All seemed calm and rather ordinary, but little did the people of Galiph know that a struggle unlike any other was forthcoming. A bridge between two worlds was about to be breached and, if not stopped, would likely lead to the destruction of their beloved planet.

What might have seemed like a typical day to some, actually began the first chapter to their story. Five individuals, unknown to them, were engraved with the mark of Etos, the Guardian of Time. While going about their daily lives, they discover the mark and begin to question everything. Upon touching it, their minds meld with Etos who shows them what lies in their wake -- demonic-like creatures crossing the bridge and wreaking utter havoc on the planet. While locked in this vision with Etos, each of the five chosen ones is given an image of an item they must collect, a piece of an artifact to be exact. Furthermore, Etos shows each of the five a quick vision of a location they must find. The words "Let your powers protect you and your heart guide you" end the connection.

With this burden entrusted to them, our five heroes need to figure out just how to save the world. Only, there's one problem. None of them know one another and there's a pretty big indicator that they're not even from the same region or kingdom.

Understanding the Game

About the Mark of Etos:
The mark of Etos grants each person a specific power in which they use to find each of the five hidden artifacts of legend. Each Etos mark is key to the mission's success as the items are guarded in illusion and mystery. But before one can unearth the artifact fragment, the bearers of the mark must first team up and find one another via visions granted to them by Etos. Only when all five are together can the artifact finder locate the item. Apart, nothing happens and no items can be found. When an artifact is found, each of the five need to harness their energy to break through the barrier protecting the item. Then, that item would present itself to it's "keeper" who will guard it for the rest of the journey.


Abilities & Such:
Each character starts with their own base abilities. The mark of Etos gives those abilities enhancements, such as allowing enhanced senses or the ability to push their powers to the next level. Etos' mark also has some additional perks, too. The mark of Etos also allows bearer to "see" their item and "find" the others. The mark can also alert each of them in a unique way too:

> Rylaf can see glimpses of the future (D1)
> Maegen can speak to and hear Etos (D2)
> Briar can see through illusions (D3)
> Kareem can see the progress of the enemy realm as they try to cross the bridge (D4)
> Dax can locate allies when they are split up from one another (D5)

Regarding the Realms:
The planet, Galiph, is a melting pot of all the neighboring worlds. Meaning, a lot of difference races come to live here because this world is so accepting and, to sweeten the deal, it is thriving.

The reason the bridge to the other world isn't welcomed is because it's more like a spirit world, or something to that affect. It's one of those realms that would suck the life-force from the host planet, destroying all species living on it. Hence the need to stop the connection. Should the bridge be built and the connection made, Galiph will lose its luster and become a planet of darkness and chaos, slowly rotting over time until it becomes nothing. It is up for the Heroes of Etos to stop this from happening and save all from the brink of destruction.

Meet the Cast

Originally Posted by SuperZombiePotatoe

Name: Briar Elderidge
Nickname: Bri
Age: 20
Gender: Female
Marital Status: Single
Region of Origin:The Forest Realm of Baelin
Race: Human
Class: Sword and Bow Ranger

Appearance: Briar is lightweight and of an average height. She has wavy blonde hair, bright blue eyes and pixie-like features. Many people say that Briar has a mischievous look on her face. She is hadly ever seen without her red hooded-coat, which is her good luck charm. She has never been seen wearing a dress as she finds them impractical for her line of work.



Abilities: Keen eyesight and hearing makes Briar an excellent marksman. She is able to travel lightly and silently. Her agility and good balance enables her to climb and run across narrow paths ( such as tree branches ).
Weakness: Claustrophobic (not found of small spaces and confinement), not very strong
Mark Ability: Can see through illusions (D3)
Location of Mark: Left forearm

Bio: Baelin, which lies to the east of Galiph, is a realm which comprises mainly of forest. Many of the plants and animals that have made Baelin their home are not found any where else on the planet. The inhabitants have, thus, a great sense of patriotism for their realm and great respect for nature. During spring, people from the neighbouring realms visit Baelin to witness the "Eruption of Colour." This made possible due to the welcoming nature of the people. Homes are built in the branches of trees, some of which are so high that you cannot see the top. All trade work is done at ground level.

It consists of many provinces and communities, each of which have their own trade. Briar Elderidge was born to a community that specialised in wood, everything from cutting to carving. Men and woman are allowed to take up a trade, but men are also given the option of becoming hunters. They would, according to their customs, provide food, clothing and protection from dangerous beasts that lurked in the forest. Women did not hunt.

Briar had a fairly normal childhood. Her father worked as a wood carver while her mother chose not to work in order to take care of her two children i.e. Briar and her older brother, Alder. While Alder wished to follow in his fathers footsteps, Briar, always the strange one, had her eyes set on another occupation. Everyday, she would follow the hunters out on their expeditions. She had to be quiet, perching on tree branches at times, so that they would not find her. Fascinated with the daring feats of the the hunters, she aspired to be one, despite the traditions of the community.

She made her wishes known to her family from a young age and although her mother was not happy, her father encouraged her. On her 13th birthday, he presented Briar with a bow he had carved for and told her that the elders would only accept her if she was excellent. So she practiced everyday until she was 16, the age at which hopeful hunters would prove themselves in front of the elders. They were very against letting Briar participate, but when she stated the fact there was no written law stopping her, they had no choice but to allow her... on a condition. She had to hit a moving target at 200m away, never before accomplished. If she failed, she would not be allowed a trade as an example to others. Effortlessly and without fear, Briar loosed her arrow... which landed on a tree. She was heartbroken, until Alder suggested examining the target, which he noticed had shook. The arrow had passed through the side of the target so technically she had hit it. An example was made. Briar then became the first woman to ever be a hunter, but some people still see it as a disgrace.

Personality: Briar is a whimsical free spirit. She enjoys being mischievous, but this often leads people to think that she likes trouble. Only the people close to her know that she merely has a sharp tongue and loves to laugh. Opinionated, witty and stubborn, Briar doesn't shy away from stating her views. As an ally, she very loyal and protective of those she holds dear.

Additional Information: Briar works best with a bow, but is also good with a sword. She has never left the forest. She has a respect for animals and will not kill one unless for a good reason. The same goes for plants. Having lived in the forest her entire life, she has a fairly good knowledge of plants but her specialty lies in trees, everything from identifying them to climbing them.

Originally Posted by Pink Roses

]Name: Maegan
Nickname: N/A
Gender: female
Age: 40 human years; looks 16-20
Marital Status: single
Region of Origin: The remote town of Bonnathas in the northern region
Race:unknown; she is more than human but little else is known aside from her being the only of her kind to be born
Class: rogue
Appearance: Snow white hair with silver highlights, pale white skin, blood colored eyes, tall and slender.

Abilities: Her gaze can petrify living things. She also produces venom in her saliva. She has the ability to street fight, or knife fight competently but has no formal training in combat.
Weakness: She must be blindfolded at all times to avoid turning someone to stone; she has adapted to functioning this way but it is still a disadvantage in some situations. She is unsure in social situations, she is not physically very strong
Mark Ability: Can speak to and hear Etos (D2)
Location of Mark: The palm of her right hand
History:
Maegan hails from the distant northern town of Bonnathas, where visitors are few and no one leaves their homes unless they are banished. There they revere the Basilisk god Cherinoth, who is said to protect and bless the town. She was born to one of the virgin priestesses of Cherinoth on the eve of the holy day. It was immediately apparent from the child's milky skin and red eyes that she was special. As the child grew, so did her powers. It was discovered that making eye contact with the girl resulted in petrification after she came to the High Priest one day in tears about her mother; it was determined that nothing could be done except to preserve the statue that her mother had become.

At first she was raised with other children by the priestesses, but just months after losing her mother another unfortunate incident occurred. A young boy had spat upon the pale girl and being a young child, she retaliated by spitting in his face. Again, the High Priest was brought to resolve the issue. This time he was aghast at what he saw. The boy's face was badly burned as if he had been exposed to something acidic. When the girl explained what had happened, the High Priest declared her powers to be too strong for children her age to be exposed to, and the pale girl was sent to live among the priestesses as if she were an adult.

This is how she grew up over the next decade. There was one last surprise in store for the elderly High Priest. It was determined by the town's chief doctor that the girl had either ceased aging altogether or was doing so at a fraction of the rate her human counterparts did.

Personality:Quick to smile and quicker with a helping hand, she's known among the priestesses for her compassion and gentle nature. In private she designs floral arrangements and works in the temple's storerooms to make salves and ointments.

Additional Information:After she was removed from the village, one priestess in particular would take pity on her and allow Maegan to travel to the market with her in the next town over. There, in a desperate bid to ease her loneliness, Maegan befriended street urchins with whom she traded food for lessons in thievery and related skills, including hand-to-hand combat, street fighting, and knife fighting.

Additionally, she can use her knowledge of ointments and salves to craft simple poisons, one of which she uses her own venom to make. Therefore, she can make potions to make someone sleep, to make them mildly to severely ill, and one that will kill if the person isn't seen by healer. She has never tested the lethal poison.

Lastly, Maegan likes to dance and has incorporated dance moves into some of her fighting style.

