Memory 2: travelling through Deilannis

[simple_not_boring]

This memory slots neatly into the beginning of Davian's starter, taking place immediately before.

Davian is walking along a foggy road with three other boys his age (Wirr, Caeden and Aelric), a girl his age with a bow (Dezia) and two older men (Taeris Sarr and Nihim). They're saying close together, all sort of nervous and creeped out; they can barely see beyond the light of their torch. The memory begins just as they come to a great archway, atop which is a pike, atop which is impaled a human skull that somehow seems deeply wrong.

Caeden says that this is the entrance to the inner city, the Door of Illadriel, and once they pass through they'll be in Deilannis proper. He doesn't know how he knows that; he just does, but he wouldn't have thought the way they came was the fastest way to the inner city. The oldest man, Taeris Sarr, says that it probably isn't, but he only knows one route for certain and doesn't want them to get lost. No one knows what lies in the inner city; nobody's been inside in a very long time.

The group discusses going back, but Taeris says that the "sha'teth" aren't fools; they'd have one of them waiting at every exit to the city. Dezia says that in that case they shouldn't delay, and strides through the archway. Davian exchanges a look with Wirr; they steel themselves and follow.

Caeden is stuck staring up at the skull, almost seeming mesmerized. Davian beckons to him, and the other boy comes to join them; he wonders whether there was something else Caeden wasn't telling him, but figures the whole thing is so creepy that Caeden was probably doing them a favor if there was. The city around them is absolutely silent, and the fog is thinning as they travel; a strange grey light seems to illuminate everything. Most of the stone buildings here are perfectly preserved, but some are damaged or burned. Every so often, Davian thinks he can see movement out of the corner of his eye, but when he turns to look, it's gone.

They're coming to a grander section of the city when Dezia notices something in Caeden's expression. He knows this place, as if he'd been here -- he points out the Great Library, the Ashac Temple, a street called the Scythe that leads to a huge marketplace; he can even guide them to the northern bridge from here. Taeris Sarr questions him a bit, but it's clear he doesn't actually have concrete memories; he just knows the city.

The party continues onward until Caeden stops them again. He's pretty sure they're going the wrong way, turning left instead of right, but Taeris Sarr is firm in his surety and Caeden gives way. Before long, they come to an unusual structure -- a spire, enormously tall and twisting at impossible angles but only twenty feet wide at its base. As they try to figure out what he's brought them to, they hear a piercing scream.

Taeris tells them to stay alert and wait for him; he'll be back soon. Wirr asks him why, and another scream -- a man's voice, full of agony -- cuts him off. Then Davian has to strangle a yell of his own; for an instant, he sees a man in the doorway of one of the buildings, looking at him quizzically, but he's gone seconds later. They all see the next figure, a young woman, there and gone in a second. Then a huge serpent-man appears, eyes full of rage, and makes a grab for Dezia.

There's an odd ripple of white light in the greyness, and the serpent-man looks surprised before it disappears. Wirr has his hands outstretched and looks shocked, and Taeris is furious; for a moment it seems like he's going to hit Wirr. Apparently using Essence in this city is dangerous somehow, and he just did. An inhuman keen echoes through the city; Taeris, genuinely frightened tells Caeden to lead them to the north bridge and not stop for anything.

Caeden runs, and the others follow -- except Nihim and Taeris. Davian hesitates, then runs back towards them; they're arguing about whether Taeris should stay behind for whatever he wanted in the spire. Nihim wins the argument, and the three of them sprint off after the others.

The mist abruptly thickens around them, so dense that Davian can't see the others even though they're only feet away. He hears a cry and has to dodge quickly to avoid a body on the ground -- Nihim, apparently having tripped and sprained his ankle. Davian kneels down beside him and Nihim tells him to run, there's no point in both of them dying. Davian says that neither of them is going to die, and starts trying to help him up.

