Session Start: Sat Dec 15 15:59:18 2001 ==Session Start== The ship rocks a little, the night silent except for the sounds of the creak of the bulkheads and the steady drip of raindrops leaking into the brig. All is dark, but for a thin ray of light coming through bars of the door, from a lantern on deck. Nathan and Jalanda stir slightly, finally awaking; it is now about three hours after the end of their ill-fated battle... . o O (How humiliating. Me. Beaten up by pirates of all things. Gods I am never going to live this down.) * Jalanda is roused out to her senses, coming to in a rather shadowy corner of the cell. Her eyes adjust to the darkness, followed by a very muffled moan as she realizes the sensation of pain. * Nathan shifts into a more comfortable position, then hears that someone else is also awake That you Jalanda? * Jalanda cradles her right arm, looking around. Her voice sounds tense. "...Nathan?" Yup, just me. You OK? I... have been better.... No doubt. I imagine all of us have, considering the beatdown we just got I can sense everyone is here... I'm glad they are not seriously wounded... Makes you wonder what they intend to do with us now * Jalanda grits her teeth a second, sucking in some air. She looks down to the ragged and torn sleeve of her robe, which bandages lay upon it loosely. Well, they do not intend our deaths... Seems we were trussed up after the fight. Shows they don't want us dead for now at least That tells me either ransom, free labor, or our deaths were just delayed * Jalanda starts unravelling the bandages slowly in the dim light as Nathan is speaking. * Nathan goes quiet for a while before speaking again By the way, I suppose now is as good a time as any, but I have a question I know what you are going to ask. It was upon your face when you looked at me in the council hall. And when we were being dragged off after the fight Care to explain what it was that I saw? * Jalanda lets a few more bandages drop to the floor, and her free hand begins to glow with the essence of healing water, slightly illuminating the chamber. Nathan can now see her exposed arm that was underneath the dressings. It has a very wide cut made by the sword, and the skin is very pale, almost totally white. It doesn't seem to be bleeding at all. * Nathan raises an eyebrow, but says nothing * Jalanda makes a slightly pained expression. "This is not a very easy answer to give." I didn't think it would be. But if you could try I would appreciate it. Unless you'd prefer I didn't pry * Jalanda runs the hand over it once, and it seems to close and heal. But the palor does not vanish with it. You seem to be very intelligent Nathan... I'm sure you know of what transpired 11 years ago. Of course. Everyone does Although we couldn't explain it at the time * Jalanda sighs, flexing the arm testingly. "Noone truly knows why... but all life that came into contact with it was drained away..." * Nathan nods Trapped in stone, trapped beyond this world... the Rafane did not whether the coming well... Beyond this world? * Jalanda looks at Nathan, removing her disheleved hood to expose her brown hair and face. It seems very drawn. "When the tendrils of Gaia came to Iris, much of the town was trapped in another dimention... just as what was seen in Laine." I haven't seen it for myself, but I've heard of it It is true... Yet, rather than be one of those swallowed by the maw, fate seemed to deal me a different hand. Continue * Jalanda holds the arm up into the light beam, as if studying it intensely. "This is the result of my brush with that beast. I lost a part of myself, and it was replaced with the voices of the Spirits." And does that partly explain your gift of foresight? * Jalanda lowers the arm into the shadows again, looking away a bit. "...it is how I acquired the gift. A blessing and a curse." Hmm...I see So why all the elaborate covering up? People fear and shun that which they do not understand. the truth is often the most painful. (m)Either that or plunge headlong into it * Jalanda looks out of the cell. "My path leads back to that place. So divine the Spirits. There may yet be a day when such a fog of comfort is not neccisary." That doesn't exactly answer my question. Why do YOU do it? Obviously you feel others expect it of you. But why do you hide yourself so? * Jalanda turns her head to him, not answering his question immediately. "Why does anyone hide behind garments and masks?" Because we're afraid that others will hurt us It is not always about pain. I never said anything about pain * Jalanda quietly whispers. "But that is the end result... one way or another. But my opinions are not important..." The painless kind of hurting oftentimes is much worse. Masks sometimes can protect us from that But they shield us from other things too, things we didn't count on And I wouldn't buy into that 'my opinions aren't important' thing if I wee you * Jalanda folds her arms closer to herself. "It is my role to grant insight, and answers. I have accepted this." My opinions as a person do not hold weight against the visions I see. It would alter the course.. I can't argue with that. But I'll ask you to consider something You have been granted a second sight that many of us lack. The rest of us only see with one eye But remember that even though one can see through one or two eyes, each sees the world differently By willingly blinding yourself in the one eye that you share with the rest of us, you deny the world that which you see. And I'm not talking about visions Seeing that which will come is useful, but you have chosen to close yourself to the here and now. * Nathan pauses, and waits to see how Jalanda will respond before speaking again Do not assume I am so blinded