Eriyad's Quest

[Volgathras]

Using the sky and the surroundings you decide you are in area of Airia.

*Eriyad flies to his home.*

Before The Home of Eriyad

The home before you is a geographical masterpiece. It is a quaint

octagonal cabin with a high, steeply angled roof. In the exact center

of each of the visible sides of the house are rectangular windows

divided into six squares each. The front door is tall, and within it

is an eight-sided window with a perfect circle in the center. The

architect certainly had the eye's focus and balance in mind.

[Exits: (north) east south west]

You open the grand front door north of you.

Inside The Home of Eriyad

In contrast to the neat orderly nature of the house's exterior,

The inside decor is a bit chaotic. Placed sporadically on the walls are

several beautiful paintings of various styles: skyscapes, portraits,

and surrealistic images. There is a pottery wheel in the corner, several

handmade toys on the floor, various musical instruments, and unfinished

jewelry projects on a desk. This is a home full of art.

A small shrine of Isadora has been knocked over.

[Exits: south]

Amahla, the wife of Eriyad is here with an empty look in her eyes.

You fold your wings downward and narrow your eyes toward Amahla.

You let eyes wander toward the shrine of Isadora.

The small shrine is a stone and metal, highly-articulated sculpture of the

beautiful Isadora, carrying a lute, standing upon the Scales of Balance. It

has been knocked over, and the lute in her hands has been broken, as has her

nose. The scales have been cracked.

You judge a small shrine of Isadora to be in broken condition.

You look at Amahla.

The Avian female before you is beautiful and delicate. Her frame is wirey,

typical of her people, and her face is pretty, freckled with a sharply-

angled, beak-like nose. She is dressed simply, in a belted lavender tunic

that stops short well above her knees. Her simple leather sandals match her

belt. Her skin is deeply tanned, probably from flying close to the sun, and

her long ebony hair falls below her shoulders. Two wings are folded down,

covered in feathers of a shimmering green like dewy grass. Her face is

expressionless, as if she's in a deep trance. Her eyes are glossy and still,

not breaking the gaze toward the front door.

Amahla is in a dazed state.

Amahla is using:

a braided leather wedding band

a beautiful gem necklace

violet hooped earrings

simple leather sandals

a loose lavender tunic

a simple leather belt

an emerald bangle

You question in a concerned tone, "Amahla?"

Amahla keeps her gaze toward the front door. She doesn't blink or move.

You move closer to Amahla and gently grab her by the shoulders.

More frustrated, you demand, "Amahla, what has happened? Are you alright?"

Amahla doesn't break her gaze.

You grab her chin and force her eyes toward your own. "Amahla, where is our

daughter; where is Desaia?"

Amahla finally speaks in an even, unemotional tone, "I don't know." She moves

her head back toward the door, staring in some sort of trance.

You yell, "Desaia?! Desaia?!"

You scramble around the house, looking for any sign of your missing daughter.

You rush back to Amahla who has still not broken her gaze. You are about to ask

her another question and quell yourself, knowing that it will do no good. You

kiss your wife on the forehead. You square your eyes to hers, not knowing if

she is looking into them or simply is staring into nothing.

You speak passionately in a frustrated tone, "I don't know what has happened, or

why you do not move or sing or even SPEAK! I don't know why you can't break

your gaze, but I must find our daughter. I love you, and I shall return."

*Eriyad exits and frantically searches all over Airia, asking everyone if they

have seen Desaia or know what happened at his home. Most are concerned and

begin the search themselves, but no one knows what has occurred. Finally, exhausted

and defeated Eriyad returns to his home and finds his wife in the exact place and state

as when he left.*

Inside The Home of Eriyad

A small shrine of Isadora has been knocked over.

[Exits: south]

Amahla, the wife of Eriyad is here with an empty look in her eyes.

Taking small, labored steps, you walk toward Amahla. You sit next to her and take

her by the hand. She is unresponsive. You kiss her hand, hang your head, and begin

to weep.

Tears rushing down your face, falling into your mouth, you cry out, "Why? What has

happened?!"

You fall out of your seat and onto the floor, knees first. You bow your head and

extend your arms.

You pray quietly and anguished, "Mother Muse, Isadora, please help me. Help my

wife, my daughter. What has happened, my goddess, what has happened? Where is

Desaia; what is wrong with Amahla, Muse. Help us!"

Remaining in your prone position, you lay quiet for what seems an eternity.

It begins to storm. Rain falls hard, sounding like a stampede of millions of tiny

horses riding across the roof. Lightning strikes repeatedly and thunder booms,

echoing throughout the home.

