Bad Wolf (Paragon)

[Eridanus]

Eridanus found that the wolf that had goaded him into this whole fiasco gone, and he sighed. Still, he had a part to play in this.Though provoked and egged on by the wolf, he was responsible for his own actions, and if he made a mistake he was responsible enough to admit to it. Part of him wondered if the wolf was part of his imagination after all, but the physical evidence left behind by it such as the slobber on one of the guards proved otherwise.

His body had been shifting unconsciously while the man spoke. Perhaps his body had not recognized that the battle had ended, or that he was in a safe zone yet. Guided by his honed combat experience, he had been subconsciously moving himself so that there would not be a clear line of sight between him and the position of the previous crossbowman.

"To be fair, I was attacked by your guard," Eridanus objected. "I was merely asking if you guys could pity a poor traveller and let me hitch-hike to wherever you were going, but instead your guards attacked me instead me leading me to you for negotiations."

Even as he spoke, he did not let down his guard for there was one final test. Allowing his eyes to roam over the caravan, he fed djed to his eyes, but this time not focusing on the aura of the caravan. Instead, he augmented the aspect of auristics that allowed him to see through objects.

That was what he sought, to see through the wood of the caravan in order to physically confirm the symenestra's claim. To check whether they were indeed children. And whether they were all free, unbounded with no chains or slave-related equipment.

This was his final test before he made any major decisions.

[Paragon]

"True. These children have suffered a lot. My men... they are protective. I do not blame you, for all intents and purposes, we were slavers to you." The Symenestra looked to the ground, as if embarrassed by something. "You may have thought yourself a humble traveler, but you cannot trust anyone while travelling across Mizahar." Eridanus turned his attention to the caravan. It took a moment for his auristics to work correctly. He felt a light fuzziness in his head, but began to make out auras - pools of energy behind the lacquered wood. They were indeed auras of youth, and he saw one form of energy get up and move, as if walking around. That would strike Eridanus has unfettered, unchained.

[Eridanus]

OOCAnd there I was waiting for you, and wondering why you took so long. Only to realize that I missed your reply! D'oh! Stupid me >.<

The ethaefal shut down his usage of auristics. That was evidence enough for him. He felt a sense of shame for having caused such trouble to them, but then again he acted according to situation. If the men had not resorted to violence he would not have to defend himself. Still, there was a little he could do to provide compensation, since he had decreased their defences somewhat.

"I'll tell you what Sym. Let's take stock of the situation. For all intents and purposes, all of you are under my control, yes?" He asked, waving his sword around. It should be painfully obvious to them that his skill in combat was far superior, and that further fighting would only result in their own demise.

Pausing for a second to let the Symenestra analyse the situation and reach the same conclusion that he laid out just now, he continued, "Now fortunately for you, I have a bunch of friends nearby. We are travelling together to Syliras, and our group is large enough to support the addition of a couple more."

If the man protested, he would remind him, "Whether you believe me or not does not matter. If I were a slaver, I would take control of all of you and sell you off anyway. Out of good-will I am telling you that I am but a normal adventurer making my way to the city, and as compensation of my wilful actions - for no doubt I share some of the guilt due to my actions even if provoked from self-defence - my group will provide you the necessary protection. Safety in numbers, they say."

He waited patiently for the man's reply, though he did not let his guard down. He was alone in a foreign place, surrounded by potentially hostile people. They might not take kindly to his peaceful suggestion out of paranoia, but hopefully his rhetoric and logic would help them see his way.

[Paragon]

Eridanus' words shook the Symenestra. It wasn't simply shock. It was the kindness. It was the sudden offer of something never promised before. He simply watched the Ethaefal for a moment, seemingly judging his convictions. But he knew in his heart Eridanus was right. There was little else they could do. And strength came in numbers, in the legion of many. "Then I accept your offer," he said slowly. The man had killed. But he could not blame. No, he could not. "Thank you, Ethaefal. Perhaps we can create a new future wherever you are headed. A place where these children can live without judgement, and without hatred." Eridanus would tell them where the camp was - not far off, and then they would find some small form of sanctuary. The symenestra and his remaining colleagues got the caravan moving, but the Ethaefal lingered. For behind the caravan, sat the wolf. The azure wolf, of cobalt fur, and ice blue eyes. It stared at him intently, as if making a decision.

[Eridanus]

Luck shone on him, for his rhetoric worked and the Symenestra accepted his offer with minimal hesitation.

"Keep going straight in that direction," The ethaefal pointed towards where he came from. "You should be able to see a worn path through the trees. Stick to the path and you'll reach my associates."

He spent the next few moments helping the caravan to pack up and begin moving, while apologizing solemnly to the brother of the deceased. The guard glared at him, but continued working due to his professionalism and contract to his employer. Finally, the group began moving, and he walked alongside the caravan to help guide them in case they had a lousy sense of direction.

That was when he noticed something amiss.

"Go on ahead," He waved, pausing to confront something that seemed to be stalking the group.

