Return to RP_Logs

Chapter 1

A call went out several days ago for a group of skilled people to escort the noble Marshwood family to the Necropolis in Nubswood swamp. Those who passed the vigorous screening process have now been invited to meet their employer Lord Nicols Marshwood in his study at the private family estate. The tall gentleman dressed in black mourning is waiting behind his desk as his guests are shown into his room.

The sound of burlap swishing over leather is heard as a young, tanned woman is admitted into the Lord's chamber. Murmuring her thanks to the guard, she approaches the desk, head bowed, hands clasped before her. "Word has come to me of your loss, Lord Marshwood, and I came as soon as I was able." Her voice is soft, slightly distracted, as though listening to things outside of the room. "If it please you, I would very much like to accompany your people, and see that she finds the rest she deserves."

The girl is soon followed by a tall, ebon skinned figure that trails after her with an obvious swagger to his step. The obvious confidence he exhibits somehow matching the expensive yet servicable clothes he wears, with greatcoat, leather jerkin and bright red sash, which together with the ornate blades at his side- a rapier and Cutlass- mark him as a well-to-do sellsword and swashbuckler. Casting his golden gaze around for a mere moment, he soon focuses on the Lord and greets him with a respectful bow and a simple, 'Sir.'

Eben follows quietly behind the other two, his steps slow and steady as he attempts to make as little sound as possible. This failing though as the fabric of his black coat shifts about yielding a metallic clinking sound from within. He offers a simple, yet polite bow upon seeing the Lord, remaining quiet even still.

Lord Marshwood takes a seat and looks at a piece of paper and nods "Lady Silmeria, your presence would be most welcome on this journey." He glances at the other two and inclines his head, "Master Vazkor and Master Eben excellent everyone is here. Thank you for coming. Our journey is simple and your duty clear. You three are tasked with supplementing my guards to escort my family and the casket containing my late mother to the Necropolis in Nubswood. We will fly by airship to the edge of the swamps and then overland to the Necropolis city itself."

Silmeria inclines her head, closing her eyes for a moment. "It would be a pleasure. It has been long and long, since last I was favored to visit the Necropolis." As the others enter, she glances over her shoulder, smiling and bobbing her head in welcome. "Ah! Able aid indeed... Perhaps there will be more stories to collect upon this journey." Turning back to the lord, the girl tilts ehr head to one side. "Does your mother have a Speaker, sir, for the ceremony? If not, it would please me greatly to tell her story."

Vazkor shifts his gaze to the other two 'mercenaries', giving a polite smile and nod towards Silmeria, "Miss." before nodding as well to the more familiar Eben, "Sir Eben." Before refocusing his attention to Lord Marshwood. He keeps his expression and behavior fairly neutral, forgoing his usual theatrics and dapper rogueishness in exchange for a more professional air. He speaks up then, "Can we expect any trouble on the journey, my Lord?"

Eben dips his head a bit more as his name is offered by the Lord, keeping a straight face based on the whole premise of the situation, it's only respectful. "Thank you..I'm prepared to leave at any point." He remarks softly, gaze flicking towards Silmeria while trying to place if he knows her or not. Not placing her he shrugs and peeks back to Vazkor with another nod of greetings.

Lord Nicols stands back up and smiles softly, "Thank you Lady Silmeria, I had been planning to speak myself but with your presence I would be happy to step aside to let you speak for me about my mother." he looks arond and nods, "My airship will be departing shortly, please one of my servants will escort you to the ship." he gestures at one of his guards.

Silmeria curtsies deeply, setting her battered old pack to shifting on her shoulders, the hilt of her Gunblade clinking on the floorboards. "Thank you, Lord Marshwood, ever so much. I hope my questions do not pester you greatly during our journey." Straightening, she turns, smiling once again to swordsman and mage, and waits, evidently wishing to follow the others out the door.

Lord Marshwood smiles at Vazkor. "Not whilst In the air but the swamps of the Nubswood are quite dangerous places so I expect some trouble crossing them to reach the Necropolis."

Vazkor nods in understanding, and answers in a simple, matter-of-fact tone, "My blade is at your service in either case, my Lord." Followed by a brief bow before he then turns towards the guard, and motions with one of his dark hands, "Well, lead the way, my good man." And gets ready to follow the escort to the airship.

Eben gives a meek smile to Silmeria as she begins to move past him, turning at about that time to head at as well might cause his coat to open partially, showing within just the smallest glimpses of mechanical items like pistols, and potentially a few hand bombs. "Doesn't sound like we'll really be put to work until the swamp." He comments to himself mostly as he follows the others.

The guard shows the party onto the airship and too seperate cabins were they can stow their belongings. Up in the main lounge of the ship a large Casket is set, ebony wood and glistening with magical seals to keep what is inside safe and secure. Lord and Lady Marshwood and there three children are aboard and in no time at all the airship is lifting up off the ground and flying north....

Silmeria's pack is safely stowed in the cabins, her Gunblade kept to her back as she wanders the airship, drawn to the lounge before liftoff. The Lord, Lady, and children are greeted again, and at first she spends a moment circling the casket, eyes picking out the grain of the wood, the flow of magics keeping the body intact, and seems to find satisfaction in this. "I'm afraid I know little of you and your family, Lady," she says to the casket, not quite a whisper, but certainly not at normal volume. "I hope that by the time we place you to rest, that will have changed... I would prefer to do justice to your story."

Vazkor moves onto the ship with a certain familiarity that only comes with experience with such vessels. Only spending a moment in his cabin, not having brought much but the barest essentials, the swashbuckler soon moves towards one of the railings as the ship takes off, a faint smile crossing his dark features as he enjoys being on an airship again. Spending a few minutes like that, he soon enough turns around however to silently study the casket and Silmeria's activities around it, looking fairly curious.

Eben looks about the airship with a mildly trained eye, taking note of it's construction and any key defensive features it might have, etc. Unlike the others though, Eben stays in the cabin that was given to him, unpacking and sorting through his supplies...He's not to invade on a time of grieving with questions.

Lady Margalotta Marshwood stops by Silmeria and inclines her head, "My lady Silmeria it is good that you are here with us. It is a pleasure to have you aboard for this journey." Meanwhile up on deck Vazkor is approached by a sailor who bows and offers him a folded note. Down in his cabin Eben is interupted by a knock on the door swiftly followed by Vivienne the young daughter of the family slipping inside. "Can I have a word Eben?"

Silmeria chuckles softly, turning to bow her head to the Lady. "Of course, Lady Marshwood... I would do the same for anyone. The thanks must honestly be mine, for it's rare that my duties allow me to visit the home of Hades' followers on Ivalice. Truly, it is a treat to be afforded to me. Please, though... Tell me of the Matron? I would know who it is we commend to Hades' rest... the whole of her, if you well. Hades does not judge worthy or unworthy, and I shall not do the same."

Vazkor arches his brow at the approaching sailor as he stands there, casually leaning back against the railing. Taking the note one-handed and folding it open, his keen gaze quickly scans the contents, promptly causing another raise of his brow, before he looks back up at the man before him studyingly. After a moment he nods, idly tossing the note over his shoulder and across the railing, before he shrugs and casually states, "Tell your master I'll be there." Apparently he's atleast curious.

Eben is caught digging through a smaller bag he had brought along, full of what looks like a large amount of spare parts for weapons, or potentially random knick-knacks. The knock does catch his attention, causing him to step back to allow Vivienne room to enter to whome he gives another humble little tilt of his head to. "Of course, how can I be of assistance?"

Lady Margalotta begins to tell Silmeria about the Matron's life, "She was a good woman, a true believer in Hades and his work. She inherited after her oldest brother was choosen for the first duty and no longer able to inherit. She raised her children and saw them married and settled. She held a good life and a true one and was neither oppulent or over indulgent in her wishes and actions but a kind hearted lady who did what she could for others.

The sailor who brought the note bows and pads off on bear feet, seems Vazkor is in for an interesting voyage, meanwhile Lady Vivienne leans in close to Eben and smiles. "I am sorry to interupt, but... I am in terrible danger and may need your help, I was assured you would be able to help me. See my family intend to leave one of us to be the slave of the Necropolis! All for the duty of burying the old woman in the crypt there... a life of slavery and burying the dead against our will! If they try to choose me I shall be most greatful to the young man who helps me flee such a wicked sentance" She touches his cheek, "Please... you must help me if that happens."

Silmeria inclines her head, gesturing toward the nearest chair in the lounge. For herself, she settles on the floor nearby, folding her legs up well beneath her robes. "This is the story of a kind and gentle woman, Lady... Did she, perhaps, have any regrets? Pride? People she wronged, deeds she would wish remembered? Few manage to walk this life without touching others, after all..."

Vazkor ponders on the note some more after the sailor departs, following him with his eyes. He shrugs a bit to himself then, and turns back around to watch the land pass by below the ship and feeling the wind in his shaggy black hair. In the meantime deciding to not go to the meeting unarmed. He's had too much experience with noble intrigue to not bring atleast a dagger or a hold-out pistol to a mysterious meeting with a nobleman these days!

Eben can't help but arch a brow at Viviene's statements about being potentially left at the Necropolois in payment "They're going to leave you, one of their daughters? That just won't do I think.." He murmurs with a soft sigh and shake of his head "Isn't there a family servant that could be left instead? Or is it required to be family itself." He murmurs, not pulling away as the lady touches his cheek. "I'll try to help as I can, though."

Lady Margalotta Sits down as does Lord Nicols, "She used to say she regretted the chance her brother was given. To become a Mortician in the true sense of the word. She also used to feel quite some pride in our family and our tradition. Unbroken for seventeen generations now in serving the Necropolis and the church of the lord Hades."

Lord Edward is waiting for Vazkor when he arrives and smiles, "Ah Master Vazkor good, i will keep this brief. My father may attempt to leave me in the Necropolis as payment. I will see you rewarded by 5000 platinum pieces to break me out of there and get me back home to Emberstrand if they do not pick my sister or my other brother. It is a simple task, get me back to safety and civilization and you will be rewarded."

Vivienne shakes her head, "Alas not, it is a stupid and outdated tradition, no longer sensible in our age. They may pick one of my brothers and we are meant to "Accept" our task willingly and with grace but if they try to leave me you must help me escape" She touches Eben's wrist, "Thank you... I must go we cannot be seen together too much or they will suspect!" She leaves the room then and is soon gone....

Silmeria nods quietly. "It is a good thing you do, indeed, serving the Lord of the Dead, and I am glad that it warms her heart. But of course I must ask... why does she regret her brother's service? Did she wish it to be herself to tend the garden of bones? Did he wish it so? Please, Lord, Lady... it is important."

Vazkor is glad he finds no cause to have to stab or shoot a nobleman on something as relatively inescapable as a moving airship. He simply listens to the proposal, studying the man before him, before he cocks a smirk, "5000 Platinum? For that amount of coin, I'd likely break you out of the underworld itself." The swashbuckler showing some of his mercenary nature, and even treating Edward more as an equal, being a noble's son himself. If only a bastard one!

Eben nods softly in return to Vivienne's explination "Well, I'll see what I can do then, hopefully it doesn't come to anything like that though." He smiles and turns back to his work as she departs, not really knowing much about the Necropolis or what sort of guards and defenses it might have within.

Margoltta smiles "She always spoke how in her heart she had hoped it would be her to be called to service. But she always tried to do her duty as the Lady of the House instead of the Servant of the Necropolis." The days pass as the journey moves on, many facets and information about the departed Lady Helena are imparted by the family, servants and crew of the Marshwoods. Of the clandestine meetings little else is seen by either Eben for the rest of the journey. Edward smiles and nods to Vazkor, "I have been saving for this and should it not come up I will still impart with 1500 platinum for you to remain silent on the matter. We would not want the old folks upset with me." Edward soon takes his leave and the rest of the journey is quiet and uneventful until finally the ship is coming in for a landing at the shore of the Nubswood.... the twisted trees and dark swamps of the country leading off toward the seer towers of stark brown granite in the distance

Shrugging her pack into place, Silmeria steps off the airship landing with a smile, breathing in deep of the murky swamp air, eyes turning toward the granite towers beyond the marsh. One hand reaches back, undoing the catch securing her Gunblade in place, and she bows her head toward the towers. "Soon, Lord Hades, we will commend another soul to rest, in your garden of bones... May our journey be swift."

Vazkor has taken position at what has been his usual spot by the railing as they reach the swamp, the swashbuckler looking out over Nubswood below with a keen gaze. One hand subconciously touches the hilts of both his blades as he mentally prepares himself for the adventure up ahead, spurred on further by the promise of increased pay. And in the meantime silently thanking himself for the foresight of packing more pragmatic and sturdy footwear then what he usually wears in the city as he thinks upon the mud and grime of the swamps.

Eben, upon hearing that the airship was to be letting them off quickly gathers up his supplies and equipment, hopefully ready for the trials that may be upcomming. This time a gun holster is visibly worn along the outside of his coat, the weapon most likely ready to be pulled at any time. "So then...I've never travelled through a place like this." He murmurs as he prepares to leave the airship himself.

The party are ready to travel, the casket is hovering in mid air, being led by Lord Nicol's magic and they set off across the swamp. The path is a winding one and the Lord leads it as if he is familiar with it. Mud sucks at their boots and sometimes they have to walk with it up to their ankles but otherwise the journey for the first day goes well. Camp is made and that night all seems quiet until a strange howling piping noise from the woods has everyone up and on alert. The cry goes up and Lord Nicols appears with a large rifle in hand, more a blunderbuss. "Nubswood crickets! Arm yourself and defend the casket they come for the dead!"

Throughout the journey through the swamp, Silmeria has alternated between pleasant silence, or speaking with the children of the Lord and Lady. Asking questions of their grandmother, their own life in the Marshwood family, telling them some of the tales she has collected throughout her years in service. That night, as the alarm is raised, she is on her feet with a put-upon sigh, Gunblade drawn from its sheath and readied. Standing before the head of the casket, she runs her fingertips over the blade of her weapon, murmuring a blessing as her eyes flick here and there, out into the darkness.

Vazkor has been mostly silent himself throughout the trip, content with just trying to limit the damage the mud might do to his proudly immaculate appearance as he travels along near the back of the profession. His slumber is peaceful that night, until the cry of impending danger goes out, the swashbuckler soon appearing wide awake with his Cutlass firmly in hand, briefly wondering as to the nature of these 'crickets'.

Eben is awake a few moments after the warning cry goes up, the man getting up and attempting to prepare himself for some upcoming foe he has no clue what might be. "Crickets? Aren't those things small?" He asks in confusion as he fumbles for the gun at his side, eyes scanning about the area to see what might be coming.

The cricket that leaps into the clearing onto one top of Eben is about twice the size of the Casket. Lord NIcols; fires at it witha BOOM from his Blunderbluss "They are not small Mister Eben." he says helping him back up then spinning to shoot another one. They are leaping into the clearing from all directions. One of them lands on the casket, two in front of Vazkor and Lord Edward and another lands by Lady Vivienne who backs up and then stumbles with a cry!"

Silmeria looks back over her shoulder as the tremendous insect thumps to a landing atop the casket. Spinning on her heel, she sweeps the weapon around in a shallow arc, the heavy cutting edge rising to take the insect from beneath, finger tightening on the trigger. If timed just right, the weapon would be very likely to hurl the bug off the casket, if not slaying it outright.

Vazkor amps up his situational awareness as the bugs all spring into view and the fight errupts around him, feeling the sudden rush of adrenaline hitting his system as a vicious grin springs up on his suddenly tensed features, his gaze meeting the two giant insects before him. Cutlass at the ready, the swordfighter springs forward with almost gleeful speed and purpose, the damast blade in his hand arcing down towards what must be the head of the left creature in a swift precision strike. Wasting no time to attack.

Eben is caught quite by suprise as the /giant/ cricket leaps out and pushes him to the ground, metal tools clanking heavily as he hits the ground. "Well, I can tell now." He growls out, hands finding his gun much more quickly now that he has been helped back up. It only takes him a moment longer to rotate about and first level the gun at the insect perched upon the casket, but seeing Silmeria take care of that one, quickly turns about to the one facing Vivi. Holding his gun slightly lax he lines up a shot with the creatures side and fires off a bullet matching the sound made by Nicol's rifle.

The camp is in uproar, the bullets slam into the cricket about to leap on Vivienne and is beaten back. Harold the youngest son runs screaming under the casket and hides as a cricket chases him. Lady Margalotta sweeps out of a tent and thrusts out with a mages staff and fire incinerates the bug. Vazkor's cutlass slices through the left bug easily, killing it and Lord Edward takes down the right hand bug with a well thrust lance of flame from his upraised hand. The guards are rallying, pulling back to back in groups as the family converge around the casket fighting off bugs. As Eben saves Vivian she pulls out a pair of daggers and goes low and slashes out at them, moving in to cover Silmeria as she is yet again faced with another bug atop the casket as the one already on it is blown off and explodes!

Silmeria's face is grim as the bug is blasted off the casket, determined, but neither angry nor exultant at the need for battle. As the younger noble stands beside her, she nods. "I will defend your Gran, child," she says quietly, "see to my back, and let none by." Her 'blade lances outward, this time, its tip seeking to pierce the creature's chitin, and burst its innards with the shock of her weapon's report.

Vazkor seems to revel in the violence, as men of his ilk should, the bladeslinger swashbuckler moving around and meeting the giant crickets headon wherever they appear to cut and slice and hack with expertly wielded blade. His movements swift and economical, yet carrying that vicious grin and intensely focused expression throughout.

Eben quickly prepares his pistol for another shot at a nearby insect, not taking too much heed to his own safety or what might be a threat to him as he fires the weapon at the insect atop the casket in turn. Determained in his own way, it's easily told that this man isn't used to combat as well as the others seem to be, movements a tad sluggish.

The fight is over all too soon, soon enough things are quiet and Lord Nicols is looking out at the siulent swamp. "Break camp... we go now... I do not want another attack like that. Let us get to the Necropolis by dawn" The guards nod and hurriedly begin to break down the camp as the Marshwoods draw together near their hired help. "we must push on through the swamp until dawn. If the crickets are out worse is likely to be abroad."

Silmeria nods once, wiping the ichor from her weapon with a patch of rag tugged from one of the side pockets on her traveling pack. "The trail to our rear is where they will come," she says, to the Lord, his family, and her companions. "Death may stalk ahead of our path... but death will draw more in our wake. If one other will aid me in guarding our rear, it would be a kindness."

Vazkor finally stands still as all foes are vanquished, and with a simple flick of his wrist he clears his blade of the same ichor before smoothly sheathing the weapon once more, his fingers guiding it at the scabbard. Taking a single deep breath, letting some of the previous exhilaration leave him, calming himself once more, he soon looks over at Silmeria and nods firmly, "I shall aid in guarding our rear. Then men with firearms will do more good at the front, from whence we can see our foe coming." He glances at Eben.

Eben remains quite on edge for a while longer even with the current onslaught of crickets fended off. "So these things, are going to come for the casket?" He asks quietly with a quick glance about before scooping up the rest of his belonging nearby, his gun remaining out of it's holster for now. At Vazkor's glance he nods quickly and moves nearer the front of the group, gun still held at the ready.

Lord Nicols nods his head "That and anyone who falls they are drawn to the dead. It is a test come we must carry on!" Soon the party is moving through the woods together as one... walking in a single file, leaving the wooded grove behind and out onto the flats of the swamp. Ahead the glimmering lights of a great towering metropolis rise, glittring in the distance! As the night passs they are attackjed, fron the front, the sides, the rear.... crickets and worse in the flickering shadows of the night! But the party persever... pushing onwards step by step!"

Silmeria backs down the trail at the rear of the party, Gunblade held loosely in hand, eyes flicking left and right in search of the creatures to come. When the monsters descend upon the party, she fights with some skill, the sheer weight and force of her chosen weapon doing much to cover her lack of pure mastery. Watching her, it would seem the fight is a chore, to be borne in silence and finished as swiftly as can be managed.

Vazkor is quite the opposite, still reveling in the fight whenever they pop up, and wielding his light-weight damast cutlass with obvious expertise (he doesn't own a fencing school for nothing!) Chopping through the creatures that get into his blade's reach, and even not yet worrying about the insect blood and swamp grime that splatters his clothes with each skirmish.

Eben doesn't do too much from his spot nearer the front of the line, well, nothing spectacular anyways...Firing his pistol at any insect that might pop up in the way, reloading when it's needed and in general just trying to not get in the way of the other more experienced people near the front.

The night as all nights must come to a close... as dawn is lighting the far horizon the monster attacks drop back and they leave the swamp.. walking along a paved road now toward a mighty archway. A group of people, pale skinned and wearing tattered black velvet clothing meet them. One of them at the head an elderly man bows. "Welcome Lords and Ladies, I am the Moulder of the Necropolis Nubswood, please be welcome within our silent halls. Who do you bring to inter?" Lord Nicols nods to Silmeria to do the introductions.

Silmeria steps to the front of the group, a wide smile splitting her tanned face. "Kind Moulder, how pleased I am to hear your voice. The Lord and Lady Marshwood seek to bring their Matron to rest with her family, and find her peace in Hades' ashen realm, and if it please you and He, I would serve as speaker for the ceremony. ...Also, I'm told that one of their family has been chosen to serve under your number."

Vazkor remains near the back of the group, momentarily busying himself with studying the stains upon his clothes with a look of distaste, before his attention manages to be focused on the ritualistic greeting before him instead. He listens with an idly perked ear, and soon glances briefly towards Edward, remembering their arrangement should the young man be picked to serve.

Nicols bows to the Moulder, "We as is tradition have nominated one of our own to take up a place at your sides as Apprentice. We have nominated Harold!" The causes a gasp from Harold the portly younger son staring at his father. Vivienne and Edward look relieved and seem to lose some tension. Then Harold screams. "WHY ME! What did I do!" Nicol blinks, "You are the only one of my children who expressed interest, I would not nominate one who did not wish..." he gets no further as the boy shoves past the moulder and runs up the gates, "NEVER! Never!" He flees into the city and around a corner and there is pandemonium for a moment as everyone tries to work out who should be following the boy... Then there is a howling SHRIEK that buffets everyone with wind and tosses even the hardiest soul to the ground.

The moulder picks himself up and grimaces, "The boy has fled into the Catacombs....." he looks at Nicols, "He has been nominated as apprentice and he fled into the to city, this is acceptance under the oldest tradition. If he had fled out he would not have been accepted..... but he has enterred the catacombs which means one or more of your party not of the family must seek him out."

Silmeria picks herself off the ground, frowning and brushing at her robes. With a quiet sigh, she nods slowly at the Moulder's revelation, turning to the Lord and Lady. "I am sorry for this trouble, sir, madam... If you don't mind...I will follow. It's been long since I walked the hushed maze, but much of its turnings, I remember. Any who wish to join me would of course be most welcome...?"

Vazkor arches his brow at the whole situation, watching Harold run off, followed by that demonic shriek. Considering it wasn't Edward however, he feels no immediate need to intervene... But as Silmeria offers to follow the boy, he ever so quietly sighs before stepping forward to do the proper thing as a gentleman, raising his voice, "You shall have my sword, whatever good it may do in that haunted place..."

Eben seems to have been daydreaming for a bit as he witnesses the great city before him...Luckily the great screeching instantly snaps the man back to attention, eyes narrowing as he's knocked down. Picking himself up quickly enough he sighs and shakes his head "I'll go, if the other two are..." He murmurs after hearing what's taking place.

As the party gather themselves Edward bows and offers to Vazkor a strange silver and copper lantern. "Take this to light your path." To the Moulder Nicols sighs and nods "I understand... my brother did the same... we shoul dhave been expecting it." He looks at the group of heroes and bows. "The trials of the Necropolis, to see if my Son will serve as an apprentice or be taken to serve in the Catacombs. If you can find him and bring him back he will live a long life as an apprentice and a happy one. If not then he will have been claimed by the Path of Shale.... good luck and walk wisely" One of the Morticians bows and offers to shwo you to the Catacombs, leading you to the tall doors of bone in the clifftop above the city...

Chapter 2

Where last we left uor heroes they had been shown into the catacombs of the Nubswood. The heavy stone and bones doors have shut beind them and the only light is from the eerie green glow of Vazkor's lantern given to him by one of their employers. The chamber they are in is carven out of the very stone itself, the walls coated in enscriptions in ancient languages. Six tunnels radiate out of this chamber a hush hangs in the air.... Silmeria stoops, one hand reaching out to brush the stone of the catacombs, a quiet frown on her face. "Poor child," she murmurs, "lost and afraid..." Her eyes flick back and forth, scanning for signs of his passing. "Do not fear," she says over her shoulder. "This is a place of quiet and rest, and the Moulder has allowed you to enter. All we must do is find the child, and our way back, and we will be upon our way."

Vazkor watches Silmeria for a moment, listening to her words. And despite having some trust in her statement of things being safe, considering her apparent nature, the swashbuckler however keeps his Cutlass out within his dominant hand. The other holding aloft the lantern. He nods some, and quietly speaks up, "Well, lead the way, and we shall follow." Glancing at Eben.

Eben has absolutly no idea on what to expect from this place, and makes a mental note to touch nothing, lean on nothing, and avoid doing anything that might put anyone in danger...A good thought to go by, and much more easy to think than actually do! He does look around in turn though, taking note of the passages and the general contour of the room, although he remains quiet to not draw attention.

The passages are clear, there is no dust in these chambers right up on the surface by he doors. The marble floor rings with their footsteps and 7 paths stretch out before them all descending into gloom...

Silmeria rises, sighing and shaking her head. "...I'm afraid I can't tell which way he may have gone... I'm sorry. Perhaps one of you may fare better? I will hold the lantern, if you'd prefer?"

Vazkor flashes her a brief smile, before stepping over to hand her the lattern, and slowly getting getting to work, moving past each tunnel entrance and studying the floor and walls. Sadly, his keen gaze seems to fail him, and he shrugs, returning to the other two, "I'm afraid tracking isn't my strong suit... I hired other people for that, in my pirate vanquishing days."

Eben doesn't help much himself, or, is incapable of helping when it comes to tracking people besides just a glance down each of the tunnels with a hopeless shrug. "I didn't think to bring, or make a device to track people..Sorry." He murmurs with a small shrug and sigh "Think he would probably run to the one directily opposite the door...Or at least, I would if I were scared."

Silmeria smiles, bobbing her head as she takes hold of the lantern. "Oh, no need to apologize... After all, it's not as if lives *depend* on it, there's nothing here to harm anyone--oh, that's a *wonderful* idea, Master Eben! See? Already, another way to go." Shining the light on the door directly opposite the entrance, the young woman smiles. "Shall we?"

Vazkor chuckles some, looking between the two before he nods in agreement, "Then the middle tunnel it is." He pauses for a moment, not able to keep the playfully rogueish grin from curling his dark lips as he adds on after, "Shame I didn't think of that. But then again, not like I'm ever afraid." He winks at Eben, before heading for the tunnel.

Eben just shakes his head, apparently not in the least amused, or happy to be in a place like this. "Lets just check that way...Either of you know how big this place could actually be? What if we're wrong, we may never find him." There's a soft sigh from the man as he starts to approach the tunnel.

The door opposite is a motif of carven bone... the passage is lined with spheulchers and plaques full of inscriptions, epitaphs and words of wisdom and the names of those who have departed. The path slopes down.. down... and there footsteps echo and crack off the stone flooring. After thirty minutes they reach another circular chamber. The tunnel back up awaits them and two closed doors barr there path. One of the doors is ajar however and a glowing sphere of amber the size of Vazkor floats in the centre of the room, lights dancing around inside it. The skip and flicker and flare and glisten.....

Silmeria holds out a hand to the others as her eyes fall upon the sphere. "Careful," she says, her voice barely louder than a whisper. "The spirits within the tomb have been disturbed... probably by the boy's passage." Nodding to the door on the other side, she starts to edge around the wall of the tomb, eyes on the sphere before her. "Take care, it is... impolite... to disturb the peace of the restless."

Vazkor is more than glad to halt his step as Silmeria stops them, eyeing up the sphere ahead with some suspicion breaking through his natural levity. He nods in response then, and starts to follow the girl along the very edge of the room, his Cutlass still held in one hand. Though he somehow doubts its usefullness against spirits and other such beings.

Eben nods himself and glances off towards the door "Must be where he went, I assume the regular attendents wouldn't leave something like that open." He murmurs softly to not disturb those spirits further before he also follows in turn aroudn the outside of the room...His gun has been re-holstered so that he doesn't offend the dead.

Around the edge of the chamber they go, there is in fact now they are walking along it a very very narrow walkway. A seperation from the stone circle that makes up most of the room and the band of Lapis Lazuli around the edge. They are doing very well, Silmeria is mistress slink sliding along the edge of the room, Eben as well is quite good sliding along stealthily keeping to the path... Vazkor however stumbles about midway along, just a couple of steps out into the circle of the room but the sphere flares and small motes of amber light rush around him! Flickering and whizzing and taking shape until the spectral form of several elderly ladies hang there. "SO! Another one! With a weapon! Look sisters he comes armed! A mortal disturbing us again! Such a cad, such wickedness! No please may we enter your chamber, no polite manners! After the other one we think? probably and his two friends, oh think we can't see you just because you walk the path! Come over here now all of you!"

Silmeria tenses as Vazkor stumbles, face screwing up as though expecting enraged shrieks and promises of torment everlasting... and actualy seems *relieved,* when the spirits prove to be a pack of offended old ladies. "My apologies, honored ladies," the girl says, stepping forward and curtsying deeply. "We'd hoped not to stir your rest more than was necessary, and wished simply to leave you in your peace. Pray tell, good spirits, how we may return peace to you?"

Vazkor isn't sure how he managed to stumble like that, usually being the nimble kind. As it is, he arches his brow in some surprise as the resulting 'threat' reveals itself, and soon can't help but put up a slightly amused expression. Straightening himself, he smoothly slides his blade into its scabbard, and steps forward as he goes for the sheer charm offensive, approaching the spirits with a deep, flowery bow and his nicest smile, "Ah, I apologize, ladies! I meant no harm, to be sure, though I readily admit my brandishing of a weapon to definately be rude in present company. I hope you will not hold it against a young man such as me, yet inexperienced in the ways of the world?"

