IC 3113 BC
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IC 3113 BC
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Reaver
Morning, August 10, 3113 BC; Leonarus’ Residence, Lower Quarter, The Great Island of Thera, Theran SeaHe smiled to her and shook his head softly in disbelief. ”Just like that? No foreplay? Very well.” He nods to her. ”If it is important to you, you can know that I work for Queen Alachia. On the best of days, you might even think we are friends. Does that ruins things for us?” His smile never faded.
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Sian
Morning, August 10, 3113 BC; Leonarus’ Residence, Lower Quarter, The Great Island of Thera, Theran SeaSian laughs softly. ”I do not know. Should we be enemies? I have never received any instructions from my Master to not trust any of her servants so I will assume for the time being that we may be companions. I have never seen an Elf as tall as you are. Is that an abnormal trait or have I just not traveled far enough?”
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Reaver
Morning, August 10, 3113 BC; Leonarus’ Residence, Lower Quarter, The Great Island of Thera, Theran Sea“This woman will be a very fine traveling companion.” He thinks to himself while imagining talking with her for hours about nothing and everything at the same time.
”I am unusual among my kind, yes. There are those as tall, and those as bulky. But rarely do those traits combine the same way as they have with me. Have you met many Blood Elves? I have to assume some, as you are so comfortable around me.”
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Sian
Morning, August 10, 3113 BC; Leonarus’ Residence, Lower Quarter, The Great Island of Thera, Theran SeaSian nods. ”Yes, I have met a handful, but that is all. At my age, some of the memories do not go back as far as I would like. Sometimes I have trouble remembering anything past a few hundred years ago, I might have met more and just not remember it clearly.”
She pauses and looks over at the Elf. ”How did you arrive here? I have purchased the loyalty of a ship and crew, but it is possible that the recent earthquakes have led the captain to the decision to abandon me here. If that is the case, may I travel with you for a while?”
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Reaver
Morning, August 10, 3113 BC; Leonarus’ Residence, Lower Quarter, The Great Island of Thera, Theran SeaFor the first time in their conversation his smile shows all the way up to his eyes. ”Of course you can travel with me, but I do not believe that your captain would be so foolish as to abandon you here. I arrived by ship as you did. I do not know what will happen with it once the crew discover that there has been a quake. I am guessing not that much, unless there are more.”
He looks her over as best as his failing eyes will allow and determines she is even better looking than he had first thought. ”Is your group only you, your guard… Kragan was it? And the ten marines?”
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Sian
Morning, August 10, 3113 BC; Leonarus’ Residence, Lower Quarter, The Great Island of Thera, Theran SeaSian smiles back at the man. ”The captain was bought with a cargo of wine and I would expect him to remain loyal long enough to try to sell it, but I would not put much faith in even that if he were to think that his ship is at risk in the harbor. I was already ashore and heading here when the large quake struck and I do not even know for sure if the ship is still afloat, but I am hoping so or I may need to find another way off the island. Yes, Kragan is his name, and no, I left my other guard and ten more sailors at the wharf to guard the longboats we used to come in from the ship on.”
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Reaver
Morning, August 10, 3113 BC; Leonarus’ Residence, Lower Quarter, The Great Island of Thera, Theran Sea“Two guards… I may have to fight two of them for her. That might be tricky.” The thoughts about how to fight even one were difficult for him to process. Adding in a second one might prove more than he could handle.
”If it should come down to it, I am sure we could find a ship of some sort. This is an island after all, there must be ships about. There may be more to think about though. What of these artifacts? Are there many? Do they weigh a lot? We might need more in the way of longboats as well.” He realizes that thinking of facing two of her guards for her has caused him be more strategic than he had planned to be. Maybe they could return to more pleasant things soon.
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Sian
Morning, August 10, 3113 BC; Leonarus’ Residence, Lower Quarter, The Great Island of Thera, Theran SeaSian shakes her head and chuckles. ”I was not told what the artifacts are. My Master simply told me to come here and do what I need to do to get them off the island protected. Given my lack of knowledge, I cannot accurately answer your questions as to quantity or weight. I brought ten men with me to help carry the artifacts if they prove to be large or weighty. I take it that your Mistress was as forthcoming with information as my Master was?”
