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Post by unpopularprophet on Feb 11, 2012 9:56:32 GMT -5
The Veil whirled before a pair of living eyes, unbeknownst to those around him. Here were events being set in motion that had the force to change the face of their world. This man- Quelin- was... a pebble in the pond... ripple-maker... effector of change. No matter what path he took, the echoes of his actions would ring from every corner within the Veil.
Words almost sprang to Aleister's lips, words of a heavy doom and responsibility... but he restrained them. They were words for Quelin's ears alone. Quelin? How did he know that name? He couldn't say. But he could say that Quelin, and perhaps Lord Rahl, should be the only ones to hear this...
Prophecy?!
He needed to have the others away, only Lord Rahl and Quelin. This knowledge, if knowledge it was and not some intangible and indirect omen, was not to be spread lightly, even to the most trusted ears. How he was to request this was beyond him at the moment. With it had come of Vision of Death quite profound... which echoed the primal urges of a distant Heartbeast, the first and last of his kind, as he rampaged miles upon miles away...
Aleister wept tears of blood out of the outward corner from the sheer force of another mind in conjunction with the pressure of the Veil rubbing across his bare psyche. He remained standing, determined to wait until the pressure subsided before speaking.
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Post by quelin on Feb 11, 2012 12:46:09 GMT -5
Quelin looked at the outstretched hand in his direction. Lord Rahl had offered him freedom instead of the service he had sworn. He was reluctant to join anybody in a quest or anything. He'd been alone for so long that he didn't know how to react when people offered kindness to him instead of the scorn and virility that he was used to for his entire life. Reluctantly he stood and took the hand of Lord Rahl.
"Danger or not, if I can find out more about things and finally get out of solitude then I will do what I must"
He clasped a fist across his chest
"I will serve and do as I must to survive and ensure the life of those worthy of keeping it, and those who deserve it."
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Post by Lord Rahl on Feb 11, 2012 20:07:46 GMT -5
Deneric stared into the man's eyes for a brief moment, reading what he could of his emotions. He could see reluctance, but no fear. And he could see pain. But beyond that he could see strength and pride.
"We're glad to have you with us."
He looked to the Mord-Sith and the Confessor. "And you two, as well. We ought to all go back to camp and deal with introductions. Then we need rest. It's been an interesting day. And we've got many more of them ahead of us."
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Post by quelin on Feb 11, 2012 23:25:12 GMT -5
Quelin stood, and shot Aleister a look of concern. He could tell that Aleister knew something and was holding it in. He may be fairly new to detecting the gift of others, but reading people came quite naturally to him. He did not know what was bothering this man, but he was concerned he would find out soon. He hoped he wouldn't have to kill this man, he being the only one who could have stood a chance against him in the dark, for it would be a shame to lose such a well tempered opponent and possibly partner down the line.
"Lord Rahl, where do we move to? I fear this glade is far too open and easily ambushed. Perhaps we should find somewhere safer and more enclosed before we start discussing further plans and conduct our introductions?"
It occurred to Quelin that nobody here actually knew him by name. Perhaps he would keep that to himself for the moment lest he decide he need to hide his true identity.
"Does anybody know of a safer place for us to congregate?"
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Post by sariah on Feb 12, 2012 4:02:07 GMT -5
Sariah shrugged. "The only place I know of is where I was trained... Which would be safe, but it is several days away, and in the wrong direction." Part of her was glad for the fact that they would be moving away from that place, there were many memories there, most of them bad. Yet there was another part of her that would always think of that small stone fort as home. Perhaps she would visit it again later.
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Post by quelin on Feb 12, 2012 13:44:41 GMT -5
Quelin looked around to everyone else in the clearing.
"Does anyone else know any other places? Or are we forced to backtrack? We can't stay here. If we stay here we're in danger"
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Post by unpopularprophet on Feb 12, 2012 23:40:28 GMT -5
Aleister pushed back the flashes of the Beast- for now. One day they would have to end.
"This region is riddled with barrows: the ancient 'Low D'Haran ' peoples, of the era before Panis's unification, were curiously fond of the structures. While camping inside one would be absurd, for a group our size, it would be conceivable to set up a small perimeter about the pinnacle of one- any natives will be likely to avoid them, and we'll have an advantage of view and the high ground."
The tracks of blood on the sides of his face vanished... the constant blood was starting to annoy him- he wished sometimes it weren't such a direct consequence of the nature of his Gift, but Aleister was one of sufficient fortitude to withstand the physical, mental, and emotional tribulations of his own being. Perhaps that was why he was so strange, really. However, for the moment, he would have to wait to speak over his... insight? He noticed Quelin's look, and, while still puzzling out how his vision coul possibly have imparted a name to him, he motioned an honest conciliatory motion, and gently mouthed, Later, I promise.
