The Return to the Dryads

[Daegan]

Daegan lay still within the antechamber within his bedroom, the shadows soothing his weary form. They glided over him like the gentle breeze or the light ebb and flow of waves breaking at the surface. It kept a soft smile on his face as the Sage of Shadows drifted off, mostly due to exhaustion but also just because he was content. Dreams overtook Daegan as he slipped off into slumber.

“The Dryads!”

It seemed only like seconds had past – and really it had only been a few minutes – as Daegan shot out of his velvet chair. His eyes flickered for a moment, the shadows leaping to attention. Quickly, Daegan grabbed a simple pair of dark grey pants and a dark gray shirt; silk of course. He turned then, mumbling to himself as the thoughts raced through his mind.

For a long time the city of Cyrida and the Dryad forests had shared an alliance of sorts, long before even the Sage of Shadows took over the city. The Dryad women would trade every now and again with Sedian merchants, bringing exotic clothing, weaponry and other rare items into the city. In turn, the City Guard patrolled the Dryad kingdom, ensuring protection for the strange species.

It was through this alliance that the Arc of Magick was brought to the Sage of Shadows and through this alliance again that an emissary from the Dryad forest was on the way to Cyrida. It was just as Daegan flickered from the Tower of Shadows that the Dryad arrived, giving to one of the servants of the Tower a strange looking weapon.

Moments later, Daegan stood on the borders of the Dryad forest, the shadows falling away from his body. He pushed them away, forced them from his body as he stood standing still, freeing his mind of the hatred and rage that he had mustered earlier in the day. He needed to appear calm and at ease as he entered the wood.

After only a few steps, the forest seemed to close in around him, as if he were suddenly in the heart of the thickest part. Everything within eyesight looked exactly the same. It was almost maddening as Daegan continued in a direction he thought was forward, keeping his composure all the while.

“Master Daegan of the Sedi, it has been a long time.”[/b]

A voice boomed out from seemingly every branch of every tree. Even the shadows quivered as Daegan stopped in mid-stride, his eyes moving upwards casually scanning the tree tops. He smiled softly as he felt a rush of air smack him in the face, his vision flickering as he appeared suddenly in what appeared to be a grove. Standing a short distance in front of Daegan was a bent form, clad in deep brown robes covered with feathers and beads.

“Hail Khait Tanafriti of the Dryad, Holy Queen of the Wood!”

Daegan bowed before the bent queen as she moved slowly towards him, a smile covering her tan, leather looking face. Her crystal blue eyes seemed to flash as she paused, standing slowly to rummage through her robes as Daegan continued.

“It’s been a long time indeed, my Lady. A very long time. And I regret that our reunion could not be on a happier note, but I bring dire news from my people… and dire news from my Tower.”

The Sage stopped speaking as the Queen of the Dryad raised her frail looking hand up. She plucked from her deep sleeve the trinket she was looking for, her smile becoming evident as she brought down her hood.

“It saddens my heart that you are not here on pleasant terms, then, Daegan Aquarius, Sage of Shadow. I trust, however, that you have received the Dryad Emissary I have sent to you?”[/b]

Daegan’s brow furrowed and he looked slightly puzzled. No emissary had arrived at the Tower to his knowledge, and if they had he hadn’t met with them. Shaking his head, the smile half faded from Daegan’s face.

“No Emissary that I’m aware of, my Lady. But perhaps they arrived as I departed my chambers to seek audience with you.”

His eyes then flickered to the trinket she held, the Dryad Queen beckoning Daegan to come closer. Steadily, he moved towards her, eyes growing wider and wider with each step. The details of this particular treasure had been hazy to him, but soon Daegan was certain as to what it was the Dryad held in her hand.

“The Arc of Dreams…”

As Daegan’s words came off his lips, the Arc seemed to hear them and flickered to life. The small, crest-like silver surface shimmered as a soft, purple flame burned softly across it. With each step closer, the Arc responded to the presence of the Sedi. And, in turn, the Dryad seemed to grimace with each step, the strange manifestation of the Sedian artifact causing the Queen visible discomfort.

