::Xanden lay in his bed, tossing and turning upon the hard inn mattress. His pillows were cast about the floor and his blankets were twisted around his bare legs and ankles. Sweat rolled in beads off his forehead as he dreamed of his home, consumed in hellish fire. His family was shrieking and screaming tortured wails and only one figure was seen in the whole distance, some woman surrounded by billowing black hair filled his head with deranged laughter. The red hellish vision faded and Xanden was left with blackness and the outline of a small group of people. He couldn't see their faces, but their silhouettes were enough. It was his family, reaching out for him, murmuring together in low voices. One figure stepped forward and suddenly a light shone on his grandfather, Dante. The jewel on his forehead glowed, and a beam of light connected Dante's to Xanden's. Without using his voice, Dante spoke to Xanden.::

Beloved grandson, our homeland is in dire peril. A race from a neighbouring planet has besieged us and threatens to destroy our world and our lives. Once they find out our secrets they will either kill us or makes us slaves. For the time we are all unharmed, but it is all we can do to protect ourselves. We keep our silence about Azlyia, and we may give them false information soon to throw them off. But we need your help. Xanden, gather a force of warriors and return to our home. Land at the ruins of the old palace of the West kingdom. They have not yet bothered with the ruins, and they inhabit the East castle. You must come and save our home! Xanden.. return home!

::Dante and the rest of his family vanished from Xanden's mind, and finally Xanden's eyes snapped open and he sat bolt upright in his bed. His chest and brow gleamed with sweat in the stuffy room. The jewel on his forehead was glowing bright red, bathing the room in light. The darkness outside consumed the world as Xanden lifted the window to catch a breath of air. He was on a planet very far from his own. He had left to accomplish what his family before him had: the destruction of wickedness and the strengthening of the self. His grandparents had spent 300 years on their training journey, and finally had returned to revive their planet. Then, his mother had gone, and upon her (shorter) journey she had met his father, and returned to Azlyia pregnant with her husband. Xanden inherited from him blood-red wings. When his mother returned, her brother was 11, and would leave on his journey a few years later. He returned when Xanden was young, and then finally came Xanden's turn. Now, so shortly into his pilgrimage, he had to return home to deliver it from peril. And what better way to defeat ecil then at home?::

::Xanden closed his eyes and tapped a well of power within himself. Dante had used his prophet's power to give him the dire message, and Xanden would use the same power to send forth his message.::

Great warriors, beings of light, strong, brave and true: Come to my voice, come to the aid of one in need. When dawn's light touches this town of Dalkeith, arrive, ready to fight and be rewarded. Please, great warriors, come...

::Xanden issued forth his message across worlds, space and time, pushing it as far as the reaches of his mind would allow. Anyone who heard it would come to him merely if they wished to. They would assemble and in the morning he would be ready for whatever force came.::

*********

::A castle lay on a green planet, rebuilt by only two pairs of hands and one will. Within it sat the usurpers and tyrants; a force of only ten thousand had come to the world to make it habitible for the others. And so had come the queen and dictator of them. She was a terrible young woman called Tzen'aoh. At that moment she lay awake in her stolen bed, resting naked after a long few hours with one of her harem boys. He lay sprawled across the bed panting heavily for air. He bore the marks of strenuous activity while she rested as though only been down the hall and back. Tzen'aoh stood and snapped her fingers. Two more young and fir met entered the room; two other members of her harem. She gestured to the spent man on the bed and they withdrew, carrying him. Once they were gone, she turned and grumbled to herself.::

Pathetic. I only hope some worthier man will come along one of these days. ::She tossed her long black hair over her shoulder, disentangling the black tresses from her little ivory horns. Tzen'aoh looked out the open window over her new land. Yes, her new land... distantly in the sky hung her dead planet, red and burned, stripped of all its comforts. This Azlyia would become her new home, and her people's home, until they had stripped it of all its comforts as well. Tzen'aoh smiled. Perhaps this planet would stand up to their lifestlye better. Doubtless it would be revolted at the depravity and bloodshed they would show it. But first.. she had to get all the answers from the little happy family they had captured.. And then, when the prince returned, Tzen'aoh would have him.::

Zeikharon was going home...finally, home. Back to the planet where both suns rose and set twice as beautifully as the Earth's, and where nature was not so hard to find. The ship that was transporting her there was small and cramped, and more than this, it was only dimly lit. She felt like she was suffocating, unable to reach enough light to create sustenance for herself. Her leaves were fading from the rich green they were supposed to be, as well as the mossy wings on her back. They needed to get back to Arden, and quick!

The scientists had told the pilots of the Nymph's need for sufficient lighting, and had paid them extra so that they would keep their ships well-lit, but now they didn't seem to be paying attention to this need. Zeikharon saw the others becoming slowly weaker, and clicked angrilly at the pilot for this reason. This only rewarded her with a glance in her direction and a sneering "What?" from the overweight and overpaid pilot. She focused, creating a short link between her mind and his, trying to tell him what they needed.

Food! Need...food...

The pilot then looked around wildly as his mind was invaded, turning his eyes to meet Zeikharon's own lime green ones. She repeated her message.

Need food!

This seemed to get the point across, and Zeikharon waited for the pilot to turn the lights up; he did not. Instead he rummaged through a small compartment and threw the Nymph something wrapped in what looked like very shiny, metallic leaves. There were words on these leaves, too. Concentrating, she read the words on it.

G...r...a...n...o...l...a...Granola? Where light? She picked up the strange shiny item with a claw, and tried to carefully pull the leaves off. Underneath them, she found what felt like sticky grains and seeds, stuck together to form a small square. With a few curious clicks, she looked back up to the pilot, trying to strengthen the link between their two minds.

This not food! Need food! Light!

The pilot turned back to her, looking at her with a raised eyebrow before evidentally realizing something, and making sounds with his mouth. Humans liked to do that, she noticed as she listened closer.

"Oh, now I remember..." The pilot pushed a few buttons on his console, and the lights flickered a little brighter. But it was not enough.

More!!

The pilot then made some very loud sounds with his mouth.

"I can't give you more!" He then rummaged around and threw a strange plastic branch-like thing at her. It was shiny and had a little see-through bulb on one end, and a bright orange circle along the side. Clicking curiously once again, she touched the orange spot with her claw. Suddenly, the little see through bud became a beacon of light! Not an extremely large one, mind you, but light nonetheless. She moved it over her leaves and moss, yet still it wasn't very effective. She handed it to one of the other Nymphs aboard the ship, and was about to yell at the pilot's mind for more, but a strange voice then entered her own mind.