Originally Posted by Xavirne

Name: Daxton Eilert Kendrick
Nickname: Dax
Gender: Male
Age: Twenty-eight
Marital Status: Single
Region of Origin: The Rocky Cove of Kantill in the Southern Hemisphere
Race: Elemental Avatar
Class: Tank
Appearance: Dax is a ripped twenty-eight year old man with fierce yellow eyes and luscious brown hair. He loves the colors yellow and black and often wears them as they "add a classy sense of flamboyance to life," or at least that's what he likes to tell everyone. His pecks are often exposed (he can't help but show off) and he as a deep obsession with his hooded scarf-vest. Cargo pants and gloves finish off his look, as does his dragon fang bracelet. Overall, Dax tries to pull of that sexy badass look and, stepping back and admiring, I think he did a swell job. Am I right?
Abilities: Being of the elemental race, Dax has the ability to use wield an element, only he's pretty special since he managed to master all four -- fire, water, air, and earth. As rare as this might sound, it's not too uncommon. Those who are well-versed and gifted can sometimes master more elements. Granted, the last one prior to Dax died about 70 years ago. It's a dwindling talent, but it does exist. Needless to day, Dax has a deep affinity toward fire as it's flashy and hot (like him) but he also enjoys using earth as it's got great strength and defense (again, like him). Dax isn't overly fond of water as it's too "wishy-washy" and he doesn't understand the logic behind air bending. When push comes to shove, you'll probably see these but don't count on it. Licking flames and sparks is more his thing (he's been experimenting with compressing his flames into bolts of lightning).
Weakness: Dax cannot use all four elements at the same time, which can make things difficult. He often uses earth to shield, fire to fight, water to heal, and wind to retreat. Just imagine what would happen if he needed to shield, attack, and retreat! He would have to pick one over the others and hope that element was the right choice. Another weakness would be his character. He's hot-headed and not the brightest man you'll ever meet. He's very full of himself and has a hard time understanding that he needs to rely on his allies if he wants to help save the world. Oh, and don't expose your boobs, ladies. He's one of those guys that will get insta-stupid the second jugs get introduced to the scene. Hot blondes are his favorite but he'll take curvy brunettes too.
Mark Ability: Can locate allies when they are split up from one another (D5)
Location of Mark: It likes to play peek-a-boo from under his underwear from time to time. It's located just to the inside of his right hip.
History:

Growing up in Kantill has its perks. The first being that it is surrounded by all four elements. Kantill is on a mountainside that overlooks the ocean. The nation even has their own island known as Fyrescone, which has an active volcano that erupts every decade. From the Sky Templates, located at the top of the mountain, you can see the island and people flock here to see the fireworks that the volcano spits out. At the base of the mountain is a tropical paradise with vivid neon colors and white sand. The ocean view is always smashing too, as the waters colors range from green to blue to teal to near-purple. It really is a lovely place. It's a most-visit tourist location due to the beaches.

Being an elemental, Kantill was perfect for learning how to master the art of controlling Mother Nature's beauty. For centuries people watching the dance of the moon and the water, the clouds and wind, the forest and life, and fire and beauty. Ancient scrolls record the dances and motions that help these benders fully understand their powers. The nation is also deeply embedded in spiritual worship and harmony, never wanting to upset the balance of life. Because of this, most everyone in the kingdom has an animal friend that they are assigned when born. The great monks of the Sky Temples decent to present the spirit guardian from the heavens.

The day Dax was born was the mark of a new era. You see, when he was born the heavens said his spiritual guardian was a dragon. Not being able to produce a dragon to present the baby, the monks were tasked with giving the newborn a dragon fang bracelet. The monks said that if he could find his own dragon, he could tame it with the tooth.

Blessed to have been given such a rare spirit guardian, Dax's father set off to locate dragons. He was a biologist by nature so it was right up his alley. Sadly, the day he left was the last anyone ever saw of him. Dax's mother used to tell stories about how he, Biltherd, found the dragons and couldn't leave because he was mesmerized by their sheer beauty. Still, it was rough growing up without a father. Dax's mother, Leisa, did the best she could but eventually opted for enrolling him in a fighting school.

As expected, Dax excelled in fighting. He had the strength of a dragon spirit to back him so he was destined for greatness. As he grew, so did his muscles and his handle on his elements. At first, all just assumed he could only bend fire but then, one day, he parted the water to save a drowning kid. At the moment, Dax's life was turned around again. He was immediately sent to study with the monks to learn all about the past elemental avatars. He continued working on his strength and skill, but he was to learn about the gods too, specially Etos. In Kantill legend, Etos was a dragon that could wield all the elements. He eventually rid himself of his powers, giving them to four other dragons as he wanted to be the bringer of hope, light, and life. Etos committed himself to the planet and swore to sustain life. The other four dragons were also guardians of the planet, tasked with supplying colors, nature, air, and fluidity.

By the time Dax was twenty-one, we was set free to do as he pleased. And Dax wanted nothing more than to please himself. For years he was told he couldn't want anything. Now that he was free from his training, he could do what he wanted. He sailed, he traveled, he fell in love, and he lived his life to the fullest. Driven by adventure and the exciting unknown, Dax sought out more in life and when the Mark of Etos appeared on him, he knew he was to begin the quest of a lifetime.

Personality: Adventuresome, eager, and ever wanting to push himself to his limits. Dax loves to flex his muscles and has never had an issue showing off. He's flamboyant and haughty, also a bit of a flirt. Charming is another word that comes to mind when describing the man. Dax is also irrational, hot-head, and stupid. Ah yes, got to love reckless men!
Additional Information: Dax has had a total of twenty-three girlfriends and one drunken make-out session with a cross-dressing man. He is currently single and enjoys that life as he can freely bounce around and "get some" without having to worry about tears or guilt (wait, what's guilt?).

Originally Posted by Dustywebs

Name: Rylaf Nibeorn
Nickname: unsure (maybe Ry?)
Gender: Male
Age: 38
Marital Status: Single (Monk’s oath)
Region of Origin: Countryside of Veils
Race: Human
Class: Monk
Appearance: Time has been good to Rylaf he does not look or feel as old as he is. He had numerous scars over his body from the trials and battles he has been a part of. He is a bald 5’9” tall male with a toned disciplined body.





(two images, couldn't find a "perfect" one)

Abilities: Rylaf at his monastery was taught about of all living things of this world, plants and animals. From this knowledge, he has the ability to spot weaknesses on any adversary. This allows him to leave devastating blows which will disable parts of the enemy. (I.E pressure point in left shoulder can’t use left arm anymore). Being a monk requires discipline and rigorous training. He is required to wear wrist and ankle weights at all times, unless it is a dire situation. From his training he has developed almost lightning speed. However, upon releasing the weights, it is rumored that he can strike without you even seeing his body move. Even with his weights on, he is still faster than the average human.

Weakness: No long ranged abilities; must be up close and personal. Due to monk’s oath, he is unable to kill anyone. Wears only cloth armor, uses no weapons.

Mark Ability: Can see the progress of the enemy realm as they try to cross the bridge (D4)

Location of Mark: Back of the neck

History: Rylaf grew up on a small farm at the edge Baelin. His family was very poor, and took almost everything they had just to survive. At the young age of 12 he left his family and joined the monk’s monastery on top of Mount Breeze. He felt his life had more meaning than being a simple farmer. The next 6 years of his life were spent studying; the monks trained his mind to be sharp and open. Upon maturity, he was finally able to take the monk’s oath and begin combat training. He quickly became the top student by outwitting his fellow classmates. At the age of 25, he had learned all he could from the monks. He got their blessing and started to travel all of Galiph. His road was not always the easiest, and was sometimes forced to be in battles he had no interest in joining. He dreams of starting his own monastery someday, but for now, Etos has another path for him.

Bio:
Personality: Rylaf is a very humble and soft spoken. He never speaks ill about anyone. He is aware of his power and intelligence, but is not even the slightest bit arrogant. If someone is interested, he is always willing to share his knowledge and experience. He would like to resolve conflicts without violence, and will not strike first.

