A Stranger Arrives

[Seth Roshan]

Seth Roshan slowly walked through the entrance to the bustling kingdom of Avaren. The Grand Entrance was full of activity: travelers heading to and fro, street venders selling and haggling, knights and guards patroling, and naturally in this type of setting, thieves and pickpockets. He looked around and saw mostly happy faces. Times had been hard on these people, but for the most part, all was well. Had he been the nostalgic sort, it might have made him a bit homesick.

As it was, he continued on, trying not to look too out of place. The necromancer attempted to blend into the crowd, just another traveler in the throng. He may have been an unfamiliar face, but visitors were not uncommon in a city setting like this one. Newcomers were generally welcomed.

His overall appearance, however, caused many an eyebrow to raise in curosity as he passed. Not many people dressed entirely in black and other dark colors these days. People simply found it too depressing. Seth found it to be a necessity. If the color did not stand out, the design of the clothing did. He wore a toga like outfit made out of flowing black cloth that ended in a skirt like attachment that reached his knees, similar in a appearance to ceremonial robes that the mythical Egyptians of the lands of Earth wore. The left half of his chest and his entire left arm were bare, revealing the marble pale skin beneath the fabric. A purple sash stretched from his right shoulder, at a diagonal, across the covered portion of his chest and wrapped around his waist. The tassled ends hung almost to his knees. A separate black sleeve covered his entire right arm, beginning at his shoulder and attached there with a gold chain and brooch. A black glove on his right arm, black pants, and black boots completed the ensemble.

If his outfit did not bring attention to him, his physical appearance certainly did. Seth was a well built man, lean and thin, but strong. There was, however, a sickly air about the man that one could not shake. It could be attributed to the dark circles under his red eyes or the unnatural paleness of his skin. Or maybe it was his hair. The man's hair was beautiful at first glance. It was black as night and hung far down, past his torso. But at a second glance, one would see that it hung limp and straight; lifeless. And a huge portion that hung in his face, effectively covering the right half, was bleached white. It looked as if all the life had been drained right out of it. He was a very strange man indeed.

As Seth passed through the crowd, he was painfully aware of the life around him. It had been a long time since the man had been among people and the close proximity had every nerve on high alert. The necromancer could feel his shadow expending energy to mimic his form and felt a slight twinge of pity for the creature. Unfortunately, he could not have Leos taking his true form in this crowd, however much he might have enjoyed the company of his dark companion.

It had been a long journey and they could not afford to be discovered just yet. These high and mighty noble sort never took well to his kind and he had work to do.

[Shadow]

So far, today was a good day.

The sun was shining, the clouds foretold good weather, and the temperature was warm. Perfect for walking about the entrance of Avaren, perfect for spending time outside.

Of course, Shadow was outside as well, doing his favorite activity, people-watching. For him, it served a recreational purpose as well as an opportunity to select targets. He was perched on the corner of one of the lower houses that lined the street. His cloak was in its hiding place back at the guild, as the sun was too bright to make use of the blending abilities. Today Shadow's attire consisted of a light leather vest and a pair of black cotton pants that were tucked into his boots. His vest was unfastened, and the glint of throwing knives could be seen, half-hidden in one of the shoulders.

A small creature was perched on his shoulder, sharply contrasting with his black hair and leather vest. It was lion-like in appearance, but the vibrantly gold-orange creature is far from feline. The feline qualities end at the head, as the creature had a very canine face, his nose, mouth and eyes, resembling that of a wolf or fox.

The curious creature's name was Chao, and it was scanning the crowd as Shadow did, only looking for danger instead of targets. Before Shadow could even discern a change in the square, the little creature pointed out the newcomer: a head abdomen-length hair, whose attire and radiating discomfort set him apart from the crowd.

Granted, this was the entrance to Avaren, and there were plenty of people who dressed oddly, but this man was different. Naturally, Shadow was intrigued. 'Well, well, well... what have we here, Chao? Let’s go take a look!"

Shadow jumped down from his perch and weaved through the crowd towards the strange man. On his way past the fruit vendor's stall, he stole two apples, and after pocketing one he proceeded to eat the other on his way over to the strange man.