Eben erps lightly as he takes note of Vazkor stepping out of the pathway as fear seems to grip at him for a few short moments. That's untill he sees the old ladies float out from the sphere with a trace amount of confusion, he usually though of dead interacting with people in the form of horrible aberations of undeath, not innocent looking old-folk. He does step forward when asked though and tilts his head in a bow.

They are very innocent looking ladies, in a variety of sensible garments with their hair done up in buns. "Well dearie as you have gone and woken us all up. You may as well go and place your hands on the sphere. That'll enable us to quieten back down properly."

Silmeria smiles gently, raising her hands to rest upon the sphere. "Then rest, good ladies," she says, her voice gentle, soothing. "Your lives have been long and good, and Hades awaits your presence in the great Abyss." As she speaks, the wing-shaped patches on the back of her robe begin to shimmer, unfolding, her skin fading to stark white. "Rest your weary bones, find peace in the long sleep, for the Lord of the Dead welcomes you with open arms, and will grant you the quiet you deserve, after the toil of life..."

Vazkor falls quiet again as the old women seem to focus on Silmeria, and watches the ensuing ritual with a curious gaze, stepping back just a bit to afford the girl some room should she need it. He's glad atleast the women didn't turn into horrible old witch crones and tried to eat them. Been there, done that.

Silmeria's words hang in the air and the old ladies bow their heads. "Well that sure is nice of you dearie!" The room spins... there is a flash from the orb and it goes dark... just a lump of dark crystal. The doors are gone as is one wall.... there is now just a staircase leading down into darkness......

Eben ponders if putting one's hands on a sphere full of dead people is the best of plans and in fact, takes a step a bit further from the center of the room less it claims them or something as silly, in his opinion. The show from Silmeria catches his attention, confused at the changes to her skin color.

Silmeria's words hang in the air and the old ladies bow their heads. "Well that sure is nice of you dearie!" The room spins... there is a flash form the orb and it goes dark... just a lump of dark crystal. The doors are gone as is one wall.... there is now just a staircase leading down into darkness......

The ash-colored wings at Silmeria's back flex once, stretching out to their fullest... which isn't, in fact, very large at all, not much bigger than the patches they've supplanted. Folding back, they seem to melt into the burlap, as the girl draws in a deep breath. Her skin darkens, returning to its original tan, and her smile is sad as she turns to her companions. "It always upsets Lord Hades so, when the restless dead can't find their way. He worries, you see, for he can rarely reach beyond to the world of the living to set things right."

Vazkor peers at the wings some, before shifting his gaze to look at Silmeria herself as she speaks to them. He looks somewhat curious at her words, and seems to assess her for a moment afterwards before he speaks up himself, "Well, I'm glad you seem to know what you're doing, miss. I doubt I would have entered this place without your knowledge to guide us." He shrugs, "Not for what I'm actually being paid, anyway."

Eben continues eyeing those wings he feels are out of place on a regular Hume as they vanish once again, potentially a bit more hesitant about moving further into the place. "So you know how to set er...Make the dead restful once more?" He asks with a glance to the now blackened crystal with a frown and shake of his head "We should find the boy, then maybe talk about this later I think.." He glances off towards the stairs that have appeared then. Speaking of the boy they are quite alone....the platform has no door, no sign of a branhc just the stairs. A wide fan like descent of shale steps, pale cream in colour descending into the darkness.... The part can just make out another set of steps in the distance and then another and another. They twist and turn and merge and break apart again descending into the silent darkness and there on one stairway... the figure of young Harold Marhswood walking downward......

Silmeria tilts her head, smiling brightly. "It's a task I'm happy to do for Lord Hades," she replies to Eben's question. "There's often so much unfinished business left in the world, but I do whatever I can for them." Turning, she lifts the lantern high, picking her way down the stairs with care, but no sign of fear. "Harold?" she calls, "Young Harold, are you down there? I know you're scared, but I know you'd rather not be lost, too...! Please, follow my voice!"

Vazkor turns towards the staircase, peering down into the darkness as he steps up next to the girl, ready to follow should she start to descend. His blade once more sheathed, he however sets his hand idly upon the hilt, perhaps not really liking the look of that staircase much, "Does he hear?"

Eben nods a bit solemnly in Silmeria's direction "It's a task that must be done, I admit, just didn't know you were one such person to help quell the the dead." He hms and glances down towards the stairs again to notice Harold moving downwards, at least they won't be in here too much longer if they've gone and found him already, he hopes! He doesn't seem to hear, continuing to descend the staircase he is upon. It looks like it will intersect your staircase about seventy to a hundred steps down... perhaps the party could intercept him.

Silmeria sighs, shaking her head. "Come, then... We'll catch him as he comes down." Stepping up her pace, she hurries down the stairs, light held up to pierce the darkness about them, and follow the boy's path as he descends his own starway to the intersection.

Vazkor follows after the girl, carefully descinding the steps as he thinks about his earlier stumble. He doesn't really want to go crashing down into the darkness to his likely doom!

Eben doesn't even want to think what might be down below there stairs as he moves over to follow the others in hopes to intersect the boy. "Sure these stairs are safe?" He asks while avoiding looking down.

Chapter 3

Where last we left our adventurers they were heading down the steps of Shale... deeper into the dark abyss below the worlds of the living.... into the quiet non light of Hades' realm. Silmeria hefts the lantern, eyes tracking the child as he makes his way down the staircase. For herself, her steps are quick but sure, the ambience of the Abyss upsetting her not at all. "Harold?" she calls. "Harold you need to stop once we've met up, okay?" While it's not certain her words are heard or heeded, it never hurts to try.

Eben advances down the stairs at a slower pace than Silmeria, worrying more about tumbling into the dark abyss below instead of catching up to the boy. But all the same, he moves after her towards the point of intersection, eyes tracking the boys movement to see if anything might be odd or inhibiting his ability to hear the pair.

The party move down the steps... their lights bob and sway and they slowly but surely approach the intersection Howard should meet them at. The stairs are wide and broad and not easy to fall off... the incline is gentle and they pass the intersection at the end about 30 feet below... the staircases intersect but pass under one another... Howard continues to walk down... and all they can do is watch....

Silmeria sits down on the staircase with a heavy thump, frowning deeply. "Well... *that* was no good." Letting out a quiet breath, she looks from the lower staircase to Eben, and back again, tilting her head. "Perhaps he'd notice if we shined our light on him? It will probably be a very startling change for him, d'you think?"

Eben watches the boy pass by on a staircase not directly connected to theirs with a faint sigh. "Think we could maybe jump down? No, nevermind...Too dangerous I think." He shakes his head and peers back down then up again before reaching a hand in his coat. "You try the lamp thing..." He starts pulling supplies free, seemingly junk at first before he begins assembling them all together into what looks like a rather primitive firework launching device. The charge made up of a few spare pinches of powder he wrapped in a wad of thick paper. "If that doesn't work...I think I could shoot this in front of him." He explaines once finished "It's like a bomb, but just makes some light instead of anything dangerous.."

Down below Howard continues to walk, step by step... heading further down the dark Path toward were so ever he is intending to go.... quite lost in his thoughts. The light wavering in his eyes does not phase him... perhaps light does not pass through hr darkness so well....

Silmeria purses her lips, casting her eyes about the dingy no-light of the realm. After a moment, the girl nods, slowly. "This is still a between place... Lord Hades would be *most* unhappy if you were to attempt such a thing in the Abyss proper, but it should be fine here, I think..." As Howard seems to ignore the beam of light, on impulse Silmeria stretches out in her belly, arms hanging over the staircase, light trained on Howard. "Hello? Howard? Little Lord Marsh~wood~! It's fairly important, could you perhaps pretend like you hear me?"

Eben nods quickly as he watches Howard's movements "Well, if you say it won't cause any trouble, here goes.." The man murmurs before quickly lighting the fuse on the device and pointing it in Howard's general direction, not aiming at him of course, but so that it would detonate near enough the boy to get his attention. With a soft poof the device would launch off into the air in that direction, the charge burning brightly before detonating with a loud pop and flash of light, that is barring nothing would stop it from happening.

Vazkor hurries down the steps after the other two, having let them get ahead of him somehow. He slows down a bit again though when he's near enough and watches through the gloom as Eben pulls out and fires the device, his eyes soon following the projectile until the spot where it flashes bright, "What was that?" He asks as he reaches them.

The device fired from the impromptu flare gun spirals down into the darkness and then explodes ina brilliant FLASH! Much brightere then it should have been. Harold jherks and looks around, gasps, turns and starts to race back up the stairs running for it quickly. Then the screaming starts... HOWLS of anger, shrieks of pain and agony... the small Pop crashes back over the stairs like a thundercrash... the shale steps vibrate.... and all around strange whisps and spiritual shapes seem to stream past.. scattering in all directions and fleeing the source of the bright flare as it drops... it looks like these spirits were descending into the darkness.. hidden and secure but now they are panicking and scattering in every direction as the thunder crashes and the light burns... Harold is gone, vanishing back up the stairs toward the world of the living......

"Well.......... damn." Silmeria's face goes ashen as the world thunders around them, eyes flicking back and forth as she thinks quickly. "Papa's going to be furious," she murmurs, shaking her head and scrabbling to her feet. "Hurry, both of you." Passing the lantern to Vazkor, she gestures up the stairs. "Go back as quick as you can, I'll... try to do... something. I don't know."

Eben erfs as he takes note of the flare not doing exactly what it was he wanted it to "I-I must have used too much.." He murmurs apologeticlly, bracing himself as the shale steps vibrate from the echoing blast. "Uh." Is all he can manage as the spirits start fleeing in all direction causing the man to begin backing up the way they came. He simply drops the device on the stairs and makes a move back upwards, trying to usher Vazkor with him looking more and more nervous by the the moment.

Vazkor stares blankly at the loud flash, before looking just as blankly over at the other two, his expression unreadable- and as such quite accusatory in its blankness! He doesn't waste time pointing fingers though, not just yet, instead reaching out to take the lantern and nodding firmly at Silmeria. Simply stating, "Good luck." before he turns around and starts going back up the stairs at speed.

The problem with fleeing back the way they came... is a very distinct lack of stairs going up... there are like three of them and then darkness... The path back to the world of the living is always meant to be there, always clear and straight and right now it is missing. All around them the other staircases are shivering and twisting... blurring and blending and fading away... merging into the continuation of their own until there is just one and striding up the stairs is a dark shrouded figure......

"Ooooh, no," Silmeria breathes, closing her eyes for a moment. Drawing in a deep breath, she strides to the front of the group, standing silent and not at all calm... almost like a child who expects to be given a very, very stern lecture, and is not at all looking forward to it.

Eben is getting a bit nearer to panicing now that he notices that the staircase to their safety has vanished, along with all the others in the area. Around and around he turns for a moment as he looks for another way to go, but finding none he stands still and silent as can be, hand twitching a bit with anxiety, even moreso at the sight of the being heading up in their direction.

Vazkor manages to stop just in time as the glow of his lantern hits... Nothingness, only a step away himself from plunging into it. A low growl escapes him before he spins around back the other way, his expression showing some anger, and even annoyance as he holds the lantern aloft and watches the black figure approach. He briefly ponders kicking Eben down the stairs towards him as a distraction if things go south even more, but that's likely just anger and panic talking.

The figure doesn't take long to reach the top of the stairs, he turns out to be.. rather short and have a small golden crown floating above his head. He pushes back the hood of his brown cloak and stares at all three of them. The little crown stays firmly in place, in a voice that is mostly whisper and yet all thunder he speaks. "Just what... do you think you are all doing?" He points a hand and the glowing ball of light that is the flare, and it blinks out, darkness falls except for this small patch of staircase.... really it is a platform of shell that feels as if it is moving through the darkness which is still vibrating with the screaming of upset spirits. "You have defiled the sanctity of the passage between life and death! The souls of the departed scatter...." He whips a paw up... a knife... a simple plain knife in his paw pointed at all three of them. "You are coming with me..." That voice so silent, barely a whisper and yet it rings in their ears as if it was thundered from the heavens.....

Silmeria looks quite pitiful, now, tears standing out at the corners of her eyes, head bowed, hands fidgeting at the sleeves of her robe. "I'm so sorry," she whispers... whether it be to the spirit before them, or her companions, is unclear. Breathing deep to steady her nerves, she walks forward, following as bidden.

Eben doesn't know exactly what this creature is that they're facing, but he does know that he should be fearful, does know that he isn't worthy of it's presence. He lets out the smallest of squeaks but doesn't respond, or seem to take note of any other talking about him, including that apology from Silmeria. There's one last glance given back to where the flare had gone off and then it's back to trembling.

Vazkor isn't one to show fear in the face of danger, wether he actually feels it or not. Instead the ebon skinned swordfighter stands tall, crossing his arms and looking down at the crowned figure in silence, yet without overt defiance. After a few moments like that, he simply nods, and considering the state of the other two decides to take the first step, moving past them as he makes to walk down the stairs. Speaking up in a polite tone, "Lead the way, sir."

The platform continues to move as it glides through the darkness a giant 3 headed dog races past barking in triplicate! Racing around... herding things in the darkness. A soul shattering whistle explodes through the darkness and a giant mechnical device sleek and fast shoots overhead and then careens left, right and roars to a stop above the platform. It hisses gouts of steam and glistens with silver metal and darkness... it exudes anger and upset. The small little green king looks up at it. "Yes... we know.... I am taking them to the throne... it is not safe to pass.... return to Terra try and track them down." The doom train SCREAMS its whistle very loudly and chugs off quickly back into the darkness. Tonberry King glances around at all three of you again and shakes his head. "Do you have anything to say mortals?" He stares at Eben and Vazkor as the platform skims into an area of grey light and dead twisted trees..... the platform skims across it toward a clearing.......

"I should have known better," Silmeria murmurs. "It wouldn't have happened if I had said not to.... I'm so, *so sorry,* Lord Tonberry, I wish I could take it all back.... I...." She swallows, scrubbing at her eyes and standing straighter. "...I'll accept whatever punishment Lord Hades will give for all of us. It's my fault, I will pay the price."

Eben is absolutly petrified by by the great spirits that seem to pass by in their tasks and in their fury, barely able to comprehend them as he is as the train goes screaming by. Although at Tonberry's question he manages to stutter out a response "I...I didn't know." There's a small pause as he sucks in more air "I was--" His voice cracks and he ceases to speak.

Vazkor doesn't bother explaining himself just yet, doubting it will do much good in the current situation. What's he gonna say? It isn't his fault because they went and fired the flare without consulting him? Instead he just stands there, exuding some form of remaining confidence, and just briefly glances at the stupid kid who fired the flare! He's gonna be so pissed if that is what finally does him in after all his adventures.

The King of Tonberry's looks at Silmeria and shakes his head, "That is not your choice to make. it is theirs and his." He turns and bows to the throne in the centre of the clearing. Were normally there should be a line of souls approaching judgement... now there is nothing just the dark figure in the throne. The king bows, steps back and then walks to the side of the throne. Another figure steps out of the shadows, this one dressed in a dapper blue uniform with a nice peaked cap atop his head. He looks at a watch then glances at the party and bows to the Hades. Death remains in his chair, silent, watching then they shift, the shadows curl and draw back and sat in the throne is a pale skinned young lady in black lace and long curled hair. "Approach Silmeria of my domain, Eben of the Creationary Bent and Vazkor, hero reknowned. You Eben of Emberstrand and Silmeria of my Domain stand accused of disrupting the passage between life and death. Of scaring the souls of the passing into scattering through out the domains and the mortal realm. You master Vazkor are not accused of anything but accompanying these two on this journey into our realm. We shall hear from the culprit Eben first... speak now and explain yourself." Her voice is soft, warm, but not friendly.

Silmeria bows her head, clasping her hands in front of her. As she has not been bidden to speak, so does she remain silent as Eben in commanded to give his accounting.

Eben can't help but bow in turn to Hades as the other spirits have along with Silmeria as he's called to explain himself. Only partially straightening to show his humble station to such a might spirit, any spirit in fact he attempts to respond but only silence comes for a moment. He's finding it quite difficult to gain his composure, to speak up and potentially face his fate. "I-I would first like to apologize for destroying the tranquillity of your realm, Lord." He squeaks rather quietly, sweat starting to glisten on his exposed skin "I was trying to get the attention of a boy, Harold was his name...To bring him back to the keepers of the Necropolis." He starts, hands clenching and unclenching as he tries to remain at least partially calm "I didn't know that the consequences would be the fleeing of dead and disturbing your realm.." He pauses to take a deep breath, trying to think of what else he could say to inform the great lord that it was meerly an accident. "It wasn't my intention to push the dead from their rightful path."

Vazkor stands back, in the same outwardly composed, arms crossed manner as before. Not yet showing his relieve at not being held entirely accountable, he just watches Eben's explaining himself, and quietly hopes the boy doesn't manage to piss off Death further. In the meantime the swashbuckler silently studies the spirit on the throne, awaiting his turn to speak.

The spirit on the throne listens to Eben then speaks. "I have heard your words.... Silmeria... daughther of my domain. You have commited the greatest of all sins.... you have failed your duty. Failed me... failed my domain. Explain yourself now before my throne."

Silmeria takes a couple, hesitating steps forward... then her legs seem to give out beneath her, and she falls to her knees. "I... I have no explanation. I *have* failed.... *Worse* than failed, I've made everything so much worse. I--" She pauses, looking up behind the fringe of her hair. "...I don't deserve what you've given me. ... ....I'm sorry." She turns and looks at Vazkor, "The accused have spoken, you who are not accused buyt their companion. You may now speak if you wish on their behalf then my judgement shall be spoken."

Vazkor steps forward confidently, and dips down into a respectfull bow himself, giving his voice the appropiate amount of polite charm as he speaks up, "Mistress Death, do not judge them too harshly. We were simply trying to reach a boy, lost and afraid, and set things to right. A boy, who by accounts of the priests above, should not have entered this place, as he went unwilling. I imagine it was an overriding concern when they tried to get the boy's attention like that." He quiets down then, and straightens himself again, ready to see what comes to pass now.

Mistress Death settles back in her throne, her skirts rustle and she regards all three of them with solemn eyes. "I have heard from all three and thus is my judgement. In the presence of the Psycopomp and the King of Kharma so do I rule." She turns to face Eben and is suddenly a taller, thinner, and her eyes burn. "Good intentioned as your actions were they resulted in the disruption of my entire realm and more the Balance of all realms. Your disruption has caused upset across a higher spectrum of order then is mine alone to Judge upon. The Council of Alexander shall summon you. Be prepared." She turns to Silmeria then and stands up..... and is suddenly a he. A very tall figured shrouded in a black cloak and cowl. A skeletal hand holding a sycthe he walks down and looms above Silmeria. "You for not acting, for not striving to protect our realm and Domain we hereby sentence you." He thrusts the scythe into her hands, "You shall never again return to this realm until all those who have become lost due to your dereliction are shephered on their way. It is denied to you until all who are lost are returned and the balance of your actions restored. You are lost in my eyes until that day, the Doomtrain, My Psychopomp shall answer the summons and be thy watcher and instructor until such time as they are gathered" The figure then turns... flesh and blood again, with long flowing white hair and a gentle smile. "Vazkor, hero of the flesh, champion of rights, rogue and swashbuckler. You are welcome within my realm, your actions this day did not cause this and your quest to find the lost boy did not impinge upon my realm. He has been restored safely to the Moulders of my Necropolis, I bid you welcome you may remain and pass on as all must do or return to your life with one small boon from my hand for the inconvinience caused this day. Thus is Kharma satisfied."

Silmeria falls back as the scythe is thrust into her hands, blinking up at the skeletal, robed Spirit... and for a moment, as favor is bestowed upon Vazkor, there's a flash of anger in her eyes... jealousy, that honey can fall from the Spirit's lips immediately after the sentence of exile is pronounced. But it's gone in a heartbeat, and she bows her head, tears falling down her cheeks. "...It's more than I deserve," she murmurs, picking herself off the ground and standing, eyes on the weapon in her hands. "...I will not fail you again."

Eben manages to glance upwards and take note of the fury swarming in Hades' eyes as she states that the Council of Alexander will be trying him next...He's at a complete loss for words and thought and doesn't speak again, simply bowing deeply once again and taking a step backwards, fear wracking his mind even moreso than before.

Vazkor feels sorry enough for the other two that he doesn't outwardly show his relief. But then again, he also isn't about to protest his good fortune out of some sense of allegiance. Perhaps he will try to aid them once they're out of this damn place. He dips his head towards Death, politely returning the smile, "If it would suit the Lady, I would remain in life above for a few decades yet. To see grayness touching my hair, and to not disappoint friends, family and lovers with my absence."

Hades makes no response to Silmeria but takes Vazkor's hand and touches it against one chill cheek. "Then return to life and live. Until we meet again." She returns to her throne, sits down and looks at them. "Be prepared, you shall be summoned when the Council is in session. Until then." The conductor steps forward and clicks his pocketwatch open. "All aboard....." There is a piercing shriek and he dissolves into a swirling cloud of mist that envelops the three and then they are back... in Emberstrand outside the Marshwood residence where Lady Vivienne, Lord Edward and their parents are busy overseeing the unpacking of their belongings. "Ah... you have returned." Lord Nicols walks forward and bows, "I want to thank you for rescuing Harold and returning him to the Necropolis. He was quite happy when we left, payment for your services will be with you promptly. I am glad you made it safely home."

Silmeria blinks sharply as the Marshwood estate resolves around them, hurriedly scrubbing her sleeve over her eyes as the Lord approaches. Bobbing her head in answer to his thanks, she manages a small smile. "Thank you, my lord... I am glad to know that he is happy." Setting the dark scythe on her shoulder, she absently runs a hand down the almost countless tiny silver studs set along its length, eyes distant as she thinks upon the task ahead. Eben only gives the smallest of glances towards Lord Nicols as he suddenly finds himself here once again after the trip. He's obviously not in much of a mood to talk to anyone and it's even more obvious that he's looking strained and nervous about the matter. He simply moves off and stands on his own.

Vazkor lets out a long breath as they materialize outside the estate, finally letting down some of his forced composure. Looking at the other two for a long moment, he ever so briefly ponders whapping Eben around the back of the head... But figures the boy is in for enough punishment as it is. Slowly switching his attention to Lord Nicols, the swashbuckler nods and speaks after a moment, "Thank you, sir. But if your family ever desires my company on a trip like that in the future... I will have to respectfully decline."

Lord Nicols nods his head and bows to them all, "Well I will not keep you, return to your homes and may the Lord Hades bless you."

Silmeria bows her head in return, and once the Lord takes his leave, she turns to Vazkor and Eben. "...I'm sorry," she says again. "It is my fault for allowing things to happen as they did. I... Eben. I do not know what will happen, but remember that the Spirits do not think like we do. Intentions count only among a very few, action matters more. It is likely... I cannot be certain, but it is likely... that you will be given a task. Or several. They will be hard, and you may despair of ever overcoming. But remember; if you do, they will know. And they will see it for the great thing it is."

Eben simply shakes his head as Silmeria speaks to him "I guess I should feel lucky enough that Hades didn't take me in then and there." He mumbles without turning about to face her, it would seem that he isn't upset towards her or place any of the blame on her in turn. "Instead I'm going to have some council I don't even know of using me to do tasks that most likely will be impossible and cost me my life." He remarks bitterly before he begins to walk off, apparently not in the mood to hold a conversation about what may be to come.

Vazkor just kinda shakes his head, before he turns towards Silmeria, dipping into a light bow, "I bid you farewell, then. And I wish you luck on the task your... Mother? set you, however arduous it might be. Perhaps we will encounter eachother again." With that, the swashbuckler starts to walk off as well, though not before calling after Eben, "If you're still alive after your meeting, lad, seek me out and I'll buy you a strong drink. I suspect you'll need it." And then starts to head home. In the meantime wondering what that promised boon would be.

Chapter 4

A normal day in Emberstrand, a day like most other days really right up to the moment the invitations begin landing on people's doorsteps. There is one for Eben, a large envelope with red edging from Mateus, Lady of Justice demanding Eben present himself at the Hall of Justice in the lee of Alexander that day at noon. Breaking the wax seal on the bottom of the letter will open the gateway for him. There is another message for Jak, informing him his presence is required at the request of Lady Andromeda as someone who can give a proper and true accounting of the summoned party. There are several other invitations sent, the most notable to Celeste. It's from her mother quite simply informing her to break the seal at noon and get herself to the place Lord Odin wants her to be to help with certain proceedings.

Upon receiving her letter, Celeste oggles it closely, and pokes at the seal. She shrugs her shoulders, and sets it down on the table in front of her, before picking up her bottle of rum once more. "I ain't und'stand why people keep 'sistin'on sendin' me mail," she observes, to nobody in particular. She puts the rum to her lips and takes a long pull, before holding up the bottle and sloshing about what remains in the bottom. "I'mm can't read! Whas'a point?" At last, she shrugs and picks up the letter once more. "Oh hell. Shiva's tits, I'mma ain't waitin' fer Alba." And so, at precisely ten minutes to noon, she breaks the seal open. "Maybe it'a be pictures," she mutters.

Eben wasn’t particularly enjoying waiting for this designated day to come in which he will be tried before a council of spirits, those who are close to him could put his feelings on the matter along the lines of dreading. So, the letter falling down atop the doorstep brings a conflicted sigh of relief from the man as he picks it up, and Jak’s letter in turn as they both landed at the same place. "Oh damn…" He simply sighs out as he turns back towards the interior of his home, seemingly aging a few years just from the sight of the envelope. He would quickly put both letters on the table and go off to find more presentable clothing to be seen in, which turns out to be a simple, and rather humble tunic and pants. "Hey Jak…It’s time.." He states simply towards where he might be.

When Eben brings in the invitations Jak walks over to pick up his and looks it over in admiration as it sparkles with pure starlight. "Yea.. I doubt that this is some gift given me for the shop... considering." With that the young man opens it up and begins reading over before he lets out a sigh and reaches up a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose lightly for a moment. "Well then... at least they're going to give me a chance to speak up for you.." he murmurs before adding a quieter mutter to himself, "Eben what horrible trouble you've gotten yourself into..." And at the proper time he, dressed nicely as if going to a tutor a noble brat, breaks the seal while holding his breath.

( Celeste breaks her seal early and thus winds up dumped rather ungraciously in a flower bed near the beautiful shape of the hall of Justice. Alexander looms off to the right sparkling brilliantly, the distant sound of hymns drifting down from the lofty spires. Off to her left on the path two more portals open and through them appear Eben and Jak. As the trio of mortals adjust to the sudden shift in positions a figure looms over them all, staring down with a stern expression from beneath his horned helmet. "Miss Celeste, when something says to be opened at noon obey it. A warrior must obey sensible orders at all time I almost lost you in translation." Odin turns and regards Eben and Jak then, "The council is sitting now. I decided to come collect you all myself are you ready?" ) [Spoofed By: Silvante]

Celeste lands on her face in a bed of flowers? Indeed! The mouse warrior grumbles and shakes her head as she sits up. Skull? Intact. Spear? Intact. Rum? ...Intact. Celeste puts the bottle back to her lips for another swig, just as Odin looms and soundly tells her off. She looks up at the spirit, both eyebrows rising at the sight that one just doesn't see every day; she gets up to her feet, and coughs softly. "Shiva's... uhm... mercy," she finishes weakly. "I'mma can't read, I weren't sure whatta do with it." She shrugs her shoulders helplessly, and glances over her shoulder at Jak and Eben. She flashes them a grin, before looking up at Odin once more. "I'mma guess I'mma ready. But... whaffor?"

Eben takes a few moments to right himself in his surroundings, the trip doing plenty to disorient the nervous man and drain the color from his face. He’ll never get used to traveling to the spirit realms, and he’s probably decided in the time since his actions that he would avoid doing so if possible. "Jak…You okay?" He would ask softly before taking note of the towering figure. Quickly enough though he takes notice to them and hushes up. "I believe I…We are ready." He states firmly, gaze flicking back to Jak briefly. He doesn’t return the grin to Celeste, far too nervous and well, to be honest fearful.

Jak opens his eyes and looks around, stilling for a few long moments before he looks over towards Eben and nods quietly with a faint smile. He turns his head towards Odin then and a hand touches his chest before he bows, "I thank you for seeing to us." Straightening then he walks over to help Celeste up, taking the opportunity to murmur to her quietly, "Eben's on trial for upsetting the balance.. also you really should learn how to read, would be bad if you drank poison by mistake. Not everything is marked with a skull and crossbones after all." He looks over at Eben, giving him a faint nervous smile before turning attention to Odin once more.

Odin stops and turns to look down at Celeste, "I suggest you learn how to read then Miss Celeste.... your mother would not be best pleased to learn you never bothered to learn." Stern, taciturn and brusque. He walks up the steps toward the beautiful marble fronted hall of Justice. Waiting for them is a spirit, he bows to Odin then turns to the party "Master Eben Kishara stands accused of disrupting the fabric of the universe, of breaching the depths between life and death. You are called to face judgement, this way please." He beckons Eben to follow him toward a door to the left. Odin looks at the other two and points at another door. "You two will be required to go through that door, Celeste you are here because I require a warrior who is mortal to give me reflection."

Celeste sighs heavily. "yeah yeah, learn to read," she grumbles as Jak helps her up. "Lemme just wrassle a Behemoth an' tame a buncha spiders ter make me look like I'mma queen while I'mma at it, right?" She takes one last pull from her rum, before plonking the bottle down amongst the flowers. "Guessin' I'mma ain't takin' that," she observes. She flicks her gaze towards Eben, and shrugs her shoulders a bit helplessly. "G'luck," she says, and flashes a grin and a thumbs-up, before heading towards the door Odin indicated. "A'ight, so, trial by combat, then?"