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Reaver
Morning, August 10, 3113 BC; Leonarus’ Residence, Lower Quarter, The Great Island of Thera, Theran Sea”Essentially yes. In fact, she may have even been less forthcoming, as I was under the idea that it was only one artifact.” He looks over to the napping seer rocking softly in his chair. ”We may need more information at some point, although I am not so certain it is necessary right at this moment.”
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Sian
Morning, August 10, 3113 BC; Leonarus’ Residence, Lower Quarter, The Great Island of Thera, Theran SeaSian nods her head in agreement. ”Yes. I would wait a bit to see if any additional couriers arrive. As different as our Masters are, I doubt that Leonarus would have left it so much to chance to only ask for two of us. Of course, we do not want to leave it so long that we sink beneath the waves while waiting.”
She looks over and notices that Zaor’s cup is empty. ”May I serve you some more tea, Zaor?”
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Reaver
Morning, August 10, 3113 BC; Leonarus’ Residence, Lower Quarter, The Great Island of Thera, Theran Sea”Thank you Sian, but do not trouble yourself. I would much rather you remain seated here and continue having conversation with me.” He again takes the opportunity to look this woman over. He had never enjoyed the company of a human so much before. “Wait. She can’t be human if she was in the Kaern during the scourge. That explains a lot.” He is relieved when he realizes Sian can’t be human.
”You mentioned you wondered if the Horrors had visited your home. That tells me that you must have travelled very far. How far would you say?” He asks wondering just how far she will take this game of theirs.
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Sian
Morning, August 10, 3113 BC; Leonarus’ Residence, Lower Quarter, The Great Island of Thera, Theran SeaShe laughs again as she stands up. ”It is no trouble at all to get more tea, Zaor. I need to add more fuel to the fire, anyway, but I can talk while moving about.” Sian draws her gloves from her belt again and pulls them on then walks to one of the piles of debris she has already stacked up and brings some of it to the fire, stoking it with expensive and rare woods. When the blaze is going well, she removes the gloves and refills Zaor’s and her cups.
When the tea is poured, she motions to the ceiling with one hand. ”Yes, I am very far from my home and I have no idea how to get back. I am not from this world, Zaor. I came here in pursuit of some criminals who had created a great portal between our world and this one. The portal closed and I have no knowledge of how to reopen it. I have come to regard this as my home.”
Sian takes the kettle to put more water in it before swinging it back over the flames then resumes her seat on the cushion.
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Reaver
Morning, August 10, 3113 BC; Leonarus’ Residence, Lower Quarter, The Great Island of Thera, Theran Sea”Thank you Sian, for the tea. I am sorry to hear you are separated from your home. I have not heard of portal travel before, but I am not an experienced scholar. I would guess if a Great Dragon has not discovered an answer for you, the Dragon isn’t really trying, or there is no chance of me finding it.”
He thinks on the thought of world travel for a bit before he gives up on the notion of remembering the one detail she needed. ”In the future though, allow me to fuel the fire. It will be the least I could do for the hospitality you have shown me.” He smiles to her again.
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Sian
Morning, August 10, 3113 BC; Leonarus’ Residence, Lower Quarter, The Great Island of Thera, Theran SeaSian laughs softly. Thank you Zaor. On my world, there were mages that built and maintained travel portals between major cities, but I am not one of those mages. And right now, I am not much of a mage at all. My Master says the magic is leaving this world for a time and its departure will herald in a Fifth World here, where magic is pretty non-existent for a time. I now rely on other skills and talents.”
”I have never asked him to try to send me back to my previous home so I do not know if he even knows how to do that. It has been a number of your centuries of your time here since I crossed over and I have accepted that this is my home now. I have a Master here and he has given me a purpose for existing.”
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Reaver
Morning, August 10, 3113 BC; Leonarus’ Residence, Lower Quarter, The Great Island of Thera, Theran SeaHe shakes his head softly. ”I can understand your master’s reluctance at returning you to your former home. I have not known you for an hour and I already wish for you to remain at my side. After thousands of years, your master must be reluctant to even let you out of his sight.” He looks at her once again and wonders what it is about her that makes her presence so enjoyable.
”I would suggest to you, however, that you do not look to your master for purpose. You should find that within yourself. While skills and talents can be traded for wealth and necessities. Your worth comes from within. Not from others.” He smiles at her with a bit of mischief in the tilt of his head. ”If you should ever wish to find another master, I would happily assist you in that search.”
