Eyes of the Dead (w.i.p)

[Ayshe]

Hey all.

I\'m rewriting one of my incomplete stories chapter by chapter here. Thought I might mirror it here for comments.

Enjoy!

Ayshe\'s story-in-progress (Eyes of the Dead)
~ Energies ~


Ayshe sat on her haunches and watched the old Kran apply his craft.

The Glyph Master was short for a Kran, and exquisitely marbled. Ayshe couldn\'t hazard a guess as to his age, but then apart from Kran who could? His large, solid fingers were working with surprising dexterity as he worked and wove the magics before his device. Streamers of colour flew from his fingertips to precise points on the delicate object, which was emitting small puffs of smoke and a high whining sound. Every now and then he would move his hand, spread his fingers, or pull back. As he worked, Ayshe could see a vague shape forming in the brightly lit center.

Ayshe knew, in theory at least, how it worked. The device, which was called a condenser, was a sort of machine designed to use energies in magic to copy glyphs. In these lands, glyphs were the only known method of using the magics that were abundant. They served as focal points for the mind training that was divided into six Ways, or schools of thought. Ayshe understood that the complex crystal and metal lattice design of this condenser could very well have been a mages lifes work. It was beautiful, with coloured transparent tubes made of magic crystal arranged in a stunningly elaborate geometric pattern around a central chamber. A mage could use arcane materials and magics to apply his craft, sometimes taking months, to create a condenser that could be used to then create glyphs of a particular Way. For some reason, Crystal Way condensers were easiest to make. Scholars thought maybe this was due to the source of all the six schools of magic being closest in nature to Crystal. Hardest of all were the Dark Way condensers and few existed. The Dark way, unsurprisingly, was the Way equally opposed to to Crystal. Throughout recent history, some mages had created condensers that could work with two like glyphs, such as Blue and Crystal. Such devices were rare, complex and sought after. Fewer still existed that used three or four.

This elaborate condenser, the centuries old design of the legendary Glyph Master Kalecia of Archaeron, had six different coloured resonation chambers. All six ways. Ayshe knew that if the Glyph Master ever decided to sell the device, and someone could afford the price, he could very well retire and buy a tenth of the city, perhaps even inhabitants included.

A skilled enough mage could place a glyph of one way in a special holder, then channel sympathetic magics into the condenser. In the centre of the device, harmonics would cause the magics to crystallise as a perfect copy of the original. But it was not without danger; many a skilled mage had lost control in the past and died horrible, searing deaths along with any unfortunate within a disturbingly large area. And that was with just one way. Ayshe kept very, very quiet. If the Kran made a mistake, he would be destroying a tenth the city instead of buying it. But if a Kran is going to attempt magic, he had better be patient. Despite his natural resistance to the arts, there were none better in the city than Uvyn the Glyph Master. He was well trained in all Six ways. And even now, he was channelling all six into the device, a feat reserved for few.

But Uvyn made no mistakes. in time the high pitched whine ceased and the Kran relaxed a little. In the side resonance chamber was the small blue six sided glyph Ayshe had carried since birth. And in the centre of the condenser, where there should have been an exact copy, there was a twisted red-black crystal.

\"Another faliure\" croaked the ancient Kran.

Ayshe shrugged. \"I am grateful as always, master Uvyn\". Although her guild was by no means impoverished, few in the city would be able to afford the services of the Glyph Master. As it was, he was attempting to recreate Ayshe\'s glyph out of pure professional curiosity. He did not charge one tria for his time and effort, and after each failed glyph he merely made some cryptic notes in his little black notebook and returned to his craft. There were nine failed glyphs so far, all of differing hues and shapes. Ayshe placed the latest with it\'s bretheren.

\"The problem, is that this glyph of yours does not come from these lands.\" Uvyn said, for at least the tenth time that month. \"How can we recreate the glyph if we cannot use the same energies?\". Ayshe often wondered the same. But as always, the weathered Kran was not irritated, merely curious.

\"I shall leave you, master Uvyn\" Ayshe said. \"I thank you, again, for your services.\"

The Kran nodded and waved a hand absentmindedly as he bent once again over the condenser, making minute adjustments. Ayshe let herself out of his workshop.



Hydlaa stood as the largest city on the highest level of Yliakum. An old city, built on the top level of an eight layered, immense, hollowed out stalactite, with the bottom most point of an equally immense magical crystal protruding into it. The common belief was that either the inhabitants of Yliakum were really, really small or the world was really, really big. Either way, the stalactite theory was widely accepted as the explanation of the world. As for the crystal, called the Azure Sun, it had powers so untamed that Gods even feared it. Large as the stalactite was, if you believed the scholars, the crystal was larger. It extended all the way to the Surface, where a real sky provided it with light to filter down to the levels below.

As Ayshe walked through the bustling streets, it was easy to disbelieve that she was in a city far, far underground. The sun was bright in the sky and there was a light breeze. A good day for a walk. She turned down Octarch street and caught sight of her guild hall. Ayshe chuckled to herself. Home.



A few hours later, Ayshe caught herself staring out the window of her office in the guild hall. It was a clear, crisp evening beyond the open frame. She snapped out of her daydream, and looked about. Around her the plaster was cracked and the woodwork was showing signs of age. Home indeed. The purchase of this old estate had only happened a few weeks ago and already it was feeling that way. In their spare time the kin were cleaning the place up, and every day it looked a little more professional. Mordon had his little library, Luze had managed to scrounge some practice dummies and had a training area in the courtyard. Moogie was... well, Moogie was doing what she did best. Wherever she did it.
Ayshe had never had to ask how Moogie got the information she did, but reports came steadily to her desk. Which guilds were warring this week, relevant minutes of meetings going on in the townhall, promotion recommendations of new recruits. Ayshe had no idea how useful having an information gatherer - she still detested the word \"spy\" - was.
And these walls held quite a few enkidukai now. Downstairs Ayshe could hear Keder talking excitedly to Jityshe. No doubt the sour old warrior would be listening - politely - but with disinterest.
Jityshe Alchamet. Now there was a development that had stunned her. Having a convicted criminal in the guildhall - but not, never in the guild - was strange. Having the new recruits practically worship the scarred, grizzled warrior was stranger, but that at least Ayshe could appreciate. No, the strangest thing was that her brother Jityshe actually wanted to spend time in this city, let alone in these halls. But Ayshe found his company invaluable. She missed her friend and co leader Xenia terribly. As far as she knew, the charismatic enkidukai was still on assignment, somewhere. On extended leave, as Ayshe put it. She sighed, restless suddenly. Time to stretch the old legs, perhaps.



Ayshe pulled her coat against the frosty night on and headed downstairs. As she passed the small bar, Flare nodded and smiled as he poured Jityshe another ale. Since adopting the young enki, she had become very fond of him. He was bright and cheerful, perfectly suited to be a barkeep. And that was precisely what he wanted to be. He even served drinks here when off duty from Kada Els, where he spend most of his waking hours.

She smiled in return and didn\'t let it fade when Jityshe shot her a quizzical raised eyebrow. He had noticed that something had been bothering Ayshe lately, and with his usual bruntness and lack of tact had completely failed to coax it our of her. Let him wonder. Talad knows he had enough secrets for the both of them. Only right that Ayshe have a few.
She stepped out into the night. Ayshe looked over the slumbering city, lit with a pale glow. Somewhere, far far above the Great Crystal, past miles of rock and earth in a real sky, the moons must have been shining brightly. Ayshe picked a direction at random and headed off.