Great warriors, beings of light, strong, brave and true: Come to my voice, come to the aid of one in need. When dawn's light touches this town of Dalkeith, arrive, ready to fight and be rewarded. Please, great warriors, come...

Why this message came to her, she didn't really know, and her claws fell down to the sheathed bone knives at her sides as the message played, yet she could not keep herself from being curious. Whoever this was needed help, and she liked to help. And the voice mentioned light. Maybe there was more light in this Dalkeith town? But how would she get there?

Even as that last thought was processed, the world around her began to fade and change. Clicking in a high-pitched tone of alarm, she watched the ship's interior fade away, and be replaced by what looked to be...a town? Was this the Dalkeith town the voice wanted her to go to? Her thoughts were stopped for a moment as her entire body seemed to become full of life again. She looked up and her wooden mouth smiled. A sun shone brightly here, which meant she could have food! Her wings spread open and she stood at her full height and then seemed to freeze, her hair and wings becoming deep green and healthy again. Whatever the task was that had been laid ahead of her, this was worth it.

((Will post Deian's after dinner))

Deian stood before her opponent, poised and controlled. She would not be the first to break, the first to strike, for her patience was too well-developed. And yet she did not have to wait for long, for not five seconds later a foot struck out, attempting to kick her abdomen. With what seemed to be unreal agility, she twisted her torso out of the way, taking the foot in her hand and simply holding it there. Her opponent attempted to use her hold as an anchor, jumping up and kicking towards her face. In reply to this she simply ducked her head to the side, holding now both feet of her opponent, then dropping them, causing the loser of their sparring match to fall to the floor.

The twelve-year-old boy looked up at her with a mixture of fear and respect, and quickly scrambled to his feet, turning to move back to the end of a line of children of the similar age, each patiently waiting for their turn to show their teacher that they could do the movements she requested of them. Such was normal for the beginning of martial arts classes that Deian Pietrova now taught, giving each of her students the gift and skill that allowed her to clutch revenge for her mother's death. As he turned, she gave the customary uplifting smile and a "Well done, Marcus" edged by a mild native russian accent.

The class continued as it normally did, and ended with the sound of parents knocking at the door to pick up their children. Once all the students were gone and no cars save for her own were parked in the lot, Deian dimmed the lights and strode to one of the paintings on the wall of the entrance hall. It had been her favorite, and for this reason she chose it to cover the safe that held her most precious belongings. Lifting the painting from the wall and openning the safe quietly, she made sure that the front door was closed and locked before removing a pair of black boots, each having a blade extending from the toe, and her unique pair of daggers. She donned her boots, and held her daggers as though wielding them, before turning to one of the human-shaped punching bags she had. She crossed the blades of her daggers in her own personal salute, then began to hack away at the bag, imagining that with every strike she was sending her father to the underworld once again. And then she heard it; No, heard was not the term, for the sound never entered her ears, but words were spoken to her very mind itself. She immediately froze as the strange voice spoke.

Great warriors, beings of light, strong, brave and true: Come to my voice, come to the aid of one in need. When dawn's light touches this town of Dalkeith, arrive, ready to fight and be rewarded. Please, great warriors, come...

Great warrior? She did not consider herself to be strictly a warrior, but apparently the voice that spoke to her did, and even as it finished it's speech, she felt it haunting her. She could feel the guilt of what may happen should she refuse already begin to build, and she would not allow it to build any more. But even still, she didn't know what or where the town of Dalkeith was. How was she to get there?

It was at the end of this thought that her little martial arts class faded away, replaced by surroundings that she did not know. What was more, she stood beside....a very strange statue. It seemed to be a tree-like woman with green wings, yet she had no idea how one could get a statue to seem that real. It seemed so much so that for a moment, she thought she saw one of its claws move. She already knew now where she was supposed to be: Dalkeith. But the question was, where was she supposed to go now?

::Before the first light of dawn rose over the majestic emerald hills of Dalkeith, Xanden rose and clothed his muscular form in black and red velvet. He splashed his face and spread his red wings and stretched. Then he went to the front and paid for his stay. Xanden left the inn and floated to the spot where the ones who answered his summons would appear. He then watched the sun creep above the horizon and give life to the world. Flowers around him began to open and bud. He sat in the shadows near a fountain and listened to the sounds of the planet as it woke where he was. It wasn't long until he felt an answer to his call and a strange figured materialized in front of him. It was some sort of living tree being, with large wings on her back. It reminded Xanden very much of his home. Not much longer after she appeared and resfreshed herself another one appeared, this one being an obvious human woman. The woman looked puzzled and the dryad looked very pleased. Her appearance prior to bathing in the sunlight had been very unhealthy, as if she had been deprived of everything she needed to live. Xanden stepped from the shadows and smiled, politely bowing. As well as speaking words, he projected them.::

Good morning. My name is Xanden, and I have called you here because I am in need of aid. It is quite a strange request, I know, but this is a dire situation. Please, while we wait to see whom else answers my summons, please, tell me your names.

Marcius was drained. He had been compelled to assist, but the beings of worlds had not wished for it. Their desire was always that of another genre. This grasped the life from Marcius's heart, and tugged it outward, leaving him tattered.
"Am I the only being who truly wishes for peace?" He questioned himself out loud, letting his head fall puppet-like.
His groans of misery left him saddened aside from exhausted, and as he stared at himself through the mirror of a dark polluted pond, his haggardness was brought to a new extent.
Then, suddenly, something came to him. Through the shadowed clouds from the heavens, words were tossed into his ears. The words were soft, words that could in no way be accursed in any sense. They were, requesting his help!
Marcius felt his heart leap out from his chest, and dive back inward, rejuvenated. Never in a decade had he experienced such joyous emotions!
He curled his toes into the loose grey soil below him, and stood towards the skies. With his hands raised and palms reaching outward, he hollered,

"Let the heavens take me there!"

Lithia...was that even her real name? NOMAD sounded better, yet there was a lingering attachment to "lithia". Whatever her name was, she pondered these things whilst resting in the dewy grass of a forest that was caught in perpetual night. Indeed, she was inhabiting a realm that was covered in a thick canopy of leaves, a realm where the sun never shone, where no beings made their home. This realm was merely a hub between realms for those who were lucky enough to see it. It held all the wonders of the universe, but gave only loneliness to those who made a habit of being there. Not many though, had the chance to be there often, for even concerning the subject of inter-realm travel, it was a rarity for any being to even catch a glimpse of this place. Only three beings had ever spent any amount of time in this place, the first was a man named Zazano, he was propelled to it through forces he could not fathom. Eventually he was driven mad by his inability to age or remain in any one place, he took his own life. THe second was an assassin, clad all in black, and thrown from world to world by his master to accomplish sick tasks. The third was her, Lithia, a young girl who wished for nothing but to return home. The forest of the mystics, a place so incredible that words alone could never explain it, yet it served as a prison to each of these individuals for the duration of their stay.

