Fantasy Campfire

[Enkerzed]

From another time and another place,

From worlds past and worlds yet to be,

Gather here in this strange and distant space.

​

You open your eyes... or perhaps they were already open from the start. Is this a dream? You might be thinking to yourself. Or is this the afterlife? Either way, you find yourself here at this place at this particular moment in time. There is a fire burning on the hard dirt floor and all around is inky darkness. The light only reaches far enough to illuminate the ring of logs surrounding it and a hooded figure in a black cloak sitting at the other end of the fire. A slight wind blows across the flickering flames as he lifts his head and speaks, "I'm sure you've realized by now, but the voice you've been hearing is me. I'm afraid I can't say whether this is a dream or the afterlife, or some place in between. Strange as it may seem, the answer solely depends on you. I'm just here to listen to your story, so come have a seat. There's just a few things you should know before we begin..."

Rules:

1. Whatever this place may be to you, it happens to be my domain and I do have some degree of control over who gets to stay, so please don't cause any trouble. Like I said, I'm just here to listen to your story. I do have an interest in drama I must admit, but not of that sort.

No attacking, demeaning, insulting, or harassing other users as per site rules. Also, please make a character in the 'Characters' thread and wait for me to approve it before you start posting here.

~~~

2. You can stay and speak for as long as you like, but you're likely not the only one here, so let others have the chance to say their piece from time to time. It's only polite.

Don't post out of turn unless the next person decides to skip their post. Likewise, always notify whether you wish to skip your turn, either here or in OOC.

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3. I probably won't do it often, but if I speak directly to your... for lack of a better term, your maker, then they'd better listen up because whatever needs to be discussed might end up affecting you.

Respond to my messages.

~~~

4. By whatever logic runs in this place, everyone is invisible until you acknowledge them directly. Otherwise they'll just remain as disembodied voices, so if you're wondering how many people these logs can fit, well, that's also up to you.

Tag whoever you are interacting with.

~~~

5. If you want, you can use the fire to help tell your story. Just make sure you ask for my permission first.

If you want to copy and paste your post or a segment of it from another roleplay on this site, pm me first so I can check whether it's appropriate for the site.

~~~

6. If you leave the light of the fire, you go back to wherever you came from. So in case you were wondering, there's really nothing out there in the dark except for the occasional wind. But if you wish to leave, well, I won't stop you. Just know that you're welcome back at anytime.

Nothing to add really. You are free to come and go as you please.

​

"... And that's about it. So now it's your turn to speak. Who you are, where you're from, all your dreams and successes, all your failures and regrets, all your experiences from here to there and back again. However long it takes, feel free to share as much or as little as you like. Whatever else this place is lacking, time is the one thing we have plenty of here."

 

[Enkerzed]

Enkerzed

Galzis blinked as he tried to absorb what the hooded figure was saying. With no idea of what this place was or how he had gotten there, the Dragoon was disoriented to say the least. The last thing he could remember was fighting against a dragon in the air and being struck to the ground by what felt like a falling mountain...

With limbs flailing and his heart in his mouth, the world only continued to spin faster for Galzis as he struggled to control his descent. With the few glimpses he caught of the rapidly approaching earth, he determined that he had roughly six seconds before hitting the ground and landing in the town on any number of parts of his body. For some like Reiyu, six seconds would have been more than enough to correct a bad landing, but that had never been Galzis's forte. Without the reflexes or agility to right his form, he had only one option in a situation like this.

Spreading his arms and legs out wide, the Dragoon made a last ditch effort to curb his wild tumbling through the air and tensed up in anticipation of the impact, trusting the hard earned durability of his body. This is going to hurt, he had time to think just before hitting the ground hard on his back with his head bouncing off the cobblestones, knocking him unconscious.

"Huh, looked like you had a hell of a time before getting here," the Firekeeper said as he watched the scene come to life in the flames before ending in a sputter of embers.

"That... went poorly," Galzis muttered as he sat down slowly on the nearest log.

"My sympathies."

The crackling of the fire filled the silence as Galzis leaned over his knees, running his hands through his coal black hair as he tried to process the tumult of emotions storming within. Allowing him his space, the Firekeeper only looked on in quiet understanding.

"I just can't seem to stop failing," the Dragoon said as he bared his teeth in a grimace. "The town... the dragon... all those people. How many of them are dying right now while I'm lying around somewhere in the streets? While I'm here."

His eyes hardening with determination and his hands closing into fists, Galzis stood up in a hurry and continued as his frustration coalesced into resolve, "This is a waste of time, I need to get back. How do I leave this place?"

"Just turn around and walk," the Firekeeper answered nonchalantly. "It's like I said before, you leave the light, you go back where you came from. Simple as that."

