[University - Hallway of the University] Church Hanrahan

[Church Hanrahan]

"Ok, so let me see if I can't remember. I just go down this hallway here, and take a right.Then, head up the stairs, turn around, and head...go...oh no. For some reason these instructions could have been a little less complicated. I'm not too sure that lady really liked me. Not too sure why though." It felt likes an hour for Church, walking around in the upper floor of the Administrations Building. "Why are there so many doors? Do they really need this many officials?" Church kept searching, then he found the door marked 'Professor Jan'. "Oh thankfully! If I had kept walking around I probably would have passed out from boredom. Ok, so the receptionist said to knock three times. *Knock Knock Knock* I hope this professor can give me some sort of answer."

[Hatter]

OOCRemember to try and write everything like a novel. Don't use symbols like * <-- that when you're writing. Interrupt your dialog with end quotes, write the action, then begin new dialog with new quotes. Also, try to describe your actions a bit more than just have your character speak them. It makes for better reading ^^

When Church arrived at his destination he would find it to be no different than the rest of the building. The same, wooden door stood with a plaque mounted on the face that read "Professor Jan, Master of Studies", lined with a thick frame and a knocker embedded into the middle of the structure. A strange place for one. The three pounds echoed throughout the hallway and there was a brief delay of silence once they settled. A loud, impossibly deep voiced called through the door before long though. "Come." It said. Beyond the door was a simple, if large, office, sparsely populated with only a desk and several cabinets strewn about, each covered in a mass of files and documents. The desk was no better. Books and parchment covered every inch of space, along with ink, quills, and other various items of small detail; trinkets, bookmarks, a few candles, everything that one might expect of a reclusive, obsessive scholar. While the room was a torrent of knowledge the creature that inhabited it was far more interesting. He was in no way human. Over eight feet in height - albeit he only seemed five due to his position - the professor was an over-sized ape. Giant, powerful, but oddly calm and scholarly, the Jamoura made for an impressive sight, one capable of inspiring awe in even the most jaded of men. As Church came into the office, Jan's head swiveled up from his current course of study and his dark, sunken eyes latched onto the boy. The gaze was piercing, as if the creature could see into one's very soul with no more than a simple look. "Hm? Hello." He said, his words few and far apart. "Can I help you?"

[Church Hanrahan]

Church walked somberly into the room. His eyes gazed upon the giant creature. At first he was taken back by his mere size. He has never seen a Jamoura before. He's heard stories from his father and mother, but never truly witnessed one in the flesh, let alone up close. At first Church felt uneasy, distressed. His insides were turning upside. Yet, the feelings he got from him weren't any of ill will. As if the Jamoura looked upon Church as one of his own. His eyes were calm, calculating. Church knew that Jamoura was analyzing him. " Probably only natural," Church thought."He probably sees hundreds of humans everyday. And here I am staring at him like some carnival side show." Church broke his gaze as he knew it was impolite to stare. "I assume you are Professor Jan. My name is Church Hanrahan. I'm the son of Rylan and Bliss Hanrahan. They used to be anthropologists for the University here. I was directed to you by the receptionist. I'm trying to find their old office or their old notes. I hope you can help me in some way,sir," Church spoke timidly. He slowly offered his hand for the professor to shake.

[Hatter]

The professor was stoic. He watched Church struggle with his initial greeting, but the Jamoura was no doubt use to such floundering. His species was rare outside of their homeland and they had an odd effect on those not accustom to their presence. Humans especially. In this case Jan watched. He was patient and respectful, allowing his guest to align himself to the situation before they continued their quaint exchange. When Church did speak again Jan leaned in and turned his head to the side, offering the boy a literal ear to his plight. His manner was peculiar sure, but the university was full of such oddities. "Ah," The deep voice rumbled about the office. "Welcome, Mister Hanrahan. I remember your parents. Good people." Jan paused and turned his head again. His motions were slow, deliberate, even his words came with a moment of consideration. This ancient creature held no concern for time. "Bottom cabinet. Far left corner. I believe what you seek is there, filed under your name. Please. We can discuss it if you wish." Not one for small talk, apparently. The cabinet Jan mentioned was buried under a horde of papers and documentation, but with enough digging Church would find a small, sealed box with his last name stapled to the top of it. Inside was very little. A map and a journal, along with various notes and scrolls that were all written in a language that Church could not understand. The map was near ancient and on it was a course plotted out that lead out from Zeltiva into geography that no longer existed. Pre-Valterrian, no doubt. What then was all of this doing in a box locked away in a professor's office? The journal was another matter. While the pages were written in common, it was nothing more than a personal diary of Church's mother, various notations and thoughts, but no mention of any mystical adventure or any clue as to where she might have disappeared to.

