Jade Empire: Into the Realms Ch. 2 IC

[Pockets]

Jade Silanes

She flew hard and fast, pushing her body as hard as she could to cover the distance between the Vine pass and her destination. The Frozen Hills to the Far North of Iligesia. The site of the former Shadow School before it was destroyed by Obisidian twenty years previously. The trip, even by wings took three days and not once in the entire time did she stop to land for rest, food or drink. She was filled practically to overflowing with the buzzzing radiance of the Dreaming. Her senses swam with it, everywhere she could see it. The threads, the strings, the waves and ripples and currents of the Ocean of Dreams that flowed in and around and throughout everything in existence. The subversive, seductive and purely destructive raw force that was just there, waiting for her to reach out and grasp hold of it.

It took every ounce of self control that she had nurtured over the years not to open herself to that energy. To fill herself to bursting with pure, radiant power.

Instead she focused on her flight. Wings beating heavily, powerfully.

Up, down.

Up, down.

Up, down.

Up- aiefsg

She cursed and stumbled, if one could call it that, in mid air as she realized that she had just shot over the school and out over open water. She grunted and strained, wings flapping madly to turn her about. There was a severe lack of thermal currents over large bodies of water, her wings couldn't support her properly and she flapped wildly for several moments, struggling to get back over land.

She landed, some minutes later, at the entrance to a small wooden hut. Her body was drenched in sweat, muscles she didn't even know she'd had trembled with exhaustion and despite her best effort she wasn't even able to lift her hand to knock on the door. Finally, in desperation she simply let her head fall forward, forehead smacking against the door with a dull thud. She did it twice more and a moment later the door opened and she fell into a pair of open, waiting arms.

"Jade!" he cried. "Dammit woman what the hell did you do now? What have you and Rhyven gotten yourselves into this time?" As he spoke he dragged her bodily over to a small cot and dropped her onto it. He continued to ramble as he moved about the cabin gathering blankets, a cup of strong coffee and a bowl filled with a thick, rich stew.

"Time for that later," she whispered and weakly waved away the food. "You need to get to the Vine pass, and you only have four days to get there."

He sighed. "Of course. Well if I have four days then I have plenty of time. Eat your stew and tell me what's happened. You know I've been out of touch with the world for a few years now."

"How are you going to get there in time?" she asked. "It took me three days flying non stop to get here and last I checked you didn't have wings."

He gave her a conspiratorial grin. "Trust me. I have my ways Jade. You should know that by now." He winked one warm blue eye at her and carefully spooned up some of the stew. "Now eat," he said and unceremoniously shoved the spoon into her mouth. "You can tell me what's been happening after."

----------

Rhyven

A week. It had been a week exactly since the end of the battle against the Jade Empires forces. Their were far more waiting for them across the ocean but that wasn't important to him. The route they would be taking to get there was going to be an adventure in and of itself and there was plenty to worry about just with that without having to worry about what would happen when they got there. He left the small tent that he'd built off to one side of the camp. It had taken this long but today they were finally going to bury the last of the fallen defenders of Iligesia. Twelve thousand men and women lost against the horrific creations of the Empire, those Golems, made from the still living corpses of their own fallen. The mind that could use such methods without regret was beyond Rhyven's comprehension, but it made things easier to him. Instead of going to face a man they were to face a monster. A horrible creature that had long since forsaken his right to live any longer than was required for them to kill him.

He shook away those dark thoughts, preferring to instead focus his darker thoughts on the paths ahead of them that would lead them to the shores of Shi'An. The distant continent was at least three weeks travel by foot through the Realms, possibly longer depending on what happened inside. Things had been unstable in recent months and Rhyven was beginning to build some suspicions as to why. Either way the creatures of the Realm were more agitated, more prone to attack and far more wide spread than usual. Even the safe paths were no longer such.

