Who: Keeper of Crows and Hope

Where: Silent Peaks

Summary: With her recent exaltation, Hope is fighting against some undead wanting to get rid of the memories that arent hers. Perhaps she will find peace with death. However, Keeper of Crows is on the scene there to help her understand what she has become.

 

Dead, yellowed grass protrudes haphazardly from the dark dirt, dryly crunching underfoot as a lone man makes his way between two large rocks, atop the crest of one of the many hills that lead their way toward Erkavica. Puffs of dust, from crushed rocks that have went for many years undisturbed, rise up in heavy clouds about hit, their white chalky nature coating the nearby stones which unceremoniously dot the countryside. His path runs alongside a massive gouge in the earth, miles long, full of cracking-earth and stone, the site of a long-dry river. The place is silent save for the occasional squawk of a crow, or some other vulture, whose black wings cast swift shadows over the dead lands. Keeper of Crows continues his march undaunted, though his feet cut from the sharp rocks. His head is held high and he moves with certainty and purpose through the hills.

 

As he makes his march, he passes by a cemetary...a relatively small cemetary, and normally it's no place that would be of any significance, until there's bright flashes of a golden light every now and then near the back. If he goes and looks, he might make out the form of a young woman releasing the light and slamming her fists into some of the hungry ghosts that surround her..

 

Crows' head falls to gaze upon the bloodied pools spreading from his feet, chopped from the jagged rocks, and great sigh escapes the lips of the monk, words carried under its weight, "How many more." A torrent of rubble and smoke erupts on that spot, and droplets of blood go flying, as his form is already a blotch in the distance, tearing through the cemetery in pursuit of the howling ghosts. Grass stands on end behind him, sizzling slightly, and huge plumes of chalky smoke rise in his wake as he launches off of the shattered pedestal of a mausoleum, lighting and black smoke erupting around a foot as a flying scissor kick rips one of the beasts literally apart. He spins about, jolts of electricity roaring around his fists and feet as he continues to spring about, always moving in deadly circles, his blows precise and devastating.

 

With the newcomer striking down his foes with wind and lightning, the young woman just pauses, seemingly awestruck by the impressive feats of dexterity and agility. She blinks blankly a few moments as she takes out a few prayer strips and throws them with deadly accuracy towards a few dematerialized ghosts, making them materialize almost instantly. "Behind you!" she calls out, nowhere fast enough to actually get to them before they get to the monk. Hopefully he can take care of himself, she still has her own to take care of afterall..

 

Blood spurts out of the man's neck, and his left arm. A grunt is his reply, and he bends down, placing a single hand on the ground, then leaping backward upward, out of the grasping claws of two of the beasts, a shockwave of shattered and chipped stones rips into them, borne on a spreading bonfire of howling winds and scorching lightning. He comes down like a rocket, both feet slamming a beast into the ground, and more debris flies. Crows moves off of the newly-created crater, the final grave for the thing. As one of the scuttling ghosts moves around him, its form shadowed and dematerialized, he sticks one fist, coated in a blackish mist, out, grabbing it, and jams his other hand straight through, always moving forward, always circling.

 

A golden light starts to form on her hands as she continues to stand a bit dumbfounded at whathe's doing. Her eyes widen though, at the last of the ghosts as she charges and rushes towards the last bits that only materialized just recently. Several slashes in the air with her hands strikes down the ghosts, and soon, she breathes heavily, panting a bit. Fortunately, her bangs hide the golden castemark on her forehead, and she's currently turned away from the monk. "Leave..there will be more. They are looking for human sacrifices for their masters.." she says firmly and resolutely. "I will take care of them.."

 

The man clears his throat, then spits out some blood onto the ground, whipping his mouth with ragged, tattered strips of cloth that encircle his forearms. His voice rumbles forth, like the eve of a storm, "Let them come," as he rips a strip of cloth, hanging from his simple twine sash, and begins to wrap his bloodied feet. "You should go. I have been bloodied, they will be coming for me. We wouldn't want such a young life ending so unceremoniously as in a graveyard," he tugs tightly, then stands back up. "It isn't fitting."