“So you do recognize it. The Emissary I sent to you carried with her a similar artifact, only this appeared to be a savage weapon. One forged of two blades and made of a dark substance. Here, take it, this fiendish disk crashed into my head after I sent the first Emissary to you, and I was going to send this first thing tomorrow.”[/b]

Daegan slowly reached out to touch the Arc, the purple fire flickering across his fingertips in the process. His hand quivered as he picked up the disc, the Dryad’s face returning to her old, worn smile as Daegan studied the newly acquired artifact.

“What news of your people, and of your Tower?”[/b]

Daegan sighed, and shook his head. He still wasn’t sure of the story, and wouldn’t be until Lasius and Lomes regained consciousness and explained everything. He only had his theories to go on and the aftermath, and both brought a quick scowl to the Sage’s face.

“I don’t know what has happened… but the Sedian people are devastated. Our Gods have been slain and our Savior has Fallen from the very Heavens he has Transcended too. And, as selfish as it may seem, all but one of my daughters are missing. I don’t know if any of the others survived… and this is why I come to you now.”

The smile, too, faded from the Dryad’s face, the empathy she felt for the Sedian almost bringing a tear to her eye.

“My heart is broken for your loss, Sage of Shadow. But you can rest assured that I shall see the best of the Dryad Oracles seek your daughters out. Be they in this world or the next, we shall find them and send word. Go now, young Daegan. Go and rest. You’ve a present waiting for you from the Dryads remember, and one more to take home with you. Two days, and you shall know where your daughters are.”[/b]

The Dryad smiled and Daegan bowed once more as the old Queen turned and started to move away. She walked towards the opposite end of the clearing the two stood in, and as she reached the first tree of the tree line her form seemed to vanish completely. Daegan sighed then, his hands curling about the newly acquired Arc.

A few moments later his form burst forth once more from the antechamber of shadow in his bedroom. Even as his body slipped from the Shadow Realm, Daegan could feel a pull within the room. And as he appeared, the Soul Fire light that burned above in the chamber seemed much dimmer than before. Daegan could feel a tingling sensation, and he turned, his eyes going wide once more as they fell upon a familiar object resting upon the velvet chair. He could see a small oak leaf tied to the center of the object, making him smile once more. This was the other gift the Queen of the Dryad’s spoke of.

Daegan moved forward and grabbed the second Arc with his free hand, the shadows exploding up around him. They surged about his body as he felt the rush of energy. His hair moved and swayed, his clothing rippled as if he was in a strong wind as his fingers moved over the dark substance of the relic that had been delivered. The Arc of Shadows was his once again.

The Sage chuckled softly as he moved from the antechamber into the main room, smiling again as he saw his daughter. He moved towards her, the shadows wrapping around his right arm where he held the Arc of Shadows. His left hand fingered the Arc of Dreams; tiny bolts of the purple fire flickering over the spots his skin touched the shiny disk. He had absolutely no idea what the Arc of Dreams was, or how to even begin to start being able to use it, but it gave him hope. Hope that with the help of Lasius they would once again rebuild the Sedi.

“Things are starting to take a change, Wynne. Your Uncle is going to be quite pleased when he wakes up I think. Or at least a little relieved. And we will be soon, too. I went to the Dryads and talked to the Queen herself.”

He knelt down then, looking his daughter right in her eyes.

“They’re going to look for your sisters. They’re going to use all their magick and all their wits, and they’re going to find them. They’re going to find Edana, Coventina, Raeghan, Aingael, Deirdre, Brenna, Etain, Keelin, Evelina, Zinerva and Maeveen [/color](easier list for you ). All of them, Wynne. Now let’s go see what’s for dinner.”

Daegan stood, and flexed his right arm, the shadows slithering down his wrist covering his hand as they seemed to grab the Arc, snaking away with it to the antechamber Daegan had found it in. He then extended his newly freed hand down to his daughter, waiting for her to take it so the two could walk hand and hand to the dining hall to recoup more much needed energy while Lasius and Lomes continued to do the same.

[Lasius]

Lasius stirred in his sleep slightly, the Arc had restored all the energy his body could handle and it was finally bringing his mind back to consciousness. His hand reached out and gripped the hilt of the Arc of Lightning, it was like an old friend to him after so long, comforting to have near, secure almost a part of him in a way. Contact with the weapon removed the last traces of fatigue from him and his eyes opened. Slowly he sat upright and took in the surroundings of Daegan's bedchamber.

