Flashback True Identity

[Malefic]

After successfully defusing the situation, Malefic didn't mind the strange look she gave him, simply shrugging in response. "Yeah, I think I'll go ahead and ask her that as well. Why is the Symenestra population faltering? What's happening here? " The nuit's lack of knowledge was once again displayed here. While the door creaked open, Mal stared forward in anticipation. The two guards were dressed magnificently! The crimson capes across their back had an certain air of authority to them. The exoskeleton armor also had a kind of royal feel to it. Or at least, that's what Malefic thought of them. His deceased eyes surveyed their appearance carefully. This grandeur must also hold a weakness of some sort... On instinct, he measured up any and all escape routes visible to him, estimating a few other's that weren't within his field of vision. What would give him an advantage? What would give them an advantage? Where does that staircase lead? Abruptly, his thoughts were interrupted by the guards' curt prompts. „What do you want, Nuit?“ one of the men asked, while his colleague wondered, „Are you aware that this is the residence of the ruler of Kalinor?“ It wasn’t the warmest welcome, but Alesanya’s guards – or whatever they were – seemed at least willing to listen to him. Mal simply stared at the guards for a second or two, conjuring up a respectful response. Suddenly, a feminine figure peeked out from behind the staircase, climbing steadily upwards to reveal a woman adorned in fine clothing. Surely she must be the ruler... Instantly, he kneeled at her presence and bowed his head as well. Every word she said was absorbed within Malefic's mind, like ink on paper. His mind attempted to memorize everything she said from this point on. "Greetings, Dovna. I have come here to see if you are willing to answer a inquiry or two of peculiar nature. My name is.... Vidar. Would you mind assisting me? I mean no harm, nor do I bring any in coming here. If anything, I may even be capable of augmenting your city with my knowledge, Dovna." The walking corpse remained kneeling with head bowed before the ruler, making sure to give all the respect possible to her. One does not mess with a ruler and stroll away with their head intact.

[Poison]

„My guards tend to be overprotective“, Alesanya remarked and cast a cool look at the two men in their magnifcent armor. „They tend to forget that I was one of the most skilled Harvesters in Kalinor before I was chosen for my current position. Now then, you said that your name is Vidar?“ She looked at him curiously. „That sounds almost like a Symenestra name, but you are not Symenestra. Were you one in a … past life?“

Alesanya was well educated. She knew of the Nuit, and she wouldn’t condemn Malefic before she had gotten to know him and found out if associating with him had any advantages. He intrigued her. There hadn’t been a Nuit in Kalinor during her lifetime. They were nearly immortal. How old was he? Did he remember the time before? Did he remember the Valterrian?

„Take him down the stairs to the meeting room“, she ordered the guards. „And make sure that he doesn’t stumble and fall. I don’t want to have to supply him with a new body. And I’m sure you don’t want to donate yours either.“ The men looked slightly frightened and disgusted as they heard that, so they quickly obeyed.