And yet, she ignored all these wonders...she turned her eyes from the dancing lights of abundant magic energy, and averted her gaze from the trees that reached up further than the eye could see. Her mind and focus were only on her next destination...


Great warriors, beings of light, strong, brave and true: Come to my voice, come to the aid of one in need. When dawn's light touches this town of Dalkeith, arrive, ready to fight and be rewarded. Please, great warriors, come...

"Here we go..." She whispered cynically, knowing that whatever force it was that sent her on her way, would no doubt charge her with this mission. And she was right. A swirling white vortex opened before her, she stood, her sabers clanging on her back, and walked through it. Seconds later she stood with the others, prepared to hear her mission.

::Xanden smiled and opened his arms. Others were arriving in the place he had set, one man, one woman.::

Please, gather around everyone. Thank you for answering my call, my name is Xanden. Please, tell me your names.

((sorry the posts are so short))

The Nymph could visibly see at least the woman with the blades on her boots jump when she moved. Had they thought her to be an object, rather than a person? She clicked amusedly at this; humans could be so silly sometimes. And then the other winged being spoke.

Zeikharon understood what this "Xanden" was saying, as she did most humans, but how to reply? She couldn't speak like the humans do, so she had to resort instead to trying to form a telepathic link to this man's mind. It connected more rapidly than she would have expected, and was stronger than with humans. Perhaps this person could speak in a similar way?

I...Zei....Zeikharon. She said to his mind, though outside of it all that could be heard were three clicks, the first of middle pitch, the second high, and the third low.

------

Unless it was an extremely well-designed machine, that tree thing was no statue, Deian noticed as it fell to all fours and tilted it's head in a curious and distinctly puppy-like manner, looking from one new person to another. And then it had...clicked? She shook her head lightly to make sure that she'd heard right. Yes, the thing...she(it looked female) had made clicking noises, God knows where from. But for now, Deian had to focus on someone else, despite the fact that she knew none of these people nor this place.

This Xanden person had asked their names, and the tree-thing had clicked again, though Deian assumed that was her way of telling her name. Sighing once, she figured she had might as well get this over with as quickly as possible, and stepped forward, speaking with that mild native Russian accent that the people in Colorado found so fascinating.

"My name is Deian Pietrova."

The light-eating Nymph and the Russian had just appeared before Xanden, and, where there was clearly no one before, just behind the Russian girl, Jameson appeared, with no fanfare, warning, or presupposition. He was simply there in the next moment.
In his head were fading images, like waking from a dream of reality beyond the scope of his realization. His mind grasped onto images put into his mind, suddenly. Single images that represented the necessity of his quest for his own pure death. He had all he needed, provided to him by... And that image faded. He was equipped. That was all he needed to know. A man spoke to the group, and asked the names of all present. The language barrier was gone, apparently by the removal of a brainwave countermatrix. The idea of it appeared and disappeared, and he forgot it, knowing only that he had heard the man speaking, and that the man had wings. This was the being who'd asked for divine intervention. A puff of consciousness later and Jameson forgot the idea, only knowing that he was a leader to follow, and it was him who was to fight against a coming tide of opposition. The opposition would be evil, and would kill Jameson. The idea disappeared, and he knew only that he would be blessed with pure death, that he sought for reasons unknown.
"Hello there!" Jameson said in a moderately-pitched but strong voice, when he assumed it was his turn to speak after a gap in the conversation. He stepped forward and smiled to the Russian girl as he walked up beside her, crossing both arms behind his back in amiable neutrality. He quietly opened a pathological matrix between the group and himself, reading a complex plethora of emotions from all parties; he focused on the man who was to be the leader. He drank in only a few of the top emotions, relief, and worry, and determination, and hope, and passed it back unfiltered, unmagnified, simply tasting the truth for himself. The words came to him, and this time, he remembered them. He heard a name in his mind, Xanden, son of the first of the new line of true royalty of Azlyia, as divined by... His name was Xanden, and Jameson was glad to forget, cheerful to die.
"I'm Jameson, sir. Jameson Ptellero." He grinned honestly, the pathological matrix closing. "Glad to be here, though I have no idea why!"

The thoughts invaded Nek'Rosh's dreams.

For a time he was standing there, his father's corpse lifeless and drained of all blood. His skin hung at the bone like a husk, his face twisted in surprise and horror. With a toothy grin Nek'Rosh whiped off his chin and looked into that face and felt that the one who had damned him to an isolated life stranded on an alien world had been sufficiently punished. And then the thoughts came, the call for help. Nek'Rosh's dream self certantly considered himself a creature of power, and the plea was answered.

When the necromancer arrived he was laying on his back in the grass next to the others, still in a deep sleep.

((Sorry, very short post, but I couldn't resist))

Zeikharon looked curiously (as was her nature) over at the new arrival. He was...asleep? She wondered how it was that he managed to affirm a want to be part of this action in his sleep, since most humans seemed rather...well..unconscious when they slept. Being a different species, she admittedly knew very little of the activity, but it left her curious nonetheless. Carefully, she crept on all fours to the sleeping figure. He didn't seem to notice, and so she leaned over the sleeping body and very gently poked it with one of her fingers, clicking quickly and curiously as she did. Perhaps his power or consciousness could only be obtained in his sleep?

Considering it, she seemed to make a facial expression that would be likened to raising an eyebrow, if she had eyebrows. After a few moments, she poked the sleeping man's shoulder again.

::Xanden smiled. The first to respond was the tree-woman, who spoke in his head in a calm and sweet tone. So he responded back in the same way. Her vocals were a series of strange clicks, so he figured she would forge a mind-link between them to communicate.::

You are welcome here, Zeikharon. You will find it easy to speak with me, as I have the same mind gift as you. Therefore be not afraid of trying to communicate. I will help you. ::He turned then unto the earthen woman with the strange accent. He had encountered such dialects before in his travels, even if they had been short.::

Welcome, Miss Deian. I am very glad to see you.