 

"No..it is my duty to cleanse these lands, as it has been the duty of generations before me.." she says firmly and resolutely as she turns around and brushes her bangs from her face for a few moments, giving him a brief glimpse at the very feint zenith castemark on her forehead. "I have died many times fighting creatures of darkness, it is my destiny..let them come.." and with that, she jumps off, starting to go towards the mausoleum. Maybe something's in there..

 

"I'm sure your bloodied throat will do your ancestors proud, girl." The monk's voice is harsh, and he moves forward. "What are you, sixteen? So young. You have the world ahead of you and you wish to match your mettle against hordes of gnashing teeth and their unseen lord." One hand reaches out, to grab her shoulder, "Stop! Look, your power already burns out of your veins, it's evident in the fact that your exaltation brazenly shows itself upon your head! You are in no condition to go on, you need to rest."

 

She gasps, not expecting him to move so fast to where he can actually grab her. That was unexpected and she blinks blankly for a few moments as she wipes beads of sweat from her brows. "I'm eighteen..I am to finish my mother's mission. I am to cleanse these lands.." she says firmly and resolutely before she starts to break a little, sniffling a bit as she starts to tear up. "I..I cant take it anymore..the dreams..the nightmares. Everytime, I see their deaths..my death. With my ending, I can cleanse these lands, and some other unfortunate soul can bear the weight of these past memories.."

 

The man's face softens, and his voice grows calmer, "It's alright. You've done well. These lands.. these lands are going nowhere. They will not leave. They will wait for you to gather your breath, to gain your strength. Don't place such a burden on your shoulders alone, you are not atlas." He looks around, noting an old, dusty bench that has seemed to fallen to only little disrepair. "Come, sit."

 

"It is my burden. It was my mother's until she was deemed a failure by the order.." she whispers softly, running her fingers through her hair. "Now I am anathema, bearing memories that are not my own. Sins of the past perhaps.." she says with a soft sigh and a shrug of her shoulders as she follows the monk, closing her eyes for a few moments before sitting on down.

 

Crows looks down at her sitting form for a few seconds before taking a seat next to her, wringing his hands slightly. "Trust me, young one, the Order is not a perfect institution. It is full of human foibles, moreso than it would have you believe." He takes a deep breath. "You have my word, as one who was a monk of the Order of the Immaculate Dragons for over twenty years." He looks down at the stricken ground. "You are not so alone as you might think."

 

"I dont know who I am anymore. So many memories..that arent mine.." and she pauses, blinking blankly for a few moments as a bit of recognition hits the monk. "You..we..traveled..together.." she says, sounding..confused and terrified at the same time.

 

Now Crows' brow furrows. "I.. I have met with more than my share of Children of the Sun in my time, but you were not amongst them. I know not of your other memories." He pauses for a moment, collecting his thoughts, before turning back to her, "You are an Anathema, but not how they would have you believe. You are an Anathema to sensibilities, to a corrupt way of life, to the death that plagues these lands. You have been given powers others cannot fathom and in their ignorance, they cry out at you, like some sort of blind witch-hunt. You are a person, a woman. You can drag the heavens down to Creation, if you so desire it. It is a great burden to carry."

 

"No..no..we specifically did not travel together. I..wasnt much older than now. It was recent.." she says softly as flashes of memories continue to haunt her even now. "Brother....Raven? Magpie? No..Crows!" she says as she eases on up, feeling slightly awkward now that she seems to know this person, but yet..doesnt know him. At his words, she seems to calm down and wrinklesher nose as she runs her fingers through her hair, sighing a little. "I do not wish to drag the heavens down..I just wish to see my land cleansed and my people safe.."

 

"That is good but.. how do you know my name? I haven't traveled with a sun-child in some time.." Slowly, he turns his head to look right into Hope's eyes. "You are to cleanse land of the dead? And those prayer strips.." His eyes grow wide, as if all the pieces of a puzzle suddenly righted themselves, and suddenly twists, slamming his fist into a cracked stone pillar, pulling it back covered in chalk, blood showing around his knuckles. "Brilliant Pearl."

