Expanse: The City Reboot (Dark Fantasy Epic) Main Thread (Open, Started)
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Telnor- Cryka- The morning after
Telnor quietly slipped from the bed and collected his discarded clothes. He slipped the clothes on and give Jill a quick kiss on her forehead. Jill smilled and rolled over. Telnor slipped out of the room and into the hall. Buckling his sword he quietly made his way to the front door.
"Going somewhere boy?" Mal called from behind the counter. "You better not be leaving again without a word like last time."
"Mr. Halson. You're up early. I was just stepping out for a quick walk," Telnor quickly replied, a little faster than normal.
"Don't lie to me boy. I know you and Jill were sleeping together last night," Mal stood up and walked over to Telnor, towering over him. "She worked hard to get over you. Its not easy to do that when you love someone ya know. She tried dating others around here, she even had a good boyfriend for three years. He left her over a year ago. Quietly with out a word. That hurt her ya know. Broke her self worth and then you walk back into her life. She attached herself to you quicker than I would have liked but she is old enough to make up her own mind. Now you walk out without saying a word, no note or anything. What do you think shes going to feel now?"
"It was never my intention to hurt her Mr. Halson. Its just if I didn't leave now. I don't think I would be able to in the future."
"Why? Why do you have to leave. You got something more important out there than my little girl?"
"Change. I have been offered a second chance to help make the City a better a place. I lost my first try. I failed. I never thought I would be able to do anything making the politics in the City better. Yet, fate has given me a second chance and I need to do this. You understand right?"
"Fine. I understand. Your father was the same way. When there was something we wanted to do nothing would stop. But at the very least you owe Jill an explanation. Pen and paper are at the front desk. Write a note at least explaining why you are leaving."
Telnor made his way to the desk and quietly wrote a letter explaining why he was leaving. When he was finished he rolled it up and handed it to Mal. "Thank you Mr. Halson. I'll try to be back soon. It was good to see again. Maybe next time we can catch up on the past ten years. Take care," Telnor said as he left the shop, the bell ringing a little sad tune.
One hour later.
Telnor stood behind The Healing Crosses building, in the graveyard that was reserved for those that they were unable to heal. His father's grave was worn down from the weather but Telnor could still read it. Here lies Rand Ghests. Great man, loving father. He traveled and fought for people who couldn't protect themselves but eventually he met an opponent none can beat. Here we honor him for all eternity
"Almost twelve years Dad. I wonder if you would be proud of me? Did I live up to your expectations? Your teachings? I know that maybe you would have done things differently but I did what I thought was best. Maybe I could have done it better but at least I did and stayed true to myself. You know Dad, for a few years I thought I needed to live up to your legacy but now I know I need to be true to myself," Telnor took out the broken hilt of his old sword and placed it on the grave. "I'm sorry its broken but I think that maybe its for the best. I'm not you. I'm me and I need my own blade. So thank you for that. One last gift from beyond the grave. You can rest in peace now Dad. Thank you for looking after me all these years. I think this sword deserves a name. I don't know what to call it yet but someday I will. Goodbye Dad. I love you." Telnor stood up and left the graveyard.
As soon as the gates closed behind him, Telnor felt like a great weight had left from his shoulder's. He was no longer stuck to follow his father's footsteps and he knew that now beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Telnor made his way to a carriage depot, paid for a carriage to Tinsdal and climbed in. As the carriage drove off, he looked back, with a strange feeling that he may never see this place again.
Telnor quietly slipped from the bed and collected his discarded clothes. He slipped the clothes on and give Jill a quick kiss on her forehead. Jill smilled and rolled over. Telnor slipped out of the room and into the hall. Buckling his sword he quietly made his way to the front door.
"Going somewhere boy?" Mal called from behind the counter. "You better not be leaving again without a word like last time."
"Mr. Halson. You're up early. I was just stepping out for a quick walk," Telnor quickly replied, a little faster than normal.
"Don't lie to me boy. I know you and Jill were sleeping together last night," Mal stood up and walked over to Telnor, towering over him. "She worked hard to get over you. Its not easy to do that when you love someone ya know. She tried dating others around here, she even had a good boyfriend for three years. He left her over a year ago. Quietly with out a word. That hurt her ya know. Broke her self worth and then you walk back into her life. She attached herself to you quicker than I would have liked but she is old enough to make up her own mind. Now you walk out without saying a word, no note or anything. What do you think shes going to feel now?"