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[Ayshe]

~ Best left alone ~


Ayshe crept stealthily towards the clearing, still lit with a pale midnight glow. She moved very slowly, with oiled precise movements and patience generally found in enkidukai alone. Although her kind was naturally gifted at moving silently, Ayshe had always prided herself on her ability to sneak about. She raised her head and saw her destination, a large set of buildings nestled in amongst the trees. Most of the rooms were unlit. An easy mark.
She smiled and reached out a paw as she flexed to move lower past a small bush. Instinctively her ears pricked up at a slight rustle, and she froze, eyes wide and senses heightened. She sniffed, tasted the air and caught a familiar scent. She chuckled, stood up and smiled. \"Nilaya!\"

Behind her a cloaked figure dropped from an overhead branch to the ground and pulled back her hood. The new arrival was also an enkidukai, with gold and brown spotted fur, typical of a mountain clan. The eyes were blue and striking, and they were warmly fixed of Ayshe. \"Hiya!\" she chirped, with a flourished wave.

\"How do you do that, Nilaya?\" Ayshe complained merrily. \"I can\'t ever sneak in!\". She hugged the other Enkidukai warmly.
Nilaya shrugged. \"Oh, you know. Scouts and whatnot\".
\"It\'s nearly one in the morning!\" exclaimed Ayshe, as they walked towards the building.

\"You have a point?\" Nilaya chuckled. She was right, of course. Night and day mean little to ones who hunt equally well in either. Ayshe knew this, but it was always their little game. Ayshe often wondered if someone in her guild was helping Nilaya, sending a message when she went out. But not tonight, surely? Ayshe didn\'t even know where she was going when she left!

They entered the houses of the Explorers Guild. Ayshe couldn\'t help but notice that everything was well kept and new. Even the roof tiles had fresh paint. It wasn\'t all that surprising. The Explorers guild had immeasurable wealth, and although they never flaunted it, it was reflected in their decor. After a few minutes of smalltalk and some cold meats, Nilaya got around to asking the question.

\"So, why are you really here?\". Putting down her mug, Ayshe shrugged. \"I miss Xenia. I never realised how much I relied on her prescense in the guild\". She deflated a little and lowered her head. \"I don\'t know if I am strong enough to keep the guild ticking without her\"

Nilaya sighed and sat back. \"Ayshe, you know you can do this. She will be back, and you will cope until then. You are stronger than you think!\". Nilaya took a draught from her ale. Pausing for a moment she smiled. \"I know a couple places I could send messages, if you like?\". Ayshe nodded - Xenia was a mutual friend to Nilaya and Ayshe, but Nilaya was far better at keeping in contact with people over great distances.

She hated to admit it, but Ayshe was worried about Xenia. She had left so suddenly, with barely a word to her friends. The world was moving on and the guild was growing, but the member who had brought easily as much as Ayshe to it was nowhere to be found. The promotion of elder and equal that Ayshe had given long ago to Xenia was a reflection of her dedication and sheer magnetism, and after that the Felines Lair was known all over as being led by two mischevious enkidukai. It just didn\'t seem right going it solo.

A knock at the door heralded the entry of a sleepy looking Explorer. \"My pardons, Lady Nilaya, Lady Ayshe. A whisper has arrived for Ayshe Alchamet\". He held a small note in his hand, brandishing the wax seal of the Messenger guild.

Ayshe took the note and thanked the Explorer, who quietly closed the door on his way out. While Ayshe read the message, Nilaya mused about the Messengers of Yliakum, and their uncanny and magical ability to deliver messages almost instantly between citizens. \"The whisperers\" as they called themselves were the most often used and underappreciated guild in the city. A citizen could recieve a message or \"whisper\" almost anywhere. There must be some strong magics, Nilaya thought, for the messengers to locate each citizen with almost flawless precision.

\"From Xenia?\" asked Nilaya.

\"No, from Master Uvyn\" Ayshe said. \"At half three in the morning. I wonder if he ever sleeps? He has had some kind of success and wishes me to come at once\"

\"Mind if I tag along?\" asked Nilaya.

Ayshe shrugged \"Might be boring\"

They left at once, taking the well used forest path lack to Hydlaa.



The Glyph Master had been very busy indeed. His workshop was warm and humid, with clouds of smoke hanging up in the rafters. Ayshe was surprised to see Mordon yawning sleepily in the corner. As for Uvyn himself, he was hopping excitedly around his condenser. That, too had undergone some radical modification. Ayshe did not have time to take them in though, as Uvyn was jittery like an eager cub, proudly brandishing a small blue glyph shaped like a lions head.

\"Is That the copy?\" Asked Ayshe. \"It\'s fantastic! But how?\"

Uvyn took Ayshe\'s hand and pulled her over to the condenser. \"It came to me suddenly, Lady Ayshe. Look!\" He pointed to the device. I added a harmonic line to your glyph, allowing whatever energies your glyph uses to mix in with the others!

Ayshe was stunned. \"You can use the glyphs power to create itself?\" she asked.

\"Only insofar as using the energies channeled within. Think of it as using a forges hammer to create another forges hammer. A rather complete analogy, if you think about it because it needs metal - being the energy from your glyph. it needs heat - the six energies native to this realm, and it needs wood for the handle. I needed something to aid the condensing\" In the center of the chamber was a small mould shaped like a lions head - the symbol of Felines Lair. In it\'s former life, it had been used to make metal badges. Now it was making something else.

Mordon added his own explanation. \"Quite fascinating really. I\'ve checked at least a dozen books, and none mention using a glyphs own energies for synthesis\"
Ayshe raised an eyebrow. \"You\'ve read a dozen books in the last hour?\"
Mordon frowned. \"Oh no, don\'t be ridiculous. I just checked over some of the more popular writings from the last century when Uvyn mentioned what he was doing\". Of course Mordon was nonchalant about his early morning research. If it was written somewhere, chances are Mordon had read it. At last count he knew fourteen types of written language, at least three of which were so old no one spoke them anymore.

\"Your scholar was happy enough to provide a suitable shape which I was able to coat with the appropriate materials\" Uvyn continued. \"And the rest was easy!\" the Kran beamed widely. \"Your glyph drains mana from the person touching it, so I had your scholar do so. Then I Channeled a suitable amount into the six glyphs in their chambers. In a mere few minutes I had this!\"

Again he held up the glyph.

\"What does it do?\" asked Nilaya

Uvyn happily shrugged. \"I have no idea! But isn\'t it fascinating? This is the first glyph ever created using more than four Ways!\"

Ayshe gently picked up the glyph from Uvyns hand. Closing her eyes, she waited a few moments then asked \"If it is a copy, why does it not drain mana from touch?\"
Uvyn regarded his cryptic notebook. Checking through the pages he replied offhand \"I think perhaps it is not an exact copy, but rather something else. Maybe you need to channel a Way or all Ways into it?\"
Ayshe chuckled \"Not many can channel more than one Way at the same time\" she spun the glyph. \"Perhaps this is one only the likes of you can use?\" she asked
Uvyn looked shocked. \"Oh bless Talad, no. Do you not know of the other blended glyphs? You can channel any of the ways used to create them into them, usually with differing results. Try a small amount, It can do no harm\"

Ayshe paused. \"Is that safe?\". Uvyn nodded. \"Your glyph was inert, so by my calculations so should this be. I can\'t see a tiny amount of mana doing any harm\"
\"He\'s probably right\" added Mordon. \"Studies have shown that glyph synthesis has never once given a copy more abilities than the original\" He paused for thought and added to himself \"If all we have are copies of copies, I wonder where the original ones came from?\"
Ayshe, who was training to be a healer and illusionist was proficient in only one Way. \"Crystal way?\" she asked. Uvyn shrugged

Ayshe sighed and spent a few minutes purifying the glpyh, Holding it tightly in her hand she nervously smiled at her companions. \"Here goes!\"
Nilaya held out a hand. \"Uh, Ayshe, are you sure?\"

There was a minute glow from the glyph in her fist, and Ayshe dropped to the floor. Mordon yelped, and coming fully awake leapt over to her body. Quickly he did a Sounding - a spell that allowed a healer to see ailments. There was a glow where Mordons hand lay on Ayshe\'s head. Nilaya backed away, with a horrified look. She was an accomplished healer and knew precisely what the colours in the aura around Ayshe meant.

