Frenil, Takashi & Qoren's Story 3

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itseya looks around at everyone else and says, with a tired sigh, "It seems we continue. Cat and I found some indication of something to search for--I will tell you this evening, when we find our campsite." She is somewhat pale, though she continues to ride without complaint.

Qoren eyes Kitseya thoughtfully, wondering at her condition.

Takashi keeps a watchful eye on Kitseya during the course of the day in case she should need help...

[Karsten: OOC: Since I haven't seen a reply from David or Joe on this topic, I'll assume that they do as you suggested, but if need be Takashi will agree to take a watch, too, and of course he is willing to lend a hand in setting up the camp, although he might not have as much experience in such matters as Qoren or Frenil.]

Frenil suggests that everyone except Kitseya keep watch so that no one is lacking sleep. He will take the middle watch since that is the hardest one, and also suggests that maybe later in the journey they might want to go on double watches so that there is always someone with magesense on watch. If possible he tries to set some physical traps to alert the camp if someone approaches--if nothing else a precariously balanced pebble here or there, in key areas of approach, but hopefully at least one rope trap.

The land gives way to open plains interrupted by grey-and-black rock formations, each carved into a different sinuous shape by the wind. Toward sunset, Frenil locates a likely-looking site near a trickling spring, where they can refill their waterskins.

[Dinner and camp preparations, as well as any watch shifts, are up to y'all. Otherwise, I'll assume that Qoren and Frenil work something out between themselves.]

Kitseya sets up some wards of warning and deception around the camp, as well as insisting on a campfire. "I would attempt stronger wards," she says with a grimace, "but I am tired." Takashi can feel the fine, faded weave of her spells, which encourage lookers-on to look elsewhere; Qoren, too, senses her spells, and they are firmer than he would have expected from someone who is ill.

While the camp is being set up, Takashi approaches Kitseya. His concern for Kit's health is clearly written on his face when he says, "You are still weak from the hardships you have faced and it will take time before you are fully recovered. You should avoid to exhaust yourself."

Takashi pauses for a moment while he ponders the problem at hand and then continues, "Perhaps it is possible that you delegate some of your work to us, so that you can conserve your strength. Although my talents lie elsewhere, I could try to help you with the wards, if you are willing to teach me. That is, of course, if teaching would mean less stress to you than doing all the casting yourself."

Since he has little to no knowledge about such wards, Takashi curiously studies the enchantments that are placed around the camp.

Also, Takashi discovers that even after wiping, rubbing and washing his hand, a faint silvery mark remains upon it.

During a moment's break setting up camp, Qoren approaches Takashi with a concerned look on his face.

"How do you think she's doing?" Qoren asks, refering to Kitseya. "She's been looking pale all day, and now's she's adding the effort of spellcasting to travel. Is she really up to this kind of work, or do you think she is pushing herself too hard?"

"I'm not sure," says Takashi. "The illness that had befallen her is completely foreign to me, so it is difficult to judge how serious it really is, but I fear that she IS pushing herself too hard. I will speak with her, and try to convince her to save her strength as much as possible..."

"I realize she's a strong person, but even so, do either you or her know what the lasting effects of possession might be?"

Takashi shakes his head. "No, I don't," he says. "Until that day in the infirmary, I didn't even know that it is possible to take possession of someone's body and mind."

During dinner, Kitseya prepares tea for herself. To Takashi, she says, "A spice from my homeland. I find it soothing."

Takashi replies, "Perhaps we can share a cup of tea from my homeland, when we return to Qenar."

Then, when it seems that those around her are willing to listen, she begins. "I would have told you earlier," she says in a thin voice, "but the high magistrate felt it would be better that no mention of this be made in Qenar. Gossip's wings take it further than a tern's flight, and it is a fey tale I bring you."

Qoren nods his head for a moment, knowing how quickly rumors can move among the soldiers on the wall.

She takes another sip. "In Qenar, they say your shadow carries your soul." She glances at Qoren, perhaps hoping for some elaboration on a belief foreign to her.

"Something like that, although I personally don't take that particular belief seriously," Qoren adds.

Then, to Frenil, she says, "Cat and I did not find any nomads. We did, however, find a group of wandering people who claimed to be outcasts, or the bastard children of Ashenlanders and other folk such as the Qenaren. I don't know the truth of this, but they were fleeing 'shadows seeking a home.'"

The sky grows darker, and the fire crackles loudly. "They told us, then, of a place called--" Kitseya hesitates. "The Tower of Bone, was the best translation they could give. A home to the Shatterer, I think. And this is where they told us to go, if we sought answers. The next day, we were attacked."

She stares into the fire, resolute. "This, I think, is what we are sent to find." With a frown, she addresses Qoren: "Did Cat make no mention of this to you?"

"Unfortunately, Cat didn't make any mention except for the attack upon you and himself. I was told nothing of a meeting with outcasts or of the Tower of Bone."