"Then I take my leave."

Without another word, Galzis walked away from the fire and into the darkness, ready for whatever awaited him on the other side.

"Good luck!" the Firekeeper called out before he disappeared. Now that was a warrior if he had ever seen one. "So, who's next?"

 

[The_Omega_Effect]

Nikolai looked around trying to analyze everything that was around him. The fire brought into reality what was supposedly the final memory of the man speaking before he came here. To this place. He had what seemed to be swords, archaic weapons used primarily within the medieval periods of human history. Was he a part of a species that looked like the humans who were early within their development? How did he even get here? Before he could raise his voice to talk to the man, he said goodbye and left the campfire, walking out into the darkness. Turning back into the fire, he began to remember what had happened before he got here.

Was he even called Nikolai then? He mostly went by Zero as nobody got close enough to know who he really was. The big open wastelands of Mars gave people like him a lawless terrain to run rampant in. It was like the wild west with much more advanced technology. Picking off targets from range was the most thrilling thing for him. At some point, bounty hunting was less for money and more for sport. The fun of it as Zero had nothing else to do. Nothing else that he himself found interesting anyway. He was not good with memories, with him not even remembering who he was back then either. It all changed when he rode into a certain small town however. It was a day like any other.

He had missed a shot on a target due to the scope of his rifle being misaligned by mere degrees. Being the perfectionist that he was, Zero went to the nearest town to get his weapon repaired. He remembered every single thing that happened when he got there. The repair building was attached to another building which was a tavern of sorts which did not make too much sense. Later down the line he found out that the owners were sisters. The woman half thought he was there to shoot the place up with how dodgy and threatening he normally looked. With him acting casually while being completely covered up like that did make him out to be silly at times.

Nikolai snapped out of thought. His memories were being "played" in the fire similar to that other guy's memories. He looked at the firekeeper and asked "Am I dead?...Who are you?"

Enkerzed

 

[Enkerzed]

The_Omega_Effect

"Just a firekeeper," the hooded figure replied as he spread his hands out in the gesture of a shrug. "As for whether you're alive or dead, I'm afraid I don't know. You'll have to answer that one yourself."

Gesturing towards a log with a wave of his hand, the Firekeeper indicated for the bounty hunter to take a seat as he continued, "But you might as well get comfortable first. Something tells me you've got quite the story."

 

[The_Omega_Effect]

Zero walked towards the campfire with confusion, him sitting on one of the logs beside the fire and trying to get comfortable in his seat. "I'm not one for telling good stories. But it seems as if its the only thing I can do here." He sat down and pondered for a while before removing his hat, goggles and bandana to reveal his face. For some reason, this place transcended logic and reason, with nothing really making sense. Whatever it was, there was no reason to keep those things on. In order to tell the truth, he had to be open about things for once.

"Well...I didn't really know who I was at that point in time. Too preoccupied with targets, my guns and money to even think about things like that. I was just a guy that was good at shooting guns. It began to change at that point. In that tavern I saw and met a lot of interesting people. Now I'm not really the sort of person to just stay quiet and never interact with people. I usually try to make sure I blend in and sometimes, staying quiet can make you stand out. But I was on friendlier terms with some of them. There was this big bounty that everyone was after. I found someone willing to work with me and...well... I can't remember any more. Everything just seems fuzzy afterwards."

Enkerzed

 

[Enkerzed]

The_Omega_Effect

The Fire keeper nodded his head as he listened along. "That's unfortunate," he replied when the bounty hunter finished speaking.

It was a common problem some of the visitors had in this place. Like trying to remember a dream, it suddenly became difficult to recall the place they came from and what had transpired before arriving here, here at this campfire in the middle of nowhere and nowhen.

As far as the Firekeeper could guess, the bounty hunter must have been one of those who were fully conscious at the time before the awareness of their own reality, like most dreams, came to an abrupt end, unfinished and unresolved. It happened more often than not.

"Maybe it'll come back to you later," the Firekeeper suggested hopefully. "Sounds like it must've been pretty exciting. And dangerous too, how'd you get into it? Bounty hunting."

 

[The_Omega_Effect]

Enkerzed

"Heh. Well at least we are going a different direction through my memories. Backwards instead of forwards." The more he dug into his mid for answers, the more confused he became. In his memories, there were a string of few days where he remembers every single detail. All of the past before that was very vague and it was almost as if he blacked out afterwards, only to wake up here. Like he went to sleep or fell into a coma. It made no sense. A lot of the things he did were regular, day to day things with very little being special about them. But why those memories and not any before...
"I can't remember too far back. The money was good. I enjoyed being a menacing presence. I remember being good at shooting people, I remember taking lives being the only thing that brought me excitement and...I also remember..." Zero had a headache, with him starting to force out the experiences that caused him to be so disconnected with his former self. There was a place called Galilee that he came from. What happened there, what he had to do, caused him immense shock that lead to his losing sight of himself. "Nikolai...that's my name right? Not "Zero"." Had his reality continued to be, perhaps his past issues could be resolved, with him finding peace and perhaps a future with those with him. It was not meant to be

 

[Enkerzed]

The_Omega_Effect

"Let's just say that it is," the Firekeeper replied then added after a moment's consideration, "Nikolai."