Eben doesn’t make mentioning of reading into thought at the moment, more worried about how he could even possibly defend himself against the claim of him destroying the balance in the universe. His face pales even further if it were possible as he’s asked to come, alone and without Jak at his side. He would look over towards the other man helplessly. With a simple sigh and shake of his head he turns back to the door on the left and when the gesture is made, begins to walk slowly towards it. Breathing deep, yet steady he gives one glance back behind him "Thanks." He murmurs before moving off towards that door.

Jak headtilts at Celeste, but decides that this really isn't the time to be lecturing her about the importance of reading. He looks after Eben then while sighing deeply and then he shakes his head. Edon's instruction is followed as he heads towards the other door indicated, though Celeste's question draws him up short and he shakes his head, "I would hope not or there is no chance for him. No.. I think we can expect a proper court proceedings here rather than the heat of battle." A dip of the head is given Odin then as he passes through.

The Spirit Odin quirks a brow, "No Miss Celeste, you are here to observe, learn and make any appropriate observations concerning the case you may have to me." He bows and is gone... the doors the party step through are on opposite sides of the room and yet they all end up in the same place. Stupid Spirit world and their ignoring the laws of Physics. Eben is ona a podium all by himself in the centre of the room facing a large bench. The others are sat in the galley behind the podium and from here everyone can see the Council before them. A beam of white light in the centre represets the chair Alexander, To either side are Lord Odin, Lady Andromeda, Lord Gilgamesh, The Sister Ray, the coiled bulk of the dragon of hope Valigarmanda, The sage Ramuh, The Kharma King Tonberry, Madeen and the Judge herself Mateus. Valigarmanda raises his head and regards Eben. "We are gathered here in formal session to hear the events surrounding the disruption of the Eternal cycle. Eben Kishara you stand accused of willfully firing a Flare into the Path of Shale and disrupting the balance of all that is. How do you plead?"

Celeste shrugs her shoulders. "Pity," she murmurs. "I'd'a fought for 'im." She follows through the doorway, and finds herself seated in the gallery; so she takes up a seat and waits while the proceedings begin. "Dunno how I'mma tell 'im what I'mma thinkin' from here," she observes. "But I'mma 'spose he figure that out a'ready."

Eben doesn’t truly meet the gaze of the council of spirits, in fact, his eyes remain fixed on the floor before the council, probably being something that helps him maintain what little cool he would have before such a large group. Hearing Valigarmanda speaking to him causes the man to lift his eyes gently, meeting with the large spirit. "Of these things, I am guilty.." He begins with a murmurs, gaze quickly lowering to the floor once again. His voice is somewhat soft with a humble tone behind it, trying to maintain his composure. "I also, regret horribly the direct consequences of my actions, I never wished to cause damage to the underworld and the souls within." He states rather quickly, trying to say something else before they decide to simply punish him for being guilty.

Eben would also add after a swift moment of silence "I did not know that my actions would cause such turmoil, or that my behavior would have disrupted the realms as they have." He tilts his head down further in a show of humility.

Jak flinches a little and looks down and then around before turning his attention to Eben and then the spirits. Ramuh gets a longer look given Jak's past with that particular spirit, but he looks on after a moment. Glancing at Celeste then he murmurs quietly, "well.. usually these things require the audience to remain quiet. At least in mortal courts.. this setting? I do not know about myself, I'm no summoner or priest." He quiets at the question and looks at Eben quickly while chewing his lip a little.

As eben finishes speaking there is silence for a moment then a soft chime... the shaft of white light moves... sweeping across the room from the throne and stops above Celeste. Shining down all around her and a presence enthuses her body.... a warm, gentle, harmonious light. "Celeste, daughter of the Saint Bellatrix hear our choir... you have heard what has happened. The mortal man Eben, did disrupt the very nature of reality. A bright light of a thousand suns within the depths of the darkest reaches of the Abyss, the honoured departed scattered to hauntings, fiend coalescence and lost wanderings across the face of terra. Over seven hundred honoured souls lost and abandoned, what sayeth you to this? What insight the mortal yet not in our court?"

The mouse warrior's eyebrows rise sharply as the beam of light comes straight for her, and she ends up illuminate for all to see. 'At least I'mma put clothes on b'fore op'nin th'letter,' she thinks to herself, though she doesn't voice this comment. "Err... well..." she mumbles, as she stands up and hooks her thumbs in her skirt. "I'mma think is hard ter say. Sure, th'fallout sounds bad. An' maybe it were 'gainst th'rules. But I'mma ain't gonna condemn no man wit'out knowin' the why, right? Maybe he did it fer good reason... But he said he didn' mean nothin, no harm by it. Y'oughta ask fer 'im ter justify it."

Eben falls silent, and thankful for a brief moment as the attention of the court is moved elsewhere. He even goes as far as sighing lightly before looking up towards where the beam of light has moved. He remains perfectly silent, assuming that speaking up without permission in a place such as this would be quite dire. He does wonder absently why he didn't explain with his opening statement why he did it.

Jak looks up at Celeste as she stands and speaks, a quick glance is cast towards Eben as well before he turns his attention to the spirits sititng in judgement. his eyes move among them quiet, likely trying to read their expressions, though not with much luck given the how foreign they are to him.

Most of the spirits are hard to read, just watching silently, observing Celeste, eyes turn back to Eben trhough and the light of Alexander flickers. "Speak Eben, say in all truth why you took this action and why you did not consider the consequences it might cause. Know that lying here will be known and your second entrance to the reralm of Hades will ensue."

Eben lets out a sharp breath at the mentioning of him being sent back to Hades, he didn't intend to lie but the mentioning of that fate puts him on edge, he tries to remember precisely what had happened. "There was a young boy wandering the path of shale, lost." He begins, his voice a few decibels louder than he would have liked it "We were asked to enter within and bring him back out from the necropolis he had ran into, which led to the path of shale." He glances up to those witnessing rather nervously "He was on a different path than us, and wouldn’t respond to us trying to get his attention." Another big swallow follows "The priests had wanted us to bring him back to the surface, so he could serve as an acolyte. And since we couldn’t get his attention the regular way I made that device to attempt to get his attention." His story seems a bit jumbled up, wordy, a sure sign of how nervous he actually is.

Celeste remains silent for the time being; the mouse warrior having finally found some motivation to shut up. Once the attention seems to be away from her for the moment, she sits down again, and devotes herself to picking at the cloth wrap she wears about her top. Her ears remain perked to the conversation, and the observant would see that she is indeed listening carefully; though others might thing she may have lost interest.

Jak shifts just a little, but having little to offer and no cause to speak the young man remians silent. Attentive to what is occuring, but silent nonetheless.

The court listen and then Andromeda speaks, "Your actions were well intentioned which mitigate the circumstances but it does not absolve you of blame. Destiny.." she pauses and smiles, "I can be fickle at times. but the destiny of those scattered has been destroyed, their just rest obliterated. I think we have heard enough of what happened and why... I would hear about Eben but first as Odin's representative, what say you miss Celeste, does this warrant the loss of his life? Or should the council consider other actions."

The black mouse's expression takes on a look of shock. She coughs softly, before finally rising back to her feet once more. The words 'Why y'askin' me?' perish on her lips, before she has a chance to say them. She clears her throat, and looks at Eben, then sideways at Jak, and then back forwards. "If'n he done 'er on purpose? Yes," she states. "But he didn'. He were tryin' ter save someone. Sure, it were an idjit thing ter do; no 'fense, mate. But that ain't th'point. I'mma ain't got patience fer mortal Judges, what only care 'bout actions. We can be better here, yeah? I'mma say it's intent what matter. He were tryin' ter do right. I say he oughta live."

Eben would have likely agreed with Celeste on the idiocy of his own actions, it was indeed a rash and hastily thought out decision. He stays quiet though in the court, attention flicking between those in the stands and those on the bench. He now takes a bit more time to examine the spirits if they’re looking elsewhere. He's not too sure on the whole spirit thing, so he doesn't respond to the later bit of the Mouse's statements.

Jak can't help but blink when the question is addressed to Celeste. He looks at her for a moment and then exhales and whispers quietly to himself, "he didn't even know what he did was wrong..." Shaking his head then the scholar forces himself to sit back and continue to wait quietly.

Odin seems to listen to the black mouse's words and then he inclines his head, "I accept the words spoken. I withdraw the application for life. I return judgement to Mateus." Mateus steeples her fingers and leans forward, the former Lucavite looks down at Even, her dark grey eyes boring into him. "I am the patron of humanity... yet i find your actions unbelieably stupid... and I know just how stupid humanity can be at times. You are the only species on Terra to build weapons of mass destruction just to see what they do.... I will not judge due to conflict. I pass this from myself to Valigarmanda, Ray and Andromeda as Tonberry King has already avowed the right to judge due to conflict of Domain" The dragon lifts his head and regards Eben. "I would know more about Eben... master Ramuh you asked an expert here?" Ramuh nods and stands, "Jak, of my Children stand and speak to us so we may know the mortal before us, before we judge."

Celeste takes her seat once more, and sighs softly, as her part seems to be finished, at least for the time being. She relaxes in her chair, and clasps her hands behind her head as she settles in to listen and observe -- though for just the most fleeting of moments, she regrets leaving her rum outside.

Eben lets out an inward sigh of relief, at least he isn’t going to be killed because of his stupidity. To Mateus’s response in regard to his action, he simply lowers his head in a humble manner. As the spirit changes who is in charge of his judgment he would look up to see the three put in charge of his fate, his hope rising slightly. Valigarmanda asking about who he is almost has him speaking again, until the focus is moved over to Jak. Turning slightly himself he watches, and listens for what he says.

Jak startles when Ramuh calls upon him, and what he calls him. He tilts his head for a moment then blinks, looks down then at Eben before he nods back to Ramuh and stands slowly. "As you like, Great Spirit." Turning his eyes to the rest of the spirits then he takes a breath, "Eben and I have been living together for a number of months now and I think it's given me a... unique perspective of him. He has a good heart and means well, but not always does he think before he leaps. I could give you examples.. the ruined ancient gun that I found and he attempted to clean. The fact I've banned him from the kitchen entirely after struggling my way through the surprise dinner he made. Truely, the man is thoughtful and caring, but he does not always think through what he does. Furthermore he has never had dealings with the spirits in great length and his knowledge of them is severely lacking." He pauses and then adds as an afterthought, "I know this wasn't asked for, but I will humbly beg your indulgence. I just wanted to say, that I believe he did hesitate before doing this and did ask before pursuing the course of action. That it still happened is deeply regretable though. Thank you."

Valigarmanda nods his head and glances at Ray, the lady pushes back the heavy cowl of her robes and regards Eben. "We know that you asked for advice, and I commend you for that. The fact Silmeria the Esper of the Domain of Hades did not stop you has been noted. Her punishment lies in the realm of Hades and has been handed to her." She regards Eben, "Sadly.... you still carried through and I cannot ignore those poor souls now scattered to the winds." She looks along the table of other spirits then back at Eben. "I think we have heard what we must unless anyone here now wishes to add more?"

Celeste watches the goings on, and lifts one hand to rub at her chin, and the tips of her protruding front teeth. Abruptly, the mouse jumps up out of her seat, and holds up one hand as she clears her throat. "'Scuse me!" she declares, projecting her voice into the courtroom. "Sorry ter... int'rupt, but I'mma wondering where this Esper lady's at? I'mma mean if'n she were there when all this mojo were goin' on, why ain't she here? Y'missin' yer star witness here."

Eben glances up towards Jak as he says all these embarrassing things that give away his personality in a nutshell and looks quite thankful that he were here to share his thoughts about him, as a person. At the mentioning of him still carrying out that dreadful action he simply nods, there’s no denying that. A thought flashes through his head in regards to asking if he could somehow help, but avoids bringing it up, thinking himself to cause more trouble than he might be able to avert. As such, he remains quiet and doesn't add anything even when Celeste calls out about Silmeria.

Jak retakes his seat, but he freezes and looks at Celeste for a moment before straightening in his seat while dipping his head lightly in agreement with her. "I too would request her. While we can only give ouer opion on the person and the actions she certainly would have a first person perspective."

The white light of Alexander dims for a moment and the council look toward it then all of them nod and Ray speaks. "So it has been decided. Court is Ajourned until Silmeria of the Domain of Death arrives. Celeste the Esper, Jak Gotung and Master Eben Kalasha, you may retire to the gardens. Enjoy the tranquility of Alexander and the hospitality of the Serenity Gardens."

Chapter 5

A summons for Silmeria, perhaps not unexpected but here she stands, in the Council Chamber of Alexander. The Hall of Judgement is its location, outside of the city and yet a part of it still. It is here at Silmeria finds herself stood before the podium at the centre of the room, the entire council arrayed before her. Mateus is sat in the chair waiting for Silmeria to take the steps. Jak and a variety of onlookers are sat in the gallery and in the dock is the Human known as Eben.

( Eben seems to have used the time between his last appearance to calm down a good deal, his emotions seemingly appearing to be much less stressed and a bit more reserved. With a soft exhale the man would look about to make sure everyone was back in their proper places, eyes catching for a moment with those up in the box, than Silmeria once she’s seen.

After the short reprieve Jak had returned to his seat. He remains quiet though his gaze moves between the spirits, attempting to read their, in many cases, alien expressions and postures in an attempt to draw some sort of conclusion concerning their stances on the case. And with the arrival of the new witness Jak's attention turns to Silmeria as well.

The summons, indeed unexpected. Ever since her exile from the Abyss, Silmeria has been waiting for the Council to call her to speak. While she hasn't been wasting the intervening period, learning to track down the wayward spirits rather than let opportunity come to her has been... frustrating, at best. Drawing in a deep breath, the Esper closes her eyes, mounting the steps and resting her hands atop the podium. "...I am ready to speak, Your Honor."

The column of light above the central chair that is Alexander flickers for a second, Odin, Andromeda, and Gilgamesh sit back in their chairs. Sister Ray glances toward Valigarmanda. The huge dragon watches as Ramuh, Tonberry King and Madeen all stand and turn their back on Silmeria. This leaves Mateus, leaning forward the Judge stares into Silmeria's eyes. "You are here this day to give testimony of what happened upon the Path of Shale. Speak now of the events that happened that day or forever loose your way."

Eben remains silent from where he stands off to the side, hands clenching and unclenching ever few moments, one of the few signs showing how nervous he is about the current situation. Although hearing the mentioning of Silmeria losing her way causes him to look up suddenly and focus much more closely. Carefully watching the spirits he would attempt to see what they were doing with their backs turned.

Jak shifts a little and turns towards Silmeria a little more, a slight worried frown drawing at his features it seems. However he remains silent, having nothing more that he can add at this juncture.

Silmeria's eyes open, traveling up to meet Mateus' gaze. To her credit, the scrutiny of the Empress is borne without.... much... flinching. However as the Council reacts to her presence, and three of their number turn their back, her face crumples, and it's a moment before she can trust herself to break her silence. "...We had gone to the Necropolis, Your Honor, to see to a family's tradition. One of the children, chosen to work in the Mortuary, and their dead given a place in the Garden of Bones. The child... he had panicked, Your Honor. He ran into the catacombs and beneath, and we were asked to find him and bring him back before he went too far, and joined the other souls in the Abyss." Here she pauses, shaking her head and frowning in clear self-recrimination. "I should have known, Your Honor. It was *my* stupidity that allowed what happened. It was his work, but it was *I* who told him nothing would happen. I know, Your Honor, if I had said no, he would have heeded me. Instead..." She looks around in the general direction of Council, never meeting the eyes of any Spirit. "...We are here. And it is my fault that this is so. Your Honor... I would beg that I stand in his place. The fault is mine; by right, so too should the punishment be."

Andromeda quirks a brow at this and the lady sits forward, starlight glittering in her hair. "We are not sat in Judgement of yourself. Your punishment has already been metered out as regards to the rules. He whose Domain is set above you has judged you and set a task of atonement." Gilgamesh inclines his head, "Indeed the Scythe of Argan is in your possession, from the armoury of my keep it came. Your place this day is to tell us what happened" Mateus looks down, and for a moment the Empress has compasion in her eyes. "I understand your plight child, but the law is clear. That you gave bad advice has been noted and your punishment has been handed out. But the law still demands Eben of Emberstrand face the council for what he did... do you have anything else to add child/"

Eben ’s eyes close as he hears Silmeria repeat the story, head tilting downwards in thought of what more he might add on the matter. A small frown would show at her trying to take all the blame, especially when he should have known not to do something so disruptive to such a holy place. Hearing that the spirits won’t push any more punishment upon the Esper causes that frown to lessen slightly despite the situation he is still in himself. The spirits speaking on what more should be added has the Hume glancing back up to Silmeria, eyes opening and listening more keenly.

The worry, well it remains there but Jak's expression shifts a little bit. A look of compasion comes to his features before he exhales and looks over towards Mateus and Gilgamesh, listening to both before he inhales and then lets out a deep, if quiet, sigh.

Silmeria lowers her head, shoulders falling. "...He wished to get the child's attention, as we had descended deeply and worried that he may be lost if something was not done. He acted as mortals do; he wished to solve a problem, in a way that he knew how. There was no malice in this... only ignorance of the world beyond the mortal realm, and desire to help in whatever way he could. If the Law demands he be held for this, then the Law demands. Only, please... if it please You, let that be taken into consideration." The Esper falls silent for a moment, drawing in a deep, quivering breath. "...I... have nothing more to say, Your Honor." A rustle of sound... the sussurus of singing voices and the beam of light above the central chair moves... it sweeps down to wrap Silmeria in golden harmony. A song floods her ears, the soft whispering chorus of hundreds of voices singing in harmonious threnody. The song eases the cares and even the sadness in Silmeria's heart would be eased by the gentle harmony of Alexander. Mateus inclines her head, watching the light. "So be it, the council shall take all that has been said into account... Eben of Emberstand return to the Podium... we shall return anon!" That light glows and spreads, everything in the chamber is absorbed by the light.... gentle swirling colours, that harmonious threnody and the trio find themselves in a cloistered courtyard of nodding bluebells and ivy coated walls. There are silver gates leading out into the gardens around Alexander but here all is peaceful and calm.

The Podium is still there, with Silmeria in it. Stood in the centre of the Garden, now carved from white marble and sourrounded by water. it rises from the centre of a pond covered in lillies a set of stepping stones crossing the water to shore. The public gallery is now a bench. Butterflies flap around the flowers and towering over head the beauty of Alexander can be seen in the distance, its highest spires wreathed in cloud in the endless spring afternoon sunshine of the Gardens.

Eben lets out a more audible, yet still soft sigh at what Silmeria says, whether it’s one more of relief or one of purely nervous habit is difficult to tell. Upon hearing himself being called to the stand once again, Eben begins to move in it’s direction before their scenery changes looking more at ease than the previous times he had moved up to the stand. He comes to an abrupt halt as the light engulfs everything though, one hand moving to shield his eyes even though it doesn’t seem to be too bright. A soft gasp could be heard as he finally takes notice of the new scenery, seemingly more tranquil than the courtroom the group left behind. Nodding and regaining his composure he continues to the stand, giving Silmeria a deep nod and meek smile of thanks.

<<>>

Eben glances back to Silmeria after a moments consideration "So I can go to the Lost City upon my death, or become a fiend and slay those I considered my kin? Seems there is only one destiny I'm allowed." He murmurs softly before turning back to Anromeda as she releases his hand, maybe not realizing that there are more alternatives than what he thought of "We will just have to make what we can of things now, I wouldn't wish to pull Jak to my own fate in turn." He gives the spirit a bow and steps back from her, head turning about towards Jak and Silmeria.

Jak looks over at Silmeria before he murmurs quietly, "decide to bend it? How can he? Hades has made his decision and they are having to scramble to figure out what to do with Eben after this life is over. To me it looks exactly like his destiny has been changed. I'm sorry Miss Silmeria, I can't say I'm happy. The spirits steal his future, just like they stole my parents, priests even, from me." His voice sounds bitter, but it was kept low so the conversation isn't overheard hopefully. Stuffing it all back down again he looks towards Eben, blinking for a moment, before he walks over to the taller young man and nods quietly to him, "we'll figure something out.. now.. if someone could tell us or send us back, please.."

Silmeria shakes her head, sighing quietly at Jak's stubborn refusal to understand. Turning to face the Spirits, she sketches a low curtsy. "My thanks to the Council, Sister, Lady... Though it does not seem as much, I am well aware of the leniency granted, here." Her head rises, a small furrow forming between her eyebrows. "...And... if it's not too much to ask...? Tell Lord Hades I'm working very hard.... and that I wish very much to be worthy of Him again."

Andromeda strolls forward and looks down at Jak, "And what of the hundreds of spirits, now ripped from their final resting place? Scattered to the winds to be collected. Aid Silmeria in rescuing them, and see what you can find. Not all things in life go as they should... Lord Ramuh is waiting without to see you back to your homes" She turns and glides out of the Garden and is gone in a cascade of Starlight. The lights in Eben's hair are still there, clinging to his hair, shimmering gently and Ray smiles. "I know it does not seem perfect, but some things are not easy, some choices we would rather not make. But the law is clear. Hades made his initial judgement and we had no choice but to consider the matter. We have ruled that we cannot over-rule Hades on this count." The rustle of robes announces the approach of Ramuh. "Indeed, we have heard the words spoken and decided that it is Hades' right to rule as he has done so. Now it falls to us to do what we can to help Eben find peace, he is exonerated of his crime for acting with the care of another foremost in his mind." He looks at Jak then glances at the others, "Will you all walk with me back unto the Mortal realm?"

Eben tilts his head down towards Jak without speaking, there not being too much reason for words from him at this point. At the mentioning of going back home he would look back up and then back to the spirits "I think we are all ready at this point." There is a small nod back towards Ray as she speaks again, understanding that for now at least, his destiny is sealed "I will make the best of it, and know not to interfere in spirit matters from here on out." He would remark softly before reaching out a hand to pat at Jak if he were near enough. Ramuh's arrival and question brings a nod but not too much more from him.

Jak does his best not to scowl before Andromeda once more, but he does dip his head, "I am sorry for them and for what has happened. I would like to help her in finding them and helping them of course." He thinks better than to add any 'buts' in there and then looks to Ray quietly before he dips his head to her as well. Giving Eben an apologetic look then he flicks a glance towards silmeria for a moment before turning when Ramuh approaches, dipping his head in an affirmative after a moment.

Silmeria bobs her head, rising to her feet and turning. A brief flicker of hurt passes across her face as Ramuh approaches, but she squares her shoulders and takes a place behind the two men. "As you wish it, Lord Ramuh," she says quietly, keeping pace behind Jak and Eben.

Ramuh smiles gently and holds out his staff. "Then let us to Terra" he smiles at all. "What has passed is over, all errors set forth. Remember fondly all those who have gone, and focus on the future ahead."

Eben seems to be done speaking unless he is spoken to, his eyes seemingly becoming a bit unfocused as he begins to contemplate what to do now. He simply follows along where Jak goes and seemingly doesn't notice the changes to his hair, or his height.

Jak steps in closer to be returned back to their world and he tilts his head towards Ramuh quietly before sighing and looking at Eben, a faint smirk touching his lips, "at least I'll never loose you in a crowd now."

Chapter 6

So after several months of research, training and just generally tracking down the right answers Silmeria and the Priests of the Doomtrain finally tracked down a large concentration of lost spirits. Out on the Sand-Sea in one of the huge, derelict oil processing plants.

Silmeria waits at the docks, knitting bag slung over one shoulder, traveling pack firmly settled in place. Ezekial had been invited during one of their conversations in the Temple District, once the location had been fixed more or less precisely. Kier, asked along for his knowledge of the Sandsea, plied with the offer of any salvage at all to be had aboard the ancient Rozarrian structure. An Esper as used to traveling as she, after all, has little need for much in the way of creature comforts, and he had another mouth to feed besides his own. Vazkor, asked perfunctorily in passing, if it pleased him to accompany the little expedition.

Kier approaches the meeting point as not just himself, but carrying several bag over his shoulder, plodding along with Dust leading the way, looking around every so often. The months have been good to the little one, and his stripes are beginning to fade, a sign that kittenhood is beginning to pass. When Silmeria is seen, the little one forges ahead to hop up close by her and give the eyes that beg for scritches. Then the man stops close by, and drops all four sets of packs he's carrying, sifting through, and then eyes Silmeria's pack, "I will check your gear in a moment. I have procured a waterstone for the deeper deserts."

Ezekial joins the esper and his friend at the docks by calling out a greeting as he arrives. "Hail to the.. uh expedition!" The Helian strolls up while grinning and shoulders a small pack over one shoulder, in which is tucked not only his supplies for the desert trek. He smirks at Kier for a moment and then dips his head towards Silmeria, "you can trust he will make sure your well prepared."

The Docks are busy, byustling with trade and people coming and going and heading in every which direction! The Ester-Sand awaits however and perhaps salvage, monsters, spirits and treasure!"

Silmeria lifts a hand in answer to Ezekial's greeting, stooping to scratch lightly between Dust's ears. There's a heavy clatter as she slips off her pack, as the Gunblade resting in its place beneath it comes to rest on the paving stones. "Of course, sir... There'll be rather a bit that I won't need in there, but, it's for when I travel elsewhere. I've bought extra water, of course, and travel-cakes enough for a week's worth for us all. ...And a bit of dried meat for your friend, of course," she coos, touching her nose to the top of Dust's head before standing. "Time *is* of the essence, though, so I hope you won't find anything amiss?"

Kier just nods once to Silmeria, but as Zeke makes his presence known for a moment he just stares... watching intently, before his face takes a strange cast. Then he returns to digging through the woman's pack. The second of the four that he brought is kicked over to Ezekial, while at the same time EVERYTHING is pulled out of the girl's pack. He rearranges things, adds in some new things, but does not throw anything away. Perhaps the oddest thing he adds looks like a leather sack full of some kind of butter or grease, and a blue crystal that has been shaped like a raindrop. He seems to have added a rather compact tent, the poles part of the frame of the packs he brought, which he attaches her's to, as well as other survival gear. Once done, he stands up, and picks up his own, shouldering it.

Dust on the other hand, purrs softly at the nosed greeting, and a rough little lick is given in reply. But then it's off to Zeke for tail-curling headbutts hello!

Ezekial looks back at Kier and tilts his head a little before he grins and question, "what?" When the pack is kicked over he scoops it up, checks inside, then shoulders that. He gives Dust a quick scritch then scoops him up as he walks the last few feet over while nodding. "Well it all looks good, so lets go ahead and get on our way." He claps Kier on the shoulder and then walks past, "my feet have been itching to get out this city anyways."

"I assume you are quite ready to Leave Miss Silmeria?" A rather officious and short looking gentleman in a dapper blue uniform asks as he walks up. He has a neat hat, epatulets, silver buttons! He sure does look nifty and way out of place. He ignores the others and addresses the Esper. "We have given you the location of the spirits, our divinations suggest at least a hundred of them linger and gather in this place. Good luck and do not return until you are successful. You are dead to the city, dead to the world until you return"

Silmeria turns around smartly, scooping the pack up and resettling it in place. "Of course, Conductor," she says, bowing her head and gesturing behind her. "These gentlemen would like to lend me their aid, if of course it pleases you?" While it's natural to be subservient to *any* of the Spirits, lesser or greater, the easy formality with which Silmeria does so rings oddly, somehow, the mannerisms of a Summoner with decades of experience falling effortlessly from the young woman's lips.

Kier's eyes look at the man in the blue uniform, and his apparent attitude seems to be 'I do not like you' in the same way that a hunting cat ponders attacking something that has entered it's territory. But instead of saying anything, he stands and moves over next to Dust and Zeke, waiting for her to be done. His hand goes onto Zeke's shoulder, and Dust transfers over and goes into the hood of the man's sandcloak, disappearing from view with a nervous little sound. With cat ears and one eye peeking over his shoulder, the three are left ready for their travels. The spare pack is left, but it clearly has Vazkor's school logo on it... so it will either be returned or waiting for him.

Ezekial turns his attention to the man and he gives him a once over. But given the words spoken and the manner in which they are well... disregarded, he frowns a little in thought and glances at Kier before looking back again. He does nod, indicating his agreement in regards to helping Silmeria, but otherwise chooses to remain very quiet.

SCREEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA The shattering, piercing, soul tugging whistle brings all activity on the docks to a screeching halt. People turn and stare and gape at the glistening black and silver train now parked on the wharf..... steam coils from the stack, oozes out from beneath the sleek chasis.... the wheels glistening balefully and beautifully. The carriages windows are dark and a door hisses open automatically as the conductor steps up and turns, "ALl aboard! Next stop Rozaarrian Oil rig 127." People are staring, moving swiftly away from the spirit manifest..... its steam coiling out to surround the party..... their lift is here.

Silmeria blinks sharply as the train's piercing whistle sunders the typicall buzz of Dockside activity, taking an involuntary step back and watching the train pull in, eyes wide. As the Conductor performs his duty, she glances behind her at her companions, wincing visibly and lifting her shoulders in mute apology. "If you'd like to stay behind... I do understand. If not? Thank you, more than I can say." With that, she hurries to the train, ducking inside before the Conductor can wait long enough to be annoyed at the delay.

Kier looks back at Ezekial once more, takes a deep breath, and then closes his eyes, muttering, "This... will be fun? You have strange ideas of pleasurable excitement, Ezekial. Ah well... shall we?" And with that he begins walking towards the train as well, the cat peeking his head out the back of the hood with this 'you coming' look in his young and expectant eyes at the bigger and much more protective tiger.

A shiver of deep cold runs down Zeke's spine and he lets out a whistle before muttering lowly, "this is not something I'd have ever expected." He looks at Silmeria then and blinks before shaking his head and forcing a bit more of a smile, "to be among the living to ride the Train and come back from it? The stories we will be able to tell after this Miss Silmeria. I wouldn't miss out." He turns that brave smile on Kier and it might be noted that it's not entirely reaching his eyes as he nods in responce and starts to follow after with the packs.