Once she had given her orders, Alesanya turned around without another word and walked down the stairs.

~~~~

Once he had descended the stairs, Malefic would find himself in a circular room. Couches stood in niches along the wall. The floor was covered with a fine carpet that had been imported from the surface. In the middle of the room stood a wooden table that was surrounded by four chairs. All the furniture in the room was made of fine dark wood that was covered with intricate carvings.

Alesanya was already sitting in one of the chairs, her back completely straight. As she saw Malefic, she gestured for him to come closer. „You said you had an inquiry, Vidar“, she remarked. „And you also spoke of augmenting our city with your knowledge. Tell me what you want to know and what you can give us in return for that information.“

[Malefic]

Malefic remained kneeling before the ruler as she remarked about her guards. He still had no idea what a "Harvester" was, but now was not the time to show any lack of knowledge. He needed Alesanya to regard him to be as intelligent as he could convince her. "My name is indeed of Symenestra origin, however the situation is rather complicated, dovna. I am here to see if you can clarify." „Take him down the stairs to the meeting room“, she ordered the guards. „And make sure that he doesn’t stumble and fell. I don’t want to have to supply him with a new body. And I’m sure you don’t want to donate yours either.“ The men looked slightly frightened and disgusted as they heard that, so they quickly obeyed. Mal snickered quietly at the ruler's comment. He wasn't really capable of stealing others' bodies, but he let this one slide. "My greatest strength lies in my logic and comprehension. It is very formidable. With it, alongside my overly long lifespan, I will be of great benefit to the city. What I know is not much... yet. My specific inquiry is... Who am I?" Obviously this would come off as strange, but Sanya would be able to tell that he was serious. "Could you help me discover my past self? The city here feels... familiar. I think I've been here before... a long time ago. Perhaps you know someone with a gnosis who could help?" OOCSorry for the delay. Business and procrastination... gah

[Poison]

„We have logic and comprehension in abundance“, Alesanya replied. She didn’t seem to be particularly impressed. „Perhaps if you could share your knowledge of the history of our world with us…“ She paused and looked at the Nuit, waiting for his agreement or disagreement. „That would be of some use. There is nobody in this city that is older than seventy, and while we have countless books in our library, reading about a historical event is not the same as hearing about it from somebody that was alive back then. Except that you aren’t really alive, are you?“

She narrowed her eyes a little as she said that. „As for who you are, I’m afraid I do not know. If Kalinor feels familiar to you, you were likely a Symenestra – or perhaps a human that has lived among us for a while, but there have been a few people who have disappeared or died over the decades and centuries. If I am supposed to help you find out your identity, we need to narrow down the timeframe somewhat.“

She paused again, considering, after he had asked her for somebody with a gnosis. „That depends“, she said. „Do your kind bleed? Is there anything resembling blood running through your veins? Do people that are not really alive dream? What happens to you at night?“

[Malefic]

That's right he thought, it isn't my logic and comprehension that gives me an advantage but obviously knowledge. This is obvious, why didn't I offer to tell my portion of history? Mal stared at the floor for a moment before returning his gaze back to the ruler. "So be it. In exchange for my knowledge of the past, you will assist me with your resources, correct?" Malefic stroked his chin and thought about his past in the wild. It would do no good to tell them he wasn't very aware of history happening around him. Of course, there was a few events that were rather large of which he noticed. Yes, yes, there is no one here older than seventy... "Very well. I will recite to you and your people my experiences in the wild." The dead one squinted at nothing in particular while he thought. "Hmm... I believe I was born... perhaps four to five centuries ago?" Quite a while ago, for sure. The nuit doubted they would be of any help without a gnosis bearer. "Do I... bleed? " Sure, he did. Kinda. But it wasn't blood that came from his veins but rather a strange white substance. Comparing his "blood" with the wild animals' proved that much. "Well... I do, and yet I don't. What flows through my body isn't quite... blood per say. But it does seem to be similar." Dreams? What are "dreams"? Awkwardly he looked to the side and said "Erm... dreams? I'm afraid... not? At night we stay active. We do not sleep. Surely, though, there is more than one gnosis bearer here? Perhaps one with a trait unrelated to blood and... dreams?" If they had no one else, he would be stranded in the present, unable to discover his past. The curiosity itched and gnawed and tore at him from the inside. I assure you that I am in no way,shape, or form harmful to the inhabitants of this city. Many of the tales told of my species are flooded with lies and hatred born from mere racism. Many who think they understand us, don't." He felt it necessary to say that. Though he hadn't met any of his kind for a couple centuries, he knew he was accurate in saying that many judge things based on their appearance, and Malefic certainly wasn't pretty. So, obviously, there must have been many horror stories told about his people.

