Shadows in the Sand - A Tale of Ara [1x1 IC]

[Emperor Nat]

"I would prefer we converse in the common tongue, if that is alright with you dear mage." Messiata said, pacing about in front of Adronis; her bare feet making no sound upon the cool stone slabs beneath them. "As much as I love the sound of my native language, its intricacies are distracting. Human speech is simpler... better, for the sort of course speech we are about to engage in."

She sighed.

"Do you think us so easily bought, mage, that we will forgive these crimes just because you intend to inflict the punishment upon your men which they would have received for any indiscretion, whether damaging or not? The incident happened nearly one month to this day, and it is clear that there is lasting damage. The dead are dead; no more can be done for them. But two of the women are now with child, our physicians have determined. What of them? Do the deaths of your men ease their pain, or make their lives easier to bear?"

Messiata scowled. There was a shaking of the stone beneath Adronis' feet, a deep bellowing rumble growing from beneath it. Messiata noticed the strange disturbance, and at once took a deep breath; the earth once more calming.

"You humans come here and take our land. You take our religion. You take our lives. Now, you are taking our futures." she waved her hands in the air for emphasis. "...But war would only cause more harm to my people, harm I cannot afford to inflict. Not now. So I offer you a deal, mage; to you and to your superiors. You are to divert resources, as much as we need, to our village. If you comply with our requests, relations will remain verdant between our two peoples. I will follow you to your master and watch the men face their judgements, if you are willing to agree to this."

She smiled coyly.

"But if you want to win more than forgiveness, I may have a task suited to your... 'talents'."

[Zukien]

Adronis listened to the Elven woman, hearing her voice escalate and the ground start trembling. Strong power, indeed, but one Adronis could match if the situation called for it. He truly felt sorry for the elves, and Messiata was correct. The humans and the church were invading and taking land, resources, and ravaging anything they pleased. He knew as a decision-maker for the Church he had to take action, but where could one go when they did not agree with the moral choices made by their own faction.

"Lady Messiata, I do hold regret for actions and damages caused by our church, it is most unforgivable. However," he paused, choosing his words carefully. "Our church holds no hatred against your people, our soldiers are not all like the despicable men that have done this to your women. I am most sorry for your situation, as I have experienced many hardships along my path." He pulled out his medallion from his own mother. "My mother was one of your own. She vowed to bring peace, and was-" He stopped abruptly, looking at the pendant, a past image coming into his mind.

---

"My boy...what has happened is something I want you to never forget." A man stood, telling a young boy, who could not have been past the age of ten. "Your mother was a great woman, who's promise to keep peace in this land led to her demise."

A young Adronis, standing in the pouring rain next to a wooden box in the desert, did not bother to wipe his tears, which were flowing freely with the rain down his face. His mother was killed by a band of mercenaries, who had stopped a caravan that contained Adronis and his loving parent. They had attempted to steal goods from the wagon, and Adronis's mother would not let them. They tried attacking her and taking advantage of the Elven women, who drew her weapons and slayed over five of them before being stabbed from behind by one of the last.

Adronis had witnessed the incident, his scream sending waves of energy into the men, causing them to fly backwards into a stone cliff, breaking their bones. He ran out, screaming to his mother, who had just a last breath. "I love you, my son." She said, her head tilting back, her last words ending.

Adronis sobbed next to the casket, kneeling down and placing the flowers his father had given him on the box. Looking at his dad, he began speaking through sobs. "Why? Why did they do this? She loved everyone!" He screamed.

His father looked away for a moment, then looked back to Adronis, tears in his eyes, lightning illuminating his features in the rain. "Adronis, at some point or another, everyone goes into the afterlife. What matters is what we did among the living." He stopped, turning away from the casket containing his beloved wife. "Your mother wanted nothing more but the best for you. Make her proud..."

---

After a long minute of silence, Adronis came back into the present, a single tear dripping down his slightly wrinkled face and into his beard. "My lady..." he started, clearing his throat. Another moment passed. "There is no one more in Ara that would be most proud to help you besides me." He stated. "I want nothing more than peace for everyone in this life. Yet, powers that be continue to war against each other. This is what I intend to change."