"It was never my intention to hurt her Mr. Halson. Its just if I didn't leave now. I don't think I would be able to in the future."
"Why? Why do you have to leave. You got something more important out there than my little girl?"
"Change. I have been offered a second chance to help make the City a better a place. I lost my first try. I failed. I never thought I would be able to do anything making the politics in the City better. Yet, fate has given me a second chance and I need to do this. You understand right?"
"Fine. I understand. Your father was the same way. When there was something we wanted to do nothing would stop. But at the very least you owe Jill an explanation. Pen and paper are at the front desk. Write a note at least explaining why you are leaving."
Telnor made his way to the desk and quietly wrote a letter explaining why he was leaving. When he was finished he rolled it up and handed it to Mal. "Thank you Mr. Halson. I'll try to be back soon. It was good to see again. Maybe next time we can catch up on the past ten years. Take care," Telnor said as he left the shop, the bell ringing a little sad tune.
One hour later.
Telnor stood behind The Healing Crosses building, in the graveyard that was reserved for those that they were unable to heal. His father's grave was worn down from the weather but Telnor could still read it. Here lies Rand Ghests. Great man, loving father. He traveled and fought for people who couldn't protect themselves but eventually he met an opponent none can beat. Here we honor him for all eternity
"Almost twelve years Dad. I wonder if you would be proud of me? Did I live up to your expectations? Your teachings? I know that maybe you would have done things differently but I did what I thought was best. Maybe I could have done it better but at least I did and stayed true to myself. You know Dad, for a few years I thought I needed to live up to your legacy but now I know I need to be true to myself," Telnor took out the broken hilt of his old sword and placed it on the grave. "I'm sorry its broken but I think that maybe its for the best. I'm not you. I'm me and I need my own blade. So thank you for that. One last gift from beyond the grave. You can rest in peace now Dad. Thank you for looking after me all these years. I think this sword deserves a name. I don't know what to call it yet but someday I will. Goodbye Dad. I love you." Telnor stood up and left the graveyard.
As soon as the gates closed behind him, Telnor felt like a great weight had left from his shoulder's. He was no longer stuck to follow his father's footsteps and he knew that now beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Telnor made his way to a carriage depot, paid for a carriage to Tinsdal and climbed in. As the carriage drove off, he looked back, with a strange feeling that he may never see this place again.
"Very well then, I shall keep my word, as per your request Vessel."
"Actually, that leads me onto another question, what did you write about me in your letter to your parents? I never had the chance to look before you sent it."
"Fair enough, couldn't of asked for anything more. Vergil replied nonchalantly.
"As for your parents, hmm. Well, your mother seems to be a rather charming woman, much like yourself. She combines both beauty and brains, again, much like yourself. But there is more to you Vessel. As for your father, hmm, he is... very dedicated to his work. Always finding new methods to improve his research and any equipment he is creating. You Vessel, share that dedication, although you apply it differently." He then remarked, taking the time to find the choice words.
Telnor - Tinsdal- Entrance to Dean's Mansion - A day and a half after arriving in the North.
Telnor stepped out of the carriage and stretched. Despite the roads in the north being good, they were still bumpy. Walking up to the front gate he nodded at the guards but before he got through the gates he was stopped.
"What is your business at the mansion?" One of the guards demanded.
"I'm here to meet up with a group of people who came to see the Dean," Telnor replied. "I'm sure they mentioned me. Telnor Ghests. I'm sure I'm expected."
"Sure you are. There ain't no Telnor Ghests on any damn list," the second guard replied. "Just get out of here you vagabond. We don't like your kind here."
"You didn't even check! Just ask Vergil or Scarlet or Vessel, shes upper class you know, or Itsuka or Velen?" Telnor replied as the guards grabbed him by his arms and tossed him out of the gateway.
"And stay out!" The guards yelled.
Telnor stepped out of the carriage and stretched. Despite the roads in the north being good, they were still bumpy. Walking up to the front gate he nodded at the guards but before he got through the gates he was stopped.
"What is your business at the mansion?" One of the guards demanded.