The Conductors baton comes around and prods Kier in the chest as he steps inside. "Your Stories of the interior of this train will die with you. Speak of what and who you see and I shall find you." He then smiles, "BUt you may boast about having boarded me and live. Tickets please!" And then he snags something from Kier, from Ezekial, from Dust, etherial squares of something... he regards them and nods and hands each of them a cardboard ticket. "Do not lose these." The door hisses shut and he turns and points at the door, "In you go Silmeria, take a seat all of you we are off!" And indeed... outside there is another SCREECHING scream and the train flahes away from Emberstrand....

Silmeria swallows audibly, nodding her acquiescence to the Conductor and moving towards the indicated berth. Unslinging her pack, she sets it next to her as she sits, her knitting for the moment forgotten, as she carefully avoids looking out the train's window. "I'm *so sorry,*" she whispers to the others, once they come within earshot. "I-I'd hired us on to a caravan! I didn't know..."

Kier looks at his ticket, and Dusts, frowning even more, before he takes them and stashes them under the armored bracer on his right wrist. Looking to the pair, he then just shrugs and sits down across from Silmeria, his pack going between his legs, bow against the wall, and Dust crawling out and into his lap, looking more than a little scared. Looking to Zeke for a long moment as he strokes the small one, he finally just shrugs, "Nothing to be done about this. We will simply remember this as one of many experiences. There will be others." He leaves the seat next to him open, watching Ezekial, and with his schooled features, he almost seems to have a brave face.

Ezekial stiffens for a moment and then inclines his head to the Conductor before murmuring, "then I thank you for this at least." As the essence is taken and the cardboard handed back he too looks at it before slipping it into the waterproofed sleeve of his bandolier close to his heart. Looking at Silmeria as he follows her to a seat the man shakes his head a little bit before murmuring, "we are on the spirit's business.. I think it's... suiting really." He takes a seat facing Kier and smiling faintly at him before nodding to Silmeria, "we'll be fine.."

A tall gentleman in a rather nice shirt and rather fetching trusers leans over the back of Kier's seat and glances at the three. "'Cor, you people are alive aren't ya? We don't get many people like you on the train!" He beams and slides into the seat Kier left open and grins. "Pleasure to meet you all mortals! So you off anyplace fun?" He turns and waves down the passageway, "Hey! Hey come meet the mortals." A smaller figure walks down the path and peeks around at them, small and short and fuzzy and Moomba like.... behind him a bunch of small children all peeking up at the party with wide eyes.

Silmeria starts at the sudden new voice, affecting a strained, nervous smile as the ghost makes himself welcome at their place. Clearing her throat, she bobs her head. "Um... They are, yes... I'm.... well..." She fiddles with the sleeves of her robe, briefly revealing the intricate tattoo on the back of her hand. "....On an errand. They're nice enough to come help me."

Kier grabs both the arms of his seat, and squeezes down to the point that the wood creaks slightly. He doesn't look at the ghost. He stares at Ezekial. Dust covers his head with his tail and makes a small and scared mewling sound as he stays close. A bead of sweat curls along the side of Kier's face as he opens his mouth to say something, but then it closes once more. And he remains just like that... looking half-ready to tear the arms off and go screaming down the hall.

Ezekial leans over and stage whispers to Silmeria, "your /special/.. put it the right way Miss Silmeria." He tries to make light of it all while looking at all the ghost children and the moomba, A quick glance at Kier and Dust before he gulps and then smiles brightly once more, "indeed, indeed... and we're accompanying this fine lady on her errand. Can't let a sweet girl travel all alone in the dangerous world, afterall right?" He waggles his fingers at the children and then looks between his companions briefly.

"Indeed not" A voice murmurs from behind, "It would be quite reprehensible to permit the lady to travel alone. Do you not agree Biggs?" The larger man nods his head and grins, "Oy yeah, tha's fer sure! Still kiddies here dun get to see many living people around here! So this is a fascination!" He nudges Kier, "What's up with cat-hat here?"

"U-um," Silmeria starts, clearing her throat. "I think that maybe it's a bit.... um.... overwhelming...? After all... like you said, sir," she says, nodding at the larger ghost, cheerfully plunked next to Kier. "Living people... don't really get on the train often."

Kier closes his eyes, takes a couple breaths, and then when he opens them he replies, "I am attempting to be very polite." Speaking to or at the man, he continues staring straight ahead, taking slow and even breaths. He can face the terrors of the desert, he can walk among monsters without flinching... and here he is pale, sweating, and the fear is obvious in his eyes.

Ezekial looks over his shoulder sharply and then closes his eyes before he looks back at the large man with a bit of a forced smile, "I think the kitten is feeling the same nerves as the rest of us.. and we do not mean any offense. IT's just.. very ah... ahh interesting to make such aquaintences." He looks towards Silmeria then back at Kier before catching his eyes. "And such /friendly/ people, hmm?"

The big man smiles and nods, "Ah well I am Biggs! This is Captain Bathier and the kids are well the kids! They are with me!" Biggs n ods, "We have been travelling this train for ages! Watching the world flash by, its great." The kinds nod and one of them, a small shy, brown haired girl peeks up at Kier, "Can we pet the kitty?"

Silmeria bobs her head, her smile widening a touch. "H-hi... Um. I'm Silmeria... That's Kier and Dust," she says, nodding to the terrified Sandsea native, "and Ezekial." The Helian is given another nod, and a puzzled frown passes over the Esper's face, as a thought strikes her. "...You all... just... ride the train? Doesn't the Conductor have a stop for you?"

Kier says softly, barely glancing at the child, "He is too scared... he is young like you are... were... still... and he senses you are not of his world." One hand unpeeling from his grip, showing red lines where his strong grip remained. Dust is petted, but the children are stared at by the little one, but another small mewling growl comes back, something more in regards to frightened discomfort.

Ezekial tilts his head towards Kier and then while Silmeria issues her question the man looks at the ghost children then scoots down off of the seat while dropping his pack necks to Silmeria. "He might be too scared, but would you guys like to pet a really big, black kitty? He might look a little bit scary, but he's gentle as a lamb I promise."

The children look crushed and awww when Dust won't come play! Then they perk up at Ezekial, "There is more then one kitty? We've not seen a kitty in years!" Biggs sighs and leans back, "Our stop doesn't exist so we live on the train until one can be found for us. As for my colleague here, he won't rest until he finds..." He stops as the man shakes his head, "That is not their business, it is mine." He glances at Silmeria, "Be wary Esper..... the train is most displeased with someone much like you."

Silmeria's face crumples for a heartbeat, but with a brief clearing of the throat and a drawn-in breath, she shakes her head. "Oh no, sir... not someone *like* me..." Lifting her shoulder, she shakes her head, sitting back in the seat. "...That's why we're here... so I can start fixing it."

Kier continues to stroke Dust to keep him comfortable as Ezekial takes everyone's attention, and the look at both Zeke and Silmeria can see is one that shows marked relief and appreciation, before once more he slips his comfortable stoicism back in place to protect himself.

Ezekial nods and straightens before he moves into the walkway so that there's room, "alright.. then one big kitty coming up." It seems the man can only stay scared for so long. The mooment he started pushing past it the moment it started fading away. The man's form shimmers darkly and then is replaced by a pony sized tiger. Letting out a light rumble before he lays down so that the ghost children can crawl over him and pet him as they like as he gives his companions and their new ethereal friends a quick wink.

The ghost children shriek and squeal and laugh and clam,ber and prod and poke and pull and well giabnt friendly cat covered in children. "You have a most kind friend Miss," The captain says taking Ezekial's seat, "I wish we could offer aid but you have bruoght a bit of happiness to this train, days pass in endless monotony here sadly. But a warm smile and laughter do the world wonders" Biggs pipes up, "Indeed its good to hear the little uns laughing."

Silmeria smiles, nodding. "It is, yes... I'm glad we could do something, already..." Glancing at Kier, then at the oversized feline, she lets loose a sigh. "...And it's nice of you to offer, sirs... but... it's my problem, really. If I got too much help, it wouldn't be much of a trial, would it...?"

Kier taps under Dust's chin a few times, and then he takes a couple more deep breaths, getting his other hand off the chair's arm and stretching the fingers before saying, "And I packed for a long journey too." No humor in his voice or tone, but the words have just the faintest trace of the sarcasm. Just barely.

Ezekial mrrs as he looks at Silmeria, one ear perching in the air before turning eyes to Biggs and Balthier, a quick nod given them before he play bats at a little boy who's started to tug on his ears. Still he endures most of it graciously and even gives a little bit of a purr while the kids have their fun.

An hour passes, the children spend their time laughing and playing and the two adult ghosts just watch warmly until with a screeech the conductor announces tey have arrived at their stop! All off for the Rozzarian Oil Rig."

"That's us," Silmeria says quietly, grabbing hold of her pack and standing. "It was... very generous of you to share your company, sirs. But... we really should hurry. The Conductor is... well. Busy. You've probably seen the limits of his patience..." All but the last, said more to Kier and Ezekial than Balthier and Biggs.

Kier stands up as the stop is declared, getting his things together in rapid order. Somehow managing to juggle a cat, a bow, and a pack until he's fully ready. To the others, it's an apologetic nod, and then he scoops up Ezekial's things for him as well. Finally a comment is made, "He loves children." As if that was it, he then begins making his way towards the door... fast...

Ezekial lifts his head and then he nods and slips out from beneath the children before chainging back, adjusting his clothes and then grabbing his packs. He makes sure that he has his cardboard ticket and then starts to follow after Silm and Kier with a wave back to the kids and the men on the train, "I hope that we were able to brighten your day then.."

The Conductor sees the trio outside quickly, onto a rusty red metal platform surrounding a HUGE tall silo of rusty metal... it still appears to be attached. The air is hot and impossible and in the distance other oil rigs can be seen. Some of them connected by bridges still but this one is completly serateted...

Silmeria shades her eyes as she steps out into the blasting heat and sun of the Sandsea, moving tentatively at first along the catwalk until she can assure herself of its stability. Then, turning to face the train, she bows her head. "Thank you, Conductor. The Doom Train's aid is... very much appreciated."

Kier seems to adjust well enough to the light, and takes several steps out to be clear of the train, making sure his tickets are handled properly before finally saying, "Now comes the easy part. Everything here will only try to kill us. Not talk to us." Giving a one-sided shrug, the other bearing the weight of his pack. Dust hops off, and quickly moves out of view... even his tail gone.

Ezekial slips off of the train as soon as he can and he nods quietly in agreemebt with Silmeria, but for now he remains silent. Once he's off though he murmurs lowly to Kier, "you alright?" There's a slight tilt of then hand then a quick snort as he looks around, "easy.. right.. the Ogir-Yensa is not a very nice place."

The train hisses... and blasts a bolt of hot steam over Kier and Dust, it seems it is rather annoyed at Kier for not being nicer to the children. It hisses a warm farewell to Ezekial however and then chuffs at Silmeria and blasts her with steam too before it vanishes with a chug of engines and it is gone leaving them standing at the rgged edge of an old bridge.... the oil derrick is theirs.... at least sort of! The air is baked dry, the sand below constantly shifts and moves and turns and flows and the sun bakes down on everyone in a way that would melt most people!

Silmeria looses a cry as the steam washes over her turning her face away. It takes her a moment, to be sure she can speak without flying into a tantrum, but finally she straightens, smacking at her robe, jaw tight. "...So," she says, with only a hint of a waver in her voice. "There are a multitude of lost spirits, here... and we need to find them, and send them on their way..."

Kier waves at the steam as it blows by him, rumpling his clothes and his hair, while saying to Zeke, "I am now. Thank you. You seem to be just what I need when I need." Taking some time to straighten it out, there's a sound of digging in the sand to one side where Dust went. "And?" Is the man's only reply, looking to Zeke once more, before adding, "You either do, or you do not. Simple."

Ezekial looks after the train before glancing at Silmeria and Kier. The girl gets a comforting squeeze on the shoulder then before he nods and straightens up, "right.. so a bunch of ghosts are in need of rescuing. Oh this weill be interesting. Umm... so how do we find them again, exactly? Hate to say this, but it's not really my field of expertise and I get the feeling that it's not Kier's either." He looks over at Kier then and smiles for a moment before before he blows out a breath. "First things first. We need to get off of of this one and head over towards the others that ar actually attatched to each other."

The sea swirls and slithers and hisses underneath...the sun is blistering and over hot and from looking about trying to reach another derrck would be suicide on those sands......

Silmeria ducks her head, glancing away as she toes the grating of the catwalk. "I... it's... not really mine ei--" The rest of her confession is cut off, her head snapping up. "....Inside. They're inside." One hand reaches out, pulling a scythe of preternatural sharpness from nowhere, its haft of blackened wood and festooned with dozens of dozens of tiny silver studs. "Come on... we need to find a way inside."

Chapter 7

The top of a large, rusting oil derrick deep in the heart of the SandSea, the eternally flowing sand washing against its rusted bulwark. The party (including Vazkor who was dropped off by Doom Train the night before) are atop the metal walkways that used to connect each oil derrick to the next. This oil derrick is cut off completly from the others but that matters not, their destination is inside. There is a large access hatch in the top of the derrick that can grant passage into the inside, the only trouble is it is about three hundred feet above the level of the walk-way and the party will have to get up there somehow AND cross the 10 foot gap between the walkway and the edge of the oil derrick's rusted walls as the path and ladder that used to lead to the top have long ago rusted into oblivion.

Silmeria paces back and forth over one section of walkway, eyes turned up to the doorway so far above them. Since discovering where the entrance is, the young woman has been visibly restless, frustrated by their inability to progress yet spurred to do *something,* constructive or no. Hence, pacing. And pacing. Finally, she throws up her hands, stoops, and jumps as high as she can. Not nearly enough. Grumbling, she shakes her head, returning to the group, and her pack, digging about inside. "I don't suppose any of you have had an idea? That was my last one..."

Ezekial watches as Silmeria starts to pace back and forth. His head tilting a little bit before he looks up towards the opening in thought. Crouching down then he begins to pull a bit of rope out of his pack before looking around. "I have an idea.. it might work, but it also might end up being dangerous." Standing again and reshouldering the pack he looks around again before walking over to pick up bent and rusted pipe before beginning to tie the rope around the middle. "We throw this up and try to get it hooked into place. Then one of us climbs up to hold the rope for the others."

Vazkor looks up the tower in thought, idly rubbing his chin. He has managed to resign himself to his fate, atleast, after being convinced that he didn't somehow drown in his bathtub and this was the afterlife's idea of a joke, instead just being dragged on another random adventure by supernatural intent. And atleast whatever spirit responsible had the bright idea to dress him sensibly and have him be fully armed. Glancing over at the other two after a moment, Zeke especially, he arches his brow and watches the man get to work with the pipe and rope. And at hearing the idea, he can't help but let out a small, quiet sigh, "I better get rewarded handsomely for this. I left behind a bubbly bath and a fine glass of wine just to be made to climb up some rusty tower." He matter-of-factly comments.

CLANG! The rope is whirled around and tossed up! It snags on something just on the edge of the roof of the oil derrick! It is snagged quite nicely but the metal groans, the dry air of the desert making the rust against rust rubbing and grinding only more pronounced. It is secure but well, best not to send p anyone too large.

Silmeria glances at Vazkor, eyebrows drawing down for a moment... but as Ezekial picks up the rope, her attention is well and truly snagged. Her eyes track the path of the hook, breath caught in anticipation... and she actually looses a short cheer when it snags. "Yes! Wonderful! Thank you! I... oh but that didn't sound very good..." Glancing back and forth between the two men, she draws in a breath, sliding her pack down off her shoulders. "...I suppose I should go first, d'you think?"

Ezekial makes the throw and then winces a little before he sighs. "Well," the man starts before pausing and looking towards Silmeria then Vazkor. Looking down at himself then he considers and looks back towards Silmeria while nodding slightly. "I'm afraid so. We can hold onto the other end of the rope so that if it gives way you don't fall very far. If you can get up there to make it more secure though, that would be the best bet."

Vazkor watches with quiet interest as the make-shift grappling hook soars up, and then actually manages to catch hold. He also however doesn't seem to enjoy that noise though, frowning a bit before he glances at the others. Considering for a moment, he soon answers, "I'd be a gentleman and offer to go first, but I'm afraid I'm fairly large and heavy, despite my good breeding." He grins a bit, "So letting the smallest person go first seems like a good idea, yes."

Silmeria scrambles to the top of the rope, it is a harrowing climb, every time she shifts the metal pipe CLANGS and grates and ruyst drifts down around the esper as she clambers up. In the end however she is able to reach the top and secure the rope personally. Tying it down to something and holding onto it as well to give it a proper anchor atop the oil derrick. Vazkor is next up, climbving steadily, there is still grating and the sound of rust flaking away but he is able to clamber up to the top and join Silmeria without incident. Zeke however is n ot so good, half way up and he slips... turns and ends up tangled in it, dangling upside down by his ankles, swaying back and forth, mere luck that he has managed to catch himself like that! With the way he is swaying back and forth its a miracle he isn't falling down to dive into the sand and suffocating death.

Well pleased with herself for managing such a difficult climb, her spirits are light enough that even helping Vazkor up can't sour her expression. When it's the third member's turn, however... "Ezekial!" Silmeria cries as her companion slips, unconsciously grabbing hold of the rope. "...Just han-- um... don't panic! Grab the rope, we'll pull you up, okay?"

Ezekial lets out a halfcry and turns it into a grunt as he sways back and forth and keeps his grip on the rope as firm as possible with his legs. "Well.. this... isn't really what I had in mind.." A quick glance down (or make that up) towards Silmeria and Vazkor and he blows out a breath before murmuring. "I can try for the rope, but.. I have a sneaking feeling that I will have a good chance of falling. Mind pulling me up? Otherwise we'll get to see if cats really do land on their feet.."

Vazkor is glad he safely made it up there, and is in the process of dusting off flakes of rust from his outfit when Zeke has his mishap. Quickly peering over the edge to see if the younger man is alright, he glances at Silmeria then, and starts pushing up his sleeves in preparation of grabbing the robe and starting to pull poor Zeke up, having a chance to show off some of his somewhat hidden strenght. Calling down in the meantime, "Hang tight, lad. This might get a bit touchy."

Ezekial sways from side to side, back and forth, the rope tugging at his ankle burning into the flesh as the young man sways from side to side back and forth. Slowly rising up toward the top.. it is a slow haul and an exhausting one and at any moment the man could drop and fall away into the sand sea below. Kier is still down on the walk way waiting his turn to climb yp to the roof of the derrick were the entrance to the oil container is. But thanks to the herculean effort of the two on top Ezekial is pulled to safety, albeit with a very swollen ankle he is not going to be able top put much weight on for some time to come. ) [Spoofed By: Silvante]

Silmeria settles back on her rump, letting out a heavy, relieved sigh as Ezekial makes it to the top more or less intact. "He's going to be okay, I think!" she calls over the lip of the derrick, struggling to her feet and tossing the rope back down for the fourth member of their party. "C'mon up!" Turning back to Ezekial and Vazkor, she glances at the swollen ankle, then the mercenary. "...I don't suppose you know how to help with his ankle...?"

Ezekial makes it up and literally collapses for a few moments before he looks between Silmeria and Vazkor before blowing out a breath and nodding. "My thanks.." Glancing to his ankle then he frowns a little bit before shaking his head to Silmeria, "I'll just try to keep weight off of it. Once we're onto firmer ground I can change, just not.. uh here.." He looks down at the platform before taking the rope and tossing the loose end over to Kier so he too can climb up.

Vazkor catches his breath some after helping with pulling the Lycan up, letting go of the rope and briefly studying his hands, before looking at Zeke and commenting with a slight grin, "Loose some weight, lad. You're heavy." And then glancing at Sil next, hmming, "Ice would help, but that is likely in short supply here... Perhaps Kier knows some bush medicine to help. Otherwise, yes, I suggest he keep the weight off it... Probably stay at the back during any trouble, with that gun of his." Nodding over to the tri-barrel in question, before he peeks over the edge again at Kier.

Kier grabs onto the rope and begins to slowly attempt to work his way up along it, until a point where he kicks off to try and get more footing, but ends up slamming into the side and right on his hands. For a moment, you all see him let go, and fall downwards, but then he twists in the air with an ease to do Ezekial justice, and lands in an all-fours crouch on the platform once more. It creaks and resettles, some rust falling off in a shower of red dust, sending some sheltering birds fluttering off with a cry. He stands back up, and checks his hands for permanent harm, looking up and saying, "If I can reach you, I have a water stone."

The roof of the oil derrick creaks and from where Kier is standing the whole thing sways a bit, it really is a rusted menace! It is a miracle it has stood this long! But now the party have an issue, Kier is below and they are all up on top putting extra weight on one small part of the roof.

"We really should get inside as quickly as possible," Silmeria mutters, grabbing on to the railing as the derrick creaks and sways. "Try again, we'll pull you up!" she calls down below, rubbing her chafed hands and taking hold of the rope again.

Ezekial holds his breath and then snorts while muttering, "too bad I'm not so cool.." He looks down then frowns a little bit then. "Guys.. spread out.. try not to concentrate the weight. It's going to collapse if we all are in one spot. And Kier.. tie the rope around your waist. We can try to pull you up while you climb." A quick glance towards Vazkor, "think you can help him with that. Right now I'm not at my best and might cause more problems."

Vazkor shifts his feet apart a bit to keep his balance, as well as distribut his weight some, even as he reaches forward to help Sil with the rope again, taking a tight hold. Peering over the edge at Kier, he shakes his head some, and can't help but look amused. Glancing over at Zeke next, and giving him a smirk, "I'll help... But it figures it's the trained performer and agile hunter that need help climbing a rope, hm?"

It is not easy but Kier is pulled up on top eventually! Safe and sound and covered in a layer of rust, the roof groans and protests at the weight of four people atop it! But Eze has moved up to the hatch so his weight is not with theirs which might be why it isn't shattering into dust and killing them all! It really doesn't like all these people standing on top of it.

Kier motions for the others to move as he stands with his legs as wide as possible where he is, and very slowly undoing the rope, while watching the others at the same time. Once it is free, he walks... very slowly... towards Zeke and the hatchway, moving around the others and trying to step so his weight does not cause a collapse. It's a major relief, that Kier is up with them... but the groaning metal and swaying tower is a Very Bad Sign. Scuttling toward the other side of the walkway, she waits, peering out over the railing at the Sandsea, far below. "...I'll stay here until somebody gets inside," she says, standing as Kier has demonstrated. "It sort of sounds silly for everyone to crowd the hatch, right now..."

Ezekial looks around for a moment and then he looks to the hatch and over the closed rusted entry. Next to the wheel, which he assumes, would open it. After a moment's thought the man mutters lowly, "this could prove to be very silly, but.. someone toss me some lamp oil. Will see if that on the gears will loosen it up a bit.." And while he speaks he tries to see if forcing it will get it to shift at all.

The iron wheel refuses to budge at all, it just groans.

Vazkor keeps his feet shifted apart as well, standing perfectly still and keeping his weight distributed, as well as his balance, the way only a trained fancypants swordfighter could. He does however look over at Zeke as he tries the hatch... And shakes his head a bit as the younger main fails to force it open. He speaks up then, towards Kier, "See if you can help him with that... I'd prefer to get off of here as soon as possible. I'll help if needed, but for now I'd rather not move too much." Glancing towards the wobbling tower underfoot for effect.

Kier moves still slowly to kneel down, and then he slides his pack off his back... and looking towards Zeke, he then removes his bow, and uses the end to push it towards him, scraping the buckles on the metal surface as he then says "You can help by being quiet and listening to to metal. Old metal complains... we need to ensure we do not make it scream. Metal screams like the soulless, and then people die."

The Sun beats down heavily on the rusted metal surface, the walk way around the edge really isn't very tall or secure. Good thing Silmeria isn't leaning on it, it'd be likely to snap like a rotten twig. The derrick can be felt swaying in the hot oven like breeze but it has stood this long it should stand longer. With their weight spread out across the place it certainly has stopped groaning quite as much as before. The hatch is tightly closed, the wheel is rusted, the edges of the door are rusted, its going to take something to open it.

Silmeria tries to peek around the walkway to check on Ezekial's progress, but thinks better of the idea once one of her feet leaves the ground. With a quiet squeak, the slim little woman returns to her position, unslinging her Gunblade, sheath and all. "...Maybe a lever would help...?" Ezekial nods his thanks to Kier and slowly reaches down to get the pack and start feeling around inside for a bottle of oil. He pours about half over the wheel to get that a little bit lubed up and then the other half over the hatch edges to try and help there. He looks over at Silmeria and considers before nodding in agreement, "I think your right actually that would help alot. Here I'll back off and let you give it a try.." He moves back, limping carefully since he can't spread his weight so evenly like the rest.

Vazkor hrms a bit as he watches the proceedings, still standing there, trying to keep his feet still. However, at the mention of a lever, he nods some, and thinks for a quiet moment... Before he ever so slowly reaches a hand down to draw his trademark Cutlass from its sheath. The edge catching the sun in a bright gleam. After that, he ever so slooowly starts shuffling towards the hatch as well, holding the sword out some, "This was crafted by a master smith. The blade should hold up to the stress. Jam it into the wheel and use the grip to try and turn it." He offers, wanting to get the hell off of here already.

Kier settles his bow back on his back, and then begins moving around on the far side from the others, trying to keep the weight distributed evenly while the others work, "Once this is done... this task... will your... Conductor return for us?" Looking back and around at the group as his brow arches, not having remembered if this topic was broached.

"...Probably?" Silmeria shrugs in respnse to Kier's question. "Best to leave the rope where it is, just in case..." Gunblade in hand, she begins to crab-walk forward, but pauses as Vazkor makes his move, looking at his sword, then her six-foot monstrosity in a reinforced leather sheath. "...Here," she says, setting her weapon on the walkway and shoving it toward the mercenary with her foot. "That'll probably work better, and it's not the only weapon I have, if it breaks."

Ezekial shifts back and looks down before he murmurs, "at least we're not about to cause a cave in..." He nods to Silmeria and then Vazkor a little. Without a great deal to add Zeke remains quiet while waiting and tenses up, just incase shifting anything will cause the structure to weaken further.

Vazkor approaches the hatch with his Cutlass... Before looking over as the giant gunblade is pushed over. Grinning some, even in the face of danger, and nodding towards Sil, he re-sheaths his own weapon, before carefully reaching down to heft up the Esper's blade. Briefly testing its weight and balance, mostly out of habit, before he turns towards that hatch... And carefully aims the gun/sword combo to jam it between the wheel's spokes. Taking a quick breath then, and glancing at each of the others, he soon shrugs a bit, and place his hands on the make-shift lever... Starting to push it to try and force the damn hatch open.

Kier remains where he is... watching carefully, and then looks where his pack has been left, and winces softly... his things so close to where all the noise and movement is, murmuring under his breath, "And... after this... we still have the ghosts."

The wheel creaaaaaks and refuses to move, maybe it shifts half an inch then settles back but Vazkor just does not have enough strength behind it. Maybe the rust is really stubborn, maybe he is weary about using his full strength on the unstable roof.... Bracing himself the swashbuckling swordmaster tries again to turn the wheel and open the hatch!

CREAAAAAAAK The wheel creaks.. shifts... turns....... and snaps. The hatch buckles at the centre and collapses into red powder which falls down. A shaft of burning desert sunlight lances through the hole that has been made and something inside SCREAMS. It is no ordinary scream, it is a mixture of tones, octaves and harmonies. Hundreds of voices screaming in impotent rage and anger. The next thing that is happening is the entire roof is collapsing into dust, first holes are slammed into it by an unseen force and then the entire thing collapses, the walls of the derrick shredding and folding outward. Kier moves like a shot, pack abandoned to whatever fate he rides one of the unfolding walls of metal and lands with a graceful hop back on the original walkway three hundred feet below! Silmeria and Ezekial are sadly not fast enough and poor Vazkor right up by the hatch never stood a chance. However their plummets to death are arrested by the fact all three of them are snagged out of mid-air by glistening, spectral tentacles. They fountain out of the depths of the oil-derrick, glistening with a defraction of rainbow light as the sun hits them, ephemeral and yet solid and firmly wrapping up the other three members of the team! They can see, down in the base of the oil derrick, down below the surface of the sand-sea the glowing, pulsating purple/blue mass of ectoplasmic spirit matter..... there must be over a hundred spirits gathered together in a conglomeration of mass and energy and it sounds extremely pissed off. The sun beats down from over-head, the walls of the oil derrick continue to crash and collapse and burst into red dust and the spirits shriek their displeasure to the heavens once again.........

Chapter 8

The party are in dire straights, the spirits have coalesced into a being of great spiritual energy and it is enraged! Shrieking and screaming in its chorus of voices as it waves Vazkor, Ezekial and Silmeria back and forth in its anger, slowly preparing to reel them in. Kier has escaped capture for now, standing on the dangerously rickety walkway that used to surround the oil derrick.

After a few panick-stricken moments of screaming, flailing, and thrashing about in the spectral grip of the mass of furious ghosts, Silmeria calms enough to think. "Stop this *right now,*" she screams down at the ethereal mass fueling this monstrosity. One hand reaches out, pulling from nothingness a black-handled scythe, its haft studded with countless silver bumps. Her hair begins to darken, skin growing whiter, and the embroidery upon the back of her robes changes, becoming true wings... if undersized, and strangely ash-grey in color, her voice taking on a distinctly otherworldly reverberation. "In the name of the Doom Train and of Hades, I implore you to cease your struggles!"

The spectral mass shrieks, voices raising in angry harmony, the tentacle hold Silmeria pauses, stopping in motion, the tentacle no longer struggling.... well that's something at least. Another tentacle however lashes out toward Silmeria fuelled by anger.

Ezekial finds himself... caught.. and the already hurt man looks down before his eyes widen up. He tries to be manly and not scream, really he does... in fact he mostly succeeds other than a whimper that manages to slip out. Clearing his throat then he looks over at Silmeria. "I /really/ hope you've got a idea for how to deal with this," he mutters while starting to try and get himself out of the grasps of the spectral grip, but when she begins to change his eyes widen and he breaths out a soft "by Valefor's breath..." before returning once again to his struggle to free himself.

