Carantathraiel

Wanderers

"Brought to you?" he asked, glancing at her again. "You mean to say people from this world have traveled to you? Or you've had others that have visited here?" What did they call this world, Ruli pondered. For what purpose did they move through worlds, and how. With these world gates? he's never heard of such a thing before, but that didn't mean gates weren't opened on the other side of the world.
His eyes wandered over the sign she pointed at, understand in part her difficulty in reading it. He'd been slow in picking up written text, even with Zeke's help.

That seemed like a lifetime ago.

"Shallow indeed." Rulitus agreed with a grumble. "And you age slower? You mentioned being forty when the Black Storm hit. You don't even look thirty, so I would comfortably guess as much."

Wanderers

Breakfast wasn't horrible. A bit of herbs added to it for flavor and it passed as edible. Ruli knew Sid had shit luck with figuring out which herbs went well with one another, and never really tried to correct her when she avoided them altogether. She was trying, and it wasn't an easy to take to make food for so many people with such limited supplies.

When they arrived in Cordon again, Ruli donned in his usual gear, too-small-boots, plus a shirt he borrowed from Envy beneath his regular one for extra warmth, Ruli inhaled. He could smell the recent rain in the city; it amplified everything, which, despite his recent meal, made him hungry all over again. There were more people out and about, informing him they were nearing the apex of the festivities. He observed people dancing, playing instruments he was vaguely familiar with, handing out flowers, and more dancing. And drinking. At least that, he was comfortable with.
He glanced sidelong at Kire when he felt her eyes on him, ready to growl at her if she so much as hinted that she wanted to dance with him.

"How many similarities?" Ruli asked at random as they wandered along the crowded street to locate a botanist. "You speak the language. Obviously terrain is similar, as you know oceans, mountains. One sun, I presume, on your comment on sunsets."

Wanderers

As she said she'd been trying to tell him, he frowned, retracing their conversations to see why he'd missed all the signs. Suppose she had been trying. He met her gaze again, listening as she explained how the Seers chose their champions and interference by educated guesses. It sounded infuriating. To have someone meddling in your own life of the lives of others based on something so flimsy. And when she went on to describe the terrible power behind opening gates, the blood and souls it took, the number of sorcerers, all for a chance to open a gate.

When Kire mentioned that there had been an attempt, failed or successful, who knew, years ago, Ruli blinked. She'd been forty years old. So, he surmised, either she had a long life, too, to her world worked different when it came to age. She looked nothing like forty years, or however much older she was. But, then again, nor did he.

"A bit, I suppose." Ruli answered her, rubbing his face again. "I sort of understand the need to hunt him down and kill him a bit more clearly." He lowered his arms, toying with his empty cup. "So. Breakfast, and then back to Cordon? We can see if your enemies are really there, or just purchase more lumber and seeds."

Wanderers

"The others have probably figured it out, as well, they're just more polite than I am." Rulitus declared watching her raise her hand to show off the Ring.
As she spoke about its power, purpose, and origin, he watched her speak, studying the item on her finger curiously. It was a shortcut for a portal, to use energy instead of blood and dark magic. That Ikegai wanted, despite having successfully portaled without.
Between worlds, Kire said. Watching her portal from local place to place looked exhausting. He couldn't imagine the energy it would take to jump from one world to the other.

"Amria isn't in this world, then, is it?" Ruli asked, recalling how very drained she'd been in Ziad their first encounter. She'd managed well, but the small jumps had taken so much out of her. It was nothing like in Cordon, when she was traveling a few hundred miles each way.
"Makes sense. Why you've never seen elves. Or met a dragon." Ruli glanced toward the stream.m, watching the water trickle lazily.
"But why does Ikegai want your Ring if it won't work for him?" He asked, glancing toward her again.

Wanderers

He glanced at her and narrowed his eyes suspiciously when she asked what made him soften up towards the Kartaian. He didn't remember much of it, but he knew he didn't trust the Kartaian. Knew that he'd tried to bite the elf, but beyond that, much of it was blurred. And she went on to chide his wording, and remind him that he was needed, and Ruli lowered his gaze. It was about trust. Ruli needed them to trust him, and he barely trusted himself.
And, if shit went sideways, Ruli would rather Zeke and Envy get out, while he remain to fight. He could go down in a last stand if push came to shove.

