip in the earth and then vanished as soon as the shadow from the overhanging mountains began. But up ahead, where the rock caved in to form a V in the wall, was an iridescent glow.

Carved along the wall was an intricate spiral, forming designs of creatures that had no end all along the outside of the circle. The center was a simple spiral, the end of it forming a blank hollow about the size of a dragon's hand. The entire thing was easily six feet tall and luminescent green in color.

As Risen looked, the light drew into the center of the circle, filling up the hollow so that a nebulous pool of light sat there, moving like water. By it's light the words carved just underneath the hollow were illuminated.

If you seek knowledge and can overcome fear, then follow the path.

And as soon as those words were read the light vanished and the wall faded away into an arched doorway, beyond which lay a narrow tunnel leading into the mountain. It vanished into darkness only a few paces in.

The tunnel stretched on seemingly without end and as it progressed it grew slowly narrower until there was barely enough room for Risen to squeeze through the passageway. What's more, the earth itself felt oppressive, as if the mountain sensed the intruder and was putting the weight of all that stone onto it, trying to squash the dragon that dared intrude in this silent place, where living creatures were not tolerated.

Up ahead was a speck of light. Just a small, brief, flicker that might only be a figment of the imagination. But between it and Risen was the narrowest of the passageways, lined with sharp rock.

((magic will not work here if you attempt to use it))

As Risen reached the end of the tunnel he could see that it opened into a chamber that did not appear natural stone, but it did not appear to have been artificially made either. No hand ever carved this place - it just was. And the light had grown so that a shape could be seen in it - that of a human, guant with pale long hair the floated about him or her like strands of a spiderweb.

The creature was before him then, and knelt and put one hand on each of Risen's forearms, pinning them to the ground like steel bonds just before he could crawl out of the space.

"There are only a few times you will be able to turn back," he said, his voice only barely more masculine than feminine, "I will not explain what this place is or what you will find at the end of all of this for it is something you must discover on your own. But know that you are at a boundary and if you cross it, everything will change. You will change. And these changes will be permanent and the world you knew will no longer exist except in your memories. If you have any doubt about continuing, than say so now and I will release you to where you came from. If you are willing to take the risk then enter and speak your name, but no more."

And he let go and backed away into the interior of the chamber.

"Risen," the figure repeated and gestured that the dragon should come closer, "You've given me your name and I shall keep it. The first thing you must know is that names have power and those that give theirs freely are vulnerable to those who know how to use them."

He paused and gave Risen time to enter the room. It was like a bowl of smoked glass, the floor smooth and slick and everything gave the impression of a contained space with only a thin barrier between it and the void.

"When you have enough knowledge to defend your name I will give it back to you. Until then, find a new one to use that has no real connection to yourself."

The light around the figure spread out and filled the room so that it was lit with a strange glow and the man could be clearly seen. He was scrawny and pale, his hair almost white, and scars covered his forearms. Gold strands that glowed were wrapped about his arms, neck, waist, and ankles. His eyes were pure white.

"By coming this far, you have at least some talent in the ways of magic. Risen, tell me who you think I am and what you think this place is."

((you can no longer say your own name, nor can anyone else. In addition, you've got the first talent of Blessed - a basic knowledge of things that others do not know. You will know the name of peoples/places/things without having to ask))

Sain nodded and smiled briefly.

"I am as close to a physical incarnation to the Blessed Path as you will ever come," he said, "Consider me your guide if you chose to walk further along it. If you survive the trials set before you I will no longer have to direct you as you will know what you must do instinctively."

He walked forwards and held out a single gold strand before Risen.

"There are three trials. This is the first - a taste of what power is offered and preparation for what lies ahead. In your current state you cannot hope to complete what needs to be done. Take this... and then I will tell you of what trial you must complete before you can continue on."