Letting Go...

[Elisabeth Black]

Arc 722, 62 Ashan

Ghosts. Sighing softly, Elisabeth stood in the shadow of the Sentry, considering her own history with them, which had begun with Balthazar’s one-time ghost companion, Nimue, to Isis on Ishallr. It was a varied history, to be sure, and while she knew something of ghosts, there had always been the desire to learn more and understand.

They gathered at the base of the Sentry, just south of Haven. The small group, comprising of Elisabeth, Balthazar, Oram, and two Zuuda, had quickly made their way from the settlement, intent on seeing what could be done to assist a situation that Balthazar and Oram had stumbled across seasons before. It had taken some time and a bit of organization, but people were finally there to help.

Elisabeth’s involvement came from Balthazar relaying the experience, which she had passed on to Jacien – the leader of the Spirit branch of the Elements. The young settlement leader, now a member of said branch in relative secret, had requested to assist due to Haven’s proximity to the Sentry. Jacien offered to send Zuuda to assess and asked that she help them with whatever support they needed.

Elisabeth, feeling that it would help to have Oram and Balthazar there to provide information if the Zuuda had questions, had written to the Chief Ranger, informing him of the plan. Balthazar had already been in Haven, having just helped her finish the chapel. One Carys Adare had contacted Elisabeth, informing her when she and another Zuuda would arrive in Haven, and that, pretty much, was how things played out. Everyone was busy, but what needed to happen was important. In Elisabeth’s mind, ghosts had once been people, and her desire to help others didn’t end with death.

The pair of Zuuda, plainly dressed, stood in front of the Sentry with Elisabeth, looking up at the structure. Carys, a dark-haired woman, glanced over at her companion, Ellis. A glance was enough to understand that communication passed between, but what and why remained a mystery.

“So,” Ellis began, looking at Elisabeth and Balthazar. “Two mages, correct? Mr. Black’s mutations are evident, and his history with magic well-known.”

Glancing at Elisabeth, he continued. “What is less well-known is where Miss Angelus stands with magic. All anyone seems to know is that you are a defier. You don’t need to tell us, of course, but it’s useful for us to know the capabilities of those around us when we are working.” He spoke in a friendly tone, but Elisabeth understood that Zuuda shared Famula’s opinions regarding magic. They wanted to know how concerned they should be about the pair, and that was fair.

“Yes, I am a defier. I have two mutations to this point.” The reply was swift – she had nothing to hide. Elisabeth was unsure if Oram knew she was a mage, but again, she had nothing to hide. The Forging had prompted her to consider the relationship she shared with her spark, causing her to be more cautious as she tried to come to terms with everything she had learned during that event.

The pair nodded her heads to her in thanks for the information before Carys spoke. “I would ask that neither of you uses your magic during our time here. Out of respect for Famula.”

Twisting a bit to face Elisabeth, Carys spoke softly, getting to the matter at hand. “As one can imagine, the eruption of Faldrass, and the traumatic deaths of so many in such a manner, left scars here. We won’t know the extent of the issue until we go inside, but nothing about this situation surprises me. I doubt there would have been an issue in the settlement due to this, but it was good to be brought to someone’s attention. Now that we know, we can see what can be done to help.”

Ellis nodded, seeming to agree with his Zuuda mentor. He turned fully around to address the two men. “It would help if you two could relay to us exactly what happened here and what was said to you. Any information you have is vital to helping us understand the situation.”

Carys turned as well, inclining her head gently to the mage and Chief Ranger. “Indeed. No matter how small a detail you think it is. Anything and everything can help.”

[Balthazar Black]

62 Ashan 722

Balthazar couldn't help but think of Nimue as the party moved back to the Sentry. She was still out there in the Beneath. Bound to the dagger he had in a chest in his room in his house on Faldrass. He hoped she could wander freely in the Beneath but he was unsure. There was much about the supernatural entities which seemed to conflict with reports he had heard. Sometimes he heard of terrifying feats, other times he heard they were remarkably limited. One trial he heard about ghosts bolstering the army in Etzos and the next he heard that they rarely made it out of the Beneath. He'd seen enough ghosts to know the latter wasn't true. He could always feel them now that he was familiar with their note. Well he was familiar with the frequency of an Empty. He wasn't sure how that related to the rest of the lot.

He knew much about ghosts through Nimue. He knew some of their limits, abilities, and weaknesses. She'd taught him much before his death and resurrection. She hadn't spoken to him since. She hadn't put forth the effort to materialize into their world. She was angry and he could not negotiate with her. He could not bring himself to destroy her, so he lived with the risk that one trial he might have the anchor of an Empty in the middle of the settlement. Other than Nimue he knew of ghosts that he had fought. He burned a building down in Viden to rid them of one. He didn't want to burn the Sentry down. These ghosts were not like the one in Viden. They could be helped... and to do so they needed the Zuuda.

