Flashback True Identity

[Malefic]

Hunting? Hunting what, exactly? A simple nod signaled his agreement. Mal stared blankly at Adelia. "I didn't just forget all at once... I was... occupied with... other things." He thought a moment about how he strove to live in the wild. Now that "Vidar" thought about it, how did he get so absorbed in such a simple thing? He was just... surviving. Nothing else. Of course, it took a lot to survive and thrive in the dense jungles and dark forests, but so much so that he would forget who he was? The nuit didn't quite remember how it went down, only that he ended up living in the woods as a recluse bent on ensuring his own existence continued. Once again he snapped back to reality as the Konti went on with her monologue. Her face appeared somber. Is that... sadness? Mal found himself confused. Did she personally care about his past? Wasn't this simply an order from the ruler of Kalinor? It seemed not. Mal tilted his head as she displayed... a mark. Blue like the sea, and shaped like a flower in the wilds. For some reason there was something ominous to it. Mysterious. Knowledgeable. Kind. It was unmistakably a gnosis mark, the first had ever seen. Can I steal it? "What is a chavi?" he asked. Specific questions? I have plenty! "Where was I born? Who were my parents? What was my Web? What was my occupation? Was I good at it? Who was my closest friend? Who was my most hated enemy? "Mal paused a moment. "What was my name?"

[Poison]

Adelia’s eyes widened a little as Malefic asked her what a chavi was. She hadn’t expected the Nuit to be interested in how exactly her gift worked, just the end result. „I don’t know how exactly to explain it“, she admitted. „Avalis‘ gift is hard to understand for those that do not bear her mark. You could say that the chavi are the entirety of somebody’s experiences, united in a weave of energy. Dreamwalkers – and seers like me – can acess them and find out what they contain. I’m afraid it isn’t a particularly impressive procedure. You won’t feel or see anything extraordinary while I try to uncover your memories. To you it will just seem like I’m staring at you.“

She looked a little helpless as the Nuit bombarded her with questions. She could imagine that he was very eager to get his life back, but she couldn’t answer every question at once! „I will start with the most important questions“, she told him. „I will try to find out where you were born and what your name and the name of your Web were. The other questions will require a little more attention and be harder to answer.“ With that she fell silent and simply looked at him. A few moments passed, not more than a chime or two, and then she began to speak again,

„I saw a city. It was not underground, but located in a jungle far from here. I saw houses, in trees and people that looked like the Symenestra, but then again not. They weren’t as pale. I think that was where you were born or at least lived, although I cannot tell you where exactly the city was located and when you were born. It was a long time ago though. The Symenestra haven’t had a city on the surface since the Valterrian.“

Another chime passed in silence. „As for your Web … I’m not sure if the Symenestra had Webs back then, but … there is a flower, the Orchid. The family you belonged to was called Orchid, I think. And you were Vidario. Vidario Orchid. Does the name feel familiar? Does anything I said make sense?“

She looked at him, hoping that he would say yes. Once, in another life, centuries ago, his name had been Vidario. That was why he had felt that warmth, why it had seemed so familiar when Sari had picked it for him. The young waitress had instinctively chosen the right name for him.

[Malefic]

Malefic found the concept of what a "Chavi" was a bit difficult to understand, but he tried hard to anyways even though he knew he couldn't do anything with them. Yet. "I think I understand..." For a moment or two he tried approaching it from different angles in his mind to see if he could conceive the idea completely. "How are Chavis made? Where are they? Do they have any purpose other than to reveal themselves to a God's followers?" Only more and more questions would arise in his head as she answered, but he restrained himself from inquiring about them all. Mal had time. Plenty of time. "Also..." he asked, "How does a gnosis work?" The nuit would have to be careful in asking these questions. If her power could be taken, he wouldn't want her to be in any way aware of his will to do so. To be able to simply stare into the past and future... The potential wisdom was endless! I would have no need for history books, I would only need to simply glance at a city to know it's origin, it's history, it's secrets... The dead one's body remained relatively motionless as always. Malefic found that to be the best way to hide one's intentions. Only now did the nuit shift slightly in his seat to prop his chin up with his arm. As she stared into nothingness a moment ago, he seemed to do so as well. Though he was simply digesting the information rather than scouring another's past. Still, he would rather be doing that. "Vidario Orchid..." Mal snickered. How did Sari know? Was it a coincidence? Or maybe she was part of something greater... However small, there was still the possibility. The sideways glance at Alesanya would tell him if the name held any weight. Perhaps she would be obvious in her emotions and surprise, or maybe she would simply have no expression. No expression would probably mean it was not anything great to speak of. Mal shifted his gaze back to the Konti. I don't really remember. Well... I feel familiar with the name Orchid, but I still am not sure whether or not my mind is simply being optimistic...What was my occupation? What was my reputation?"