Wiping the tear off of his face, he looked at Messiata. "What can I do to help?"

[Emperor Nat]

"The Church of Adonai demands, as part of its treaties with us, that at least one of their priests may be permitted to preach on our land. They don't expect or demand we listen, but we must entertain this unwanted guest nonetheless. The people's convictions are starting to be undermined by this preacher; they are doubting my authority, and they are becoming ever more sympathetic to the cause of the Church. If this goes on much longer I can see a far more active presence of the Church on our lands... something which, I assume, neither of us want."

Messiata smiled. It was, on the surface, a nice smile; warm, friendly and welcoming. But you could sense that beneath that smile lay a rather different emotion.

"Because of our treaty, I am incapable of removing this priest without incurring the Church's wrath. But, if a third party... an agent not affiliated with my people... were to convince the priest to leave, or get rid of him some other way, then my people's minds would remain firmly where they ought to be. Not to mention, of course, how much it would reduce the presence of your enemies in this area..."

Messiata walked slowly around Adronis, a hand running across his shoulder. She saw his tear; she knew that he was sympathetic to their plight. Messiata smiled again, gently pressing herself against Adronis' back.

"That is all I ask, dear mage. Remove the priest, and relations between our two peoples can be better than they ever were before this..." Messiata took a small breath, adopting a slightly forced-sounding tone of sadness. "...horrific incident."

[Zukien]

As he heard the Elven maiden talking, he knew she held many negative emotions under false pretenses. He heard her demands, and felt her body press against his. Not flinching, he just closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"I can make sure this Priest is not seen here again. However, I must know what is name is, and what he has been doing to undermine your people here?" He asked, knowing she did not give many details to this suspicious prospect. "I must also look out for my reputation within the Church. My motives require me to become a high seated figure among the Order."

With that, he placed the medallion back into his pocket from before and then took a couple of steps around Messiata, putting his hand on his chin. "You say you want peace for your people, though you ask me to commit a crime against one of the Church's priests? Messiata," He said, no formalities on his tongue. "Do you find me stupid? Or just rash? You can remove the priest by making a demand with his affiliated church. If I were to remove him, it would only cause more conflict." Sighing, Adronis walked towards the exit. "I will see what I can do."

[Emperor Nat]

"His name is Martin Barley. He was sent here three months ago, and with every word he speaks he draws the people away from me. Do you think I can keep them safe, if they keep questioning my judgements? If they have no loyalty to me, I can do nothing to discipline them or keep them from causing more trouble with your two Churches. You taking care of him is the only way that my people will be kept safe from harm... but do as you wish. I will attend your trial, as requested." Messiata let out a long, weighty sigh.

"I know you to be a smart man, dear mage. I trust that they would not send a fool to negotiate. So I trust you will weigh the options and do what is best for yourself... and hopefully, my people."

She turned her back on Adronis, walking to her throne and sitting down once more. She put a hand to her head, wiping a few idle beads of sweat away from her smooth skin.

"His chapel is on the lower layer, next to the fountain. There's a sign outside with their symbol on it."

These words followed Adronis outside, and he once more found himself in the sand elves' town - a lively, friendly-looking place that had little idea of the conflicts surrounding its existence.

[Zukien]

Adronis heard the Elve's voice follow him outside. He sighed, looking around for a moment. The town was still in a jovial temperament, people going about their business with ease and precision. The wizard looked for a way to the lower layer of the town. His hands behind him, he walked down the streets whistling, humming, and then singing a traditional elven song his mother used to sing to him.

Mae bachgen unigol rhyfeddodau
Gwneud ei lwybr yn hysbys
Amser maith yn ôl trychineb
Mae lle i alw ei gartref ...

(A lone boy wonders
Making his path known
Long ago a tragedy
A place to call his home)...