[Eriyad.]

Startled, as if awakening from a dream, you raise your head toward the voice that

seems to be coming from all around you, from no particular location.

You respond quietly, not knowing if what you heard was real, "Yes? Hello?"

[Eriyad.]

The voice is a female's, soft and soothing and omnipresent.

[Find me, Eriyad. Find me. Awaken Amahla; save Desaia. Find me.]

You call back frenzied, "Save her? SAVE HER FROM WHAT?! WHO ARE

YOU?!"

No response comes.

Weeping and angered you call out, "WHAT CAN I DO? WHAT MUST I DO?!"

You look back toward Amahla whose eyes are now closed. Panicked, you lunge

Toward her. She still breathes, but her sleep is so deep that you cannot wake her.

You look back toward the ceiling, awaiting some response. Finally, relief.

[Find me, Eriyad. Find me. Awaken Amahla with the strokes of a brush; Save

Desaia with the winding of a key.]

You yell back, "I don't understand! What must I do?"

You wait a long while, but there is never a response. You run the words in your

head over and over and over again: "Find me. Awaken Amahla with the strokes of

a brush; save Desaia with the winding of a key." You make no sense of it and are

overwhelmed by emotion, frustration, and desperation.

You go to sleep.

*Several hours pass, and the storm subsides. The bright sun shines all over Airia,

through the windows of Eriyad's home, forcing him awake.*

You wake and stand up.

Inside The Home of Eriyad

A small shrine of Isadora has been knocked over.

[Exits: south]

Amahla, the wife of Eriyad is here in a deep, unbreakable sleep.

You attempt to awaken Amahla. She will not wake up. In your head you hear the

words again: "Find me. Awaken Amahla with the strokes of a brush; Save Desaia

with the winding of a key."

You survey your house, noticing the many paintings you have completed, the

toys you have made for Desaia, and the words make sense.

You move to and from your easel and paints to your toybench, back and forth

back and forth. Nothing comes to you. Creativity has forsaken you, and you can

produce nothing. It has been days, and Amahla still sleeps, and you cannot create.

In your head, you replay the instructions. You scream out infrustration.

You stand and move toward a small shrine of Isadora. You pick it up and place

it back on its pedestal.

You pray, "O, Muse, come to me. Help me find the spark in me to awaken my

wife, to save my daughter.

You close your eyes and try to clear your mind. You are taken by surprise as the

voice pervades the room once more.

[Eriyad. Find me. Find ME. Time is of the essence.]

You are compelled to look back toward the front door. A glowing, spinning

hourglass is centered in the circular window, fixed on two axes and rotating

in all directions. You know what you must do.

*Eriyad kisses his wife, professes his love, and takes flight to the Rheydin Library.

[Volgathras]

Mage of the Sky Hears the Song of the Earth

*Eriyad is on a quest (See Eriyad's Quest). He has asked Grimulfr for advice on three questions:

- Why do you think my wife was put in a trance and my daughter kidnapped?

- Do you know a way to find creativity, to force the Muse?

- How might I please Zhokril in order to gain a promotion within Hourglass?

Grimulfr, being a servant of Gaia, knew not the answers to these questions, but he brought Eriyad to the Eternal Glade, one of the first places Gaia imbued Her spirit into werebeasts, in order to help him find the answers.

Grimulfr, Earthsinger, explains that his music does not come from the Muse, rather life and death, youth and age, and all other aspects of Aabahran itself. Eriyad comments that this must be a song of True balance, and that he would find it enjoyable. He is unaware of what is he is about to experience.*

You say 'May I hear it?'

Grimulfr says 'Alright'

You say 'May I sit?'

Grimulfr says 'If you like'

Eriyad folds his wings in tighter and takes a seat.

You rest.

The Eternal Glade

You stand in a grassy glade surrounded by thick forest. All around you feel the presence of life, as if someone or something was surrounding you,touching your mind and spirit. The soft scent of damp grass and evergreen wafts on the air. The sounds of insects and wildlife can be heard everywhere, as if unaffraid of your presence. A small brook gently winds through the glade, disappearing into the woods.

[Exits: none]

A small fountain sits here gushing milk.

A small brook winds through the glade.

A strange man crouches here on one leg, playing a bone flute.

Grimulfr says 'It is a mysterious dirge, maybe it will reveal something to you'

Grimulfr says 'But I cannot say'

The sky is getting cloudy.

Eriyad closes his eyes, breathing rythmically, trying to clear his mind.