::Another two figures appeared, one with a very jovial attitude, and one, who was alseep. Xanden felt a twinge. Something had unsettled him. But the jovial man, who introduced himself next, distracted him.::

Welcome, Jameson. All of you are welcomed by me, and I thank you deeply for coming. If you have not yet told me your name, please come and tell me in a moment. I can percieve that you all have answered my call for help. And this help is direly needed.. My home, my world, Azlyia, is in trouble. While I was gone travelling, it was attacked by a fell race of demonic creatures and my race has but a few members left, and not near enough to defeat them. So I need your help, as warriors, to come with me to that world and fight. Should you choose to accept, your deeds will not go unrewarded. My planet is a beautiful paradise and I humbly offer you a place there which you may call home, should you choose. If not, you are free to go about your well and I can give you a reward of more material wealth at your departure. So I ask, will you help me?

((Rachel don't worry about short posts, as long as you post.))

Home...? The sound of the word panged in Lithia's head, bringing back a hurricane of half remembered moments. They flew in and out of her mind within seconds and at an indecipherable speed. What did this being know of home? How could he possibly offer her sucha thing so easily? How did he speak so easily to strangers, offering them things that he had no clue if he could deliver. She had seen visions of Zazano, and she knew that to try to make one's home in a realm they were only visiting was purely foolish.

"A few members...against an entire race? How can you promise rewards to a group that you are sending on a suicide mission?" She wasn't about to stand for these lies. "How many members of your race are left to help us?" She assaulted Xanden with a barrage of questions, partly out of her own frustration, and partly out of her fear. She did not want to die before she learned of the forces that guided her from world to world.

The pokes and prods inturupted his dreams. His still dreaming mind inturpited these as tree branches coming down and poking at his skin. Nek'Rosh was wather confused, but that didn't compare at all to how confused he would be when he finally awakened. With the second prod and series of clicks Nek'Rosh's dull green eyes opened slowly to see the nyad looking down at him. His awakening mind percieved her to be an attractive human female, and his eyes went wide with hope. Were there others of his kind on the planet finally? Had they finally come to take him away, to a place away from the bizzare, although friendly, creatures that he had grown up with? The more his mind woke up, though, the more that hope diminished. The first thing he noticed was the form looking curiously down at him lacked any eyebrows. He started to notice other things as well until it became very obvious that he wasn't looking at a human at all.

Still happy to be seeing anything other than the only other intellgent race he had ever encountered, the rather large insects who took him in, his smile remained. He rose to his feet quickly in one graceful movement. The hood of his black robe came off his head in the movement, displaying his sharp featured and pale face, framed by long black hair. With the smile still on his lips and his still somewhat asleep mind ignorant that others were around him he extended a hand towads the strange looking woman. " Hello! I'm Nek'Rosh, how did you get here? I thought that..." The necromancer's sentence was inturpted as he became aware of something else and squinted his eyes, a dissasitified look appeared on his face. "DAMN is it bright here..."

::Xanden turned towards the young female, and smiled at her warmly, gazing at her with a sense of understanding and respect. He could sense much turmoil in her, but would not hold her to his mission against her will. He would go himself if need be.::

Sadly miss, there are but five of my kind left in Azlyia. If nothing else, I must liberate them. However, though five there are, each holds the power, strength and cunning of five. Be calm. The planet itself will protect us from harm. Whatever you choose I shall respect, but do not fret. It is only suicide should think of it as such.

::Xanden spied that the sleeping member of the party had woken under the prodding of Zeikharon. Xanden at last stepped forward into the midst of them all.::

Should you choose to undertake this mission, we prepare and leave this evening. My grandfather has told me where we may find hidden shelter once we reach Azlyia. Great warriors please, will you help me?

Each one of the group was adding a level of complexity to his observation. Already, he'd learned he was an empath. He could feel emotions. He could, if the person was willing, and not resisting his guidence, take emotions from others, give them back, make them more intense, reduce their effects... He could even project his own for others to 'see'. They would feel an aura effect, he summised. A seperate presence of emotion that they, if they felt so inclined, could accept this seperate stream of emotion into themselves.
How he knew, he didn't know, but he'd already scanned Xanden's mind for emotion. He now couldn't remember if it has indeed been his decision to read his emotions, but was nonetheless intrigued by the individuals who were unconsciously projecting open waves of their emotions outward. He felt the flow even when he wasn't actively reading it. Carefully, he opened a subtle channel of emotion up with the Nymph, and issued forth a burst of the happiness he felt to her, testing his control, and to feel her response. Would she accept the happiness he was trying to share with her?
The emotion was being clearly sent from him--one could feel the direction it came from, know that whoever was emitting it was nearby, without even accepting the feeling as one they'd allow themselves to feel. He could certain sense the presence of the others' emotion, even if he couldn't sense what those emotions were unless they were either extremely pronounced, or if he connected with their mind.
While he was doing this, he turned his eyes to her, keeping carefully still as he faced Xanden. He felt a presence as someone passed into the Nymph's conscious mind, but he couldn't grasp onto it.
Suddenly, a powerful wave of frustration, and fear hit him, and he started, realizing he was listening to Xanden talk. He nodded warmly, enjoying the speech's neutral style, but he was now aware of his surroundings again.
He looked in the direction of the frustration. Another girl was now speaking, questioning Xanden rapidly. He felt the honesty, and felt a pang of sorrow for the girl, before he realized he was still channeling towards the Nymph. He shook his head, smiling broadly, letting the good feelings of preparation and determination well up inside him, as he opened the channel of happiness up for the girl, offering her the chance to feel the glow he felt, and was trying to give to both her and the Nymph.
The sleeper awoke, and Xanden began speaking in response to the girl's questions. On a whim, Jameson sent out the stream to the sleeper, offering him a powerful sense of well-being that he held, with open 'hands', out to now three people people.
"Great warriors, please... Will you help me?" Jameson let the emotional power drop significantly, so that all he reached to were now not sensing an intoxicating happiness nearby, but a tangible optimism. He stepped forward, only slightly tired from the focus of such a joyful feeling. It was a happy tired; he hoped they'd join him.
"I would be happy to stay with you until the end!"

For some odd reason, the Nymph felt someone offering her..emotions? She shook her head, mentally denying him the ability to give her them. She would have no emotions that were not her own. Then Zeikharon looked at the man's hand oddly. What did he want her to do? Oh, it was one of those human social rituals. She tried to remember how one was supposed to react in one of these situations, and it soon came to her. She raised her opposite hand, reaching out to shake his. But then he complained about it being...to bright? She did not quite understand this, but he seemed well mannered enough, so she reached inside of the earth with her power and forced a tree to bend and shade the man. She then replied to his words.