Looking up at Uvyn with anger in his eyes, Mordon simply said \"She\'s dead!\"

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[Ayshe]

~ Rites ~


Hydlaa was an ancient city, made up of inhabitants forced from their old lands by the whim of the Gods. Many had brought their old customs through and adapted them, added them in to the rich melting pot of the then fledgling society. Other customs had emerged as native to the realm, customs such as the firing of a small clay mask to herald a birth - a sign asking for a blessing from Laanx. One of the most striking differences between Yliaki culture and those from real skies was the treatment of the dead. Bodies were empty vessels, and were usually dumped without ceremony into one of the numerous disposal chutes that were scattered across the levels. No one knew where they went, nor usually cared. It was considered barbaric and unsanitary to bury a body beneath the earth, to rot.

Ayshe was of a clan newer to Yliakum than most, and although her body would be disposed of in the same manner as any other, in her clan there was an ancient rite to be performed before it was to be done. Thus it was, that under the heavy and sombre weight of duty that six of the Lair\'s most senior members came to collect Ayshe\'s body, to take it to the guild halls to await her Sending to the land of her fathers before. Full of sorrow and ceremony, they came as the dawn rose and carried their own back to her home for the last time. Then began the process to mourn.


Night fell, again, over the city. The torches in the Felines Lair guildhall were all lit. Luze, by dint of seniority had the job of honour guard over Ayshe as she lay in the Guildhall. He stood in his full ceremonial outfit, eyes scanning the room, sword at the ready. Ready to defend Ayshe\'s soul from evil, living or dead, until she could be sent to the Ancestor realm.

He would not be allowed to leave the room, nor speak to anyone, nor rest until the duty was done. Such is the way of the Black Marsh, and such was the way of Ayshe\'s passing. Luze would not have moved even if a Tharga had charged in. His duty, his shoulders bearing the weight.

It truly was an honour, amongst the various clans. In the past, fueds had been started over the snubbing of a warrior and his percieved right to be the one who was on deathwatch. It was only right that Luze be the one to guard her body, for he was now the guilds most senior member.

Outside in the courtyard the rest of the guild was somberely waiting for the Enki priestess from Laanx temple. Here Nilaya and Mordon were engaged in a sombre conversation with Uvyn. Their hushed voices were unusually loud in the all but silent courtyard - occasionally stirring even Flare, who was miserably huddled in the corner. He was so utterly distraught, he didn\'t even notice Starjumper as she sadly stroked his head.

Nilaya, who hadn\'t had any sleep for more than a day, was distraught and still seeking answers. \"Your glyph...why didn\'t you test it yourself?!\" she grumbled. \"You must have a way of seeing if it\'s safe!\" She began fidgeting, shaking her head in distress. \"Poor Ayshe...\"

Mordon gently took Nilayas arm and shook his head. \"Nil, it was an accident\". Mordon had come to accept the senseless loss quickly, but not without a heavy amount of sorrow. Ayshe had always delighted in his company, and Mordon had been with the guild for a very long time. A loss indeed.
Uvyn himself was nervous, and kept trembling as he hung his head wretchedly. Nearby Moogie sat, watching the Glyph Master with pity in her eyes. It had been like this all day. No one openly blamed Uvyn, but it was clear that he was taking it upon himself. It was also clear that many thought that he should be paying a price for his fatal mistake.

Suddenly there was the slam of a door, and some muffled shouting. Then the doors from the entrance hall smashed open and Jityshe strode through, heading straight for the room where Ayshe was held in a cloud of fury. He shoved several mourners roughly out of his way as he made a direct line. When he was in an armslength of the door he stopped suddenly and dropped to his knee. Hand over his heart, he muttered a prayer. In the shocked silence of the courtyard, it was easy to hear the emotion in the whispers, if not the words.

Moogie turned to Mordon and asked quietly \"Did anyone tell him?\". As he stood, Mordon looked back and shook his head. \"He took off early this morning, even the messengers couldn\'t find him\". All four of them got up to join Jityshe. Moogie looked back towards the entrance hall Jityshe had strode through. One of the door guards, a member of Hart\'s Blades of Honour was picking himself up off the ground. By the looks of it he was a new recruit who had mistakenly tried to slow Jityshe. Jityshe\'s temper was well known and tolerated to a large extent by most of the guild, but not all had met him.

Jityshe stood from his prayer and undid his sword belt. He dropped it to the earth with a clatter, then reached down and pulled a dagger from sheathes on each leg. He removed all his weapons, dropping them in an impressive pile in the dust. Reaching up, he unbuckled his armour and took it off. Bare chested, he then stepped through into the hall. The others came to the doorway, but did not enter. Jityshe walked right to Luze, and dropped again to his knee. he looked Luze in the eye, arms palm up before him and waited.

Mordon noticed the puzzled look on Nilayas face and whispered \"Old Black marsh custom. The only person who is trusted in the room is the honour guard. All others have to present themselves, even family.\" Nilaya nodded, having figured it out moments before he had spoken.
Mordon continued, helpfully concise as always. \"In fact, in year 212 a famous nobility from...\" Nilaya gently put her hand against his lips. \"Not now, Mordon\" she whispered kindly.

In the chamber, Luze studied the warrior for some time. Finally he nodded and Jityshe was permitted to pass, having shown himself pure of intent. Jityshe stood by his blood kin in silence.

After the longest time he looked up to see that Nilaya had joined him, opposite Ayshe. \"How?\" He asked. She looked at him sadly. \"You didn\'t hear? It was... an accident. With a glyph\".

Jityshe looked at his blood kin sadly. Nilaya was struck with the emotion in his eyes. Normally nothing fazed the sour, blunt warrior. She felt wretched for him, realising what kind of loss this must be for even him to be troubled.
As Nilaya silently watched, his eyes suddenly narrowed. \"She is still holding it?\" Jityshe asked, pointing to Ayshe\'s clenched fist.
Nilaya glanced down, nodded. Jityshe looked to the doorway where Uvyn was. \"Yours?\".
Uvyn blinked and knotted his hands. \"He... thought it was safe, it was an accident\" Nilaya supplied quietly. Jityshe kept his eyes locked on Uvyn, who looked absolutely wretched. \"An accident. Safe huh?\" he repeated. He looked at Ayshe. Then to her cold hands. then Uvyn again.
Without warning, startling all but Luze he roared \"You can damn well use it then. Right here! Show me how safe it is!\".

Mordon, heard the shout and instinctively came in, arms outstretched to diffuse the situation. He was shocked when Luze reached out and knocked him to the ground. Grabbing Mordons coat with one hand, he held his sword as a pinprick against the scholars throat. Mordon stayed still, momentarily confused, then suddenly remembered. Carefully and deliberately, he removed his sword belt and dropped it at arms length. Luze let go and stood back, eyes burning into Mordons.

Meanwhile Jityshe had become even angrier. He was trying to get the glyph from Ayshe\'s hand, slapping away Nilayas attempts to calm him. \"You can HAVE your damned glyph, Kran!\" he roared as he finally pulled the little blue lionhead from Ayshe\'s cold grasp. He raised his arm to throw the glyph at Uvyn, and stopped when he heard a gasp.

Colour flooding into Ayshe\'s lips, she choked as she threw her arms across her face. Scrabbling off the altar, she screamed and dived for the corner, collapsing to a tight ball, where she started sobbing. Everyone froze.

Looking back at Ayshe, arm still raised, Jityshe said in a flat and slightly awestruck tone \"That\'s more like it\".

There was a crash as Uvyn fainted.