As Kire asked about his being born with the power, Ruli looked up again, surprised that Envy had said as much. He normally withheld all information on everyone else, but never minded information being revealed about himself. No secrets, with the giant. He could easily tell her to keep her nose out of his business, he had no reason to trust her with the information. But she knew pieces, and would easily fit the details together. She knew he had the powers, anyway.
"Half-breed." He said quietly, almost shamefully. And that was all he said.

"Your power is in your Ring." He said instead, changing the subject. He pointed with his index finger. "I can,, I don't know. Sense it. Whatever it is, its strong."

Wanderers

Ruli blinked when she pointed out the flaw in Envy's ability to Shadow-Walk, clearly having not realized it before. Envy couldn't see. He could only picture in his head what he already knew. He only knew Ziad.
And then she mentioned the touch, and he blinked again. That would help. Envy could take mental images, see through another's eye and use it as an escape route. The trust would have to be flawless, though. Zeke, maybe.

"They can, yes." Ruli answered. "If they want, they can tell your body to stop working, and you'll die. But they're not so quick to the chase. They, uh." Ruli sighed, remembering his last little bout with the male Kartaiain in Ziad. "They like to make you relive things. They get into your head quickly and make you feel every bit of paint you've ever felt or inflicted. Every regret. Every fear. They flood your mind with it. Make you feel hollow, ripping everything out and breaking every piece of your body without moving an inch."

He inhaled and sighed. "Envy's never done anything of the sort. At least not since leaving them. He admits that he uses his touch on kids when they come under his supervision. he'll find a favourite food, and favourite game, and use it to build a bond. Only for the tough ones. Like myself." Ruli shrugged.
"Envy's being blind, it will have to be used to help him. He can take, if offered, a mental image of a location to retreat to. From Zeke, surely, who will have some evacuation plan in mind. Because no. The prisoner ruse won't last long. But, hopefully, by the time it fails, he'll be out of their reach."

Wanderers

Ruli furrowed his brow and looked to her, confused. "Are ... Are you Gods lies? I don't understand." He stated. "All myths come from a truth somewhere. I have never wondered if they were real or not." Her comment on dragons, and then being mortal lovers, made him furrow his brow even deeper, wondering if there was a story behind that, and if probing would be at all rewarding. "I've never seen a dragon." He argued. "But they are in all sorts of stories here. So I see no reason to believe they aren't real."

As she went on to insult the Kartaians, he nodded, twisting his empty cup in his hands. "Mmm, they're not cowardly, not toward each other. Least thats how he described it. He would have been challenged formerly, and defeated publicly. And, then, likely ripped to shreds and his teeth and bones used in their swords." Ruli gave a grim, tooth-less smile. "I can understand why he fled, instead."

"If the refugees turn against him, it won't last long." Ruli informed her. "Envy can Shadow-Walk to safety, if need be. Which, in answer to your question the other day, yes. The majority of the Five descendants can to it. It was their way to travel and avoid the sun. Its mostly the Kartaians that have the ability, that, and their compelling touch. Its hit or miss in other clans. Jyavians, for instance, I know can walk, but not touch. Raielwens can do neither. I have no idea about the Akarielwens." He clicked his tongue. "But, everyone within the caves would rise in defense of Envy. Still do, currently, which makes things a little tense."

Wanderers

"Mm." He responded as she she repeated all the races of elves that came from the Five. "Well, Solaralai is, or was, ruthless. She killed everything, and only the hardiest could survive under her attentions. Its why Akay came, to balance her out and make things easier. While she believed he was made for her, he did not. He believed they were separate entities, just coexisting to aid one another. To him, he had done no wrong, though Solaralai obviously saw things different." he tilted his head back. "Its why the face on the moon is so mournful. The loss of his beloved because of a misunderstanding."
Her name had been lost to the ages, torn from the pages of history by Solaralai and Jyavi. He had always wondered who she wasm that captured the heart of a God and threw aside her life for her children.