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Post by quelin on Feb 13, 2012 10:29:48 GMT -5
He knew it. Aleister was hiding something, but apparently he intended to tell Quelin. But what on earth could it be. Quelin was aware of the fact that Aleister was giving him strange looks over the course of the somewhat depressing interrogation.
"Well setting up camp around one of the pinnacles seems like a sound plan. I noticed a couple of them that were off the beaten path and out of the way, while I made my way up here. We should move towards them. Nightfall will be upon us soon. If night falls on us, we are in trouble. D'Hara has already sent me many challenges and creatures of the night to deal with. If we're not careful, we may lose more than we bargained for."
Quelin knew that while serving with the Lord Rahl he should be able to seek out his purpose. Lord Rahl seemed to offer reasonable enough explanation on his unfortunate past, but he was still unsure. Perhaps it was just the fact that he had been dealing with it for so long. He longed for his brother, but will never see his face again. He wished things could have been simple and so much less violent. His years as a hired assassin had done him well in the way of violence but never in the way of what he desired most: Love. More than anything he wished that there was a capacity in some beautiful woman's heart to love a monster like him. His life has turned into a twisted and destructive mess ever since his banishment and his brother's murder. Nobody could love a monster like him. Killing for money, killing for revenge, even killing for sport at times, made him the worst kind of monster: a bloodthirsty one. No woman could love that, but maybe with Lord Rahl's help, he could change. While he wanted justice done, he didn't not want to be a vile agent of the keeper; killing people regardless of the cost.
He remembered the day exactly as it happened before his eyes. He was so young. His brother and him just playing knights outside, and then they came. Mord Sith and Soldiers came upon their house. "Hide" he cried out, and not knowing what else to do Quelin hid. He watched silently while his brother spoke to the Mord Sith leading the group. A blue-eyed red head wearing pitch black leather spoke with little care of my brother's words. She began to move towards the house, and his brother stood in front of her. With a swift backhand across the cheek, she knocked him to the ground. Fueled with rage, he swung his sword at the woman as powerfully and swiftly as possible. "INSOLENCE" she cried. Grabbing her agiel she tortured his brother to death on the spot. She turned to her men. "Burn down the house and block the doors so the little skab can't get out. Quelin turned and ran, but was caught by Allister Cot. Then began his exile.
Could it be true? Was this mysterious Mord Sith in black targeting him? Something was up. Something wasn't right and things were certainly not as the initially seemed.
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Post by Lord Rahl on Feb 14, 2012 0:54:25 GMT -5
Rahl saw the mysterious man was in some kind of trance, most likely recalling the past that seemed to plague him so. His initial urge was to reach out and put his hand on the man's shoulder and tell him it would be all right, but if the man was deep in thought — especially if they were violent thoughts — it would be be a foolish mistake to make to lay hands on him.
So instead he spoke strongly and clearly: "I think Aleister has a good idea. I think I saw one such barrow slightly to the East and South of here. It wouldn't involve too much backtracking to get to it."
He looked to Arya and Eris, "What do you think?"
Arya nodded, Eris said, "It sounds good to me, Lord Rahl."
"You will be joining us, then?"
He directed the question and a look at the second Mord-Sith, and the Confessor.
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Post by malyssa on Feb 14, 2012 1:13:02 GMT -5
Maliss nodded. "It will be nice to travel with people again. Last ones I saw other than you all was over a week ago, and they weren't exactly open to a Confessor joining them for anything." She was used to such reactions by those who knew what she was, but they still bothered her more than she would let anyone see.She was also fairly sure that everyone in the clearing knew what she was already, and their decision to allow her to join them anyway was reason enough to smile, which she did just after agreeing to join them.
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Post by quelin on Feb 14, 2012 16:21:56 GMT -5
Quelin, still in a trance, snapped right back to the scenario in the glade. She was a confessor? How had he not seen that? He would have to be quite careful about such a woman. This seemed to be a seriously dangerous that he had just joined. Quelin looked to Lord Rahl
"Well shall we go? We need to get out of here"
Quelin turned and started out of the glade
"We need to find those pillars, night is quickly falling upon us, and I fear that many of you don't have the tactical advantage that Aleister and I have in the shadows
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Post by Lord Rahl on Feb 14, 2012 21:44:46 GMT -5
"Then we move. I will lead. Follow closely behind me."
As the group moved closer to each other, and as they started off, Rahl noticed many eyes on his would-be assassin.
He felt bad for the man. But he was glad to have people watching his back.
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Post by sariah on Feb 15, 2012 13:30:03 GMT -5
Sariah nodded and took up a position just behind Quelin. Though she didn't entirely trust any of the group, he had gone from attacking them to joining them a little too quickly in her mind, so naturally she kept one eye on him. The other she found straying toward the Confessor. Though she could tell herself it was to better protect Lord Rahl, deep down she knew that she was already fascinated by the young lady in black. Such a quiet creature, yet clearly strong in so many ways. To risk her deadly touch might be a worthy consequence for getting to know her better.
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