Prelude 2: Wyld surge [Two Faces of the Wyldspan]

Red Shadow Claws

Red Shadow Claws

Six Thousand Club
Ephron has been roaming the Wyld for a while now. time had no real menaing in this chaotic realm, but he felt sure it was just a few weeks since he left his fellow Lunars.


For some reason the Wyld seems to be in great turmoil in this area, but the more you try to delve in, the more it resists and pushes back, but then with one last shove, you find yourself in a piece of Creation.


The place you arrived is filled with rolling hills, though to the south you can see a light forest, and due north you can see some farming lands. Seems like this place is inhabited...


What do you do, and what shape you assume?
 
Ephron let out a sigh of relief as sanity returned to his surroundings. It was disorienting, for a moment to re-enter a realm where things did not smell purple or look sour. Disorienting in a good way he swiftly decided. His natural form begins to warp in the truest display of Lunar power, giving way to the avian beauty of a swan taking wing. From the air, he hoped, he could better assess the possible routes he might take.


One mote of Personal Essence to go Spirit Shape Swaaaan. Better watch the hell out evil doers, I'm a swan!
 
Once the disorientation is gone, and shortly after you assumed your swan form, you feel a slight tug at your heart. Something is calling you to the south-west, towards the forest, a sense of anticipation.
 
Ephron circles in the skies for a time as he inwardly debates with himself. On the one hand he was faced with nebulous emotional draws the likes of which he wasn't quite sure what to make of. On the other hand was methodical reconnaissance, a course of action that he was both more familiar with and made more sense. It was much to his surprise then that he found himself veering south-west despite the lack of a sensible explanation for doing so.


"What next, distraction by shiny objects?" he inwardly griped at himself.
 
As you fly, you suddenly note a shaft of brilliant golden light coming towards your general direction, and while it doesn't come close to hitting you, that tingling you got that drawn you to this area now draws you down below, where a lone figure stands on the road.
 
Letting out a piercing cry of surprise, the glittering metallic bird that is Ephron wheels above the Kra'g for a moment as it gathers its thoughts. Disoriented shock turns to dawning realization. "Ah...unless there are two manners of beings in the habit of garbing themselves head to toe in the glittering golden arsenal of Ignis Divine, I believe an explanation for this diversion has at last presented itself. No point beating around the bush now..."


As he rapidly descends to earth to greet the signal shooter (and evade any eyes drawn to the sky by the rather unsubtle display) glimmering motes of argent essence flow off of his body, feathers melting back into the form of a man of middling height and noble bearing. Silvery hair to match the similarly toned diaphanous robes adorning him cascades down to the middle of his back. However, while his form is pristine his expression is somewhat annoyed.


"You either know what I am or know enough that it doesn't matter, Lawgiver. What you don't appear to know is subtlety. Could you have not perhaps given me a sign without giving everyone else in a five mile radius a sign?"


Amulet of Infinite Resplendence is in effect, and generally can always be assumed to be such when Ephron is in his true form. The Orichalcum effect of it however is kept in reserve
 
With a look of surprise at the swan that just changed into a man, Marchterde quickly gathered his thoughts and responded to the robed man. "I apologize for that, the arrow growing and glowing was unintentional. I am still... getting used to my new capabilities. My name is Marchterde; I am of the Kra'g people. Who might you be?" As he awaits an answer, Marchterde stows his bow and gathers all of his supplies once more, readying himself for travel once again.
 
Ephrons expression softened, part in understanding and partly in appreciation that his first question had been answered without his having had to ask. He loved nothing if not efficiency. "I see...walk and talk big guy, wherever you were going in the first place works just fine. I don't know how people feel about our kind here in your world, but I don't want to be sitting directly beneath the site of your arrow regardless." he took the first steps down the dusty road to encourage them to get moving as they chat.


"To answer your question, I am Ephron of Tulnaret. Another world beyond the Wyld. May I assume all the Kra'g share your ah...appearance?" he inquires with a softly lifted eyebrow.
 
Easily catching up to Ephron, and then needing to shorten his stride in order to keep step with him, Marchterde turns to him and responds "Yes, all of the Kra'g people share my size, and all but the newborns and the very elderly also have fur like mine. As for where I was headed, I was headed towards the nation of Priam; though I have never visited it myself, the rare few merchants and the like that had come to the forests spoke of Priam as a place where they respect those who have been chosen by the Sun. At the very least, it seemed like a better choice than Sijan for I do not know what to expect in that place; it is said that they practice Sorcery and the like there."


His answers given, Marchterde walks silently for a few moments, before speaking to Ephron once more "If you do not mind my asking, why would you come to this world?"
 
The wheels in Ephrons head turn furiously as he processes this new information, attempting to formulate some manner of plan. He felt it appropriate to reward Marchterde's forthcomingness in kind...or at least that was his rationalization for his openness. "They are receptive to Solars are they? That's good...better than I'd hoped for. As for why I came here, I fled another world that was destroyed by some manner of thing from the Wyld. Refugees from that world made it off in a Wyldfarer, I did not make it to the boat. I tried to keep up with them on foot and on wing but there's no telling where they are now. They might have made it here already, they might not. I can only hope. Needless to say it's a bit out of my hands now." he says, obviously unhappy about the "out of his hands" part.


"It's a good thing they are receptive to Solars because with your armaments it's hard to mistake you for anything but. Did you have any particular goal in heading to this Priam?"
 
"My condolences for your loss. I don't know from personal experience, this is my first time leaving the forests, but as I said, I have heard stories that they respect the Chosen. As for my goal for heading to Priam, I suppose I had no specific goal in mind; this change came upon me rather suddenly and once I did what I needed to do in the forests, I decided that this must be a sign of some sort. This" Marchterde gestures at himself "has never happened to another Kra'g." He pauses for a second and adds a quick comment, "To the best of my knowledge... In any case, the Kra'g have only stories and legends of the Solars, so I came to the decision that in order to best understand what happened to me and why it would have happened, I would need to leave my people and see what there is out there." At this Marchterde gestured to the land and sky that stretched before him before falling silent once more. A slightly homesick look crosses his face for a moment as he adds, "I do hope to return to my wife and people and tell them all great stories of what lies beyond our forests and perhaps even beyond this world, one day. Nevertheless, I am glad to have found a traveling companion; silence is preferred when hunting one's prey, but not when one is going out to see the world."
 
Though still in no way comfortable with this "coincidence" (or the inexplicable metaphysical tugging sensations involved), Ephron was not one to look a gift Solar in the mouth. This may well be the only way to make true progress after all. "Indeed. I do not know how much your peoples legends could tell you, Marchterde, but I warn you that you may not return to your people in the capacity that you might like or expect. I called you Lawgiver for a reason. The Chosen of the Sun are chosen to rule and bring order to Creation. Whether you're comfortable with that is another story...but it is in the nature of your power."
 
"That is most unfortunate, though not entirely unexpected; I suppose this means that I will become an alpha after all. I do not know how much of an alpha I will be, the only people I have ever lead has been a hunting party." With that said, Marchterde falls silent and seems to become a touch more introspective, as if he is remembering times past and the weight of Ephron's words have finally fallen upon him.
 
"Few are the roofs that rest upon but a single pillar." Ephron returns simply as he senses the weight of responsibility descending upon Marchterde, seeking to put it into a more manageable perspective. It was not his aim to wrack the man/beast/thing with self-doubt...or at least certainly not yet. "What you do not know you can learn, and what you do not learn you are unlikely to face alone."
 
Not speaking for a good while, just simply walking, Marchterde breaks the silence. "Well, if it comes to me being a leader, at least I will have some help with it. That is good news."
 
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