Thankfully the rain held off until the camp was set, sufficient shelter had been provided and the fire lit. Everyone was quite comfortably and Stormfollower was impressed at the extent and quality of comforts Gilliadson had fashioned from the driftwood and local plant life. Everyone seamed quite cozy.
"This island is a sacred place to my people. Besides being the provisional spot for the useful pinfish we enjoy, it has for ages been where our dead are brought, or if their bodies were unrecoverable this is where their memorials have been lain. Here we will honour the passing of Remis... for by now the deep has swallowed him up or he has succumbed to his hunger and in any event is surely gone beyond."
He spoke solemnly and with little emotion in his voice. "Deep within the forest of this island lies the crypt in which my father was placed, this will do for Remis too for it is my hope that they have found each other in the afterlife."
Stirring a stick within the embers of the fire he continued reflectively. "We honour the memories we had of Remis, for we knew him only as what we wished for him to be, this he reflected back upon us and we were kept happy. But is this not what we all do? Reflect back upon the ones we love that which they expect of us? We do this lovingly and with pride for we want for them to have pride for us. This was not so for our Remis. Within him there was a seed of contempt. Contempt which I did not see until he entered my mind with his dream power. He reflected on the world that which they wanted of him in order to hide his growing sadness and anger... two emotions which he had somehow wrongly learned were unwanted and unworthy. This is how he came to seek evil and how great evil was able to find him. I know not how or where this had consumed him but from what I saw in the final moments of my dream captivity he was evil and beyond any power to help him. It was for the best that he be returned to the elements."
He looked toward Jetamio" I hope you all will not judge me too harshly for this. I go now to summons his spirit and commune with it in the hope to glean these answers. You are all welcomed to join me but I know not how long it may take and I fear the task may prove lengthy. Jetamio will take you back to civilization when you are ready. I thank you for your continued support, but further than this island you cannot come without being a shaman or one of the dead"
Stirrings in the North
Moderator: Candlelights
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Stormfollower
- Posts: 488
- Joined: Fri Oct 27, 2006 11:05 pm
- Location: Unknown
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Stormfollower
- Posts: 488
- Joined: Fri Oct 27, 2006 11:05 pm
- Location: Unknown
Re: Stirrings in the North
Stormfollower stood and dropped his stick into the fire, he shed his clothing of everything except for his loin cloth and headed off barefoot into the dense woods.
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Stormfollower
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Re: Stirrings in the North
The warm damp forest of the Island of the Dead enveloped him completely. Every sense was instantly saturated as he made his way slowly through its depths. Thousands of unseen eyes watched over him as the muted sounds of a thousand animals soothed his ears. Deep within his mind and unknowable to him a dormant ferocity lurked coiling itself to strike once he reached his destination to the ruin of all.
Stormfollower had not been on the sacred Island for far too long, the last time being a short fishing trip with Remis but even then they remained camped on the shoreline. He should have taken the boy to his fathers crypt then. Maybe then there might have been some warning from the other world. Yet Remis did not seem ready for the depth of such an experience. He thought perhaps once his sons shamanic training was further along he could appreciate such an experience better. Since he was old enough to listen the boy did not like any talk of the dead and shied away from it. It was all too obvious why now.
Onward he trudged through the dense underbrush taking note of the hidden trail markers along the way. It would be far too easy for an inexperienced trekker to get lost in these woods though the island was small enough that a shoreline would eventually be found. When he reached a small river he waded in and headed upstream, his progress became quicker. The swiftly moving waters were more shallow here and though the water was warm it was refreshing to feel it rush against his feet and thighs. The rain was now able to land on his bare skin without the full umbrella of the forest canopy and freshened his thoughts. Still the trap in his subconscious was taught and over ready to spring.
As he rounded the last bend before the crypt he saw one of the Islands guardians stealthily crouched on an overhanging branch. The guardians of the dead were jaguars. In an ancient pact with the Wolf Clan they had agreed to watch over their dead to gain a place as one of the sacred animals. This one stared at Stormfollower now with a calm calculating gaze. Such a magnificent beast was a feast to his mortal eyes with its spotted markings and sharp feline eyes a rush of admiration took him aback.Its long claws were exposed on the branch in front of it as if in warning of the consequences for passing by unchecked. Its long tail twitched tentatively. The shaman did not worry though, he was following the code..no weapons no armor, bare skinned and bared heart.