It wasn't Long before his eyes came to rest on the injured and comatose form of Lomes. Sadness filled his eyes as he looked at her, sadness and helplessness, It was the first time in a long time that he had not the power necessary to help someone he cared about. It was not a feeling he had intended on ever having again and the first frustrations of mortality and its limits were bitter indeed.

He threw the blankets off and pulled himself out of the bed, having no idea how long he had slept while his body recovered, and still heavily disturbed by the dreams he had experienced in his sleep. He looked down at his torn and bloodied clothing and sighed. He was a mess, but now was not the time to worry about such superficial things as appearance. His hand was sore and glancing at it made him stop dead, the blood drained from his face as he stared at the branded circle in his palm, so similar to his dream it unnerved him to the core.

“Was it real..” He glanced back at the bed where the soft glint of metal caught his eye. The ring laying in the rumpled bedsheets was like a slap across the face, he spun away from it and to the door, pushing it open and stumbling out into the hallway.

“I am awake... aren't I?” He spun left and right searching the hallway for anyone but saw no one. Reality was so fragile a thing, half wondering if he was still dreaming he set out in search of anyone who could explain anything to him, and began wandering the hallways in a daze.

[Daegan]

The shadows seethed around Daegan as he and Wynne walked down the corridors to the great dining hall. He held the Arc of Shadows in his left hand tightly, his entire left arm covered in the inky substance. He felt peace and a slight sense of relaxation as his fingers gripped the Arc, the very avatar of everything shadow. He was the Sage and having the Arc was like having his arm back. The Arc of Dreams rested on what would be a lapel, but it looked as though he had a silver disk hovering above the right side of his collar bone. It was only about an inch in diameter, but the brilliant silver glistened in almost any light, the small purple flame burning softly.

Daegan smiled down at his daughter as they walked hand in hand, the Sage nodding to servants and the guard as the two passed. The aqua ring around his eyes burned softly, as if to match the Arc of Dreams as he and Wynne turned the final corner, having walked into the entrance of the great dining hall. Huge plates of meats and cheeses, dishes of cold and cooked fruits and vegetables. Breads. A feast that could feed the whole tower was assembled before them. In satisfaction, Daegan nodded.

Taking a few more steps in, Daegan let go of his daughter’s hand – if she had not run off to the food already – and began to move around the amazing smells and sights of the meal prepared for them. In truth, such a large feast would not go to waste as what the tower staff didn’t eat the citizens of Cyrida would consume. The poor and sickly whose possessions and homes were destroyed in the shift of the worlds and the slaying of the Gods.

In the back of Daegan’s mind, he wondered what the Dryads had discovered so far, and what they might discover still. He was worried, that his beloved children were dead. Or, what’s worse, lost to the blackness that was Sitherack. Daegan’s daughters were all experienced in their elements, but not like Sitherack. Few matched Sitherack in his infernal darkness.

Gathering bits of meat, bread, cheese and fruit, Daegan stacked his plate, moving then to a table to sit and begin renourishing himself. Cups of mead and wine, sweet water and milk adorned the table as Daegan began to devour his food and savor his drink.

[Wynne Siusan Sedi]

“They’re going to find them!”

Wynne’s happy excitement filled her, even as she placed her hand in his and moved down the corridor. Oddly enough, she was silent, her mind racing as she hoped that they would all be found soon – even Brenna whom she had a distrust for – because she loved her sisters dearly even if they didn’t always get along. The edges of her skirt whispered at each movement, and at the sight and smell of food her stomach rumbled reminding her how much she really wanted to eat. Little growing girls, and all. Even as Daegan let go of her hand she felt her legs propelling her forward at an almost running rate, delight filling her face as she moved to start making a plate for herself, stuffing tidbits of fruit and meats into her mouth as she moved about, almost eyeing to make sure no one saw her.