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[Ayshe]

It had been an interesting and wholly exhausting night. Hart walked in to the commons, letting in a puff of early morning mist, and began taking off his black outfit. Im his free hand he carried a boquet of flowers which he laid with the rest, an enourmous amount piled against the wall. \"Why is it\" he asked no one in particular \"that news of a death travels further and faster than news of a miraculous recovery?\". Carefully folding his dark mask, he sat and sighed. \"And most people who have heard the former but not the latter seem to get very angry when told.\"
Nyxie shook her head sadly. \"Our Ayshe may have earned a reputation of a humourless prankster after today.\"
From his armchair, Mordon shrugged as he peered through an ancient tome. Hart looked around. \"Where\'s the bartender?\". \"Flare is sleeping. poor guy took it worst of us\" said Mordon.
\"How can you be reading at a time like this?\" asked an exasperated Hart
Mordon shrugged. \"Just trying to make sense of it all.\"

It had indeed been a long day. Emotions had run high and most of the people in the commons were exhausted. No one was saying much. Minds fueled by anger or grief had now run dry, but sleep was far off. For it was still unclear to many exactly what had transpired in the main hall the previous evening. And there had been no word as to Ayshe\'s condition. All they knew was that last night she was dead, having been confirmed so by several Healers including Nilaya, and that now she wasn\'t, but wasn\'t talking either.

Crystai came down the stairs, looking absolutely exhausted. She was one of the newer faces around but she had fit in seamlessly. Like Hart, it was hard to imagine a time when she had not been around. \"How is she?\" asked Nyxie. \"No change\" said Crystai. \"Still not talking, but physically Nilaya says she is fine\". Ayshe, still shaking, had been gently led upstairs and sat down, blank eyed on her bed. She would look at speakers addressing her, but her eyes would slide away after a moment. She was constantly scanning the dark corners and she jumped at the slighest sounds. They had given her tea with herbs to make her sleepy, which she had drunk in the same abstract, blank manner but it hadn\'t seemed to work yet.

\"And she\'s finally fallen asleep\" said a soft voice from above the stairs. Nilaya came into view. She walked down and came to sit in the armchair by Mordon. The table in front of them was filled with all sorts of tomes, one of which Mordon had his head practically buried in. \"You all should sleep too. We will know more when she wakes. Jityshe is with her\" she said. She tapped the book in front of Mordon. \"You too\". Mordon looked up and focused on Nilaya. Pausing only a moment, he dropped back to the page and kept scanning. \"In a bit\" he said. Nilaya yawned and stretched back on the large leather armchair. It really was rather comfy...

And she woke as a hot mug was gently put into her hands. She looked up to the smiling and horribly scarred face of Jityshe. \"Malksa broth\" he said.
The pile of books was double in size, but Mordon was asleep, head down in his arms on the table. \"What time is it?\" she asked. \"Noon\" said Jityshe. \"and She\'s asking for you\". The commons was empty save for Mordon, Nilaya and Jityshe. A few moments later and it was only Mordon and the crackling embers in the fire. Nilaya didn\'t even taste the broth as she sculled it down and took off upstairs.

\"Hey\" said Nilaya.
Ayshe looked up. \"Heya. Sorry for the scare\".
Nilaya sat on the bed and hushed Ayshe\'s feeble apologies. \"Don\'t worry about it. How do you feel?\"
Twisting the sheets in her hands, Ayshe nervously said \"I.. I\'m fine\".
\"How are you really?\" Nilaya asked, knowing Ayshe better
The slim enkidukai avoided Nilayas gaze and dropped her head.\"... I thought I was dead\" she said.
\"I think you were...\" prompted Nilaya
\"No, no I mean. I saw...\" Ayshe continued. \"Look, in our clan we believe that when we die we are taken to the realm of our ancestors, to be with all those gone before...\" Jityshe, in the doorway nodded
Nilaya was puzzled. \"Yes..?\"
Ayshe looked her in the eyes, almost pleading. \"That\'s not where I went. They were... everyone was dead. It was... oh, Talad. They were all dead...\"
A long pause, and she repeated in a whisper. \"They were all dead\".
Nilaya had no idea what to say. After long silence she hugged Ayshe and took her leave, with the intention of heading back to check up on the guild. \"I\'ll be back soon, Ayshe\" she said.

When she passed through the commons, Mordon was again reading. Noticing his questioning eyes, She mentioned what Ayshe had said. Mordon hushed her and furiously started rummaging through the pages of a particularly old book that was on the table. \"Aha!\" he said, and turned the page towards Nilaya. She bent down to look, but didn\'t make out the symbols. What she did notice was the woodcutting, a horrible image of bodies being tossed into a sea of flames by an enormous masked four eyed demon. \"What is this?\" she asked

\"It\'s the Death Realm. A popular legend that has it\'s origins right here in this city. An executed criminal described it to his captors in detail.\"
\"So?\" asked Nilaya. \"A fanciful tale from a death row criminal\"
Mordon chuckled. \"No\" he said. \"You misunderstand. He was executed, he came back and told the tale. He was executed six times. Returned to gloat every time\"
There was a horrible silence
Nilaya was aghast. \"Gods... what did Ayshe see?\" she asked

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[Under the moon]

Ok, I lied...I guess I did have time to finish reading it tonight.

\"She\'s dead!\"

Now that was quite a heart stopping moment. You had my undivided attention from that point on. Very well written with quite a few characters in a short time. And some thought put into the past of the Enki race. Very nice. This will definitely end up in \'The Book\'.

Excellent job. Now go light a fire under Moogie so I can read more of her writings too.

[derwoodly]

I liked the line about bad news traveling faster than good news, so true.

[Ayshe]

~ Patterns in Blood ~


It\'s surprising what people will adapt to, surprising what they will regard as \"normal\" for a given situation. Hydlaa was the main city in Yliakum and eventually all travellers ended up there. There was an old saying that all roads led to Hydlaa. No one ever considered that if this was the case, then surely all roads also lead away from Hydlaa.
Regardless, it was a busy place. And stocked to the brim with heroes, adventurers, braggards and mysterious folk. It was actually pretty rare to find a traveller who did not come from some wartorn province, or someone without mysterious and ancient powers, or even a traveller who still had any members of their family alive. It was a shock to ask someone \"so, what\'s your story?\" and hear a mundane, ordinary response.
But just because it was cliched did not mean it wasn\'t also true. Ayshe\'s clan had been destroyed in a - you guessed it - random and final battle, leaving her as one of the few survivors. But in this world, such a past was considered normal. In this place, extraordinary was the norm.
So too, were the stories. So when it was that people heard that a guild leader had been miraculously raised from the dead, most who didn\'t know her personally shrugged and moved on. And it was by no means a first. Many people knew (or so they claimed) of citizens coming back from the dead. Given the ever changing nature of the world, and the magics that permeated it, it seemed anything was possible.

So it was that weeks passed in leisurely indifference. The temperatures got warmer as the the days grew longer - a phenomena that still puzzled the scholars, given the lack of seasons in Yliakum - and the incident had started to fade from memory. Felines Lair was once again being sent invites to social functions, and it seemed the damage done to the reputation by the \"cruel joke\" was ebbing. In the the hall of Felines Lair, in her private chambers, Ayshe was putting on her travelling cloak. This was a different enkidukai to the one who had slipped out with no direction in mind those few weeks ago. This Ayshe was sombre, generally sullen and very introverted. Not that she admitted it to anyone but Nilaya and Mordon, but she also was having great difficulty sleeping. Very bad dreams. She pulled on her boots and sat on the bed, staring at nothing. The dye in her fur, the intricate swirls and lines across the left half of her face was still drying. Ayshe wore the traditional kei\'da, meticulously applying the tribal patterns into her fur every time it faded. She had worn the kei\'da since she was a cub, originally starting with just a few lines around the eye. Every significant event in her life, she added another line, each symbolic of something. The latest line simply meant loss, not that there were very many in this world who would realise what the kei\'da was. Wherever she went, Ayshe always carried her clan with her. Sad to think that the old ways were being forgotten.

