Fantasy RPG Forum - Standing Trials

Tei'serin listened intently as Ymiden confirmed that he was in fact who he said he was. She didn't question it. It seemed beyond foolish to claim to be an Immortal when you weren't one, and Tei'serin couldn't imagine anyone doing it. And for that reason, she believed this man without question. In fact, the knowledge that he was Ymiden made her trust him all the more. He was Moseke's lover, after all, and Tei'serin loved and trusted Moseke more than anyone else. Moseke was a kind, caring Immortal. It might be a very simplistic way of looking at things, but in her eyes, if Moseke trusted and loved Ymiden, then he had to be good as well.

When Ymiden spoke to the wooden doll named Niv, he confirmed that he was her creator. Or rather that he was indirectly because someone named Alaiwa created her kind so she wouldn't be lonely. Tei'serin didn't know who Alaiwa was, but she guessed that if she created Niv's kind so she wouldn't be lonely, then she was probably a member of the same race. The first member, in fact. And the context of what Ymiden was saying suggested that he had created Alaiwa, so in turn it could be said that he had created Niv's people.

As Tei'serin considered Ymiden's words, she was reminded of a story her mother had told her long ago. The details were foggy at best, but the story had been about Ymiden's love for Moseke. It had been so great that he had created an entire race of people just to cheer her up when she was grieving. Tei'serin tried to remember everything she could about the story. What was the race that had been Ymiden's gift to Moseke called? The Tuni...something? No, that wasn't quite right. Tuna...Tunäwä. That was it. He had created the Tunäwä, and Niv was one of that race.

Ymiden continued speaking, and he told the other man...Patrick? Yes; Ymiden told Patrick that this was Emea. That reminded Tei'serin about another story she had heard from her mother as a young child. Emea, the land of dreams where everything was possible. Tei'serin's eyes widened. Did that mean that Emea was real? If so, did that mean that dreams were real, too? What about nightmares? Tei'serin shuddered at that thought. Her nightmares were often quite vivid. Many times, she was simply reliving things that had happened in the past. But just as often, her nightmares were based off of real events, but were far worse in some ways. Tei'serin couldn't help but be horrified at the thought that her nightmares might somehow be real.

But Ymiden was speaking again, and Tei'serin quickly focused on what he was saying once more. He did need help. He wanted an artifact to give Moseke. That alone made Tei'serin determined to help him in any way she could. By helping Ymiden get this artifact, whatever it might be, she would be helping Moseke indirectly. And there was nothing she wouldn't do to help Moseke if it were in her power.

As he spoke, Ymiden played with the acorn halves that they had drunk from earlier. Beneath one was a ring. Tei'serin continued to listen intently, but her eyes were on the acorn that the ring was under. She watched curiously as he moved it around along with the others.

"I'll help" she said at last, when Ymiden stood to leave.

A woman's voice echoed softly in the tunnel they had come through. Tei'serin's eyes widened again when she recognized that voice. It was Moseke. She couldn't hear the words clearly, but it sounded like Moseke was calling Ymiden. Was she here, too? If so, she didn't enter the clearing. When Ymiden was gone, Tei'serin glanced at the acorns he had left behind. She thought she knew which one the ring she had seen was under, and when she picked it up to check, she found that she was right.

Tei'serin stared at the ring for several trills. It was small, but it was also very pretty. Ymiden had left it behind...did that mean that it was a gift for them? Slowly, hesitantly, she picked up the ring, feeling its slight weight in her hand. After a few more trills of hesitation, she closed her hand around the ring, and left the clearing, taking the ring with her when she did.