Additional Information: My kind of thought process is so far is that most people seem young, adventurous. So my character is kind of like the experienced, wiser, character in our group. Can make battle strategies, etc. Counter balances the younger, reckless members of the group

Originally Posted by ClockworkLupine

Name: Kareem Babir Ajram
Nickname(s): Wanderer, White Tiger of the Sands
Gender: Male
Age: 27
Marital Status: Single
Region of Origin: Jinan, a subtropical region to the southwest.
Race: Shapeshifter
Class: None, however he isn't afraid to fight and is very knowledgeable when it comes to navigation and maps.
Appearance:

Kareem is a lean but powerful individual with snow white hair and kindly orange eyes. He's never been properly measured, however by his guesstimate he stands a hair shy of six feet tall. In the instances where he smiles, Kareem reveals sharp elongated canine teeth. When travelling through the Red Desert in southern Jinan, Kareem usually dons his tan hooded robe edged with green silk and long white scarf to keep the sand out of his face. Underneath he wears a simple white tunic without sleeves. Kareem always wears one gold chain link earring in his right ear and its matching choker. They were special gifts from his grandmother upon coming of age.
Abilities/Weaknesses:
He’s capable of changing into two forms related to his Shifting Animal, the White Tiger. One is a bipedal tiger man which he uses mostly to travel the deserts. Kareem refuses to use it for combat as it drives him into feral madness until someone or something has died by his paws/hands. The other form is that of a regular tiger. If he remains in this form too long (about a week) he slowly but surely will turn into an actual tiger incapable of returning to his true Humanoid form. This process is almost impossible to reverse. He's very good with a blade but doesn't let it get to his head.
Mark Ability: Can see glimpses of the future (D1)
Location of Mark: Right Pectoral
Personality:
Kareem is a very kind and sweet young man. He’s not softspoken but rather only speaks when he feels the need or to help someone out. He tends to isolate himself, traveling weeks ahead of most nomads. For all his kindness he can seem distant. On occasion he’s been known to be aggressive when people insist on poking into his past. Kareem isn’t afraid of combat and will tear up enemies tooth and claw when it’s all said and done. He is a devout believer in the gods but guilt over what he’s done chews him up, making him nervous around clergy and those with equally intense faith.
Bio:
Kareem was born into a nomadic clan of Mirajid who specialized in trade and cartography (map making). He was especially close to his grandmother who often took care of him and taught him the family craft. Under her tutelage he became a skilled cartographer and navigator. One night his family was confronted by robbers regardless of their animalistic travelling forms. This would be the first and last time Kareem used his for combat. He drew his sword and dove in the fray, defending his loved ones. After that it was a blur of red. He awoke the next morning covered in blood and surrounded by not only the robbers corpses but the bodies of his family. He'd killed everyone. Unable to bear it he condemned himself to a loner's life. That way he wouldn't hurt anyone who could become dear to him again.
Additional Information:
'Shapeshifter' is the common name for that race but each region has a different name for them. In Kareem's region they're called 'Mirajid' which loosely translates to "People of the Mirage", referring to their ability to change appearance quickly. So sometimes he’ll refer to himself with that term instead. As far as the picture used for Kareem’s tiger anthro form, just imagine that with the travelling attire described above and his jewelry…It’s the closest I could get to what hit my imagination.

Odds and Ends

Post Order and Characters:
> Dustywebs: Rylaf the human Monk
> Pink Roses: Maegan the Rogue snake-lady
> SuperZombiePotatoe: Briar the human Hunter/Archer
> ClockworkLupine: Kareem the shapeshifting Traveler
> Xavirne: Daxton the elemental Tank


Link Locations:
> OOC
> Recruiting

Reserved I

Reserved II

Rylaf sat on the edge of his bed. He didn't get much sleep last night. He had been having nightmares recently. This time he was at this older couple’s estate. They had let him stay in their guest house while he tutored their children for the summer. He always liked teaching the younger generation, and this was a nice way to earn some extra money for his journey. No matter how fast he would run towards the screams, he was always too late. No one deserves the fate this family got... Thief’s had broken in during the night, stolen their money and slain everyone, even the children. Rylaf learned quickly that the world was cruel. Tragedies happen, even to the nicest of families.

He shook his head and stood up. He went to the wash basin and washed his face. Rubbed his bald head and then threw some clothes on. Today wasn't a very exciting day for him, and he liked it that way. He needed to get some new clothes; his were falling apart from the traveling.

He walked out the door of the inn and stood a few steps from the entrance. The sun beamed down into his face as he watched the people continue about their daily lives. He particularly liked the town of Greyview, everyone was so nice here and there was a great bakery around the corner. He only traveled here a few times with his father growing up. During childhood he lived in-between the forest of Baelin, and these two towns. The other town was easier to travel for the horses, so he never came to Greyview much. Rylaf walked down the dirt road towards “Vallea’s Bakery.” He purchased some bread to eat and sat down at one of the empty tables.

He let his mind wander. He thought back to his days at the monastery. It was the week after his 18th birthday and he had final taken the monk’s oath. This day was sparring day, and he had been paired up with one of the older students in the class. He tried to rush at his opponent and paid for it. He landed hard on the wooden floor in the training hall. He got up slowly and tried to envision the lessons of his teacher: “Fight Smart, not hard.” He walked slowly towards his opponent, carefully watching his limbs for an attack. Once he saw the twitch in his arm he ducked and punched him hard the ribs. Rylaf then pivoted around and swept the older student’s feet to let gravity bring him down. He let his guard down for a second to boast and he paid for dearly. Out of nowhere he got hit in the face and fell to the ground. “NEVER let your guard down Rylaf, never...”

He finished his breakfast and headed outside. He took the rest of the day to shop for his new clothes and chat with the locals. He headed to the inn for some dinner, it was never really good here, but it was cheap and convenient. He sat in the corner where it was dark and he was alone. He quietly ate his supper and listen to the exaggerated stories of the drunkards. He got up and headed to his room. Hopefully he would be able to get some rest, but he had his doubts.

Rylaf jerked out from his sleep. He felt an eerie sensation from the back of his neck. He reached up with his callused hands to massage his neck. Upon contact, his mind left this world. He was in the middle of town, fire all around him. Dark creatures were everywhere, murdering people and setting fires to buildings. The dark purple sky was swirling around a gigantic portal off in the distance. The world shifted around him. He was now in front of a golden pedestal, a peculiar item laid upon it. Behind him were four unusual characters he had never seen before. The item started to glow and rise from the pedestal into Rylafs hands. Everything started to fade away when someone spoke. “Let your powers protect you and your heart guide you.” Upon reentering this world, Rylaf feel backwards into his pillows and drifted back to sleep.

Rylaf got up out of his bed, just like he did every morning. He walked over to his wash basin, with a small mirror that hung above it. He splashed water onto his face. Then he just stared at himself in the mirror. “It was just a dream…” he said to himself. He began to rub his head and convince himself that it was truly just a dream. His hand touched the back of his neck. There it was again, he wasn't in his room anymore, he was above this…. dark area with huge creatures he never seen before. They were the same ones from his ‘nightmare’ he just had. He removed his hand and the vision faded out. He knew what he had to do, but how was he going to find a Shape shifter, an elemental, blind priestess, and a forest ranger.

Maegan sat up in her bed, groggy from sleep. She was contemplating what might have woken her when a loud rapping on her door broke the silence. It sounded like wood on wood, which could only mean that the priestess Ingrid was using her walking stick. Upon this realization, Maegan jumped into action.

“Just a moment,” she called slipping out of her nightgown. Lightning quick she donned her dark purple dress and black half jacket over it. She hurriedly made the bed, lest the elder priestess give her a lecture on the virtues of cleanliness. Her stockings were on and she'd just found her second boot when the rapping came again, more insistent this time. She'd managed to stuff her feet into the boots and hastily tie her blindfold before opening the door.

“Good morning, Ingrid,” she said cheerfully. For a moment there was silence, and then Maegan felt the light touch of the walking stick as the priestess pushed her aside. She heard a loud sniff as Ingrid entered the room. It was followed by more silence. She heard the shuffling of the priestess's soft shoes on the stone floor as she moved about the room, and finally the elder woman spoke.
“Impressive, Maegan,” she began, “you made your bed neatly this time, however,” she paused. She felt a tap against her left leg from the walking stick. “You left your boot untied in your haste,” Ingrid said. Maegan could hear the faint smile in her voice; the elder priestess was teasing her. She bent down and retied both of her boots. She straightened and waited for Ingrid to give her a once over.
“Very good,” she said at last. She gently gripped Maegan's elbow and guided her out of the room closing the door behind them. Little did the pale woman know that this would be the last time she would accompany her only companion of forty years to the market in the next town.


That night Maegan slept fitfully, tossing and turning and unable to reach the deep sleep of rest. When she was finally exhausted, she feel into a deep slumber. In it she began to dream. Her dreams quickly gave way to nightmarish visions of ghastly creatures committing unspeakable acts in the middle of her home. There was fire and smoke everywhere, screams echoed into the night. Only it wasn't nighttime, she realized, but the sky had been darkened by some kind of swirling purplish portal. Maegan felt helpless, and angry that she seemed to be outside of the chaos unable to change it.
Then the visions blurred and changed. She was suddenly surrounded by people she had never seen before, yet she seemed to know them. In front of her was a strange object, unlike anything she'd seen. It sat upon a pedestal until she approached it, which caused it to glow and rise from its resting place. It touched softly on her hands and suddenly Maegan heard a voice that said, “Let your powers protect you and your heart guide you,”. As quickly as they'd appeared, the visions vanished.

Maegan woke with a start. Sunlight shone into her window like it did every morning. She rose and dressed. She made her bed and tidied her room just as she would have any other morning. She walked over to her vanity and looked at herself carefully in the mirror(for once not focusing on being able to look into her eyes when no one else could). She looked like the same woman she was yesterday.

She squeezed her hands into fists, trying to shake the uneasy feeling, and she was once again surrounded by the darkened chaos. What is this, she though fearfully. Much to her surprise, a familiar voice answered, It is what will come unless you succeed in your quest. Maegan looked down at her hands to see that they were shaking.

Upon turning them over, she discovered a most peculiar mark upon her right palm. In her mind, that was the final nudge. Something was happening, she was sure of it. She was going to have to leave her beloved Bonnathas and seek the strangers from her vision. She tied her blindfold and grabbed her own walking stick and headed for the market; she was going to need supplies.