I...Zeikharon.

She then took the time to reply to the person who had spoken back to her mind through her mind itself. The one with the wings.

Thank you...grateful...me...help you.

----------

This was all becoming too strange. The things she was hearing, the things she was seeing, they were coming too many too fast. How was one to adjust to so much in so little time? Deian's head was spinning already, and it was likely to only get worse, but once her thoughts calmed down a little, she listened to the words Xanden said. He asked for help in a battle in which he had very bad odds, yet he also said that the planet will protect them...And, she thought again, it wasn't as though she knew how to get off this planet they were currently on in any case, so she couldn't just pop back to Earth if she declined.

Deian Yelena Pietrova, you're going to get yourself killed. She thought. But what was her motivation for living? Her mother, the only person she'd ever loved, was dead, and vengeance had been claimed. What was there left for to do but fight? She sighed, and stepped forward again.

"I see no other logical option than to join you. My blades and abilities are at your disposal."

"We're going to be slaughtered!" Lithia thought to herself, but then again, she had nothing to loose. Just then she felt an overwhelming wave of positive energy come over her, it had been a while since she had felt something like this, so she accepted it gladly. A warm smile came to her face, threatening to melt her otherwise frigid exterior. She cleared her throat and addressed Xanden.

"I apologize for my outburst...my name is Lithia; and I will gladly join your cause." She was lying of course. The choice was not hers to make, it was already decided that she would join him; and she did not that her name was REALLY Lithia, she only had an incling that it had been at some point.

::A few of them had already replied and given their answers as yes. Xanden felt a surge of joy and hope through his chest, and expressed it with a small smile and a nod of his head. A chance to save his family! His planet! And when he did so, he would be a true warrior. Azlyia could depend on him. The bright glow of hope stayed within him and conquered the shadows of doubt he may yet posess.::

I thank you for your help, all of you. You have no idea how much it means to me, this chance to save all that I love. Especially your willingness, Miss Lithia. ::He was grateful to her because she had not seemed willing. Inwardly he made a note to keep her from harm's way to repay her this kindness.::

We leave at sundown. For now we may rest, sup, and prepare. I would like to form some plans, while we may, against the usurpers. Our first step is to get to shelter once we touch down. But, brothers, I have not yet learned your names, and if you will join my cause. ::He opened his arms to the one who had been sleeping and the man who had not yet spoken a word.::

Marcius threw a smirk at Xandan. From the moment Xanden required help, Marcius was prepared to give it. He just couldn't help but listen to the other responses of his new partners, and listening to the words from Xandan's pure heart. The gentle and kind aura he felt from Xandan filled Marcius with the energy he had craved for. His smile began to broaden without control.
"I am Marcius." He said, pausing to bow slightly.
"I promise to assist you in any way I am physically or mentally able."

{Sorry it's so short.}

((People, stop worrying about shortness. Dialogues are supposed to be short. At least you're posting.))

Excellent well, Marcius. Our party is almost complete. My gratitude to you all knows no bounds. Since I have called you all here so early, breakfast is my treat. Then I can formally discuss with you all after we acquire a quiet place to sit. But I still need one more answer. ::Xanden looked at the sleeper.::

He was finally fully awake, and fully aware that he and the nyad were not alone after the shade was cast on him, although he was unaware of the cause. He finally responded to Xanden, now that his mind was awake. "If you were the one who got me off the rock I came from, I pledge my services to you." Xanden pulled the hood of his dark robe up and stepped out of the shade, letting the top of the hood shielf his eyes. "What did you say about breakfast? I'm curious to know what food tastes like outside of where I come from, dreadful stuff."

::Xanden gave a mild smile once again.::

Then the quest is set. This way to breakfast! ::Xanden led the way back into the inn in which he had slept and secured a large table for his party. He then hailed one of the landlord's men and placed an order for breakfast for six humans and one dryad. He specifically saved a chair at the window for her, and ordered a large bowl of water for her refreshment. If she needed anything else he'd be glad to oblidge. In a few minutes breakfast would arrive consisting of eggs, small sausages, fried tomatoes, and toasted bread with sweet jams. Waiters went back and forth from the table in a hurry, setting out napkins, knives and forks, and glasses, plus two large pitchers of juice and tea. comfortable chairs and stools were pulled up alongside, enough for seven people. Xanden paid the bill up front and stood by the table to see his guests comfortably seated.::

Sit down everyone, and eat until you are sated. Then we will retire to my room and discuss, and I can tell you more about myself. ::He sent a mental message to Zeikharon.::

If you need anything else, just ask and I'll get it for you.

When Zeikharon heard Xanden speaking, she was worried. She, as a plant, did not eat the complex foodstuffs that humans and other such creatures did. She needed water, and light, and she was afraid that Xanden would not know this. However, upon seeing the chair by the window, the Nymph clicked in relief. She sat in the chair, her wings spread in the light of the window, she happily absorbed the sunbeams, picking up the bowl of water and slowly pouring it into the orifice that most people would call a mouth. The crude digestive organs she did actually have were mostly used for absorbing water into her body, and drinking was the one activity that she did the same way as any of the more humanoid beings. When Xanden sent her a mental message, she replied quickly and happily.

Much...thanks...water, light good.

----

Deian silently followed Xanden and the others into the inn, sighing in relief as she recognized the types of food being set on the table. She had feared that, because of the fact that she was on a different planet, the food which they refer to as breakfast would be different. It was not, and she let a very small, graceful smile light up her face. Sheathing her daggers quickly, she sat in one of the chairs at the table, reaching down to remove the blades from her boots, placing them in mini sheaths that were attached to the ones which held her daggers. She took a moment to utter a traditional Russian Orthodox prayer quietly, then politely waited for everyone else to seat themselves before reaching for any of the food.

Lithia sat, silently playing with a fork. She eyed her own weapons on the ground at her sides. They had been uncomfortable against the back of the chair, so in a rare moment of defenselessness, she put them on the floor, figuring that if she needed them, the others would provide enough cover (or target practice) for her to retrieve them before being attacked.


MEANWHILE


“This body is weak. For a traveler this person was quite fragile.” The sword strapped to this nameless wanderer’s back was the sentient at this point. It had sent its victim into a comatose state and taken his body as its own prize. “Here goes nothing. This transportation better bring me to the balancer stone.” The red stone at the pommel began to glow, and a second later the man and the sword were gone.

