Seliana & Baelthamas

[Isadora]

The Central Square of Val Miran

You stand amid the central square of Val Miran. All around you colossal

buildings rise up. The smell of commerce is in the air and the citizens of

Val Miran bustle with activity. Horse carts haul trade items for sale in

the Eastern and Western districts, and travelers and adventurers alike walk

the streets in search of new challenges.

[Exits: north east south west up]

A mighty Fortress looms over the area.

The official Justice Roll Call has been posted here.

A large granite fountain gushes clear water here.

(Invisible) Enecra the Master of Fire is here.

A wealthy looking citizen is here.

Baelthamas the Dirge of the Heavens, Master Conductor is here.

Baelthamas says 'Every world has its own melody, which is a tiny, tiny underlying part of the Great

Song.'

You say 'And this world?'

Baelthamas says 'This world...'

Baelthamas's music turns thoughtful. 'This world is unique.'

Baelthamas says 'I have been exploring, and I see why Caimor had me come, to a degree.'

Seliana arches an eyebrow at Baelthamas, 'Ohh?'

Baelthamas says 'Yes.'

You say 'Were his planet not drawn towards this?'

Baelthamas says 'His planet is of little consequence.'

You say 'Ohh..'

You bite your lip contemplatively.

Baelthamas says 'This world, however....'

Baelthamas says 'It bestrides the great Gateway of the Rift. It is a focal point, a Nexus.'

Seliana scratches her chin thoughtfully.

Baelthamas says 'Here, I may be able to touch all the worlds at once, instead going to each

individually.'

Baelthamas says 'That will save me eons more, if I can do that.'

You say 'Will you open the rift?'

A quiet, nondescript man sits here, plucking slowly at a zither by his feet.

The man himself might pass for any ordinary human, save for his eyes.

Black, bottomless, fathomless, they have no pupils and seem to span eternity

itself with their inestimable depth. If he himself seems to be unremarkable

though, his instrument seems to be even more so. It is seemingly unkempt,

with many broken strings and with pieces of wood seemingly rotted away.

Rather than glowing with a brilliant sheen, it instead protrudes an image

of melancholy, great age, and disrepair.

His music, however, is another story. His fingers continuously flicker across

the strings, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly, but never stopping. The

music itself, though, is always melancholic and sad. An immense, albeit

untapped, power seems to lay inherent in the music, as the sound of it vibrates

throughout the region, seeming to pierce through everything and infect all with

its gloom. The sound itself is quiet but piercing; at times, almost merely a

whisper, but still heard keenly throughout. At times, the song seems to almost

almost have a life of its own, or perhaps a death of its own, as it flows from

him...or is it to him? Or is it him? It is difficult to tell where the song

ends, and the man...or is it a man?...begins.

Baelthamas is in excellent condition.

Baelthamas is using:

unkempt rags

(Glowing) (Humming) an ancient zither

Baelthamas says 'The mortal forces of Chaos hold a very, very strong grasp on the opening to the

Rift.'

You say 'This world... It could be consumed by the forces of Chaos if the Rift were to be

activated...'

Baelthamas says 'They have been entrenched here for a long time.'

You say 'The desert... The one west of Miruvhor, it is a part of the Rift?'

Almost completely ignoring your worries, Baelthamas continues, 'It will take some time for me to

claw open their grasp, I think.'

Baelthamas shakes his head.

Baelthamas says 'It is the site of where the last opening occurred.'

You nod at Baelthamas.

Baelthamas says 'Such scarred the land, and the life, of that part of the world itself. I can hear

it screaming in pain, even now.'

You say 'But the screams are a part of the song... No?'

Baelthamas says 'They are.'

Baelthamas nods.

You say 'Last time I met you.. It felt as if the Song is Everything, and Everything is the Song.'

Baelthamas says 'That is true.'

You say 'Some people would call it Destiny.'

You bite your lip contemplatively.

Baelthamas says 'Destiny?'

You nod.

Baelthamas says 'Too small a word.'

Baelthamas says 'The Song is no more the Destiny of the universe, than you are the Destiny of your

finger.'

You bite your lip contemplatively.

You say 'I had another question, if you do not mind...'

Baelthamas says 'I never mind.'

Seliana smiles briefly at Baelthamas, 'That's why I like you.'

Baelthamas continues, as if not interrupted, 'But whether I answer or not is another thing.'

You say 'The fragments, do they still hold the discordant force Caimor spoke of?'

True to his word, Baelthamas continues to play on his zither, not answering directly. 'That is not

a concern.'