[Poison]

„Indeed“, Alesanya replied. „I will assist you in exchange for your knowledge of the past.“ As he informed her that he had been born five centuries ago, she gasped. „That was before the Valterrian“, she remarked. Her eyes were wide. „You were probably one of the first Symenestra in Kalinor. You could tell us what the world was like before the Valterrian. You probably remember our old home, the lost city in the jungle. You could tell us what our people looked like before the wild djed changed them. You might even be able to help us find a way to save our people!“ The ruler of Kalinor didn’t bother to hide her excitement. Was it really that easy? Was this Nuit the key?

She decided at once that she would do whatever she could to help him retrieve his memories. Before he had just been an interesting stranger, but now he was so much more. If she found a way to cure his amnesia, people would remember her for centuries! She would bring the Symenestras‘ glorious past back! Maybe Viratas himself would come to Kalinor and mark her!

„That complicates matters a little“, she remarked as he informed her that he didn’t dream our bleed. She was far from giving up though. There had to be a way! „If you bled, I would simply take you to our priest of Viratas, and he would taste your blood and read the information in it. If you dreamt, a dreamwalker could aid you. Still, there might be one more possiblity. There is a strange creature working at the Purging, a woman with hair like snow and scales. Her people are called Konti, and they have no men. I have heard that they have unique gifts and can see things that are usually hidden. I will take you to her.“

„I didn’t assume that you were here to harm us“, she replied. „If you were, you would probably already have done something. Trust me, I know what racism is like. We have been called monsters as well by those that do not realize that we do the things we do in order to survive.“

[Malefic]

Much of what Alesanya spoke of was news to Malefic. He didn't even know what the Valterrian was. The way she spoke of it, with awe and reverence, made it clear to the nuit that the event was a major part of history that made a great change. Did he remember such a thing? It took him a moment to browse through his memories to recall the massive cataclysm he chose to call "The Clashing". Maybe that's what she was talking about? The Clashing? Or rather... the Valterrian? The ruler went on in her rant about how his knowledge could give them the knowledge of their ancestors and how that would help them. It was a tad bit much for Malefic to take in all at once, but Mal made sure to keep his face expressionless. "Save... your people? From what, exactly?" Alesanya's excitement knew no bounds. How very enthusiastic... is the knowledge of the past that valuable to her? Does she understand my lust for knowledge? Does she bear it too? I can see us becoming close friends if that is the case... But for now he would have to see for himself whether or not his hypothesis was true. The nuit nodded a few times. A Viratas priest couldn't help by tasting his "blood". A dreamwalker couldn't help by...err...whatever a dreamwalker did. The Purging? Gah! What is that?! This is getting more and more annoying by the second! I must make sure to study hard the next chance I get. There is too much I do not know of or do not understand. Knowledge, wisdom, memory... His mind strayed from the subject for a moment while he mulled about how he knew too little. It snapped back to attention at the mention of "...and can see things that are usually hidden. I will take you to her.“ They can see things that are usually hidden? How fascinating. How do hey do it? Is it some form of magic? Perhaps even a skill I could learn? No, no... it sounds more like someone with a gnosis... from the god of wisdom? Is there a god of wisdom? Argh! I need to study! The nuit let out a small sigh. At least he was making progress. "You will take me to her? Excellent!" He stood up readily and awaited patiently for the ruler to show him the way. "Will you be accompanying me, by chance? Once more, the walking dead man nodded to the ruler. "Excellent. I am happy you understand me."

[Poison]

„From extinction“, Alesanya replied. All her excitement was suddenly gone, and she looked very sad. „The Valterrian changed us. It weakened us, but at the same time it made our venom stronger. The women of our race usually die in birth nowadays. Their babies‘ venom kills them. But if we could talk to somebody who was alive before the Valterrian and remembers what we used to be like, there might still be hope for us.“

„But let’s not talk about that. The most important thing right now is that we retrieve your memories. The story of our race can wait. I will take you to the Konti now.“ The ruler of Kalinor did not play the part of the guide for any stranger, but Malefic wasn’t „any stranger“. He could be the one that would save the Symenestra race. If it was as Alesanya hoped, she would gladly be his guide, she would provide him with a place to live, give him a fresh body when his current one failed him – and more. He would be worth it.

„Come with me“, she said. „One of my guards will join us and help you navigate the Web.“