It had taken until dusk, but Maegan had managed to buy a small covered wagon, a horse to pull it, and enough supplies to get her to the next city. When she'd gone to the High Priest and explained her visions, the elderly man had given her the money he'd been saving for such a day. Several of the priestesses had made small donations to her as well, wishing her well in her travels. Truthfully, Maegan knew that many would be glad to see her go because they feared her, though she didn't hold it against them.

The next morning, Maegan made her bed as usual. She dressed as swiftly as she always did. Her room was tidy. She sat on her bed and waited for Ingrid to rap on the door. Soon enough, there came the knocking of wood on wood that had become a welcome sound. Today, Maegan was not excited to hear it. She tied her blindfold and opened the door.
“Good morning, Ingrid,” she said with only a halfhearted smile. She was surprised to be suddenly embraced. She returned the hug and inhaled sharply as she tried not to cry. She hadn't cried since the unfortunate incidents of her childhood. They released each other.
“Remember you'll always have a home here,” Ingrid said quietly. Maegan nodded, unable to speak around the tightness of her throat just then. She grabbed her walking stick and left the room, trusting Ingrid to lock up. She headed for the stables and immediately hitched her seal brown horse to her new wagon.
As the sun reached the highest point in the sky, Maegan was riding down the slope toward the next nearest city. With any luck, she would be there by the next day.

The young woman stood on one of the lower branches of an ecor tree. She was picking nuts from the branches close to her. Ecor nuts were slightly sweet and were seen as somewhat of a delicacy to certain people. One by one, she placed them into the bag she had slung over her shoulder. Now and again she'd shell one and pop it into her mouth. A few feet away from the tree, chopping noises could be heard. Thinking that she had picked more than enough, the woman walked forward on the branch, in order to get a clearer view. A tall young man, ax in hand, was working on gathering up the wood he had felled from the tree next to him. That familiar mischievous look came onto the woman's face. She crouched down and picked two nuts from her bag. She closed one eye, took careful aim and sent the first nut flying. It landed on the man's back and he stopped for a while, but then shook his head and continued with what he was doing. The woman stifled a giggle, pushed her light blonde her out of her eyes and took aim again. This time, the nut landed on the man's head. Having had enough, he stood up and said," Briar, not nice! You promised that you wouldn't annoy me this time."

Briar laughed out loud and stood up. " I left you alone for the whole hour, Alder," she called down to her brother," I just thought you might want a snack."
Alder slid his ax into the belt at his waist and called back mockingly," Oh, and you decided to throw a nut at my head. How kind of you."
" I miscalculated the throw-"
" You never miscalculate a throw."
This had both of them laughing. Briar was well known for her antics and Alder, older than her by two years, was used to them by now. Most people in the village saw her mischief as strange and ridiculous, even her own mother thought that she needed to be more serious about things. Briar thought that all of stemmed from the events of the graduation four years ago, but she had always been different. It was only her father and Alder who understood her truly. They were the only ones who, when she teased, teased in return.

Alder hauled the wood into the cart and called, once more, up to his sister," Alright, I've finished. If you'd care to come down, we can be back home before supper." He began walking towards the ecor tree, pushing the cart in front of him. Briar stood up and made her way towards the trunk. " Coming," she said pulling her red coat around her,"I've got enough here to last us a few week- Ah!" She stopped suddenly and held her left arm. There was a strange tingly feeling in the middle of her forearm. It didn't hurt, but had merely caught her off guard.

Having heard her, Alder called up worriedly," What happened, Briar?"
" There's a strange feeling in my arm," called down while she lifted her sleeve up. In the middle of her arm was a strange symbol and Briar was quite sure that it hadn't been there before. Shocked by it's sudden appearance, Briar stayed silent for a while, staring at the symbol.
" Briar!" came the voice of her worried brother.
Coming back to reality she said," There's a mark on my arm. Like a kind of tattoo, but I swear that I never got one." If she did she probably would have been paralysed by her mother. Her right hand moved to touch it.
" A mark? Come down and let me see," said Alder. But no answer came from Briar. Her hand moved cautiously closer to the mark.
" Come down, Briar!"
Her hand touched the mark.
And her mind spun.

All of a sudden, she was on the ground in a barren field. Feeling something powdery beneath her, she brought her hand up to her face and was confused at what she saw. Her hands were blackened by ash. The entire field was covered in ashes and there was an intense heat behind her. Briar turned around slowly and watched in horror as Baelin burned. All around her were screams, but they were mingled with the shrieks of terrifying creatures, such that she had never seen before. The sky above was dark and in the middle of it was a purple portal, out of which the creatures came. The scene changed and she was standing in front of an wooden pedestal. There was a ornate silver object resting on it. Briar looked around and realised that she wasn't alone. There was a blindfolded woman with pale skin , a man with yellow eyes, an older bald man and a tan man with white hair. Suddenly the object floated into her hands and a voice said," Let your powers protect you and your heart guide you." And just as quickly as it began, the vision ended. Briar was so shocked at all that happened that she lost her footing and fell out of the tree. She knocked her head on the ground and knew no more.

When she woke up, she was back home and her mother was sitting at the edge of her bed. " Briar, dear! You're awake," said her mother, who had blonde hair like her. She kissed Briar on the cheek," Alder told me that you fell out of a tree. I knew that it would happen one day, but you never listen to me." Briar then remembered what happened... as well as the vision. " Mum, I fell for a reason," she said sitting up, but was silenced by her mother. " You lost your footing, that was the reason. No, no, I don't want to hear it. Just rest for today. I'll go fetch your father," And with that she left. Briar sat up in her bed. She was still wearing her coat which covered the mark. That's why her mother hadn't seen it, but it was there.

Soon Briar's father came into the room smiling widely. After making sure that Briar felt okay to talk, he sat down in the chair next to her bed and said softly," I know how careful you are in trees, Bri. Alder told me some of the things that you said before you fell. So, is there anything you'd like to tell me?" She looked into her father' eyes, blue like her's. She knew very well why Alder had told her father about everything and not her mother. She let out a deep breath, lifted her sleeve and told him everything that had happened. Afterwards her father stood up and motioned for her to stand up aswell. " I think we both know what you need to do," he said. Briar stared ahead as they walked outside. " I have to go and do something." Her father put his arm around her shoulder and said," I don't think we'll tell your mother. She won't be happy. But, she's gone to the market and that gives us time to get you set."

It was still slightly dark out, just before dawn. It took them until midday to gather all the things she needed and Alder had joined them along the way. They both gave Briar all the money they could spare and Alder gave her all the ecor nuts, saying that picking more would give him something to do while she was gone. Soon Briar was set and they lead the family horse to the edge of there community. There she hugged both her father Alder tightly. She'd never left the forest and was a little nervous, but her father's words were comforting. " I knew you'd do good things. Ever since you told me you wanted to be a hunter, I knew it. It's better that you won't be doing it alone, with your soon-to-be companions, heh. Hopefully you'll reach Greyview by nightfall. You'll be fine." He ruffled her hair and handed her her bow, a quiver of arrows and her sword. " Just don't be too long," said Alder," I don't know how long we'll be able to restrain mum." Briar was heartbroken to be leaving without saying goodbye. But she also knew that if her mother knew, than she wouldn't be leaving at all. " Tell mum that I love her," she said as a tear rolled down her cheek. Alder nodded and her father looked teary eyed aswell. As she mounted and turned to leave, there was a knock at the back of her head. Briar looked at the nut on the ground and smiled. " Not nice, Alder." Then she left.

The wet season was quickly barreling towards the Red Desert of southern Jinan. Kareem could smell moisture in the air. He only had two days to out run it or head for cover. Strong winds began picking up and whipping sand around from surrounding fiery dunes. Sandstorms were dreaded yet encouraging harbingers of rain. The young traveler's horse began to quicken its pace instinctively to stay in step with him. Kareem was grateful to be in his tiger man form, if the winds picked up much more they could draw blood on exposed skin. Thick white and black striped fur kept his arms, head, and legs protected. A trusty white scarf wrapped round his nose and mouth kept his airway clear.

Thunder rumbled up above. Orange hues scanned the heavens for lightning. Kareem would have to rework his trade route to avoid damaging precious cargo if the storm hit too soon. 'This would be easier if they were here.' It hurt to think but it was true. He could manage the work but more goods would have been made, they could have split up and met in a designated locale to adapt with the weather. No such fortune. They were gone. He deserved to struggle, to suffer...to be alone...

Suddenly the wind nearly bowled him over, walls of red sand surrounded him. Kareem had been caught in the eye of a whirlwind. His horse reared and whinnied in distress. A quick yet gentle pull on the reigns calmed it enough not to try and run. Kareem's heart pounded against his ribs. One false move and they could both be caught. No good to come of that. The right side of his chest began to tingle. Placing a paw over it brought him to his knees, not from pain but from shock. The Mirajid had been given a vivid vision. Fire burned everywhere. Demonic creatures tore travelers and horses limb from limb. The trade city of Fariq was absolute chaos. People screamed and ran through the streets, covered in blood. Violet skies churned overhead. A portal spewed out demons continually.