Ezekial struggles and wriggles and the ephemeral ghostly tendril flexes, squeezes but the wily man is able to slip free of its grip! He then plummets, falling down toward the churning blue/purple mass far below! As he falls it bulges up and breaks his fall! It is wet, and warm and cold at the same time and wraps about the man up to his waist....

Vazkor, having somehow managed to retain his grip on Silmeria's gunblade, flails the giant weapon around with fear-fueled ease as he struggles in the tentacle's grip. The man not so much screaming in fear, as shouting a long string of Rozarrian obescenities that would make an air-pirate blush. Luckily, he seems to have the presence of mind not to directly attack the tentacle however, not wanting to cut it just to plunge into the mass of angry ectoplasm below. Rather just continuing to curse loudly even as he halfway notices Silmeria's change, and possible salvation... Then letting out the most obscene curse of all as Zeke obviously didn't have the same idea, and ends up falling down!

The tentacle keeps a firm hold on Vazkor but his flailing and struggling is stopping others form attacking him, keeping them at bay and it seems the ghosts don't know what to do with him now they have him!

Surfing the piece of falling wreckage down to a stable spot to land, Kier is on all-fours for a moment as he watches his pack fall right through the spectral mass, and into places unknown... and just scowls, and perhaps the oddest thing said in the most vile fashion, "My pillows are in there." His bow remains in his hand and with an arrow ready as he fishes for his own rope... finding it missing. There's a much deeper sigh as he then takes up the weapon, and attempts to shoot arrows into the wall close to the Lycan, so he has grab points to pull himself free of the ectoplasmic muck.

The arrows slam into the wall just above Ezekial's head and about ten feet from where he plunged into the cold/hot alternating ectoplasm. It is so very cold, seeping into his mind whilst it also burns, firing it with images and flashes of insight. Faces, Knowledge, ideas, voices, all speaking at once! The poor boy is going to wind up joining the ectoplasm if he cannot fight off the attack to his mind and struggle free! Vazkor is still held, still holding off the tentacles trying to attasck him, slowly being drawn furether away from Silmeria as she is held rigid and motionless and is under assault by another huge tentacle!

Silmeria breathes a sigh of relief as the tentacle holding her stills... but movement from the side catches her attention. Pausing a moment to glance down at the mass, an idea strikes... And instead of raising the weapon to defend herself against the attacking limb, the Esper attempts perhaps the most audacios dodge ever; the gleaming edge of her scythe drops, in an attempt to sever the tentacle wrapped 'round her waist to allow gravity the chance to carry her free of the incoming attack.

It is not easy to hit the tentacle below her but as she does the blade HUMS with a soft etheral song and the entire tentacle flashes out of existance, five of the silvery studs on the dark handled scythe start to glow a brillaint pearlescent white! Shimmering with rainbow images. Oh and the girl starts to PLUMMET! As the tentacle that was attacking her jerks back and turns and lashes out toward Kier and his bow on the walkway! It is not a happy tentacle beast!

Ezekial lets out something of a scream/cry as he plummets. Yea he /should've/ thought about that one a bit better! He doesn't even realize he's caught until the fire and ice sensations start to rip into his senses. Looking around wild eyed he starts trying to move only to hear the thunks of the arrows and look up to see the shafts piercing the walls. The man shifts his course and pushes through the pain as his world narrows to nothing more than getting out of the ectoplasm and away from the torturous memories which are trying to meld with his. and once there he starts to pull himself out with a low growl only then looking to see how the others have faired so far.

Ezekial is able to pull himself out of the mess which reluctantly falls back but the voices are still calling to him! Still so close by and singing in harmonious splendour! Begging him to join thme, to add to their strength...

Vazkor only takes notice of all the individual drama around him with half his brain. The other half focusing entirely on his own predicament! Having quieted down after the initial shock, his expression is set grimly as he concentrates of getting out of the tentacle's grasp, and away from danger- or atleast more away from it than he is now. Starting to look around to see if he's maybe close enough to the collapsed structure's remaining edges to leap or fall towards one and catch it, after perhaps cutting the tentacle holding him. Still prefering not to fall into the goo below.

Vazkor is indeed safe enough if he is fast enough! The gun blade comes down and slices into the tentacle holding him. As the gun goes off there is a soft "Ahhh" of a sigh, voices whispering and the whole tentacle fades away, dissolving into mist and suddenly another stud on the scythe handle glows with light as Vazkor flings himself through ther air and catches hold of the walkway and flips up onto it as it groans. )

Seeing that Ezekial is still not clear of the ooze just yet, and noting that the thing is harmed by physical weapons... Kier weighs his options for several moments, and then begins to fire more arrows into the space above the Lycan, attempting to build him a path of arrows to pull himself fully free and up where both he and Vazkor are. From in his back pouch there is a panicky hiss and mewl of panick as the sense of the undead makes Dust afraid, tail making the leather occasionally shift where it bang at the edges.

Sadly for Kier his plan to pepper in more shafts ends after the third step as the tentacle that left off attacking SIlmeria lunges forward to attack him! It YAWNS oipen at the end and despite his valiant attempt to dodge the slick liquid splashes around him! Seeming to devour his body whole like a giant snake, the form of Kier and his cat clearly visible inside the tentacle as it starts to withdraw back down toward the central mass....

Plummeting toward the central mass, to the Esper with the Spirit-given scythe, is rather a step up from flailing in its jellylike grip. On the way down, Kier's predicament snags her attention. "Kier! NO!!" she cries, glancing between the tentacle that has taken hold of him, and the centeral stalk near her. Coming to a decision, she lashes out with the scythe, hacking directly into its mass to slow her fall, and hopefully give her enough momentum to swing toward Kier's position.

Silmeria lashes out at the central mass as she plummets toward it but it seems to sense her and it has become aware of just what her scythe is doing. A tentacle leaps out behind Silmeria as she falls, flattens suddenly broad and wide, even as she swings it scoots in beneath her and slams up! Batting her backwards and into one of the remaining walls of the derrick. It creaaaaks and falls backwards, crashing out onto the sand sea with Silmeria lying atop it! The tentacle with Kier in it continues to draw backwards, still a good 200 feet above the central mass and not much higher then where Zeke is dangling from his arrowy perch!

Ezekial looks down for a moment, nearly drawn into it until he hears Silmeria's cry. The man looks up then before squinting as more light suddenly floods the area thanks to the new exit Silmeria was kind enough to create for them! Glaring he grips onto a arrow with one hand and pulls out his gun with the other before he swings it aroud and starts firing off at the stalk holding Kier.. though below where the man and cat are held at so that he does not risk hurting them.

The singing, calling, cajolling voices echoing calling to Ezekial just below have a grip on his mind, his aim wanders all over the place, his shots come nowhere near Kier and the tentacle hoilding him, spranging off the metal walls and almost blasting a hole in Vazkor. It fogs his mind and the goo is creeping up below him.. slowly approaching his body, so close now...... it is preparing to reclaim him into their song if he doesn't get higher or something doesn't distract it soon.

Vazkor only takes a brief moment to catch his breath after managing to pull off that leap and landing safely on the railing. Soon however pushing himself up, and looking around wildly to see what predicament every else is in. Silmeria getting launched, Zeke clinging on for dear life, and most urger, Kier getting swallowed by that damn tentacle! The hunter obviously needing his help most at the moment, the dark skinned Swashbuckler quickly starting to move around the railing to get the closest angle towards the tentacle... And with a mighty throw, hurling Silmeria's gunblade towards it at a horizontal angle, like some makeshift boomerang.

The blade wobbles for a moment.. .spinning.. spinning.. spinning! And slices through the base of the tentacle.... for a moment it still holds Kier and Dust and then the thing evaporates with a shrill shriek of anguish! The gunblade plummets south and is slammed into on both sides by two tentacles that bend it into a mishapen mess! Kier and Dust are then greeted by the same gooey, mess that greeted Zeke when he first fell! The outer layer of the goop slorping and clinging its way up to Kier's stomach!

Landing in the muck and goop, Kier immediately ducks down, almost going to the chin in the stuff, and then leaps right back off with a rabbit's grace, reaching up to snag an jutting out support bar from the failing structure, and using his momentum, he swings around once on one hand, once on two, and then launches himself to land in the safe spot that Silmeria has created, planting it feet. Almost immediately, he reaches back to check the pouch, fingers to the little one's pulse as he fights his balance.

Silmeria's head swims as she's slammed into the rusted steel walls of the derrick... Impacting upon the sand floor a heartbeat later does little more favor for either consciousness or balance. She scrambles to her feet as soon as she can manage, a concerned look thrown to Kier and his little friend. Her starkly white lips compress into a thin line, a lock of black hair falling in front of her eye. "See to our friends," she says, in a voice much like the echo of a mother rocking a child to sleep. "This must end. *Now.*" And with that, she plants a foot on the lip of the chunk of metal, launching herself forward, scythe upraised, into the pool of angry souls below. {You must desire respite from your empty existence,} she calls, her voice rippling unnaturally among the chaos. {YOU SHALL HAVE IT!}

Silmeria SLAMS into the goo, it closes around her, clings to her, drags her deeper toward the dark screaming singing heart of the beast! She reists their screaming voices, perhaps her nature gives her some bonus, the fact everyone else has been distracting the beast with their tasty soul has definatly helped and the power and roar emotion flooding from Kier as he slowly discovers that despite his kitties breathing Dust will not wake up jerks its attention back away from the invasion of the esper.... she sinks into its blue glowing heart....... the voices of the lost souls swirling and singing about her in reproachful recognition! A group of six old ladies, with curled buns and dark sensible dresses stand in reproach and stare down at her, their forms the strongers. "Our rest... our place.... you destroyed it."

Ezekial shakes his head in an attempt to clear it after his first shots go wide. That's when he looks down, nearly drawn to let it take him.. at least until Silm is drawn in. He snaps out of it and looks around while holstering the gun and grabbing hold of the arrow to better balance himself again.

Vazkor, having lost the gunblade, reaches down to unsheath his Cutlass instead, incase another tentacle decides to come after him. Feeling far more comfortable with his own blade, he holds his vigilance, still standing at the railing- the only one so far not to have fallen down into the goo. Looking upon Zeke and Kier with some concern, and the sinking Silmeria- Watching with an odd sort of tense, grim curiousity as she confronts whatever lies below.

Kier hops over several railings, moving over to where Ezekial is, skirting the worst of the damage as he reaches down to help the other man up, grabbing one of his arms by both of his to help steady him, his eyes taking a dire cast as he whispers, "Dust will not wake... I am afraid one of the spirits has taken him... or worse."

{I did,} Silmeria says, her voice mournful, {but this is a false rest... Please. *Please.* I beg of you all... listen to me. Lord Hades has tasked me to guide you back to His arms. The Doom Train waits to carry you to your rightful home.} Pushing against the goop, she presents the scythe, its silver studs gleaming in the ethereal radiance. {Look... Your fellows wait for you to follow them. *Please,* restless souls, release the hold you have upon the world, and return to the place that was meant for you all.}

They hesitate, they swirl and flow and move around Silmeria, many different spirits appearing, fading away, all of them watching her. One of them lifts something out of the swirling mass, a small kitten, Dust.... he mews and stares at Silmeria with large eyes. The elderly lady holding the kitten stroking him, petting him, watching her. "Why should we trust? Why should we believe? Why should we place our fate in the hands of one who has already destroyed what tied us to our place in the world?"

Silmeria's eyes grow wide as the elderly ghost displays Dust, shaking her head and raising her hand. The mark of Hades, glowing darkly against her stark skin. {Do not... but trust in Lord Hades. It is His will that brought me to you, *He* has entrusted me to repair what I have destroyed. If you must sate your revenge, do so... but not upon those who only wished to aid me in Lord Hades' will. Your anger is with me and me alone, and I offer salvation from the wreckage of my deeds... *Please.*}

Ezekial looks up at Kier as he starts to help him up and he accepts it with short lived relief. Looking at the kitten he blinks and then frowns before looking down into the goo. "Wait where'd she go..?" He lets out a lowly muttered curse and starts limping with Kier back to safety, though he pauses and calls (you know in case Silm can hear them, "If you see Dust, please rescue him. It's not yet his time!"

They hesitate and then the Lady holding Dust draws back, "Surity of truth, our faith in you not yet proven.... surity claimed. Find the second gathering, find the second gathering of those you caused. Our companion takes the surity there, spirit wandering, the body lives if left in the care of the Psychopomp.... surity!" And then the lady is gone... the spirtual pool begins to swirl around Silmeria... up on their various perches at the safe points, Vazkor WAY Up on the encircling, precarious metal walkway 300 feet above. Kier and Ezekial have a rather more personal view balanced as they are on the ruined iron of the deriick now folded out across the sandsea. The pool begins to spin faster, the translucent edges drawing back in closer, closer..... the Scythe glows as spirit after spirit touches the blade..... the studs glowing, flickering into life, glowing brilliant. Silmeria slowly emerges from the spinning vortex, hanging in mid air until the last swirling mass of ectoplasmic spirit vansihes with a soft ching into blade and Silmeria's feet hit the ancient stone base of the derrick.... 100 feet below the surface were Kier and Ezekial wait, 400 feet below Vazkor's lofty perch... the pipes that used to pump oil back and forth are long since collapsed and the broken rubble of ancient machinery will lead Silmeria back up to the light... but for now... contentment as the spirits submit and in the distance... the faint whistling of the Doomtrain as it approaches.... the line of smoke from its stack clearly visible to Near the base of the rubble is Kier's pack and a pile of fluffy pillows!

The scythe is returned to its place, once the last soul has disappeared within. Numbly, she walks to Kier's pack, picking it up by its straps, and clambering up out of the wreckage. "....I'm so sorry," she whispers, tears standing out in her eyes as she offers the pack to its owner. "They said... they're holding him hostage, in the next area. They.... didn't trust me enough to release him. He'll be all right, if you leave him with the Train." Her hair begins to lighten, flesh regaining its sun-bronzed complexion, tears standing out in her eyes. "We'll get him back, Kier... I *promise.*"

Ezekial looks at Kier quietly and wraps his arm around his shoulders before he looks towards Silmeria. His lips draw into a frown but he nods slowly and then looks at Kier while muttering in a low voice, "we will get him back." He limps ahead then while down to figure out a way to get out of the abandoned rig.

Vazkor peers down from his perch up ahead... Watching the goo start to swirl and recede, leaving just a stranded Silmeria. And with that, the swashbuckler slowly allows himself to relax, deeming the threat to have passed... Gradually letting the tension in his muscles shift away, and quietly re-sheathing his Cutlass. Not hearing the conversation down below from up there, he instead starts concentrating next on trying to climb down somehow.

Kier all but rips his pack from Silmeria's grasp, and glares at the scythe for a moment, before saying darkly, "You will make good on your word, or I will crawl to the bowels of Hades' realm, defy the Lord of Death himself, and haul you to places so bleak and so forgotten that not even the vultures will remember how to pick your spectral bones. And then... I will make you SUFFER." And with that he moves along over to Ezekial and just says, flipping the switch like it was nothing, "Let me see your leg."

The Doomtrain solves the problem of getting down, it pulls up atop the flowing sand sea and extends bridges laden with steps. One for Vazkor up above lined with plush red carpet connects to the upper portion of the DoomTrain's central silver sleek and beautiful carriage. For the trio down below the stairs are plain and unadorned silver, the door hisses open and the Conductor stands there looking down at Silmeria and co. "I am sorry to keep you waiting so long. But this is a good day, so many lost, two hundred and twelve now restored unto us, more still to be found at the next destination." He bows to Silmeria, "We are pleased and he is pleased and all are pleased." He glances at the three companions, "Come, board and we shall journey onward. There is much to do if all is to be well." He turns to Kier, "I have heard, from the ladies of what transpired, the spirits wandering in rageful anger act not in rational ways. They appologise for actions taken in fear and I have made arrangements, Your companion shall be safe aboard in chambers ringed with life until you recover his being and essence. Mistress Corly has assured me that Mistress Al'Meara shall keep it most safe and content." He then turns to regard Ezekial, "Master Ezekial, a message I do bring, a soul aboard this train does wish to see you as we journey onward to our next destination, they are in compartment C." At the same time as the Conductor is talking to the group below an identical man appears at the doorway to the train and bows to Vazkor, "Welcome back most favoured one, your cabin has been prepared in accordance with our Mistress/Master's wishes. Your nobility in returning to this struggle, to help put right what those you had misfortune to walk with caused has struck the chords of nobility and care that they who are Master of Death doth find most refreshing. A bath has been drawn and a meal unto your liking shall be prepared most readily for your delight you need but only speak its name. Should you wish your companions to join you in your suite please but ring for assistance." He stands to one side and bows Vazkor aboard.

Silmeria blinks sharply, taking a step back in the face of Kier's rage. Her mouth works for a moment, but silently she turns, awaiting the Doom Train. Throughout the Conductor's speech, she holds her peace, eyes distant and unfocused... and the moment that Vazkor is given the effusive proyal treatment, she bites hard on her lower lip, striding into the carriage at a fast walk -- not... *quite* running. One must try one's hardest to retain some measure of dignity, after all.

Ezekial bows his head, overhearing Kier's words. The man's fist balls up, but he doesn't say anything. Neither to rebuke him, agree with him nor comfort Silmeria. He kust continues limping and when the train shows up he quietly turns to the walkway while giving a nod to his friend. "On the train we can bandage it.. the sooner we are on our way the sooner we will get him back." He looks over as Silmeria rushes past and looks down for a moment before sighing and following after, nodding at the mention of someone wanting to see him after a moment's pause.

Vazkor is glad he doesn't have to climb down, as the train extends the courtesy of the carpeted walkway. The man letting out a quiet, relieved sigh, and dusting himself off before walking forward to enter the train. Stopping by the greeter and tilting his head a bit at his words, before he just kinda nods and lightly bows some, "Thank you, good sir. It was my pleasure, I'm sure." He answers politely, but neutrally, before stepping fully inside. Fully intending to see if any of the others want to join him, and offering up his bath for whoever might need it most, if the others happen not to have been given access to one already.

Standing at the edge of entry for a few moments, there's a glare from the desert man up at the Conductor before saying in a clipped tone, "I do not like you." And brusquely enters the train, following after Ezekiel as Dust is retrieved in his opposite hand, the small feline draped over his arm as he sleeps the deepest slumber. Stroking between his ears once, he says in Viera, "I will not let you be taken to your mother's side, little brother. This I swear on the Broken Tree and the Sundered Pact. That which is riven will become whole."

The Doors slide shut behind Kier and the conductor bows, "I am neither for liking nor hating, I merely am, blame not I for this, blame her whose deeds did bring this fate to pass. But also hold in your heart for she who is setting right what must be so. Now I have arranged for life, aboard the train of death, he shall speaketh with you." The conductoir turns and leads Ezekial off toward Cabin C, Silmeria has already vanished into her cabin and upstairs Vazkor is finding out what first class on the DoomTrain means with the most luxurious rooms he has ever probably seen. In the corridor a tall figure steps out of another doorway and stands regarding the Viera. At first glance he seems to be made of greenery, but underneath his limbs are bark, his eyes are hazelnuts and his smile is sad yet also filled with the light of spring. "What was sundered shall be whole my child, what is sundered and what is lost can be restored. Sundered in the mists of time, when voices lost in anguish cried, But Now I come to the aid of one in need as I will always come when called if power permits. Weak as I am, lost in the depths of woodland eternal in this place were life passes into death can I be called and so I come." The tall figure of Exodus steps back into the room beyond, holding the door, "Come child, bring the little one so his life may flow whilst you quest for what is missing." He holds the door and waits for the desert man, speaking in the Viera tongue in turn to him as the DoomTrain steams onward..... a long road ahead, darkness settling over company so strong but light still shines, hope is flickering in embers of flame, the quest will be done.....

Chapter 9

When we last left our heroes of Death they where safely aboard the DoomTrain resting as it journeys onward towards its next destination. The solemn Psychopomp racing onward, ever onward on tracks of etheral spirit energy as it races from destination to destination......

Silmeria has, upon reaching her cabin door, shut it quite firmly, and spent the next while in sullen silence. At least, until the boredom that comes with sulking became too much to bear... thus, now, she has her knitting in her lap yarn wrapped around her shoes to hold while her needles click busily.

Ezekial followed the guide away from the group, limping a little and trying to hide that, and to the private meeting that was set up for him. This on the tail of giving Silmeria and Kier a brief, confused look before he was led away.

Vazkor seems pretty bored as well, despite his ultra luxurious surroundings. Politely accepting whatever comforts are offered him, but really only seeming interested in the fine wine and even finer tobacco. Sitting in a comfortable chair as he puffs the time away, blowing the odd ring of smoke while he silently ponders. Wondering what other adventures are in store for him, and if he'll manage to make it back to Emberstrand in one piece.

After setting Dust at the foot of the great Exodus, Kier kneels and mutters the prayer to the Great Spirit, the prayer that one day the People be forgiven for their sins, and once done, he quietly moves off towards Ezekial... but then watches him go into his private meeting. Exhaling once through his nose, he moves to sit down across from Silmeria, and as she knits... he takes a section of a large tooth or tusk from his pack, and begins to do some polishing on it along the cur portions of the top and bottom, "I was not talking to you. I was talking to them. The ones who took Dust's soul. I apologize if you felt the promise was meant for you. You are their pawn... they do not care for your well-being. Only what suits their needs. And you are more than that. Do not let the whims of creatures who's minds defy our understanding sway your view from what is real, and what is assumed."

There is a polite knock at Silmeria's doorway and an elderly lady pokes her head inside. She has curly white hair and is dressed in black and blue robes. She bobs her head, "May I interupt lady Psychopomp? My Good lord? If you would permit me a moment of your time?" The guide leads Ezekial into a smaller cabin, no bed or table just sofa's on both sides, lounging in one of those chairs is a figure who would be so very familiar to him. The elderly gentleman eyeing Zeke with a stern but approving smile, "Son, glad you could join me, I need your help" Upstairs with Vazkor there is a polite knock at the door followed by the arrival of a tall winged female Aegyl, she frowns at Vazkor as he lounges drinking wine and smoking, "So this is what my son abandoned his race for....fascinating"

"I am," Silmeria says, gently, quietly. "Many, many years, I've known that I was little more than a tool, Kier. It's what I was brought back to be." She falls silent, needles weaving back and forth, breathing slow and even. She starts to speak further on the topic, but the knock on the door snags her attention, the blond Esper's head whipping up, a small smile touching her bronzed features. "Yes, madam? Is there something I can help you with?"

Ezekial freezes in the doorway and stares for a brief moment before he looks back over his shoulder. Chewing on his lip then the man sighs deeply before stepping inside and closing the door firmly. "Father... you know it's one thing to meet with spirits on the train, quite another to.." The man pauses and then sighs and laughs, "nevermind, no need to act cool, right?" He limps over and slumps onto one of the couches with a half smile, as if really unsure of how to act, "I'd ask how you are, but well pretty obvious. What do you need, dad?"

Vazkor blinks at the knock, and then at the voice. Taking a moment to waft away some of this thick smoke obscuring his view, he soon pushes himself up however, and regards the female Aegyl before him. An ever so mild frown wrinkles his brow as he studies her, before he dips forward in a light bow. As always trying to be polite as he speaks up, "Ma'dam?" Quietly realizing afterwards he doesn't know a surname or the like to adress her by. And also thinking that he'd be likely far more freaked out if the ghost of Raziel's home had approached him anywhere but the train.

Kier stands up almost immediately when the form enters the small room and he then shakes his head, "You may speak in peace... I will depart." And moving out of the way, his ivory is put away so that he has his hands free... his nerves and his eyes showing the tension in them almost immediately. The man does not wish to be here, nor to be talking with the departed.

She smiles at Silmeria and moves to take her wool, holding it apart for her, "I am Caroline, I wanted to say sorry for how we acted before, whilst we were outside. We are gentle ladies, you met us before remember? When you helped to guide us to the path of Shale but.... when yuo are disconnected, lost, all is rage and anger, ther world is bright and full of things you cannot have." She looks at Kier and bows her head as he moves to depart, "I am afraid we acted rashly and I cannot appologise enough for what we caused. I can only hope the little ones spirit can be reunited with his form... I am sorry." She lets the upset man depart and frowns after him and sighs. "I am afraid we caused much harm." Ezekial's father frowns at his son, "Find your mother for me, we were together, walking the path, now we are both ripped free and lost, I refuse to get off this train until she is found, find her and bring her back to me so we can depart this cycle of life together as is proper." Upstairs the Aegyl woman inclines her head and moves around the room, examinging everything, "I see you do well for yourself regardless good Master, Vazkor wasn't it? Well do be a dear and carry a message to my wayward son for me. You will deliver it won't you?"

Silmeria watches Kier leave in silence as well, the corners of her lips tugging downward, and once the boy has left she shakes her head. "Don't trouble yourself, good madam," she says quietly, eyes dropping to her knitting. "...Whatever hurts we take on this task, ultimately may be laid at my feet as well. After all... if not for me, none of this would have happened. So... Please, be at ease."

Ezekial had nearly started to recline, but he straightens up and frowns a bit, "mom? Wait she... Ifrit's balls." He spits out the curse and then coughs and looks around, wondering how dangerous it is to curse in a spirit's name/or on their bodypart while riding in another.. Shaking his head and looking back then he nods and frowns, "I'll get her, don't worry over that one. Do you know if she's with the next group we're going after? Or another?"

Vazkor arches his brow every so mildly, before he nods at the dead Aegyl before him, "Vazkor D'Ceferino, at your service. And naturally I would, miss... I would not keep such a meeting as this a secret from him." He answers in that same polite, neutral tone, in the meantime quietly studying her features to see the resemblance between her and Raziel.

Kier walks the length of the train until he can find a spot to sit where there does not seem to be anyone at the moment, and flopping his pack down between his legs, his head slumps a bit, and for a few moments there are bitter tears that well up, and he almost strikes the seat in front of him, arm swinging back and then threatening to hit. Attempting to school his face fails him, and he bites into the leather of his archery bracer to mute the pained howl that comes crawling out of his throat like a wild beast finally escaping.

Caroline smiles softly and shakes her head, "do not be so hard upon yourself my dear, once all is fixed they will forget it as if it never happened. You will be forgiven and once again a welcome visitor in the realm of the dead. I am mostly concerned for your companion Kier he seems so very... fragile, so filled with hurt it is sad to see." Ezekial's father shrugs, "I don't know, all I know is she is lost, find her, bring her home. She could be with this next lot or with whatever is beyond it.... I can't say." The lady turns and nods to Vazkor then and sighs, "Please tell him... I am sorry and hope he can forgive us, we are... too harsh when alive, there are regrets we can only carry with us."

"I'm afraid I don't know him very well," Silmeria replies, pausing her work and closing her eyes for a moment. "...But I do know his kitten... Dust... is everything to him. I don't know why, but I know that much... So... Yes. I worry for him, too. And I regret that I asked him to join us, only to earn this." Leaning back in her seat, she draws in a breath, letting it out slowly. "...I've almost forgotten what it was like to be mortal, ma'am... but... sometimes? I miss it. Not often, but right now? Yes.... I think I do."

Ezekial reaches up a hand to rub the back of his neck and then stands while nodding in responce to the spirit of his father. "I see... I'll look for her, father and I'll find her. Promise. After all what would Lizzy say if she found out her little brother couldn't rescue his own parents?" He tries to make light of it, but there's a seriousness in his eyes. "I'll go and catch up with the others. Hopefully we will arrive soon."

Vazkor hmms quietly at the Aegyl's words, briefly pondering on their exact meaning. Thinking about it though, it wouldn't surprise him if Raziel had a shitty childhood of some sort. Meeting the mother's gaze evenly then, he nods and lightly bows once more, "I will tell him. But I can not guarantee he will accept your words. He can be the difficult sort... But if you think it will bring you some peace, I will try." He straightens himself again, and adds, "I consider it my duty to take care of him as best as I'm able, miss."

Kier gives himself a couple more moments of this, and the straightens himself, and begins schooling his features again, closing his eyes and sitting with his back straight... taking deep breaths as he rests his bow across his knees, pulling them up so that he's in as close to a lotus position as possible. Gulping once, he wipes at his eyes again, and another deep breath, whispering to himself, "No more weakness."

The elderly lady sighs and works the wool so Silmeria can contin ue to knit, "I hope you find the kitten and can bring him peace and find the peace inside yourself My lady... as for forgetting what it is like to be mortal, I think you have not forgotten half as much as you think you have." She turns and looks out the window "Ah we are arriving." In Ezekial's cabin his father nods and pats his boys shoulder, "Good luck boy, you can find her I know you can, bring her back to me." He points to the window "We are stopping, best go get ready." Vazkor's visitor nods her head, "Thank you master D'Ceferino, if you can, bring him back his wings, he misses them so I am sure." She bows and steps out silently as the train beghins to slow.... outside the sun is shining, smoke can be seen rising from the chimneys of white washed cottages clustered around a babbling brook.

Silmeria gathers her things together, carefully stowing them in her bag, the bag in her pack, and standing. "Thank you very much, madam Caroline, for your kind words. Don't worry," she says, drawing in a breath and putting on a smile. "All will be well." With a small curtsy, the Esper exits her cabin, moving to the font of the car to await the others.

Ezekial looks at his father for a long moment and turns thoughtful before he nods and smiles a little bit. Stepping out of the room then he heads down the hall towards where Silmeria waits before dipping his head in a nod to her and then moving beyond to find Kier. "Hey.. we're almost here.. you didn't see anyone did you? Dead relatives?"

Vazkor silently watches Raziel's mother depart, before shaking his head a bit, not looking entirely happy. Glancing out a nearby window then, not even the sight of the tiny village manages to entirely cheer him up, letting out a quiet sigh before going to get his gear in order. Stepping out of his room just as he straps on his sword belt, looking up at whoever is already out in the hallway, and nodding at them, "Well, gentlemen, let us get this show over with."