~~~

Of course the people of Kalinor stared at Malefic as he walked towards the Purging, even more so than before because of the company he was in. What was Alesanya doing with a Nuit? Malefic could hear the people talk and see them pointing at him. In a few chimes the whole city would know about this. It was one of the most interesting things that had happened in Kalinor recently.


~~~

It turned out that the Purging was simply the hospital of Kalinor. After walking through the door of the large tear shaped structure Malefic found himself in a waiting room where a number of Symenestra were sitting in wooden chairs that had been placed along the walls, waiting for a doctor to take care of them. They had all kinds of problems, from broken bones over bruises to a rash or even tooth problems.

A nurse that was dressed in a pure white robe was walking around and writing down what the people needed a doctor for, but when she noticed Alesanya, she immediately walked over to her. „Sibeaya“, she greeted her politely. „What can I do for you and …“ She looked at Malefic, unsure what to make of him.“… your guest?“ „We need to talk to the Konti Adelia“, Alesanya replied. „My guest has lost his memory, and we need her help to restore it. Please send her to the staff room. We will be waiting for her there.“

„Of course“, the nurse replied.

~~~

„I don’t want everybody to watch while the Konti tries to retrieve your memories“, Alesanya explained as they walked through the Purging. Alesanya seemed to be quite familiar with the layout of the building. „Of course we could use one of the examination rooms, but I think we both prefer something a little more comfortable that doesn’t smell of blood and medicine.“

„You will wait outside the door and make sure that nobody interrupts us“, she told her guard that was walking behind Malefic and her.

~~~

The staff room looked like a typical Kalinor living room, sparsely furnished, with only a large table and a few comfortable chairs grouped around it. The walls were decorated with silk in brilliant jewel tones, there was a soft carpet on the floor, and opalogems that were attached to the ceiling filled the room with light. A few bowls with different snacks, mostly soft fruit and vegetables and sweets as well as pitchers with juice stood on the table.

Alesanya sat down in one of the chairs. „I used to train as a healer here when I was younger“, she told Malefic. „Mostly because my parents were healers and wanted me to follow in their footsteps. But I quickly realized that there were other things I was much better at.“[/b]

~~~

A few chimes passed, and then somebody knocked on the door and entered. The newcomer was not a Symenestra, but a Konti, a pale, fragile beauty. Her hair was such a light shade of blonde that it seemed almost white, and she had pale blue eyes. She was tiny, not much bigger than a child, with scales on her neck and her forehead and gills, as if she were part fish. Her fingers were webbed, and she wore a robe made of light blue silk.

„Sibeaya“, she greeted Alesanya and inclined her head as a sign of respec. „It is an honour to help you.“ She turned to Malefic as well. There was no hint of fear or disgust. The Konti was calm. „A good day to you as well, sir. I’m Adelia, and I have been told that you have need of somebody that has received Avalis‘ blessing. Tell me, when did you lose your memory?“

[Malefic]