This faded to reveal a wood pedestal in the midst of a group. He felt connected with them much to his anxiety. Some kind of copper object lay before him. When he reached for it an encouraging yet urgent voice resonated from thin air. "Let your powers protect you and your heart guide you." In a split second, the vision ended as did the whirlwind. Kareem scrambled to his feet. A scene flashed before his eyes, startling him. The group he'd seen before were walking towards him in a place he'd been many times before...what was it called? The small tables, barrels of wine behind a polished stone counter....Bah! The glimpse of something left Kareem standing in the desert once more. He needed to get to the city of Fariq and fast. From there he could gather his thoughts and plan for whatever may lay ahead.

"Baby, you ain't seen nothing yet," came from a deep, rich voiced man. Not even batting a lash, a stream of fire shot out from his fists. The fire was soon dancing along the ceiling in the shape of a dragon, mesmerizing all in the pub. The second the fire withered away, applause filled the air, and the woman sitting beside the fire bender was sliding her way onto his lap. Her hands intertwined with his brunette locks and with that leverage, she pulled herself into him. Lips collided and one kiss soon turned into a tongue-on-tongue session that sprawled out along the top of the bar. Had the pub been a classier place, the bartender might have shooed the couple away, but this was just the kind of thing that happened at Berix. The scent of hormones turned on high was just part of the lure to the place. The drinks were cheap and the women were just as cheap -- and most were easy. Granted, some classy ladies did frequent Berix as it did bring forth some very sexy men, such as Daxton E. Kendrick.

The rush was almost too much to handle. They needed to get away from the public eye (although Dax didn't mind showing off). She led him away into one of the back rooms that were specifically designed for such affairs. The velvet couch had a pungent scent to it and the bed was marred with remnants of previous visitors. Why, even the wall bore smug marks and traces of blood from rougher, kinky activities. None of that mattered to Dax, though. He was used to this scene. It was just what he loved. Lust without envy. It was all just one and done -- nothing personal.

As her hand trailed down his chest toward the prize, Dax leaned into her blonde mess of curls. With her top now off, he could see all he needed to really push him over the edge. Things needed to happen right now before it caused him pain. She seemed to get the hint and was happy to oblige. A few moan were exchanged between the two and within minutes, the real action had begun. The sheets wrapped around them as they played on; nothing would stop this. It was reaching the climax of the night and that's when another woman decided to join them. Two for the price of one? Oh, hell yes! Tonight was Dax's lucky night. Or so he believed.

As he grabbed his head, the man tried to remember just what happened that night. He sat up in the bed. He could remember the second woman coming in and joining the fun. But he just couldn't remember if there was an ending. Golden eyes looking around the empty bed he lay in, Dax was beginning to believe that there was an end, but not the one he wanted. Pushing himself up from the soiled bed, he stammered out to the main dance floor. The place was empty. This instantly caused alarm for Dax. Since when did he pass out during love affairs? That just wasn't him! He had stamina and a reputation. This would sure mar everything! No woman would want to subdue a man that passed out before the ending.

Just then, Dax sat up in the bed he laid in. Eyes wide with confusion, he tried to wrap his head around everything. Did he really just dream within a dream? Confused belong belief, the sight that came next would only perplex the male more.

"The f--- am I?" Death surrounded him. Ruins laid before his golden orbs. Ash, blood, and bones were the main supports for the bed he sat in. Almost too scared to look over the edge, he saw what he believed to be demons crawling up the pillars that the bed was placed atop. As the ghostly demons drew closer, Dax could feel his heart in his throat. What the heck was happening? Was this a dream? No, a nightmare?

Just then, a swirl of white sucked in through a wormhole that spat him out in a wasteland with red sand. Dax instantly recoiled, knowing the scent of blood all too well. The once white sand was now stained with the blood of a civilization lost to... his eyes moved toward a beam of light. Demons were crossing a bridge into their world and were gobbling up the humans as if they were just snacks. A scowl formed on his face. There was no way this was really happening. This was clearly a dream within a dream within a dream.

Forcing his eyes open, Dax found himself laying on what looked like the steps to a temple. As his eyes reached toward the sky, he heard a faint mumbling behind him. Taking in the faces of four others, he saw them all tremble in fear. Snapping his head around, he saw five items meld together to complete a puzzle. As they interlocked, forming what looked like a key, Dax's eyes dilated in fear. "No," he screamed out, but heard nothing for he had no voice. Reaching his hand toward the key, he tried to pull it away from the hole. Success! And that's when he realized his mistake; he saw the demons come down a bridge into their world. It was then when he realized that the key was for locking purposes, not for opening! Had he not tried to push the key from the hole, none of this would have happened!

One by one, the demons slaughtered the people behind him. His cheeks stung, which made him assume those four faces were the faces of friends. Heart wrenching, he tried to understand all that was happening.

His mind was soon swirling with visions of five on a journey to secure the key so that it could be used to lock the bridge between their world and the unknown threat -- the demons -- that were obviously coming for them. As he saw them on their journey, his mind was able to zoom in on each of them. A voice spoke to him, telling him of his forthcoming friends. Rylaf the wise monk. Maegan the priestess turned rogue due to her blinding eyes. Briar the lovely lady archer. Kareem the shapeshifting traveler. Dax nodded, understanding that he was to find these four and, together, they needed to stop the chaos that was on the other side of their bridge.

"Let your powers protect you and your heart guide you."

Waking in a cold sweat, Dax's breathe came heavily to him. His sheets were soaked and his heartbeat was faster than he had ever felt it. Trembling, he let his eyes guide from side to side to determine his location. He was at home. A sigh of relief followed. The dreaming was finally over. Looking toward the window, he saw it was still night. From the looks of it, it looked like only an hour had passed since he first decided to go to bed.

Rising, he walked to his window and stared up at the moon. "I'll find them. And we will stop the end from happening." With clenched fists, Daxton decided now was not the time to rest. No, now was the time for action. Gathering his belongings, he set out to find the location he saw in his dreams -- the Etos Stones on the Island of Vaetin. He would need to go there to meet his comrades. There would be the beginning of their travels and there would also mark the end.

The mixed emotions that that Briar felt were over-whelming. On one hand she was quite thrilled at the prospect of experiencing a world other than the forest. She had heard so many stories of the outside from a few members of the community, her father mainly. Being a wood carver, he would take his work twice a month to Greyview and would return with more gold than he earned in Baelin and a trinket for both Briar and Alder. The best part was that each trinket held a tale and each tale told them about the wonders of the various lands and their inhabitants.

On the other hand, Briar was a little wary. The forest life was all that she knew. The outside was very different and very intimidating. Would stories be enough to help her get by? They were far from the fairy stories that where told to little children, but would they be enough? They would have to be as she had nothing else. Well, she did have common sense, caution, advice from her parents... and her weapons if necessary. Hopefully it wouldn't be, as she had never killed or even thought of killing anyone before. Though, she wasn't opposed to serious injury and with her bow that could be easy. All in all, she would have to find a way, just as she had to find a way stop to whatever was coming. She had to, with the help of her companions of course.

Briar didn't dare touch the mark again. She couldn't bare the sights and sounds that it brought. Although, in the back of her mind, she knew that she had to prepare herself. Finding the others was one thing, what came after was a different story altogether. The road would difficult and taxing. She needed to be strong, so perhaps she would touch it, but later when she was indoors.

Although it had been almost a day since the vision, Briar could clearly picture her companions faces. Thus, she began trying to place where each of them could be found. The first face, the most eye-catching, was the one of the young woman with the pale skin and hair. She looked to be Briar's age, perhaps even younger. Not everything about her was pale, though. Her clothes consisted of deep purple and black and a blindfold covered her eyes. Was she blind? That would probably make things difficult, but that was nothing to be concerned about at this time. Briar had no idea what the woman's race was and ,therefore, had no idea where to find her. The next was that of the young man with white hair and tan skin. She knew very well that this man was a desert dweller, she had seen pictures of them. This meant that he probably came form Jinaan and that was a very long way away. But, atleast she knew one place that she was going. Then next was the other man, perhaps around the same age as the desert dweller. His striking feature was a pair of yellow eyes, golden almost and quite captivating. But, that was it. There was no indication of where he could be. Though, she had heard that people with special abilities had special eyes. The desert dweller had special eyes aswell, they were orange. These men had talents that are not known by just looking at them. Last was the older man, although he looked much younger than her father who was two years shy of fifty. He had a calm face. He was bald and tattoos covered his arms. It was well known that the monks of Mount Breeze tattooed their arms, so Briar had another bit of information. It was also quite a distance away, but not as far as Jinaan. Finally Briar had a plan. She would rest at Greyview for the night. In the morning she would acquire some maps, aswell as some records after which she would try and figure out where the other three might be. Once she had done that, she would make for Mount Breeze.

It was beginning to get late, but it didn't worry Briar that much. The open air was refreshing and the picture of endless sky, unmarred by tree tops, dotted with clouds, was difficult to get bored off. If only she could capture it somehow, she could take it back and show it to her mother. She would have loved that. The town of Greyview was in sight. She would have to find lodgings for her and her horse, Ivy. A halfway house or an inn perhaps? Yes, there was an inn, it was called The Hermit's Home. Briar had thought that it was a funny name, but her father had stayed there during his travels, so it couldn't be bad.

