White Isle Message [Gossamer]

[Cachet]

84th of Winter 511AV

Finally the long journey for these six women was coming to an end. The six Konti and whatever escort Syliras allowed gently made way to the front gate; riding the horses gifted to them from Syliras that they were given in exchange for the horses they were gifted from Zeltiva. The Six women made good time to Riverfall; but even then it was still nearing the end of winter…and all the visions were supposed to happen in Spring. They didn’t have much time, every chime was another chime these people didn’t have to prepare. They were tired, it was easily seen in their posture atop the horses. They slept sparingly on the road so they could make good time and they ate mostly while in the saddle. The trip had been fast and without difficulties; but the women were still tired.

But it wasn’t just the trip that made them weary, for as they crossed the landscape they knew it wouldn’t ever be the same again. This impending storm would change everything; even Mura. They were weary for home; even though they knew Mura had ample time to prepare there was still so much damage that could happen. Hopefully there would not be a massive loss of life; V’nessi was a competent leader. The guards at the gate like everywhere else would ask what business they had. The lone left messenger and seer would answer directly just like she had so many other times.

“I carry a heavy message from V’nessi Champion of Avalis and Seer of the White Isle. A message that is meant for Nevar Chivan immediately. Take me to him and the rest of the women somewhere to rest. We have had a long journey and our work is far from over.” Her tone was even yet no Akalak could ever mistake it for anything but serious. She wasn’t asking…she was telling. They would do this because she didn’t travel all the way from Mura with five marked Opal Order healers to be turned away or belittled now. They would take her to Nevar, because V’nessi had charged her to this task.

“As fast as possible, every chime counts.” She stressed presenting a sealed Isurian steel scroll case marked with V’nessi’s seal.

It was easy to see that she was far from kidding. A message from V’nessi was a grand charge and the information inside was more valuable than any could imagine. Riverfall didn’t have long to prepare, it would have the least amount of time of any of the stops to do so. But she had faith in the Akalak people. They were robust and quick to prepared and calculated action. She only hoped that Nevar would see the value in such a message, even if it wasn’t much of a forewarning. But any warning was better than no warning at all. V’nessi wanted to protect Riverfall and her daughters as well. For she knew a relationship with Riverfall was key, for many of her daughters ventured and found homes in Riverfall. This made Riverfall invaluable to her and the Konti people.

[Gossamer]

There were just two men on voluntary gate duty and they offered maps, started to answer questions for the Konti then realized this was a unique situation. One stopped an Akalak passing by who readily agreed to escort the five women to The Pearl House which was basically the best place in Riverfall for a Konti visiting to get some Konti hospitality and familiar surroundings. It was a bed and breakfast on the second tier that was partially submerged and designed for Konti, ran by Konti. Once they were shuffled off, the original guard personally escorted the remaining Konti to the Council Chambers, which was where Nevar and the ten were currently meeting. "My Lady, I'd have your name to announce you." He said, after leading her the long way down the north road, crossing to the west road and then heading south on the cliff edge to where the building the council met in was. Once she'd given her name, he ushered her into the Council Chambers, spoke briefly with the secretary who rose and slipped away, and then without much of a wait, the Chambers to the Council was opened and the Konti was ushered inside by the secretary, who was a human woman in her early fifties named Nellie. The gate guard waved, and headed off leaving her in the Council's capable hands. Once in the chamber itself, Nevar introduced himself and beckoned her forward. "You bring a message from Mura?" He asked, curious. The eleven men in the group were obviously taking her seriously and taking the time out of their busy schedule to hear her words.

[Cachet]

The five were escorted by the Akalak that volunteered so kindly to lead them. They were taken to the best room but the entire time it was easy to tell the messenger was more than anxious. Did these men not understand the gravity of what she carried…No, they could not; however soon enough they would. And they would be spurred into action quickly. This she was indeed sure of. When the others checked into the Pearl House she waited almost impatiently to get her message to those that needed it most. Every chime counted especially this close to the season change. Every chime counted, she could not stress this enough. Soon enough though she was being personally escorted to the Council Chambers. Her heart still grew heavy for the message she carried was hundreds of times heavier than the Isruian Steel scroll case it was in…This she knew.

“K’tsa Ulvalin.” So it seemed V’nessi had sent one of her own on this journey to follow it through to the completion; to deliver the very last message.

She gathered herself as she was announced then ushered in. She didn’t need to be told that the Councils time was precious. The woman ushered herself forward, strong she was strong. Even among these men it was apparent she was driven by the very message she carried with her that was sealed in that scroll case.