"Vidar" listened solemnly to the ruler's sad history. She thinks I can fix them, he realized. That is why she is so excited. But what if I can't? The Clashing was a storm of potent power and ill will to a gargantuan degree, could I ever possibly match that? This would take some time to ponder. For now she would see him as one of the greatest assets they have had for quite a while. He'd probably need to take measures in order to ensure that he remained important to them, he was quite sure that he couldn't really help them much. The second she finds out will be the same second that I loose my opportunity to learn that of which other's cannot learn... "Thank you, this will truly help both of us greatly."A few curt nods and then he followed Alesanya to wherever she decided to take him. At the back of his mind, though, he still lightly pondered what he would do, and how he would proceed. As he walked, the undead noticed that there were several of the Symenestra people gawking at him with. He was strolling casually alongside the ruler, how many had the opportunity to do such a thing? Malefic did, and he was a nuit. A strange and new nuit. He had difficulty stifling a sly snicker, but in the end managed to conserve his composure. Perhaps more would respect him after this. As Mal approached the large drop-shaped building, he made sure to try to memorize the location of it should he need something else later. A "Konti" is probably a great resource for one with such a long past and who seeks knowledge from every corner of the planet. Though, he wasn't sure if there was a 100% accuracy rate, surely she could still be of use to him at a later date. It's good to keep your resources available he thought. The nuit stepped through the entrance into the hospital and instantly felt the eyes of all those in he waiting room. It was only partially irritating, but he was becoming used to it. A nurse that was dressed in a pure white robe was walking around and writing down what the people needed a doctor for, but when she noticed Alesanya, she immediately walked over to her. „Sibeaya“, she greeted her politely. „What can I do for you and …“ She looked at Malefic, unsure what to make of him.“… your guest?“ „We need to talk to the Konti Adelia“, Alesanya replied. „My guest has lost his memory, and we need her help to restore it. Please send her to the staff room. We will be waiting for her there.“ Mal simply waited silently as the ruler spoke with the nurse. He was checking for possible escape routes again. Habits are hard to get rid of. While doing so, he heard the Konti's name. Adelia... He turned his attention to Alesanya as she explained why she had chosen the staff room as the place of speaking. The nuit walked beside her listening intently until they arrived to the staff room. She seemed rather familiar with the hospital's layout. "Of course." Medicine? Yet another thing to check upon. This is a hospital, and they seem to take care of the people residing here. Perhaps it is a method for healing? I wonder if it would work on a nuit... Upon entering the room, he scanned it and took in his surroundings. It seemed to be similar to the average room setup. Only a single, large, table stood in the middle of the room, a few chairs and bowls of fruit accompaning it. The walls were decorated quite finely as well. The finest "Vidar" had seen. He stared at them for a few minutes and then seated himself next to the ruler, making sure to leave a decent amount of distance between them for multiple reasons. He was still pretty cautious, and he guessed that being seated next to a corpse wasn't very pleasant. "Realized there were things you were better at..." He recalled a moment in time earlier when she had mentioned something about being a "skilled Harvester". "What were the things you found to be better at?" This was his subtle way of asking what a Harvester was. A few minutes following their conversation, a new person arrived. She was extremely pale. She was even, perhaps, comparible to Malefic's own skin tone, a dull grey one. She had extremely light hair to go along with it. Is her hair white? Mal thought he saw a tint of blonde in her hair. [i]Not completely white. Her scales and gills accompanied a pair of webbed fingers. The nuit was extremely facinated with such a creature. What is it? Why does she have scales? Why gills? Is she a fish of some sort? Why so short, so pale, and so blond? This is a Konti? And then another thought came to him. If she can see the future and the past, could I inhabit her body and her powers with it? And she was very polite too. Not even a tad bit of disdain for his race shown on her face or in her gestures. She seemed very promising. . „A good day to you as well, sir. I’m Adelia, and I have been told that you have need of somebody that has received Avalis‘ blessing. Tell me, when did you lose your memory?“ It took a moment for him to bring his thoughts back to the subject at hand. His memory. "Erm... yes... my memories. Unfortunately, I do not remember. I don't quite think I 'lost my memory', rather, I just gradually forgot my past as I wandered the wilds." He anxiously awaited her answer, staving away any thoughts of what she was or if he could find out by dissecting her. Such a dark thought was simply shrouded in extreme and earnest curiosity. Perhaps he would find out later...

[Poison]

„Hunting“, Alesanya replied as Malefic asked her what she had found to be better at. „But the Purging is not the right place to have a discussion about our pasts, don’t you agree? We will have ample time to talk after Adelia has recovered your memory. I look forward to getting to know the Symenestra you were when you were alive.“

~~~

„You simply forgot?“ Adelia asked and furrowed her brow very lightly. „How can you simply forget who you are? My people, the Konti, live for over two centuries, but we never forget who we are and where we came from. It must be painful for you, not knowing who you were before you became a Nuit. Even if a long time has passed since then, and you wear a different body now, your time as a mortal man has shaped you and made you what you are now.“

She looked very sad as she said this. „But I think I can make you remember.“ A smile slowly spreas across her pale face. „I only bear a single mark from Avalis …“ She pushed her hair aside so that he could see the mark on her neck. It was blue and luminous and had the shape of a lily. „ … so my sight is somewhat rough and unpredictable, but at the end of our time together you will know who you once were, provided that I find the correct chavi.“

„Tell me, do you have any specific questions for me? I can probably tell you which Web you once belonged to, but as far as the rest of your mortal existence is concerned, it will be easier for me to identify the correct chavi if I know what I need to look for.“

Adelia’s voice was very gentle and reassuring. Alesanya herself did not say a single word, but simply watched and listened. While she knew of the Konti and her abilties, she had never actually seen her use them, and she was most interested in finding out what divination involved.