It was evening when she reached Greyview. Not many people were out and in a way that was a good thing. She was quite tired from the trip and very much needed to sit on a chair. Briar scanned the buildings for a sign and her eyes landed on one a little further away from her. She had good eyesight, but seeing that it was dark she had to squint a bit as she moved closer. It was then that something out of the ordinary happened. Briars vision zoomed in on the sign and it looked as if it was right in front of her. The Hermit's House was written in green with a green crab painted next to them. It shocked her quite a bit, causing her mind to spin. But, due to the fact that she had been travelling since midday, she shook her head and blamed it on her mind playing tricks on her. When she reached the building was more than shocked to find that what she had seen was true. The word's were indeed green, even the crab was there. Maybe it was more that tricks...

Briar dismounted and tied Ivy to a post outside. With her bow slung across her torso and her red hood over her head, she entered the inn. She was greeted by a wooden desk and to her right, wooden tables and chairs scattered around a medium sized room. It wasn't anything special, but there was a fire blazing which warmed the entire room. It was comforting. Briar dropped her hood, letting her blonde hair loose, and walked up to the desk. Behind it was a thin man with an equally thin grey moustache. " Evenin'," he said placing his hands on the desk," How can I help ya'?"
" Evening," said Briar smiling," I'd like a room for the night. Are there any?"
" Yer in luck, dearie," he said getting a key," Two left."
He seemed to scan her face and Briar noticed it, but decided to say nothing.
" Oh, good," she replied," And is there a stable for my horse?"
" Yep, Draydon'll take care o' that. Draydon! See to the young ladies horse. Hop to it, boy! That'll be three silver pieces fer food an' lodgin'."
Briar handed the money to the man as she watched as Draydon scurried out the door. When she turned back he asked," Don't I know you? Yer not from Baelin are ya'?"
Briar then realised" Yes, I am. But you know my father. He comes to stay here twice a month. He's a wood carver, Glyn Elderidge. "
" Right you are. Same eyes you've got. E's a good carver. Made this desk here, solid as oak. Heck, it is oak." He laughed a big laugh. It wasn't very funny, but Briar giggled. She was very happy to see her father's work. It made her feel as if she was closer to home.
" Well, " he said wiping his eye and handing her the key," Here's yer key. Get yerself settled and you can come back fer some supper. What ya doin' here anyway?"
Briar obviously couldn't tell him the real reason, but didn't feel like lying either." Oh, I'm just passing through. I'm going to be travelling for a while. I've always wanted to see the outside and the opportunity finally presented itself."
" Good, good, while yer young and reckless, ha! I won't keep ya, off ya go then, dearie."
Briar waved and turned to walk away from the desk towards the stairs. She was not prepared for the sight that met her eyes.
" You're joking," she said staring ahead of her.

Rylaf spent the day collecting things that he would need for his journey. He was about to go on a long adventure, but he also needed to pack light. He grabbed some loafs of bread from his favorite bakery, grabbed a couple new maps for some areas he had yet to travel, and a new pair of shoes.

After a long day of bargaining with shop merchants and walking all over town to find supplies, he headed back to the inn for one final meal and his last night at the inn.

Again he sat in the shadows in the corner and quietly ate his meal. He thought about the vision again and tried to remember the creatures that were destroying everything. The monks had taught him about every living thing on this world and he had ever seen anything like that. How could we even fight something like that? He couldn't stop thinking about all the lives that would be lost if the portal opened. He needed to find his companions.

He touched the mark on the back on his next and hid mind melded away. More dark creatures were assembling. Some of them appeared to be magic casters or maybe even summoners. They just appeared to be talking and planning. He removed his hand and let him mind come back to the inn. Maybe they were planning how to make the portal? Maybe it is a magic spell they need to cast? At least nothing was happening right now, so he still had some time.

The door swung open and in came a young lady. If it wasn't for her red coat Rylaf wouldn't have noticed her. Interesting characters come in all the time, so he just went back to eating his meal.

The woman walked up and started exchanging words with the barkeep. Nothing out of the ordinary, but he heard the word ‘Baelin’. So he decided to focus a little more on eavesdropping on their conversation. Rylaf started thinking that she seemed familiar. His vision had shown him a young woman that would have been from the land of Baelin. That was a crazy coincidence. There was no way that she could be at the same inn that he was at. What are the odds of that evening happening?

" You're joking," Rylaf heard to his left. He turned to look and saw the blond woman staring directly at him. All at once everything connected. He remembered the vision so much clearer now. This was the blond woman from his vision. Our paths were destined to be joined and Etos has connected us together. There was definitely a higher power at work getting someone from Baelin into the same exact inn as Rylaf was.

Rlyaf arose from his table and stared at the blond woman. He slowly started to walk over to her. “Hello young miss.” Rylaf said in his deep calm voice. “My name is Rylaf. It appears that we were destined to meet each other. Will you join me at the table so we can talk? “

Maegan had ridden through two small towns and riding out of a third. She was heading for the docks that would lead her to the ferry that would take her to the Island of Vaetin.

She only knew that she was supposed to go to the docks. Etos spoke to her whenever she made a fist with her right hand. Look for the man with the yellow eyes, he compelled her when last they spoke.

Yellow eyes had to be as uncommon as her crimson ones, she reasoned. Still, she wasn't sure how she was supposed to spot these yellow eyes without petrifying the person who owned them. It was a problem she hoped would solve itself.

She urged her horse(whom she'd named Smolder) forward. She wondered how this man was being led to find her. Perhaps Etos spoke to all of his chosen heroes, she mused. As she approached the docks, she could smell the brackish water of the lake and hear the soft lapping of the waves. She dismounted from her seat on the cart and peeked from under the blindfold.

In the distance, she could make out the faint shadow of the Etos Stones that stood on the island. The docks were deserted, so hopefully this person she was trying to meet would find her soon.

She replaced the blindfold over her eyes and grabbed her walking stick from the cart. She led her horse to the edge of the docks and took a seat on one of the posts. The air smelled a bit more like water than she was comfortable with, so she hoped it was only the lake she smelled and not an incoming thunderstorm.

It had taken nearly two days for Kareem to reach Fariq. He barely missed the storm that had threatened him in the desert. It brought sheets of rain but also enlightenment. As the young traveler wandered into the bustling streets he had more on his mind than just tradition, sales, and survival. Now he had to ready himself for a much more important journey.

Kareem didn't mind having friends, as long as they didn't travel along. It was soothing to know five minutes walk from the city square would be an inn belonging to his old friend Hamza and his wife Atiyeh. They would probably have some advice for the road ahead. He'd need the resilience of the tiger man form just a bit longer. He untied two huge burlap parcels from the horse's saddle and strapped them onto his back. Walking into the inn, he took the scarf down from the lower half of his face. The place looked as it always did. Kareem wondered if this was the place in that strange vision. It too had stone counter tops, barrels of wine, and places to sit...

"KAREEM!" The Mirajid snapped out of his thoughts when a familiar gravelly yell surprised him. It came from a well dressed man in his early thirties with long black hair and ocean blue eyes. "It seems you have much on your mind. Let's get you a room for all your wares and come to the dining area to chat." Rushing over to Hamza, Kareem eagerly shook hands with him. "Hamza! Sorry, I didn't notice you there. You know me well. There's something I need to ask you about."

An hour later Kareem had showered and shifted back into his true form, put away his parcels, and went to meet Hamza in the dining room. Kareem divulged his plan to travel for an undefined time but didn't reveal his reasons. No one would expect him to as he usually kept many things close to the chest. Especially the fact a mark now sat on his chest. "Well as far as your current trade haul, you could sell it to me and Atiyeh. She's always loved the silks you bring anyway. Sell your horse to us as well and it will leave you your maps and supplies. Your prices are reasonable so this won't be any harm to us. You'll have plenty of gold to travel with and follow your dreams as you please."

Kareem sank back in his chair as he listened to the older man, gnawing anxiously on his bottom lip. He still had no idea where to head from Fariq. "That's the thing, I don't know how to begin. This needs to be done but this is travelling on a much larger scale than I'm used to." Hamza pursed his lips and sighed. He understood his friend's distress. He was giving up everything for what he understood to be a dream. Not an easy task at all...He placed a hand over his own heart. "Follow your heart. What does it tell you? you have maps to almost everywhere in the Southern regions. Where to my friend?"

Instinctively the snowy haired man put his hand on his chest. Without thinking about it, he touched the mark once more. His eyes went wide. Visions of familiar coastline and black sand beaches, an island with large stones could be seen from a red lighthouse...That's it! An island chain with the largest being Vaetin. It held the Etos Stones and would probably be where his new commrades would go. He'd need to rest on the island of Gallus before hopping a ferry east to Vaetin. Dropping his hand quickly, Kareem looked up into his friend's eyes. "I need to get to Gallus." Hamza smiled brightly and laughed, "That's the spirit! You know, why don't I write my cousin Navid to meet you there? He cooks for the best inn on Gallus, right by the harbor market...when he's not their bouncer. He'll get you in for a huge discount. What do you say?" Kareem took a deep breath and for the first time in months, he smiled. "Alright. You have a deal and I have a plan."

Daxton knew exactly what he needed to do and where he needed to go. Having set out that night, he found the journey a bit different than he expected. Granted, this was his first time making the travel at night. The land was rather beautiful, too. Mesmerized by the sheer beauty of Mother Nature at night, Dax stopped a few times to really soak up the moonlight and the radiant flowers that seemed to glow in the moon's silver rays. His eyes glistened with wonder while he trekked onward. When he found himself at the foot of a stream, he knew he could venture down the trail further to take a bridge. But tonight was the night he would avoid the bridge. No, he wanted to take the path less traveled. Placing his foot into the cool, crystal clear water, an "Ahh," of approval pursued his lips. It was so refreshing. So pure. So calming.

