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Queen Sarah · Posted: Sun May 01, 2005 1:25 am Post subject: The day after

Still weak from what she had witness Sarah had somehow gathered enough wit about her to go and get cleansed of her husband’s blood. The physical process of shedding off the blood soaked gown, bathing off the caked-on blood from her face, arms and hands helped to move those images farther from the present. Her body would shake from time to time from the nightmare images that replayed within her head. Now she finally felt composed as she rested in the garden, capturing the morning’s first rays of light.

Her peace came to a quick end, in a second her life went from semi-controlled to dizzying confusion and fright. High-pitched screams from a multitude of maidens from within the palace that were swiftly followed by hurried footfalls filled her ears. The book on the fauna species of Nujel’m slipped out of her fingers, off her lap and on to the ground unnoticed and uncared about. In an instant Sarah rushed to meet them her heart sinking when she makes out the words the young guard stutters out. “Lor …lor…lord…Sul…tanRufus….” Seconds passed as if they were hours while she had to wait for him to compose himself enough to tell her that Lord Rufus was gone.

“GONE?” Sarah screeched. The guard could only nod before Sarah pushed him out of her way, hitched up her gown and ran. She ran like she had when she was a little girl, wild and fast. Not caring what anyone saw or thought her mind only focused on finding her husband. Coming up to the room the guards had put him in just hours before she pushes the door open hard, slamming it against the back wall. Looking at an empty bed then slowly at the guards, healers, maidens that stood about the room. Her body feeling drained she stood there trembling. Her breasts heave up within their tight confinement as her body fights to find enough air.

“Search…search for him and for any clues to his whereabouts. He couldn’t go by himself. Someone took my husband and I want to know why! Find him…now!

Whipping her skirt out of her way she hurries down the hall to her study. Gathering her correspondence materials she begins one of many letters to leaders through out the land for aid in this matter. Slowly the days heat grows into a typical day on the gem isle of Nujel’m as a frantic queen scribbles.

Queen Sarah · Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 1:37 pm Post subject:

The afternoon heat had slowed Sarah down, she was not used to it and still in her own recovery it was making an impact upon her efforts. Searching deep within her she knew Rufus still lived, their connection was not only by common marriage or the sharing of the birth of a child but much deeper. He was her soul mate as she was his. His travels as a teacher then later as a statesman never dimmed their relationship. The connection held as it does now. This inner feeling of knowing that he still is alive gives Sarah an inner peace and a sense of calmness.

Giving her dispatches to the courier she goes down to the main conference room to hold a meeting with the eye witnesses and the investigators of what happened to Rufus. Entering the rather large room and signaling everyone to sit after she takes the head chair at the large table she clears her throat. Knowing her strength is needed now she fights off the heavy cloak of exhaustion and begins with the testimony.

After several hours the conclusion was that the wound was inflicted by Lord Rufus’s own kryss. It could not be determined if he had inflicted the wound himself or if an unknown person had wrestled it from him to do harm. Both conclusions brought up a multitude of questions as to why. Moving forward it was agreed that Lord Rufus would not had been able to move upon his own merit, that he was taken in his weaken state to an unknown location for an unknown purpose. Most agree that it was not done to kill him, for that could have been done by the unknown person or persons if they had waited and let time take its toll or add another wound to hurry the process. Again more questions and if the captors wanted to help why not let it be known?

Unable to think clearly and weighed down by the seemingly endless possibilities Sarah thanks the panel for all their efforts and instructions them to widen out the investigation. To contact the visars for a meeting and to use discretion in this matter for it is paramount. This matter is far from being solved and the Empire's fate rests upon its outcome.

Rufus Oryan · Posted: Wed May 04, 2005 5:17 am Post subject:

Reality faded in and out so quickly. Rufus peered through his half opened eyelids, watching as the blurred walls of the Legion stronghold throb, as he moved his neck in pain. It seemed as if he were falling alseep yet again. His wound was healing nicely, though it would still bleed and ache often. But this loss of blood did cause Rufus to lose consciousness, or even drift into a state of wandering thoughts....