 

She winces a little at the name, it having an odd sense of familiarity and she shudders. "That name..I've heard that name before, but I'm not her..I..was her? Or she was me? I..I dont know how all this works.." she admits ruefully while running her fingers through her hair once more. "I just know..she..I.." and she sounds so confused as she clutches at her head. "The Labyrinth..the sister..the killer of Xel'natha...her prior..me..her..I..it's all so confusing.."

 

One hand rubs his brow, and he mutters in defeat, "The Labyrinth." He then looks up at the young girl. "I am as confused as you. One thing is for sure, you are not her now, you are who /you/ are." He then turns his attention back to her form, "and who, precisely, are you?"

 

"My name is Hope.." she says softly as she shudders at the thought of the Labyrinth, still recalling her lessons and the wierdness of it she does remember..or just have images of in her head. "Something inside me..wants to go to the Sun Kingdom. I dont know why, but maybe she was there before. But I cant do that until I have achieved my own goals, and that's cleansing these lands.."

 

"Hope. It is nice to meet you. I am Keeper of Crows." He stretches one arm, eyeing the visible bite-wound. "The Sun Kingdom has been engulfed in a shadowlands." He states, matter-of-factly, then looks over at her. "You are not alone in your quest, Hope. There are many there, working to rectify this, including one Orduin of the Tools, a child of the Sun. There is another, Princess Alessandra, coined 'the Last Rose of Thorns,'" he turns and gives Hope a slight smile. "She fought at Light's Tempest, against the raging hordes of the city from which she was raised."

 

"Saving the kingdom of the sun is their calling. That is not mine.." Hope replies matter of factly as she runs her fingers through her hair. "Let them do it..I will not go there even if something tugs at my heartstrings. My conscience, my heart, belongs with these people, and these towers.." she says, pointing off in the distance to the three towers of gloom, "Are becoming corrupted from some outside source. We have always worshipped our ancestors and they have always protected us, but now..things are changing. They are sacrificing innocents to...I have no idea what.." sounding a bit more bitter and angry as she tells him of the situation here.

 

Crows nods. "Well Hope, you have courage. And drive. That is good. But you are headstrong." He stands up on the bench to better survey the graveyard. "Fighting Hungry Ghosts is no way to go about cleansing this place. Strike at the root, don't hack the branches." He hops down and turns to look at her, "It sounds like you have a necromancer."

 

"I know I am not strong enough yet to face whatever is controlling the ghosts of my people and the tower. Whatever it is, I do not think I cna face it yet, and so for now, this is..a warm up. If I can perhaps weaken them initially by protecting wandering travelers from becoming sacrifices in whatever unholy rituals they do..then..well..I am still striking at the source of the problem..if only indirectly. It wont take long before I become noticed though, so hopefully I will be strong enough by the time they notice me.." she admits ruefully while wrinkling her nose a bit.

 

Keeper of Crows shakes his head slightly. "Training. You had best hope he, whoever he is, doesn't recognize the magnitude of a threat you pose." He turns around. "Your hands lit the sky with golden light. What if he has spies? What if one of those dogs gurgles out a few words?" He kicks a stone away from his foot, exhasperatedly murmuring, "I never thought I'd be in this position again.."

 

"There are many who can light their hands with a golden light. It is the way of the golden janissary.." she admits ruefully, though she doesnt know that her own formidable janissary martial arts has been displaced by actual Solar power. "It is not that common, and often they strike as guerillas against the darkness. There are others, but their fires have been extinguished.." she says softly, wrinkling her nose once more. "But I did not think about spies.."

"Golden Janissaries. I watched a hundred of them die at Light's Tempest." He meanders over to the nearest grave, reading the faded name on it. "For all you know, Hope, I am a spy of the necromancer, sent to fend away a staged attack of ghosts to earn your trust, then extract your potential. As an opponent or sacrifice. Or perhaps I am the very necromancer, come to collect you."