And then, to everyone: "If you know anything of this place, even scraps of legend, it would help. I had the impression that the Tower of Bone is a thing to be laughed at, in Qenar, a tale to frighten children...and thus something no one would take seriously. Tale or not, that's where we're going."

[What's known: A place of wraiths, and possibly an old temple to the Shatterer. Invent at will, because no one's really sure of the truth.]

[To David: Frenil in particular may recall tales of a white spire, as well as the saying, "Trapped in the Tower of Bone," meaning "between a rock and a hard place"--either you jump to your death, or you stay imprisoned. Again, feel free to invent.]

"I personally don't know much about this legend," Qoren states simply. "Nor do I know much of the Shatterer. He was the one who created the wraiths to make a point to the Dark Mare, that there was another way to live, without an immortal soul. What I do know is that I've never known a Qeneren wraith or an Ashenland wraith do what those shadows did to you and Cat."

"Perhaps these shadows are a new creation of his, or someone else's doing? Or maybe they're a race of wraiths not seen in Qenar or the near Ashenlands for a long, long time. Too many possibilities without information. Frenil, I don't suppose you know any tales of wraiths taking the form of men, or perhaps the goings on at the Tower of Bone," Qoren asks, hoping for some form of answers.

Frenil does remember hearing several different tales of a bone tower, some of them purely to frighten children but others of a more subtle variety, and these he recounts with a grin. He has heard several versions of this, so he starts quietly by appoligizing if he confuses one version with another. It is an epic of the journey of one of the greatest Ashenlands heroes of myth, Thorenal Benmixael, both warrior and mage, who with three of his chief friends and followers was said to have explored the entire Ashenlands. He is actually one of the sources of the myth of humanform wraiths, and even of shapeshifter wraiths, and was said to have killed a shapeshifter. However, one time in his entire life he was caught by surprise, when he was relaxing after an adventure amongst his clan-kin. Frenil grins as he continues: He was stolen from his tent, and taken to a prison in this Tower of Bone, where he was tortured, apparently for some secret that he had discovered, or according to another myth the wraiths tried to kill him but couldn't get through his magical defenses, and so had to suffice with capturing him and wearing him down. He was a prisoner for seven years. However, somehow, (and depending on the myth he either got this through sheer force of virtue or trickery) he got one of the wraiths to help him escape. He was recovered ** (I would like to have a bit of refreshment on the facts of the case before I can posit a logically consistent place). After recovering he tried to return and lay seige to this tower with an army, but not only was he defeated, but he died in the attempt.

There is also a bit of a poem that Frenil has heard on the Tower of Bone, something about a binding, but not being a bard, he doesn't know it well enough to repeat it.

Takashi shakes his head and says, "Sadly, I can't be of much help in this matter. I vaguely remember tales that my father told us when I was little, but I never considered them to be more than frightening horror stories..." After a moment's pause he continues, "Interestingly enough there exists a legend in my homeland that--in a way--links the shadow of a human with his soul. It is told that in times long past there existed a young man by the name of Mangar. He was a strong and very talented wizard-apprentice, and although he was a proud and over-ambitious man, his masters instructed him in the ways of magic because he was a good and just person and because they believed that time would make him more wise and cool his ambitions that burned as hot as the sun.

"In time the youth grew to a man and the talented apprentice became the most powerful sorcerer in all the land. It seemed his masters had been right, because he used his magic for the good of all." At this point Takashi sighs and shakes his head, before he continues, "At this point the tale usually continues to describe in detail all his accomplishments, but I'll come right to the point. It is said that sometime during his life, he struck a deal with some dark and sinister power. According to legend, he sold his very soul to get knowledge or power, maybe both. What he wanted to achieve with it is unclear, too. Some say, that he wanted to cheat death itself and become immortal, others say he wanted to become the most powerful mage of the world."

Takashi clears his throat and continues, "The interesting part is that, according to legend, he lost his shadow as some kind of outer mark of the deal. Even more interesting might be that several years later, he regained his shadow or perhaps he got a new shadow, because it is said that after the reappearance of his shadow, he committed many crimes."

When Frenil can first get a word in edgewise he comments that in too many myths to recount wraith are linked to either the presence or absence of shadow, though it is more frequently mentioned in connection with mysterious types of wraiths that no one has seen for hundreds of years.

Again Takashi shakes his head and giggles. "Here I am, sitting near a campfire in the Ashenlands, and I tell you stories to frighten children. The legend, or perhaps I should better say legends, of course includes many more details that I left out because I didn't deem them important, but feel free to ask if you think that I left out an important detail." As if on a second thought Takashi adds with a grin, "And of course feel free to make fun of me. I won't be insulted, after all I gave ample opportunity by telling you such nonsense."

Frenil doesn't mock Takashi, but his grin gets if possible his grin gets wider, and heads in the direction of a baring of teeth. What might be harder to see is the glint of respect in his eyes--being able to laugh at oneself is one of the key virtues according to Frenil.

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Tower image provided by Clipart Castle.