The crowd seemed thinner near the man, and he seemed to even get a berth from the pickpockets and petty thieves that were rampant in the area. When Shadow drew close he understood why. The man was pale, and the half of his hair that covered his face was starkly white, the entire mass on his head lifeless. Shadow could also feel that the man wasn't alone, but instead of worrying about it, he simply stepped nearer to the man, ignoring Chao's message that there was something in the being's shadow.

Tension was almost oozing from the other being, and Shadow's proximity allowed him to feel that there was indeed a creature in the man's shadow. He's powerful, nervous, and probably dangerous... Oh well. I'm curious, Where do you think he's from?

Shadow, standing behind the man, tapped him on the shoulder. "I've been here for many a year, and never until this day have i seen anyone that intrigued me as much as you do. I must ask; what region are you from?"

((welcome aboard! and i apologize for shadow's weirdness...XD))

[Seth Roshan]

Seth was quite taken aback at having been approached. The rest of the crowd had strayed from his intended path and had given him some distance, as if a natural instinct warned them away. The necromancer’s muscles tensed as the man tapped him on the shoulder. His senses had been on high alert, but he had not noticed the man approaching. Seth ignored the faint nagging, “I tried to tell you but you were too busy to listen”, pushing at the back of his mind.

Seth turned to face the man that had addressed him. He was dressed rather plainly in a common leather vest and dark pants made of a lightweight material. He appeared, on the surface, to be a harmless, if somewhat annoyingly curious, citizen. But Seth’s eyes narrowed as they focused on the knives that were just barely visible beneath the man’s vest. The knives were not the only thing this man was hiding; judging from his life force, this man was very powerful. The necromancer gave the man a thoughtful stare as he assessed him. He sighed as he realized that there was little chance of being left alone by this man unless he responded, so Seth figured he might as well just answer the question.

“I apologize for not answering immediately. You startled me. What was it you asked… what region…? Well I come from far away, quite a ways back in that direction,” he motioned behind himself, “But does the exact location matter really? A traveler is a traveler after all.”

The necromancer smiled softly at the man, a warm and friendly smile, but his eyes stared coldly ahead of him and did not reflect the same sentiments, “I must say though, if you do not mind, you have been quite a bit forward. You have not even asked my name, nor have you introduced yourself. Are you an official and have I broken some immigration law?”

((Weirdness is never a problem. Sorry for the long wait and the shortness of the post. Finals you know. ^_^)

[Shadow]

Shadow smiled when he noticed that the other man had seen what was concealed. Of course, the man had no idea of who or what Shadow was, but it was amusing either way. Shadow, taking the chance to examine the other man more closely. He noticed that the warmth of the man's smile did not do anything to change his eyes, which made Shadow nod inwardly. this man deals with death... often. He's powerful...

Shadow scratched his head. "Laws? Heck, if you are breaking a Law just by entering the city, I'll make sure that nobody here comes close enough to touch you. Also, I must apologize for being rude."

Shadow bowed with a quick flourish. "My name is Shadow,of The Nightwalkers Guild. Naturally, you don't know of that guild, because you are new to this place. If you have broken some law, I would probably be the person you'd want to see the most... because they don't mess with the Guild."

Shadow chuckled, remembering an instance that occurred only recently where one of the deputy Sheriff's tried to arrest Redem, Shadow's apprentice. The officials were lead on a hopeless chase through the entire city. Shaking his head, Shadow continued. "Also, forgive my forward inclinations. I watched you enter the city, and something to do with you caught my eye... I can't remember what... but it had to do with..." Shadow scratched his chin. "ah, never mind. I forgot." He smiled at the necromancer, a genuine smile. "what is your name, good sir? I have given you mine, so it is only fair that in return..."

Shadow looked off into the distance for a bit, thinking. I know perfectly well what i was going to ask him... why he was hiding that second being.... but i might seem a bit too prying. if this man is a powerful as it seems... he would be a good person to ally with, and quick...