[Church Hanrahan]

Church looks towards the cabinet, then back at Professor Jan. He nodded his head and Church slowly proceeded. He rifled through the cabinet. Sitting folders and papers to the side until he found the box. He looked at it, took a long deep breath, and gently opened the box. He began to look through the notes for anything he might find relevant. The map was the first thing that caught his eye. It was a Pre-Valterrian map of Zeltiva and the rest of the world. "Not much use now," Church thought. The next thing he picked up were a few scrolls. He unraveled one and he couldn't understand what it said. The language was unknown to him. Finally, he picked up his mother's journal. "Hopefully I can find something useful in here." About an hour passed, Church mulling through his mother's journal. Reading entry after entry, but to no avail. He stood up and turned towards Professor Jan, who the whole time had been writing notes and doing various things around the office. "Do you happen to know what these various languages are? I've never seen them before. Do you know what my parents were studying within these notes and scrolls?"

[Hatter]

From the end of their initial conversation Jan was silent. He did not appear to mind Church as he fiddled about the office, instead devoted to whatever tasks he was engage in before the interruption. The Jamoura was quite an enigma. He would often reach a page from his tome then turn away, stare at the wall for minutes, then return to the book as if he never parted from its parchment. Strange, but somehow it made sense. Every motion from Jan was as if he spent years contemplating it; deliberate, slow, but purposed. When Church spoke again the professor locked eyes on the young man and gave him a brief nod, acknowledging that they were once again communicating. "I do not know of what you speak. That box was sealed." He turned and motioned to the documents Church now held. "Subtle magic. Your parents put a seal so that only one of their blood could open it. I have not been able to read what was inside." Jan waved an over-sized hand, beckoning Church to come forward with his findings. With a brief glance at the writings Jan shuffled about, a foot extended from his seat to the corner where he went about retrieving another of his large tomes. Dexterous fellow he was. "Mm. They are of the Ancient Tongue. Not of your parent's writings, I imagine." Jan's voice rumbled from the depths of his throat. He appeared curious. "They were studying Pre-Valterrian cultures. They must have found something. I could translate some of the writings, if given the time, but these documents are yours. You may decide what to do with them."

[Church Hanrahan]

Church listened closely as Jan spoke. He was bewildered by why his parents would be studying Pre-Valterrian times. "Everyone knows the stories. What secrets could a past five centuries ago hold? It doesn't make any sense Professor." Church said sternly. "I do not mind if you translate some of these writings for me. It could help me understand why my family has disappeared. Do you know why the Zith would have any part in this?" Church asked. His mind was whirling with questions. He had hoped he'd have found more answers, but that was not the case."What could these ancient writings hold? I thought the Zith only took people for slavery and food? This doesn't make much sense. I need to figure out what these writings all mean. Church thought. His resolve was hardened even more. His journey, was going to take longer then he thought. "Let me know what it is I need to do Professor. If there is anyway I can help in translating I will."

[Hatter]

Jan rumbled something from his throat. It sounded like a laugh. The Jamoura was amused at Church's initial question and when he speak the humor was evident in his slow, deliberate tone. "Our past holds many secrets for the future." The professor nodded his head in agreement with his own words. "It makes more sense than you give it credit for." The book he reached for before was set on the table and Jan went about scanning through its pages; the writing was similar to that of the scrolls only there were notes in common, inked around the margins. A translation guide perhaps. His eyes were glued to the pages. "Unless you have a knowledge of Ancient Tongue," Jan began, "There is nothing you can do. As for the Zith, perhaps your parents stumbled on to something one might have wanted. Often is the tale of those who meddle in the Valterrian." The ape stopped and furrowed his brow. Did he find something? Whatever it was he did not speak of it. "I will translate these documents. Return to me in a fifteen days hence, I should have them prepared for you in their entirety."

[Church Hanrahan]

"Fifteen days? That sounds reasonable enough. I shall see you then. I'll leave you to your work then. Thank you once again. Maybe when you are done we can talk about my parents," said Church. He was relieved to know that some of the documents can be translated. He has more hope then when he first opened the box.

[Hatter]

Jan gave the boy a brief nod, a wordless acceptance to Church's request. The professor seemed to prefer contemplation over conversation. The Jamoura was quick to return his attention to the tome now covering his desk, his eyes all-but ignoring Church as he scrolled over the writings of the scrolls and their contents. Interrupting him felt like it would be a crime. No doubt he would have those translations, but in the mean time it was hard to believe that the slow, methodical creature could accomplish much of anything in the course of a human's life-span. For whatever reason though, Jan looked back up. "Do you have accommodations in the city? Perhaps you are a student? Classes will start soon for the Fall season."