Truthfully, the Firekeeper was somewhat disturbed to hear the bounty hunter's tale. Unlike the warrior from earlier, this was a man addicted to bloodshed. Or at least, he had been. The part of him known as 'Zero'. The hooded figure briefly wondered what it would have been like to talk to this earlier version of Nikolai before speaking again, "Not my place to judge, things you've done. Just the thrill of the hunt, right?"

Gazing into the flames, the Firekeeper continued, "There's a power to it, makes you feel alive. Like this big bounty you mentioned, any details you care to recall? Must have been a real piece of work."

 

[The_Omega_Effect]

Enkerzed

Nikolai nodded as the firekeeper described how it felt, agreeing to it being just the thrill of the hunt. "The big bounty. Everyone was after him. Everyone in the tavern that is. The people there needed the money way more that I did as I was pretty much set for a month or so at that point in time. But I did not really care about others. He was called Finch. One of the bounty hunters, or "yeomen" as they were called, tried to assassinate him in a game of poker. She was the "I'm going to shoot you after we have sex" sort of person. Well she failed and everyone wanted to get a hold of her to get information on this guy. I...tried...but I came off as awkward so she just left. heh."

"I was going to leave the tavern and just try to gun Finch down but then the tavern was on lock down by some police droid so I had to stay in. I sat at the counter next to this other yeomen with a blade. She was...fun I guess. Not sure. It was more her laughing at me being really awkward and weird. I wasn't really that much of a social person so I didn't get why people did some things. We teamed up on killing that guy and left together. After I got my modified sniper rifle from the repair place next door. The idea was that after we found him, we'd get in position and I'd shoot him. She'd cover me as we escaped and then the bounty would be split. That was the plan anyways. She was smart and knew about organized crime and all. Since we already knew what businesses Finch owned, we had a destination and an objective."

Nikolai looked at the firekeeper briefly before asking. "Have you killed someone? You seem to understand how it feels. Or have psychopaths like me come here before me?"

 

[Venchi1986]

Enkerzed The_Omega_Effect

Kuji had no idea where he was or how he got there, he instantly assumed that the bracelet must have had something to do with it since just seconds ago it, presumably said that it was time. At least he thought it was just seconds ago for all he knew hours or even days could have passed. Knowing he would probably look silly if he was was wrong, even if there only seemed to be two other people, he talked into it. "Did you somehow bring me here and if so why and for what reason?"

Before he could worry about looking crazy he could hear the voice form before again. "No human, this wasn't my work. You must go back the Beast Khan is attacking." Naturally since he never heard of the Beast Khan this left him even more confused. But he could still tell it was important so he turned to the two others by the campfire. "Ehm do you know how I can get back? Apparently I have to somehow stop an attack by this Beast Khan."

 

[Enkerzed]

The_Omega_Effect Venchi1986

"Seen all sorts," the Firekeeper replied. "Though as to whether I've ever killed before, well, I suppose it depends on how you look at it. Death isn't exactly a thing here, you see. You could shoot me right between the eyes with one of your guns and the bullet would just pass on through, and it'd be the same for me if I tried it back. Can't feel pain here neither, not unless you decide to that is, so any experience I have with violence is purely second hand. Through the visions in the fire and the stories I hear. There is one thing I can do though..."

Before he could explain any further, the campfire flickered loudly and then another visitor appeared. He was a silver haired youth with a bracelet on his hand and a general air of confusion as he spoke of a 'Beast Khan'.

"Just turn around and walk, simple as that," the Firekeeper said in response, then with a brief glance at Nikolai before returning his focus to the youth, he added whilst raising his hand as though preparing to snap his fingers, "Or I could send you back, faster that way."

 

[The_Omega_Effect]

Enkerzed

Nikolai squinted with doubt as the Firekeeper told him that it was not possible to hurt someone else in this place. Was that really the case? With how weird this place was to begin with, it seemed to be somewhat believable. He still wanted to test this though. In his sitting position, his hand quickly went to the holster at his side to grab his revolver. It took him less than half a second to aim at his head and fire. The bullet passed through him, with it continuing on into the darkness outside of the fireplace. "You weren't kidding..." He held the gun out as its barrel smoked for a few more seconds before holstering it back and returning to his relaxed position. "So...what was it that you can do?"