“I bring a message from my mother, V’nessi. A heavy message you…all of you need to heed now. They are of visions she has had.” She said as she then handed the sealed scrollcase over.

There were three separate scrolls all rolled together inside. The first was a general accounting of her larger vision. The second was a letter detailing her specific visions as they applied to Riverfall, and the third was a personal message from V’nessi herself. The first read.

Storms ripping apart the lands transforming it into shadows of what it once was. Poisoning fields, killing everything that lives and transforming all that survives the onslaught. The land will go infertile unable to bear any fruits or support any life. Vibrant colors illuminating the sky, blinding those that look at it. Buildings crumble into the sea and the pawn becomes a king. The Kings will change the lands forever and the caged beast rattles his cage. The bars are near breaking. The storm ventures on nothing can stand in its path, nothing can stop it. For it is divine it its creation. It will start in the mountains, Windreach.

The second one was eerily specific where the first was not. It detailed exact damage to the city. Predicted casualties to an almost exact number. It would likely hit Nevar right in the chest. HIS city was going to be hit by something he couldn’t stop. Something he couldn’t even protect himself from. These visions were eerie to say the least. But they were so very precise…V’nessi wouldn’t send such a message if she didn’t deem it needed. She wasn’t one to cause havoc; no if she sent this message she was sure on it.

The third page read a message from V’nessi. A personal message to Nevar himself.

Nevar
First I will commend your leadership in the coming trial. Riverfall will stand strong because of you, this much I know. But you must send out word to the Dryka wanderers and send them home. Your city will suffer little compared to others. But I urge you to move everything valuable into the city now. You have little time Nevar for when the season shifts the storm will start and it will wait for nothing. But your people are strong and task minded. Take care of my daughters and sisters. I leave these five healers and my daughter in your care. They will be at your aid if you need them for however long you need them. I only ask you send them back when you no longer need them.

V’nessi Ulvalin

K’tsa stood ready to hear what Nevar would say next. But what was there to say? What was there to do besides take action? Her mother had told her about these men. When driven to action everything was a contest. They were task minded and strong. Something that would come in handy now more than ever before. She stood ready to receive orders.

[Cachet]

My badTHis post was supposed to go somewhere else but I put it here by accident...So instead I offer you a hot cowboy instead...ENJOY

[Gossamer]

Nevar looked thoughtful. He read over all the messages carefully, taking his time. The man was never in a hurry when it came to making grave decisions or hearing dire portents. Her message was clear. Destruction. Death. Heavy casualties. His face was unyielding, his expression unreadable. The man stood as a statue taking all of the information in his hands and absorbing it into his consciousness. The Akalaks were not as the humans were, being born, living quickly, and dying. His whole culture had people that lived well into two hundred years. The world had ended once, in his recent memory. His grandfather's generation had suffered greatly and their entire city had fallen to ruin beneath the sea. Here, in Riverfall, were almost all the last of the Akalaks. And he wondered, almost swept up by the nostalgia, if his grandfather who was also leader, would had been able to save lives had the Konti existed then and sent out a warning like this. He turned to one of his advisers. "Summon the Kuvay'Nas and give them this message. We need to send them throughout the city and gather all the Drykas we can find. If they know of any Drykas even on the outside of the city, send for them as well. Have them bring their Strider horses and enough supplies to get them to Endrykas. Have them assembled here within the bell." He said, glancing then back at the Konti. "She clearly outlines what will happen. But she doesn't say when. Do you know when?" The leader said, his voice without infliction, but his fellow Councilmen could tell Nevar was gravely concerned. He'd wait for his reply then act, sending his Adviser off to complete the task he set the man. The adviser bowed, and then was gone before he could ask any more questions. Within the bell, he'd advise whomever the Kuvay'Nas could round up that the Konti had carried a message and then they too needed to pass it on. He wrote out a personal missive to the Ankals of Endrykas and then sent it on its way with whomever wanted to ride for The Sea of Grass. "Your Konti are welcome to stay in Riverfall as long as they'd like. If any would like to continue on to Endrykas we can provide mounts I believe that will get them there swiftly or they can ride double with what Drykas we can find to go. The choice is yours, but you are welcome here regardless." Nevar said. "And I thank you for your message and the courage it took to ride all this way to bring it. Now, would you like to take your rest?" He said, kindly offering to escort her to rejoin her companions after she'd answered. Then, almost as an afterthought he gathered another Adviser. "Send Kuvay'Nas down to the port. Comb it. Find out if there are any Svefra in trading. We'll want to send a message to them as well. I can't see them surviving this out on the open water if the danger is that grave. Bring them here, and we'll offer to shelter as many as we can for the duration. But more importantly we'll need them to send their message birds to wherever it is that they gather. The more people we can warn, the better." He said, and sent the adviser off as well. Indeed there were Svefra in port as there usually were, and they had birds and were willing to send messages once the situation was explained. Gravely Nevar passed the message the Konti champion had delivered onto the Svefra peoples, biding them good luck and wishing them the resources of Riverfall if such were needed.