"you want this apple? I just ate one, and they aren't mine." he smiled mischievously towards the Necromancer. "in fact, the vendor will never know that he's missing two apples..."

[Seth Roshan]

Seth answered softly and charismatically with a slight bow, “I am Seth of the Shadowmancer clan.”

The necromancer did not expect the prying guildsman to know of the shadowmancers, nor of the abilities they possessed. Even if he did, it mattered not, for any that had survived outside of Itzal had long since lost their control over the shadows. It had been many years since the last shadowmaster and shadow companion were born into this world. And with Itzal gone, his lineage proved little about his origins; Seth could hail from any location in the world, other than Avaren of course. Yes, the shadowmancer was relatively sure of his safety in this matter and did not hesitate to offer the information to this stranger.

Seth balked a little at the offer of the apple from this man. He was surprised at the offer, but that was not what caused him to pale, more than usual if that was possible. Seth may have liked nothing better than to accept the unexpected gift from this Shadow, but his stomach seized at the sight of the fruit. It tightened and contracted into a knot causing him no end of discomfort and bile to rise in his throat. The necromancer coughed a bit and winced at his body’s less than discreet rejection of the food it was being offered.

“I am sorry Shadow,” Seth apologized, slowly pronouncing the name that was foreign to his tongue, “It appears that my stomach is not very strong today. I’m not quite feeling myself and I am not sure that I could swallow that apple of yours. It was, however, kind of you to offer.”

The truth was that Seth’s body had not been what it used to be for quite some time now. He couldn’t be quite sure of what was going on, or of how to stop it from progressing, but his body felt like it was slowly decaying from the inside. It had been a long time since he’d been able to tolerate normal food and longer still since he’d been able to remove the sleeve and glove covering his right arm. The necromancer had seen and done many things in his time and he was so very tired. But he still had work to do. He could not leave this world yet. The only question was, how long would his body last?

[Shadow]

SHADOWMANCER... I've heard legends... to think that one actually survived. Shadow's face remained stoic, the flash of his eyes the only betrayal of his surprise. He had traveled far and wide over the years, and his adventures once lead him to the Shadowrealm as it is dubbed, or the land where the Shadowmancers once had a glorious empire. He hadn't remained there for long, but one week was enough time to realize that nothing there was alive.
Or human.

But the person before him, not only survived, but ... Shadow could sense power and regality behind the lithe and damaged frame. If i were an insolent, i'd say he's rotting. However, i know a little more than that. his body is strong, but even necromancers realize at some point that their body isnt going to keep up with their lifespan, be it magically augmented or no. He's either going to need a new body..or he's going to need some restorative magics. If he accepts... I may be able to help him a little bit...

The decline of the apple did not surprise Shadow, it was slightly disappointing, but it was not a surprise. The condition of the body before him, and the amount of power radiating from it told him enough. instead he smiled. "No worries friend. In fact, I know of those lands whence you hail. However, I believe that I saw them in a condition that you haven't. Nothing there is alive, or even nearly classifiable as living. the entire place is one big Maelstrom of sand and power, constantly swirling and raging. it is a sight to behold. a terrible sight."

Shadow shook his head. "however, about the apple. It seems as if... your body cannot keep up with the amount of magic you have used over your lifetime... or maybe you have just lived for longer than your body can hold up for. Sorry if i invade your privacy with this... assumption, but I have traveled far and wide in search of a necromancer, whom I have a particularly large bone to pick."

Shadow scowled. "She has bested me and even me and my companion in combat, only because no matter how much i tried, she wouldn't stay dead. So I've been doing research. The next time she and i meet... well, let's say that I've put the last ten years to good use. My knowledge is piecemeal, but there are certain things i know that most dont." Shadow chuckled. "after all... my personal library is the contents of the restricted section of what was the great library of Aesir. Some of those books are restricted for a reason. In fact... You are a shadowmancer... so you'd be able to understand and utilize some of the tomes that i cannot decipher. the language is so ancient that I cannot trace it, and none in the city believe that it is real. If you wish, I could bring you to my Headquarters. It's a better place than you'll find in the city- and it's free too."