Dressed in his dark, all concealing clothes and with extreme care and stealth, Hart crept across the roof. Although it was broad daylight, he kept to the shadows and slunk low. He made it to the edge and fastened a silk rope to an eave. He dropped down and, holding the rope lowered himself headfirst over the edge. He palmed a small mirror, no bigger than a tria and quickly checked the room beyond the open window below. Seeing Ayshe\'s head was turned away, he lowered himself until he could see into the room. He reached up to his belt where he kept his weapons...
And there was a sudden \"thuk\" sound, and a small palm dagger was trembling in the wood next to his head. Unstartled, Hart merely raised an eyebrow at the dagger, then looked over to Ayshe, who was crouched, arm outstretched from the throw.

\"You missed\" he said
Ayshe stood and started for the door. \"No I didn\'t\" she said noncomittedly. \"Wasn\'t aiming for your head\"
Hart looked again to the dagger, and noticed there was a beetle just next to it. Grinning under his black mask he said \"But you still missed.\"
Ayshe didn\'t answer as she opened the door
\"Hang on!\" Hart called after \"I have a message for you!\". He dropped in to the room and reached to his belt where he had tucked the small sealed note. He handed it to Ayshe, who read it, made a face then crumpled it up.
\"Thanks\" Ayshe said. From the tone of her voice whatever was in the message had only made her mood worse.

Ayshe headed out into the city. Walking at her own pace, and avoiding the crowds, she kept to her own thoughts. Two weeks now, Moogie had been missing. It was not unusual for her to be away on assignment this long, but Ayshe knew for a fact that she overdue. Moogie was a capable spy, but her latest mission was more dangerous than usual. What made it worse was that Ayshe had given her the assignment, on the behest of the Hydlaa Octarch. The letter was from the messengers guild. Same story. \"To the esteemed Lady Ayshe of the Felines Lair. We regret to again report...\" If the Messengers guild could not find Moogie, then she was most certainly in trouble. And it was her request that had caused it. Ayshe was so caught up in her thoughts she barely noticed the screams until someone knocked her over.

She looked up to see terrified groups of citizens running, away from the plaza. Even in such a colourful city as this, screaming mobs were rare. Curiosity overcame caution, and Ayshe fought her way through to the plaza. She stood on the steps. There, in plain sight in the middle of the city was an Ulbernaut. Blood on it\'s massive claws were a sure sign that this was an agressive adult male, the single most dangerous creature on this level of Yliakum. Ayshe could see a couple of crumpled bodies by the fountain.

And there, crouched by the steps was Sarrow. Of Civil Containment. \"Sarrow!\" Ayshe called out.
Sarrow looked up at her, surprised, then broke in to a wide grin.
\"I did it Ayshe!\" he chuckled. \"Brought one right in to the plaza!\"
Ayshe felt a wave of fury sweep over her. She knew of Sarrows intents to lure dangerous creatures to the city, but didn\'t think he would ever actually succeed. Sarrow was a special case. He was evil, utterly without concience. And yet he smiled all the time. He would stand, in a bar full of slain innocents, covered in blood and break out a charismatic grin when you walked in. Offer you a beer with wide open warm arms. And if you looked into those eyes, you saw no madness. The warmth was genuine, and the pleasure he took in his evil deeds was just the satisfaction an artisan takes at his craft. A dyed in the wool bastard, who befriended people from all walks of life and was very loyal. You needn\'t worry about a knife in your back from Sarrow, no. But he\'d kill you without qualms if he didn\'t decide to be your friend.

Before she even knew what she was doing, Ayshe had dropped her cloak and has started running. Sarrow, not even understanding that there was a problem called after her. Ignoring him, she ran to the fountain. She knelt by the nearest victim and saw they were still alive. She rummaged in her belt for her crystal glyph, to try healing. An angry roar behind her brought common sense back into play. Oh yeah, the Ulbernaut..

Ayshe hopped back as the Ulbernaut charged. Backing up quite a distance, Ayshe scanned the plaza for help. Unsurprisingly, all she saw was gawkers. Yliakis loved a decent bit of street theatre. She turned back in horror as the Ulbernaut let out a happy grunt and stopped chasing her, instead taking an interest in a a moaning Xacha a few feet away. Ayshe cursed and ran in close again, shouting at the Ulbernaut. When she was close enough, she leapt, pulling a falchion from her scabbard. Landing softly and with precision she slashed at the creatures huge bulky leg and managed to give it a shallow wound - their hides were notoriously thick. But it was enough - the Ulbernaut screamed and swiped at Ayshe\'s sword arm.

Ayshe hadn\'t really thought much of this through. Enkidukai were notorious for actions before thought. A quick movement saved her arm from being crushed, but the falchion was flung away across the plaza. Standing, unarmed in front of an angry Ulbernaut, Ayshe inexplicably began to grin. Another trait in enki was to play with their prey. Or at least tease their predator.

\"Come on ugly!\" she shouted at it and dived forwards, only to lean back as the creature brought a massive arm to crash on the cobbles. She darted around the creature, teasing it and baiting it. Blood pounding in her ears, Ayshe leapt and dived, avoiding the frustrated attempts of the Ulbernaut to silence her taunting. Ayshe kept the creatures attention on her as a few brave souls finally ran out to collect the wounded. Ayshe then ran back to the bloodstained fountain, dipping and diving as the Ulbernaut tried in vain to hit her. Veins burning with energy, and laughing out loud she ran around it\'s back and leapt up on to it, grabbing it\'s large spine spikes to help herself up. She vaulted off it\'s tiny head and swung up onto the statue of Laanx, well out of reach of the creature.
There she sat, gasping for breath, blood singing, with a huge smile plastered on her face. For the first time in weeks, Ayshe felt alive. She laughed and watched the creature as it swing at empty air. Looking around, she saw a huge crowd at the edges of the plaza, watching her, watching the Ulbernaut as is screamed and stamped it\'s feet.

From her vantage point, she could see the city guard approaching. All she had to do was wait. Looking down at the Ulbernaut she chuckled and said \"Thanks!\". Ayshe almost felt like dropping down and teasing it some more. The ulbernaut hit the statue with it\'s flailing claw but managed to do no damage. Magic kept the stone intact, and Ayshe safe.

And that\'s when things went horribly wrong.

A shout from across the plaza got her attention \"Ayshe!!\". She turned. Flare, her adopted kin and good friend was running over, arms waving to distract the Ulbernaut. Trying to rescue Ayshe. And of course, the gawking crowd were just watching, enoying the show.

Cupping her hands, Ayshe shouted \"Eyaugh! Flare, no it\'s okay! I am fine!\"
But Flare didn\'t hear. He kept running, straight for the enraged creature. Enkidukai cubs pounced before thinking. They trust their instincts before rationality, and Flare was young and hadn\'t had time to learn the restraint that allowed cubs to become adults in an unforgiving world where hasty actions could be lethal. Even among adults, sometimes the blood won, as it had when Ayshe had raced off to the plaza. Another trait of enkidukai is fierce loyalty. Flare was protecting his kin.

Ayshe cursed and swung down, to intercept Flare. Landing lightly between the Ulbernaut and Flare she ran towards him. She heard thunderous footsteps behind her and quickened her pace.
She shouted \"get Ba-\" and was hit, hard. She flung sideways, ribs crushed, breathless and stunned, tumbling across the plaza. Rolling to a stop, she looked up in time to see the Ulbernaut spear Flare right through his chest. Screaming with savage joy, the creature lifted him far above it\'s head and shook his fragile body.
Blood. Oh gods, so much blood. As the blackness came to claim her, she saw the Ulbernaut throw Flares limp body to the ground, and then smash it utterly with it\'s other arm. And then again, each savage blow sounding across the plaza and drumming into her ears. She opened her mouth to cry out, but there was no breath. Ayshe passed out, and the darkness welcomed her whole.

[size=0](c) All rights reserved 2005[/size]

[Ayshe]

~ Songs for the Soul ~


The slim enkidukai opened her eyes.

