Post by Angelique on Apr 12, 2012 12:50:32 GMT -8
Ankhara stood in the midst of the lost souls shaking her head, she'd past several people engaged in the same act of freeing the souls of what ever bound them to Magincia; the dead kept coming, in wave after wave seeming without end. Just as an army was needed to push back the hordes that caused this devestation, An army was needed to release these souls from their torment; a handful of adventurers were not enough to stem the tide. As Ankhara worked her way from corner to corner, street to street, she would complete each circle of the city at what looked like a church, inside the last remaining feature was a solid stone ankh that had held on through the fall of the city and stood marker or reminder to all that was lost.
As the young Paladin reached the end of this circle around Magincia a figure moving with slow grace caught her eye. A man dressed in black moved through the ghosts of the fallen, towards the ankh building in silence. The spirits parted for him as he moved past until he stopped several feet back from the ankh, his hands folded behind his back, his arms rising to form a “V” to his shoulders. Silken ebony hair falling down his back. Ankhara watched wary of him, his stillness was unnerving, the only movement was the unusual flicker of the candelabras near him. Everyone Ankhara had met in the city had been well armed, to defend themselves from the wrath of some of the spirits as they were set free. This man appeared unarmed... he needed none as the spirits seemed to give way to his presence. One of the foresaken moved past giving the building a wide berth.
It took a moment for Ankhara to gain the courage to speak, softly her voice still holding the lilt of her elven mother tongue, “excuse me,” she asked. Without movement or turning towards her, “yes,” the man responded his voice soft, precise and also carried a light accent. “If I am interrupting I can return later,” Ankhara continued. “This is... public ground, there is no need for departure,” the man responded. The words spoken between them both were eerily punctuated by the whispers of spirits in the area, though none seemed to venture close. “I... its just that the souls,” Ankhara paused as she turned looking for any. As she looked back to the man his long paper white pointed ear twitched lightly. “The don't move unless forced by armed men and women,” she paused a moment before continuing, “you are unarmed...” Still as a statue the man stared at the ankh, the pause uncomfortable causing Ankhara to shiver slightly. “Perhaps, then... they chose to move, instead of being forced, with armament?” the man offered after a time.
Ankhara nodded a little, scrutinizing him before venturing, “they move for you...” “Indeed,” was his response. “You have influence over... lost souls?” the young Paladin asked, her curiosity overcoming her uneasiness, until she noticed that though the candelabras cast light upon him... there was no shadow laid out across the ground. Ankhara backed up startled when next he spoke her eyes locked on the place his shadow should be. “Influence is a relative term... “ he stated. “Authority,” Ankhara continued in a quiet voice. “Understanding, would be more appropriate.” the man concluded. Ankhara wet her lips, as she watched the man stand remaining completely motionless. “You... spend time with them here?” she asked. “I spend time here regardless of their presence,” the man offered, “and have done so, from time to time... before these current spirits swarmed over this island.” he finished. Ankhara dug her heels in, forcing herself to continue to talk to the man, “with the ankh?” she asked after a moment. The dark man nodded a bit and replied, “with the ankh... with what is left of the building.” Ankhara frowned a moment, “for spiritual focus?” she asked quietly. “Of a fashion, yes...” he said softly.
The man then asked, “and you, young Paladin?” Ankhara stuttered a moment, “Please... forgive my rudeness, I've just never seen...” “Never seen...?” the dark man asked. Softly Ankhara responded, “the dead... these souls part for anyone." "I asked a blessing at the ankh when I arrived,” Ankhara answered his question. The man nodded again, “I can feel it's recent use,” he stated. Ankhara asked him how he was able to tell, her uneasiness deepening as she listened to his answer. “The resonance... is more broad, than usual, this evening.” “You read divine energy?” she asked. “I do,” he responded nodding slightly. “Are you here also to release these...” Ankhara paused as the significance of a previous statement registered in her mind, “how do you know I am a Paladin?” she asked slowly. The man started answering her first question stating that he did not believe the souls left on Magincia would prefer the destination, should he release them, and followed this with explaining that she to a degree resonated in a similar fashion to the ankh. Ankhara whispered it was her eternal goal then blinked at the man when he offered having heard her, “eternity could be better spent....”