He continued with the song, ending at the fountain Messiata had mentioned. He had made a choice about what he would do. However, he knew trying to make a Priest leave who believes they have a right to be where they are would be like angering a mountain lion by traumatizing it's cubs. This may not go well, but again, Adronis was not worried. He had had many battles past, and another would be the least of his worries. His reputation was at stake, his position in the Church which he wanted to turn around hung in balance. This had to go as planned.

[Emperor Nat]

Upon entering the chapel, Adronis is confronted once more with the girl he bumped into earlier. She was sitting on a small wooden table at the end of the hall, the table presumably acting as a makeshift altar, looking faintly upset. A man stood beside her, hand comfortingly on her shoulder. He was quite tall, relatively well built and had short, neatly-trimmed blonde hair. He looked to be in his mid-thirties or so, and was distinctly human. He was wearing fairly distinctive clothing; a set of long black robes which stretched to just above his ankles, and small silver symbol hanging from a chain around his neck.

"Denneva, just calm down. Where do you think you left it?" he said calmly.

"I don't know, it was in my pocket and... oh dear God, what if someone finds it? I don't know if..."

"It'll be alright." he smiled. "Just calm down, I'll fetch you something to drink okay?"

"Okay, yeah..." she said, taking a deep breath.

The priest turned, and saw Adronis at the door. He motioned for Denneva to wait a moment, before walking down the middle of the slightly damaged wooden benches. He stopped a few feet from Adronis.

"It's a pleasure to see you in here, stranger. But there's no service on at the moment... I'd be delighted to chat to you about Adonai if you give me a moment to deal with something first..." he stopped, seeing Adronis' expression. "...Unless you're here for something else?"

[Zukien]

He heard the distraught cries of the Elven girl. He was addressed by the man, but stepped past him mildly, walking up to the girl who was sitting, looking distant.

"I believe you are looking for this," he said, pulling the pendant he had scooped up. He knew he would find her, it was just a matter of how the galactic powers binding Ara together worked. "You had dropped it when I first collided with you. Do not fret, things always work out for the best." He smiled, turning to the priest who had stopped him previously.

"Martin Barley, I presume." He stated, looking at the man. He was obviously of high faith, but Messiata did not agree on his tactics. He had to find out why. "My name is Adronis. I am here on behalf of the Church of Four Spirits, and Lady Messiata."

He bowed slightly, keeping his hands close to his sides in case things went wrong. Always prepared, Adronis was ready for a struggle if it came to it.

[Emperor Nat]

Denneva looked to the small pendant, and let out a sigh of relief. But as soon as she heard Adronis say 'Four Spirits', she leapt to her feet and ran from the building. The priest called after her, but she was out of earshot too quickly. The pendant looked an awful lot like the one the priest had around his neck.

"That's me. If you're looking to share the chapel space I can tell you it's already been consecrated, friend." Martin smiled. "So unfortunately you're going to have to ask Messiata for a different building. And let me tell you, she does not give them out easily."

Martin sat on one of the pews and sighed.

"But you and me both know that you're not here to ask to share the building. And since you're from the Spiritualists, I doubt you're here to listen to me teach my faith." he patted the seat next to him. "We may as well be civil though. So sit down, we'll talk. Ask any questions you want, I'll not shirk away from answering."

[Zukien]

The wizard watched the woman run off. He did not mind, An affiliation with a Church meant almost nothing to him. What mattered was ending this war. He walked to the seat offered and sat down, his robe flowing across the floor.

"This is not my goal, to bring affiliation or any conflict between people. There is much to be known about the war and everyone's stance on it." He sighed, sitting back. "Being older, it is not my greatest pleasure to fight, to watch those around us die. It is also not my pleasure to watch those who preach do so invading rules and regulations of the area he is so doing it in." He of course aimed this for the priest. "What are you doing here that is ruffling the feathers of Messiata?"

He awaited a response, being straightforward as usual. Adronis was tired of this war, of the political demands. He wanted to make decisions for himself, and stop being commanded by belligerent officers and generals who only wanted violence and death.