There was pain. She lay still, not wanting to move. Odd. There was once a moment like this before, years ago. Big battle. Fell. lying still, not knowing fully if you were dead, if you had all your limbs, if you were still in danger. Maybe not safe this time. Her head lightened again, and she felt herself slip back into darkness, the pain receeding away as her vision blurred further. Strangely, something on the edge of her senses, a noise that had had been there all along cut sharply through the fog.

\"Ayshe! Ayshe!!\"

Ayshe. Yeah, Ayshe, that\'s me, she thought. She wanted to slip away again, but the voice was insistent. Irritating. She swam upwards, opened her eyes and focussed on the blurry whiteness.

\"Ayshe, please!\"

Sharp pain was fading, but not in her head. That was becoming a dull ache, Pressure on her shoulders. She struggled, focussed and saw a very worried looking Klyros, her frantic eyes searching hers for recognition.

\"Okay. Okay I hear you!\" she croaked. The world came back into focus and she saw. Lots of faces looking down. Blue sky. Squat buildings... Plaza. Terrified Klyros kneeling over her, trying to wake her. Grandid was her name. Healer, or Crystal mage, or something.

\"Oh Ayshe, praise Alaithi! I was so worried! Can you stand?

Ayshe, confused and dazed had no intentions of moving without a very good reason. \"Why? where are we going?\". The light of the Azure sun beamed down. Warmed her fur, the energies healing her body futher. Magic sun, how wonderful, Bring your friends. She could feel hard cobbles under her. Brought her closer to her senses. Memory came back, she had jumped.. They had.. who... oh no. No.

Without her biding, tears started to well up. \"Flare...?\" she said. Already knowing.

The Klyros regarded her, without words. The pity in her eyes was enough to tell Ayshe all she needed to know. She looked away. By the fountain was another group of people. Even from this distance she could see the body language well enough. The kind of crowd that only tradgedy can produce. Silent, unmoving and unable to tear their eyes away from the sight.

\"I\'m sorry. We couldn\'t get to him in time. you were lucky. It was so close for you too\".
Silently Ayshe wept. The Klyros had the grace to look away.

In the halls of the guild, the torches were again lit. In the chamber, where Ayshe had been, the bartender lay. Wrapped entirely in woven and gilded chiha leaves. A tradition used when the body cannot be displayed. Ayshe walked through into the room wearing a simple white robe. She dropped to her knees and bowed her head in front of Jityshe, who stood impassive as a rock. Eventually he gently held her shoulder and lifted her to her feet. As Ayshe stood, she noticed a fresh cut across Jityshe\'s chest. A traditional sign that a blood kin had been lost. Ayshe looked Jityshe in the eye, puzzled. Jityshe nodded. By cutting himself he had shown the dead enkidukai the ultimate honour, that of kinship. Ayshe pulled open her robe to reveal her own wound, fresh and deep. Their clan believed that wounds needed to be seen to heal, especially those that are not of the flesh.

Ayshe stood next to the woven bundle that contained whatever remains had been collected from the plaza. The torches flickered, and dancing shadows leapt across her face as she looked at her kin for the longest time. The light from the torches reflected in her eyes, but that is all there was. There was no light within. Jityshe stood, his shadowed back turned towards them. Vigilant at the door, unmoving. The little room was filled with the crackling of the torches and little else, the cold hard walls and columns echoing gently.

\"And where will he travel now?\" Ayshe whispered.
The minute stiffening of Jityshe\'s back was the only sign that he had heard the question. Ayshe heard a small intake of breath, then softly, on the very edge of hearing he sang. The sound was beautiful and harmonious, not a trace of the usual gruffness that was his voice. There weren\'t really any words. It was a song of mourning, of pain and loss. It was as old as the land and was from a time long before. Enkidukai in the Wild Age used to communicate through vocal sounds, using tones growls and chirps. When language was gifted to them, they still held on to their own way of speaking, for rituals. All Enkidukai songs were in this old language. They always spoke of passion and emotions, feelings rather than words. The song Jityshe sung was known to almost all Enkidukai. It was the pain one felt at losing kin. It was the joy of being reuinited with those gone before, and it was the hope for those left behind to carry their memories on.

The sound died away, echoing faintly and the very air felt different. Ayshe could almost feel the eyes upon her and Flare, the gaze of those gone before, see their saddened but smiling faces as they opened their arms to welcome home their own. A tear spilled over and she blinked. The image snapped away from her and she was standing in a room with just a dead body again. She looked down at Flare. She wanted to tell Jityshe that it wasn\'t right. That wasn\'t what she saw. But she couldn\'t find those words. And even if she had, Jityshe could not have answered. Not until the ceremony was over. Not yet.

All of the night, and the next day Ayshe stood by her departed kin. And then, on that evening there came raised singing in the courtyard. Ayshe walked out of the room and saw the priest approaching. She was a dark furred Enki, wearing white robes and a small glyph  on a chain around her forehead, She also carried a long, wide bladed sword. The ornate but thin and light weapon was made of rare metals and had precious gems studded along it. Although it\'s function was ceremonial, it was also razor sharp. It was for her protection, just as Jityshe was for Flare\'s.

The Lair had lined up on either side of the path that the priest walked. They all sang together, voices lifting high to the roof. There were few sounds as beautiful or sorrowful, Ayshe felt, as a clan of Enki singing for their lost. Ayshe stood to the side and held open the door to the chamber. Jityshe stood impassive, hand on the hilt of his sword. The priest walked up the steps and stood in the the doorway. The singing behind her fell away. She looked back, nodded then faced the warrior. She began to sing. A high pitched song, that sent a chill down Ayshe\'s back. The priest gestured gently as she sung, raising her arms up, opening her hands to Flare and holding them over her heart.

When the sound died away, she walked to Jityshe. He stood, looking down at her. Then in one fluid motion, he reached down, drew his blade and dropped to his knee. Head bowed he held it at armslength. The priest picked it up slowly with both hands and sheathed it, on the opposite side to the ceremonial one. She leaned forward and kissed Jityshe on the forehead. \"Thank you\" she said. Jityshe had handed over his duties to the priest. He stood, bowed and stepped aside.

Then began the ceremony. Afterwards, Ayshe leaned against an outside wall and closed her eyes, reliving the display. The priest had created unearthly images, beautiful streams of colour and light, reflecting about the room and raising to the roof. The play of colours and images, the beautiful ceremony had sent Flares soul to the Ancestor Realm. Yet, a part of Ayshe\'s mind told her that all had happened was that a Crystal Way mage had performed an illusionists show. She was still troubled, by something she didn\'t think she could tell anyone about.

Now, what was left in the chamber was a husk, a spent shell. It would be dropped into one of the many disposal chutes that were all across this level of Yliakum. There was an honour guard assembled in the courtyard for this task. Although she could have joined them, Ayshe instead went to her chambers. And did not come out all that night.

Nilaya drummed her fingers on the table. Ayshe had been in her room for two days, not coming out to eat or speak to anyone. She was worried about her friend. She sipped on an ale in the Lair commons and waited. She wanted to see Ayshe but felt she needed time to deal with her loss in her own way. There were many customs of the Black Marsh that she did not fully understand, though not through lack of trying.

She looked up as Jityshe walked past. Through his open shirt she noticed a cut, and grabbed his arm. \"Jityshe\" she said, anxious for someone to talk to. \"I could heal that for you?\"
Jityshe looked at her coldy, and pried her fingers off with his other arm. Leaning in close he said \"If you did, I would cut you down where you sit, Explorer\". Startled, Nilaya mumbled an apology and sat back. As Jityshe stormed off she wondered why he was so thoroughly unpleasant, when she was only trying to help.

Visibly shaken, Nilaya decided that she had to see Ayshe, if only to make sure she knew her friends cared. She stepped upstairs. She gently opened Ayshe\'s door. The curtains were pulled shut, and there was a shape under the blankets.

\"Ayshe. I\'m worried about you\" Nilaya said. She stepped forward and sat on the edge of the bed. \"It\'s not your fault, okay?\"

Still no answer. \"Ayshe..\" said Nilaya and placed a hand on her friend.