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Sian
Morning, August 10, 3113 BC; Leonarus’ Residence, Lower Quarter, The Great Island of Thera, Theran SeaSian looks long at her large companion and shakes her head. ”You are kind, Zaor, thank you. I know my ways may be foreign to you, but my caste has not individual purpose. We were trained to serve a Master or Mistress, doing whatever task they set us on. I have no desire to change that about me. To do otherwise would be to invalidate my existence.”
”It is true that my Master enjoys my company on occasion. We discourse on many topics and have enjoyed a physical relationship, but it is always clear to me that I am his servant and he is my Master. I have no desire for wealth. I have seen such desires turn even the strongest willed into someone willing to do anything to gain more of it. My payment is the honor I gather about myself in service to my Master. I do enjoy nice things on occasion, but I am just as happy with something plain and of little value to others as long as it has a value to me.”
”I am intrigued by your offer for a new master, Zaor. It is true that my current Master will soon hide himself away for the duration of the coming Fifth Age. He has spoken to me of this already and has given me tasks to perform in his absence. However, he understands my emotional and physical need for a Master and has given me leave to seek out others that I may serve for a time. The caveat is that I may serve another only inasmuch as I also serve his commands. Given that, I must be careful to seek out a Master whose tasks will not compromise those given to me by Schwartzkopf. Does this make sense to you?”
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Reaver
Morning, August 10, 3113 BC; Leonarus’ Residence, Lower Quarter, The Great Island of Thera, Theran SeaHe smiles at her question. ”It does not need to make sense to me as long as it makes sense to you. You are correct that your ways are foreign to me, but that has very little bearing on our discussion. You hold onto your ways tightly, and I have no wish to part you from them. I will say only one more thing on that subject. You have accepted this world as your home, perhaps it is time for you to consider our ways as yours?” He takes a few moments to drink from the forgotten tea cup while he gathers his thoughts.
”I would consider myself very fortunate if you would accept me as your master during the Fifth World. If that is disagreeable to you, I know of a couple of strong women who would make excellent masters for you. Should we leave this island together, I would strive to have you meet them and make your own decision on if any of us would fulfil your needs.”
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Sian
Morning, August 10, 3113 BC; Leonarus’ Residence, Lower Quarter, The Great Island of Thera, Theran SeaSian smiles. ”I have adopted many things from this world into my life, but I cannot, and would not if I could, change that which is so much of who I am. My life would have no value to me or anyone else should I take that step. My honor demands it of me as much as anything else does. I have seen what happens to those who lose focus and give up that part of who they are. I was chasing three of my kind who had done just that when I came to this world. I have no desire to be what they are.”
She listens to Zaor make his offer and nods to him. ”I appreciate your offer, Zaor, and perhaps will take you up on it if you still feel that way later. At this time, my Master is still awake and I will not look for one to take his place until such time as he slumbers and the Fourth Age is to be reborn as the Fifth Age. My task here is to assist in the removal of some artifact or artifacts and deliver them to safety to a place of hiding. If we meet again after that, we may discuss your offers.”
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Reaver
Morning, August 10, 3113 BC; Leonarus’ Residence, Lower Quarter, The Great Island of Thera, Theran SeaHe can not help but smile as the woman Sian entertains the idea of being his servant. Without knowing where he will be for the Fifth World, or even if he will be able to walk, it is hard to foresee if that would work out.
With another sip of the cool tea, he adds to their conversation. ”I sincerely hope we do not part before the item or items are hidden. If that should happen, I will certainly seek you out afterwards. It was no idle comment when I said I wish you to remain at my side. But that needs to be set aside for a time.”
”You said that you do not desire to become what those you hunt are… Does that mean you have not found them yet?”
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Sian
Morning, August 10, 3113 BC; Leonarus’ Residence, Lower Quarter, The Great Island of Thera, Theran SeaSian nods grimly. ”Yes, that is what I mean by that. Three of my kind and six of our Valoi warriors survived the portal to chase three of them. The passage through such a great portal confused our minds and we were temporarily unable to follow as the traitors separated and fled. As senior survivor, I split our forces as well, sending one of us and two of the Valoi after each traitor. It took me four centuries to track down my target and slay him. I know in my heart that the others have not yet completed their tasks so I continue to look for them. In that regard, I still serve my former Mistress, who set this task upon me. I continue to seek out both my foes and my caste brothers in pursuit of this goal.”
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