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[of_bokthersa]

It's already dark by the time you arrive. It's not the best of situations, but there were other things you had to look into. Things that hadn't boded well when you'd been there. Lips get loose when with a good drink and good entertainment is around; it's why you have several of this particular persona. It seems there's been a lot more activity in the north than you would have liked to hear. It's easy to surmise what they're doing. Take the north, take the Gold Road and they fill their coffers with untold riches to fund them in the war. No, that didn't bode well at all.

Which was why you were here, to find out just how far north they'd gotten. Asengai was the last stop before you headed for Wolde to meet up with Micum and head back south the Skala to give your report. Just in case you start making a mental note of your surroundings and where you've set up camp for the past few days, committing them to memory before heading off to the large keep. Hopefully, Asengai is fond enough of bards that you'll be able to get enough information to be out of here by morning.

You hadn't counted on Asengai immediately imprisoning you under the charge of your being a spy. He's not wrong, but that doesn't make the situation any more fortuitous. Even so, you have to play your part, so you curse and struggle, fight and protest. The light shifts to complete blackness as they drag you into the dungeon chamber.

"Unhand me, you cretinous brutes!" You make sure to remember the lisp that you'd decided on and continue to protest. "I demand to see your master! How dare you arrest me! Can't an honest bard pass unmolested through this country?"

You throw a less than accurate swing at one of the guards. If you were trying, you probably could have done some damage, but you're not. You're still Rolan, and Rolan isn't a fighter. So you let them beat you, heckling you about what will happen when you finally do meet Asengai. Torture, of course.

They drag you to the wall and manacle your hands and feet, and for the first time, you notice movement across from you. Someone's there. You don't say anything, it's not the right time. Once they finally leave, however, you're free to assess the situation.

"Who's there?" You ask, keeping to the role you're in. The other doesn't answer, and you have to squint in the scant moonlight to see anything. Of course, he'd push himself further into the shadows. Make the job harder for you. From what you can tell by the light of the moon it seems to be a young man, but you can't make out his features. You're about to open your mouth to say something when the door opens again.

Comments

[unknownmoirai]

What are all the rolls of these gods?

[She is very curious about his theology but she's also curious about him. What is he? Her memories drift to Johnathan and Taylor... her heart seizes and she takes a few seconds to control the sudden jump in her pulse before speaking again.]

And you, will you tell me what you really are? Not through the eyes of others but through your own measure.

[of_bokthersa]

Well, to start, there are four of them. Dalna the Maker, Astellus the Traveler, Illior the Lightbearer and Sakor of the Flame.

Each one is interwoven with the others to form a bond between them all. For instance, without Dalna we couldn't have new life, but to have that new life Sakor needs to be present as his domain is that of fire and passion. Illior brings knowledge to that life and Astellus helps it to be able to find it's way.

As for myself, I'm afraid there's not much to say. I'm not very interesting.

[unknownmoirai]

I don't think you're giving yourself enough credit.

[Her tone is light and warm.]

But thank you for explaining. It's interesting. My home isn't exactly like that. We don't worship anyone. [She pauses for a few seconds before finding her next question.] Who was the man in the prison?

[of_bokthersa]

[He certainly hopes he isn't. The less asked about him personally, the better.]

Another that Asengai imprisoned for being a spy.

[There's a smile in his voice as he says the next comment. Clearly it much easier to make light of things after one is out of the situation.]

Between you and I, I think Asengai is a bit paranoid.

I'm more curious about your world though. You say you worship nothing at all? Not even a single deity?

[He can't fathum that.]

[unknownmoirai]

There are labels for very few things in my world. We don't have need for them.

[It's hard for her to explain. Most people feel the need to quantify and identify the world around them.]

I have another question. He was a spy and you were a thief. Did you help each other escape?

[of_bokthersa]

That sounds like an interesting world. I'd like to hear more about it.

As for your question, I'm not a thief and nor he a spy. We were just labeled as such because we weren't where Asengai wanted us to be; which was nowhere near his keep.

[unknownmoirai]

What were you two doing near his keep?

[She will tell him more about her world later but she's spoken to it about a few people and it's making her sad.]

[of_bokthersa]

He was apparently hunting spotted cats, I was plying my trade.

[unknownmoirai]

Hunting spotted cats?

[This is a rare moment where she's at a complete loss as what to say.]

And what is your trade exactly?

[She sounds very confused.]

[of_bokthersa]

Cats with spots. Both their pelts and the animals themselves can be sold for coin.

As for my trade, I'm a collector of stories.

[unknownmoirai]

I feel sorry for those cats.

[She really likes animals.]

You're a Seeker!

[She perks up noticeably and pointedly stops thinking about those poor cats.]

That's amazing.

[of_bokthersa]

A seeker?

[He feels no pity for the cats.]

[unknownmoirai]

Someone who seeks stories and histories, finding the truth amidst many lies.

[It's a very admirable profession.]

[of_bokthersa]

That sounds far nobler than me. I simply collect stories and share them in the hopes of entertaining others and gaining a few coins for my pocket.

[unknownmoirai]

That too.

[She knows that there are many differences between her home and others but it's still exciting for her.]

I was supposed to be a Keeper but that was a long time ago. [And it isn't her path now.] Will you tell me a story? I don't have coin but I'm sure I can offer something for your tale.

[of_bokthersa]

I'm sure we can come to an agreement, even if said agreement is a favor at a later date.

Well, I suppose it would be a good idea to start with something simple.

From where I'm from there are three countries known as Skala, Mycena and Plenimar, but once they were all one country. They were ruled over by a priest-king known as the Hierophant. The Hierophant and those that followed him came from across a great ocean to land in the peninsula of the country that is now known as Plenimar. It was here that the Hierophant created his first city. It's also from the Hierophant and his people that we get the sacred four.

As centuries passed, the Hierophant's people began to spread throughout the continet, and as they did the resources available and cultures changed.

[unknownmoirai]

That would be alright.

[It doesn't matter what the circumstances are. If he ever came to her for a favor, she'd likely give it to him. Story or no story.]

But you were a one people with one goal. [She wonders how much time passes for things like that to happen. Humans are so unusual.] I wonder what all those cultures are like. [She likes learning about other places.]

[of_bokthersa]

Oh, they're quite different from one another. Mycena is heavy in resources and wooded. Those from Mycena are strong and hearty. They warship Dalna and rely heavily on hunting and farming. There isn't anything in the way of magic in the north.

Plenimar has strong sailing skills and are a hard sort of people. Their natural resources aren't as abundant as the other two countries, and they have a strong belief in necromancy.

One could say that Skala is the most advanced of the three lands. This is where the wizards make their home and the city built for its protection is strong and perfectly calculated to be defensible. They've kept in close contact with Mycena and trade heavily with them. Many of the products found in Skala can be traced back to trade with Mycena.

[unknownmoirai]

It sounds like a lot.

[She doesn't remember nearly the same amount when it comes to countries on Earth but then she's never fully understand the way that most governments worked.]

Where are you from?

[of_bokthersa]

Many places. I move around quite a bit.

[unknownmoirai]

Do you not have one place that you call home?

[of_bokthersa]

An interesting question. What would you define as a home?

[unknownmoirai]

A place where you feel you belong.

[of_bokthersa]

[There are places he can think of that could fall under those terms, but at the same time he doesn't belong there at all.

What a depressing thought.]

What would such a place be like for you?

[unknownmoirai]

I don't have a home.

[It isn't a sad statement but a fact and she utters it like one.]

I left my home and I won't be able to return. Now I'm looking for my home but I think that my home is a person. Someone I just haven't found yet.