to the world... it is merely not the right time to speak of such things. They will all come in time. * Jalanda looks around the cell. "For now, my wish is to free us from the chains that bind us to the way forward. Darkness grows nearer." All right, but then I think its unfair for you to blind us this way * Jalanda closes her eyes. "I'm sorry. I cannot change this untill I know my own answers." * Nathan considers this for a while, then nods I shall be strong for you until then. Fair enough. I won't force the issue any longer. I just want you to remember one last thing There's a saying I learned in my travels that you might want to remember: He who looks too far ahead stumbles over his own boots. * Jalanda slips into a meditative air, mind wandering. "It is a wise saying. But look down at your feet too much and you shall never see the options before you." The trick therin, is to keep both eyes open, and watch both the path, and your boots ^_- Then, you watch your steps. And allow me to watch the road... *she falls silent* Fair enough . O O (But I can't promise that someone will always be there to catch you should you stumble.) * Erellisae groans, shifting slightly from her stupor. * Nathan hears Erel, "Welcome back to the world of the living. My condolensces." ^_- * Erellisae shifts again, then lifts her head, holding her shoulder. "Uggh..." You OK over there? * Erellisae gets to her knees, shaking her head and wincing. Her ears droop. ;_; I'll take that as a 'not really' * Erellisae blinks, and looks around slowly. "Where are we..?" I beleive we're in the brig * Erellisae lugs herself to her feet, one hand on the wall to steady herself. She looks around slowly and silently, checking the door of the brig... Don't move around too quickly now. We're not in the best position or shape for heavy-duty runaround * Jalanda intones quietly. "The door is also very securely locked. There are many guards." * Erellisae doesn't appear to be listening; instead, she runs a hand across the door, then /snarls/, sitting in the middle of the brig, her hands close together, saying nothing and looking down. * Nathan raises an eyebrow at this You know, I'm glad I was here to see that. I might not have beleived it otherwise * Jalanda looks saddened. * Erellisae starts to shake slightly, as a silver ball of energy coalesces in her hands. A couple of tears are making their way down her face as she scowls in concentration. * Nathan raises his eyebrow a little further . o O (OK, this is new) * Jalanda begins to look fully in Erellisae's direction. * Erellisae near-screams as she flings her hands out, sending a Howl at the brig's door. . o O (This won't end well..) o_o; The spell shatters against the door, the power of Erellisae's magic raging at the wood. Apparently, however, the door is magically reinforced, for not even her spell can break through it... I know the emotions that rage in your heart, but the adventure will not end here. ... * Erellisae sobs slightly, her teeth gritting as she clasps her hands together, concentrating on another spell. * Erellisae doesn't let this second Howl spell go - instead, she remains sitting where she is, the silver ball of magic pulsing slightly in her hands as she continues to concentrate. * Jalanda continues looking at the young girl prepare another spell. She gets up and places her hands upon Erel shoulders. "Please, conserve your strength. This will not make things right." * Erellisae shakes her head, tears falling down her cheeks. "I don't care! I have to... go on my adventure still!" As she says this, she unleashes the second Howl spell, larger than the first, at the door. The sound is deafening in the little room, but the door holds. Seconds later, footsteps sound outside...the flap across the bars at eye-level is opened. [Guard] You there! Cut that out! Don't make me get the mage to shut you up! >:| The flap slams shut again. * Erellisae clenches her fists, trying not to cry. "No..." The air swirls about in the little room, then begins to settle. In the following silence, Mitsuo's rasping can be heard even more, sounding worse than it was a few minutes ago as he labors to breathe. * Jalanda shakes her head. "There is a time and place for everything... if you keep this up you'll endanger your chances even further, and that of the very friends you wish to save." * Erellisae collapses again, punching the floor rather ineffectually as she does so. "I know! I know..." * Jalanda kneels, trying to hoist her up from pounding the floor. "You have to be ready when the chance appears... to direct your power positively." Otherwise, you shall never reach the heavens... * Jalanda adds quietly. "I don't want to see you lose that chance." * Erellisae sighs deeply, and calms, but remains laying down. Her ears droop slightly. She speaks, very quietly. "I know... but I have to try..." You always try your best, this is why you inspire others. Sometimes there are just different ways and means. * Erellisae doesn't answer, instead staring at the door, biting her lip slightly. * Jalanda pauses her speech, wincing a moment, and rubbing her arm suddenly as it is not fully healed yet. * Jalanda looks reasonably satisfied that Erel will remain calm, turns her attention to the gasping Mitsuo in the corner. She uses what little strength she has to cause more of the air to flow in his direction from the door. Mitsuo's breathing steadies just a little, but he still rasps hoarsely and does not wake. His glasses also seem to be missing. ^^; * Jalanda leans back onto the wall, eyes getting distant as she also notices the lack of glasses. .o( Am I blinding them?... no, far from it. There is still so much time yet. ) ==Session End== Session Close: Sat Dec 15 18:08:59 2001