"Brother," He spoke softly as he bowed low "Please allow my to see my people. Those who are not lost but only gone before. I see you now and honour your spirit."
During Stormfollowers youth he had chosen this island as the location for his spirit quest. A rite of passage for a shaman in which his totemic animal chose him. To the shock of his elder shamans a rare black jaguar had chosen him and so it was that he was called "Black Jaguar" amoungst the other holy men.
"See me now, my heart is bare. My sadness clear to those who can look within."
We see you Black Jaguar. You must turn back
Stormfollower was shocked by the voice in his head and fell back onto his haunches into the river. Never before had he heard the voices of these guardians, though legends spoke of thier ability to commune with man. He steadied himself but did not rise.
"Why do you seek to prevent my passage to the crypts of my ancestors? I seek answers from my father and knowledge of my sons journey to the afterlife."
Remis lives
"No, Remis has been left for nature to reclaim"
Know you the mind of nature Black Jaguar?
Stormfollower bowed his head at this, ashamed of his presumptuousness. The shock of the revelation about his son still reverberated through his mind. How could he have survived without the will required? Yet still the guardians were bound to the truth just as the shamans were.
"Where is he?" He spoke softly
Beneath the ground cobbled by the younger race of man
"Qeynos" He looked up at the big cat.
For now... Beware Black Jaguar, through your other children and his twin...through your friends and allies does he worm his festering designs
"Tell me what I must do brother."
Seek thee Clan Raventear
Stormfollower rose to his feet again. "Still I would speak with my ancestors"
No through your mind he would turn them against us all. You have not yet fully fathomed his power Black Jaguar.
"Then I will go"
Do not attempt contact with those beyond again. You have been warned
The Jaguar began to lick its paw and Stormfollower turned back towards the camp of his companions. Then it would be on the the tribe Raventear...the Ancients and his quest to free Norrath would have to wait. His home was alight and cruel destiny fanned its flames.
Stormfollower had not been on the sacred Island for far too long, the last time being a short fishing trip with Remis but even then they remained camped on the shoreline. He should have taken the boy to his fathers crypt then. Maybe then there might have been some warning from the other world. Yet Remis did not seem ready for the depth of such an experience. He thought perhaps once his sons shamanic training was further along he could appreciate such an experience better. Since he was old enough to listen the boy did not like any talk of the dead and shied away from it. It was all too obvious why now.
Onward he trudged through the dense underbrush taking note of the hidden trail markers along the way. It would be far too easy for an inexperienced trekker to get lost in these woods though the island was small enough that a shoreline would eventually be found. When he reached a small river he waded in and headed upstream, his progress became quicker. The swiftly moving waters were more shallow here and though the water was warm it was refreshing to feel it rush against his feet and thighs. The rain was now able to land on his bare skin without the full umbrella of the forest canopy and freshened his thoughts. Still the trap in his subconscious was taught and over ready to spring.
As he rounded the last bend before the crypt he saw one of the Islands guardians stealthily crouched on an overhanging branch. The guardians of the dead were jaguars. In an ancient pact with the Wolf Clan they had agreed to watch over their dead to gain a place as one of the sacred animals. This one stared at Stormfollower now with a calm calculating gaze. Such a magnificent beast was a feast to his mortal eyes with its spotted markings and sharp feline eyes a rush of admiration took him aback.Its long claws were exposed on the branch in front of it as if in warning of the consequences for passing by unchecked. Its long tail twitched tentatively. The shaman did not worry though, he was following the code..no weapons no armor, bare skinned and bared heart.
"Brother," He spoke softly as he bowed low "Please allow my to see my people. Those who are not lost but only gone before. I see you now and honour your spirit."
During Stormfollowers youth he had chosen this island as the location for his spirit quest. A rite of passage for a shaman in which his totemic animal chose him. To the shock of his elder shamans a rare black jaguar had chosen him and so it was that he was called "Black Jaguar" amoungst the other holy men.
"See me now, my heart is bare. My sadness clear to those who can look within."
We see you Black Jaguar. You must turn back
Stormfollower was shocked by the voice in his head and fell back onto his haunches into the river. Never before had he heard the voices of these guardians, though legends spoke of thier ability to commune with man. He steadied himself but did not rise.
"Why do you seek to prevent my passage to the crypts of my ancestors? I seek answers from my father and knowledge of my sons journey to the afterlife."