 

[Venchi1986]

Enkerzed The_Omega_Effect



While he was surprised he wasn't freaking out more over being in this strange place where some guy with goggles and some bandana mask just tried to blow his own head off because some hooded figure said they couldn't die or feel pain, Kuji was expecting something strange to happen even since that bracelet literally came out of nowhere. He faced the man with the goggles and clearly acting calm began talking. "You do realize there were less dangerous ways to test his words, right?"

He then approached the hooded figure. "I'm not sure if I can trust you or what I'm supposed to do about this Beast Khan, but the sooner I get the better so I accept your offer."

 

[xrakkax]

Enkerzed The_Omega_Effect Venchi1986



About this time a tall man stepped into view. His looming figure cast a long shadow behind him. Pale purple eyes peered lazily around; weary, sleepless. A hand swooped over his ebony hair. "Don't mind me. Just dropping in for a quick rest, and if you don't mind, I'd like to ask a couple of questions of whoever is staying." A coat weaved from shadow trailed behind him, the hem flickered as if grasping on to tangibility. He plopped on a log by the Firekeeper and gestured for them to continue. He could wait. Appearing abruptly was already a bit rude, no need to interrupt.

 

[Enkerzed]

A cold wind blows through the campfire, causing the flames to waver. Due to the convoluted logic of this place, the Firekeeper is now addressing everyone at once for this post. Though each character is seeing and hearing something slightly different from their own perspective, each interaction is occurring simultaneously.


The_Omega_Effect

"So... what was it that you can do?"

At first the Firekeeper was surprised to see Nikolai fire his gun so quickly, but then his mouth curled into a smile of amusement as he replied, "This."

With a snap of his fingers, the silver haired youth disappeared into thin air and a cold wind whistled through where he was standing only a moment before.

Dropping his hand back down, the Firekeeper waited for the gust of wind to subside before he spoke again in an almost rueful manner with his eyes on his feet, "I can send people back wherever they came from, but if they happen to be dead on the other side, well... I don't know what happens after that, so I guess it's a kind of killing."

Leaning back with a sigh, the Firekeeper stretched out a leg as he continued, "Sometimes they come back, only it's a different version of themselves and they don't remember ever coming here. Sometimes they do remember and help fill in the blanks, where they went, what happened to them, et cetera. It's always different though. Different people, different worlds, different rules... But this place stays the same."

"In any case, I didn't expect you to test what I said so quickly. Curiosity get the better of you?"

Then at that moment, a dark haired visitor arrived at the campfire.

Venchi1986

"You do realize there were less dangerous ways to test his words, right?"

"It's quite alright," the Firekeeper said as his mouth curled into a smile of amusement. "None of this is real anyway. Well, not to you at least."

Then the youth approached him and the Firekeeper leaned forward intently to listen to what he had to say.

"Very well," he replied afterwards. "Whatever this Khan business is, I hope it goes well for you."

With a snap of his fingers, the silver haired youth disappeared into thin air and a cold wind whistled through where he was standing only a moment before.

xrakkax

The dark haired visitor did not seem very surprised to be here, but then again, some were like that from time to time. A lucid dreamer perhaps?

"Well I'm always here," the Firekeeper responded after the visitor spoke while sitting down next to him. "What would you like to know?"


The wind subsides and the campfire returns to a steady burn. Your characters may or may not have noticed this strange phenomenon. If they have, the experience would be something akin to deja vu.

 

[xrakkax]

Enkerzed

"Well first I’d like to know if an androgynous person came through here, most likely accompanied by an entourage of five or so others— oh, my name is Alek, by the way. Aleksanteri Desta—“ Can't forget manners! Though, Alek did not know what passed as ‘good’ etiquette in this place. No one realm of existence was like the other, as he learned through his travels. “—this person would most likely dress well-to-do, if not outright royal. The other’s clothes would be the same high quality, but the attire is undoubtedly subservient in comparison. Probably uniform-like. I’m sorry to say, but that’s as much as I can describe them. They tend to blend into whatever place they pass through to be more easily received. The accompanists are not always the same either. . .There is a mark this person has, though. A black rose with thirteen petals. It is not a tattoo, but it is imprinted. Unfortunately, I am unaware of which part of the body you’d find it. The others would also have a mark, but it would be a single petal. Most likely hidden as not to call attention to them being a marked person. I know it’s a long shot. This isn't something a person would casually see. But, I have to ask.”