Dropping his garbs and gear, he bathed himself for a while. With no one around for miles, it was nice to just soak in life. There in the quaint water, he saw visions of a girl on a dock. She had a magnificent horse beside her and appeared to walk with a cane. His brows furrowed when he mind showed him this. There was nothing about the woman that looked old so why on earth did she need a cane? As the vision allowed him to walk around to greet her face, the answer soon came. This woman was blind and needed a cane to help guide her from harm.

Drying off his nude body, Dax ran his hand through his hair a few times. He had never crossed paths with a blind person before. How would he approach her? How would he avoid making her jump from her skin? He had so many questions, and no answers to help him. Once fully dried, he donned himself with his usual getup and began his march toward the city on the water. He would be there come morning and he wanted to do something special for his beautiful, silver-haired partner. As he walked along the foot of the forest, he gathered up some of the most beautiful wildflowers, roses, and lilies. He knew not what she liked, so he opted for a variety bouquet, which, to his surprise, turned out rather nice. He added a few silver ferns to the back to give it a nice fan-like backing. All that was left was to tie it up with a silky ribbon. That, of course, could and would be bought in town.

Despite not sleeping, Dax was not exhausted. Sand didn't enter his eyes and a yawn never came over his lips. The sunrise he watched was simply dashing, too. At the outskirts of the forest, he could see along the horizon the city he was walking to. He had to pass the golden fields of wheat to get there though. It would be an itchy and sneeze-causing hike, but he could do it.

When he first stepped into the city, he already felt the warm buzz and bustle of the busy townspeople. Everyone was getting ready for the day. Shops were open and people were serving breakfast in the streets. Dax bought himself a few meat buns. Eating two, he tucked the other five away into his satchel. He could use them later to munch on, assuming he didn't run into food later in the day.

Pushing his way into a clothing shop, he was greeted by a lovely redhead. Instantly, he wanted to abort the mission and run away with this woman, but a vision played in his mind. Those demons would kill her if he didn't step up and do his heroic duty. "I need a ribbon. Do you have a slate gray one?" When the redhead vanished away, Dax found himself fingering the fine clothes in the room. He was always a sucker for fine fabrics and vivid colors and this place was full of what he loved. He almost purchased something for himself, but decided it was better to save up his coin for he never knew when he might need it. With a bow, he exchanged his change for the ribbon and went on his marry way.

Now, finding the docks was easy, at least for him. The scent of fish led him down the pier and, as expected, as the end of the docks was a lovely woman. She seemed to be waiting for someone -- for him. Half-tempted to sneak up on her, Dax decided to be polite and approach her without stealth.

"You must be Maegan," he spoke while making his way to her. "Etos told me I would find you here." Hand on his hip, he now stood beside the blind-folded woman. "Although you cannot see them, I picked you some flowers. Thought they might look nice in your horse's saddle pocket." Placing the bouquet in her hands, he squeezed her gently, assuring her that he was indeed there. "The name's Dax, by the way." Smiling, he released his grip on her and took a few steps back, allowing the woman to analyze everything and make her move.

While waiting, his eyes drifted around the area. There were some large fishing boats to the backside of Maegan. Behind him were lobster cages and another dock that was full of life. Someone caught a rather large fish and was eager to show it off. Shaking his head, he thought to himself, "I've seen larger fish than that." Swiveling his head around some more, he watched as a few sailboats took off toward the island. It was nice to see all the colors and life that thrived in this humble city. Although notorious for its drugs and drunks, such was not the case in the morn. Now, at night, things were another story. Dax made it up in his mind that they would be on the island before that happened. He didn't want to deal with the drunks, especially any drunks hitting on poor Maegan.

" It appears so," said Briar with a slight smile. The coincidence of this meeting was astounding. But, there was also the chance that it wasn't a coincidence at all... that they both were somehow willed towards this inn for the sole purpose of meeting. The higher powers really had a handle on things.

She followed Rylaf to his table at the back of the room. It was far away from the small crowd of people that had gathered there, all the better for them to discuss what was happening. After setting her bag down, Briar sat opposite the monk, placed her elbows on the table and stared at Rylaf. Actually, she stared through Rylaf, trying to figure out what to say. Where does one start when there are so many questions in desperate need of answers but your companion is probably as clueless as you are? Or, perhaps he wasn't. Perhaps he had been braver than Briar had, had touched the mark again and had acquired more information. She definitely had to be brave. But, once again, later when she was alone. For now, best to just speak your mind.

" Heh, you must excuse me," said Briar finally," But all this is really a lot to take in. It's so much that I haven't even touched the mark again." She tapped her left forearm to try and allude to where it was without lifting her sleeve up. " I was, in a way, afraid of what I would see"

She let out a breath. Even though she had never met this man before, she didn't feel that nervous around him. The calm look on his face was comforting in a way. All monks had a calm demeanor due to their training, but this was quite different. It was like having a meal with a friend, one that you hadn't seen in a while. A very long while.

" Rylaf, is it?" she continued," My name is Briar... Briar Elderidge and I come from Baelin. You're a monk, yes? It's strange, I was actually going to make my way to Mount Breeze the day after tomorrow. I assumed that was where you were from." She shrugged her shoulders and glanced around the room quickly. No one was paying attention to them, thank goodness. Most of the people were watching a drinking match between two young men at the other side of the room. The rest were absorbed in there own conversations.

Absentmindedly, Briar had sat down with her bow still strung around her torso. She removed it quickly and set it down next to her bag, before reaching into it and grabbing a few ecor nuts. She looked back to to Rylaf as she rolled them in her hands.

" So, you and I have met. That leaves us with... the pale lady, the man with the white hair and the man with the yellow eyes. I'm not entirely sure where we should go next. Have you any ideas? Jinaan perhaps, but what are your thoughts?"

Briar then lifted her hand towards the monk, in it were three nuts. " Would you like some? My brother and I picked them" And her thoughts suddenly fluttered back to home. Hopefully all was well and her mother hadn't done anything... dangerous. She had the habit of over-reacting. Though, worrying day and night seems reasonable. Especially when it's your daughter who's gone off with strangers to fight creatures who threaten to destroy the planet .

Maegan lifted her head when she heard her name. She sensed him as he stood next to her, and was surprised to feel him placing a bouquet of flowers in her hands. They were very fragrant, she didn't even need to bend down to sniff them.

She grabbed her walking stick and tapped it on the ground until she ran into the man's leg. She tapped him again to gauge where he was and stood up. Her rear was numb from sitting anyway.

"Dax, eh?" she said turning to face him. After a moment, she added, "Close your eyes so I can look at you,".

Rylaf turned to show Briar the back of his neck. "Is this the mark you speak of? I have touched mine a couple of times. Not sure if we share the same vision or not, but upon touch a dark dimension is revealed. There are tons of dark creatures gathered around. My suspicion is that it’s the beginning of the dark portal that leads to this town being destroyed. When the time is right you will find the strength to touch your mark again."

Rylaf reached down and grabbed his cup of water. He swirled the cup and watched the water swish around before taking a sip.

"Ah yes, Mount Breeze, that is where I trained to be a monk. When I was probably just a little older than you are now, I left Mount Breeze because they had nothing more to teach me. I am glad we found each other before you made the journey up that mountain. For outsiders it can be quite treacherous. Is this your first time outside of the forest? You seem very interested in your surroundings is the only reason I ask."

Rylaf smirked as Briar took off her bow. She is so innocent; hopefully this quest doesn't ruin her personality. She will soon see people do things she never thought imaginable. The world isn't as tranquil as the forest; she will unfortunately see that soon.

"Very good question on where to head to next, I am not entirely sure to be honest. I have traveled all across this world for some time. We could head south towards the coastline. A few years back I was at the isle of Vaetin, and upon that isle are the ‘Stones of Etos’. I would like to say thanks there and maybe we will be shown how to find our other comrades. In the morning I will show you the map and we can plan our travel. Trust your instincts Briar, they will prove to be your greatest asset."

"Come, let us get some rest. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow, and probably a lot more after that. I wake with the sun; shall we meet for breakfast in the morning before we set out?"

The woman had a rather odd request, but who was Dax to argue it. She was blind, right? Or perhaps she wasn't? Did she have scary eyes? He remembered reading stories as a child about a man whose eyes were too ugly to be seen. The man in the story was forced to wear a blindfold so his ugly eyes didn't kill people. It was odd, but it could have had a hint of truth to it. Complying with the woman, he closed his lovely yellow orbs and allowed the darkness behind his lids to consume him. While locked in his own world, he thought about just what the future had in store for all of them. It was going to be one hell of a journey.

"They're closed," he finally spoke.

While she looked at him, Daxton tried to figure out what Maegan's eyes must have looked like. Were they two-tone? It was odd and unusual, but it was nothing scary. Although, she did hail from another city. Perhaps such eyes were frowned upon. Maybe she had red eyes? Although, again, they didn't seem scary. Daxton had met many people with crimson orbs, none of which scared him or bothered him. White eyes? That was the only guess he could surmise that would cause alarm. He had seen one person with white eyes and found them terrifying. Granted, he was four at the time and everything strange and bizarre is scary at that age.