[Poison]

„You have a lot of questions“, Adelia observed. She glanced at Alesanya who was still watching them closely, and then she turned to Malefic again. „I don’t know how Chavis are made“, she admitted and sighed. The Konti tried to please everybody and fullfill people’s wishes, and it pained her that she didn’t have all the answers that the Nuit needed. „I don’t know what their purpose is either. I only know what they are and that they exist. I’ve only been marked by my goddess once, and I left Mura to help the Symenestra rather than continue my studies of the Chavenna.“

Alesanya frowned a little as she heard that, but she didn’t say anything. Apparently the Konti was young and inexperienced. But unfortunately there was nobody better in all in Kalinor, so she would have to do. As Adelia stated that Malefic had once belonged to the Orchid Web, she frowned a little harder, not sure if she was willing to believe that. Had the Konti really read the Nuit’s memories or just picked a random name? „The Orchid Web is very influential. Their members have ruled Kalinor a couple of times in the past“, she told him. „Apparently you come from a famous family.“

„I don’t know how gnosis marks work“, Adelia replied after Alesanya had spoken. „They are gifts from the gods. That’s all that matters. Please, Sir. I’m not a scholar, only a healer with some small skill in Divination.“ A few moments passed as she considered his next questions. „I think … I think you were some sort of scientist. A scientist and a mage.“

Here the expression on Alesanya’s face brightened again. If that was true, Malefic would be very useful! A scientist, a scientist that had been alive at the time of the great catastrophe was just what they needed!

„You always wanted to know why things happen“, Adelia continued. “You studied the creatures that had been changed by the Valterrian. You studied your own people …“ She broke off abruptly, as if she didn’t like something she had seen or disapproved of it. „I don’t know what your reputation was though, Sir. As I said, my sight is somewhat rough, and I cannot see everything.“

[Malefic]

Malefic blinked a time or two. "I have many questions, yes, but that is because I seek many answers." At this point he felt as if she was becoming annoyed by his barrage of questions. Frankly, he didn't care. The questions he thought of demanded answers and he was already holding back far too much. The nuit was surprised by how much the diviner didn't know about her own gift. Did she simply take it for granted? Malefic caught her mentioning "Mura". "Is that your home city? Mura? Are there more of you there? More diviners, I mean. Perhaps they would have a higher level of this gnosis?" Alesanya's expressions gave the message clearly. It was simply confirmed by her words. The name "Orchid" held water. What kind of water, however, was another question. "My family used to rule here? What kind of rulers were they?" He paused a while as he stared at Alesanya. Hesitation. Would asking this question cause a rift between Kalinor's ruler and Mal? "How did the Orchid family loose the throne to the Hyacinth?" The nuit nodded excitedly at the prospect of his old self being a scientist and a Mage. "Excellent! Could you find the results of any of my experiments or endeavors? Even if you can't, do you at least know of a way to do so? As a Mage, what magics did I use?" He mumbled on to himself for a bit. Once Adelia spoke again he listened intently. Mal caught the abrupt break in speech that was followed by a frown. "What?" Vidario suspiciously stared at her momentarily. "Why did you break off? What did you see that you didn't like?

[Poison]

„Mura is my home city“, Adelia confirmed. „It’s located on Konti Isle. Most people that live there are like me – Konti. In Mura you would be able to meet women with two or even more marks from Avalis. Why do you ask? Are you thinking of travelling there? The journey is far and not without dangers, but you would most likely find the answers you seek there. My teachers have a much deeper understanding of the Chavenna.“

Alesanya didn’t answer immediately as the Nuit wanted to know what kind of rulers the members of the Orchid Web had been. Finally she said, somewhat cryptically, „Worse than some and better than some. They lost Kalinor the usual way, the way it has always happened since the founding of our city. When the old ruler dies, there are trials. The winner of those trials takes the city, and the loser … that is different in every case.“

Adelia and Alesanya looked at each other as Malefic wanted to know if the results of his experiments could be found. „It’s been a long time“, Adelia carefully replied. She hated to disappoint him. „I doubt that I could find out anything using my gift. It’s too complicated. It involves too much detail. But if you visited the Orchid Web, maybe they would have something for you.“