“Better spent,” Ankhara asked. “In pursuit of something, more fundamentally obtainable, though indeed, I suppose, there are also worse ways to spend eternity... to be fair.” the man went on. “Than to ward against those who would destroy what they can not create?” the young Paladin countered. The man his back still to her, asked, “who are 'those'?” “They present themselves over time, by their deeds. In truth a never ending fight.” “That particular equation could find balance...” he stated. Ankhara quarried about his reference to an equation then listened intently as he explained. “But not in the lifetime of those who could measure the endeavor. The struggle, Good and Evil... Right and Wrong...” the man explained. Ankhara quietly asked, “you think they can be resolved to a neutral position?” The man did think so, and went on to state the lie that was good and the lie that was evil can be discarded for the truth. Ankhara asked him if it was his truth and her uneasiness deepened further by his answer. The dark man answered after tilting his head for a moment, “No, I suppose I cannot take credit for it. It has been in existence for as long as there have been sentient minds to ponder these topics...”
Very softly Ankhara asked, “who are you?” “I have many names...” was what he offered next as he turned like a black cat, silver eyes reflective in the dimness, to regard her. His appearance startled the young paladin causing her to step back. “I prefer simply... Azrael,” he replied. “Of Istas,” Ankhara asked. Azrael nodded slightly and politely said, “indeed.” Ankhara felt as if she was being measured as he watched her, though she could see no movement from his eyes or any part of him as he stood unnaturally still with his hands remaining folded behind his back. Ankhara stood still, on guard as she spoke, “I... I have a room in your hostel,” then cut him off as he was asking if she was enjoying the amenities, “I asked about you, I wanted to address the cities governors.” Azrael raised an eyebrow then asked, “You have business you wish discussed?” “Not business... I wanted to offer my gratitude for my stay and the helpfulness of people who live in Istas,” Ankhara said with a little more strength. “Noted,” Azrael responded then said softly, “you are enjoying your stay then?” Ankhara felt herself relax a bit as she blushed slightly answering him, “Your library is a wonder, and I've not enjoyed a room so comfortable, not in a very long time.” Azrael nodded gently offering, “I am pleased to hear it.”
Ankhara glanced over him slowly then softly offered, “I am Ankhara.” Azrael's pale lips smiled slightly as he responded, “an appropriately, beautiful name.” Azrael seemed to study her patiently as she glanced back to the spirits, then to the man and where his shadow should be. Azrael followed her gaze then looked back to her purposefully. Sensing it was time to leave, Ankhara thanked Azrael offering, “I shouldn't keep you from your meditations.” Azrael spoke softly saying, “It has indeed, been a pleasure meeting you... though I assure you, you are no interruption.” Ankhara bowed gently thanking him for his time, watching as he turned back to the ankh saying softly, “I have nothing but...” As she backed away from the building she watched as he stood again like a statue watching the ankh a subtle fear sat like a weight in her stomach. Ankhara mounted her ethereal steed quickly and as she drew the reigns to her she looked back and Azrael was gone... leaving Ankhara in deep contemplation of what had happened, and what it could possibly mean.
As the young Paladin reached the end of this circle around Magincia a figure moving with slow grace caught her eye. A man dressed in black moved through the ghosts of the fallen, towards the ankh building in silence. The spirits parted for him as he moved past until he stopped several feet back from the ankh, his hands folded behind his back, his arms rising to form a “V” to his shoulders. Silken ebony hair falling down his back. Ankhara watched wary of him, his stillness was unnerving, the only movement was the unusual flicker of the candelabras near him. Everyone Ankhara had met in the city had been well armed, to defend themselves from the wrath of some of the spirits as they were set free. This man appeared unarmed... he needed none as the spirits seemed to give way to his presence. One of the foresaken moved past giving the building a wide berth.
It took a moment for Ankhara to gain the courage to speak, softly her voice still holding the lilt of her elven mother tongue, “excuse me,” she asked. Without movement or turning towards her, “yes,” the man responded his voice soft, precise and also carried a light accent. “If I am interrupting I can return later,” Ankhara continued. “This is... public ground, there is no need for departure,” the man responded. The words spoken between them both were eerily punctuated by the whispers of spirits in the area, though none seemed to venture close. “I... its just that the souls,” Ankhara paused as she turned looking for any. As she looked back to the man his long paper white pointed ear twitched lightly. “The don't move unless forced by armed men and women,” she paused a moment before continuing, “you are unarmed...” Still as a statue the man stared at the ankh, the pause uncomfortable causing Ankhara to shiver slightly. “Perhaps, then... they chose to move, instead of being forced, with armament?” the man offered after a time.