Kier just silently reaches into his pack for his first aid supplies, and kneels down besides Zeke, taking a balm from his kit, and passing his hands over it a few times. Then that glowing green unguent is rubbed into the sore ankle that the Lycan has, and where ever it touches the pain seems to seep away like a cool breeze over the heat of the injury. To the question, he simply says, "No. All those I call family are..." But he falters, and just starts bandaging the leg with a strip of cloth, "Give this an hour, and you will walk normally."

The Conductor bustles up and bows to you all. "Well we are here, I'll be back when you are done, good luck" he gestures toward the door which hisses open and the steps let you down and out....

Silmeria adjusts her pack, pausing to rest a hand on Kier's shoulder. Squeezing once, she looks to the others, nodding once. "Very well... we have a friend to retrieve." And with that, she turns, stepping down off the train, drawing her scythe from the nothingness that is its home.

Ezekial accepts the treatment and considers before murmuring, "I understand.. though I'm sort of happy you didn't it's.. unnerving. And thank you Kier, I'll try to be easy on it." He looks over his shoulder then sighs before offering Kier a hand up while looking at Silmeria, "one of the lost souls is my mother. I've promised that I'll find her and bring her back. My father won't leave the train until she's with him again." A brief glance is cast towards the Conductor and then with a nod given Vazkor the man quietly departs the train after Silmeria.

Vazkor watches the others interacting with eachother while he busies himself with pulling on some soft leather gloves and flexing his fingers, before speaking up towards Kier, "I'll be surprised if I get paid for my services on this adventure... But I'll gladly fight now just to save your pet." Offering the younger man a brief smile after, before he as well turns to exit the train, his expression turning alert and serious. Putting his game face on.

Kier puts his kit away and stands up, resettling his pack and his bow before arching an eyebrow at Vazkor, the barest hints of annoyed amusement coloring a twitch of his lips, "I would think that being treated to the opulence of the departed would be to your liking. Was it perhaps the phantom wine? The... offerings not to your tastes? Something seems to have soured your appetite." Then once the vehicle comes to a full stop, he is off before anyone can say anything more about it.

The Conductor bows to you all and outside the sun is shining, there is warm fresh grass and about half a mile away the cluster of buildings. A veritable village... bustling and full of life and laughing and people happily going about their day. In a page-pose to you, Thirteen spent a lot of her time waiting for that ruling so she'd know what to do with her plot.

Silmeria's shoulders twitch as Ezekial speaks of his mother, as if they want to slump, but the young Esper refuses to allow it. "We will get her back," she says over her shoulder, eyes serious. "I swear." Turning to regard the village, she frowns faintly, shaking her head. "...But where do we go from here," she murmurs to herself, adjusting the pack on her shoulders and stepping forward, toward the buildings.

Ezekial nods to Silmeria, "we will of course." He looks off for a moment and then glances towards Kier and Vazkor, brow twitching up for a moment at the teasing given. He pauses beside the esper and looks around though, "this.. doesn't exactly look like a haunted place. I suppose it would be best to ask around about strange occurances?" Vazkor quietly snorts a bit at Kier's words, before giving a one-shoulder shrug. As the younger man wanders away, he briefly turns towards Ezekial and Silmeria, and casually comments, "I shouldn't have to defend myself, but take not that I did not ask for the quarters given me, nor did I actually give in to any genuine hedonistic tendencies. So please take up your complaints with Silmeria's father." And then just turns away again, idly resting a hand on his Cutlass' basket hilt as he gazes out across the town.

Kier takes a moment to look around the town, and then sighs once, and looks at the others, "This is the realm of Ezekial and Vazkor... let them talk to the people and feel them out. I would suggest we find a place for something to eat. You have been through much, and it will take it's toll." Looking at both the other men, before motioning Silmeria forwards into the village.

The village is warm and welcome looking down by the river side, no one seems to have noticed the doomtrain but then its good at not nbeing spotted and quickly leaves. You are all alone as a group half a mile across the fields from the outer edge of the village and the cottages within.

Silmeria glances at Ezekial and Vazkor, raising her eyebrows in silent question. "Well... I don't mind, if you don't...? If you would be so kind, sirs? We'll see what sorts of proper food we can locate."

Ezekial starts to nod to Kier while studying the village, "I think.." The man stops and looks at Vazkor suddenly then at Silmeria with a lifted brow. Well given the scythe that seems to appear from no where and the changing. "Huh.." He looks back to the settlement again and comments, "it does seem in all respects to be a normal township. Vazkor, you might be better than I, my mood is not the most friendliest just now. I can.. do my best to help." And with that he starts to head towards the village at a slow pace As for Vaz's other statement, that he doesn't comment on.

Vazkor hmms a bit at the request, and nods to them all, though glancing at Ezekial in particular after a few moments, "I don't think any of us are in the best of moods, lad. I can't say I'm looking forward to the task given by my visitor. But I shall try to charm some answers out of these good folk." He responds, and then starts moving towards the village as well, only pausing an instant to tell Kier and Sil, "Keep your guard... I think we all feel something might not be quite right here."

Kier escorts Silmeria ahead of the others looking back for a moment, but his face is a hard mask at the moment, and part way to the village, he pulls his sandcloak from his large hunter's pouch. Unrolling the deceptively small and sheer cloth, he then wraps it over his frame and covers most of his features, turning the hood up to cast a shadow over his eyes, "So... you are one of them?" he asks the woman. Blunt and simple.

As the party move intoi the village they draw some looks but no one really stops to say hello, a few people wave or shout greetings but otherwise they carry on about their business. In the centre of town is a paved area with a town hall, clock tower and a few shops. A flower shop, a tavern, a restaurant of some kind and what looks like a hotel.

"Not really," Silmeria murmurs, keeping her voice low as they walk toward the town. "...Sometimes Spirits need a mortal to do the things they can't, in the mortal world. Sometimes they have children by mortals, to do that. Sometimes... something about a mortal soul... sings to them, I suppose you could say. They call us Espers, but most of us prefer to do our work without the bother that comes with everyone knowing what you are." Looking up at Kier's hard eyes, she shrugs, her own face resigned and slightly sorrowful. "Lord Hades always told me that He couldn't bear to see someone like me dying so horribly... so... He gave me another life, and a Purpose to go with it," she says, stressing the word so that a simple noun becomes an icon. "And I've failed in that... which is why I'm here..." As they enter the town, she drops the subject, looking from building to building, then pointing at the restaurant. "There... That should be nice."

Ezekial glances at Vazkor before he nods quietly. He watches Kier and Silmeria's backs while they enter the village and then pauses at the occasional wave and shout. Waving back he puts on something of a false smile and starts approaching one of the people. "Hello there friend.. have you a moment or two?"

Vazkor takes a moment to look around the town as they reach the center of it, and idly comments towards Zeke, "Reminds me of the village near my boarding school. Though I'm not welcome anymore there. Let's hope I leave a better impression here, hm?" And after that vaguely enigmatic statement, he follows the other man as he approaches one of the townsfolk. Putting on his own smile, "Good day, sir."

Following along with Silmeria, Kier nods once in reply, before saying quietly, "Do not worry about what you receive for failure. Worry of what happens when you succeed." But to the restaurant he goes and stands slightly behind the girl to let her do the talking... taking the easy role of the imposing bodyguard-type for a frail-seeming mistress.

The person stops, a youing lady in a plane dress and sun-hat, she stops and smiles at Ezekial and Vazkor and bobs them a curtsey, "A good day to you both, how can I be of assistance traveller from other lands?" At the restaurant Silmeria and Kier are greeted by a bubbling moogle! He is happy to have guersts and sees them both to comfortable seats at a table at the window! Sunshine streaming in from outside, the scents of fresh baked food rich and heavy in the air. "What will you have my friends?"

Silmeria smiles, nodding her head in thanks as they're shown to their tables. "Water to start, please... we've come with friends, and thought it'd be best to save them places. But... tell me, sir. The road here was somewhat winding... I'm afraid we missed the name of this village on the way in?" Putting on her brightest expression, she tilts her head to one side. "Only we'd like to get our bearings, once we've eaten."

Ezekial inclines his head lightly and glances towards Vazkor as they approach before looking back to the girl with a bit of a smile while considering quickly about how to broach the topic. "It's a beautiful village you have here, miss," he offers after the brief pause, "though with all the strange things going on in the world lately I wonder how you've all faired against it?"

Vazkor stands next to Zeke, and watches the girl as he smiles at her. Glancing at Zeke as the younger man asks the question then, he nods in affirmation, and adds in a smooth, cheerful tone, "Oh, yes. We've heard of strange events befalling other towns, during our travells. It's made us quite curious. Everything does seem to be fine here, though. Very idealic. You must enjoy living here very much."

Kier simply nods as Silmeria speaks, looking around once more as he then turns slowly... before finally stopping and turning back to the exhuberant moogle and his wares, "What is the name of this village?" And then he with a smile that looks as wan as it does thin he moves to pull out Silmeria's chair for her, then seating himself after.

The Moogle smiles and nods "Of course, this is Echoiz in the Valley of Rethau but then you knew what Valley you were in already" he chuckles and writes down, "Ok one jug of fresh spring water, anything else whilst you wait for your companions? Olives to start or roasted vegetables? Bread?" She tilts her head and smiles at Ezekial and shakes it, "Oh nothing strange bothers us here good sir, we are quite sheltered, the village is secure down here and we are off the larger trade routes" She smiles at Vazkor, "we heard rumours about the world outside with the peddlars but otherwise we are undisturbed."

"Bread, please," Silmeria answers, finding an out-of-the-way place to properly stow her scythe, bobbing her head in thanks to Kier as she sits. "It's a beautiful village, sir... It seems quite peaceful."

"Oh?" Zeke looks over at Vazkor for a few moments before looking back with a smile, "well I'm glad to hear things are so nice and peaceful around here. It has been a strange time beyond your village, that is certain.."

Vazkor nods at the girl, looking thoughtful for a moment, before offering her another bright smile, "Ah, that is good to know then. We shall sleep more easy, knowing nothing untoward is happening. Tell me, though, are there any sights you recommend are worth visiting?"

Kier nods in agreement to the bread, and then asks the moogle, "Are there... any old places close by? Places that the people tell stories of?" Looking to Silmeria a moment, and then back at the Moogle once more.

The Moogle smiles warmly, "Well I am glad you are enjoying it so far, we pride ourselves on our peaxce and I will be right back" he flutters off and is soon back with a basket of fresh bread, warm and crisp and oil and vinegar too. "as for old locations, not really, there is the Hotel" he points at it, "Oldest building in the village" it is indeed a very old stone building, "It is the oldest place for miles." Back outside the young lady adjusts her hat and considers the qeustion, "Well we pride ourselves on living in a peaceful town as for interesting places, there is the Hotel's small museum of people and of course the Well of Echoes, it is five miles to the west of here, a great place of power, but it is sadi a dark spirit has taken up residence there but that is just nonsense."

"Well," Silmeria says, once the Moogle has returned, "we shall have to see this, mh? And thank you *very* much sir, the bread smells delicious." A small loaf is taken and broken open, some small part of the Esper expecting a flood of something truly horrible to erupt from within; angry ghosts, after all, have truly brutal imaginations.

Ezekial's head tilts a little bit and then he brightens, "well sounds like there are certainly a few places we should visit before moving on again. Thank you very much miss, I look forward to seeing the sights." He offers a bright smile before looking at the restaurant then back to Vazkor, "we should likely join the guys or there won't be any food left."

Vazkor bows towards the girl, and playfully tips a nonexistant hat, giving her a pleasant grin, "Thank you very much for your time, miss. And as my friend here says, we'll definately take a look around your beautiful town. Good day to you." And with that, he nods over at Zeke, "Indeed. I admit I'm quite peckish." Giving the girl another small bow then, he starts to head towards the restaurant.

Kier breaks his own loaf, and then sniffs at it once, before getting a distant look in his eyes, and closes them. A part of the hunk is taken under the table and wrapped in a small cloth, then slipped into his back pouch under the cloak. Looking to the moogle, he replies, "Yes. Thank you." His words flipped as he begins taking small bites, eyes travelling over the hotel, tension riding on his shoulders like some mad little jockey.

The sun continues to shine as the other two join their companions in the hotel, it is warm and pleasent, the afternoon passing as a delightful repaste is laid out before them. The food warm and excellently cooked to suit all their tastes as they request them. The wine and other drinks are perfect accompaniments and everything really does seem quite nice, it is just a nice, normal, every day town with nothing weird happening in it.

Chapter 10

Where last I left our intrepid adventurers they were resting in a restaurant in the square of the village Echoiz in the Valley of Rethau somewhere in the tropical equatorial region of the world! The sun is bright, not too hot but warm enough to make the large glass windows at the front of the quaint restaurant be wide open to let in a breeze, the moogle who runs the place has seen to their luncheon and it has been quite delightful! The fountain in the centre of the square is being used by women and young children collecting water and the church bells for the Temple of Alexander can be heard chiming the hour from the far side of the square. White cottages, black slate roofs, the town is really quite quaint.

Silmeria pushes her empty plate away, lacing her fingers together and letting her hands rest on the table. "So," she says, glancing to each of her companions in turn, "unless I'm mistaken, there are two places that seem most likely. The Lady's castle, and this cavern of Echoes. I'm not sure about any of you... but to me the Cavern seems like it would bear fruit. Nobody around here seems terribly troubled... certainly not so much as they would be if a small legion of angry ghosts had settled among them."

Ezekial starts to reach up and whipe his lips clean with his hand before looking around and then reaching for a napkin. "I'm bound to agree.. but if the hotel is local we could visit that and check into things before going to the Echoes place. I agree it's more likely, but no reason to go out of the way only to circle back around."

Vazkor has finished a light meal as well, and is currently enjoying the last of a nice white wine. And while he appears relaxed and content, lounging in his seat in that particular subtly confident way, he is however also silently alert. Letting his golden gaze taking in everything, studying the town's citizenry as they move about their day both inside and out the restaurant. He nods at Silmeria then, and idly murmurs, "The well seems most obvious... Though that doesn't always mean it's the most likely. But I'm entirely comfortable following your lead on this matter. Spirits aren't generally my forte."

Kier finishes up with a small piece of bread, and then moves off from the group and away from the cafe, leaving a couple gil coin on the table before he starts to look up and down the street, pulling his hood back up over his head to obscure his features. Looking back then at the group, his expression is unreadable under that shadow, but his eyes reflect the impatient and veiled irritation the man seems to carry with him.

The party make their way across the village green, past polite villagers who all greet you with a warm and friendly hello. The Hotel is a tall many storied affair with faux tower like protruberances and a red tile roof! There are hanging baskets filled with flowers by the doors and window boxes full of egven more below every window. It is bright and well painted, cheerful and friendly looking, the doors are open and inside you can see a young lady with red hair behind the reception desk.

As the party approaches the hotel, Silmeria pauses for a moment, frowning. "It *is* a lovely old place," she murmurs, shaking her head. "....But I don't think it's what we're looking for. I'd not mind staying here, if I ever find myself out this way again, though..."

Ezekial watches Kier quietly before deciding to hold back and keep him company while they trail after Silmeria and Vazkor. A look is given to the man, just one of understanding, but nothing is said to console him. He looks over the hotel while they approach and a nod is given in responce before he sighs, "you may just be right. There's a museum within though. It can't hurt to have a look, though the more I see the more I'm inclined to believe that there's nothing here to see."

Vazkor idly strolls alongside Silmeria, giving the odd polite nod and charming smile towards whatever villager greets them. As they stop before the hotel however, he switches his focus upon the matter at hand, hmming quietly as he looks up and down the building, and then glances inside. Giving Silmeria a sideways look after, he asks, "Don't get any sort of feeling off this establishment, then?" Before briefly turning to look at Zeke and Kier, "I might still be the only one who believes the least obvious option might be the one we need to explore. This town has a strange air to it, somehow."

"The greater the happiness, often times means the darker the secret kept. Civilized people like to smile when things are wrong, it makes them feel better." Kier replies, almost spitting the words out as he looks the hotel up and down a moment, and then eyes the girl behind the counter before he turns to find his bearings for the cave from the directions given, "It is also daylight... ghosts tend to favor the night, and dark places."

"Well," Silmeria muses, turning to look at Kier, her expression clearly displaying mingled concern and guilt, "perhaps if we sought the well, then returned? If Kier has the right of it, every hour we sit idle is a waste as well as a danger, and I don't want Dust separated from him any longer than can be helped."

The journey out to the Well of Echoes is easy enough, there is a paved pathway along the edge of the shore, running just above the beach, heading out toward a spire of rocks that thrust out into the water. From below the path can be seen to wind up to about halfway toward the pinnacle before it passes under an archway into the interior, a beacon is built on top, quiet at this time of the day but at night it would provide a bright light across the lake.

"All right," Silmeria says as they near their destination, eyes intent on the archway ahead, "let's not linger any longer than we need to... If we find nothing here, then probably I was wrong about something, and we'll find what we're looking for back in the town. Kier... don't worry. We'll have Dust back as soon as we can."

Ezekial looks at Kier quietly and then Silmeria. There's a little sigh when it's decided that they head to the cave instead. Otherwise the man keeps quiet on his thoughts while they make the journey. Upon their arrival he makes a quick examination before noting, "there's a obvious path there, it looks like it gets a bit of traffic." He pauses and looks at Silm before noting finally, "while I hope your not wrong, you did tend to take the look of things on face value. Always be watchful of this or you'll be easily deceived." Releasing the lock on his sidearm then he pushes forward to begin up the path to the cave.

Vazkor just follows after the others. He stated his opinion, and that's really all he could do. He's really just here as hired muscle anyway, when things come down to it. Glancing at Zeke, he nods and shrugs at the man's words, before he as well looks over to study their destination... His fingers ever so briefly brushing across the hilt of one of his swords as if to ensure himself of its presence, and then starting up the path as well.

Kier watches Zeke for several moments, and then reaches up and back to unlimber his bow, then pauses, and instead shifts his hands down and back, drawing out a pair of sharp and slightly curved knives in each hand, flipping them to test their throwing weight, "If there is nothing here, we have done nothing more than confirm... and it will be closer to nightfall. I cannot speak for the summoner, but I have not had a chance to seek any relaxation since we began this trip."

The trip out from the village took close to five hours to walk, the winding stair up to the entrance takes another thirty minutes to walk. Inside is a chamber that flows with magical energy.... A smooth sided chamber within, white walls of smooth stone, a dome..... in the centre of deep, still clear well. It is a very strange yet serene place

"I am no summoner," Silmeria says, perhaps with a touch more force than strictly necessary. "A Spirit heeds a Summoner's call. I am the other way round." A hand trails over the stone of the chamber as she makes a slow circuit, eyes taking in every detail of their environs, and the well in its center. "The town believes that something dark has taken hold of the Well, yes...?"

"There's a rumor floating around the town that a dark spirit has taken up residence here, of course the one that passed this along didn't actually believe it," Zeke responds while looking around the chamber and then turning his attention to Silmeria and the well both. He glances at Kier as well before blowing out a breath and approaching the well to take a look down into it. Silmeria has reconnected.

Ezekial leans forward then stops and blinks before trying to get a better look, "what was..." A quick glance around before looking back down and straightening up, "I think I saw something. Could've just been my imagination.. but... I thought I saw someone looking up at me with a twisted smile."

Vazkor does not bother going near the well... Standing back a ways instead, to give himself the room to react and move incase things go sideways as soon as Zeke looks down the thing! With a hand on the hilt of his Cutlass, ready to quickdraw, he soon arches his brow at the gunslinger's words, before glancing between Silmeria and Kier, "Well, that doesn't sound entirely pleasant... I think you're up, Ghost Hunter." Motioning at the girl.

Kier hmphs softly, watching Zeke and not Silmeria as he moves to one side and then actually settles down where-ever looks comfortable, and reflexively reaches back to stroke Dust's ears... reminding himself he's not there. A deep breath is taken, and he fishes out a piece of ivory, a tooth of some kind, and after settling his knives away, he takes out a small carving tool and proceeds to work at the piece... though he seems no less attentive, mindful of the chamber with Vazkor.

The chamber is unchanged, despite what Ezekial might have seen in the water, everything else seems quiet, just the plain curving white walls and the serene, clear, clean water of the pool.

Though she can neither see nor feel anything like what Ezekial mentioned, Silmeria approaches the pool, a brief flicker of annoyance darting across her features -- though whether at her new nickname, or Kier's studied nonchalance, unclear and perhaps unimportant. Approaching the well, she glances over her shoulder at Ezekial one more time, eyebrow rising in question. "...You're sure?" Shrugging to herself, she turns back reaching out to touch her fingers to the water's surface.

"I'm sure," Zeke responds as he takes another look and then points, "there it is again.... and gone." Muttering lowly the man shakes his head and straightens while looking up at the ceiling of the cavern, "A white face with blue on it sporting a cruel smile.." He looks back over at Silmeria then, too late to stop her from trying to touch the water though his hand does shoot out to try and avoid that, "not a good idea!"

Vazkor is perhaps not very sensitive to the supernatural... More used to corporeal dangers. Pirates, monsters, bandits and the like. So he doesn't really seem to notice anything being wrong himself... However, he does take Ezekial's word for it, and arches his brow some as he eyes the well... And then, as Silmeria reaches out to touch the water, he's quick to draw his blade with a 'shhhhtk', brandishing in preperation for likely danger!

Kier's reaction is distinct and opposite to Vazkor. Instead of moving suddenly or as if reacting to danger, he puts his scrimshaw away and moves to the entrance of the site... but instead of looking in, he starts looking around outside for the moment, eyes intent as he pans left and then right... looking for something.

Outside to Kier's eyes the figure he saw can be seen at the first turn in the path, he turns and waves at him then vanishes around the curve of the hill. Inside the water of the Well ripples... it shimmers and glows for a moment, whatever energies are in it seem to wash over the Esper but as Ezekial's hand grasps her wrist, too late to stop her touching the water but not fast enough to avoid the rush of energy. Ezekial is suddenly just not there any more and Silmeria slams into Kier's back as he stands in the doorway, he goes down face first out on the path with the Esper girl atop him. Two people can be heard laughing, cruel, wicked voices taunting, "Little Dead Girl and her Stooges, came to hunt, little dead girl and her stooges will find nothing more in this place!" They trail off giggling inanely and the water in the poolk turns black and bubbles up... oozing over the edges... washing toward Vazkor.....

"NO!" Silmeria cries, scrabbling off Kier quickly and stumbling to her feet. "Ezekial?! Where are--LOOK OUT!" While she may be the very picture of poise and comfort when shepherding the dead to their rest, when saving a life she's as much an amateur as most, and though she may be slight, she still attempts to tackle Vazkor out of the way of the reaching goo.

Ezekial disappears from within the cave... outside though a familiar tiger reappaears and staggers for a moment at the unexpected shift before he looks down at himself. Green? He's.. green? And after a quick look to his side he sneezes and grumbles.. Green, yup and with pink striped to boot. His next thought are the others though and he starts to run back towards the cave enterance while letting out a familiar roar. Of course, the thought after that will be his things, namely his father's pistol which is now missing.

Vazkor blinks as he watches Zeke disappear, following by Silmeria going flying right past him! The swashbuckler then goes wide eyed as the black, bubbling water reaches out of the well, to oozes out to get him... And the swashbuckler is quick to realize his sword, held out as it is, won't do much good here. Instead, he starts turning to get back outside... Only making it a few steps before Silmeria comes charging back in to attempt to tackle him! Crashing into him, making him let out a loud, grunting, 'Oof!' before he catches her in a strong, one-armed hold, and lifts her up to carry her outside again with him! Hauling ass away from the well.

Narrowed eyes and a stern visage were quickly cast away by being knocked face first into the ground by a flying speaker of the dead. Laying there a moment, he just exhales, and Kier's level of irritation seems to rise just a touch more, and then he lays eyes on a green tiger. With pink stripes. And the only thing he can think to say is, "Yes. Now I believe I am going to strangle the Conductor when I see him... strangle him with that little ribbon he wears his whistle on. And if he screams, I wll feed him his hat." Getting to a standing position, he looks back at the pair and the ooze, and his shoulders sink under his cloak, and he says in Viera, "By the Suffering..."

The ooze is easily evaded and soon enough Vazkor and Silmeria are safely back outside, as soon as everyone is outside the ooze is gone and it is just a pool of water again. Though there is little sign or sight of the tiger's belongings. The sky is clouding over and it is beginning to rain and int he distance the lights of the village can be seen to be coming alight.

"Wha--hey, wait!" The Esper flails uselessly as she's slung over Vazkor's shoulder, freezing as Ezekial lets out his roar. Once all are outside, she wriggles out of the mercenary's grasp, dropping to the ground to catch her breath, eyes going wide at the sight of Ezekial, jaw falling open. Turning back to the Well, the gentle young woman scrapes up a handful of wet gravel, hurling it back the way they'd come. "Green? *Honestly?!*"

Ezekial tilts his head at Kier and chuffs a little bit before he headbutts his hip gently and then looks towards Silmeria and Vazkor. Looking back into the cave he looks around for his things before letting out a rumbled growl and then thumping his butt down on the ground as he lifts a paw, extends one claw, about to write soemthing before he looks at it then sighs and attempts to change back. A success.. of course now he's rather naked and is sporting green hair. "Yea.. green. Since I have nothing I won't remain like this for long. But.. I saw something when I got... whatever happened to me. Anyways I think the answer is back at the inn. I saw an image of us entering inside and got the feeling things would be clearer under moonlight," he mutters while covering himself for modesty sake. Well there's a girl present!

Ezekial adds as an afterthought, "and after this we better find my damned gun."

Vazkor drops the girl back to her feet, then briefly rubs his sore stomach where she crashed into before, grimacing. Looking back into the room with the well then, narrowing his eyes and looking annoyed and suspicious, he takes a few more long steps away from it... And then notices Zeke. Blinking long and hard at the tiger, before speaking up with a voice that's somehow deeper and rougher than what he usually uses, as if ever so briefly showing a glimpse of another personality underneath the usual shine, "What the balls kind of thing is that to do to a man."

Kier immediately removes the tribal sandcloak from his shoulders and covers up Zeke with it, letting the sheer but otherwise weatherproof fabric warm him and guard against the beginning of the rain, "The one with the strange hat dressed in red stole your clothes and your weapon, Ezekial. He will be lucky if he is dead... because otherwise I would take my time with him for this affront. Green is not your color." Straightening himself up, he looks up at the sky, and then to the others, "We will be soaked and cold by the time we arrive... cover up, Silmeria. You are not so hardy as those of us used to living in the weather."

It is dark by the time the party return to Echozia, the town is bright and alight with flame, the sky is cloudy however, the rain is falling and the warm light from the houses, shops and hotel all seem very welcoming after the rather terrifying afternoon they had out at the Well. Thge spirits it seems are playing all sorts of games.

Silmeria casts Kier an impatient look, shaking her head and levering herself to her feet. "Hardier than perhaps you may give me credit for, sir," she says softly, undoing the rope that binds her robe around her waist, and holding it out to Ezekial. "...I'm very, very sorry this is happening to all of you," she says as the party makes their way toward town. "If you'd like, I'll ask the Conductor to grant you all passage home after this. I... I'm growing weary of other people paying for my mistakes, and in such dear coin."

Ezekial accepts the cloak and wraps it around himself, then accepts the rope to use as a belt. Looking like a vagabond now the man looks down at himself then back upto Vazkor while nodding, "nice dye job huh?" As they head back to the inn he pulls Kier asside long enough to murmur, "it's not their fault. All of this. It's infuriating, but we're all in this together now and we all have something at stake. And no I'm not talking about my own vanity." He gives the man a hug before he can be stopped then lets go and jogs to catch up and head for the inn. "I'm not going anywhere Silmeria. We've got a score to settle at this point." He gets the door and steps inside the building.

Vazkor just shakes his head for a moment... Then looks up to eye human Zeke's green hair, "... The color doesn't suit you, though I know a young Bard that might disagree." Shrugging then, he looks between everyone before resheathing his sword and giving one last glance towards the well before getting ready to travel back to town, "I obviously was brought here for a purpose, so even if I wanted to, I'm not about to back out... Though maybe someone could enlighten me to what exactly just happened?" Having not seen anything untoward aside from the bubbling black ooze that came at him just now. "We are contrary beasts. Now I wish to succeed to aggravate those who torment you.", Kier adds as he waits outside for the others to enter the inn, looking up and down the street once more, eyes cold and stern as he says quietly, "Something we are missing..." There are a few people out and about, hurrying along in cloaks, hiding themselves from the rain, those who pass by the group nod warmly and carry on. Inside the red headded woman has been replaced by a very large red bearded man. He smiles, "Greetings travellers! Welcome to Echozia's finest Hotel! How can I help you this evening? Rooms, hot baths?"

"Both would be lovely," Silmeria says with feeling, raking a hand through her hair, "but I'm afraid we've more pressing business before us... You didn't, by any chance, happen to see a man come down the path to the well, before we did? Red stole, funny hat, perhaps carrying a bundle of stolen... well, everything of his?" she asks, gesturing to Ezekial.

"Of course Misstress, a bath for the lady in our best chambers" He gestures toward then stairs then pauses at her question and frowns, "No miss.." he hesitates then shakes his head, "No miss we have no figure like that staying within the town. Now please all of you come, hot baths, food and a good bed for you all."

Ezekial looks around upon entering and then towards the man at the front desk. The man is about to speak before he chuckles at Silmeria's question and reaches up to run a hand through his green hair. "Best pickpocket in the world," he tries to joke and then sobers while nodding to the man in responce. "Thank you though, much appreciated..

Vazkor seems to be somewhat deep in thought, and actually stands at the back of the group while they deal with the hotel's manager, rather than being at the forefront to use his social skills. Instead he tries not to show his suspicion, quietly studying the bearded man before he looks around the hotel's lobby... His hand never straying too far from his sword. The swashbuckler understandably wary of traps and other possible trouble.