Feeling coldness she snatched her hand up and yelped. She stood and tore the sheets back. There, Ayshe lay. Eyes closed, body pale, hand clenched tightly around a faintly glowing glyph. \"Ayshe, No!\" Nilaya shouted and opened her friends lifeless hand to snatch the glyph away, to get rid of it, to wake her friend. But as she pulled it further, it became heavier. It felt like the glyph was attached to Ayshe by an invisible, yet strong elastic. Gentle black and blue streamers of light drew up from Ayshe\'s body to the glyph, and when she finally had to let go, it snapped back to Ayshe\'s palm.

\"What\'s wrong?!\" came a voice from the doorway.

Nilaya turned, fear in her eyes and said \"Fetch the glyph master! Now!\"

She looked back to Ayshe as the running feet faded down the stairs. Sadly she said \"Oh, Ayshe, you silly girl, what are you doing?\". She dropped to the floor and cradled her head in her hands.

[size=0](c) All rights reserved 2005[/size]

[Under the moon]

This just keeps getting better and better. A fasinating culture you weave.

[Ayshe]

~ Balance and Neutrality ~


The early evening quiet was broken somewhat by a speeding, rattling Gunthra carriage. The six legged, eerily insectoid beast ran at the urgings of it\'s driver, in this case an uncharacteristicly dim Hammerwielder. They really were going far too fast for the poor beast, but haste he had been asked for, so haste he was to deliver, even at the expense of the Gunthra. The creature strained at it\'s harness, making chittering noises as the driver urged it on. Inside, Mordon sat with Uvyn, as they both were jostled and knocked around by the rattling cart. Mordon was scratching notes furiously as he translated an old book, quill barely pausing in between the harder knocks. Uvyn watched him, incredulous.

\"I think you have an unhealthy attachment to literature, my yound friend.\" Uvyn said gravely, half joking but also half serious. In all his years he had never known someone to be so consistently immersed in books and tomes, even to attempt to read on a cart in such motion, at a time such as this. Mordon stopped and thoughtfully blotted his transcribed page, seeming not to have heard the comment. \"Okay\" he said. \"Listen to this\".

Mordon marked a section of the book with his claw and referenced it to the parchment he had just written.
\"This is a kelfedra, a sort of poetic writing written by the first peoples, the Ylian, who were one of the original settlers of this land. I\'m not completely confident of the translation, but...\" Mordon cleared his throat.
\"From void was made the mirror fragments of ... lands? Realms?
The six humours of her she did take to form
Six lands, three in shadow
Six lands, three in light
One for the leaf, it\'s shadow the ... Steel? Metal?
One for the order, it\'s shadow the chaos
One for the light, it\'s shadow the darkness\"

Mordon regarded the blank look of Uvyn, as a particularly sharp bump made him drop the book on his own foot. He picked it up and carefully closed it as not to damage the fragile pages. He set it aside. Still seeing a silent, almost irrtated Uvyn he continued. \"Okay, I guess that could have been clearer\" he said, reaching for another book in his satchel, a newer tome. He read.
\"...having discussed the topic at great lengths, I do believe the fellow to have lost his mind entirely. However, some elements of his ravings do bear witness, thusly I do credit his account to some extent. While the claim to have traversed the three dark realms is fanciful, historical writings do suggest that at some time in history such was commonplace...\"

He looked up. Exasperated he closed the book. \"Allright. What these and a few other text keep referring to are the six realms. Six worlds in some way linked, balanced. I keep thinking of Jityshe, and the description of his lands\"

The scholar opened his hands and gestured about. \"He says it\'s \'softer\' here. In the place he came from, always the clans were warring. You fought or you died.\"

Uvyn, steadying himself against another teeth rattling knock said \"So? many people came from other lands not like this one\"

Mordon nodded. \"Right! and the land in his home? Always hot. He said sometimes the very mountains would \'spew forth black smoke and liquid rock\'\".
Scrawling on a scrap of paper, Mordon drew a circle and divided it into six wedges. He etched a symbol in one and held it up for Uvyn to see. \"A land of chaos and conflict. Kind of like the Red Way of magic.\"

Uvyn nodded after seeing the symbol, the one that represented the Red way energies. Chaos and fire. Courage, will and strength were the basic attributes of that school of magic, and those elements described Jityshe and his clan philosophy perfectly.

\"You would not have heard him speak of his Ancestor Realm, but he says it is a land of snowy mountains, cool blue streams. Green fields. No fighting anymore, just harmony and being with those gone before. Kind of a reward for the hard life he had endured\"

Smiling, Mordon drew a symbol in the circle directly opposite the first. \"A land water, ice, and purification of soul. Like the Blue Way\". The symbol he drew represented all these things, the Blue school of magic.

Uvyns\'s brow furrowed. \"I think I see where you are going with this. You think Yliakum is the Crystal way land - since it is the land of energy and light and life?\"

Mordon drew another symbol, nodding. He drew it next to the Blue symbol.

\"Which means it\'s \'shadow\' is the Dark way\" said Uvyn. \"A world of death and entropy and darkness... and that\'s the \'Death realm\' of legend?\"

The fourth symbol was added, opposite the third. This symbol was feared and misunderstood. A lot of people thought this Way sometimes made it\'s practicioners go mad and be consumed by the dark forces. The truth was it happened to everyone who dabbled in the blakest of arts. The only thing that changed was the length of time it took - those strong of will would be hold out for a very long time. But not forever. Uvyn was proficient in the Dark way, as were many. But his fear and loathing of the Dark way, and his skill with the Crystal way helped to balance it out, almost left him protected. He practiced the art rarely, but if he exposed himself too much it would one day consume him. Only a fool trifles with such energies.

Mordon nodded sombrely.
\"Ayshe tells me that all Black Marsh Enkidukai have a glyph like hers put in their bodies at birth. In their right hand, under the skin, where it will draw tiny amounts of mana always. And what were they for?\"
Uvyn shrugged.
Mordon smiled \"Jityshe says they help guide the soul to the Ancestor Realm, upon death. Fascinating\"

The slowing of the cart announced their arrival at the guild hall, on Octarch street.

Standing in the doorway, as they waited for someone to answer the door bell, Mordon said to Uvyn \"I don\'t fully understand though. When Jityshe\'s clan was attacked, their mages crossed from the Blue realm to this one, to escape. Does that mean you can still travel? Would there be a way of us all going back to the lands we left behind?\"

Uvyn smiled \"My lifepartner, a Ylian, came from a place of beauty and harmony. He lived as part of the land, as a custodian and caretaker. It sounds wonderful, and I always wanted to see it. As you know I was created here, and this is where I belong. The lands he described - the \'Brown\' realm? Wouldn\'t that mean that the \'Azure\' realm is it\'s twin, a place of... what... Unnatural energies, disharmony and subjugation of nature? I don\'t think I want to risk ending up in a place like that...\"

Mordon regarded Uvyn. Suddenly it dawned on him that the genderless kran was more a \'she\' than a \'he\'. The clues were all there in his... her... demeanour. It seems not all identified themselves with male after all. Always new things to learn, in this world.

The door was opened by a worried looking Hart, and they hurried through. Mordon tucked the drawing into his pocket, glimpsing the symbols momentarily. He chuckled. \"One evil realm, and two aligned with it. One good realm, also with it\'s two. Fascinating\"

As they walked through the dilapidated halls, Mordon couldn\'t help but notice that it was filled with the quiet sound of dozens of enkidukai going about their business. \"They don\'t know?\" Mordon asked Hart.

\"Only a few. We felt it was... best\" Hart intoned. It seems there were a lot of words in that statement that weren\'t being said.

Nodding to himself, Mordon silently agreed. After all, he was feeling somewhat betrayed by Ayshe\'s foolish and unexplainable actions to once again put herself in danger. A guildhall full of angry enkidukai would not be a good thing with the Elder incapacitated and her best leaders all absent or working to bring her back.