"I'm here to meet up with a group of people who came to see the Dean," Telnor replied. "I'm sure they mentioned me. Telnor Ghests. I'm sure I'm expected."
"Sure you are. There ain't no Telnor Ghests on any damn list," the second guard replied. "Just get out of here you vagabond. We don't like your kind here."
"You didn't even check! Just ask Vergil or Scarlet or Vessel, shes upper class you know, or Itsuka or Velen?" Telnor replied as the guards grabbed him by his arms and tossed him out of the gateway.
"And stay out!" The guards yelled.
Vergil began to think this over, pacing back and forth along the hallway, his mind deep in thought.
"Hmm, it does present an interesting conundrum, the logic is there though. When a child is born in extreme weather conditions, for example, the cold; the body would theoretically begin the process of creating the means in which said person would find the cold more bearable, or even hardly notice it. However, when you introduce magic into the equation; it can act as a catalyst, a means in which to speed up said process."
"However, we can't just attribute this to environmental factors, sometimes, resistances come from the genetics of a persons ancestry. Tell me, do any of your parents practice ice magic?"
It was then at that moment, that a loud noise disrupted his train of thought, it seemed to come from outside. Vergil went to the window, and noticed that Telnor had just been thrown to the ground by the guards.
"It seems that Telnor has arrived, and the reception he received, wasn't the warmest I've seen. If someone could go and sort the situation out." Vergil jokingly remarked, gesturing towards the outside.
Telnor- Tinsdal- Dean's Mansion
"Good to see you again Mrs. Vessel. Looking as young as before. And yes a little trouble. It seems that I was left out in the cold when it came to telling the guards I was coming. My fault I guess. A little detour left me a little later than the rest," Telnor replied as he stood up and dusted himself off. Turning to guards he said, "See I was expected. Now will you let me in."
"Sorry, sir. We didn't know that you knew the Velkans. Come on in. Sorry," the guard profusely apoligised.
"No harm done," Telnor responded as walked into the Mansion. "I guess you were just doing your job."
"Good to see you again Mrs. Vessel. Looking as young as before. And yes a little trouble. It seems that I was left out in the cold when it came to telling the guards I was coming. My fault I guess. A little detour left me a little later than the rest," Telnor replied as he stood up and dusted himself off. Turning to guards he said, "See I was expected. Now will you let me in."
"Sorry, sir. We didn't know that you knew the Velkans. Come on in. Sorry," the guard profusely apoligised.
"No harm done," Telnor responded as walked into the Mansion. "I guess you were just doing your job."
Scarlett was just too distracted, she tried her best to forget about what had just happened with her hearing and hoped to work it out later in her head. The only problem was she couldn?t stop thinking about it. Ignoring what was going on around her she began working through her theories and analysing them. It didn?t make much sense.
?Excuse me.?
Scarlett made her excuses to the group and walked away. Sadly, she knew one person who might be able to help her. Trouble was he might not want to help her. Especially after Scarlett had broken his nose. She inhaled deeply and decided to visit her father. Walking with pace through the corridors Scarlett eventually found herself outside the private quarters of Alexander Vaalender.
?Oh no? I?m not letting you in.? The guard from earlier stood in her way and held a spear across his chest. ?I suggest you leave and return to your group.?
?I?m going in and you can?t stop me.?
?I? I?? The guard stumbled with his words before finally relenting to Scarlett. The look on her face was fierce. Like father like daughter he guessed.
Scarlett forced her way passed him and pushed open the door. It crashed open and she strode in. Alexander Vaalender nursing his broken nose, the blood now dried, looked up in surprise from his desk. Scarlett gritted her teeth and slowly walked towards him. After what had happened earlier it seemed a strange choice but Alexander was known throughout the north to have previously commisioned a report on abilities.
?Joanna? I must say that I didn?t expect to see you again so soon. What have you come to break this time?? Alexander added dryly.
?I need to ask you a question.? Scarlett seemed muted.
?Really??
?Yes.?
?Then by all means.? Alexander extended a hand looking surprised.
?I know you know about abilities. I need to know if you have heard of an ability fading or..?
?You? have an ability??
Scarlett sighed. ?Yes.?
?What is it??
?I?m not telling you that.?
?If I tell you what you want to know will you leave and never return??
?No.?
Alexander snorted with amusement but decided to continue. ?As a matter of fact I have, your mother of all people.?