He paused as he walked toward where the Shapers could be seen standing outside the Medical tents nearby when a glimmering fluttering mote of blue energy appeared in front of him. It fluttered toward him and landed on his forehead, disappearing a moment later as it deposited it's message directly into his mind. He smiled, a warm expression that was hidden within the shadows of his cloak's hood and continued moving on.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," he called as he approached. Callistans red hair was the most visible of the group. Marisa stood as far away from Callistan as she appeared to be able to get while still remaining a part of the group. Shea the leader of the Sacred Knights stood nearby, conversing quietly with the others. A spear rested across his back as well as a beautifully wrought bow. A weapon created through his use of the dreaming during the battle against the Empires Captain Commander Alernon. Sven sat apart from the others, pen and book in hand and scribbling away as always. He was writing the story of their adventures and could frequently be seen scribbling away, even in the midst of battle his book and pen were never far from his hands. Cedric the High Priest of the Order of Light rounded out the group and they all turned to look as he stopped before them, his black clothing a sharp counterpoint to the mix of colors and gleaming metals that made up the rest of the groups outfits and equipment.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," he said again. "We will be leaving for the Shadow Realm very soon but the friend that Jade went to collect should be arriving in just a moment. Introductions will be made and then I think we should be on our way. If anyone has any goodbyes to make before we go you might want to do that sooner than later." His tone was brusque and to the point but was not unfriendly in and of itself. It was eerie to hear him speaking from within the hood, not being able to see his face meant his words simply floated seemingly of their own accord from the darkness that surrounded him.

As he finished speaking there was a flash of brilliant white light and suddenly a new figure stood not far from them. He was shorter than any of the others, dwarfed entirely by those like Rhyven and Cedric at only five feet tall. His ears made him seem taller at first. A simple green cloak hung about his shoulders beneath which he wore a tan shirt with billowing sleeves and over that a thin chest plate of light leather armor. Twin short swords hung from the belt that circled his waist, one at either hip and his large fur covered feet were bare. His whiskers quivered with barely contained amusement as he took in the assembled peoples expressions and he reached up to straighten the strange dome shaped cap that rested on his head, long ears feeding through two holes cut into the top of the item.

"Keyola Ziloe," he said with a sweeping bow. "The Rabbit Mage, at your service." he turned to Rhyven and a small clear crystal that he held in one hand was swiftly deposited into a small grey pouch tied at his waist. "Rhyven," he said, warmly greeting the muscular mountain of a Shadow Walker. "It's been a long time old friend. And the Ladies Callistan and Marisa. Strange to see the two of you in one place. How is your brother Princess?" he asked Callistan and then turned to Marisa. "And your mother? Is the Lady Anaxel doing well?"

[Affili]

Rhyven's announcements of them leaving was almost like music to his ears. A week of burying the dead and cleaning up the mess of golems had left Cedric tired and frustrated. The casualties up on the ten thousands and all for what? What had the war really been about? What it all came down to from the High priest's point of view, was that this war had been about them, the Dream Shapers, and one desperate, twisted ruler's need for more power that would cause such in humane actions as a declaration of war on an entire continent for the sake of six people; but then again, maybe all of humanity was the same. He could not quite reach any conclusions about his thoughts and he warily shook his head in disgust. Perhaps he'd never understand.

Cedric Drew up beside Callistan just as Rhyven received the message and a few moments later once the flash of light diminished Keyole presented himself with a humble bow. It had been so long since Cedric had heard anything of the mage, but his reputation was well known through out the Order of Light and it was a pleasure to meet him and prove once and for all, all the inaccurate tales of the Master mage's features.

There were no rabbit sized teeth or bushy tails or perhaps there was, there was no way to tell from Cedric's vantage point and he was not about to relocate just to see if there was a tail. Clearly, The feet were a bit larger than what the stories told of, but all in all, his features were remarkably similar to that of a rabbit. The cap was an added detail that seemed to make the whole thing more humorous and despite himself, the high priest had to stifle a grin.