 

[Soliloquy]

Enkerzed The_Omega_Effect xrakkax

Darkness, while always a comfort throughout life, had acted as the vessel it did tonight - it was night? No, it had to be the late hours, morning never felt as heavy as it did emerging in the clearing. A fire that seemed real enough, along with far too many people. Just outside the ring of logs that served as seating, sharp eyes weighed the scene, listening as form after form indulged by the keeper of the flames. And to think, there were people who had the audacity to say she was unstable for speaking to a lion.

Speaking of, where had he gone off to? Surely she should be better focused on her own situation, but Aslandria didn't sense a bit of threat in any of these souls. Deciding that observing wasn't going to get her any further, the Lioness stepped into sight, sculpted calves clearing the logs like any other step. "Looking for someone? Sounds like fun - what's the penny on their head?" she questioned the dark-haired man to last speak, a smile toying at the corner of her lips. "Then again, a manhunt in the transcendence could be a tad difficult, don't you think kitten?"

 

[Enkerzed]

xrakkax Soliloquy

The Firekeeper was not quite prepared for Aleksanteri's verbose description of the person he was seeking, but tried to follow along anyway. When the dark haired visitor had at last reached the end of his lengthy verbiage, the Firekeeper could only respond, "Can't say I've seen anyone like that. Sorry."

Then the campfire flickered and the other visitor appeared, this one a short but fearsome looking woman with striking red hair, fierce green eyes and a faint smile on her lips as she spoke to Aleksanteri. There was something predatory about that smile, the Firekeeper thought as he interjected, "It's not out of the question actually. Not improbable too for that matter."

He held out a hand towards both visitors as he added, "If I may elaborate."

 

[xrakkax]

Enkerzed Soliloquy

The Firekeeper’s reply wasn’t too unexpected, so Alek simply thanked him for hearing him out.

At this point, a woman made herself known. She was beautiful, fierce-looking.

Alek knew only one other person in his time with a blaze of feistiness inside them as he saw in Aslandria, and even shared the same hair color, though the woman Alek remembered had eyes like the sea after a storm— a grey with hint of blue, not green. Scarlet Refhvörf, otherwise known as the ‘Red Wolf of Rylia’, ‘The Werewolf of Hell’, ‘Blood Howl’, had been a former Gladiator. Alek knew better than to assume any one person was alike to another. Aslandria was regarded with due respect as the individual she was, though he could not deny the image of Scarlet that was brought to mind because of this new woman’s presence.

Aslandria questioned Alek.

Penny on their head? An image of a line of serfman with a rope around their necks and a copper coin pressed between their eyes popped up in Alek’s mind. It was unlikely this newcomer meant to refer to a custom of peasantry to preset themselves in humility and subjugation to their land Lord once a year, what with the way she phrased her words, but Alek did not know the colloquialism in any other context than to express that you were a Freefolk. Granted where he heard it it was phrased ‘You don’t see a penny on my (or their) head’, sometimes ‘Ne’er a’rope ‘round my neck, nor’e penny on my head’. Alek’s certainty that he’d not been to wherever she was from, forced him to pick the best guess.

“If you mean to ask what reward, well, there is none,” Alek explained that aside from a standard price being too complicated to set, what with the value of items differing from realm to realm, his biggest obstacle was time. “I can’t be sure that the realm of existence I visited will still be there upon return, let alone the nation in which I posted the bounty. So you see, it is a waste for me.” Her comment about the difficulty elicited a sigh of agreement. “Well, it is much more so since Zelda sealed Erica away.” Alek flicked his hand and a roll of canvas appeared in his grasp. He let it unfurl to reveal an image of a sleeping woman partially submerged in water.

“Erica’s ability is kind of like a compass. It was quite helpful, as you can imagine. But, Zelda and Erica got into a fight one day, Zelda got angry and painted her into a picture of a lily pond—“ Again a flick and the canvas was gone. “—then Zelda stormed off because I argued with her about what she did. It’s a big mess. But, I can’t sit and do nothing, so, Erica or not, Zelda or not, I continue onward. I’m sure ole Zel will come around sometime and undo this. . .and if not, I suppose I’ll figure it out one day. . .” Alek said the last with less confidence. The weariness in his eyes seemed to prick at him further. “I’m sorry for trailing on, I haven’t seen another person in quite a long time. And my quest is ages old. . .I must find Viiti, the androgynous person. Or better yet, Samara. But young Samara, if you can believe it, is hardest between the two to track.”

The next words from the Firekeeper perked Alek’s attention. He kept a healthy level of skepticism though. This could either be a good idea or end up putting his search for Viiti and Samara on hold once again, like the time he was invited to search a magical cave that was actually a stomach of a monster intent on eating him alive.

“Well, what have I got to lose?” Alek reached out.