::The food was brought and sat before them, and Xanden picked up a fork and began to eat, and even in that he was polite. He swallowed a bite of egg and turned to his guests.::

A little later on, we ought to have a little practice session. That way we know each other's skills. In that way we can hope to cooperate all the better when the time comes.

*************

::Tzen'aoh stood at a window in the castle, dressed in nothing more than a black corset and panties, stockings held up by lace garters. As the ruler of her home planet it was all she usually dressed in. And just because she had changed where she ruled she would not change her habits. The long black hair fell around her ankles. Her tiny horns, the color of porcelain, crowned her better than any jewel could. She looked into the night sky where clearly she could see the large star that was her old planet Myzlenon. Part of her race was still there, rather, most of it, waiting for her to call. As soon as they had broken this planet she would send for them to call Azlyia their new home. Myzlenon was so used up, the very centre of the planet was crumbling and soon everything on the surface would be buried under a sea od molten rock and ash. When she had left with a few thousand of her soldiers, generals, lords and other such nessecities, the climate had become harsh and was gradually heating up. The volcanoes all over the surface had woken to begin festering. So much was the abuse the planet had suffered that it was poised to kill them all.::

::Tzen'aoh brought her gaze down to where a flower bush was planted. In the short records that Raven had begun to keep after arriving back on Azlyia, Tzen'aoh learned that for every birth on the planet one of these flowering shrubs was planted. The one she was looking at was the young Prince's. When in bloom it would be full of beautiful white flowers called seylenas. The bush for Raven's daughter, that insolent wench Morwen, was on the east side of the castle and in full bloom with a red flower. Raven's son Adyor had a shrub of deep blue flowers on the west side. Xanden's was at the north. While both Morwen and Adyor's bushes were in bloom, Xanden's was not. Because he was not on Azlyia. In the diary of Raven Tzen'aoh had read that he had left on a pilgrimage shortly before Tzen'aoh had attacked. His entire family was locked up in a room of their own castle together... Tzen'aoh smiled wickedly. She was keeping them weak and unhappy, promising death if they tried to escape. They were given just enough food and water to keep them alive until all their secrets had been spilled. In today's interrogation Tzen'aoh only recieved a fierce diatribe from Morwen about how she would never defeat Azlyia. Tzen'aoh had said nothing and merely struck the girl across the face. Morwen had growled and tried to fight back but her brother siezed her at once, and her husband had howled in anger. On the first day that one had tried to kill Tzen'aoh with her bare hands, and he had since been chained up to prevent another outburst. He especially was kept weak to keep his power from being used. The others then tried to keep him quiet after that to lessen their suffering to some smaller degree. Morwen herself was very sick, and Tzen'aoh knew the others were giving her a little bit more of their food. They were treated badly enough for not letting the secrets of their lives go. And Raven had written nothing important in her log. So it was neccessary Tzen'aoh wring every last bit of knowledge from them.::

::But the matter of the missing prince troubled her. Surely he would return home at some point, but when? And could he in anyway be prepared for what he would find when he arrived? Perhaps by the time he came the entire Myzlenon race would already be living on Azlyia. She finally turned from the window and headed back to her rooms. She would have to capture him. Then she could force him into the prison along with the others and soon there would be none to oppose her and they would surrender their planet at long last. In a better mood she summoned her line of men and picked her favourite from the group, to turn her mind to more relaxing things::

"That would be lovely. I'm only good for a few parlor tricks, but I'd be happy to aid you, for the glory and ruin of it all." Jameson said to Xanden, smiling and raising a meal-starting piece of bread as a toast (no pun intended), going over the reactions of what had been step one of his own personal practice session as he bit into the bread graciously. The girl Lithia took to the emotion readily, and it surprised him. He was glad to have someone so willing to see through another's heart during the journey. He wasn't, as an afterthought, surprised that the Nymph didn't take to his emotion, being very steadfast to a long line of slow, powerful tradition, as any plant-like being would do. How he knew this, he couldn't say, but it made him firmly at ease with the prior rejection. After all, she didn't know that it was one among them offering it to her. The practice session Xanden spoke about would be most entertaining for him, and, he hoped, for all.

((Since we're so slow, I'm skipping ahead a little.))

::Breakfast was delicious and filling, and Xanden made sure all his guests were satisfied and then rose from the table.::

I know where there's quite a large and secluded field, if we all want to go practice there. We'll be departing from there later as well. Follow me! ::Xanden led the way out of the dining room into a back hallway, then out a back door. He picked his way down a path and headed towards a lush, wide meadow flanked with trees. The little village Xanden had been staying in was a secluded and secret one, where magic worshippers and witches still dwelled to celebrate the old ways and live in touch with the magic of their planet. Xanden got to the middle and took a deep breath of air. He drew the sword from his side.::

Let's see what we can do!

Marcius frowned slightly, approaching Xanden.
"I can help, but only to an extent. I will not allow my abilites to kill anybody. It would be more sensible for me to stay behind, and create protective barriers and such. There is almost no extent to my defensive abilities, which I'm glad to say."
He placed himself behind Xanden, his staff held at his side. The duo of silver globes connected to each end had been bright with a series of glimmers, and it seemed to allow the staff to float on its own.
"When one being is at such an extreme side, of being good or bad, than the slightest falter can strongly effect that side of the border that the being had been on. My race had begun to kill, and in almost no time at all, they "died." No, I do not mean death, as in the end of the body. I mean it in the opposite sense, the end of the soul. My race became evil, and were unaware of it. I left, with the hope to never suffer the same demise."
He paused, letting his head downward, a moment of silence.
"Either way, I am at your service."

::Xanden put a hand on Marcius' shoulder.::

My race perished because they kept only minimal defenses and barely knew how to protect themselves. But I daresay your abilities will come in handy. I will not ask you to kill, merely to protect. ::Xanden smiled encouragingly at the stern young man. The were two kindred spirits in his mind, struggling to protect life, theirs and others'.::

We'll divy into pairs to practice, I suppose. Miss Lithia, would you do me the honour of being my partner? Then we can switch, and wait until the sun wanes.

Lithia almost grinned. Combat, now here was something she was accustomed to. She took her two weapons from her back and stood with her right saber facing Xanden.

"I"m waiting."