The azure wolf, resplendent in its magnificence and majestic ferocity.

"Wolf!" Eridanus exclaimed in a surprised manner. "They aren't slavers!" He complained, his tone accusatory. Yet somehow he could not bring himself to be angry or to seem intimidating to the wolf as he demanded for an answer to that faux pas that the wolf led him to.

Perhaps it was the strange connection he felt with the wolf, or perhaps it was the wolf's ability to speak. But Eridanus found himself talking to the wolf as if it were a fellow mortal, and not a brutal predator that could very well rip out his throat just as normal wolves do.

[Paragon]

"Yes," the wolf said carefully, "I heard that bit." He watched Eridanus thoughtfully, and then began to pad slowly towards the Ethaefal. Eridanus would feel something in the air, akin to a chill. Not in the cold sense, but as if something had touched his very soul. It resonated deeply. As the wolf moved, it seemed to grow taller. The fur seemed to recede. A metamorphosis took place in motion, and the sight was truly breathtaking. Animal became man in a moment of light and transformation. Now, a man who appeared to be an Akalak with an intense aura of pride and discipline, stood before Eridanus. He tilted his head slightly, just as the wolf had, watching the man intensely. "I am Wysar," he said, voice bold and sure, "I did not intend to trick you. I can assure you of that. I believed them to be slavers, just like you did. Mortals can be confusing... what you see on the surface, is not always the truth beneath. Even to a God."

[Eridanus]

Eridanus blinked.

"You... you wha-?"

He thought for a moment that perhaps this was one of the wolf's schemes, and considered the use of auristics to ascertain his identity. Yet, the feeling that was given when the wolf transformed... No, no auristics was needed.

Auristics was the magical amplification of auras, but when a certain aura became huge enough even mundane senses would be able to detect it. This was one of those cases, and every word of the akalak's words resounded in his very being.

"Lord Wysar," The ethaefal gasped in greeting, giving a single bow in respect and awe. He was used to repeating that name in his prayers, in training, in times of need and in dedication to the god. Yet, it did not seem right to say the name as if he were actually talking to it.

It was surreal.

"Lord Wysar. I... I do not deserve your divine attention..." The execution and proceeding of the entire thing had not been perfect, and it was only now that he realized that the entire situation was a test.

[Paragon]

"Face me squarely Ethaefal. There is no need for bowing and stuttering. I have been watching you for a long while. You are a curiosity among men." Wysar walked closer to Eridanus. His resonance would penetrate the Ethaefal's very being, pride filling him like a brimming cauldron, bubbling, threatening to overflow. In some sense, the experience was overpowering. It would make him feel weaker somewhat, juxtaposed next to such a strong presence. "You should be proud of your actions today. You followed through with your convictions throughout. You were disciplined, even in the face of such a game changing revelation." Wysar laid his hands upon Eridanus' shoulders -- the touch quicksilver and electricity. "Answer me one thing, mortal. What would you do if you were truly aware? If you could anticipate? If you could know?"

[Eridanus]

The god's chastisement shook the ethaefal out of his stumbling wonder, and it was enough for him to properly clear his head and assess the situation properly. Wysar was the god of conviction, discipline and integrity. As such, he was a god that did not require fawning or devotion to him, but instead demanded devotion and dedication to the domains he possessed as more important.

"Yes, yes you're right. I apologize," Eridanus replied, his confidence coming back. As the divine being approached, he could somehow feel his own presence diminish rapidly even though their physical proportions remained constant. It was a constant fight within himself not to mentally shrink even as the god touched him.

An electric feeling. An indescribable pulse that shook his very being. It was like reminding him what interacting with Leth was like in the Ukalas, and the nostalgia was shocking. He blinked, trying to refocus back on the reality.

"Information is king. Knowledge is ultimate. All our actions, misunderstandings and mistakes - they are all made from imperfect knowledge. From weak understanding drawn from wrongly estimated sources. If I knew it was so, I would not have been so defensive, so quick to combat. I would have called out their bluff, and perhaps blood shed could be avoided."

Looking at Wysar squarely in the eye, he added, "It is all speculation, though. Mortals like me can never know everything - not even Avalis' children or those whom she favours. It is out of our domain to grasp the power of such information."

[Paragon]

"And yet..." Wysar mused, "you are more than most." He stared into Eridanus' eyes for a long moment, as if making a decision. It had been a long day for the Ethaefal. A testing one, at that. And now he had new travelling companions to boot. Wysar's hands moved off of Eridanus' shoulders, suddenly cool fingers touched the back of his neck. They met in the centre. It was cold, ice lancing through his body, and then fire, warmth, heat. A wave of energy seemed to pulse throughout his body, and for a sudden moment, Eridanus was aware of everything within several miles. The feeling faded as soon as it had come. "Bear my mark mortal," Wysar said, "and use it well." The God relinquished his hold, and turned away from Eridanus, walking back towards the depths of the forest, leaving the Ethaefal alone, the back of his neck bearing the glowing blue flamed sigil of the disciplined.