Her plate was soon full, as well as most of her belly before she would climb into the chair that was near her father, another claimed glass of milk placed next to the plate after she sat. Though even as she was putting a piece of dried beef into her mouth she paused, and cocked her head slightly as if listening to something. Dropping the utensil she was using gently on her plate she climbed down the chair and moved away from her Father almost silently before peering out in the hallways. She swore she’d heard someone, somehow.. and began to investigate a bit. She moved down the corridors towards her father’s rooms. Her legs were short, but carried her enough with little steps through the halls. She’d not even heard if her father questioned where she was going, her mind was a bit distracted.

“Uncle Lasius?”

Her eyebrow lifted as she saw him, half bloody, disoriented, wandering the halls. She stopped in her tracks, looking up at him from where she was, unsure.

”Are you looking for Daddy?”

[Lasius]

“Wynne?”

Las focused on the small girl for a second, long enough to ground himself in the here and now, process everything that had happened and pull it together so to speak. One of the advantages of being a Lightning Sedi was a quick, if somewhat erratic thought process. A random surge of power from the Arc of Lightning flickered across the blade and snaked up his arm crackling and filling the air with a mild electric current, just enough to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.

“Your father, of course, I'm in Cyrida, that makes sense. No, no need to go to Daegan, not yet anyhow there are other things that needed to be attended to, I will get him shortly.”

His eyes stared past Wynne as though he were looking through her, at something altogether different. Another random surge of lightning discharged from the Arc this one slightly more intense.

Outside the Tower, in the sky over Cyrida storm clouds were building, piling upon one another like massive mountains in the heavens. Lightning struck, and thunder rumbled, the echo softly shaking the city, as the storm massed on itself. Lasius seemed almost at peace for a moment, his eyes distant, in another place, another time almost as the soft sound of rainfall reverberated off the roof and walls of the tower.

The storm spread exponentially in all directions, seeming of a living will of its own, seeking searching, lightning jumping from cloud to cloud racing through the heavens faster than thought itself. It wasn't long before half of Terra Centilina was covered in the thriving massive storm. It had just passed the plains of Mardeo when the expansion abruptly halted. The storm was in no way intense, a soft dusting rain, the occasional rumble of thunder, flickers of lightning, always just outside of the direct line of sight.

Las smiled, his lips parted slightly, sucking in breath, as he focused. The Arc shimmered in his hand with an intensity reflecting the concentration in his eyes.

“There...”

Abruptly a single bolt of lightning crashed into the earth, just north of the plains of Mardeo. The blinding flash was there one fraction of a second and gone the next. The clouds evaporated as though they never were, the soft rain ending rapidly, leaving thousands of rainbows across the land. There in the Tower of Shadows, there was a brilliant flash of light that shown out all windows and then faded just as abruptly. In Las' other hand rested the Arc of Light, the two Arcs glimmering with a brilliance all their own, casting wild dancing shadows down the corridor where the two Sedi stood.

“Whole again....”

The words were soft, power ridden and full of a confidence of power and experience that came with a life time of wielding weapons that had become in so many ways a part of the man.

“Now we will Seek your father, but there is no need to look for him, my guess is he is on his way here as we speak.”

[Daegan]

Daegan was famished himself. He hadn’t eaten anything in quite some time and the excessive energy he had expelled had taken his toil. Almost greedily he shoveled food down his throat, barely savoring the exquisite tastes from some of the finest chefs of the lands. His stomach growled in protest, almost used to the empty feeling. He drank water and wine, washing down food. His eyes then shifted, his ears twitching slightly. He had heard Wynne get up and walk away, and he assumed she was just getting more to eat.

“Not again.”

Groaning, Daegan stood. He took several steps away from the table he was sitting at, the shadows seething and swarming around his form. Moments later his form seemed to melt into the floor altogether, reappearing seconds later in one of the darker parts of the corridor Wynne and Lasius stood in.

The hair on his neck stood up as Daegan eyed the Sage of Light. He could feel the building static in the corridor; hear the thunder rolling in the distance. There was a blank look in Lasius’ eyes, and that worried Daegan. Almost instinctively the shadows once more seethed around his form, covering his body as the Arc of Dreams burned silently on his chest.

Then the Sage of Shadows winced, turning from the sudden burst of light that ripped through his always shadowed tower. He could feel the static in the air dissipate and hear the rains slow and halt. His eyes shifted, then, the light fading away as he saw Lasius’ forms reappear, the Arc of Light now clutched in the Sage’s hand. It brought a smile to Daegan’s face.