Seliana shakes her head and sighs loudly.

You say 'I was merely curious.'

Baelthamas says 'I am aware.'

You smile at him.

You say 'There was one last thing...'

You say 'Well...'

You bite your lip contemplatively.

You say 'Will Caimor ever return?'

Quietly, thoughtfully, Baelthamas repllies, 'I do not know.'

Baelthamas says 'But I believe he will.'

You beam delightedly at nothing in particular.

Baelthamas says 'He has provided something of great use to me. He will return to make sure I repay

the debt.'

You peer intently at Enecra.

Enecra says 'You can never be too cautious'

Enecra winks suggestively.

Seliana sighs softly.

The Central Square of Val Miran

You stand amid the central square of Val Miran. All around you colossal

buildings rise up. The smell of commerce is in the air and the citizens of

Val Miran bustle with activity. Horse carts haul trade items for sale in

the Eastern and Western districts, and travelers and adventurers alike walk

the streets in search of new challenges.

[Exits: north east south west up]

A mighty Fortress looms over the area.

The official Justice Roll Call has been posted here.

A large granite fountain gushes clear water here.

(Invisible) (White Aura) Enecra the Master of Fire is here.

Baelthamas the Dirge of the Heavens, Master Conductor is here.

Seliana turns her attention to Baelthamas again, 'Thank you, m'lord... If you ever wish something

of me, all you need is to ask for it.'

Baelthamas says 'Since most mortals seek to have a happy life, although happiness and sadness are

equal, I have a suggestion for you.'

You nod at Baelthamas.

Baelthamas says 'Never make or imply promises you cannot, or may not wish to, keep.'

You say 'But offering my aid to someone who gave so much to me, it could not be wrong.'

Baelthamas says 'And if I requested your aid in opening the infinite reaches of the Nexus?'

Baelthamas as always, appears to be deadly serious, continuing to pluck away at his zither.

You say 'It would be my duty to try and make you reconsider.'

Baelthamas says 'And if I would not?'

You say 'Then I would aid you to the best of my ability.'

You say 'As long as your mission was of righteousness.'

Baelthamas says 'Knowing that such an opening might eradicate the world?'

Baelthamas says 'Righteousness and wickedness are of no concern to me. Only the song is.'

You say 'I would put trust in you.'

Baelthamas strums a few strings. After a pause, he simply says, 'Very well. I will hold you to

that, at some time in the future, perhaps.'

You nod.

Enecra stands up.

You say 'May it be so.'

Baelthamas says 'Very well, then. So mote it be.'

Baelthamas's voice seems to ring with an odd tenor, or perhaps the pronouncement of some fate, some

doom.

Baelthamas examines an ancient zither closely.

Seliana bows her head in a respectful nod.

The Central Square of Val Miran

You stand amid the central square of Val Miran. All around you colossal

buildings rise up. The smell of commerce is in the air and the citizens of

Val Miran bustle with activity. Horse carts haul trade items for sale in

the Eastern and Western districts, and travelers and adventurers alike walk

the streets in search of new challenges.

[Exits: north east south west up]

A mighty Fortress looms over the area.

The official Justice Roll Call has been posted here.

A large granite fountain gushes clear water here.

Pesomuvae the Holy Matriarch of Healing is here.

(White Aura) Enecra the Master of Fire is here.

Baelthamas the Dirge of the Heavens, Master Conductor is here.

Baelthamas rubs the ancient, tattered-looking with fondly with a gaunt hand.

Baelthamas says 'You'll be played as you deserve to be soon.'

You raise an eyebrow at the notion.

You bite your lip contemplatively.

You say 'And it all begin again...'

Pesomuvae tilts her head sideways, a look of confusion on her face.

Baelthamas says 'Did you say something?'

Baelthamas looks at you.

Baelthamas says 'I was not paying attention.'

You shake your head.

You say 'I just hope...'

You say 'One day...'

You say 'There will be a place without violence.'

You bite your lip contemplatively.

Alendee says 'What a hell that would be.'

Alendee grins evilly.

Pesomuvae sighs, breathing out a huge breath of air. 'That.. is never going to come to pass.'

You bite your lip contemplatively.

Alendee says 'Thank malchaeius for that'

Baelthamas says 'Violence is no worse than peace. Tranquility, no better than an uproar.'

Baelthamas says 'As I have often stated. Each has their own melody.'

You say 'And I long for the trumpets of war to finally silence.'

You say 'An age of peace, of harmony...'