?My mother had an ability??
?Yes. Picture perfect memory. You could show her something for a split second and she would be able to remember it with perfect detail. Made her very valuable to the Red Stain.?
?My mother worked for the Red Stain??
?As a contact, a spy, the usual work for the courtesan network. That?s how I met her actually.?
?And?? Scarlett asked.
?Well, one day, her ability just started to fade. She could only remember a handful of details, then only a scrap of information just like everyone else. At this point she became a little distracted and so I took her to see a specialist who studied abilities. He spent months examining her until one day her ability just returned. But better than before. She could remember everything. And I mean everything. Your mother no longer needed to activate her gift it just happened.?
?Who was the specialist and what did he determine?? Scarlett asked.
?A nice old man, lived not too far away from here, eventually he came to this theory. An ability is a mutation. A human body with an ability spends it?s entire life fighting it. After all it?s unnatural and somehow the body detects this. For some people it may never happen at all, but for some the body begins to eventually weaken the mutation and triggers a further mutation as the ability looks to strengthen itself. This new strength provides an enhanced ability. Which he called the final form. This is what happened to your mother, and if your ability is disappearing too then it?s what?s happening to you too.?
Alexander paused.
?It takes a while for the ability to mutate again so you will spend a period of time without your ability. I would suggest visiting the old man but unfortunately he died some time ago. He did have a daughter though. Who followed in his footsteps, well, until she disappeared. I can?t really remember her name? Talia? Teresa? Ah. Yes. Tear. That was it. An odd name for a girl.?
Scarlett was stunned. ?Tear? Shit.? She turned around and left the room.
Alexander let out a sigh. At least she didn?t ask about how her mother died. That was one conversation he was not looking forward too.
Vergil continued pacing back and forth for a moment after informing someone of the situation involving Telnor, trying to think more on the theory that the Vessel's mother suggested.
"Hmm, the logic is sound, but, without actual proof, it is flawed Vessel. That is all I have on the matter."
It was after he finished talking to the Vessel that he noticed Scarlett coming out of a side room, and walking along the corridor, looking somewhat scared and nervous. Vergil grabbed her by the shoulder as she went past him.
"What's wrong Scarlett? Is there problem?" Vergil asked in a caring and sympathetic voice.
Vergil made Scarlett jump, she had been so distracted with her own thoughts that she hadn?t heard him approach.
?Vergil.? Scarlett remarked. ?I just found out I?m going to be without my ability for a while, and well, to be honest, that kinda scares me. I?ve relied on it for so long it?s hard to imagine having to cope without it. Don?t.. Don?t tell the others ok?? Scarlett had decided to tell Vergil the truth but didn?t want her newfound weakness to be common knowledge.
She smiled. ?I did however find out something rather interesting, it seems our little friend Tear is from around here. Apparently her father helped mine in the studies of abilities.?
"Don't you worry Scarlett, your secret is safe with me." Vergil remarked in a hush tone of voice.
"Any information you have can wait awhile, you'll need some time to adjust not being yourself, if you catch my drift." Vergil remarked referring to Scarlett's predicament.
Vincent's words barely piercing the veil of raging winds, their chorus draining the drones of the world around him from the grace of his ears.
"Surprisingly, not much." Lucian fell to the base of the cold, hard, stone ground; his knee providing the counterbalance to his kneel. With his left hand resting softly upon the cap of his leg, Lucian reached into the cavity of the ashen carcass of the fallen child and brushed it over gently; a macabre resonance of nihilism rushing up his arm.
"Dojeran had always been a pit, corpses lined the streets in the winters, thieves and urchins scurried through the crumbling buildings and the constant failure of crops made it almost inhospitable."
Lucian pulled himself from the desecrated corpse of the faded body and crudely dusted himself, the concept that he had just emerged himself on the body of another barely gracing the thoughts running through his mind.
"But they survived... We, survived" Lucian announced, remembering to correctly adjust his words to incorporate himself in the events that had transpired.
"Whatever the case, we must keep moving. Find shelter in the pass." Lucian paused for a moment contemplating his next volly of words carefully.
"Then I'll explain what happened to these poor, broken corpses." Lucian added, his devilish smile reaching the contours of his lips, the chance at recounting his stirring a certain hubris from within him.