Ayshe\'s study was a fairly bleak and empty affair. Various scrolls lined one wall, neatly tucked into cubicles. There were some ceremonial blades and garments on display, and a few scattered papers on Ayshe\'s desk. There was no lived-in feeling, not yet. The stark woodwork was worn but clean, and everything was fairly tidy. Quietly, they waitied in this room while the glyph master checked out Ayshe across the hall.

Mordon has just finished explaining his theory of six divided realms to a distracted Nilaya when Uvyn stuck his head in to the doorway. He shook his head. \"You were right, she is somehow still drawing mana through the glyph. We cannot separate her from it until she stops. I don\'t know what to do. And the most fascinating thing is happening to-\"
But Nilaya instantly lost her temper, cutting him off. \"Enough! Did you bring your condenser?\"
Uvyn took a step back. \"No, why?\"
The angry enkidukai regarded the Kran, frustration adding a desperate tone to her voice. \"Then go. Make another glyph and bring it here to me. And hurry!\"

Mordon simply raised his eyebrow as the Kran ran off, leaving Nilaya standing wretchedly, anger fast fading.

\"I\'m coming, Ayshe\" she whispered.

[size=0](c) All rights reserved 2005[/size]

[Under the moon]

Fasinating. Weavings upon weavings withing weavings. If I had to guess, the Azure realm would be the homeland of the other two residents of Yliakum...But I shall say no more. Other than I hope to see more.

*typos*

[keder]

Ayshe, there are still times when you display the rash impulsiveness of a cub... do we ever truly outgrow it?

i am very much looking forward to reading the next chapter, though i dread the events it will tell of.

--- keder maloy

[Ayshe]

Originally posted by keder
Ayshe, there are still times when you display the rash impulsiveness of a cub... do we ever truly outgrow it?

We Enkidukai, we always fight against the blood. The modern world we live in, of swords, languages and magic is not designed for creatures such as us. To survive we had to trust reason over instinct. It takes years to learn to quell the impulse to jump before thought.

Sometimes reason wins, sometimes the blood wins. When kin or ally is in danger, the blood almost always wins. That is why Enkidukai are regarded as having fierce loyalty - they cannot control the impulse to jump into danger when kin are in need. Ayshe is not a young enkidukai, but she is still at the whim of her nature, as they all are.

Besides which, Enkidukai have a peculiar mindset when it comes to the adrenaline rush of battle and danger. They never seem to lose that thrill and passion of cubs playing.

[keder]

it is good to hear from one older than i that we will not lose our passion as time passes. thank you Ayshe.

i just hope bitterness does fade with time...

--- keder maloy

[Ayshe]

(Shorter chapter than usual)

~ Into the Shadows ~


This was the dark place.

The black clouds rolled eternal across a sky that had never been any other colour in all the aeons. Perhaps there was a real sky up there, somewhere. Perhaps it was a cavern, not unlike Yliakum. Few would have cared, for in this place you did not look up. Only down, because down was the only place there was. The seething darkness boiled and flashed, occasional lightning offering a brief glimpse of the tortured landscape. Thick black soot drifted down from the clouds above in spurious patches, snowstorms of malevolent blackness.

Here was a structure. Ancient and strange in design, with carved motifs and harsh angles that changed seamlessly into disturbingly organic sculptures. A fanged, bared snake head glared lifelessly into the darkness below. Steel spikes lined the twisting path that lead down the precarious slope into the void. Eerie lights with no discernible source did less to outline the landscape than they did fill it with a sleeping malice. Deserted, cold and black.

Maybe this was a temple, ages past. If it was, it was certainly not home to any soul that belonged in the light. Amongst fallen pillars and collapsed masonry there were altars of hard black stone. The altars had shackles, and peculiar grooves cut into them. The grooves ran down along ornate paths and out of open serpent heads by small holders. There was still a chalice in one of the several cachements. The dark stains could only have been left by blood.

And here, in what would have been the centre of the abandoned structure was a circle etched out in the floor in odd, hard edged symbols.

Without warning these symbols began to glow. A thrumming vibration filled the air as small stones began to lift off the shattered temple floor. Gently the stones were teased into an orbit around the etched circle, spinning faster as the glowing light began to form streamers, twisting up and intertwining aroud the centre of the whirling debris. Something large suddenly appeared in the maelstrom, as there was a bright flash from the centre. The stones dropped to the ground as the glow blinked out instantly. And in the centre of it all, steam rising from her body, Nilaya Kaeli of the Explorers guild lay in a painfall ball, arms wrapped around her aching body.


The pain faded quickly, and Nilaya let out a gasp. The sheer agony of the journey here... she had never felt anything like it. And now, nothing. She opened her eyes and saw broken pillars, black rocks, ancient decay. She sat up and took stock of herself. She was surprised to see she was wearing the same clothes she had been a moment ago, when she had taken the still warm, newly created glyph from a terrified Uvyn. She felt an odd sensation in her left hand and opened it. There, etched into her very skin was a vivid splash of blue, a glowing lionshead. She could feel herself tricking tiny amounts of mana into the little crystal, even though it was clearly not in her hand. Intriguing. She let go of the mana and saw the glow fade to the most dim outline in her fur. So it was possible to let go. Ayshe must be here somewhere, unaware that the way home was to release the glyph so her guildmates could separate her from it. Now to find Ayshe.

She stood and felt a wave of despair wash over her. By the gods, it was dark. The sky, if you could call it that, was as menancing as she ever had seen. She listened carefully, picked up a faint roar in the distance. A waterfall or river.

Where there was water, there were settlements, she decided. She struck out, walking with care around the old stonework.



By the time Nilaya had lost sight of the dark temple above her, she had already passed by several sights she could never imagined, not in a thousand tortured dreams. Caves filled with ripped, bloodstained clothing and sharp spiked implements, some with almost petrified dried flesh stuck to them. Scattered debris, teeth, bone fragments, personal belongings. Spikes with skeletal severed limbs. But strangely no whole bodies. Only those cut into little bits. But the most horrifying sight was yet to come.

Nilaya dropped down lightly on all fours on to a rough outcropping and stood. Feeling wetness she checked her hand. Blood. Wet, fresh blood. Sensing danger she backed against a wall and tensed. Still all she could hear was the farawar roar. And a slithering sound. Terrified she crouched and scanned the area. She froze as a hand clamped down hard on her ankle. Feeling the icy pricks of sweat she looked down and saw. And screamed. And screamed, and screamed, scrabbling to get away, kicking savagely. Pleading without words, blubbering as she fell, trying to get away oh gods, away from this... thing.

Attached to her leg by a bloodied hand was a young Ynnwn. Her delicate features were marred with horrific injuries. One arm was torn off completely and the other was slashed almost beyond recognition. But the most terrible sight was the fact that this leering, animalistic creature had been cut in half, entrails dragging across the wet rock as it slithered, being dragged by Nilaya\'s terrified kicking and strugging. A lucky blow caused the creature to lose it\'s grip and Nilaya screamed and stood, crying as she leapt away from it, away from the sight and all the blood.

She wasn\'t careful enough. Loose footing. With a sickening lurch she fell, howling as she dropped through the air. She landed hard, on to a lower outcropping to a crunching sound. She lay still for a moment, expecting pain to blossom. But there still was none. Thinking herself lucky she rolled over and stopped, frozen.

Poking through her leggings was one of her leg bones. The crooked limb was twisted under her. No pain. She didn\'t even breath, not even as she heard footsteps coming towards her. She was unable to look away until a rough, dirty hand came down and grabbed her by the vest. She was pulled roughly up to meet the face of her assailant. Someone she recognised.

Nilaya looked Ayshe in the eyes, noticing her friends anger and surprise mixed with a certain amount of relief.

\"Oh gods, no, Nilaya what are you doing here?\" Ayshe demanded.

Happily. Nilaya let herself pass out. Let this all be a dream...

No such luck.

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