You bite your lip contemplatively.

Baelthamas shrugs helplessly.

Baelthamas says 'Instead of hoping or wishing, one should simply appreciate.'

Pesomuvae raises an eyebrow.

Pesomuvae says 'Or one should do something about it.'

You say 'I count my blessings.'

Baelthamas says 'Another example of mortal attachments and desires preventing anyone from hearing

music truly.'

You say 'I am a rich woman in many ways, and I appreciate all that I achieved or were granted.'

You say 'Yet...'

Seliana looks up at Baelthamas, shrugging lightly, 'Perhaps that is not such a big handicap...'

Baelthamas says 'Not if you wish to live a life of dreams, no.'

Pesomuvae says 'A life of dreams..'

Pesomuvae says 'Though soothing.. can be quite deadly.'

You say 'A reality void of desires, of needs, and of dreams, it would be... Difficult. At least for

me.'

Baelthamas says 'It is quite simply. Merely let go.'

Baelthamas says 'Accept that richness and poverty are the same; that life and death are the same;

that war and peace are the same. Let go, detach, and you will find more than you ever had.'

Seliana says silently, in a whisper, 'But how...'

Baelthamas says 'When the time for me came, I simply did it.'

You say 'Is this what... well... what Daemian achieved?'

Baelthamas says 'Daemian?'

You say 'I ask how he fares, and he simply claims 'I am since I was ever since I first drew

breath'...'

Baelthamas says 'Who is this Daemian?'

Pesomuvae says 'An ancient scribe of the Heraldry.'

You bite your lip contemplatively.

Pesomuvae says 'The Avatar of Balance.'

Pesomuvae peers intently at Baelthamas.

Baelthamas says 'Ah. A writer.'

You say 'I think I got the words wrong..'

Your cheeks are burning.

You say 'But...'

You say 'I can relate much of what you say to him.'

Baelthamas says 'In what way.'

You say 'I believe he has detached himself from mortal attachments...'

You say 'Perhaps not entirely, but more then anyone else I ever met.'

Baelthamas says 'Really. That would be an accomplishment.'

You say 'Perhaps...'

Pesomuvae says 'Or a curse.'

Baelthamas says 'I have met...twelve hundred fifty seven...in the past who have done such.'

Baelthamas says 'A rare accomplishment.'

You say 'I might be wrong... But... There is something about him...'

You say 'The calm he carries, unwavering as a mountain.'

Seliana sighs softly.

Baelthamas says 'Calm is easy to achieve. Detachment, more difficult.'

Baelthamas says 'Nevertheless, I would speak to this...Daemian. This...writer.'

You nod at Baelthamas.

You say 'I am unable, and unwilling, to judge him.'

Baelthamas says 'There is nothing to judge, and no purpose to judge.'

Baelthamas says 'In its own way, detachment is no better than attachment as well.'

You bite your lip contemplatively.

You say 'But true understanding is gained through detachment.'

Baelthamas nods.

Baelthamas says 'To become closer to, to touch, to listen, to play, to become, the music.'

You say 'Is it not a terrible burden to shoulder?'

Baelthamas says 'Burden?'

You nod at Baelthamas.

Baelthamas says 'What do you refer to.'

You say 'To free oneself from all mortal emotions.'

You say 'To accept detachment...'

Baelthamas says 'It is you who are burdened, not I.'

Baelthamas says 'To accept detachment is to be released of all burdens.'

Baelthamas says 'All the burdens, the pains, the sufferings, come from this inability to detach.'

Baelthamas says 'If I accept being weak as well as being strong, how can I be hurt?'

Baelthamas says 'If I accept life as well as death, what have I to fear?'

You say 'But the rest, the love, the care and the understanding... Will you not give them up?'

Baelthamas says 'I would and did long ago.'

You say 'Was it worth it?'

Baelthamas says 'What do you think?'

You say 'I'm not sure, and that is why I ask.'

You say 'Life without love, compassion and friendship seems like agony to me.'

Baelthamas says 'You can only not imagine being without it, because you still have it now.'

Baelthamas says 'When you give it up, you will see how petty and meaningless they are.'

You say 'You have many admireres...'

You bite your lip contemplatively.

Baelthamas says 'How so.'

You shrug.

You say 'Perhaps it is because of your Divine Stature.'

Baelthamas says 'I was unaware I had admirers. Much less many.'

You say 'People walk in, they bow, and leave.'

Seliana grins mischievously.

Baelthamas says 'Ah.'