A smile crossed his lips as he thought about his "goober days," as he liked to call them. With that smile on his face and a look of happiness in his posture, Dax probably came across very peaceful and handsome. His body was rippled with strength and muscles, indicating that he was powerful and well-trained in carrying his own weight. He was also rather clean-cut in appearance. He didn't have any access body hair. His clothes, although scarce, were still very fitting for who he was. He looked like a fighter, and that was just what he was.

"Can I open them now?" His head tilted to the side as he asked her.

Leaning over the table, Briar took a good, but quick, look at the mark on Rylaf's neck.
"Yes," she said sitting back in the chair," It matches mine exactly... aswell as the vision, to an extent." A subtle shudder over took Briar at the memory of it. She knew very well that she needed to be strong and it was high time that she started. Briar had tried to avoid voicing what she had seen, for fear of it coming true, but now she knew that it was foolish. She took a deep breath. "In my vision the forest burned"

Before she had fully come to grips with what she had said, the monk began talking about his previous home and their distrust towards outsiders. Fate definitely had it's hand in this.
"This my very first time and to be honest it's all quite... strange. Living in the forest, you get used to seeing trees everywhere. My father is a wood carver and he would visit here twice a month to sell his wares. He'd always tell us about these places entirely made of stone. Well, not entirely. Anyway, I've seen picture of towns, but seeing it with your own eyes is a completely different story. I do miss home, but a chance like this is not one that you should push aside. Especially given the um... circumstances" Talking about Baelin seemed to relax Briar, but no matter what, it always lead back to the danger that was eminent.

She listened intently to all that the monk had to say. He seemed a very learned man and his advice was welcome. "Trust your instincts, one of the first rules of being a hunter." Briar's instincts had helped her on numerous occasions throughout her hunting career. Hopefully they would prove helpful to her fellows aswell.

She rose from her seat and gathered her things. The days ride had been a long one and Briar ad realised how tired she was. A rest would do both of them good. "That sounds good. We can discuss any last minute details too." She began walking towards the steps that led to her room, but stopped suddenly. Turning around suddenly, she walked back to Rylaf. "I am very glad to have met you, friend" She then smiled at the monk and left.

The boat ride was a long one. Kareem sat on deck beside the railing avoiding sleep, lest visions of destruction haunt his dreams also. The tired merchant clung tightly to his pack of survival supplies, gold, and maps. Losing that would be disastrous. Even though he had faith the gods would supply another way for him to accomplish this mission, testing divine powers wasn't on Kareem's bucket list. A couple shifty characters made the hair on the back of his neck bristle. Shadows of old memories threatened to resurface. Kareem took a deep breath and hummed the words of an old hymn. Soon he fell asleep...

Loud talking woke the young man. They'd not yet arrived at Gallus but had stopped to restock at Olwyn, a small island a few hours away. New passengers boarded while others disembarked. A young couple in light travel clothing sat beside Kareem and spoke loudly of a girl they'd seen on their way to Olwyn. "Did you see how pale she was? And such silver hair on one so close to our age!" The husband commented first. The Mirajid listened closely. "Yes! I felt bad for her though. Blind and grey before her years, she was. Pity...I wonder if she went to Vaetin for healing. I wouldn't be able to bear a blindfold all my life, never being able to see the world around me...or you..." The wife added shaking her head. They had seen Maegan. Kareem was sure of it. That meant he was headed in the right direction.

By midday the boat reached Gallus. Kareem was greeted dockside by Navid, just as planned. The men shook hands heartily. "So this is the Tiger of the Sands...smaller than I though you'd be but a friend of Hamza is a friend of mine!" Before the younger man could object, his host took his pack and began to walk towards the inn. "Come, let's get you a room. You look tired ater your journey. I need to go to market but when I return, I'll have a meal fit for a king ready for you!" Kareem chuckled at his enthusiasm. "Thank you, I appreciate it. Your kindness will not go unrewarded. I won't allow it!" The inn was located only a few paces away from the market. Themed to look like the palace of Jinan's capital, those who could afford it stayed in the lap of luxury. Kareem's eyes went wide. He'd never been inside someplace so grand. Then he saw his room. "Wow..." His companions would love to stay in a place like this. At least he hoped they would.

While Kareem washed up and got some rest, Navid gave strict instructions to give their special guest only the best of everything. After making sure he'd been heard, he left for market. As usual on weekends it teemed with people. Tourists and locals alike hunted for good deals and even better wares. The burly man stopped to peruse some vegetables when he overheard something interesting. His hazel eyes drifted over to who had mentioned the words 'shapeshifter' and 'white tiger'. Was someone looking for Kareem? If so, they'd have to get through him first. As far as Navid was concerned the Mirajid was like another cousin since Hamza had spoken so highly of him. Not just anyone could get so close without good reason. If they asked him, he'd be sure to check their motives.

Rylaf smiled as back at Briar as she walked up the steps to her room. He called the waitress and settled his tab for dinner. He collected his belongings and ascended the stairs to his room. He entered the room and climbed straight into bed. Tomorrow was going to be the start of many very long days.

--

When Rylaf woke up, it was still dark in his room. He lit a candle and began packing the remainder of his belongings. He did one final check around the room just to make sure he didn’t leave anything.

He returned to the same table he sat at the night before. He retrieved the maps from his bags and started to plan his journey. He had a few things to discuss with Briar before they set out. They will also need to purchase two horses to make proper time, as well as some additional supplies.

The path Rylaf had planned was pretty simple. Luckily roads would take them straight to Gallus, then a quick ferry ride to the isle. The Isle of Vaetin is a big tourist-y area, so thankfully there are plenty of roads to get travelers there easily.

The silence that followed his question was really starting to worry him. Had she fallen into the lapping waves at the foot of the docks? Did she scamper off after seeing his superb physique? Was she too embarrassed to receive flowers from such a stud? Hands patting the air before him, Dax felt nothing. There didn't appear to be anyone there. He probably flailed his arms for a few seconds longer before a boy started giggling.

"Giggler, is there a woman anywhere around?" His face swung toward the source of the laugh, eyes still closed.

"Sorry, sir. But she left. She just gathered up her gear and ran off. I thought I caught her mumbling like, 'I hope time is on my side.' She looks very worried."

Opening his orbs, Dax ruffled the hair of the boy who now stood before him. "Odd. Wonder what made her rush off like that without telling me it was okay to open my eyes." Shooting a puzzled look to the kid, Dax gave him another pat. "Thanks, kiddo."

"No problem, mister." Arms reaching up, he lightly poked at the muscles on the older man before him. "Gee, you look strong. Do you think you could help me mum pull a cart of flour to the bakery?" His blue eyes gazed up in awe as a smile came onto his face. He was freckled and missing his front tooth. What a cutie!

Giving the lad a good nod, he trotted after him and aided his older looking mother with the moving of goods. Daxton was even nice enough to set everything up and dump the large bags of flour into smaller pots. Perhaps he was being over generous, but it was fun. Before long, he was ghosted white and laughing. Fresh bread and cookies were placed in his hands and he was on his way to the destined meet up area.

Although she had been exhausted from ride, sleep did not come easily to Briar. Whether it was excitement that plagued her or nervousness she could not tell, but she was well aware of the great sense of foreboding that hung in the air. Things seemed easy now, but they would not always be that way. There was much danger before them.
Briar took in the strangeness of her situation as she sat propped up against the head board. For her entire life Briar had slept high above the forest floor (like everyone in her community). In fact, it was so high that you could almost see the glimmer of stars through the treetops. Being so close to the ground felt quite odd, to be honest. But, it was something Briar had to get used to seeing that she would be doing it for a while.

Laying her head back on the pillow, Briar lifted her marked arm up to her face. "There's much worse to face out there, Bri. Better prepare yourself." Briar squeezed her eyes closed her as she laid her hand over the mark awaiting the intense heat she experienced last time.

But it never came.

Briar shot up into a sitting position and looked at her arm incredulously. All she did was touch the mark last time, what was going on? Briar placed her hand on the mark for a second time and didn't notice anything odd... until she glanced around the room. Her surroundings looked slightly hazed, as if she was look through a veil and when she removed her hand, the haze vanished. And she thought sleeping close to the ground was strange! Perhaps it was similar to what happened when she looked at the inn's sign. Perhaps the mark had her and her companions a... gift? But, what could the purpose would making her vision hazy serve? Despite her curiosity, sleep was beginning to take a hold of Briar's senses, so she resolved to talk to Rylaf about it in the morning. Maybe he experience something similar...

---

At dawn, after collecting her belongings, Briar headed downstairs, where she found Rylaf at the same table looking over his maps. Thinking it would be more prudent to discuss their travelling plans first, Briar decided to talk to the monk about her little experience once they were well on their way.
"Good morning," she said as she set her things down next to the table,"I hope your night was more restful than mine. We should probably plan what's next. I see you've got maps, so I'm assuming you have an idea as to where we should head to? I already have a horse. If you don't have one, I'm sure the innkeeper will be able to tell us where we can buy one. The sooner we leave, the better."