The Powers That Bind (Corone)

[Lost Without You]

The future of Althanas and the powers that bind
---------------------------------------------------------------------


Farasrian sat at a nondescript table his head honched over a large parchment. A quill pen in hand, his eyes looked deeply into the pearl before him. He searched long and hard within his mind for the words to write. Come on Ichthus. You left me in charge. Give me your wisdom now. It was then that the words began to pour from Farasrian’s mind, translated ever so quickly by the movements of his right hand.

To all whom deem it necessary:

I have had this invitation brought before you today because I believe a time has come where those whole hold great power within Althanas are in need of a time of unity. I offer my services as a truly unbiased individual and leader of perhaps the most unbiased clan within the realm of Althanas to each of you and your clans. My desire is to return Althanas to the Golden Age, when clans functioned as one in an attempt to unite all of Althanas to bring down one great and powerful entity.

The time has come where we must hold high our individual banners and unite once more. Perhaps the irony will awaken your eyes to the blight of the current Althanas clans! We once more face a terrible foe; one which could undoubtably destroy our very existences within this realm. It is our duty, our calling, and our responsibility to take up arms and fight against this power!

It would desire us to be rid from this realm, but I say it does not have to be! So let us once more take arms, and in turn, we shall return to the Golden Age of Althanas, where no man found himself above another. All were equal, and all walked with their heads held high. For a short time, all enjoyed the glorious luster of victory at the same time. It can and will be once more!

So I urge you, brothers and sisters, to join me in 3 days time within the Hall of Memories. This invitation is allowance for yourself plus one member of your clan of your choosing to join me in the Great Hall. I expect all of you to come, as this is a matter we must all take seriously. Heed my words, we shall fail if even one of you is foolish enough to ignore my warnings!

In Utmost Desperation,

Farasrian Athimardane


Farasrian looked up from the parchment as the candlelight dimmed to almost nothingness. He read over his words and then folded the parchment neatly sealing it quickly with some leftover warm wax. Placing it carefully into an envelope he sealed it shut and placed it into his pants pocket. He stood up slowly and licked his fingers before placing them over the flicker of the flame from the candle. Farasrian left the room and headed for his messenger’s quarters.


”Deliver an official copy of this letter to each of the clan leader’s around Althanas, and make sure they read it in your sight. If any have questions, you know the answers. I am entrusting you to make this happen and quickly, Sir Damien. You’ve done me well up until now, and I’d hate to think that would change for any reason, no matter how personal. Now, be off with you, and go quickly! This matter is of the utmost importance,” Farasrian felt a power of command come over him. He shook his head and as quickly as it came it vanished.


===============================

Two days later he found himself standing inside the Halls of Memories setting up chairs and a podium. A wooden gavel was placed carefully on one side of the podium and the chairs formed into a semi circle before it. Farasrian turned to Elrundir, his right hand in times of need within the clan.

”Thank you. I don’t know what will come of this, I am afraid to say, but thank you for joining me. This will be one of the hardest things we as a clan will have to do. Your support means much to me, and it will not go without it’s merit and reward. If all goes well, I may need you to command forces we’ve never dreamed possible within this realm. I need your expertise and experience now more then ever,” he said as he stared emotionless at Elrundir awaiting a response.

Perhaps it was the fact that Farasrian felt confident leaving the Aurora in Damon’s hands in this time, but there was an air of power and force within each of his words that did not exist before this point.

=============================

OOC RULES:

1) Only Clan Leader and One Clan Member Allowed - Guards are at the entrance to ensure this, and they are enchanted magically and of a level much beyond your onw.

2) The entire structure is magically defended and barriered. As soon as your character enters, their magical abilities cease to exist, no matter how large or small. IF your character must use magic to communicate, this will be allowed.

3) When you arrive, you post, and you have your clan member post. Once you've posted you will wait until the floor has been opened for discussion.

4) No one arrives ICly without an invitation in hand. The magic and guards will forbid it and make certain otherwise.

5) This IS being run by me, therefore I do control the flow of things to some level and to some degree. Please know this is for good reason.

6) Please keep speculations down to a minimum. The last thing we want is rumors about something being started here.

7) If you're here to fight, go home, we don't need/want you...nuff said.

That's it! Enjoy! This will be QUITE fun!

OOC UPDATE: All Clan Leaders may post now...and so may the members accompanying them. Again, follow the rules for this or be doomed to spend an eternity in Scara Brae! Muahahaha! :-p

[Elrundir]

The blood-red Pearl of Strength rolled between Elrundir’s slender fingers in an idle show of dexterity, glinting only slightly despite its opacity in the room’s ample light. Such a small, insignificant trinket, it would seem, and yet it had given him a great gift – only through the strength signified by this pearl, and the wisdom it granted, was he able to drive back the darkness within him. At long-awaited last, the tables had turned: the taint was now relegated to a decrepit corner of his vast intellect, and Elrundir was once again in control.