Ankhara nodded a little, scrutinizing him before venturing, “they move for you...” “Indeed,” was his response. “You have influence over... lost souls?” the young Paladin asked, her curiosity overcoming her uneasiness, until she noticed that though the candelabras cast light upon him... there was no shadow laid out across the ground. Ankhara backed up startled when next he spoke her eyes locked on the place his shadow should be. “Influence is a relative term... “ he stated. “Authority,” Ankhara continued in a quiet voice. “Understanding, would be more appropriate.” the man concluded. Ankhara wet her lips, as she watched the man stand remaining completely motionless. “You... spend time with them here?” she asked. “I spend time here regardless of their presence,” the man offered, “and have done so, from time to time... before these current spirits swarmed over this island.” he finished. Ankhara dug her heels in, forcing herself to continue to talk to the man, “with the ankh?” she asked after a moment. The dark man nodded a bit and replied, “with the ankh... with what is left of the building.” Ankhara frowned a moment, “for spiritual focus?” she asked quietly. “Of a fashion, yes...” he said softly.
The man then asked, “and you, young Paladin?” Ankhara stuttered a moment, “Please... forgive my rudeness, I've just never seen...” “Never seen...?” the dark man asked. Softly Ankhara responded, “the dead... these souls part for anyone." "I asked a blessing at the ankh when I arrived,” Ankhara answered his question. The man nodded again, “I can feel it's recent use,” he stated. Ankhara asked him how he was able to tell, her uneasiness deepening as she listened to his answer. “The resonance... is more broad, than usual, this evening.” “You read divine energy?” she asked. “I do,” he responded nodding slightly. “Are you here also to release these...” Ankhara paused as the significance of a previous statement registered in her mind, “how do you know I am a Paladin?” she asked slowly. The man started answering her first question stating that he did not believe the souls left on Magincia would prefer the destination, should he release them, and followed this with explaining that she to a degree resonated in a similar fashion to the ankh. Ankhara whispered it was her eternal goal then blinked at the man when he offered having heard her, “eternity could be better spent....”
“Better spent,” Ankhara asked. “In pursuit of something, more fundamentally obtainable, though indeed, I suppose, there are also worse ways to spend eternity... to be fair.” the man went on. “Than to ward against those who would destroy what they can not create?” the young Paladin countered. The man his back still to her, asked, “who are 'those'?” “They present themselves over time, by their deeds. In truth a never ending fight.” “That particular equation could find balance...” he stated. Ankhara quarried about his reference to an equation then listened intently as he explained. “But not in the lifetime of those who could measure the endeavor. The struggle, Good and Evil... Right and Wrong...” the man explained. Ankhara quietly asked, “you think they can be resolved to a neutral position?” The man did think so, and went on to state the lie that was good and the lie that was evil can be discarded for the truth. Ankhara asked him if it was his truth and her uneasiness deepened further by his answer. The dark man answered after tilting his head for a moment, “No, I suppose I cannot take credit for it. It has been in existence for as long as there have been sentient minds to ponder these topics...”
Very softly Ankhara asked, “who are you?” “I have many names...” was what he offered next as he turned like a black cat, silver eyes reflective in the dimness, to regard her. His appearance startled the young paladin causing her to step back. “I prefer simply... Azrael,” he replied. “Of Istas,” Ankhara asked. Azrael nodded slightly and politely said, “indeed.” Ankhara felt as if she was being measured as he watched her, though she could see no movement from his eyes or any part of him as he stood unnaturally still with his hands remaining folded behind his back. Ankhara stood still, on guard as she spoke, “I... I have a room in your hostel,” then cut him off as he was asking if she was enjoying the amenities, “I asked about you, I wanted to address the cities governors.” Azrael raised an eyebrow then asked, “You have business you wish discussed?” “Not business... I wanted to offer my gratitude for my stay and the helpfulness of people who live in Istas,” Ankhara said with a little more strength. “Noted,” Azrael responded then said softly, “you are enjoying your stay then?” Ankhara felt herself relax a bit as she blushed slightly answering him, “Your library is a wonder, and I've not enjoyed a room so comfortable, not in a very long time.” Azrael nodded gently offering, “I am pleased to hear it.”
Ankhara glanced over him slowly then softly offered, “I am Ankhara.” Azrael's pale lips smiled slightly as he responded, “an appropriately, beautiful name.” Azrael seemed to study her patiently as she glanced back to the spirits, then to the man and where his shadow should be. Azrael followed her gaze then looked back to her purposefully. Sensing it was time to leave, Ankhara thanked Azrael offering, “I shouldn't keep you from your meditations.” Azrael spoke softly saying, “It has indeed, been a pleasure meeting you... though I assure you, you are no interruption.” Ankhara bowed gently thanking him for his time, watching as he turned back to the ankh saying softly, “I have nothing but...” As she backed away from the building she watched as he stood again like a statue watching the ankh a subtle fear sat like a weight in her stomach. Ankhara mounted her ethereal steed quickly and as she drew the reigns to her she looked back and Azrael was gone... leaving Ankhara in deep contemplation of what had happened, and what it could possibly mean.