 

[Soliloquy]

Limber legs sprawled out before her as Aslandria lowered herself to one of the logs. The heat of the fire hungrily reached out to her, flicking about as if begging for just a bite. Throughout her life, the flames had always been a welcoming embrace, albeit one she was denied touching for her younger years. Magic, particularly that involving such an unforgiving element, was unheard of in the village she lived in - that was until she burnt it to the ground. A small tantrum that engorged those around her, leaving her orphaned, a product of her own anger. The years after were a jumbled mess, that was until she met her companion - where was he?

That would have to wait, it seemed, first offered a hand by the Firekeeper that she only looked at skeptically. Even at a distance, it seemed surreal, as was this entire scenario. Her own hand remained instead at the hilt of her sword, angled behind her in order to allow comfortable seating. He might not pose a threat, but that didn't mean the Lioness was going to be so forgiving, at least not yet.

Her thoughts didn't linger long, instead being captured by the dark-haired man - Alex was it? A man who clearly enjoyed the sound of his own voice; not a trait that she was fond of. Men had proven to her time and time again that their greed and self-preservation were incessant, leaving her clawing and biting her way to being established in a world based on phallic power. Granted, this man seemed much more consumed in an endless tirade of quests, sounding more like a crier than a warrior. She could hardly keep up with all the names and stories he was rambling off, and her look of feigned interest was not one she exerted much effort into.

"I've never been one to bite my tongue," she told him plainly, her most genuine state of being, "So I'll be forward when I say that it sounds like your problems seem to arise by the number of women you choose to associate with. Women who don't have enough to fill their own time quarrel in the affairs of others, causing several unnecessary obstacles. I recommend you keep better company - I promise you'll find that the stress is more manageable."

There was no bounty? A real shame. She thoroughly enjoyed a hung where there was a glistening stack calling her name at the end. After all, more money meant better equipment and a full belly - the two things that were most important. Not some silly maidens fighting about and drawing each other into pictures. Still, it was his bed to lay in (or not, by the sounds of it) so she'd only speak her mind and leave him to suffer. Besides, it seemed that they were going to be taking on a change after all, watching as he accepted the Firekeepers hand.

If Wrath was there, he'd be chewing her ear off even if no one else heard it. Going off about what a silly cub she'd be to trust anothers magic - one of the first lessons that had been imprinted in her. But the four-legged mentor was no where to be seen or chastise as she also held out a leather-clad glove and placed it in the open hand. "I'd rather not wind up in pieces or multiple dimensions, so be sure that you incapacitate me if you don't want me to be hunting you down," she told the hooded figure, unphased by the simple fact that he really was untouchable. Nothing would quell the spite-fire within her.

 

[Enkerzed]

xrakkax Soliloquy

The Firekeeper raised his eyebrows as he followed the exchange between the two visitors, expecting that he might have to send one of them back in the near future, but he said nothing for now as he took their hands in his before lifting his other hand directly over the fire. He closed his eyes and at once the flame leaped up to twice its height, becoming a roaring bonfire as it swallowed the Firekeeper's arm up to the elbow.

Though the flames flared hot, unleashing a blast of embers into the still dark air, the Firekeeper remained unfazed as he spoke, "What I am doing right now is linking your memories to the fire and although most do not remember ever coming here, the fire remembers all. Every visitor, every story, every moment, it's all right here, imprinted in the flames. A part of it for eternity. It's likely that if the people you are looking for ever came through this place, you can find them through the memories of the fire and call them here, or at least a version of them at the time of their visit."

And with those words, the fire continually shifted and weaved into different forms, showing the face of a red haired woman at one moment and then the image of a lion in the next. "Scarlet... Wrath," the flames spoke, its sharp crackling and hissing transformed into words in the voices of those whose memories they belonged to. The fire shifted again. "Aleksanteri... Aslandria."

"Ah, so that's your name," the Firekeeper said to the red haired visitor as the flames continued to shuffle through one image to the next.

It continued on like so until the Firekeeper pulled his arm away from the fire, unburnt and unscathed, and he spoke as the flames shrank down to their original size, "Unfortunately, As Nikolai demonstrated earlier, we are still mere ghosts in this place. Just voices with the illusion of forms and even though my hand may feel real to you..."

With his hand still holding those of the visitors, the Firekeeper suddenly dropped his hand and lifted it again as he waved it up and down through their fingers, passing through them like air.

"You're only imagining it. I actually didn't have to hold your hand at all for that little demonstration, I just like the theatricality of it."

The Firekeeper grinned briefly before continuing, "That being said though, everything else I said is true. This place is for the dreamers... and the dead too for that matter, but that aside, you can think of it as a shared dream. Visitors like yourselves come and go, but the fire remains constant and it remembers everything. So give it a try, see if you can find who you're looking for and bring them here. If nothing else then at least for answers."

And a good story, the Firekeeper thought, though he kept that to himself.

