A Journey Near It's End, [Jarem]

[Stormblade]

One Year Ago…


The grey bark of the forest tree’s seemed all the darker as the rain fell down beneath the canopy. The dead grey leaves that littered the forest floor seemed to reach with wet fingers toward the human legs that walked so quietly over them. Most travelers choose to work around the forest, toward their destination, but on this particular day Stormblade of Cie-Lun followed a different path, hopefully one that would finally answer the many questions that had lead him to this place.

The Dragon Guardian stopped in a clearing, just as Simia rose over the horizon and the clouds parted at her presence. The sunlight hit his covered face, a warm feeling slowly finding its way down to his cold feet. The black of his clothing soaked up the heat and in less than an hour he was completely dry, just as the forest had dried around him. The Beauty of Ashlin was breathtaking, but only for a brief moment could Stormblade take it in. His purpose here was not for sightseeing but instead for understanding.

Stormblade had come to believe that maybe he was not of this world as he had always known in his heart that something was different. Over a decade ago he had been sent to this land to discover his unknown past. He had left his home and his loved ones behind and now they were each fleeting memories. For now, he made his way back into the deep brush of the forest and pushed those thoughts away.

Though he had never seen it, Stormblade had heard of a great city within these woods, and had paid heavily for it’s where-a-bouts. He intended to seek out a wizard that was said to reside there, and many worldly mages had pointed him in this direction. His senses keen, after only one day into Ashlin forest Stormblade found that someone had been following him. At first he thought to strike against this unknown persuant, but then he realized that the movements were not meant to harm him, but to watch him. He had been told the forest had eyes, but now he knew that meant someone, or something, was always watching. Over the past few days his follower had progressively gotten closer, and on this day the Dragon Guardian could sense the being was among the trees only a few yards behind him.

Stormblade turned and addressed the individual, “I must be getting closer to Xefyra, friend, as you seem to be getting closer to me.”

[Jarem]

It was a mandate from the Goddess Islanna, and it could not be ignored. Jarem had camped out there in the forest for quite some time, having lost track of the days as they went by. It could have been weeks. It could have been months. Maybe even a few years had gone by, and still, the Wizard of the Sky Goddess lay in wait. It was no trouble for him to do so, for the forests of Ashlin had been his home before the time for his training had come. He knew them well, and was even familiar with some of the people, though few recognized him for who he was. He kept it that way for the sake of both fun and secrecy; it was always interesting to meet old acquaintances in his new form and seeing what a mundane existence they had compared to his own. He admitted that it was a bit petty, but if he wasn't just a little vain, he and his patron would not get along as well as they did.

Sitting on a stump out in the wild, Jarem's senses alerted him to the approaching presence of the person for whom he was waiting, and a short message from his beloved confirmed it. A smile graced his features when he heard her voice resonate in his mind. "The time has come at last." He said, and he took his staff in his hand. One moment he was there, and the next, he was not. A sparrow took his place, and off it flew in the direction that his instincts told him to follow. This person he was to meet was supposedly one of great importance. He would be one who had walked a long path, split between one life another, who now stood at a crossroads with no clear path to take. It would be Jarem's mission and privilege to give this man guidance, but his answers would be only marginally helpful. All he was allowed to give was a bit of a push in the right direction, and nothing more.

How big a push he was meant/allowed to give had remained unclear, so that part he decided to play by ear. He would base it on how much of a push was necessary, but he was explicitly instructed not to make anything obvious. Truly, the man would have been more fortunate to have the Right Hand of Simia as his guide, for Islanna was as much a trickster as she was a lover. Her ways were confusing and ambiguous, as were Jarem's on most occasions. Both of them would be in for quite an adventure, so with this in mind, the Wizard decided that he wanted some time to examine his charge for a time and get an idea of what kind of man he was; it was always good to know what kind of case one was dealing with, after all. In the form of that sparrow, he followed the man, keeping an ever-watchful eye upon him day and night. It was a strong man of able body and powerful form, and his confidence was obvious in the way he stood. But the way he walked conveyed a different message. There was confusion in his steps and uncertainty in his eyes. By the time the task was through, these aspects were to be gone from him.

A few days into his scouting, and Jarem finally heard the voice of this traveler. It called out to an unknown spy, making it apparent to the Wizard that the traveler had been aware for quite some time that he was being follow. Surely, the man's senses were among the keenest in the land for him to have made that observation; Jarem had been rather sure that his disarming form and silent pursuit had given no clue to his presence. That was yet another good thing to know, for if the journey led them down a dangerous path (as Islanna's assignments often did), those senses would be very necessary.

In any case, the time had come for Jarem and this traveler to meet. The Wizard would not be presenting himself to this man, however; the time for that had not yet come. Instead, he flew down to the ground, and the sparrow was replaced by an elderly old man in gray rags. His hair was dirty and unkempt, his face was unclean, his sandals were worn, and his eyes were milky white as those of one blind. This was his default form for disguise and misdirection (minus the apparent blindness), and it would do well for an introduction to this fellow. In time, they would meet in truth, but for now, Jarem needed to know the traveler's overall purpose and to see just how deep his confusion was.