He didn't like the two of them. He couldn't tell why. Maybe it was the sideways glances or the way they talked about his mutations like he wasn't standing there? Maybe it was their devotion to an immortal who despised the sparks in him? Maybe it was that the reminded him of Jacien? Probably that. When Ellis began talking, Balthazar inhaled sharply through his nose and tried to push his negative disposition out of his thoughts.

"My history with the magic you know about." Balthazar said in a low voice. It didn't seem to register for the one who was talking cause he continued. Granted... he'd been with the Elements for a long time and they probably did know. They duo targeted Elisabeth for information about her own magic. Balthazar felt she gave the information away too willingly. There was a difference between telling them what you could do, and telling them your progress with magic. Balthazar might suggest that he could douse for the ghosts, but he would not tell them that he'd essentially mastered three different sparks and was working on another. Again, not that he would really have to. He'd been more forthcoming when he was an Element. Now he paid for it.

The girl asked them not to use magic out of respect for Famula and Balthazar's brow furrowed. Not all spells were cast intentionally. If danger came for them, the elements would lash out to protect him. The elements liked Balthazar. He couldn't just tell them to go away... well he could but it was a different spell. It would count as casting too. "How does your immortal feel about supernatural abilities that aren't domain magic in nature?" Balthazar asked a serious question with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. He could conjure fire and lightning without Defiance. He could even travel as if using Rupturing without the magic now. However the question was serious because he was marked as well. If using Vri's mark offended Famula, Balthazar wanted to know.

The Zuuda duo talked and Balthazar listened but he could figure out where they were going with their sentence before they finished it. He looked around on the floor for a rock that he thought was suitable, then he picked it up and began passing it slowly between his hands. He wasn't going to try to explain everything to them all over again. They should have known already. When Balthazar was at the Sentry he was being monitored by one of the three Flame Troopers who had been assigned to him. Tib'ron. His report should have contained all the information someone could have wanted. Instead of explaining it, he was going to let them witness it himself.

He didn't wait for an answer. They were in no position to tell him that he could not use the power of his immortal, even if it was what they felt. He turned the stone into a momento, imparting an echo of the memory of his trip to the Sentry for whichever Zuuda took it to see. He held the stone out so that they could take it. "This should have what you want. I'll answer questions after."

[Oram Mednix]

62 Ashan 722

Oram peered up at the edifice and its surmounting, weirdly glowing colossus. It had been just under an arc since he and Balthazar had accompanied pseudo-Zach and his odd contingent of eidisi scholars to this place, and entered the Sentry. From what the Chief Ranger had heard, few living souls had entered the Sentry before them, or since. According to the ghost of Zach (the actual one, not the crazed Yludih impostor) the Sentry had become a gathering place for many ghosts of those killed during the last Faldrass eruption. And last season, Elisabeth Angelus had sent him a letter, telling him that she had taken it upon herself to help those spirits. Her interest had surprised him at first, yet upon further reflection he had decided that it made sense, given her project of remembering those who had perished in that eruption. Why should that project not include helping their restless spirits move on?

The hunter looked down to greet Balthazar and Elizabeth, as well as the two newcomers, who were both Zuuda apparently. He nodded to them. ”Carys, Ellis” he acknowledged curtly. ”Well met.” That actually remained to be seen, he mused, but there was little reason to be uncivil, considering that their services should soon come in handy.

Oram looked with some interest at Elisabeth when the interest of her mutations and abilities as a defier had come up. He could not remember (he thought, casting a slightly envious glance at Balthazar’s black fingernails) whether he had learned about Elisabeth’s magical abilities before. He believed perhaps he had, although he had since forgotten the details. Either way, the revelation did not particularly surprise him.

Balthazar did not seem to like the Zuuda, and Oram was not certain if he did either. They seemed odd, and asked strange questions. Mutations? Why were those important? ‘Out of respect for Famula’ they were not to use their magic? Why not? To which Balthazar had sensibly responded with a request to define what exactly ‘your magic’ included. Sensibly, but with a sarcastic edge to his voice that made Oram wince inwardly; the man could be quite abrasive, and not always at the best time.

Oram watched with a quizzical look as Balthazar handed the stone he had just picked up to the Zuuda and claimed that it contained all the answers they sought. Some sort of telemetry thing? The hunter’s own mark from Ralaith gave him an ability to read impressions of past events off of small, hand-held objects, and Balthazar bore the black nails of a Bellinos, so maybe Vri’s mark gave Balth some ability to impart memories through such objects? Similar to those memory vials Saoire had given those who had been at the Forging? Oram would await the two Zuuda’s reactions upon being handed the rock, and see if they had further questions for him. His own feeble attempts to accurately recall events from even not-quite-an-arc ago would hardly be needed if what he had heard about a Bellinos’ memory were true.