Soon enough baths are drawn, bedrooms are shown, clothes are found for Ezekial and after an hour dinner is served in the forward dinnnig room. The rain outside is thinning, the clouds beginning to break up as the meal winds toward its closer. It is warm and cozy and rather nice in the dining room, the food was good, the wine and other beverages on offer top notch, it was really a very good hotel.

Silmeria's cares seem to melt away, as the bath is drawn and enjoyed, the food prepared just right, the drink as sweet as she could want... What could *possibly* be wrong with such a wonderful and welcoming inn to stay at? Best of all, they don't even seem to be asking coin for their efforts, all of which are spectacular. Nothing at all is wrong with the world, and nothing ever will be, ever. Kioshi is idle and might not respond quickly.

It was the bath, that awesomely wonderful bath... And the clothing, so nice and comfortable. As Ezekial joins his friends for a meal the man murmurs, "amazing how fast they found these clothes for me.. and that bath. Man that was /just/ what I needed." He breaks off a bit of bread and nibbles at it idly, mostly full by now, but he's sluggishly lingering over the meal.

Vazkor's tension and suspicions float away in the face of the inn's comfortable pleasures... Even for a man used to pampering, luxuries, and pleasant ministrations such as him, everything at this establishment seems to hit just the right spot! Smiling at the others as he sips his wine during dinner, looking comfortably lazy.

Maybe it's the smile that did it, or maybe something else, but Kier seems more hesitant than the others to enjoy the repast as it comes to him. For a moment he stares off, and looks to the hostel keeper and his wife, and there's an imperceptible nod before he stands up, looking around the group... and Kier proceeds to kick the table over, spilling everything right into Vazkor's lap, "None of this is real. Not the food, not the people, not the whole Suffering village..." And then his voice raises, dark and clear, "COME OUT. NOW! I TIRE OF YOUR GAMES AND DECEPTIONS!"

The inn wavers... the table and all the food on it passes through Vazkor as if it doesn't exist... moonlight streams in from above, shining through the translucent ceiling and he rooms above. It is deep night, hours have gone past since you arrived here but now Kier has broken free the spirits release their weaving. The red bearded Innkeeper and his wife stand there before you all, wavering spiritual images of the once hale and living people you had been seeing. Others can be seen approaching... the villagers, all of them spirits. "Why?" The Innkeeper asks quietly, "Why disturb our place?"

Silmeria blinks sharply as the weaving is dropped, her sense of self snapping back, and she climbs to her feet in righteous rage... which is immediately banked, at the soft, tragic question. Placing a hand on Kier's shoulder, she squeezes it, conveying a silent, desperate thanks, before turning to address the growing crowd. "...Because this *isn't* your place," she says, her voice sad and urgent. "You shouldn't be here... you should be home, now, where you were *trying* to go before the terrible mistake I made ruined *everything.*" Closing her eyes for a moment, she draws in a deep breath, the darkly glowing charcoal-feathered wings stretching into existence behind her, skin paling, hair and eyes darkening. She holds out her hands, and between them materializes the scythe she was made to carry, its silver studs catching the moonlight. "Lord Hades has sent me to remind you... and to tell you all, He still waits for you. Please... all of you. Come *home.* I know you want so badly to be happy again... but this isn't the peace you deserve. You've lived already, you've had heartache and joy and anger and tragedy and bliss... you've *earned* this peace. Please..."

Ezekial finds the spell snapped and he finds himself awakened. Looking at the spirits he starts to open his mouth, but Silmeria regains her temper and beats him to it. Stopping then he takes a breath and then exhales before looking at Kier and murmuring, "owe you one I think." He smiles for a moment before looking back and waiting before he grabs a little bit of hair and pulls it down to check if the color was also a mirage... oh wait clothes!

Vazkor is snapped out of the bewitchment as soon as Kier kicks over the table to spill everything right over him! The man jumping up, startled, sword somehow instantly drawn, even as everything goes right through him, harmlessly. Looking tense for a long moment, ready for a fight, he however blinks and seems to settle down a bit as the spirits and the Esper start to converse... Flicking his fuzzy wolf ears a bit at Silmeria's words, and soon hoping the ghosts accept what's being said.

Kier looks Ezekial up and down a moment, before once more, out comes the sandcloak, "I am beginning to think you enjoy this part." Passing it over as Silmeria touches his shoulder, and there's a slight and imperceptible nod in reply. But as the Esper speaks, he listens, looking around at the villagers, and his lips part before he takes really pause to think on it, "The Viera teach that when we pass from this life, our spirits return to the earth, and as our bodies nurture thr trees we are buried under, our spirits nuture the land itself, that which all life comes from and eventually returns to. But like all life, what goes is born anew. Is it not time for that rebirth to come for all of you? Once you have achieved your proper place?"

The spirits listen, they watch the scythe as it appears and they murmur amongst themselves, a whispering sussurus of voices, they still as Kier speak and several of them regard him, the Moogle, a Bangaa, three viera all nodding their heads, they step forward. The moogle, the restaurantier reaches out a paw. "We stand before the throne and are returned to our Lord Mog to be reborn again as Kupos." He tilts his head and looks up as one of the Viera places a hand on his head, "How do we find our place? The way is barred, we gathered here together, we made for ourselves a place to be, we supprted each other"

Silmeria shakes her head, a look of inexpressible sadness crawling over her face at the Viera's question, and oddly enough, she spends a moment looking into the eyes of the speaker, before answering. "I am the child of Lord Hades," she whispers, "but there are many mysteries, it is only given for the Spirit of the Dead to truly understand. Touch this," she says, holding the scythe out in both hands "and you will be taken to His throne. Whatever answers there are, I promise you I do not know them... but that He will."

Ezekial wraps the cloak around himself with a brief smirk given Kier before he shakes his head a little bit. As Silm speaks he steps forward and lifts a hand, "and if one of you have the spirit kitten of my friend. Please, let us have Dust once again. It's not yet his time to journey before Hades throne." He looks at Silm and then back over his shoulder to Kier before looking back with a little desperation, "please."

Vazkor really doesn't have much to do but stand there and let the others speak to the spirits... Though he slowly relaxes himself, and soon reaches over to slide his sword, all Samurai-like, back into its sheath. Crossing his arms afterwards to give them something to do as he waits to see how things will develope further.

Kier's anger is cut away like wheat to the sickle when Dust's plight is returned to him... and a fresh pain crosses his face as he looks around the crowd a moment, and for a moment reaches down and caresses the thigh he thought he felt the headbutt of a small creature on when he was sitting and eating. His chest rises and falls and he looks at the Viera specifically and says to them in a halting and soft Viera, "He is my brother, the little one. Though we are not of the same clan, we are of the same heart."

The spirits turn to look at Kier, compassion in their eyes then the Bangaa raises his hand, "We do not ave him, the Jesters in the Well do, they have him and some other spirits, A lady tiger, An old human in a black dress, we... we have no wish to confront them but I can tell you their names, speak them, they must manifest and then the rest is up to you." The red bearded inkeeper nods his head in agreement. "Zorn, Thorn, dark spirits, dark and foul and wicked, hidden in the depths of the darkness that is the Path, hiding from facing the throne, facing judgement for their own selfish reasons." He reaches out and lays his hand on the handle of the scythe blade, "We will go back" As he speaks the air is shattered by the terrifying screech of the Doomtrain, the Psychopomp is coming to collect them.... rattling out of the night, its smoke seeming to absorb the ghostly village of Echosia.....

"Thank you," Silmeria says, once the Doom Train's whistle fades. "Then we shall go face them, and take back our friend. Tell the Conductor we hunt the Jesters, and will return them to the train." Wiping her eyes, she turns to face the others, her otherworldly seeming burning darkly. "If they are as dark as these others say, there will be a fierce battle. But they will not be allowed to triumph. *We* will not allow it."

Ezekial exhales heavily and hangs his head a little before tucking his arm back into the cloak before he blows out a breath and looks over towards Kier, "agreed.. we'll get him back and if the clowns refuse to go we will force them to move on to their next life and get Dust back."

Vazkor watches the spirits and the entire town fade out around them... And shakes his head in bemusement. Nodding at Silmeria then, he just simply states, "That's what I was brought here for." And then, after a quick glance to Ezekial and Kier, he quietly turns around to start making that LONG trip back towards the well... Where they should have probably stayed to begin with.

Kier actually unslings his bow and quiver from his back, and settles them on Ezekial for him to use just in case, and then draws the two slightly curved blades hidden on the inside of it off, flipping them in his grip. Perhaps his time around Alba has rubbed off, as the man says with an uncharacteristic grin, "Finally. We get to hurt someone." he adjusts the straps once or twice for Zeke, then looks him up and down once before whispering, "Keep them safe for me." And then he turns as well, walking along side Vazkor, eyes bright with malice.

The spirits are lining up, climbing aboard the Doomtrain, the village is gone, the moon shines down on the damp country side and in the distance the blazing beacon of the Well of Echoes can be seen.... All the studs on Silmeria's scythe are now glowing with a bright silver shjimmer, all but 4... the Jesters, their captives and one poor lost kitten......

Chapter 11

The party are alone, on the moon drenched shore of the lake, where once there was a beautiful village there is now nothing but grass and the lingering, soul wrenching whistle of the Doomtrain as it leaves. The moon is full and beautiful, it catches the blade of Silmeria's scythe and the glowing crystals that line its length, only 5 of them are unlit.... 5 missing souls and the party know, know in their hearts that three of those are being held captive along with the lost soul of Dust. In the distance the tall hill on the lake side can be seen, a five hour trek around the shore of the lake, a baleful orange light glowing from the pinnacle as it waits......

As the train sets off, Silmeria's eyes travel to the scythe, eyes finding the five dimmed silver studs, and frowns. Anger, real anger, is something new to her heart, and she wonders for a moment at how high its flames can rise. "Come," she says, the flesh of her mortal frame turning white, bleached by the strength of her Purpose, tiny charcoal-feathered wings fluttering free of her back. Turning, she beckons the party back toward the cave, jaw clenched, eyes hard. "We have work unfinished, and innocent to rescue."

While the whistle grows distant Ezekial's eyes are focused acrossed the lake. A nod is given to Silmeria as they begin to move around the lake. Partway there though he pauses to hand Silmeria and Kier each back their things while stating, "like this I will be more harm than help. I'll go on all fours even if it will mean I don't talk." The man takes a step and then his form shivers for a moment as man becomes tiger.

Vazkor pauses for a moment as everyone else starts moving with purpose... The man dipping a hand down to drag his ornate, but deadly, damast Cutlass from its sheath... Bringing his other hand forward to balance the back of the blade upon it, letting his eyes stare down the glimmering edge as he holds it infront of his face... Ensuring himself of the weapon's sharpness and mentally preparing himself for the likely battle up ahead. Pulling his hand away then, he twirls the weapon around, and promptly re-sheaths it in that very Samurai-like way of his, seemingly satisfied it will hold up to the task. And with that, he starts moving, trecking after the others, his dark features set in silent contemplation.

The party trek out toward the lake and along the path, curving around it until after five hours they approach the base of the hill. The moon is low in the sky now, the air is quiet and still, baited with anticipation, up the top of that curving path is the entrance to the cavern where their quarry hides.... all they need do now is decide how to approach.

Resettling the bow and quiver on his back, Kier slides the blades back into their hidden sheathes. Once that's done, he past Ezekial on the head a few times before saying... once more... "Green is not your color. Next time, ask them for blue. Or grey... or perhaps a nice dark purple." With that slight but obvious compliment out in the open, he unslings his bow and tests the string. When everything seems to be in order... he continues along the path, moving up next to Vazkor, saying softly, "Let Ezekial and I take the lead... protect the girl."

The party trek out toward the lake and along the path, curving around it until after five hours they approach the base of the hill. The moon is low in the sky now, the air is quiet and still, baited with anticipation, up the top of that curving path is the entrance to the cavern where their quarry hides.... all they need do now is decide how to approach.

"I don't recall if there was another path into the Well," Silmeria says as the hill looms ever larger before them. "but... I've little head for tactics." Her fingers clench around the haft of the scythe, black eyebrows drawing down. "Nor do I know much about the dead we'll face, save that they've powerful magics and little regard for anything. If any of you has a plan... I'm listening."

Ezekial tilts his head uptowards Kier and a quiet snort is heard in responce. As they draw close to their goal the beast starts to slink down, moving closer to the ground. Feline ears swivvel back and forth, listening for sounds beyond those the party is making, before he turns his head towards Kier and rumbles, nodding off to one side of the path before he headbutts Vazkor in the ass towards the other side of it and backs off to remain with Silmeria. He winks at Kier then before tilting his head upto Silmeria.

Vazkor glances sideways at Kier as they walking together, nodding at his comment, and responding simply, "Certainly." He's mostly quiet the rest of the way however, like usual having left his swashbuckly theatrics behind when things got serious, and just focusing on preserving his energy during the long treck. As they finally reach the hill again after those long hours, he stares up at it even as Silmeria speaks, flicking a wolf ear at her before he responds, "We could attempt to find another entrance... But it'll take time and energy, and one must wonder if a ghost is as easily surprised to begin with, hm?" Then, he arches his brow as the Battle Cat headbutts him in the rear... But does as he's directed, moving to the side of the path, "Seems the tiger has a plan?"

Kier pauses to look at Ezekial, and then back to Vazkor, before just nodding and then the young man takes off, swift and silent over the broken terrain towards the right hand side of the cave mouth. Drawing and nocking an arrow, the tip begins to glow a faint blue as he waits for Vazkor to take the other side... but keeps one eye on the cavern mouth, watching for danger.

The cave mouth is 300 yards above ground, the path curves slowly and steadily up around the hill, if the party climb the space at the top is wide enough for two people abreast with the others trailing down the hill. No way to really stand in front of the door or flank it without crossing in front of it first.

Silmeria's eyes track Vazkor, and Kier, as they head down the road in front of her, then down to the green tiger at her side. Letting out a soft breath, she rests a hand on Ezekial's neck, and looks back up to the cave mouth. "Let us end this," she murmurs, and strides toward the open cave mouth, dark eyes blazing, the butt of her scythe thumping along the worn cobbles. "XORN! THORN!" she calls once she reaches the entrance, voice ringing with the dismay and disappointment and anger of a family spurned by one of its own. "ENOUGH!!"

Once they've made it up the hill to the cave enterance Zeke hunches down lower. Waiting for his friends to get lined up. The large feline shifts a little in spot, hunching down like a smaller version preparing to pounce while his back end moves a little while he's getting his footing for a charge. A charge cut off quite swiftly as Silmeria moves forward and calls out the clowns leaving the tiger with a comedic 'huh' look complete with one ear flopped over and the other standing up straight.

Vazkor is, evidently, ready for a fight, as he actually draws BOTH his swords this time... Cutlass in one hand, Rapier in the other. And with that, he moves swiftly, jogging up that path after Kier, and then quickly hopping past the entrance to get to the opposite side, trying to minimize the time he can be seen. He glances over at Kier, and nods firmly... Before his attention is grabbed by Silmeria's angered call. Briefly looking her way, but quickly enough focusing on the entrance once more, getting ready. Eyes flick to Vazkor, and then over to Ezekial as he motions with his head towards the inside of the cave... and rounding on it, Kier aims his bow down and into the cavern proper, covering the movements of the others from one side. Now his focus is on the insides, alert, silent and attentive, body as taut as the bow he wields.

A giggle, a rather ominous giggle from inside, for a moment Kier has a glimpse of the two jesters and then the doorway fills with hazy light and their voices sing out to you "Come inside and let us dance, the ball begins so let us dance! You do not wish to be late, an entrance so grand to make! Come inside and let us dance!"

Silmeria raises her scythe, and brings it down with a ringing *crack* against the cobbles of the open path. "Lord Hades is unhappy with you, jesters. He is *furious* that you would hold hostage the souls of the dead who wish nothing more than His peace. *I* am furious beyond *measure,* that you'd make a *game of this.*" Stepping away from the cave entrance, she looks to each of her companions in turn, a thin, brittle smile on her face as she bows, one arm sweeping towards the cavern within. "Let us dance, my friends."

Ezekial never was much of a dancer. Always prone to rushing in and stumbling over things. True to his nature he takes the invitation Silmeria makes to do just that. The beast lets out a deep roar before he charges forward. Past the esper and into the cave as he quickly sweeps his head around, looking for the clown while the charge carries him forward.

Vazkor lets a slow grin spread on his face at Silmeria's words... Looking over as she bows to them, and responding by raising his Cutlass to her in a classic warrior's greeting, followed by a call out in his native tongue, "Vamo' alla Flamenco!" Some mirth coming back in his voice, letting himself be filled with the thrill of impending battle. As the tiger goes charging past then, he looks after him, before sweeping his sword to indicate Kier to go in after, remembering their earlier plan, "Let's get your friend back, lad, and show them what's what." Planning to follow after the other man. The Lad comment makes Kier's brow arch a moment, but then he rolls his eyes back into the fray, and he begins moving forwards quietly, moving slightly so he can cover the pair going forwards. There's nothing of the threats, or the bluster, or the calls of glory. He just remains silent and stoic, the glow of his arrowhead brighter now as mana gathers for use. The line of his lips are thin, and his eyes say it all. Now that he has his prey, he is not going to stop.

As the group step through the white curtain there is a momentary glance... something... the cavern and then everything is dark.... softly the pluck of stringed instruments can be heard and a rippling of magic washes over everyone.... everything twists and changes and flickers. There is a clanking of gears.... great heavy drapes start to rise up into the air, lights bloom into existance and the orchestra in the pit below the stage burst into triumphant introduction! Silmeria is dressed in a flowing gown of beautiful silk and velvet, stood atop a high pedestal..... curled at her feet is the sleek green form of Ezekial, wearing a very fetching bow around his neck. Vazkor is stood at one end of the stage, dressed in a snappy blue and black uniform, swords at his waist, beautiful and handsome in a rugged, elder man sort of style. Something about his make up gives him a stern apperance, the lights capture in his hair tied back in a beautiful pony tail with a broad onyx crown perched atop his head. On the opposite side of the stage is the younger Kier, his uniform is beautiful but more debonair, he has a stylish cloak and broad shoulderpads, his bow is gone, a thrumming ancestral sword at his side, he is handsome in a way that will make every lady swoon, he is the picture perfect prince! The musical introduction continues to play as the lights rise.... the first act is beginning and the audience.... two jesters, one cat, one Lycanthrope, one old lady in black and a very frail looking man with dark tear filled eyes.

Silmeria blinks away the motes of light still dancing in front of her eyes, very nearly jumping out of her skin as she notes her... rather drastic change in dress. A moment is taken to take stock of their predicament, a brief look and minute shake of her head thrown Kier's way. As the piano begins to swell, she takes a deep, slow breath, and emerges from between the pillars, unclasping her hands and throwing them wide. //O, my Hero,/My beloved,/Shall we still be made to part?/The promises of perennial love/Yet sing, here in my heart...//

From behind Silmeria a large beast emerges, slowly pushing himself up and padding alongside her. The bow is entirely ignored, as if he's used to wearing such things, while a shoulder leans up gently against the girl. His head lifts to her singing and a rumbling purr escapes the giant feline, but nothing loud to interupt her singing as the orchestra plays on.

Vazkor stands silently, fully absorbed in his role, King Ralses awaiting his turn, looking every bit as stern as his make-up suggests him to be. And then, as his singing part finally arrives, he smoothly draws his sword and points it at the foppish looking Kier, motioning theatrically with his remaining hand as he starts in a deep voice, "Insolent rogue! Knave of the Western horde! Would you adress my Queen to be, Maria?" Glaring down at the Prince as he does so.

Not seeming to realize for a moment it's his turn, Kier is too seemingly absorbed in the fact that he's in a cape, armor that's about as functional as a sack of hammers when you need a nail, and with hair so coifed it could hold weapons on it's own. Silmeria's look is met, and his own returns back with the intimation of 'Me?!'. A hard line curls in his line, and then she gets another glare, but the other two might notice there's this slight flush in his cheeks. So... he steps forwards, the cape FLARING with his movements, and the sword making a *SHING* sound as it's drawn, totally inappropriate for a real weapon. Pointing it level with 'Ralse', 'Draco gives 'Maria' another pleading look... but the resignation is there. As much as he would rather drop the sword and deck Vazkor... instead...

The young man opens his mouth, and there is a lovely, gorgeous tenor that comes from it as he replies in song, /You shall never have Maria's Hand!/I would Die before that day comes!/

The music shifts, the words are uttered, King Ralses declaiming the duel! The swords swing, the two dance, one of them moving as the spell commands, the other doing his part, following his instructions as he reluctantly takes his part in this farce of an opera until the fatal moment when Kier looses himself to the music, his sword siwngs, the music flutters, Vazkor is disarmed, the sudden jolt giving the other man a shock out of the haze of strangeness that is this opera. The music slows as Draco stands triumphant.....

Silmeria's hands fly to her mouth as the duel nears its completion, mind whirling behind the facade of terrified concern. Her eyes, briefly, seek the audience, and the jesters within, mouth tightening behind her hands. As Vazkor lands hard at the foot of the steps, she senses the shift in its hold, and seeks to meet his eyes, desperately willing him to play along, regardless.

As the duel progresses onwards the tiger steps in between his lady and the fighting men. Warning growls issued any time they get close to her during their fight and a threatening paw lifted as if to warn 'hurt her and you shall pay'. As Vazkor/Ralses looses his weapon and it becomes clear that Kier/Draco is the victor Ezekial lets out a roar of approval and steps out of the way so that the two can come together in their finale.

Vazkor, as the King, fights desperately against his younger foe! His lips curled back in a sneer as swords flash, clanging together and swooshing through the air with that over-the-top noise befitting any Opera. But obviously, he's no match for the Prince! As soon, his sword is harshly knocked out of his hands, and then man takes a fall down those stairs, coming to a rolling halt at the bottom... And it's all this that finally jolts him out of the spell! Once more having become Vazkor, and looking around himself with confusion... Only to find Kier standing above him, sword in hand. Having no time to see what's really going on, he instead works entirely on instinct... Jumping back up in a flash, his true swordfighting skills re-asserting himself as he hooks his foot below the fallen blade and kicks it right back up! Catching it straight out of the air, and promptly using it to ram Kier's blade out of the way... Followed by his free hand coming in towards the man's face as a rather solid fist.

What comes next out of Kier's mouth is a surprise, even to him, as the hero's laugh emerges, and his eyes glass over into the role. It's lightens his features and they shift as the young hunter goes away and Prince Draco emerges in full. All this happens just in time to see the shift in character and stance by Vazkor. Since he's now a stage fighter and not a real fighter, he flourishes his cape in a spinning sweep, doing at least six unnecessary things as he parries the ramming strike away from him, and then catches the other blow in his fist. The character of Draco is unfazed by all of this, and proceeds with a good kick to knock him all the way to the bottom of the stairs. Sauntering down then, he flips the sword in his grip, raises it high as he straddles his foe, and calls out in song to his beloved Maria, /Maria! Maria! Return to Me!/ Not even breaking stride this whole time.

As the sword sinks into Vazkor's chest there is a screeeech of strings a PLONK as the piano crashes and the stage shudders and heaves as someone screams in the audience and there is a soft "Mewl" of sadness that echoes into the silence! Draco, the prince of Princes, the Gentle, the kind has speared King Ralses to the floor! The stage buckles... the wood groans, the orchestra scream in terro as a tentacled beast rears up out of the floor, a single thick tentacle sweeping across the stage and everything dissolves into white...... another burst of powerful magic and the giggling laughter of the jesters followed by their voices as the four friends float together in the light, Vazkor is uninjured....the costumes are gone and everyone is themselves once more,

"You came to dance with us! Oh how you came and played your parts, you fell into our little game so we raise our glasses, raises a cheer! A new scene forms.... let the music play!"

Chapter 12

Where last we left our heroes they were trapped in the musical nightmare of the Dream Oath Opera! The whitelight has returned, surrounding them all as they failed to play out the opera to its conclusion! They have a moment to see each other in the white light before it all fades away again and they are stood at the top of a huge mountain, their feet strapped into pieces of wood that are starting to slide over thwe snow and down the mountain side. They are all dressed in very outlandish clothing.

Silmeria shakes her head, looking about with wide eyes as the white starts to fade... and shivers, hugging her arms to her chest at the sudden blast of frigid air... and pauses, blinking down at herself as she realizes that she shouldn't *quite be as cold as she is. Gloves, a tank top, suspenders, shorts, and boots, clearly not proper cold-weather gear. "...Wait... what is--ACK!" And the board strapped to her feet starts to slip, causing the blond to flail her arms, spine arching backwards in a failed effort to keep her balance. "WHAT IS THIS?!"

Ezekial winces at the sudden burst of lighit and then looks down at himself, up and then down once again. His cape billows out behind him thanks to the wind up the mountainside. Before he can entirely process just what happened he realizes the board he's strapped to is moving. Quickly the man spreads his arms, the left, clawlike one ahead of him and the other behind, in an effort to keep his balance. He lets out a bit of a grunt as the board slides down the slope and begins pick up speed. "Don't know, but don't fall.. I don't think you'd enjoy the outcome in /that/ outfit," he calls while doing all he can to keep from falling over and doing serious bodily harm to himself as well.

Another bright light... another change... and suddenly there is the stinging of snow in Kier's eyes. Wiping it away as his other hand reflexively shoots out to stabilize himself as the scarf around his neck whips in the wind of his movements. Dressed a bit more utilitarian than the others, the blue denim jacket flutters behind him, and the goggle press hard on his forehead as he looks around for several moments... and then grumbles. But the goggle have a nicely secondary use, as he brings them down to cover his own eyes, wavering back and forth before settling into a lower stance on the board, one hand forwards, the other back, "Let me guess... this is... supposed to be someone's idea of fun."

Vazkor blinks hard at the light like everyone else, before he looks around himself confusedly... Noting the surrounding snow, and feeling the sudden chill of the wind... On his bare arms? Looking down, he blinks again at his outfit. Somekind of blue, almost para-military sleeveless outfit, with heavy combat boots (secured in that strange board), armored gloves, a brown leather harness, and a chunky metal pauldron on one shoulder covered in studs. Also noting the same breeze ruffling his hair, he gets the sense that it's somehow become more spiky... But before he can raise a gloved hand to feel it, the board he's on starts to slide down! His arms instinctively snapping out in an attempt to keep his balance, "This looks awfully familiar to a sport I've seen some nobles do back home! But never on a single board like this!" He calls out in response to the questioning remarks and cries around him.

Through some fluke of good luck everyone manages to stay upright as your boards race across the clear snow! Zipping down the side of the mountaiside! Speeding up faster and faster as the mountain incline slopes down and you race faster down the hill toward the snow covered valley far below! It is not easy to stay on these things, Vazkor appears to have the skill and ability to move as he wishes and Silmeria has a bit of control but Kier and Ezekial are just zipping down the mountain uncontrolled in a straight line! At least they can talk to each other this time and try to work out what is going on and what they have to do! And maybe inform Vazkor what weent wrong last time!" "WHO THINKS THIS IS FUN?!" Silmeria shrieks in response to Kier's quip, threatening to overbalance every time she skews in one direction or another. "Honestly, how are we supposed to stop these things?!" A thought strikes her, and her expression goes from panicked to infuriated in an eyeblink. "...When we find those jesters, I don't *care* whether or not it'd get me into trouble, I think I want to hurt them."

Ezekial's arms flail every now and again before he calls back, "Actually.. Vazkor looks like he's having a whole lot of fun. Look at him go.." He was entirely in the spell of the play lasttime though so is in no position to tell Vazkor what went wrong. Kier is given a look then himself before he looks ahead at poor Silmeria. "At least this time I look cool.. But the mountain's got to level out.. Let's try to stay upright.. maybe then we can figure out where those jesters have gone and lay some-" the man stops midsentence before tilting his head, "wait.. weren't we in a cave?"

Unable to move, strapped to a board that is rocketting down a hill at speeds that will do harm to him if he stops in the wrong way, Kier's teeth grit and he supplies no response to any of the questions proffered, nor does he comment on Silmeria's slight change of heart regarding her targets. Instead, he focuses on keeping his balance and trying to figure out what he's supposed to be doing.

Vazkor seems to be pretty much a natural at this activity... And a part of him does indeed enjoy it! Though he manages to keep his expression serious enough, hearing the complaints around him. After a short bit, he even manages to figure out how to break on one of these things, doing so briefly before setting out after the others again, ever so smoothly steering close. For a moment, he opens his mouth to tell them the trick of it, but seeing how everyone else is faring, decides for the moment it might be safer to let them hit flatter ground first, "Those clowns sure do have an imagination... Wonder what's at the end of this slope." Is all he calls out, instead.

The hill dips, flattening out for like two dozen yards and then drops away again zipping between high bulwarks of snow and then ahead of them is a cavern, the walls crystal and jutting up out of the floor are large constructs of crystal! Silmeria's rage seems to be driving her onward and she sees the crystals with enough time to skim around them. Kier and Ezekial follow suit, rocketing around the crystal outcroppings... zipping ahead with speed! Vazkor in the lead sees them too but he turns the wrong way and slams head on into one of them pitching himself onto his side to slide along and stop, the others vanishing ahead and out of the cave into the daylight!

"This is probably the same as the village," Silmeria calls over her shoulder, leaning to one side to pass a particularly painful-looking obstruction. "We just have to be ready fo--Vazkor!!" She turns, or attempts to, as Vazkor slams into the outcropping, and spends a panicked few moments attempting to get herself pointed back downhill. "Is Vazkor okay?! Can anyone see him?"

Ezekial's eyes widen a bit and he swivels his hips and skims right past the crystal. "HAH!" He shouts and pumps a fist before nearly losing his balance. He weaves back and forth before straightening and looking around, "Everyone alr-erm... we're missing Vazkor." He looks back towards the cave then and tries to see if he can't turn around as well.. though since he's barelly maintaining anyways this probably isn't the best of ideas. "No we took the turn too fast."

