The Broken Circle

by **Ja'soth** on April 2nd, 2010, 1:12 am

Our intrepid quartet proceeds through the wondrous city of the Jamoura. The Spires is a celebration of life and nature. They pass buildings that are living insects in which the inhabitants wander in and out of their carapaces. It is getting on to dark and swarms of luminescent butterflies swarm to collections of special nectar and provide the city with a light as bright as any mage fire.
The buildings become more simple as they follow the twisted vine paths toward the center of the city. As they pass a gate that is two swans whose great wings are the gates themselves, they notice that the dwellings become simple tree houses and the Jamoura here are more like their distant ancestors. The city becomes more and more wild and natural as the traverse deeper into it.

Finally they come upon a glowing pair of butterflies easily 12 feet tall. Their multicolored wings cover an entrance and glow with the colors of the rainbow. The wings lift as if they were expecting our quartet and they pass between the great insects. They enter a grove of the great bloodwoods that seems to team with every imaginable living thing, as if Caiyha herself had taken residence here.
There is a sense of divine djed in the air as they pass what seem to be habitats teaming with life from all over Mizahar. But they do not stop here they continue toward the center of the grove. At the center of the grove is a circle of bloodwoods the likes of which have never been seen. The are the tallest and largest as well as the most healthy trees they have ever seen. Nothing created touches these trees it is as if the city were built around them.

Skroth would know this is where they should be as well as Avi recognizes that this is the grove in her vision. There is a woman dressed in green sitting among the branches of these trees where only Jamoura reside. She is radiant with the force of nature and the sweet smell of growing things permeates the air around her.Her smile is welcoming but it is that of the predator. It is obvious that she embodies all that is nature...she beckons the quartet to come forward.

by **Caelum** on April 3rd, 2010, 7:43 pm

The sacred grove surrounding him, Caelum felt a growing sense of foreboding. It swelled within his limbs until his feet dragged, soft as shadows falling upon the thick grass. Vega trailed behind him, the beast's ears pricked forward with curiosity, as their slowing progress drifted them into the back of the queer crew. Amber eyes, bits and pieces of galaxies trapped in them like archaic insects, soaked in the sight of the Hahk'maghtar, starving for the sight of the goddess but far too well burned to immediately look. Caiyha. The density of djed felt like iron on his knees, trying to weigh them down to the earth beneath the canopy of the bloodwoods, to bring him kneeling with the burden of broken prayers and wasted pleas on his shoulders. He had known her well, once, centuries ago in that time and place beyond even the abilities of his waking mind to fully recall: last life, yawning before the great war of the gods, that remembered itself to him now only in nightmares that made him an insomniac and in the windmarks that were part of his inevitable change every sunset. It was Syna who had claimed him, however, and the thought of it in this place caused his throat to feel raw when he swallowed.

Finally, he looked at her. It was over the shoulders of his companions, strangers still to the last, and with his chin down as he lingered in the back. The latest collection of research notes was felt through the worn, supple leather of his tunic, his palm rubbing over the place as if to be certain it had not vanished like the brightly colored tree frog into the lush wild. Glorious, he thought, and took a step backwards before the internal compass that had drawn him here, pulling on him in the ink of star charts and topographical maps and endless series of hopeless notations he carried with him always, bid him halt and rooted him to living temple floor.

He did not understand it, or maybe he simply did not want to. It already hurt badly enough.

by **Nimvahlis** on April 4th, 2010, 12:42 am

The grove of bloodwoods towered. Towered not just in stature, but in presence. Ancient wood seemed to reach out and press down upon Nimvahlis, crushing him to nothing so significant as an Ethaefael. This was the playground of Caiyha, the theatre of nature. Spears of sunlight thrust themselves through the canopy, illuminating the grove as the Djed illuminated his senses. He could feel divinity's spark in this place, like a great inferno enveloping Nimvahlis, he could not escape it, could not ignore its staggering presence. In the quiet world Nimvahlis had entered, melancholia fled for awe. Nothing quite as such had been encountered in all of Nim's lifetimes. Images of Abura, of the Akvatari, incarnations of Leth, aura's of men, and the silent stars fell apart, shattered to the likeness of dust motes thrown into relief by shafts of sunlight.