"Oh dear." Jarem said in a rather weak and raspy voice, stumbling out from the bushes and leaning heavily on the support of a staff of gnarled root. He spoke in the language of Man, assuming by this fellow's human appearance that it was that language with which he was most familiar. "A thousand pardons, stranger. It was not my wish to make you wary." He said, bowing as much as those weak old bones would allow. "My curiosity overcame me, I'm afraid. It is not often this area of the woods sees a strange visitor such as yourself, and I wished to know thy purpose." As Jarem initiated contact with this lost soul, he felt a slight rush of excitement. Indeed, the coming days were going to be interesting.

[Stormblade]

Stormblade still had his back turned when the stranger made himself known. The voice that he heard surprised him and when he turned around he was surprised once more. Rather than a young elf warrior as he expected to see, instead there was an old man in rags, walking with what seemed to be much support on a staff. The man looked like he had lived in the woods his entire life with his messy hair, dirty features and worn shoes. Stormblade glanced at his eyes only to see them glazed over which could only be assumed was blindness.

A Curious old man indeed.

This can’t be the same one that has followed me since I entered these woods. Stormblade thought to himself. Have I been mistaken in my pursuants, only to have one just now by chance? Stormblade’s confusion was genuine.

”…and I wished to know thy purpose” the aging man said to the Dragon Guardian.

Stormblade cleared his thoughts and responded, trying his best not to reveal too much of his purpose here.

”You’re quite the woodsman old fellow. Though you can barely walk, or see for that matter, you have managed to follow me for some time now. I must make the noise of a running herd for you to have found me so easily.” Stormblade said with a wondering look on his face.

” Since you seem to be a resident of these woods, and I am most certainly the stranger, I suppose it best to inform you of my intentions. I am looking for a wizard that has been said to roam these woods. I have been pointed in this direction by very reliable resources, but possibly you could point me in a direction more suited for the earth-stomper that I seem to be” .

The Dragon Guardian stopped from introducing himself, as he had come across many strange people in his travels and knew there was always the chance that what he saw was not always what was real and that anything that involved fairies or elves was rarely what it seemed to be.

[Jarem]

"I assure you, good sir, that is not the case." Said the disguised Jarem, still speaking Man's language. "It is a special talent of mine to hear that which cannot be heard--a gift from the gods, and one of the few gifts that I have." The argument could be a convincing one, as it was not unheard of for individuals to have unique magical traits and abilities. It certainly would have explained how the blind man could track him without sight. The wizard refrained from commenting on the sounds the stranger's armor made, feeling that saying something to that effect might reveal that he could, in fact, see the armor. He could comment on the extra weight, though. "I do admit, however, that the sound of your steps is unusually heavy for one traveling these parts. I know you must not be a Giant, for I do not feel the weight of your steps. But, you must be either very encumbered or very fat."

He began to laugh at his little pun, stumbling closer to the traveler as he did so. So, the man was looking for a wizard? He had found one, though he would not know that for a while longer; Jarem was not through with his fun. He began to sing in a shaky voice, moving about on unstable footing. "Oh, he's off to see the Wizard! The wonderful Wizard of...OOH!" He cried out as he nearly stumbled to the ground, barely managing to catch himself with his cane. His arms quivered as he struggled to regain his footing, squinting his eyes for the feigned pain. Once he was standing up straight again, he placed his free hand on his back, breathing heavily due to all the excitement.

"Agh. Oh dear." He said between breaths. "My body, like my voice, is not what it once was, traveler. Why, I remember when I could dance about as nimbly as the Fae, and my voice was none too shabby. Good times, good times." His unseeing eyes began to dart about as if the old man was searching for something in his darkness. Though those eyes were blank, his face seemed to gain a bit of jollity as if some fond memory was returning to his mind. "Elves! Oh yes, I even danced for the Elves in my day. Performing for Elves is something special, traveler, for they settle for nothing less than the best when it comes to the arts. How shocked were they when I dazzled them with MY art! Well, one time, I..."

He trailed off, his smile weakening when he realized that he was beginning to ramble. "Oh dear. I doubt such things concern you, do they, sir?" He said to the traveler, though his eyes did not fall upon the man for obvious reasons. "Ah, yes. In all my dancing, I have danced around a most important matter, haven't I? The man wants a wizard, yes?" The rest of his speech seemed to be nothing more than a waste of time--an expression of the waning attention span of a poor old man. In truth, however, Jarem was just fooling around. "Curiosity overcomes me, traveler. What cause could bring a man to seek out a wizard?"

[Stormblade]

The Dragon Guardian relaxed a bit as the old man began to recount the days of old. He reminded him of a friend he had in Cie-Lun, who would often travel from one story to the next, never really ending one or beginning another. Stormblade's face lightened and a grin came to his lips, something that he hadn't done in quite some time.

"Yes, Good sir, I am indeed looking for a Wizard." Stormblade said in response.

The old man, seeming to peer in a different direction inquired as to why he may be looking for a wizard, and Stormblade paused for a brief moment to find if there was something more behind the question, something other than the curiosity that this old one was seeking. Deciding to play it safe, the Dragon Guardian chose to reveal as little as possible.

"As much as I admire your inquisitive mind, my reasons are my own. I assure you, however, that I mean no ill-will, simply a few answers that I have sought for quite some time." Stormblade stated plainly.

The woodsman seemed genuine enough, but all to often things were not what they seemed to be and if this man was an enemy in disguise, it would be best that he give as little information as possible.

Stormblade decided to make a polite offering while at the same time using his skills to his advantage.

" If you'd like, and if it would ensure that your trust is not taken for granted, I will gladly accept a blindfold so as not to discover any secrets that the wizard prefer to keep hidden. " Stormblade offered.