Baelthamas nods indifferently. 'Do they? I do not notice.'

You giggle.

You say 'I take it you do not succumb to flattery any more.'

Baelthamas says 'Flattery?'

Baelthamas says 'No.'

Baelthamas says 'I care little about actions. Why would I care about mere words.'

You say 'Because words always hold an inner, deeper meaning.'

You say 'You speak with me, and you do not care about mere words?'

You shrug.

Baelthamas says 'I speak with you because you wish it.'

Baelthamas says 'As I speak with all.'

You say 'That is admireable of you, m'lord.'

Baelthamas says 'Flattery?'

You say 'Honesty.'

Baelthamas shrugs his gaunt shoulders. 'All the same to me.'

You say 'But not to me.'

You say 'I respect you.'

You say 'And that is why I offered you my aid earlier...'

Baelthamas strums a few more chords, as the haunting melody fills the Central Square. 'I see.'

A small smile settles on Seliana's lips as Baelthamas continues playing his instrument.

All the while continuing to play, Baelthamas asks, 'Why do you feel you respect me.'

You say 'Because you respect those around you.'

Baelthamas says 'I do?'

You say 'If a beggar walked up to you, and asked to speak with you, would answer him?'

Baelthamas says 'Yes.'

You nod at Baelthamas.

You say 'There you have my answer.'

Baelthamas says 'You feel that to be respect?'

You say 'It is respect to see a person for who he is, instead of what he is wearing or who his

parents were.'

You say 'Every living being deserves a chance, or perhaps several, and you give them that.'

Baelthamas says 'That is indifference.'

You say 'Do not oppose me, I know I'm right.'

Seliana grins mischievously.

Baelthamas says 'I do not oppose you.'

You giggle.

Baelthamas says 'I merely state my thoughts.'

You say 'Yes, and I respect you for that aswell.'

You say 'You speak your mind.'

Sighre walks in.

The Central Square of Val Miran

You stand amid the central square of Val Miran. All around you colossal

buildings rise up. The smell of commerce is in the air and the citizens of

Val Miran bustle with activity. Horse carts haul trade items for sale in

the Eastern and Western districts, and travelers and adventurers alike walk

the streets in search of new challenges.

[Exits: north east south west up]

A mighty Fortress looms over the area.

The official Justice Roll Call has been posted here.

A large granite fountain gushes clear water here.

(Invisible) (Translucent) Sighre the Scourge of the Battlefield is here.

Baelthamas the Dirge of the Heavens, Master Conductor is here.

Sighre bows before Baelthamas.

Sighre gallantly tips his hat to you.

Baelthamas looks at Sighre.

Baelthamas nods at Sighre.

You nod at Sighre.

Sighre says 'Am i interupting?'

Baelthamas says 'Some time ago, if I am not mistaken, you told me you preferred Caimor because he

spoke his mind, and I did not.'

Baelthamas says 'Has that changed? And no.'

Baelthamas nods at Sighre.

Seliana smiles warmly at Sighre, 'No, not at all.'

You say 'I have realized I was wrong.'

You say 'You speak your mind, but often in a way that I find hard to accept.'

Baelthamas says 'I see.'

You say 'Well...'

You say 'We must all have our secrets.'

You say 'I have mine, and you have yours.'

Baelthamas says 'I was unaware I had secrets. And I was unaware you had them.'

You peer intently at Baelthamas.

You say 'You are saying I have no secrets?'

Baelthamas says 'I am saying I am unaware of you having them.'

You shrug.

You say 'I have... well.. a few...'

Baelthamas says 'I see. What are they.'

You bite your lip contemplatively.

You say 'They would really not be secrets if I told you, now would they?'

Baelthamas says 'Define secret.'

You say 'A feeling, emotion, knowledge, or idea you wish to keep for yourself.'

Osroth flies in.

Osroth grabs a hold of Pesomuvae's neck and puts her to sleep.

Pesomuvae goes to sleep.

Baelthamas looks at Pesomuvae.

Osroth moves with lethal speed, and +++ ASSASSINATES +++ Pesomuvae!

Pesomuvae is DEAD!!Do not forget to sheath if you are done fighting.

Pesomuvae's head is shattered, and her brains splash all over you.

You say 'I would keep a secret of someone confided in me.'

You mutter quietly to yourself.

Osroth gets 3658 gold coins from the corpse of Pesomuvae.

Baelthamas placidly nods at you, ignoring the corpse. 'I see.'

You say 'My definition is not completely accurate, but it is enough...'

Pesomuvae crawls in.