Remis lives
"No, Remis has been left for nature to reclaim"
Know you the mind of nature Black Jaguar?
Stormfollower bowed his head at this, ashamed of his presumptuousness. The shock of the revelation about his son still reverberated through his mind. How could he have survived without the will required? Yet still the guardians were bound to the truth just as the shamans were.
"Where is he?" He spoke softly
Beneath the ground cobbled by the younger race of man
"Qeynos" He looked up at the big cat.
For now... Beware Black Jaguar, through your other children and his twin...through your friends and allies does he worm his festering designs
"Tell me what I must do brother."
Seek thee Clan Raventear
Stormfollower rose to his feet again. "Still I would speak with my ancestors"
No through your mind he would turn them against us all. You have not yet fully fathomed his power Black Jaguar.
"Then I will go"
Do not attempt contact with those beyond again. You have been warned
The Jaguar began to lick its paw and Stormfollower turned back towards the camp of his companions. Then it would be on the the tribe Raventear...the Ancients and his quest to free Norrath would have to wait. His home was alight and cruel destiny fanned its flames.
Re: Stirrings in the North
Jetamio sat motionless by the shore awaiting her husbands return. Her chin rested on her knees, her arms clasped aroundn her legs, seemingly oblivious to the surf starting to splash around her feet and bottom as the tide came in.
She was wracked with both grief and guilt. Grief for the loss of another son, but feeling guilty that she had spawned such evil. She had thought that dark time was long past, back in the time of her madness, but it had now come back to bite her. She didn't know what to do, how to fix any of it. She withdrew into herself, not even noticing anyone who tried to speak to her. Radha had left a while ago, and the others had set up a camp on the beach, but away from the dark forest.
The stars began to shine overhead and the tide came in further, but Jetamio did not move until she began to feel the pull of the water trying to lure her into their depths. She scambled back from the water, then resumed her position on dry sand. She shivered a little as the night breeze cooled her wet clothes, but she still did not move, alone with her thoughts and listening for any sign of Stormfollower.
She was wracked with both grief and guilt. Grief for the loss of another son, but feeling guilty that she had spawned such evil. She had thought that dark time was long past, back in the time of her madness, but it had now come back to bite her. She didn't know what to do, how to fix any of it. She withdrew into herself, not even noticing anyone who tried to speak to her. Radha had left a while ago, and the others had set up a camp on the beach, but away from the dark forest.
The stars began to shine overhead and the tide came in further, but Jetamio did not move until she began to feel the pull of the water trying to lure her into their depths. She scambled back from the water, then resumed her position on dry sand. She shivered a little as the night breeze cooled her wet clothes, but she still did not move, alone with her thoughts and listening for any sign of Stormfollower.
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Stormfollower
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Re: Stirrings in the North
It was a very different forest on his walk back. It had become very still and the rain had stopped. Only the dripping of the sodden leaves and the careful quiet footfall of the shaman made any noise at all.
His mind was a flurry of thoughts now. Remis had survived in that raft, against all odds and was now hiding in the sewers of Qeynos. He thought about what his boy had attempted to do to him and the repercussions it would have caused. Had it not been for the intervention of his wife and friends he would have been ritualistically splayed upon a rock somewhere, dead and food for the carrion beasts of the northern wilds. He shuddered at the memory of his sons thoughts. Deviant minds had never had a place amongst his people and for his own son to have reveal such abhorrent thoughts still shocked him to his core.
He broke out of the forest at the beach and headed towards the camp site. The feild of stars gaily glistened above, oblivious to the plight of man. Their light made all the more bright for the absence of the moon and in contrast to the blackness of the forest. They brought him back to himself and he drank in their healing vista. Only the faint glow of the hint of dawn and the sight of Jetamio competed with their resplendence. His path was clear to him now, more clear than it had been in years.
He walked silently up to her and sat in the sand beside her. The soft lapping of the nearby ocean goaded him to speak. After a short silence he looked out at the sea.
"Remis survived." His words had a hint of anger to them "He is held up in the necrotic haunts beneath Qeynos"
He then went on to briefly explain his encounter with the guardians and their naming of the Raventear tribe yet he left out any mention of his ban from contacting the spirits of the dead.
"I will be leaving with Goblin Queen at dawns first light and on the ebbing tide. You are all welcome to join me of course though the journey gets grimmer still."