::Xanden raised his favoured weapon with two hands. Wouldn't his mother be proud to see such a young woman taking charge and presenting herself as a warrior. Instinctively he knew he had a good fighter at his hands. He took a step forward and leapt into the air, landing with a downward strike at her breast. The blade of his glaive* slashed diagonally towards her right side and he held the black handle level, to deflect any blow from the weapon in her left hand. His hands were crossed, right over left, to unwrap and come upward with a powerful strike. He would easily be able to tell her agility, strength and knowledge of fighting within minutes. And as they fought, he could ask her a little about herself.::

Why did you decide to come, Miss Lithia? I saw the disintrest in your eyes. ::He waited for the retaliation and the answer.::

Nek'Rosh was overjoyed. He was fascinated by each member of the party. It was as if a man who saw in only black and white his entire life was suddenly exposed to the beauty of a binary star sunset. After a lifetime with his only contacts being the rather boring insect-like creatures who taught and raised him he was meeting new species, new people, interesting people. He found himself wanting to know every detail of each member of the party, especually the refreshingly amiable one and the mysterious being who woke him up. His joy only grew when the one that brought him here suggested some practice before they set out on their task. This was fantastic! Nek'Rosh had both the oportunity to test and show off his own abalities, but also the chance to see the abalities of the members of the party. He gripped the knotted top of his gnarled deadwood staff and allowed a toothy smile to spead across his face. He said in a quiet and mellow voice. "Any of you wish to practice against me? I don't know how my abalities will compare to yours, I only learned them on a backwater world, but.." Nek'Rosh inhaled deeply and his smilke widened a bit, "the decay here is strong, even if it isn't visable. I should be a worthy opponent." He gripped the staff eagerly, waiting for someone to accept his offer.

The air was fresh and about him he felt the intensity of life and vigor flow outward, and gladly accepted the idea for himself. He stepped forward, flexing the gems on his hands, making them burst forth into visibility from the dim opaque they'd been. They began to shimmer all sorts of colors, and he flexed his arms, up and down, making the air visibly ripple around him. He had other abilities. He knew this. It would be grand to demonstrate them all, for himself, as well as the others.
Jameson laughed and nodded, approaching the man and gesturing grandly to him.
"I'd love to spar, friend! Nek'Rosh, wasn't it? Let's test these rusted limbs of mine, and see your particular brand of... decay!" He smiled, and lifted his arms, making the gemstones flare with energy, and distort the air above them, making eye-turning depressions in space itself.
"You can begin, if you wish!"

Lokina Treelinka Munkune daughter of king Kavain and queen Lauralie, was the only princess of bala. And she was bored out of her mind. Despite living in the most
technologically advanced nation on her planet, with computers and airplanes and hover boards... she had nothing to do.
This was because she was grounded.
Again.
It wasn't her fault that the ambassador to the equitor council of nations hadn't found her harmless prank as funny as she had. After all how was she supposed to know he didn't like extra hot planet destroyingly intense hot sauce on his salad? She smirked at that as she stared up at the white ceiling of her room. Of course her parents, also failed to see the humor.
Then came the voice
" Great warriors, beings of light, strong, brave and true: Come to my voice, come to the aid of one in need. When dawn's light touches this town of Dalkeith, arrive, ready to fight and be rewarded. Please, great warriors, come..."
She shot straight up in to the air with shock, landing on her bed again with a “whump”. She looked right then left.. but saw no one. Quickly she went to the wide window of her room, and hit the button that made it clear. The bright lights of Gaela City night life greeted her. It was quite plainly not dawn time.
“Hmm.. and adventure! Surely when ma and dad said stay in your room and don't get in to mischief, they didn't consider a rescue mission!” Lokina grinned her two fangs glinting. Quickly she went to her shelves and began to prepare, glad for the time she was given.

Vatree Alixe savayn was a first class guardian of the Hawk level. She was also the chosen body guard of the monkune family's heir... a position that had been held for generations by her family in a gesture of her peoples good will and standing alliance with the kingdom of bala. In fact every member of the ruling family, and the council of elders, and even the judges house, had a Hawk as a guardian. Although Vatree would never admit it, she personally believed she had the most difficult charge of all. No one else had the bundle of trouble Lokina was as a charge. It was simply amazing the amount of trouble such a small girl could cause! Not to mention she was always running off, eluding Vatree’s best efforts to keep an eye on her. Even with Vatree’s powers she couldn't keep up. Vatree knew that if Lokina would just settle down.. and act like a girl for a change, maybe even show interest in something other then the destruction of order, Vatree would manage to survive to the age of 20 without disgracing her ancestors by failing her
charge. Vatree sighed, it wasn't likely to happen anytime soon.
Then came the voice out of nowhere,
"Great warriors, beings of light, strong, brave and true: Come to my voice, come to the aid of one in need. When dawn's light touches this town of Dalkeith, arrive, ready to fight and be rewarded. Please, great warriors, come..."

Vatree jolted from her position leaning on the wall outside, Lokina room. She had no idea where such a voice would come from.. it was plain that whoever had called needed help.. and her heart cried out to answer it, but her head reminded her of her responsibility. If she abandoned her post it would be seen as a most grievous insult.. it could even start a war. Such a thing she could not allow. So despite her longing to join them.. she decided she couldn't. For some reason this brought her to the verge of tears.

Hours later....

Lokina was ready! She had loaded up all her favorite tricks, some simi harmless, some not so, as well as her multi tool, and even some of her favorite power up: “Zap!” a sort of super boost energy drink. Her parents had forbidden her to even look at it, but that she had snuck a stash for emergencies anyway. She figured this was as much of an emergency as any. She was ready! She smiled clenched both fists and threw one into the air.
Nothing happened.
“Hmm.. This calls for drastic measures.” said she. quickly she went to her door. It was locked and only her parents had the pass key.. but Lokina had a code breaker spirited away for just this sort of emergency. She hooked it up to the door panel, and in a few seconds a “Ding!” of approval rang out. The door slid open. Lokina was about to bound out when:
“LOKINA TREELINKA MONKUNE!” Came the shout. aaw thought Lokina “busted”
Vatree looked livid, an invisible self contained wind blowing her flowing garments like she was caught in a storm.
“Where do you think you are going little missy!?” she hissed.
Lokina spoke quick
“Look Vatree, I got this call from this planet, and I cant wait till I'm ungrounded I got to go now! They need me Vatree, and even if you tell my parents I won't stop trying to get there until I am and if you help me go now I won't have to burn anything to get there later! Lokina spoke so fast she was barely using sentences.
“Wait.. You got the call too?” said Vatree
“Uh.. yea! They must want you to come too! So lets both go!” said Lokina thinking
quickly
“But!” protested Vatree feebly
“Look.. I said I'm going and if you don't come now I just leave you here, and then how will you keep me from being killed?” said Lokina a bright gleam in her eye.
Sensing how hopeless it was.. And in truth really wanting to go, Vatree took the easy out.
“Okay.. Ill help you, but just because I don't want you getting hurt!” Lokina laughed
aloud and said
“Okay! I need you to take me to the lab, the experimental part!”
Vatree wondering already if she had done the right thing, nodded and grabbed Lokina hand. Concentrating she extended her powers and they both became invisible, and intangible.