It was a wonderful, nostalgic feeling, and it came at a time when the elf might have never felt it again. The taint, origin still unknown to him, was powerful indeed through its age. Every day its power grew, even if only in the slightest of steps, and the true Elrundir was pushed further and further away, shoved into the darkest corners of his own mind, still gripping to his existence only by virtue of his own fortitude. But now he was victorious. He had outsmarted, outwitted the ancient darkness. The elf knew that was the only eventual outcome, though; any doubt of that fact was unfounded, for indeed Elrundir would never allow himself to lose at such a game.

His victorious ponderings were broken only by Farasrian’s words. As they dispelled the silence, the elf rolled the pearl into the palm of his hand and closed his fist around it, clutching it as safely as one might a precious heirloom. He looked up at the seraphim and raised a polished brow ever so slightly. Admittedly, Elrundir was curious and suspicious about this whole affair.

“I wonder.” The elf returned to absently playing the pearl when Farasrian’s words had passed. “Who will heed your call? I have seldom known a human to place himself at equals with others,” Elrundir commented, almost sneering at the race-word. His racism was no surprise to many who knew him – to the high elf, as indeed to many high elves, they were the only race worthy of respect and capable of true wisdom, at least in a general sense. There were always outliers. Still, the elf had his doubts, and many of them. So many of the clans of the age were headed by those unreliable races. Humans were bad enough: they sought glory and wealth for themselves above all else – one needed only look at the events transpiring in Corone and Fallien! But demons? Elrundir could laugh just at the thought of trusting one. One’s faith might be as well placed in a cow.

Even so, Farasrian was the holder of the Pearl of Wisdom, and as was often said, the pearls did not change hands by chance alone. For that reason alone, Elrundir kept his tone sceptical, but not unsupportive. If he had faith in the clans of Althanas, however unfounded Elrundir believed it to be, he would support the cause. It was his duty as an apostle, of course. Too many times in his immeasurable life had he seen a power rise against the established order, seeking – thirsting – for its own gain. Too many times had those powers wrought destruction and chaos, in his own homeland and beyond. Too many times had he seen – helped cause! – the downfall of such powers.

And so Elrundir would wait. Wait and watch, the cursed fate of those of his blood. Who would heed the words of Aurora’s prophetic if inexperienced leader? Who would let his warning fall on deaf ears? Who would place the fate of the realm above their own personal goals, desires, and gains? Who indeed? the elf thought with amusement.

[Rajani Aishwara]

Rajani stopped in front of the tall guards and raised the letter that signified his invitation to this party of powers. He found it a futile attempt to keep a straight face, so he smiled at the towering men as they granted him passage, but he did not go on. He awaited his partner Peregrine. While he did he comically paced side to side in front of the guards as he read the letter once again. If it was a mystery as to what made him so jovial, it was the hail from Farasrian Athimardane. It tickled something inside him every time he scanned the parchment. He was flattered, amused, appalled, and belittled all at the same time. His smile was of bashful gratitude and skeptical sarcasm.

Rajani was amused by the use of the word ‘unbiased’. In fact he found it hard not to be amused by the word at its basic definition. The term was subjective and required an opinionated evaluation. It was a contradiction, which was why he omitted it from his vocabulary. In addition Farasrian used the word to describe himself, and his own group. No man on Althanas was a sufficient judge of his own entity, and no man could convince Rajani otherwise.

Secondly, this sinister force the leader of Aurora mentioned was never named. It was, to an extent, commonsensical to keep the identity of such a force hidden in a letter that would cross thousands of miles and in numerous copies, but if this one entity was great and powerful enough to rid the realm of all its great organizations then it would be resourceful enough to know Farasrian’s intentions. Therefore, what was the reason for holding off said identity?

On the counter point he was flattered to be considered one of those who held great power in this world. He had no doubt that sometime in the future he and his friends would in fact hold said power in the name of economic development for the greater good, but for now he was only a humble leader of a fledgling financial firm. His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by approach of a familiar face.

“Salutations, partner Peregrine. I trust you had a straightforward trip here. Let us enter this Hall of Memories and make this meeting speedy and fair.”

[Reese Jarrek]

Reese’s arrival at the Hall of Memories was announced by the sound of wheels scraping against wood as he rolled his wheel chair to the door. The wheelchair was a gift for a previous venture. Though hidden from view by the hood that covered his face, Reese’s eyes fell onto Rajani, the leader of the Peregrine Group, as he passed. He silently read the man until he was forced to turn away.