Caelum's head turned as he fell away behind the group, the Forsaken had seen something. Nimvahlis wheeled about over the being that used to be an Ethafael, eyed the forest that presented itself as a pantomimist might before an act, silent and still. But he saw her, the carved woman sat watching the group. A predatory smile played across her lovely features, why was beyond the Akvatari. Possibilities of her identity were dismissed as the forest's visage fell away like a ghost's. As the great trees became encompassed by light, Nimvahlis knew who she was. The sun blossomed before him, and he stared into the consuming blaze. Djed surged forth from long forgotten recesses of Nim's body, fueling his inadequate attempt to pierce the aura's veil. The sound of his companions faded away, the already quiet forest became mute. Nim could hear nothing. The aura grew, strands of green threw themselves from the nucleus like solar flares as the fresh smell of the forest disappeared suddenly. Nimvahlis tried to inhale or gasp, but tasted nothing of the air that filled his lungs. His eyes conflagrated, burning as the aura burned. This was beyond measure, a glorious pain worth feeling. The solar flares grew and multiplied, and the blinding light beautified itself with gossamer patterns of the flora and fauna. Nimvahlis breathed an unsteady sigh and reached for nonexistent support. He faltered, his vision gave way to black, and Nimvahlis plummeted toward the Ethaefael below him. The Akvatari fell from the stars again, and forgot to wave to the world on his way to soft oblivion.

by **Avi** on April 4th, 2010, 8:36 pm

Avi was practically dancing as she followed the monocled Jamoura, although she was constantly coming back to Caelum to make sure he was following. Satisfied he was, she would surge back towards Skroth. Amber-gold eyes took in the Spires, everywhere they passed, looking for any signs that Hramath's destruction had already begun, and noting things she would like to go back and look at later. Which was pretty much encompassed the entirety of the Spires - she'd only looked through it briefly before, and usually when flying overhead on her way to and from her home city of Avanthal.

As they passed through the trees that made up the Spires, the Kelvic stretched out the fingers of her free hand to wander over the plants and trees, caressing fronds and touching the bark. It was beautiful - nature at its finest, in so many ways. Avi had never seen anything like it. As they approached the center of the the stand of bloodwoods, approaching the Hahk'maghtar, the very first thing she saw was the woman amongst the branches. All else came secondary, as her eyes flashed from gold to ruby, and she bowed low at the waist, her long, black hair sweeping around her, shining with the highlights wrought from the aurora. When she straightened, she beamed at Caiyha. "Hihi! We're here! We made it!"

There was a disturbance overhead, and then Nimvahlis fell towards the ground from several feet up. Avi boggled, and made sure her spear was well out of the way to keep him from impaling himself on it. "Caelum, look out!" she called to the Ethaefal. "Can you catch him?" she directed this question to Skroth. He was a lot bigger than she was, and undoubtedly stronger. If he hit the ground, he might break a wing, and, well, that wouldn't be a very good thing.

by **Skroth** on April 6th, 2010, 12:21 am

Skroth was already moving even before the one named Avi cried out. As the only Jamoura among them, he felt it was his duty to see to the welfare of the guests of the Spires. Perhaps his Akvatari companion was overwhelmed by the presence of the Mother, or perhaps he was simply over-fatigued from his flight to the Jamoura city. Whatever the reason, Nimvahlis was plummeting from the sky from a height enough to seriously injure himself. It simply would not do for one of those called to put himself out of action before getting the chance to hear the words of the one that called them.

The massive Jamoura stood at his full height and reached for the falling Nimvahlis with his long limbs. Skroth braced himself then allowed his arms to be carried by the momentum once he caught the Akvatari, cushioning Nim from the impact with his arms to prevent injuring him. He spun with the creature once, to diffuse the force it generated from its fall, then gently slid the Akvatari to the ground. He peered down at Nim, inspecting for any damage he might have caused from catching him.

“Are you all right, friend?” Skroth asked in his rumbling voice. “We are in the presence of the Mother. I understand the experience must be…unique… for first timers.”

by **Caelum** on April 6th, 2010, 4:55 am

The universe snapped back into abrupt focus when Avi cried out. It had been undulating like the peacock colored lights of Syna's rays spreading through a stained glass window, a broken, brightly colored reflection of something sacred, something regal. It had dazzled him, and released from the bewitchment, he resurfaced as the colors blurred, blending back into the lush landscape of the grove.

A step backwards was taken instinctively, head jerking up in a splatter of bloody earth hair to watch the Akvatari stumble out of the sky. His body moved before his brain could catch up, instinct to catch the creature as he himself had not been caught; but fortune favored fools and hot air whistled in his ears as he ducked out of the way of the far more able arms of the Jamoura. There he crouched not unlike a corbie, Vega's reins loosed from fingers bared by shorn gloves. The horse snorted restlessly, watching the goddess with clear, equine fascination.

Beleaguered grace eventually unraveled Caelum back to his feet, skull still echoing with the density of djed, and found himself touching a knee to the ground beside Nimvahlis.

"Shyke," he murmured unthinking, a curse his first words in this holy place. Only as he did so, he was reaching down to slide scarred fingers beneath the Akvatari's jaw, seeking and checking the creature's pulse. It was easier to focus on the immediacy of healing than the pulsing ache of Caiyha's presence.

by **Ja'soth** on April 8th, 2010, 1:36 am

When Nimvalis attempts to discern the divine aura of the woman, the sheer energy of it overwhelms him and as he plummets toward the city, he is caught by the intrepid Skroth aided by the quick thinking Avi. The woman in the trees nods and smiles in amusement as she watches the scene unfold.