 

[xrakkax]

Enkerzed Soliloquy

Alek spoffed at the thought of simply not associating with these persnickety women, imagining what that would be like with a smile on his face. “Would that I could.” He finally said as even Aslandria went to hold the Firekeepers hand. “Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. Erica, Zelda, and even Viiti and I. . .we are not our own beings, you see. I’m not a ‘man’. Erica and Zelda aren’t ‘women’. I know I use those pronouns, and I have said ‘person’ in reference to Viiti, but it’s just easier to say that than to explain what a ’Split’ or ‘Splinter’ is, and I still get my point across about needing to find Viiti.” Alek said, in the moment the Firekeeper lifted his hand over the fire. “I can’t avoid them, or the others, even if I wanted to. To fully cure Samara’s Dissociative Identity Disorder, and thus make her a whole-minded person again, we will need to fuse all Splinters together.” Pity flickered in his lavender eyes. “Whether Zelly likes it or not.”

Zelda had sealed Erica away—the only one would could track her with any precision— and she bought herself some time. But inevitability ran a price higher than Zelda could pay. One day no canvas would be enough.

For the moment Alek was taken in awe of the beauty fire had, what with the way it sang out as it rose. He nearly missed the words of anyone around him, but could probably snap back to attention if they did speak. Alek caught the meaning of the Firekeeper well enough.

“Incredible. Truly.” Alek murmured, and reflected on an old wizard he knew who mentioned his theory that methods of magic are relative to how it is perceived it must be used. Setting aside his wondering mind, Alek hovered his hand over the fire and it sprang up as it did for the Firekeeper. To test, Alek sought Scarlet out again. Alek did indeed see Scarlet in her humanoid shape . .

Red hair made a fond impression on Alek, whose mind jumped unexpectedly to Helena McNair; an equally fiesty Merlin of Camelot. And just as unexpected, he saw her as well. . .

That was enough time spent on others though. Alek had a unique chance here. Although he did not find Viiti, for no face— even a false one—showed in reference to that Splinter, Alek took a chance on Zelda first, but found nothing, and then he searched for Samara. To his delight, Alek saw her. At least, he saw the person she must assume she is. Samara’s mind was so broken she had trouble knowing she was Samara in the first place.

Although Samara looked older than she truly was, and her coloring did not match her true form, and other such differences, Alek trusted this fire knew what he was looking for and Alek called to her.

Samara. . .

A moment passed. Then two. Then— “Firekeeper? Did you call?” A voice, unfamiliar to Alek’s ears caught his attention. Alek turned to see the young woman from the flames standing with a young man of the same age, and surprisingly, the same features. Quite similar— too similar. Twins, undoubtedly. This young man had his guard up. You could see it in his eyes, the way his arm crossed over his sister’s, how his brows tipped inward in a wrinkle of concern. They both studied Alek and Aslandria with caution. Neither stepped closer.

In his years spent searching, Alek had imagined this moment over and over in his mind and no meeting was ever alike the other. This scenario hadn’t even been considered as a possibility. Alek took care to chose his words well. “It is I who called you here, Samara. It's me, Aleksanteri Desta. Who might this be?” He couldn’t deny that whatever bond she made with this ‘twin’ of hers must be strong, from how they visibly leaned for comfort and support to each other. Best to make friends of her friends.

Confusion, and what could be taken as offense, twisted her face. “I am not Samara.” Her chromatic red eyes settled on the campfire, back up at Alek, then to her twin. Samara searched her twins gaze in earnest, almost panic. Whatever had happened to them in their past to unsettle her that she could be called to this place under a name she did not identify as her own, Alek did not know, but the following words gave him hope.

“Let’s go back to Vohkrii, Jena.” Said the twin, and with a last glance of warning toward Alek only a beloved and protective brother could give, he pulled her towards the darkness and they vanished in a plume of black.

“Wait!" Alek reached out, but of course, this did not stop them. Alek felt his heart beat forcefully. Was this real? Had he truly stumbled upon good luck for once? He stood there, processing what had happened. The last words of the twin stuck in his mind. "Vohkrii. I know that place.” Alek eased down on the log, numbly playing through the moments that just transpired.

 

[Soliloquy]

Enkerzed xrakkax

Aslandria watched the parlor trick of the raising flames, hardly in any sort of amazement. She had seen countless situations like this and much more impressive in her lifetime, although she wouldn't go so far as to dole out insults quite yet. After all, even if she was slightly annoyed, no one had gone so far as to tip the scales of patience, at least not on purpose. She'd let them have their fun show and games, emerald eyes following the gestures and listening with mild interest. That was until the silhouette of a woman she didn't know was replaced by the glorious mane of the beast she knew all too well.