Pesomuvae says 'As I thought..'

Osroth flies in.

Osroth says 'Pesomuvae, I did that from my own will.'

Pesomuvae says 'You were no friend.'

Osroth says 'There is nothing in my head.'

Pesomuvae says 'You were trying to lure me to you.'

Osroth says 'It worked.'

Pesomuvae says 'And what is this, I helped you?'

Pesomuvae says 'You are pitiful.'

The Central Square of Val Miran

You stand amid the central square of Val Miran. All around you colossal

buildings rise up. The smell of commerce is in the air and the citizens of

Val Miran bustle with activity. Horse carts haul trade items for sale in

the Eastern and Western districts, and travelers and adventurers alike walk

the streets in search of new challenges.

[Exits: north east south west up]

A mighty Fortress looms over the area.

The corpse of Pesomuvae is lying here.

The splattered brains of Pesomuvae are lying here.

The official Justice Roll Call has been posted here.

A large granite fountain gushes clear water here.

(Charmed) A huge three horned creature stands here.

(Invisible) Chiovle the Knight of Legion is here, sitting astride a warhorse.

(WANTED) Osroth the Master of the Miyama Ryu is here.

Pesomuvae the Holy Matriarch of Healing is here.

A mirror image stands here.

Ferigomel the Scourge of the Battlefield is here, sitting astride an elephant.

Baelthamas the Dirge of the Heavens, Master Conductor is here.

Osroth says 'There is no life.'

Baelthamas says 'Incidentally.'

Pesomuvae says 'Pitiful.. beyond belief.'

Baelthamas nods at Pesomuvae.

Baelthamas nods at you in agreement.

Baelthamas says 'An object lesson.'

Baelthamas says 'In mortal attachments.'

Baelthamas says 'If she had gone with her intelligence rather than that, she would not be a ghost.'

Pesomuvae says 'And people wonder why I am so violent.'

Seliana nods at Osroth and Pesomuvae, 'I see...'

Pesomuvae says 'It is people like you, Osroth.'

Pesomuvae says 'Who take advantage of what I do.'

Baelthamas looks at Pesomuvae.

Osroth says 'And people like Eshaine drive a man mad. I forsake the forest! I forsake Gaia! I

forsake the watchers!'

Pesomuvae says 'I hope you are satisfied..'

You say 'I'd do the same in her position.'

You smile at Baelthamas.

Baelthamas says 'Incidentally.'

Baelthamas says 'He took three thousand, six hundred, and fifty eight gold.'

Baelthamas nods at Pesomuvae.

Osroth smirks.

Pesomuvae says 'And he is a liar.'

Baelthamas says 'Somewhat more than nothing.'

Osroth shrugs helplessly.

Osroth says 'I take everything then.'

Pesomuvae says 'May Eshaine smite you back into the ground.'

Baelthamas looks at you.

You give Pesomuvae 3658 gold.

Pesomuvae closes her eyes momentarily.

Pesomuvae steps through a gate and vanishes.

Osroth chuckles politely.

Osroth throws down a handful of smoke and vanishes.

Baelthamas looks at you.

Baelthamas says 'And he has a flair for dramatism as well.'

You say 'She will probably need the gold more then me...'

You giggle.

You say 'Doesn't we all?'

Baelthamas stares at you with an absolutely serious expression. 'No.'

Seliana lowers her gaze, avoiding Baelthamas's piercing stare.

The Central Square of Val Miran

You stand amid the central square of Val Miran. All around you colossal

buildings rise up. The smell of commerce is in the air and the citizens of

Val Miran bustle with activity. Horse carts haul trade items for sale in

the Eastern and Western districts, and travelers and adventurers alike walk

the streets in search of new challenges.

[Exits: north east south west up]

A mighty Fortress looms over the area.

Some broken glass litters the ground here.

The corpse of Pesomuvae is lying here.

The official Justice Roll Call has been posted here.

A large granite fountain gushes clear water here.

Baelthamas the Dirge of the Heavens, Master Conductor is here.

You say 'It is time for me to take my leave.'

Baelthamas says 'As you require.'

You say 'I thank you, for listening and for answering.'

Baelthamas says 'As you wish.'

Seliana looks up at Baelthamas, 'Be well, m'lord.'

You stand up.

Baelthamas says 'I will continue to exist.'

Baelthamas nods at you in agreement.

Seliana performs a graceful curtsey.

You have escaped from the Forsaken Lands.

[HERALD]: 'Scribe Seliana has left our forces.'