His mind was a flurry of thoughts now. Remis had survived in that raft, against all odds and was now hiding in the sewers of Qeynos. He thought about what his boy had attempted to do to him and the repercussions it would have caused. Had it not been for the intervention of his wife and friends he would have been ritualistically splayed upon a rock somewhere, dead and food for the carrion beasts of the northern wilds. He shuddered at the memory of his sons thoughts. Deviant minds had never had a place amongst his people and for his own son to have reveal such abhorrent thoughts still shocked him to his core.
He broke out of the forest at the beach and headed towards the camp site. The feild of stars gaily glistened above, oblivious to the plight of man. Their light made all the more bright for the absence of the moon and in contrast to the blackness of the forest. They brought him back to himself and he drank in their healing vista. Only the faint glow of the hint of dawn and the sight of Jetamio competed with their resplendence. His path was clear to him now, more clear than it had been in years.
He walked silently up to her and sat in the sand beside her. The soft lapping of the nearby ocean goaded him to speak. After a short silence he looked out at the sea.
"Remis survived." His words had a hint of anger to them "He is held up in the necrotic haunts beneath Qeynos"
He then went on to briefly explain his encounter with the guardians and their naming of the Raventear tribe yet he left out any mention of his ban from contacting the spirits of the dead.
"I will be leaving with Goblin Queen at dawns first light and on the ebbing tide. You are all welcome to join me of course though the journey gets grimmer still."
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Gilliadson
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Re: Stirrings in the North
After a long silence, Gilliadson spoke up.
"I speak for the House of Shadowbane in that wherever you require the service of any of us, there shall we be. None of us would turn back from assisting you no matter how dark the path before us. The fate of your child rests in the hands of the two of you though. Be sure of the path you commit to here for to waver even for a moment of hesitation could spell the doom of all. You two should confer to be sure the two of you are of the same mind in this matter for to hunt ones own child is not a matter for the parents to be divided upon."
"I speak for the House of Shadowbane in that wherever you require the service of any of us, there shall we be. None of us would turn back from assisting you no matter how dark the path before us. The fate of your child rests in the hands of the two of you though. Be sure of the path you commit to here for to waver even for a moment of hesitation could spell the doom of all. You two should confer to be sure the two of you are of the same mind in this matter for to hunt ones own child is not a matter for the parents to be divided upon."
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Stormfollower
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Re: Stirrings in the North
"I cannot speak for the feelings of my wife but my own path is clear."He turns to Jetamio "Nor would it be right for me to expect a mother to understand what it is I must do. I had assumed you would stay at home while I deal with Remis"
Re: Stirrings in the North
The druid looks up at him, with a slightly incredulous look on her face. "Stay at home? Don't be ridiculous, this is my fault. I should have known I could not get away scot-free for my sins in the past. I cannot just sit back and do nothing." She gave him that look that said nothing was going to sway her opinion on the matter.
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Stormfollower
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Re: Stirrings in the North
Stormfollower paused a moment, absorbing her words and preparing his own.
"This is not your fault. It is mine. I should have spent more time with the boy. I should have seen his distress long before it festered into this incurable ill. I am a shaman by Tunarare! I am trained to see these things. Too long away from home..too far away to tend his growth. I am sure no sins from long ago have any bearing on his tainted development."
"This is not your fault. It is mine. I should have spent more time with the boy. I should have seen his distress long before it festered into this incurable ill. I am a shaman by Tunarare! I am trained to see these things. Too long away from home..too far away to tend his growth. I am sure no sins from long ago have any bearing on his tainted development."
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Gilliadson
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Re: Stirrings in the North
P`Nala spoke up...
"There may still be hope that he may be turned from his evil ways. Every step we take in life gives us a choice to take it for good or evil.
While he may have taken many steps towards evil, his path can still be turned if he can see and find the desire to walk toward the Light.
Perhaps his sister can help show him the way..."
"There may still be hope that he may be turned from his evil ways. Every step we take in life gives us a choice to take it for good or evil.
While he may have taken many steps towards evil, his path can still be turned if he can see and find the desire to walk toward the Light.
Perhaps his sister can help show him the way..."
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Gilliadson
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Re: Stirrings in the North
Myrikel spoke softly...