Shadow smiled. "of course, that's only if you'll believe the words of this Shapeshifting thief. I do not know your past, save the legends, and you know nothing of me save my seemingly uncalled for kindness and overall... odd behaviors. "

Shadow munched one of the apples. "it's your choice."

[Seth Roshan]

Seth did not trust this thief. At first he’d assumed that was all there was to the man; that he was a clever, gifted thief with a curious, prying nature and a tendency to be somewhat less than subtle in his inquiries. But the life force he’d quietly analyzed, the guild leader’s ability to shapeshift, and now the slight hints given that that indicated he knew more than he should, made Seth wary of this Shadow. Nothing good would come of this one, whether he chose him as a friend or ally. Avaren was not ready for the knowledge of Itzal and the previous Aesir.

The necromancer chose to feign ignorance, “My people are descended from those lands you speak of, though none have lived there since long before your time. Sadly, we lost our language over the years and we lost the abilities our ancestors were blessed with when we lost Itzal. There is no more royal line. There are no more true shadowmancers. We are remnants, descendents of cowards who fled from battle.”

He paused for a moment and then decided to add, “But perhaps one day we will all gather and take a pilgrimage to where Itzal once stood. If you are really as curious about the legends as you seem, perhaps you would like to come along. Who knows? We might find the key to the lost language there. We might even find the lost people of Itzal. Or perhaps even find a true shadowmancer that survived. Though you must know, that is about as likely as Aesir rising back into the sky.”

In a way, it was true that the likelihood of finding a survivor of Itzal or a shadowmancer could be compared to the likelihood of Aesir rising again. In these people’s eyes, it was a complete impossibility. Aesir had fallen and was ruins. It was also very unlikely that Seth would have survived, and yet he did and he forced his broken body to continue living. But in his mind, Aesir could, and very likely would, someday rise again. For he had little doubt that the accursed sorcerer that repeatedly brought the city to life over the centuries was still out there somewhere, making preparations for his next doomed creation. And he would continue to destroy the lives of peoples for their knowledge and power and his own vain ambitions until someone put a stop to him.

His eyes narrowed and seemed to become colder as he addressed the issue of necromancy, though a moment before, it would not have seemed possible for the man’s gaze to become any icier than it already was, despite the friendly expression the man’s face had been holding and the polite, helpful, and generally amiable quality his voice had held. It was as if death itself were staring the thief in the eyes.

“I’m afraid that I am not what you believe me to be. There are precious few true necromancers in the world, many with limited ability, but few real ones. I believe I can better understand your eagerness to speak with me now. I am sorry, but I have none of the abilities you seek and can offer you no service.”

He paused and gave a friendly smile and then adopted an air of sadness, though his eyes did not change, “It makes me sad to disappoint you but I must inform you that I have little magical ability at all. Had I some power I’d have cured myself of this pesky illness years ago. I am not sure what it is, but I’ve had it for the span of an entire life. I have not met any others of my line, so perhaps they share this fate with me. Maybe it is the price my people pay for our ancestor’s mistakes.”

The necromancer was pleased with the way the truth and the lies had woven together so perfectly that he wished he could better read into what the man was now thinking. But there was still the man’s invitation to a study session that had to be dealt with. Seth knew he had to be rid of this man for good, he could not have him following him and he could not have his time wasted any more. He had precious little time to accomplish his plans in and his ailing body could begin to slow him down at any time.

“I am also afraid that I will have to decline your invitation. As I said before, my people lost our heritage and our language long ago. I would not be much help to you. That aside, I want nothing more to do with Aesir.”

He turned and began to walk away from the first citizen of Avaren that he’d socialized with. He decided that if they were all like this man, that he would have to be very cautious indeed. The shadowmancer was also mentally kicking himself for the slight error he’d made in his last remark. That he wanted nothing more to do with Aesir instead of simply nothing to do with it. He tried not to worry himself too much though. What were the odds that these people knew that many Aesirs had been and would be, or that Itzal had once had an Aesir and that a tall man with shadow whose true form was that of a lion had once ruled over its people?