"Wrath.." her voice echoed the hungry flames, one of her hands flinching and nearly reaching into their licking grasps. There could have been a hundred lions before her, but there wasn't a shred of doubt that she was looking at the image of her companion. Those searing golden orbs that made most uneasy while she found their peering into the soul to be a comfort. A ravenous beast that she found more solace in than any human. Well, almost any human..

In her mind she hadn't even said the name, but just the thought of Malice made the vivid image of her appear as if the ice mage was two steps away. Her soft curves were captivating, but it was the sharp tone of her gaze, eyes boring into Aslandria that made it feel just so real. Countless times she'd seen the Empress, in every variation of presence, but it had been years since they'd shared presence. Countless moons since the fierce Lioness had melted into those porcelain arms, since she was subdued to little more than a meek kitten. All of those memories, pouring into the fire, until -

Her image rippled away while they were joined in the clearing by two new figures. Still in a confounded state from the vision granted by the fire, Aslandria stayed quiet, only to hear her heart pounding in her chest as if she were frightened for her life. But no, she was never the type to have fear, to sense anything that would leave her so vulnerable...not since Malice. Just as quickly as the two figures had come, they pulled away, leaving her with her thoughts as well as the few who had been present before the demonstration.

Clearing her throat, she felt it necessary to place a hand on her collarbone, as if feeling would give some sense of understanding. "That's - is that someone you're after?" she asked, needing the distraction more than she cared to admit and only met with a weak voice that she despised. She wanted to care about the two who had paid short visit, but in truth, now she was too fearful of the luscious form from long ago appearing.

"If they are, they don't seem to want to be found," a rumble of a voice came from behind the warrior mage, making her spin about in disbelief. She'd heard him speak countless times, but never in such a tangible way, always as one would hear their own thoughts. Aslandria expected to see the lion that had shown itself in the fire, instead met by a towering figure, clad in mismatched leather with flowing hair so parallel to the mane she had grasped so tight...

A playful smirk crossed his full lips, golden eyes glistening as they focused on her, clearly ambivalent toward the others around them. "Hello to you as well, cub," Wrath said with a clear sense of pride in his appearance, just as the majestic lion never feared to do. Aslandria felt her throat sinking to her stomach, leaving her speechless and quite honestly nearly out of her mind. Feeling herself growing light headed, or so she imagined, she dropped down to sit on one of the logs beside the distraught Alek, incoherent mumbling of how this couldn't be possible.

 

[Enkerzed]

The flames were burning brighter than the Firekeeper had seen in a long time as the intermingling of fates played out before it. All the history between these otherworldly travelers, all the depth of emotions, the things said and left unsaid, all of it coming out into the light like stars in a night sky, it was exactly what he had been hoping for.

Sighing contentedly, the Firekeeper opened his mouth to speak and at that moment, a cold wind blew across the campfire.

xrakkax

"Found a lead, huh?" he said to Alek as the dark haired man, or rather 'Splinter', sat down looking like he was altogether somewhere else.

The Firekeeper was glad to share in this moment of triumph; of a step in the right direction, no matter how small, towards the conclusion of the visitor's long quest. However, it would all be for naught if he were to forget the nature of where he was and the Firekeeper was too invested now to let that slip.

"Just remember what I said earlier," he advised as he pointed towards the flames. "The fire might remember everything, but you might not. If whatever you learned was something important, you'll want it in writing the moment you get back to your world. It's too easy to forget this place, no matter how profound its effect."

Hopefully that was enough.

Soliloquy

"It's real," the Firekeeper said to Aslandria, gently urging her as he pointed towards the man known as Wrath. "Well, as real as real can be in this place, but he's there, so why don't you go talk to him? Go on now and don't mind me."

Truthfully however, the Firekeeper was also interested in knowing more about this 'Malice' figure, sensing a rich story behind her too, but he did not wish to pry nor did he dare to. This, right now, was an intimate moment and it would be entirely wasteful to spoil it by interfering.

The wind faded away to an afterbreeze as the fire blazed cheerily and the Firekeeper turned his gaze towards it, wondering how this meeting would be remembered.

 

[xrakkax]

Soliloquy

Alek nodded at Aslandria's question, but not fully ready to indulge in conversation. The mouthy-man was lost for words.

Enkerzed

"Y-yes, I think so." Alek rubbed his face. A lead. A lead after all these years! At the suggestion to write the information down Alek did so immediately. There was a higher probability that he'd remember than not, but why risk it? Just as he finished, his attention drew to the newcomer. Alek did not think it would be right to interfere as well. Besides that, he had a pressing question to ask of the Firekeeper. "Sir, do your abilities include sending a person to a particular place? Say, a village by the name of Vohkrii of a hidden valley of a world called Moithyr?"