"Master Keyole, a pleasure to meet you, I'm Cedric Lancaster" he offered a bow to the mage before returning to his preparations for the journey through the Realm

[Orion86]

Shea had thought that after the battle he would finally have a chance to rest, he had been wrong. The battle had been fiercer than anyone had ever expected, the Jade armies Golems had wreaked havoc amongst the men of Caledorne. Shea's own men had faired somewhat better, they were professional soldiers and as professional mercenaries they were better equipped than most of their counter parts in Caledorne. His main loses had been amongst his cavalry. Their initial charges and their subsequent use against the Golems had left many men killed or wounded, and an even greater number of beasts laid slain in the Vine Pass. The truth was that men were easy to train in comparison to a war horse. It would be many months before his cavalry would be back to their full strength, and this meant that the Sacred Knights were weaker for their lose. In comparison his footmen had gotten off quite easily, Old One Ear had proven that he still had a masterful understanding of tactics and he had managed to preserve a large number of their men. As for the scouts they had only lost a score of men and a few of them had been killed in accidents while scouring the Vine Pass for Jade warriors after the battle. So all in all Shea was pleased with how his men had faired but he empathized with Treamos, it would be hard on the King having lost so many men for so little gain. Shea understood little of politics and even he knew that it was going to be a difficult march home for the King of Caledorne.

The fire crackled at his feet and the spit rotated slowly over the flames. The smell of pork filled the air and it was making Shea salivate slightly, the one thing that Shea loved above all else was the taste of spit roasted pork and he narrowed his eyes slightly when Rhyvern turned up. The presence of the Shadow Walker usually went hand in hand with bad news of one sort or another, and he knew that they were going to be moving out soon. The group had spoke little about what was to come, instead focusing on the success of the battle and helping with the burial process. Shea listened to Rhyvern speak as he filled a plate with some of the spit roasted pork, filling his face as the Shadow Walker explained the mission. He nearly lost the whole plate when the rabbit mage made his flashy entrance. He eyed the mage suspiciously as he introduced himself to the group. Even Shea had heard of the Rabbit Mage, some of it had been good and some of it had been bad, it looked like Shea was going to have the chance to form his own opinions on the matter.

Shea not wanting to stand on ceremony stood up and offered his plate of meat to the mage,

It is still warm if you want to share in our meal? However if meat isn't to your taste I can have one of my men head to the stores and have some carrots brought over for you?

Shea said this with a smile, he was sincere but it was obvious who the butt of the joke was meant to be. The little voice in Shea's mind decided that it might be time to find another head to occupy, as it seemed that this one wasn't going to be around much longer.

[Pockets]

Keyola gave Shea a questioning look. "Do you always offer your meat to strange men before even introducing yourself?" he asked. He sniffed at the plate. "well spiced though i must say and while I am not in the habbit of pork at the morning meal i believe i shall take a ou up on your offer. Thank you Sir...?" he ended the sentence with a questioning note in his voice and deftly plucked the plate from Sheas hands. Pulling a dagger from his belt he speared a piece of the pork and popped it into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully as he aeaited i troductions.

[Orion86]

HAHHAHHAHA

Shea let out an all mighty laugh at the retort from Keyola. He was pleased to see that the mage had a sense of humour, it would make travelling with him a lot easier. Once he had managed to get his laughter under control he went over to the keg and filled a couple of mugs with ale. The vine pass had many things but an adequate water supply was not one of them, so the group had been drinking weak ale for the last couple of days. Some of the others had opted to risk what water was left but Shea was used to this arrangement.

Here it goes quiet well with the pork. Breakfast of champions pork and ale, it helps get the blood moving in the morning...

Shea handed the ale to Keyola and sat down again with his own breakfast,

[... I am Shea Allanon, I lead the Sacred Knights and have the apparent fortune of being part of this little rag tag band of shapers. If Rhyvern doesn't crack a person on the arse with lightning they are usually alright. Also after Jade and her wings, and Zurith the Manticore, mage with rabbit ears doesn't really rate as a sunrise. Sorry.