When Reese arrived at the door, he reached into his pocket with his left hand, holding the chair steady with his right. He withdrew a small golden invitation that shone brightly in front of the hall. When he held the invitation into the air, it disappeared, fading into a small golden dust. As the dust fell, he felt the metal hinges of the chair buckle as if some magic was testing its durability. When the dust settled the hinges realigned and the chair stood as it had before. The door to the Hall cracked open and a white light emerged. The light pierced through Reese and he felt himself weaken temporarily. When the light passed through, his energy was restored. It took him little time to deduct what had happened. This was just the magic of the Hall testing his weaponry and abilities to prevent harm from befalling those present. Since Reese had neither, he was permitted entry.

The door opened and one of the guards said, “Enter. When you see the podium, address Master Farasrian by stating your name and your allegiance." Reese did not respond. He merely began to roll forward into the room. Its architecture was brilliant. Rising pillars, rounded edges. It reminded him of the Knights of Valor and the Round Table. When he was finished admiring the room, he noticed that aside from Farasrian and his accomplice, no other leaders had arrived. An irritated look appeared on Reese’s face.

Finally he came to a stop at the table. “My name is Reese Jarrek, and my allegiance is my own. However, for the purpose of your committee I am a representative of the Entrepreneurs. Their Vice President, if you prefer to use titles.” He settled into a spot at the table and waited for the others to arrive, tapping his finger against the wheelchair's armrest.

[Khariss Sevrath]

“Invitation and weapons?” the burly guard asked him, hand outstretched expectantly. The merchant maintained the pleasant smile on his face as his pulled the folded parchment out of a pocket and handed it to the big man. He then pulled the shamshir from his back and the dagger from his belt, setting them carelessly on the ground at his side. For today, at least, violence would not be an acceptable answer to his problems. After a brief glance at the document, the guard nodded.

“Enter. When you see the podium, address Master Farasrian by stating your name and your allegiance," the man instructed, waving him in. Khariss Sevrath, the biggest thing to hit Althanas since the Red Hand, entered the Hall of Memories with his head held high.

The smile on his face turned proud as he assessed. Immediately, his eyes picked out his associate, Reese Jarrek, rolling slowly to the front of the spacious room. A flicker of sincerity found its way into Khariss’s expression for a moment. Reese was a quiet man, but he had proven himself invaluable in the past couple of months.

The leader of the Illicit Entrepreneurs followed the wheel-chaired man to the podium at the front of the room. The smile on his face dropped at the man’s introduction, replaced now by an unmasked look of disdain.

“He is, indeed, my Vice President,” Khariss proclaimed proudly to Farasrian. “I am Khariss Sevrath, President of the Entrepreneurs. I am… pleased… to make your acquaintance.” Having made his entrance, the arrogant man turned and followed his man away.

“Any thoughts, Reese?” Khariss asked his accomplice, taking a seat next to him. “Do you think we’ll see Rajani here?” The real meeting that Farasrian had organized was only an ulterior motive. The Entrepreneur’s main reason for attending the committee was to meet his adversary, Rajani Aishwara of The Peregrine Group. He hoped that some agreement could be reached while they were both in the same place.

[Chidori Draconid]

“Salutations, partner Peregrine. I trust you had a straightforward trip here. Let us enter this Hall of Memories and make this meeting speedy and fair.”

“Yes. Let’s make this meeting speedy and fair indeed. That way we can go to a bar in Radasanth and teach you how to speak the common man’s common.”

Like before Chidori Draconid greeted Rajani Aishwara with a mocking statement. Although they were allies to the same cause, Chidori could only call Rajani an acquaintance and a friendly rival of wits. In title Rajani was Chidori’s boss, and he knew what was best for the Peregrine Group, but he was a nice boss, and he let Chidori get away with saying such things. He often criticized Rajani for his snobbish use of words.

The young deity smiled and stepped forward for a handshake as his starburst grey eyes scanned their surroundings. He had never been to the Hall of Memories. In fact he had never traversed the soil of Corone alone. His lover, Avakra Abmul was born and raised here, and he seldom came here without her. That was when he noticed that this was the first time in a very long time that Avakra was not by his side. At that thought he shrunk, his eyesight falling and his shoulders slumping. He felt incomplete without her.

Chidori extended a hand out to the entrance, “I’ll be your herald and we’ll make this quick. Quite frankly I’m a little skeptical about this whole thing. This Farasrian has to have some selfish motivation behind calling this meeting.”

They entered the vast hall only to see two other people. And here Chidori was going to make a grand introduction of the leader of the Peregrine Group. Perhaps it was best to wait until more groups arrived.