Yliakum Journeys (vol.1)

[zhai]

"Well, I'd say those who are not too badly injured would be better for it", says Zhai. Then she turn to Xylaal wondering if she would be up for it.

[LARAGORN]

Yesterdays events keep flashing through his mind. Laragorn then remembers something odd he saw before stumbling upon the group. While exploring ho saw two figures leaving the large face burial chute. He thought nothing of it at the time, as he has seen many dispose of the dead there. But now he remembers that one of the figures was in a dark hooded cloak, and the other was a man. The cloaked figure seemed to float along while the man followed behind. They left the face heading towards the ruins at a somewhat fast pace. “Could this be that man?” Laragorn asks himself. “And who or what was the dark figure?”

     With all this running through his mind a scowl comes over his face, as he skins the beast faster and faster. “Who should I talk to? Will they listen? Or will they think I am insane? Am I letting my imagination run away?” All these questions running though his head, is making Laragorn sweat. He finishes the second beast, and immediately moves to the next. He feels he is being watched now. He lifts his head and his eyes meet spetycos as the questions come "If there is anyone here who could help with my leg," "I would be most appreciative.  Then perhaps I could join Zhai and allow those of you who suffered the worst from yesterday's attacks to rest.  So far I have only been a burden to this company and I would like to earn your trust and friendship."
The words sound sincere but the eyes are not. “I have no mana left, and I am too busy to help you.” Laragorn snaps, and continues skinning.

[Spetyco]

Two figures left the large face burial chute. One of the figures was in a dark hooded cloak, and the other was a man. The cloaked figure seemed to float along while the man followed behind. They left the face heading towards the ruins at a somewhat fast pace.
The images came to Spetyco as if through another man's eyes, but as he goes through the images he is able to stop them and focus more intently on the details.  He then turns the image around in his mind to get a clearer picture of who these two might be.  The man was ugly and disfigured.  He was large for an Ylian and muscular.  But the face of the hooded one was dark.  Time had stood still and he moved in closer to the hooded figure to get a better picture of his face.  As he approached he felt something familiar, but dark.  He then gasped as he saw beneath the cloak his own face smiling back at him...
What could this mean?  How long ago was this?  He then tries to move the figures back in time and see what they were doing.  They are talking but he can't hear anything.  They go backwards to the burial chute and Spetyco is able to see who they have dropped in.  Again he gasps!  It was Rehaus!  The elf who found him injured on the road four days ago.
Spetyco is then back at the campsite surrounded by his new friends.  He appearantly had been unconscious through this whole ordeal.  Everyone is looking at him!  Some look concerned, but most look at him with obvious distrust.  What could this all mean?  Were these real events?  That figure couldn't have been him.  He had seen Rehaus just yesterday so it had to be recent, and he remembers everything that has happened since he woke up four days ago.  Zorbels is nearby, terrified at something.
"What's going on," he asks as he tries to sit up.

[zorbels]

"Spetyco, I will heal your leg if you would like." Zorbels smiles at him as she pulls out her healing glyph. "Make sure your leg is straight as I put this spell on you, we wouldn't want your leg to heal funny." She mumbles ancient words under her breath softly and closes her eyes to fully concentrate on what she is doing. Zorbels moves her hands lightly over Spetyco's leg hovering just above, the magic glowing a light blue. She loses her balance, as one of the tefusang nudge her for their daily treat and accidently she touches Spetyco's leg. The image she recieve's makes her tremble and freeze in mid motion. She see's a face of a man that looks horrible and disfigured. Then a loud screaming starts in her head to the point where she feels if this doesn't stop soon, her head will explode. She drops the glyph and covers her ears "STOP IT!" she shouts to no one in particular while backing away from Spetyco. The screaming comes to a slow agonizing stop. She looks around at all the members in her party and then turns to stare at Spetyco with wide fearful eyes. "He....I....saw....I.... saw something....." Zorbels sits for a moment to collect her thoughts.

[Xylaal]

Squatting next to the fire, Xylaal stares at Spetyco trying to size him up. She senses something strange and so, without moving her eyes from him, she slowly moves herself over to be just in between Tovera and the mysterious traveller. Her hand is non-chalantly on her waist, just above her Freeze Glyph as Zobrels heals the man.

"He...I...saw something..." said Zorbels in a cryptic tone.

"What did you see?" asks the Nolthrir as she remembers a part of her own dream last night. Awaiting Zorbels answer, she looks over to Zhai who also has her hand over her weapon, their eyes meet. Xylaal nods to her and closes her eyes in affirmation. Zhai slowly, nods back and knows; Xylaal will accompany her to the magic shop.

[Farren Kutter]

"I'm going with you to the magic shop, Lady Zhai." says Farren as he walks over to the Lady of the Rangers. "And don't you say 'no', I'm going. Don't you be forgetting who defeated Angadu." he adds, lowering his hood off of his head, and stretches, to make the aches less sore. Farren shakes his head furiously for a second, his shoulder-length black hair whipping out as he clears the last remnants of sleep off. "I'm ready." he says with a wink and a smile, as usual.