“Well look who decided to finally get out of bed, Wynne. Welcome back, Lasius. You look awful.”

[Wynne Siusan Sedi]

Wynne lifted a brow at Lasius slightly, wondering if the fall had damaged him in some way. Of course, the slightly bizzare look the girl gave him was soon reinforced by the fact he seemingly looked through her, and she turned her eyes away slightly, ashamed. How was she going to tell her father about Lasius state of mind? Of course, this thought was distracted as she looked to the Arc again, and then heard the soft patters of rain and the storm that came. She jumped slightly at the flash of light, though even as the breeze lifted she felt at ease with her element.

Though even as the storm moved and she saw the dazed look in Lasius eye she understood slightly that something was happening she didn’t know about. Though even as she opened her mouth to speak to her Uncle, her father came up and she heard his words. It caused a smile, but then a slight frown to her face, her eyebrows pulling downwards as she looked between the two.

“That wasn’t very nice, Daddy.”

Wynne paused, then walked up to Lasius, oblivious if his hands were occupied or not and she went to take his hand that had the burn mark. If he let her she’d move the arc out of his hand, to the other and lift it up to him, her small fingers tracing the circle that had burned it’s way into his flesh.

“That wasn’t there when we brought you here. There was a woman all in red that came to you; she saved your life Uncle Lasius. She didn’t seem to like Sitherack though, and he didn’t much seem to like her either. Anyways, she’s the one who put the metal in your hand, she said something too, like, if you wanted to find her she’d be at the place where you.. you.. um…”

She bit down on her lip, trying to remember the word, her eyes flicking to her Father quickly as if silently asking him for help.

[Daegan]

Daegan smiled at his daughter’s words. So young, so pure and innocent still. Like the winds Wynne commanded, the young Sedi was untouched by the corruption of the lands. By the Sage of Darkness and his ilk. It warmed Daegan’s dead heart, knowing that with all the sickness and destruction there was still a piece of goodness left in the world.

“A Red Magi, Lasius. She did… something to you as I was dealing with your Brother. She said something about where you Ascended, I can’t really recall. I don’t know who she was, I’ve never seen her in my lands before. Another lover from thousands of years ago?”

Daegan smirked, laughing to himself. Lasius was as old as the earth they walked upon and the Sage of Shadows knew it.

“Now, come. You’ve got to be absolutely famished. There’s a right feast in the dining hall that someone just had to leave.”

His eyes darted down to Wynne as he smiled again, the Soul Fire flickering in his eyes. Shadows pooled and wrapped around his feet still as he motioned for Lasius and Wynne to walk with him back down the winding corridors. But even with this happy reunion, Daegan could feel something. A slight tingling in the back of his head. Fluxes of power scattered across the lands. The Arcs were being discovered, and at a rapid rate. He could sense it. Feel it from the shadows that watched silently all of Terra Centilina.

War was about to begin, rather the Sages wanted it to or not.

[Lasius]

Las glanced at Daegan thoughtfully, then Wynne then back at Daegan. If only they had any remote idea just how old of a lover they were talking about, it brought a smile to his face, a genuine smile that lit his eyes for the first time in centuries. He laughed heavily and nodded to the sentiment of food.

“It has been quite awhile since I have had anything to eat this is true. I think I could eat your feast to myself Daegan.” He fell in behind Daegan and his daughter as they led the way towards the dining hall. The brief moment of happiness overshadowed rapidly by the dire circumstances the Sedi were in as a whole. Even unaware of the situations going on around the world, the sheer amount required to rebuild and pull back together was far more than they had seen in the past.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us Daegan, there is much to discuss.” Las frowned slightly, “Despite any tensions we may have with other Sedian leaders we have a primary duty, first and foremost to the Sedian people.” He paused in his words for a second, seemingly lost in thought, before picking up again. “The people have been through a lot Daegan, those that survived, are going to need a safe haven to begin rebuilding their lives, without something to look forward too, whats the point in moving on after all?”

His eyes took on a distant look for a moment, and his voice lowered to barely audible, “Indeed... what would the point be...”

[Lasius]

(crappy little post I know but I was falling asleep)