[Cachet]

K’tsa nodded then answered the most pressing question the man had. When the event would happen. She swallowed then spoke the truth. “You have less than eight days now. On the stroke of midnight heralding in Spring the storms will start.” That was likely the gravest of news for him to encounter.

Only eight days, that would explain the Konti’s next choice of words. “My healers await instruction. There will be time for rest later. Right now I have to send them to their intended destinations immediately. I have several skilled healers among them, as well as one animal healer as well. I will dispatch them where needed.” She awaited further instruction as she stood before this powerful Akalak.

Everything her mother had told her about him was right. He was a very stern and direct leader. He made calculated and careful decisions that inspired his people. And all of this was indeed very important and useful given the time crunch they now faced. Part of her wanted to apologize for not being able to deliver the message sooner. But Nevar headed that off as well, thanking them for the message.

“I will ask if any would like to ride out to Endrykas. Some may; but I believe they would much more prefer the security of Riverfall proper.” She knew she did, with the storms that were coming it would be important to be here within the city proper. Riverfall would stand strong. She was sure of it now, V’nessi wouldn’t have sent her own daughter here if it was dangerous.

“And I thank you for housing us here while we await your need for us. Would you like to escort me back to my healers and dispatch them? I have learned a great deal of each of them while on the journey here. Perhaps you could find where each fits best given that you know your city best?” She was going to take this opportunity to be escorted by Nevar. It wasn’t every day one got to be escorted by a figure so…handsome and powerful as this man.

As they walked to the inn where her healers had been so kindly escorted K’tsa spoke to the rather large Nevar. Striking up important conversation. “I have two sisters…identical sisters J’sta and K’sta who are both extraordinary healers especially when it comes to wounds and broken bones they work best when paired together as you might imagine. There is also Yvosa who is very skilled in growing plants and herbs as well as finding their many uses, she was a star at the Opal Temple for keeping the gardens. N’vasa is simply brilliant and medicine as well as herbalism; she is quick on her feet especially in situations that demand split second decisions. She is trained as a surgeon and doctor of sorts; she can and has performed several complex and successful operations in Mura…most of them having to do with child birth. And then finally the youngest member is Aracely. She was studying at the Opal Temple in herbalism and the like and has an affinity for animals. Her gift is extraordinary and allows her to tell an animal’s strengths and weaknesses so a trainer can better tailor its job and purpose later in life.” She waited for Nevar to say anything but she knew his mind was likely elsewhere right now…and she couldn’t blame him.

[Gossamer]

Nevar nodded, noting all the information the messenger gave him. He'd sort through the women later, but first he'd send at least two of them on to Endrykas - perhaps the twins?- so they could assist if needed. He'd ask for volunteers but find comfortable positions for the other Konti if they were willing to stay. If not, he'd secure them over the course of the storm, then send escorts back with them towards Mura. "Thank you, K'tsa. Riverfall owes your people and Avalis a debt we will not soon forget. Your Konti are welcome here, but if any would like to ride on to Endrykas they'd be welcome too as well. If you need escorts home after the storm, we'll gladly provide them. Many of our warriors have relatives on the white isle and will wish to visit and perhaps help with your own cleanup there. If any wish to stay here, we'll make them welcome as well." Konti were always welcome and honored in Riverfall, with most of the Akalaks seeing them as a sister race. "I'll personally host you in my tower if you'd like, or you can go back to the Pearl House with your sisters.... He left the choice up to her. If she chose to host with him, he'd show her the city as seen from his eyes and give her a very insightful look at what she'd just rode so hard to save. But regardless of all that, only time would tell what would happen. For now the Konti needed to settle in, ride out the storm in Riverfall, then head back afterwards if they wished or assimilate into Riverfall life. They'd done their duty and had totally forewarned Riverfall with enough time to prevents significant loss of life. For that, they would be honored as heroines... now and for all time.