A strange silence comes over the clearing as Grimulfr starts tapping on his skull belt.

Eriyad nods his head to the rythm of the tapping.

Grimulfr lifts his flute, and the sounds of the world seem to dull, as though they are distant.

The sun slowly disappears in the west.

Eriyad closes his eyes tighter, fully attentive to the song.

Grimulfr twirls his flute dexterously, then puts it to his lips - playing a sinister note.

The night has begun.

As the unearthly tune begins, Grimulfr starts to hop up and down, and from leg to leg.

Eriyad jerks his head slightly, but recovers, still listening.

Eriyad begins tapping his foot to the tune.

The haunting melody begins to resonate heavily around the clearing, Grimulfr has begun a frantic dance, hopping madly about in large circles.

Still seated, Eriyad sways to and fro to the frantic rythms.

The almost imperceptible notes seem to tug at the very fiber of your being. Grimulfr continues his bounding dance.

You feel a strange presence begin to manifest itself in your mind as Grimulfr strikes a lower note, and dirges on.

As if in slight pain, Eriyad jerks upward, standing, still undulating to the devine tune.

You stand up.

Eriyad holds himself by the body and falls to his knees, face to the ground.

You rest.

It starts to rain.

You can feel your consciousness begin to fade. As Grimulfr plays on and on, blurred visions of strange places begin to flash before your eyes.

Eriyad clutches his forehead with his hands, swaying his head violently in response to the otherworldy song.

The night is about to end.

Grimulfr spins on the spot, before performing a backflip. Suddenly, strange shapes begin to loom all around.

Grimulfr leaves in a swirling mist.

Grimulfr has transferred you.

The Eye of the Demon

[Exits: none]

A strange man crouches here on one leg, playing a bone flute.

The Eye of the Demon

You appear in a dark room, and naked. A bright flash of light leaves translucent outlines in your blackened vision. A soft rhythmic thumping is the only noise you hear. Its speed increases with each sequence, and is no different than what you would imagine the beating of a slowly dieing heart to sound like, each urgent pulse a sudden and fading gasp for life. Slowly your eyes begin to clear, and the heat begins to become unbearable. Before you and around you is a large and mutilated eye.. Its sinewy and bloodshot veins ripple from the inside. You are inside. There is no air here, and you begin to double up, and silenty asphyxiate. Though it seems just an illusion, as it blinks it seems to focus... As if watching you. A dark presence resides here.

[Exits: none]

A strange man crouches here on one leg, playing a bone flute.

Grimulfr seems not to notice you at all as he plays frantically on. Strange monsters and ancient demons take form before you, and melt into mist before your eyes.

Eriyad begins kick and punch violently on the ground, his screams drowned out by the music.

The sun rises in the east.

Grimulfr has transferred you.

The Heart of Chaos

[Exits: none]

A strange man crouches here on one leg, playing a bone flute.

Suddenly, you can no longer see Grimulfr. Though the thick darkness rings with his strange tune.

The sky is getting cloudy.

As the inane tune plays on, strange visions and odd inspirations begin to manifest themselves in your mind. Grimulfr suddenly dances in from the darkness, but vanishes just as quickly.

Grimulfr leaves in a swirling mist.

Grimulfr has transferred you.

The Eternal Glade

[Exits: none]

A small fountain sits here gushing milk.

A small brook winds through the glade.

A strange man crouches here on one leg, playing a bone flute.

Grimulfr abruptly stops playing. Slowly, your senses begin to calm, and outside sounds begin to filter in. Somewhere in the distance, you can hear the twittering of a bird.

*Ater regaining conciousness, Eriyad is wracked with physical and mental exhaustion. The two discuss the nature of the song: that it is beautiful, yet destructive. The Desciple of the Old Ways compares the music to a wild beast, neither malicious or merciful. Grimulfr explains that Eriyad has heard but a small portion of the Earthsong. The troubled mage tries to make sense of the images the song showed him, but he cannot. He realizes that in time, he may make sense of it. Grimulfr warns the song shows the listener what it intends to show, whether the listener is ready or not. Eriyad thanks the Immortal Earthsinger for what he has been shown. Grimulfr comforts Eriyad with the assurance, "You may gain some knowledge out of this yet." As Eriyad was transfered back to the woods, Isadora, from planes unknown, smiled upon him and granted him knowledge. The Timewraith Zhokril must have also noticed the deeds of the battlemage, as he was promoted within Hourglass. What these images mean, or what Eriyad will learn from them, only time will tell.*