His visions had become rare during his time as Sultan. Nay did he have the comfort that he once had as he grasped his religion close. Instead, he had grown so focused on the ascension of Nujel'm that he drifted from that which made him whole, or that which made him...'Balanced'. Flares and flashes of light danced around the ethereal room his mind had trapped him in. A room draped with a tapestry bearing the colors of Nujel'm. His eyes wandered about the spectral prison. And in the center of the room, sit scholars and warriors alike. At it's head, Rufus's son, Ameer. A brief feeling of joy had filled his dreaming heart; a sense of comfort. But as the room crumbled, a new vision had come to pass...

Vaen stood in the center of a stone room, "How are you feeling, friend.." Oh how it ached to talk, but still, Rufus spoke, "I have seen better days..."
Consciousness faded...or twas it the dream state? All that Rufus had seen, all that he encountered, All the power he was offered. He had seen Huma, Alarin...Umbra, and in the center of it all, his family; Sarah and Ameer. But what drives a man with everything to harm themself? Once he strays away from that which he holds closest to him, his morals become dim....

And how long could he lie? How long would his soul allow him to nay share the truth with a fellow, and if it is shared, with whom? Who, with unselfish heart, and kind soul, would bare Rufus's secret....

Consciousness interrupted...."Vaen, He had a scar of some sort...on his...on his face...." And as Vaen nodded, his vision blurred, and he fell fast asleep. While his belly ached, he pondered if those left in Nujel'm worried enough to look for him, or if anyone would notice he was gone. Depression eased its way into his dreams...but with a gentle grip this time..
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"Balance - the harmony between the Principles of Order and Chaos...Harmony, Dedication and Rationality, the three Principles of Balance, are our highest ideals."

Alarin · Journeyman Joined: 30 Dec 2003 Posts: 220

The long spindly translucent hand slowly stroked the length of Rufus' cheek. The sleeping man moaned and turned into the cool touch, his feverish body tossing in his sleep. "My dearest child, what horrors await you when the mark is complete, I do wonder..." Alarin spoke in a bare whisper, his inhuman black eyes radiating a strange perverted warmth. He removed his hand from Rufus' cheek and walked about the room once, inspecting Rufus' form intently.

"What can one do when they straddle that razor edge? You will be split in twain, stuck in the middle, the wretched puerile minded fools of this plane will tug and pull until they apply too much force... and you find the truth in Balance. To apply evenly, you must be half." Alarin's musings were cut short as Rufus groaned again in his sleep.

Alarin's brow suddenly knitted together and he laid his hand back on Rufus' cheek. "There, there. Soon enough perhaps... you will understand. For now... rest." Alarin sighed his last few words, a strange glowing emitting from his hand, Rufus regained some of his color. He rubbed his thumb idly over the brand on Rufus' cheek, then looked at the tattoo on his arm, before smirking.

"Oh that mark, that dark brand you bare... will it ail or gain? Perhaps such musings are better left until that time, when all the power has been drained away. Yes. Then one of us will fade." Alarin dissapated into the winds, the tenuous hold he had on Rufus due to the mark fading with his ill health.

Rufus woke up, sweating but feeling somewhat better. Why had he dreamt those words?

"Rest well, Son of my heart."

Sadira Reflov · Posted: Sat May 07, 2005 10:12 am Post subject:

Naissia had paced the length of her room. They had met Isk and Walter. Both very generous with their offers of aide. It helped ease Naissia's heart just a little.

"Where can he be?"

She mumbled to herself. She shook her head as she recalled her visit to Charnel Hall. Was there something more that they were not telling her? Perhaps she should visit the place that Rufus mentioned. Perhaps it will provide some form of clue..information. There has to be something she was overlooking.

"Damnit!"

She invisioned the wall to be the person who did this to him. All the hatred that she had built up...her heart pounding as if it too were thrashing the person. She never felt so much anger since Huma. The hate and anger that was boiling in her blood was most fitting for her title when she was in TSE..Voice of Despise. Before she knew it, she slammed her fist into the wall. Blood seeping around her fist and through her clenched fingers, though she seemed quite oblivious to it.

"Think Naissia think..."

She stopped for a moment. Would he have anything in his office that would offer any clues? She quickly went to his office and started to go through all of his papers and stuff. She was looking for a sign..something to indicate where he maybe or who may have done this to him.
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"Nature gave man two ears but only one tongue. A gentle reminder that he should listen more than he speaks."