[Lillian Thorne]

Callistan’s nostril’s twitched at the scent of the roasting pork, trying to decide if she was hungry or not. Her body had only just caught up with the fact that it had been healed. Even though her flesh had been mended, the bruising and trauma had persisted in her flesh and her bones had ached unbearably. It was only within the last day or so that she could walk without pain. Not that pain had stopped her from walking, quite the contrary. In her stubbornness to prove that she wasn’t hurt she perhaps had overdone it and set herself back some in healing. She would deny this but her increasingly waspish temper had made the lie apparent and various people, her old instructor included, had begun to press drink on her, drink the healers had doctored up with the pain medications she refused to take. She’d begun to sleep more, the healing sleep that her body needed but she’d also grown suspicious and eventually begun to refuse all drink offered to her. The long and the short of it was Princess Callistan was a lousy patient.

But the Damage, so to speak, was done and her body had begun to make its way towards being hale and sound and her mood improved enough that people stopped avoiding her and it was even rumored that her smile had been seen on occasion. All this in a week that felt like an eternity as the army collected itself and began to make preparations to leave. It was only with the cessation of pain that she began to really consider what it was they were about to do. She wasn’t certain she wanted to go along with them. Her aversion to the dreaming and most magic in general made the whole experience seem like a disaster waiting to happen. Two things convinced her, Rhyven’s explanation and insistence that her presence was critical and the fact that the damned butterfly was going. If Marissa was going without complaint then sure as hell Callistan was going too, even if the thought gave her the willies.

So it was that the appearance of the Rabbit Mage was a welcome diversion, even if he addressed her and the butterfly in the same sentence as if they were anything alike. She moved over to greet him and watched as the banter occurred between Shea and Keyola, a faint but genuine smile crossing her lips. She moved forward and bowed to him, she never curtseyed, even when wearing a dress, and addressed him formally as was her wont. It amused her to so formally address a being so informal and well… fuzzy.

“Good day Master Keyola, it is a pleasure seeing you once again. My brother is well, all things considered, and yourself?”

[tirgesfu]

Albajo could not shake his sadness. It took his hand each time he help with a grave. It burned his eyes when he looked upon the scorched land. It shook his toes when he walked upon a land that never knew one side from the other. And it caught in his throat as he stood apart from the ones who seemed so much better with all of this. He was a part, but he was not. He was only beginning to understand he was a Shaper or so he was told. But he did not feel a part of them.

A few times during the attempts to clean up what could never be cleaned Albajo had wanted to dream wellness to the brunt ground, to the charred trees, to the bloodied water, and to the smoke filled sky. But he knew the soil would seek its own wellness, the green would return and the winds would push the taste of battle away eventually. He had spent enough time in the void to know skipping any cycle, even the pain or ruin to the return of health, was not wise. So he pushed himself in any physical way he could so that each night in exhausted rest he would not hear the cries of a war torn land. He tired instead to listen to the voices of the warriors.

That was his attempt this day as a new one arrived. Rabbit Mage? He watched Cedric’s formal introduction followed by Shea casually food exchange. He stood silent as greetings were exchanged between Callistan, whom he still privately thought of as the Red Cat, and the man. Callistan knew everyone in a distant sort of way.

Albajo did not move to introduce himself. He was just another in a line of many many men. He was not a leader, not a princess, not a Holly Man, or the relations of any queen of any land. So he stood to the side and smelled the spiced meat thinking maybe he would pass and find the carrots.

[Pockets]

Keyola accepted the Ale and nodded along as Shea spoke to him. "Ah you have met Master Zurith I see. Jade forgot to mention that when she arrived at my home in The Hills. Yes, I imatine i woukd be far less surprising than m ch of what youve seen in yiur recent travels and trials. Jade did fill me in on most of it." He tlanced at Rhyven. "And dont worry, I boxed her ears for her for that stunt with the crystal prison. You know she wont rearrange my anatomy overly much. You wouldnt be so lucky."