As he asked her why she had broken off, the Konti simply shook her head. „I cannot tell you, Sir. I only know that you were a practitioner of Reimancy when you were alive – and fascinated by a kind of magic that involved parts of the dead.“ She almost whispered the last words. „You were desperate and willing to do whatever it took.“

[Malefic]

"Perhaps I should travel there to learn more..." Malefic thought about it for a few moments. "Would I find someone capable of revealing specific things about my past? Could someone from Mura be proficient enough in Divination to depict the results of my past experiments?" Mal guessed that answer was 'yes', but he had to make sure. "What... sort of knowledge is held within Mura?" The nuit posed this question with the intention of seeing what first came to the konti's mind when thinking about knowledge and Mura. After cautiously listening to Alesanya's story, he silently sighed. That means there shouldn't be much bad blood between the two families. "I see..." He looked around the room for a second in thought. Malefic nodded at Adelia in thanks. "I appreciate your time, thank you for your assistance, Adelia." He dared not smile and bare his rotten mouth, but simply kept his face emotionless. After doing so he glimpsed over at Alesanya. "What is it that you wish to do now? I think I will pay my old family a visit."

[Poison]

„Perhaps you should“, Adelia agreed. „If you decide to visit Konti Isle, please come by the Purging. I will give you a letter for my teachers. They might be reluctant to talk to a Nuit otherwise. They would without a doubt be able to find out more than I do. As I told you before, I only bear a single mark from Avalis. We Konti are most proficient in divination – and medicine, although I’m not sure if one of your kind has any need for a doctor.“

As Malefic thanked for her assistance, the young Konti smiled gently. „I’m glad that I could be of help with my limited skills. I hope that you will be able to remember everything one day.“

„You did well, Adelia“, Alesanya agreed. “You have turned out to be quite an asset to Kalinor and the Purging in particular.“ With that she rose to her feet and turned to Malefic. “That is up to you“, she replied. “Visiting the Orchid Web is certainly a good idea. They will be … surprised to find out that a member of their family has returned from the dead … in a way at least. Once you have found out more about yourself, I ask you to come to my residence again and let me know.“

She secretly decided that she would do a little investigation of her own. It seemed as if her undead visitor had not only been alive during the Valterrian, he possessed knowledge far beyond that, even though most of that knowledge was currently inaccessible.

[Malefic]

Mal stared into the distance, thinking. "Could I, perhaps, be able to acquire this foresight?" He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "It is a gnosis, is it not? What does it take to get one? How did you earn yours?" Malefic paced back and forth while speaking and thinking. "I hope so as well. It is... painful not to have an identity..." The nuit nodded a few times to Alesanya. "I agree, I shall go and pay them a visit. Where do they reside?" Mal listened intently to her directions, and then proceeded to exit the room without another word, making his way to his former household. While he was en route, he thought about what he would do after. Should I take up Adelia's offer and go to Mura? I'm not entirely sure whether or not I will be capable to dedicating myself enough to achieve this foresight ability. If it is indeed given by a god... A god's mind is not shallow. Mal hooked his arms and legs around the rope with some effort, and began to make his way across. It would be rather obvious if my intent was to achieve foresight versus actually worshiping. Even so, there is a disturbing void in my memory. Perhaps it is worth a try... Mal let that sink in, contemplating what path to take. Before he knew it, he had arrived at the front door of his descendants' dwelling. He observed the surrounding area, and then sized up what he could about the house.

[Poison]

Adelia smiled softly as Malefic asked her if he could acquire a gnosis. „I didn’t earn my mark“, she told him. „Each Konti is given a mark from either Avalis or Rak’keli at birth. I was marked by Avalis, the goddess of visions. While Avalis sometimes marks people that are not Konti, I’ve never heard of somebody that has been marked later in life. That doesn’t mean that it’s impossible of course. All I can advise you is that you maintain an interest in divination, that you associate with Konti and do not do too many bad deeds, and maybe my goddess will still mark you.“

As he told her that it was painful not to have an identity, she sighed and nodded. She couldn’t even begin to imagine how hard it was. Adelia had always known who and what she was.

„The Orchid Web reside in the center of Kalinor, not far from the Gathering Hall, at the red strand road.“ The red strand road was the main street of Kalinor and hard to miss, as it turned out. From outside the residence of the Orchid Web looked like all the other houses of Kalinor, tear shaped, windowless and hanging from the ceiling by thick ropes. It was hard to tell anything special about it. Inside the houses were all different of course, but outside most of the residential dwellings looked alike. Some were bigger and some were smaller of course.

There were as always a few Symenestra watching the Nuit curiously, but nobody approached him.