[LARAGORN]

“STOP IT!” The words cut threw Laragorns thoughts. He looks over to see Zorbels over Spetyco, a look of torment comes over her face. As she sits down, Laragorn decides he cannot keep silent any longer. He heads directly for Spetyco, “Who are you? And don’t give me this I don’t remember crap!” A shocked Spetyco looks up at Laragorn. “Why were you at the burial chute yesterday? That’s right, I saw you” Forgetting he still holds his skinning knife, he shakes it at the wounded man. “Who was that with you? And where are they now?” Spetyco tries to speak, but Laragorn continues with the questions in a stern voice. “How did you survive that fall? what magic protects you? What do you want with us? Looking around he notices the eyes of the group fixed on him. Laragorn realizes he has the knife. He wipes it on his pants and sheaths it. “Answer my questions Spetyco, if that is your name.” Laragorn says softly.

[ Edited for language. --Karyuu ]

[zhai]

Zhai helps Zorbels up holding her by the shoulders. She glances at Laragorn as Spetyco still dwells in confusion. "Now, now... we're all a bit jumpy. We don't need this right now. I don't think Spetyco will give us any straight answers nor find a reason for him to do so. The best thing is to let him go, he is no prisioner. We have no proof of him doing anything evil and I'm sure he will be uncomfortable staying with us given the circumstances". Zhai gives Laragorn a cold piercing look as she hopes following Spetyco will let them know more than what he might be willing to tell.

[Spetyco]

Spetyco is taken back by Laragorn's outlash.  "I am sorry I have upset you, Laragorn, but I honestly do not remember a thing more than four days ago.  An elf name Rehaus found me injured in the wilderness.  Before he came I remember nothing but darkness.  He healed me and walked with me to Hydlaa, where I found Zorbels' notice and felt compelled to join your company."
He can see that Laragorn does not believe anything he is saying, but he continues, "I found you just as Laragorn entered the battle and began my charge when I stumbled and fell into the gobble cave.  I suppose I was too focused on Laragorn getting attacked to look where I was going.  The rest you know."
He pauses and wonders if he should mention his vision.  Laragorn must have been at the burial chute and seen what took place there already.  He has nothing to hide, that he knows of, so he concludes full honesty would be the best approach to earn these fine people's trust.
"A moment ago, when Zorbels was healing me, I had a vision.  I was not at the burial chute as you say Laragorn.  I was in the tarern at Hydlaa drinking and making conversation with the friendly folk around.  If you wish to investigate this it should be easy enough.  Speak with the barkeep.  But in my vision, I saw these events as you describe them.  I also saw that these two figures were disposing of the body of the same Rehaus who found me and healed me days ago.  And when I looked at the hooded figure I saw..."
He can see the distrust growing around him.  Many have there hands at their swords, or glyphs, as if waiting to strike him down.
"I saw my own face beneatht he hood smiling back at me.  I swear by Talad I do not know what has happened to me, where I came from or what is going on."
"I do not wish to leave this group, nor do I have a place to go.  And you can check with the barkeep in Hydlaa to verify my story at least in part.  The only other person I have seen would be Rehaus who is dead.  However, if Lady Zorbels so wishes it, I will leave and find the answers to my past on my own."
He looks towards Zorbels.  He can tell she is torn by her natural good will and the counsel of her friends.  And he wonders what it is she saw.  Did she share in his vision?  If so, does she believe it was not him?

[Farren Kutter]

Farren quickly and smoothly steps around the others stand in front of Spetyco, facing the others, an effort to guard him should any of the others decide he is dangerous and attack. "I'm compelled by my instinct to believe Spetyco. And you can ask Zhai, my instinct is not something to take lightly." he says, his hands resting lightly on his blades, but ready to pull them out in an instant.

[zorbels]

Zorbels shakes her head "No, Spetyco I do not want you to leave. Whatever screamed at me didn't want me to see into your head. You must have been having this vision while I was healing you. The magic must have intensified it. I saw a face of a man that looked horrible and disfigured. I was about to see more when that horrible scream in my head started. I don't know what is going on but we need to find out. Spetyco, you could be in danger." she looks at him with a worried look. "I think someone should be with Spetyco at all times. I also think a trip to the magic shop might help. Maybe the shop keeper can tell us of what is happening to our friend."

[Farren Kutter]

Farren smiles to Zorbels and says, "I'll keep an eye on him." He steps back to stand next to Spetyco.

[Spetyco]

"I thank you, Farren.  But perhaps I should go.  I have done nothing to help this group.  So far I have only risked your lives as you rescued me, and stirred up dissention in your group."
"Lady Zorbels, thank you for healing my leg.  And to all who risked their lives to save me from the gobble cave yesterday I thank you as well."
Spetyco gets up and starts to gather his things before realizing everything but his sword was lost in the gobble cave.
"I owe you all a debt, and hope to repay it someday, but for now, I must take my leave."
With a bow he turns and starts back towards Hydlaa.  Then Zorbels insists he stays, so he stops.
"Are you certain, Lady Zorbels?  I do not know what is going on, but I have no wish to put any of you in danger."

[Farren Kutter]

"Any danger you put us in, we can get ourselves back out of I'm sure... Just remind me not to charge anymore ulbernauts head-on again." says Farren, an amused smile in his face as he remembers his foolishness.

[Spetyco]

"Again I thank you all for your kindness.  Perhaps we should finish breakfast and get ready to go.  It seems a trip to the magic shop is in order, but perhaps we should just all go together."