She is silent until the unfortunate Akavatri is safe in the arms of her child Skroth. At that time she stirs slightly and it is as if the trees have been moved by a stray breeze though the air does not move them,the breezes controlled by another who was not present at this time. Her movements are fluid like the movements of a Great Forest Cat and she is gentle as a newborn kitten as she silently glides toward the ground. She sighs softly and the smell of flowers prevails in the air. When she speaks it is with the sounds of nature themselves.

Ahh Nimvalis, poor creature, it is not possible for a mortal creature to gaze upon the divine aura and remain unaffected, even if he was once immortal. He will recover, no lasting harm has been done.

She reaches out and caresses Skroth's cheek, despite being half his great height, she easily glides upward to bestow her touch on her beloved child. She smiles at Avi who has become her child through trial and she nods toward Caelum who she bears no ill will toward despite his enmity toward her. The First Druid, the Earth Mother herself sighs with the sound of a falling tree, an infinitely sad sound. She speaks with the same sad sounds

Not all of my children choose to honor me, some have been embittered by their treatment at the hands of men after the Sundering of the World. They have turned to darkness and defiled things to seek their revenge.Hramath is one of those. he has taken the path of the Defiler that most evil of beings Rhysol. Her look is that of a dying thing, black and lifeless as she recounts the tale of the Dark Jamoura Hramath. Hramath seeks to destroy the Spires with an abomination of his own creation. He has spent centuries corrupting and twisting this thing by the power of his Chaon. He is twice marked by the Defiler for evil done over the centuries of his existence. Beware his power, it is that of corruption itself, he can twist your slightest fear and make it real to you. The abomination is about ready to hatch and will begin its rampage.

She waves her hand and a plant begins to put forth a massive leaf, the size of a map scroll, this leaf begins to form on it all the reference marks of any map penned on parchment. It shows the location of a distant cave in relation to the Spires. she takes this plant and puts it in a container filled with dirt and hands it to Skroth. Take this my son..it will guide you to Hramath, beware the journey will not be easy for Hramath will attempt to stop you She awaited questions

by **Skroth** on April 9th, 2010, 2:02 am

Skroth felt relieved that no lasting harm was inflicted on the Akvatari. It would not do to lose him before the purpose of their meeting had been revealed. Momentarily, he turned from his companion to listen to the words of the Mother as she spoke of the feral Jamoura named Hramath. There was sadness in her voice, as well as a sense of urgency as she described what they were up against. Time was of the essence it seemed.

.The massive Jamoura bowed his head and accepted the vessel containing the plant-map with reverence.. He kept his eyes lowered as he asked a question laced with uncertainty. “Forgive the impertinence Mother, but are we all that stands between this abomination and Hramath? Surely the rest of the People...” Unsure of what to say, Skroth's voice trailed off.

by **Nimvahlis** on April 11th, 2010, 10:44 pm

OOC :

Sometimes an Ethaefael returns to the stars. The blazing fire of suns and infinite oblivion of space enveloping them in the scent of return. Nimvahlis was projected through the stratosphere, departing the world once again. Frigid void froze his toes, bit his fingers. So Nim asked the sun for life, for a blinding light to match Caiyha's. The painful embrace of her acceptance, swallowed by fire. Nimvahlis was as stardust. His body met dissolution, as he watched the world he left behind crumble. Sometimes an Ethaefael returns to the stars, but only in dreams.

Cold sweat that seeped from Nimvahlis surely soaked Skroth's hands. Despite the on goings in his head, Nim was catatonic for most of his slumber. Before it happened, the Akvatari emit a soft groan, echoing sadness even in darkness. Then it happened. Nimvahlis returned to Mizahar, bolting upright. The Akvatari's iridescent wings fluttered madly as his torso fell back to the earth. He lay there. Sight and sound returned, a tentative animal emerging after a tempest. His surroundings became apparent once more, and Nimvahlis pushed himself up from the dirt, brushing off soil. He had an immense headache.

by **Caelum** on April 12th, 2010, 12:05 am

It was enmity he bore the goddess, but not enmity always or enmity alone. It was born up by the related emotions of grief and pain and bitterness; but as the goddess spoke, thoughts of self faded in focus upon what was, clearly, a larger problem than his personal grievances. When the Akvatari awoke, Caelum hastily spilled back and to his feet, eyes moving between Skroth and touching upon Avi before focusing on Caiyha.

Will power had him pushing the weight of djed, the sheer divine brilliance that threatened to overwhelm forcibly back. Dozens of unnecessary questions popped and fizzled in his mind as they emerged and were subsequently discarded. It left but one, yet burning, behind.

"Lady," he addressed the goddess for the first time, reverence he was incapable of eradicating weighing down the accented words. "In what manner are we specifically suited to this task? As it seems clear that you called to us specifically." It was not a question of pure curiosity, but one whose answer might ultimately aid them in eventual success.