The mist is so thick now that it's hard to breathe, and Davian can barely move without stepping on Nihim; he apologizes, then just drags him through the nearest door into one of the fire-blackened buildings. They stay that way for a few seconds, but the mist is darkening, getting cold, and the next hunting cry is almost on top of them. Davian props Nihim up against a wall out of view of the street and listens for danger -- which, of course, is when Orkoth coalesces out of the fog.

Davian is horrified, and more horrified when he realizes that Orkoth has their scent. It glides into the building without any kind of hurry -- it knows they're trapped and can't get away -- and goes straight for Davian, conjuring a blade of shadows in one hand. Davian recognizes it as the same weapon the sha'teth use. Then, before Davian can stop him, Nihim stumbles to his feet and puts himself between them. Nihim says that Orkoth can't have Davian, that he's not supposed to die -- and Orkoth casually guts him.

Davian is pretty much in shock, and Orkoth closes until he can look into Davian's face. Davian braces for the death blow, but instead Orkoth says something in a language he doesn't understand (but he'll recognize from his last memory) and disappears, apparently angry or disappointed.

Davian kneels down beside Nihim and tries to cover the wound with his hands, but it's too big and he can't staunch it. He asks what he can do, but Nihim just says it's odd that Orkoth knew his name. He asks how Davian made it leave, but Davian doesn't know; he doesn't understand Darecian, so he doesn't even know what it said. They need to get back to the others, he says; Taeris will be able to help Nihim.

Nihim laughs, though it's more of a cough. Davian needs to get back to the others, he says, but Nihim himself isn't going anywhere. Davian refuses to leave him, and Nihim says he's a brave boy and he appreciates the effort, but there's no point; he's fated to die here. Davian asks if this was Seen, and Nihim confirms it -- an old Augur friend foresaw it twenty years ago. He came to prove a point to Taeris, but he's been waiting for this day ever since.

Davian shakes his head; fated or not, he's not leaving Nihim behind. He lifts him as gently as possible and half-carries him after the direction he saw the others run in, trying to ignore the amount of blood the old priest is losing. After a few moments, Nihim says he needs to rest, so Davian eases him down onto some rubble, refusing to accept the fact that he's dying and Davian can do nothing.

Nihim says that there are things Davian needs to know; Taeris hasn't told him everything. Apparently he's been waiting for him; an Augur two thousand years ago foresaw that someone would stop Aarkein Devaed from destroying the world, and Taeris thinks it's Davian. Davian thinks delirium is setting in and says they can talk about it when they get to Taeris, but Nihim tells him not to condescend to him. The Augur who foresaw his death apparently said he'd be with someone important at the end, someone the Augurs had seen many times -- a centerpoint for the age, the fulcrum on which events would turn.

Davian says that clearly this isn't the end, then, and Nihim replies that he likes Davian's optimism. There's something else, though -- Taeris has a link to Davian, and Davian needs to break it or else Taeris will die. He's about to say something else, but his eyes go wide, looking at something behind Davian...and something hits him from behind.



EFFECTS/WHAT HE LEARNED:

* He knows Caeden, Nihim and Taeris's names, and has a strong sense of the other party members.
* Wirr -- tall, blond, athletic, obviously an Essence user -- is someone he trusts completely and feels very comfortable with. The others less so -- he doesn't know them as well, though he likes and trusts Caeden and feels respect and gratitude towards Taeris. But they're definitely a party.
* They're definitely in the same city he was in in the past. The fog is a dead giveaway, but Caeden also pointed out the library, and it was the same building. It's still super creepy.
* What the fuck is up with Caeden anyway, why does he have amnesia? Nobody seems to know, including him.
* WELL, THAT'S WHY THE ORKOTH SCARED HIM SHITLESS. God.
* Taeris is acting kind of suspiciously. On reflection, kind of not surprised to learn that he's been holding things back. (Did he deliberately take the wrong route?)
* This segues immediately into getting hurled into the timestream. So that's how that happened.
* What the hell is this prophecied savior business? Davian doesn't buy it, then or now. (Even though he's a seer himself...)
* +100 friendship feelings
* +100 bravery and determination
* +100 desire to help whenever he can
* +50 screw Fate