"He's a very rare abomination. His words." Ruli agreed. "He was born a twin, which, for elves, is significant. His sister took his existence in her space in their mother's womb as a challenge, and made it her goal to end him. She cut off his ear when they were in their adolescence. Gave him a good few other scars, too. But, he never challenged her back. He had no desire to try to blend in with the rest, no taste for blood. Which marked him as weak. So he left. The Kartaian's den is close to Ziad. In the mountains on the opposite side of the desert. So Envy knew where it was. They make raids often to steal people for slaves or playthings. Their history is entertwined. Its another of the reasons they're so unwelcoming toward Envy. The refugees, I mean."
He pointedly ignored the question about Aera. To her assumption that Envy was immortal, he shrugged. "Yes, and no. The Five were immortal. But over time, bloodlines became less pure. How often they mingled with mortals dwindled their immortality. Kartaians and Raielwens live a very long time, but still age and die."

Wanderers

Ruli debated her answer, but his foremost thought was that he was surprised it was still morning. Somehow he expected that he'd sleep through the afternoon, but she had woken him earlier than he would have, naturally. At least the coffee helped. "Come on." He said, leading her out back with his freshly filled cup of coffee.

Once outside, he studied her face more clearly, with the sleep from his eyes and the light of the day. Not bad. Much easier to look at, at least. He led her to the stream, where he set his cup aside so he could wash his face and neck to further help himself wake.
"Eons ago, there were two Gods. Solaralai, the Sun Goddess, and Akay, the Moon God. Made for one another to keep balance on the land. Only, Akay loved not Solaralai, but the creatures that walked the land they cared for. Humans." Ruli sat by the stream and drank his coffee, taking his time on this much stronger cup.

"After a few decades, he had taken one as a lover, and together they had had five children. Akariel, Taryn, Jyavi and the twins, Raiel and Kartai. They slept during the day to hide themselves from Solaralai, who had begun to suspect that her alleged husband had taken a lover, and was searching. Only, one day, as her husband had learned to do long ago, Solaralai took human form and walked the earth, finding his family. Accepting her fate, the mortal woman begged that the life of her children be spared. Solaralai agreed and slaughtered her before Akay's eyes before banishing him to the skies to never walk the earth again. While keeping her word that she would not kill the Five, she cursed them, so that if they ever stepped into her light, they would burn under her ire.
"She didn't know that Akay had already gifted them with immortality, so he could watch over his beloved children forever, while mourning the loss of his beloved. Akay also did not know that Jyavi, his eldest daughter, had betrayed their mother and sold them out to Solaralai. She alone could withstand the sun as payment, and the other four cast her out."

Ruli paused to stifle a yawn. "Th-the Kartaians were dark, vicious, and cold. The dark side of their father. While the Raielwens were the calm, peaceful side. The others all took up certain qualities of their parents; Akarielwens were the soldiers, the Taryn's the caretakers, and the Jyvaian's the hunters. The Taryn's were wiped out, too passive to survive, and the other two flourish somewhere, far from here. The Raielwens and the Kartaians remained here, nearest to their beloved mother's homeland, still unable to withstand the sun. Most of the elves, like Ysaryn's bloodline, derives from the Kartaians, or the Akarielwens. Based on their dark skin, I assume the former, as the Kartaians were the only ones to carry that colour. The Raielwens don't leave their colony often, and even more rarely socialize with mortals, with the exception of Aera, who met an ill circumstance that brought her to Ziad."

Wanderers

"The uncrowned king, yes." Ruli agreed. When they settled at last, he firmly believed the 'two' Ziads would split, and the one lef by Risa would fail unless she managed to marry, and even then, little would be done to help the city prosper. Whatever was led by Envy would flourish undoubtedly.
Horrified, he wondered for a moment if Envy and Risa would ever condemn one another to wed each other for the sake of the city they each loved, but he shoved that thought aside instantly.

"We did, yes. One of them wound up in our care for a while some twenty years ago." Ruli answered, remembering her. "She went back home maybe five years ago, I can't remember. We haven't heard from her since." He drained his second cup, waiting patiently for Kire to brew more, approving of how strong she appeared to make it.
"I've no doubt they can defend themselves. They're related, the Kartaians and her colony. As all the elves are, really, out here."

Ruli rubbed his face again, remembering she wanted to know about all the elves. "Do you still want a history lesson, or were you just making conversation?"