"The hatred that had grown inside Remis was quite strong and painful for me to feel. He has been cultivating that hatred for quite some time. If he has a spark of love left within him, then surely it would be for Radha. If I can bear the pain of searching through his tortured soul for such a spark, I could bring it to the surface. I have done it once before in a creature even more hate-filled than your son." Myrikel remembered her encounter with the creature that Innoruuk had made from her Great-Grandfather, Bralder. It was the first time she had used her divine gift.
"The hatred that had grown inside Remis was quite strong and painful for me to feel. He has been cultivating that hatred for quite some time. If he has a spark of love left within him, then surely it would be for Radha. If I can bear the pain of searching through his tortured soul for such a spark, I could bring it to the surface. I have done it once before in a creature even more hate-filled than your son." Myrikel remembered her encounter with the creature that Innoruuk had made from her Great-Grandfather, Bralder. It was the first time she had used her divine gift.
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Stormfollower
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Re: Stirrings in the North
Stormfollower looked at Myrikel a glint of hope now in his good eye.
"Then we will need to get you quite close to him. The guardians said to seek the Raventear tribe, perhaps they will know his whereabouts." He stood, brushed the sand from his bare legs and loincloth and drew his discarded clothes into a bundle then walked towards the sea the sunrise and the ship. Holding the clothes above his head he waded waist deep in the low tide towards the small vessel. His fine physique glinted in the gold of the dawning sun and he could have, at that moment been mistaken for his eldest son Tortha. Once at the ship he threw his clothes aboard and climbed the short distance up the side into the boats cockpit.
"Then we will need to get you quite close to him. The guardians said to seek the Raventear tribe, perhaps they will know his whereabouts." He stood, brushed the sand from his bare legs and loincloth and drew his discarded clothes into a bundle then walked towards the sea the sunrise and the ship. Holding the clothes above his head he waded waist deep in the low tide towards the small vessel. His fine physique glinted in the gold of the dawning sun and he could have, at that moment been mistaken for his eldest son Tortha. Once at the ship he threw his clothes aboard and climbed the short distance up the side into the boats cockpit.
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Gilliadson
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Re: Stirrings in the North
Sineliniel summoned Flight Rings for the rest of the party and walked toward the Goblin Queen floating above the water. The Sapphires of her robe glinted brightly in the morning sun and her hair shone golden as it waved slightly in the gentle breeze. Gilliadson, P'Nala and Myrikel followed close behind.
Once on board, Gilliadson stowed his gear in the cabin and joined Stormfollower at the cockpit.
"We have the powers of the mind, heart and spirit on our side. Pray also for the blessings of the Gods upon this venture."
Once on board, Gilliadson stowed his gear in the cabin and joined Stormfollower at the cockpit.
"We have the powers of the mind, heart and spirit on our side. Pray also for the blessings of the Gods upon this venture."
Re: Stirrings in the North
Jetamio followed the others, then suddenly looked towards the sea. A great white warhorse was galloping over the waves, his golden rider waving her arms at them.
"Father! Wait!"
"Father! Wait!"
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Stormfollower
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Re: Stirrings in the North
He looked up at his approaching daughter, he had not expected her back so soon but travel by wind and waves was allot different than on the back of a paladins steed and he lost track of normal time-space relationships while at sea.
He smiled as she rode in on the first sunbeams of the morning and his heart swelled with pride for her accomplishments. "How different the two of them " he thought. "How like her mother this one..and how incomprehensible the other now."
He waited while she and the others made their way onto the boat and donned his full set of shamanic clothing complete with all the totems and talismans of wood, stone, skin and bone. Layers of hides and feathers overlapped upon multi-textured pouches and charms, ceremoniously knotted together with silver chains, cords and ropes of various materials. The whole ordeal taking him a long time to secure together.
He greeted her as he continued his dressing. "Hail new-daughter" a term his people used for the youngest female child. "What news hast thow, ambassador of dawn?"
He smiled as she rode in on the first sunbeams of the morning and his heart swelled with pride for her accomplishments. "How different the two of them " he thought. "How like her mother this one..and how incomprehensible the other now."
He waited while she and the others made their way onto the boat and donned his full set of shamanic clothing complete with all the totems and talismans of wood, stone, skin and bone. Layers of hides and feathers overlapped upon multi-textured pouches and charms, ceremoniously knotted together with silver chains, cords and ropes of various materials. The whole ordeal taking him a long time to secure together.
He greeted her as he continued his dressing. "Hail new-daughter" a term his people used for the youngest female child. "What news hast thow, ambassador of dawn?"