Kier snaps out to the others, "Eyes to the front!" Not looking for Vazkor despite everyone else's wonderings, Kier continues to focus on his efforts of navigating the course and keeping himself stable. Getting a bit lower on the board he spreads his arms out a bit more, shifting his own ride back and forth, attempting to learn how to steer himself better, "This is their pleasure... death would not suit their mood... we will see him again." His voice carrying an almost dread certainty.

Vazkor apparently went retarded for a moment... As despite seeing the crystals coming from a mile away, he somehow steers himself right into one! The man going wide eyed just a moment before he slams heavilly into a big honkin' chunk of crystal, his body connecting with a solid thud, before he continued momentum causing him to spin past, falling over and slide through the cold snow for about a dozen yards. He ends up laying there then for a few long moments, at first silent, then quietly groaning, and finally groaning louder as he starts to push himself up again. Briefly raising a hand to inspect some wetness dripping from his nose, and coming away with blood on his fingers. Muttering to himself, he looks around to see where the others went... And not finding them, he starts raising up to stand on his board again, and pick up speed once more to try and follow them through the cave.

Vazkor picks himself up and after a slow start weaving through the crystal cave he shoots back out into the sunlight, starting to pick up speed, he's gotten himself going agian. Kier, Ezekial and Silmeria leap over a mound of snow! A mightly leap and then down again across a flat space that curves around to the right! Silmeria wobbles as she comes over the leap and manages to turn sideways landing with a thump and a WASH of snow as she grinds herslef to a halt and falls over into the snow! The cold soaking into her body as Ezekial shoots past her and down a huge incline.... Kier comnes over the slope just behind her, spinning, twirling, he must have seen Silmeria go down as he passes over her head upside down and his hands lash out to snatch Silmeria out of the snow before he lands back on his board, knees bending to absorb the shock and shoots down the hill after Ezekial. It is straight, and clear, the sun is dazzling, the snow is bright and white, the slope racing all the way down until the course just ends.... jutting out into empty space the course just stops and at the speed they are going they have two choices, stop or let their boards carry them off the ends and into the snow choked valley below!

"Whoof!" The tumble was bruising, chilling, and snow is now lodged in *so many places* it has no right to be... but Kier's quick thinking and quicker reactions have her upright, if breathless, and continuing forward. "Thank you, Kier," she croaks, breath shuddery against the cold. The straightaway looms before them, and she bites her lower lip. "...Does anyone else think it's a bad idea to stop now...?"

Chapter 13

"Uh... uh... oh shit.. guys?!" Zeke, being ahead of both Silm and Kier is the first to see the drop off. The major problem is, however, he hasn't really got good control over the snowboard. He ponders for the brief moment he has and then closes his eyes, "this isn't going to be good.." However he hunches down and braces himself for the flight that's going to come and for the hopefully safe landing he pray's that he'll execute and is pretty sure he is gonna die from.

Whatever else could be said gets left unspoken by Kier as he just looses a long and aggrieved sigh. Eyes flicking around to see where they are and how much farther there is to down, he then hunkers down a bit more on the board, trying to spread his weight with his knees and change his center of gravity. His mouth turns into a thin pale line as the wind whips over his scant attire, but his eyes remain slits focused on the goal... save for a brief look to Silmeria as he remains as close as possible to her during all of this.

Vazkor wiggles his snowboard a bit to pick up speed again as he slides out of the cave far behind everyone else... Squinting at the sun a bit, and wiping his bloody nose, before he stares out across the snowy fields ahead, trying to pick out the shapes of his companions, and even soon shooting out, "Hello?" And even though he wants to catch up, he's sort of wary of going too fast right now, considering his earlier crash, and just tries to keep his speed nice and steady.

Ezekial shoots off the edge of the mountain... downbelow are lakes of ice... a mighty fir tree and glittering in the far distance a massive glacier surmounted by a sparkling aura of coruscating light! SIlmeria and Kier follow him off the edge of the glacier and arch into the slow, graceful fall toward the snow plains FAR... far below! it's a long way to fall! Vazkor manages to pick up speed and control! Racing along, he can see the trails his three friends left behind and then the large hillock/jump they laucnhed themselves off before they entered the last final stretch to the leap into the air! )

While the decision to leap off the edge of the cliff was not one made lightly, and many horrible consequences were expected... The vast glittering plain of snow stretching out far, far beneath them lends a fresh edge to Silmeria's worry. Those nearest her position might hear something very like a whimper out of the scantily-clad blonde, and a sigh of resignation. "...Sometimes I wish I really *could* fly..."

Ezekial looks around but then narrows his eyes and he hunches a bit more, "this was stupid.." he mutters to himself and hopes that no one chooses to follow... well wait.. He glances behind himself then winces as he sees the others do as he did.. "damnit."

Kier's response is a bit more visceral. Once the ground drops out from beneath him, and he can see it all, that moment of wonder is turned into something close to terror as he hunkers to the point of turning into a ball, grabbing onto the edges of his board and wincing his eyes closed. Hard breaths are taken as he continually mutters a prayer in Viera while all this majesty seems fit to pass around him.

Vazkor has enough skill with his own board again to go over that hillock in a fairly controlled manner, smoothly landing on the other side as he jumps past it, and soon picks up the other's trails again... Soon though, as he gathers speed once more, he notices that steep drop up ahead! His eyes widening slightly in response, and instantly finding himself worrying about the others... And instead of deciding to over the edge himself, he slides to a halt just infront of it instead, leaning over a bit to peek down.

Vazkor peers down into the valley below... Before blinking as he feels a strange, but familiar tingling sensation... The man frowning to himself for a moment. He remembers where he felt it before, then! And that frown deepens! Vazkor also remembering the warning he was given by Silmeria when he almost ruined the course of the Opera... He sighs then, and braces himself... Before leaning forward and jumping right off the damn edge.

Vazkor leaps and for a moment you all have an unparelled view of that glacier... it rises so high... the air is fridgid.. the ground is rushing up toward you and then with a clatter you all slam into the marble floor that suddenly appears beneath you. Despite the abrupt nature of the landing you all somehow manage to land in a group, Silmeria and Kier landing on one knees, Ezekial sliding into place between the pair as Vazkor's feet clack to the floor behind you... the sun is behind you, shining thorugh the archway entrance to the Well of Echoes back lighting the party...

On the far side of the Pool several figures are gathered, two of them in bells and bright striped colours. An elderly lady in a black dress, a tall regal looking elf. One of the jesters blurts out, "Are you people insane! Who rides a snow board off a aahhhh!" he yelps as something small leaps out of the arms of one of the ladies with a MRAWRR HISSS! The jester staggering backwards as the elderly lady hikes her skirts and kicks him in the ankles. The elf turns and shimmers, her form becoming translucent before the large Ozmone Hare that has replaced the elf kicks out with both feet at the other jester.... Chaos reigns on the far side of the pool, the Jesters spell is broken and their captives are no longer behaving.

Ezekial skids to a stop between the pair and looks around for a moment, still crouched with his hands spread out to hold his balance. The man straightens then, yea he totally /meant/ to do that. And he starts to point at the jesters. "You-" the man falls silent as he sees his mother transform and kick the pair while chaos erupts. "Well.. well then.." The man reaches for his father's pistol then curses as he finds it gone, having forgotten about that, and instead he clears his voice, "Well then.. Hold it right there!"

Silmeria takes a moment, upon landing, to make sure that all her bones are in place and unbroken, that her clothing is what it should be, and that she is in fact not as dead as her quarry. Raising her head when one of the pair starts in on its tirade, she narrows her eyes, a small, satisfied smile growing on her face... a face which is swiftly leached of color, charcoal-feathered wings stretching skyward. Template:Now, she says, her voice taking on the strange, otherworldly echoes of an Esper on a mission, Template:*now* this can end. And with the briefest backward glance to the rest of the party, Silmeria launches herself around the pool, one hand snatching the silver-studded scythe from blank nothingness. Template:XORN! THORN! YOU'VE PLAYED LONG ENOUGH!

The outburst from Silmeria makes Kier pause for a long moment as she formshifts slightly, and then he takes a slow breath to steady himself. Moving to stand up next to Ezekial, he rubs at his sore knee, squinting at the sunlight playing off the reflections on the ground and the well. Turning back to look at group and the chaos ensuing, the man just slowly draws his bow off his back, checks the string, and almost lazily pulls out an arrow... then hands both over towards Ezekial to say, "So tell me... have you ever accidentally tried to eat your mother in your youth?"

Vazkor lands rather awesomely, and cat-like, on both feet, even almost striking a bit of a pose behind the others as he does so! Soon though, he takes note of his surroundings, seemingly glad to find himself at the well again... Before focusing his gaze on the group of ghosts before them. A brow is arched at the scene, especially as it errupts into chaos so quick, and he almost looks confused as the woman turns into a giant rabbit! Even so, he's Vazkor, swordfighter extraordinaire... And as Silmeria jumps forward to engage those pesky clowns, he's not far behind. Pushing himself past Kier and Zeke even as both hands dip down to yank out his Cutlass and Rapier both, their edges glimmering in the available light.

Silmeria leaps forward with all the fury of an esper! Xorn turns and ducks shoving the old lady away and parries with something that goes MEOW! The esper however is much too good with that scythe of hers, instead of dispatching Dust she shifts her swing and cuts straight through Xorn and he wavers and vanishes, the spirit of Dust landing with a soft paf on the marble floor! Vazkor's attack is aided by the fact the other jester Thorn is totally distracted by the attacking hare, he has just kicked her away from him when the swordmasters blades slam through the jester and he too fades away... There is a moment of silence... a pause and then laughter from behind both Vazkor and Silmeria as the jesters fade back into sight and headbutt the pair of them in the small of the back sending them crashing down onto their knees..... )

Ezekial flicks a quick glance towards Kier while accepting the bow and arrow, "actually if I'm technical about it.. yes. After all she did nurse me. Beyond that, I'm not answering." His attention is back on the scene ahead of him and he narrows his eyes for a moment as his friends leap forward. "Steady.. there's something glowing orb thing behind them.." he warns while nocking the arrow and pulling back as he takes aim for that as the jesters reappear and then he scowls as he notes things blocking the orb and instead moves around to try and get a clear shot at it.

An Esper's voice is unusual enough, a thing rarely heard by mortal ears. An Esper's voice rising in a startled, girlish shriek as she tumbles to her knees, much more so. And yet it happens, but Silmeria's first act is not to continue to engage Xorn, but to call out Template:Dust! See to your friend, you'll be safer at his side! Scrabbling to her feet, she turns to face the Jesters, eyes narrowed. Template:Lord Hades will be sorely displeased with what you've done, jesters. I'd not be surprised if he cast you to the Void and let Lord Diabolos deal with you. As she faces the hopping clown down, her voice seems to grow dark with promise, evoking all sorts of bleak miseries that could be encountered in a realm of nothingness.

The young Hume gives a single shoulder shrug in reply, but there is just this bare little flick of one side of his lip as he starts skirting the fight on the opposite side, saying, "Orb? You're being mist-sick Ezekial, focus on the clowns... and cut them into small, burning, happy pieces of meat." Once more the twin knives come out, but despite his statement to the contrary, he attempts to position himself to strike at the source that he is barely making out in the air between the two.

Vazkor grunts loudly as he's headbutted in the spine and lands heavilly on his knees! Feeling kneecaps solidly hit the floor, and pain jolting through him... But still, he's not about to let a little pain stop him so easily, as instead he gathers his strenght, and quickly pushes himself back up, swinging his Cutlass in a compact arc towards one of the clowns standing behind him, snarling a bit as he does so, not really hearing Silmeria's words at the moment. Kier has reconnected.

As Silmeria speaks Xorn draws up short, blinking in surprise "I... what... " Her words seem to have phased him somewhat and he stops attacking and stares at the esper blankly. Thorn however sees what Kier is trying to do and leaps toward him only to be cut down as Vazkor moves like a dancing blade! Swords a blur, slicing, dicing, dissapating the ghost clown. It is not the most elegant of attacks, one of his blades misses but one hit is enough to knock the ghost into vapour and force it to reform allowing Ezekial and Kier to attack the glittering orb only they have noticed... a Dagger strikes it from one side, the other a perfectly loosed arrow and there is a crack of crystal, a flash of light and two blacked hemispheres hit the ground and both jesters scream in pain...

Ezekial holds the arrow in place for a moment as Kier chides him, however he chooses to ignore it and thanks to having held out that moment longer the shot he fires flies straight and true. As it cracks due to both the blade and arrow strike he grins grimmly and lowers the bow while stepping back, "time for them to go back and face him then. Don't you all agree?"

Template:Indeed it is, Silmeria replies, stepping closer to Xorn, the glittering scythe outstretched, its point facing towards the two in an unspoken promise; surrender and touch the weapon freely, or be fed its blade. Template:Perhaps if you grovel well, jesters, He may be inclined toward mercy. Refuse, and I assure you He will not. Retrieving his dagger from where it fell to the ground, Kier slips it back away under his sheathe, and says over his shoulder, "I am a horrid liar, forgive me." But even with the deception obvious, the pair seem down for the count and being dealt with handily. So instead he makes his way around the well and towards where the captives are, specifically looking for the small sand and brown, fox-tailed cat that bravely tried to assault one of the two killer clowns from another dimension.

Vazkor steps back after his flurry of attacks, breathing slightly hard but already looking for the next target, his eyes gleaming wildly. And as Thorn reappears somewhere else once more, he's already moving to strike again, wanting to keep the ghost busy... But before he can arc those blades of his, the orb shatters just beside him, and he blinks as he pulls his attack short, hearing the scream of pain from both clowns, and just standing there now to see what happens next.

The scythe tugs at Silmeria's hand... and then tugs itself right out of her grip, another hand appearing around the haft of the weapon, the silver studs are all glowing with bright silver light now as the dark robed, dark haired figure appears besides Silmeria, his dark, dispassionate eyes staring at the clowns trembling before him in reproach. Outside the piercing scream of the doom train fills the Well of Echoes as the Psycopomp screeches to a halt outside. "It is done..." is what Hades say, "I consign you back to the darkness between......" he spins the scythe and they vanish with a pair of wailing shrieks..... The captives are together, the hare is once again an elf and helping the elderly lady back to her feet and there, sat on the floor, looking as proud as only a cat can is Dust... he mews up at Kier in greeting, fox tail twitching idly. Ezekial stares at the figure that appears and his brows lift for a moment before he moves beyond. "You are," the man murmurs to Kier as he passes before smiling at Dust and then walking over to help his mother assist the elderly woman. He smiles at her then and gives a impulsive hug before letting go. "Before you say anything.. the jesters did the hair and also stole all my things.. father's gun too.. but really the hair was -not- my idea."

As the scythe rips itself free of her grasp and Hades himself makes his appearance, Silmeria does the first thing that comes to mind; she drops to one knee, bowing her head, wings held low. Template:Forgive me for taking so much of the Conductor's time, My Lord Hades... I hope our efforts have satisfied you. Unspoken, but clearly visible on her downcast face, the hope that the hellish adventure and the struggles faced have been more than simply 'satisfactory.'

Kier says towards Zeke while still looking at Dust, "Regardless... it is still green." Once more the brief ghost of a smirk on his face as he looks at the small feline back and forth for a moment, and with a heavy sigh he says, "Be thankful I am too angered with everything else that has occurred to add this to your list of things gone wrong, little one." And then he reaches out to poke the cat on the center of his forehead. Standing back up he looks towards Vazkor... and just gives him a nod. As if that was enough.

Vazkor glances over at Silmeria... Then blinks hard as the scythe floats from her hand, and the dark figure of Hades materializes with it in his grasp! The swashbuckler takes a quick step back in response, and dips forward in a respectful bow, rumbling simply, "Lord Hades..." Before he straightens some again, and smoothly slides both his blades back into their sheaths, secure in the knowledge his work is done. He gazes out at everyone then... Watching Zeke's interaction with his mother, and Kier's interaction with his cat. Smiling quietly at Dust, before he catches Kier's nod, and soon returns it.

Ezekial's mother brushes a hand at his friends, swishing it back out of his eyes, "Green looks nice son... you have done well. Be steadfast and true," She then holds out a hand to Mistress Al'Maera and inclines her head to Kier and Vazkor, "I thank you all, we both do, now my lord... can we proceed to our rest?" Hades looks down at Silmeria then lifts her head with one finger, "My daughter, I am pleased we shall discuss this more soon." He then turns and walks forward and bows, "Ladies, my humblest apologies please," He gestures toward the door were you can see the conductor, "Your train awaits to take you to the places you must go." The ladies nod and obeying the lord of the Dead start to leave and the great spirit turns to regard the party with a solemn gaze. "I am well pleased with all of you... this quest has brought balance back to the land once more, now... approach one by one when I speaketh your name."

Ezekial makes a face and shakes his head, "it's not me...... take care of yourself." He steps back and looks down for a moment then off as the Doomtrain welcomes then. The man hands the bow back over to Kier before crossing his arms and tucking his fingers beneath. He looks to Hades then and finally inclines his head, paying the spirit respect, even if he's a little bit late at it.

The smile that Silmeria turns upon the Lord of the Dead is a bright, shining thing, that lights up her entire face. Template:...Thank you, Father, she whispers. Rising to her feet, her wings flutter once, then seem to melt back into her robes, once more becoming an unremarkable bit of embroidery on her back, her mortal form fading back into focus. Silent, she waits, pleased with herself, her companions, and the outcome of this journey.

Moving off from Dust, Kier moves to stand next to Ezekial, though despite his vaunted stoicism and fearlessness, he seems unable to meet the eyes of the great lord of the Damned at the moment. So instead, he takes his bow back from his partner, and begins checking it over... just in case.

Vazkor, with the threat now over, allows himself to briefly slip into some of his reknowned theatrical, charming ways as he offers the departing women a smile and a light, flowery bow, adressing them in a rich, Rozarrian accented baritone, "Entirely our pleasure, dear ladies." Waving after them as they board the train... But the moment they're gone, he manages to look mostly neutral again, turning towards Hades and standing straight, awaiting his name to be called.

Hades glides forward, past everyone and kneels down suddenly, "First I call Dust, whose bravery, whose stoic loyalty and kind hearted nature has seen him overcome the greatest of adversaries these past few weeks." The kitten mews and pads toward the Lord of Death and the two look at one another for a moment and something passes between them and hades nods his head, "Very well.. it shall be so, go now little one be one with thy body" And the kitten soul fades away..... Hades then stands and turns, "Kier step forward champion."

Looking back and forth between the others, his look says it all. 'Why me.' But Kier shoulders his bow and locks it in place so he can take those few steps forwards and meet the gaze of the great Spirit... long enough to find a convenient spot behind him and slightly to one side. His voice start-stops a couple times before he finally says with a gulp, "Yes, Lord Hades?" The tone of is deceptively conversational despite his obvious ill ease with the impressive being.

Hades inclines his head though he does not smile, "Your companion dust asked me for a most interesting reward and I have seen fit to grant it. He shall live as long as you shalt draw breath, your companion will not leave your side after the natural span of years alloted to a cat but after the years that you as a Human draw breath." he looks the man up and down, "I have given thought to how I can reward you and many of what I can think of would I fear make you uncomfortable so now I offer you the chance to ask me of one thing you wish and I shall consider it."

Kier almost immediately looks back at Ezekial, and replies, "Please change his hair back, Lord Hades. That color is awful... and I would be fit to tease him for the rest of my days if that was his natural color." Another soft upturn before looking back at the great form.

"A humble request Kier... but it shall be done, my boon to you well used, the weight of your selflessness knows no bounds, your spirit is light Kier and when next we meet I shall judge you with favour." he inclines his head, "Ezekial step forth." Ezekial smiles as Hades tells of Dust's request and then he stares at Kier for a moment before shaking his head and smiling as he steps past him. "He didn't have to do that," the man confides to the spirit and then he bows and straightens back up. "I'm glad only glad that we were able to succeed Lord Hades."

Hades regards Ezekial and then nods, "Your success has pleased me greatly, you strove to aid even though it was not needed" He looks around the chamber, "For you Ezekial I give you this" he raises a hand, holding out a gun, it is sleek, black metal glistening in the light of the cavern... shimmering. "The Sable Sonet shall answer to your call." Ezekial's brows lift for a moment before he reaches out to accept the gun. He looks it over and smiles for a moment before it fades a little and he looks up. "Thank you.. thank you very much and.. please do not think I am ungrateful. Far from it.. but I do have one small thing I would like to know.. where the clowns put my things. There is something precious to me that even if I do not use, I don't want to lose either."

Hades' eyes meet Ezekial and he speaks softly, his voice a low whispering rustle, "Those items are gone child of Fenrir, I know not what the clowns did to them but I can find no trace of them here." He raises his voice then and speaks "Vazkor my beloved." he sweeps forward, changing... the dread countenance of the pale man replaced with the dark beauty of the female, thick cascades of hair spilling down, she reaches out to take Vazkor's hands. "My dearest Vazkor your part in this grand quest fills me with great longing, such noble souls as yours are rare indeed my mighty one. If I knew not that your heart lies with another I would ask thee to be mine consort in the silent woodlands of my realm, two boons now I owe you my dear, speak and I shall reward you as is your due."

Ezekial nods quietly and steps back while glancing towards Kier. He smiles faintly at him, but then slips the gun into the awaiting holster while looking up and whispering to the ceiling, "sorry father." He doesn't react to Hades change though, given that he's a bit distracted.

Vazkor watches silently as Hades adresses and rewards both Kier and Ezekial, and even smiles some as he hears of Dust's request... But as Hades turns to him then, and changes into that familiar, female figure, he actually takes a quiet breath and regains his focus. Bowing slightly towards the approaching spirit, before smiling at 'her' as well, "Thank you, miss... It'd have been a honor I'd have gladly accepted... But you are right, I'm already quite taken..." Pausing for a few moments then, he seems to have a hard think... And finally shakes his head a bit, "I'm afraid I can't think of anything material to request, miss... I already have everything I could want in life... But perhaps, speaking of my mate, you would offer me the peace of mind of knowing a great spirit, such as yourself, is watching over him in any times of need?"

Hades sighs with regret and stands on tip-toe to give Vazkor a kiss on the cheek then smiles and steps back, "And so shall it be, twice then in payment of your boon shall my watchful gaze beholden he who holds your heart. For his loss would sadden you and turn your friendship from myself if duty bound I was forced to take your lover from your side. So shall it be, Raziel's life is watched by my all seeing gaze and twice shall I reach out to safe guard him from the dangers of destiny that cling to his fate." She steps back and turns, by the time her movement is finished she is he again and holding out a hand to Silmeria, the scythe of Argan held out to her. "My daughter, the voice of the dead, be welcome once more into the light of my eternal, quiet love. Know that I am pleased with thee my esper, know that I am gladdened by your success in weathering all that has come against you these last few months. Take up the Scythe of Argan, be my mortal emissary upon Terra, heed well the voices of those who need and guide the feet of those who must do. My power and my faith in you are restored."

Silmeria bows her head, her chest swelling with pride. "I am glad to hear that, Father... I shall do my best never to disappoint You so again, for as long as You see fit to have me in Your service." She attempts to say more, but her voice catches in her throat, and she merely shakes her head, stepping back to allow the others to enjoy their victory.

Hades smiles proudly, relinquishing the scythe of Argan into Silmeria's keeping, he steps back and inclines his head to the party, "I am proud of you all I shall see you all safely...." he trails off as the pattering of hurrying feet herald someones arrival. Tonberry King shoves past Ezekial and Kier, clambers Hades' robes and tugs his hood forward over their heads and whispers to the King of the Dead. After a few moments the King of Kharma drops back to the ground and Hades turns wide, astonished eyes toward the door. "She's done what...." he blinks, recovers himself and looks at the others. "Follow me... someone... someone is here to see us... in person."

Ezekial blinks as he's pushed past, breaking out of his thoughts, and then he looks down and his eyes widen as he takes a quick step back. The man gapes and then looks at Hades face and he blinks again. Looking to the rest of the group the man gets a worried expression before he turns to follow after the spirits.

Silmeria blinks sharply at Hades' discomfiture, turning wide, worried eyes toward the door. Hugging her new scythe close to her chest, she glances at the others, as though they might have an idea, and shrugs. Bobbing her head in respect to the Tonberry King, Silmeria picks her way around the pool, following in Ezekial's wake.

Shoulders that straightened wtih a bit of enjoyment now slump once more as things take a fresh turn, and Kier just gives Ezekial a slightly aggrieved look, before saying very softly, "There is always something, is there not." His tone almost rueful as he picks up his step to follow the others, looking towards the train and where his small companion might be.

Vazkor blinks at the little Tonberry running in and climbing onto Hades... Though he makes no mistake of underestimating the King of Kharma, realizing just who he has before him. And he manages a quick bow in response, before he watches everyone run outside at Hades' urging. With a quiet sigh, and planting a hand firmly on the hilt of one of his blades just in case, he soon follows after everyone with long strides.

Outside night has fallen, the doom train has left but the stars are shining brightly, their burning white light in the sky eclipsed by the figure waiting for you outside. A lady dressed in pure white robes, her hair seems to be a pool of midnight black filled with stars... blending with the starscape of terra beyond. She is standing on thin air before the entrance to the Well of Echos, her eyes two points of soft light, her gaze a gentle caress to all your minds as she reads what you are, what you shall be in the seconds it takes her eyes to view the paths of fate laid out before you. Hades bows, the Lord of Death giving due diligence to the lady of Starlight, the Mistress of Fate, advisor in the highest to the King himself, Andromeda has come this night....

Ezekial comes to a standstill and his brows lift before he looks towards Silmeria and Hades both. Letting them be his guide as he can easily guess it is an important spirit before them, but knowing exactly who is beyond his knowledge.

A soft gasp is heard from Silmeria, the Esper dropping again to one knee, swiftly, as though faced with royalty. Unlike Hades, however, she says nothing; clearly, she doesn't feel it wise to speak unless spoken to, in the presence of such august company. Kier stops where he is for a moment at the sight, and then ducks his head, looking down for a moment, and seeming rather childish by comparison. His eyes flick to Zeke, then Silmeria, then to Vazkor in turn to see what they're about as he remains in possibly the most passive position he's ever shown.

Vazkor, like Ezekial, can see the woman- spirit- before them is of supreme importance somehow... But equally, he isn't really sure who it might exactly be, his knowledge of these things somewhat limited. But even so, as he notices Silmeria's gasp and her prompt lowering to one knee, he decides it's probably best not to mess around... And he soon mimics the gesture, lowering himself as well, though a bit slower, more careful.

She doesn't say anything, just regards you all with that piercing gaze, lights dance around her white dress, stars and planets weave in the air above her head and then she turns her eyes to Death and he speaks in a deep rumble. "Honoured are we Lady of the Stars, your words we shall heed, speak if it so pleases you, Andromeda whose words are fate." Her smile broadens and her presence seems to grow... figures shimmering into existance around her form, a chorus of heavenly, etheral voices weaving into the air as her voice flows forth, melodious, beautiful, the world holding its breath as she gives voice to the prophecy she has come to speak...

  .-.   .-.
 (_  \ /  _)   
      |
      |

The darkness shattered By light that battered Souls fled in tearful fright Scattered far that dreadful night

   .     .
   '.___.'      
   .'   `.    
  :       :   
  :       :
   `.___.'

The Voice of the dead Hope of redemption in her head The cat and his friend There companionship transcending A swordmaster sings whilst the tiger is seeking The hidden paths are shrieking

   ._____.
     | |       
     | |
    _|_|_
   '     '

Amidsts the shining silver victory There is something contradictory A soul unseen, It's intentions still Unclean

     .--.
    /   _`.    
   (_) ( )
  '.    /
    `--'

Keep your weapons sharp Eternal malice in this creatures heart Forsaken one of a time long past Her guardian beast beside her stalks Released from limbo, Her power the shadows know

                       ,
                      / \
                     / | \
                .---<  |  >---.
                |   _\ | /_   |
              _,',_|  \ /  |_,',_
          _.-'_____'-./ \.-'_____'-._
           '-._   _.-'\ /'-._   _.-'
               `,` |__/ \__| `,` 
                |    / | \    |
                '---<  |  >---'
                     \ | /
                      \ /
                       `

Time must past, your fates entwined, With wisdom and strength of mind, Power tempered by the passage of time, Follow the Voice's lead To start this quest, Of Utmost need.

Ezekial glances at Vazkor and Silmeria before he quickly drops to a knee as well.. thoug as she begins to recite the prophecy his brows arch upwards The man frowns a little bit before tilting his head as well. In the end he says nothing, but he does mouth the words over to himself with a faint frown of worry.

Silmeria closes her eyes as the words of prophecy wash over her, the Esper dutifully committing them to memory as quickly and surely as she may. Once complete, she murmurs a word of indistinct, but sincere thanks to the Mistress of Fate, already poring over the meaning of the prophecy in the back of her mind.

Vazkor frowns a bit... Seeming mildly confused as he listens to the prophecy being sung to them... Normally not being very interested or versed in such esoteric matters, he tries to figure it all out in his head... But soon decides he'll just have to ask Silmeria, or maybe even Raziel, what it all meant. As such, he just ends up standing there, looking thoughtful, wondering what's next.

Fate smiles at the party, inclines her head and looks each one of them in the eyes one final time before her radiance increases and then fades. The night is cool and quiet, Lord Hades is gone and the stars overhead seem dimmer, less brilliant then when their mistress was present. This quest has come to a close, with victory and prophecy their long journey to Emberstrand stretches ahead of them and from there who knows were the gentle words of fate will lead them next. One thing however is clear, though victory is theirs, the scattered souls restored to their proper place and balance to the cycle of death restored. There are darker forces unleashed into the world, sinister beings whose presence eluded the Lord of Death, the Soul Unseen... the future will hold many questions and perhaps if fate is kind they will find the answers they need.

~fin

Return to RP_Logs

Quest for Redemption

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Navigation menu

Views

Personal tools

Navigation

Search

Tools