Minutes later they both were in the lab.. and Vatree was exhausted barely able to move. Such use of her powers drained her... but there they were. Grinning Lokina whipped out her breaker and jacked in to the main computer... and one of the many security fields dropped. Lokina jumped up and snatched a small metal ring from the platform it had guarded
“jackpot!” she said and leapt over to Vatree. For the second time Vatree reconsidered.
“Are you sure you know how to use that.. what ever it is?” she said looking very nervous. Lokina was busy pressing buttons on the edge of the ring and hooking it up to her breaker.
“nope”said she. Before Vatree could respond Lokina had activated the ring, and created a swirling vortex, that sucked them both in.


“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIEEEEEEEEEE” Screeched Vatree as she clung
desperately to Lokina
“WEEEEEEEEEEHaaaaaaHAHAHAHAHA!”Screamed Lokina. Both landed together in
“Whump” in the middle of what looked to be meadow lined with trees.
“oooow.” groaned Vatree, as she got to her feet, dusting of her multi color robes, all aranged to look like the wings of a great bird, and then adjusting her head dress.
“Lokina are you okay?!” she said turning to face the princess.
“oooo lookie at all the birdies.” she said staring up at the sky.
“Oh my!” gasped Vatree, and she quickly pulled Lokina to her feet. “Where.. are we?” she said looking around.
“Well, I adjusted the ring to the coordinates of the last physonic energy trace sent out.. sooo we should be by who ever made that call.” Lokina grinned. In the distance she could see several figures. She shouted out a greeting
“HEY OVER HERE!”

LIthia looked up at Xanden. His sloppy attack was an obvious ruse to draw out her retaliatory attack so that he could go on the defensive and test her skills. She wouldn't play into his hand, not that easily. To avoid his blade she drew back her right arm and lifted her elbow to be level with her shoulder. Instead of striking with her weapon, as Xanden would no doubt expect, she lifted her left knee and bent her toes downward. This was a risky manuever in the amount of space that they had, but it was only a training session, so she had the chance to test out everyone before she dove into this quest. She rose onto the toes of her left foot and launched herself into the air. QUickly she struck her right leg down and kicked forward with her left. The imbalance created by the force of her right leg tilted her a bit, forcing her left kick to come at a strange angle toward Xanden's ribs.

"That's the flaw of polearm weapons. They leave your midsection open." She ignored his question and fired back a response about his glaive.

::Lithia surprised him with a kick aimed at his chest. But it didn't matter. He smiled and opened his wings. They drew him backward with splendid ease and he quickly unwound his wrists so that the shaft of his glaive spun, and the bottom of it came downward to Xanden's left to catch her right under the knee. Then he could simply scoop her kick right up and her leg would be his captive. It would be ridiculously hard for her to change her tactics in midair, unless she could fly like he could.::

Excellent creativity. ::She flashed her a sweet smile, not at all fitting a sparring match. His ears picked up a voice shouting from a little ways off.::

Marvelous! More hands to help me!

"oooh oooh i think they spotted us!" Cried lokina as she jumped up and down a few more times waving
"HELLLOOOO!" she screamed once more for emphasis.
"now we just have to figure out if they are dangerous" muttered Vatree. Although she doubted that would be the case. Still she began to prepare an air shield spell.
"Do you think we should go to them?" asked Lokina squinting at the figures in the distance." Vatree frowned "I don't know.." She said slowly.

He was thankful that he was given the chance to go first, some of his spells took time, time he often had to fight to gain. Nek'Rosh took some steps back, putting a few yards between himself and his opponent. He pulled his kris, concealed under his cloak, out of his belt and made a long cut in the center of his hand. Unhumanly red blood poured from his ivory skin onto the metal of the blade. When the blood slid further down the blade the hilt of the dagger seemed to glow slightly, and as the blood dripped towards the ground it darkened to a deep black.

Where the blood touched, the grass around it instantly withered and died. The dark blood penitrated the soil and sunk down, killing whatever it encountered, no matter how small. The blood fed off of the death it caused, and after just over seven seconds a ball of the black fluid about the size of a basketball levitated above Nek'Rosh's open palm. He did a backhand slap to the ball with his other hand and and tiny droplets of the fluid began racing towards Jameson. As the liquid raced towards him in thick dropets Nek'Rosh moved swiftly in their wake. After holstering his kris he charged at Jameson behind the rain and swung the top of the staff in a downward arc towards Jameson's shoulder.

Without the slightest change in demeanor, Jameson narrowed his eyes and smiled good-naturedly, quite enjoying the idea of competition, even as the ball of outright death (which, to his empathic senses, felt like a black hole that threatened to consume his mind) formed before his eyes. As Nek'Rosh's hand went back, he pulled the large, ethereal tuning fork lightning-fast from his lab coat pocket, and began twirling it in his hand, the embedded crystal formations in his wrists flaring and glittering with the apparent excision of will.
Jameson wasn't going to hold back, even in the spirit of competition, and beads of sweat formed on his brow, the blood rushing through his veins much quicker, as visible from the reddening shade of his skin. The tuning fork was emitting a low-pitched hum, now moving so rapidly under the gems' influence of will. He wasn't sure why they were in his wrists, but he knew, again inexplicably, what they were for. The horizontal downpour, like a hail of gunfire, shot at him, and...
"This is an interesting ability, friend! That stuff seems to be made of the inherent spent energy of death," he said with a hint of surprise in his voice as the rain began to slow down. The air around them began visibly rippling, and vibrating. He saw a glimpse of the Necrosis-wielding man behind them, changing his weapon from the dagger he'd just used to incantate the death rain to a large staff.
He held up his other hand, and the death rain slowed even more for just a moment, before Jameson, sensing more resistance than previously expected, sprung to the side, moving inconveniently (for him) in range of Nek'Rosh, who brought the staff up as the death bullets flew past, now at full speed again. He whistled appreciatively as the decay sailed past him.
"For some reason, it seems extremely difficult for me to even alter the vibrations of the air around them, much less refocus--" He stopped spinning the tuning fork abruptly as the staff began dropping, moving so that the tuning fork was splayed on edge to meet the staff for a clean block as it rushed towards him.