Zorlon - Levdia

[Switch]

"You clearly haven't ever been to Dayone. I was the one wrongfully imprisoned, but I prefer not to talk about it..."

 

Ford looks around awkwardly at the bizarre structure before them.

[Kethruch]

Siffli laughs out loud. "HUMAN???" she shrieks at the guardian, trying to draw attention to herself to show the idiocy of narrow thinking by the guardian. Then she settles herself. "Why would you make a statement like that? The prophecy states simply that a series of conditions must be met. I feel these 'children' as you call them fulfill the conditions of the prophecy. Ford has already shown which he fulfills. The others can do the same if they wish."

 

She calms herself some more. "If they are not the ones, they will fail and die. What is it to you? If you ask me, the upside is an awfully lot higher than teh downside here as far as everything is concerned. Let them pass."

[Malchik]

Strigid eyes Siffli coolly. "I have no interest in these pathetic creatures but I am not so callous as to send them into Xetcherin if they have no hope. You must needs go with them Siffli and if they die so will you. Think on that. Now. We require a warrior." He nods at Lisette, to Ford he adds. "You were wrongly imprisoned. That is two of the four requirements." He glances at Lurel and Midge. "Can one of you open the earth from below ground, does one of you have a perfect memory?"

[ShinJiOh]

Midge after being silent for so long replies with

 

"Yes, i suppose, we posess such skills, whether or not we will need to put them to use is our own buisness, you have already stated that you care little for us... you care only that we had better fulfill your "requirements" or else we will not survive."

[ThetaOrionis01]

Lurel looks at Strigid.

 

"I do have the skill to open up the earth," he says softly, and hopes that his earth magic works in this place.

 

Having failed to contact the earth elementals in this dimension so far, his hope rests with the prophecy - everything in it points towards them. He is not afraid of the challenge, certain that they are destined to meet it.

 

But he is not happy to hear that the Swan Princess is to accompany them. She is an unknown, someone he cannot yet trust.

[Malchik]

For the first time Strigid appears uncertain. "If this is true..." He peers at Midge. "I take it that your gnomic utterance means you have the kind of memory needed. This is very odd indeed but I must accept your word. If you lie you are facing certain death so none but fools would lie. You do not look like fools."

 

He glares at Siffli. "If you have the key, come with me. I will explain what little I know of Xetcherin to the others. If not, please return to your father and fetch it. You will not be missing more than you already know. Now follow me."

 

OOC> Siffli, it matters not whether you have the key or not, you will be back by the time they are ready to leave.

 

Strigid takes you inside the strange dwelling. Inside is one chamber filled with swirling balls of light. Stairs lead around the walls to a walk way above them. As you look down you notice that the balls are of four colours.

 

"This is Avelyssia. The pale green spheres are the colonies, those of dark red the Cathedrals and those of yellow the necropoleis. Xetcherin, however is the black sphere."

 

It is in the exact centre of the swirling lights.

 

Strigid touches a lever and the black sphere, hugely magnified replaces the swirling mass of light. Only three areas on the sphere are visible, the rest is black.

 

"This is what I and the ruler, and for reasons of expediency owing to the ruler's indisposition Princess Siffli also, know of Xetcherin. It was constructed long before any here was alive. This small white area is the landing stage for the balloon, my office and dwelling. On the other opposite side, the large area with the apparent boxes is the cemetery. This model is used to plan interments."

 

He points to an area close to his dwelling that comprises two small white peaks and a narrow black ribbon against a slightly broader, pale brown background.

 

"You start beside the guardians. I will deactivate them. The journey begins by boat along the river of night. Before the falls of eternal damnation you will have to take to the land. Were this to be an authorised interment, the path would appear to you. As it is, you will need to find your way. I cannot tell you what you will find."

 

He looks at you carefully.

 

"Mara's tomb is 6738. Is there anything else you would know before I set you off on this perilous mission?"

[ThetaOrionis01]

"Well....yes," Lurel says. "We have been brought here, because our aid is required. Or so we are told. Yet we have not been told what actually happened here that you should need us. Who is this Mara you mentioned?"

 

He pause briefly.

 

"And I would know what dangers we can expect. You mentioned guardians. What other creatures might we encounter - wild animals? The undead?"

 

He takes a deep breath, and hesitates for a few long seconds before he asks the last question.

 

"A name came to me in a dream. I do not believe that it was coincidence, as little as I do believe that our being here is coincidence. So the answer might be important - perhaps more important than anything else you would tell us. Who is the Keeper?"

 

He tenses, as he waits for the reply. Will Strigid react in a hostile fashion, too?

[Malchik]

Strigid looks at Lurel emotionlessly. "I believe the Princess can enlighten you on the question of Mara. She may feel that her father's behaviour shows him in an unflattering light but none would blame him. Ask her to tell you the story."

 

He moves towards the black sphere.

 

"Young people come here because they think it is clever. They get lost and go slowly insane. Something in the atmosphere keeps them alive but they ache with fear, hunger, thirst - many things. They will attack you because they do not know what they are doing. As to what else moves and lives within Xetcherin, I do not know. I have never been to look. I do not believe it to be lifeless."

 

He turns away. "I do not think you will face the undead in the sacred area but - on the way there - who knows?"

 

There is a long silence. "I cannot see why the Keeper should concern you. If he is part of the puzzle then I pity you. Should Princess Siffli choose to enlighten you that is her affair."

 

After another long silence, he adds: "When you are ready walk through the door at the far end of this room, opposite the way you came in. I will answer any other questions you may have, if I know the answers and feel the Princess Siffli may not. Otherwise I wish you luck."

 

The door is some way off, small, circular and black.

[Switch]

Ford shivers slightly.

 

"This place is too spooky... I just hope we don't have to face more undead creatures like that one back at the farm..."

[ThetaOrionis01]

Lurel grimaces. "I hope not," he says with an involuntary shiver.

 

Then he turns back to Strigid.

 

"There are some things I'd like to know, yes. You said the princess didn't know about the way this place works. Is there anything you can tell us about it? And you both mentioned a prophecy - would you tell us more about it? When was this prophecy made, and by whom?"

 

He pauses, briefly, before he continues.

 

"Is there anything else you would tell us which might aid us within?"