He turned his attention to Cedric as he walked over and i troduced himself. "Your Eminence," he said and his manner suddenly became far more formal. "My apologies I did not realize that i was in the presence of the Order of Lights High Priest." He bowed again, much lower than he had before. "It is an honor to meet you and I hope we might have time to discuss the merits of different belief systems if you do not mind the challenge?"

He listened carefully to Cedrics response before turning his attentionnto Callistan. "The lovely Miss Callistan. It is good to hear that Traemos is doing well. What was that I heard about Rhyven's lghtning catching someone posterior?" His furry eyebrows ckimbed his forehead and a mischievous glint twinkled in his eyes. "Considering your usual heavy armor I can only imagine you were the poor victim of such an event?"

Rhyven grumbled quietly nearby. "Zap one person on the arse and they never let you hear the end of it," he muttered darkly to himself.

[May]

Marisa

She hated the standing around and waiting. She also hated the sitting around and waiting. Or the doing sometimes too. There was little that made her totally happy about the situation around here anymore. It was sad, she was a little sad, about all the people who'd died. She cried, often too. But she was more or less useless now. She'd been trying to avoid most people the last week or so. Especially the fiery haired woman, who despite their mutual dislike of one another, had saved her. Marisa was so very grateful for what she'd done. But she didn't know how to say that. She didn't know how to say much of anything to Callistan for that matter.

When Rhyven blessedly called them too attention she looked away from trying not to, and failing miserable, look at Callistan on the other side of the little semi-circle they seemed to have grouped themselves into. Keyola's appearance among them didn't surprise her any, but when he addressed her she started, surprised to actually have something to talk about...

Not that she was given the chance before the Mage's attention was drawn away from her. Her dark eyes flickered over to Shea with just the hint of barley hidden annoyance. Letting out that annoyance as best she could in a huff of air she stepped over a little closer, still keeping her distance from those that didn't wish her near and looked to Keyola with a very well practiced smile. "My mother is doing well," she replied with a clipped sort of nod of her head, her smile never faltering any. "She'll be touched to hear you asked of her well being."

[Affili]

Cedric Smiled at Keyole's formalities, but waved it off with a shrug as he stepped forward, "Please Master Keyole, I'm almost certain that you're at least five times my senior and besides, eminence and me have never really meshed well! "He grinned as he rested his hand on the mage's shoulder "I am honored to meet you!"With that he bowed as low as Keyole had bowed a moment ago and moved back towards the others while calling over his shoulder "I'm sure we'll have plenty of time for discussions!"

Mostly uninterested at being in the spot light as someone important, he passed by the others and stood beside Albajo with a smile "Sir Albajo, how do you fare? I'm sorry for the land's losses, but it time, it shall be well again!" his hand glowed a faint green as he smiled warmly "Very similar to the power that runs through my healing magic the land is blessed with the power to restore itself! and I shall hope, once this is all over, we may walk together across these very lands and marvel at her determination to mend herself and live on!"
Cedric pointed at a small shrub near where they stood, that had already began to grow green once more.

He glanced in concern towards Marissa. She had seen a lot of bloodshed in this war, and it occurred to him just then that he had not even spoken with her since the battle had ceased. No one had the time to really talk lately with all their work and tasks at hand and he made a personal note, to spend some time with her as soon as he got the chance.

He had seen bloodshed before , and heard the screams of agony. He had felt the warmth of another's blood run over his skin, too many times to recall and many had spoken their last words to him while he held them close and watched as their life slipped away into darkness.

He was unsure how much of it Marissa had seen before this battle and he found that troubling. She had been strong this last week, but a few times, Cedric had seen the glisten of a tear roll down her cheek.