 

Hope swallows a bit nervously as she hrmms, not having considered that. She's young and is thus more trsuting than most as she shrugs her shoulders. "Then at least, in the end..I can rest.."

 

"Don't lose that trust, Hope. It will hurt you, at times. But to have the gift of unbiased sight. That is something extraordinary." He walks back over and sits down. "I am not a necromancer, not a spy. I came to this land at the bequest of Brilliant Pearl. It seems that you have taken up her mantle. And so, Hope, I ask you. If you will have me, how might I assist you, in cleansing this land?"

 

Well, that's something she certainly wasnt expecting at all. She swallows a bit nervously and hrmms for a few moments. "Please..teach me." It is then that she falls to her knees and prostrates herself before him. "Please Brother Crows..you commanded the winds and lightning to smite the undead. I would like to become your student.." she admits ruefully.

 

The monk blinks, then moves forward, next to her, hoping to gently lift her back to her feet. "Lady Hope, please stand up. I.. I am no teacher, but barely a student in such matters. I cannot teach what I can barely understand." He shakes his head. "I cannot teach you such arts. But.. I know of others, who know the ways of exorcism. Of banishment, and of striking down dark necromancers. They are wiser than me by far, and much stronger. It would behoove you to learn at their feet, not mine."

 

"I have studied necromancy at the towers. I am considered a mistress of warding and exorcism.." Hope says softly as she eases on up, though she wrinkles her nose at the thought of striking down dark necromancers. "It is because you only consider yourself a student, that I will consider you a master.." smiling warmly in the end.

 

Crows lets out a little chuckle. "I do not say that in self-deprecation, I really only /am/ a student. I never completed my training in the Art of the Air Dragon. I was.. preoccupied." Looking her up and down he gives a slight grin. "If nothing else, I can induct you into proper forms of the martial arts, so that when a true teacher comes along, you will be ready to hear what he says. "How long have you been doing this? Hunting, fighting. Have you ever met a, well, dark necromancer?"

 

"I am sure through teaching me that you will become a master. That is often how it works..at least from what I've seen.." she says with an impish chuckle while wrinkling her nose a little once more, a little quirk of hers. "And I've been training since I was five. My mother was a golden janissary master and she was suppose to cleanse these lands, but I was born and so she stopped, fearing for my safety. So I was trained as my mother's replacement.." Then, at the question, she hrmms for a few moments. "I studied at those towers..there are masters of necromancy there..all ghosts..a few being direct ancestors through blood, so I have met necromancers. As for dark necromancers..if you mean nephracks, mortwights and other masters of ghostly arcanoi..I am afraid I have not.."

 

Crows smile fades slightly. "Master? I doubt it. I don't know how much longer I'll be.. well." He stops and shakes his head slightly. "It doesn't matter. If you have trained as a Golden Janissary as well as the path of necromancy, you surely have the knowledge of the magnitude of what you are up against. I am worried about your experience, though. Hungry Ghosts are one thing, bloody-handed princes who command them are quite another." He tilts his head slightly, "But, we will see." He motions with one hand, moving slightly away, "Come, there is much for me to tell you, and little time in which to do it."

 

Hope takes a quick look around to make sure there are no more hungry ghosts around and she nods. "I have a cabin not too far from here. It's abandoned, but it makes for a safe place to sleep and rest at night. It is warded and there are salt lines just outside it.." she whispers while starting to lead him into the woods..

 

 

            The walk was uneventful, and the cabin was less than a mile away. She opens a rather spartan little cabin with no real creature comforts, other than some food, a bed and a desk. "Um..welcome to my little home away from home.." she says softly with an impish chuckle before slipping out of her sandals, leaving them by the door. The cabin is completely warded with various prayer strip wards surrounding every opening into the building..

 

            "I like your decorations." The monk jokes, pointing to the myriad of wards before stepping in. "It's nice in here. I've always admired hermits and their quest for wisdom through solitude. I always appreciate isolated houses." He gazes about the interior before looking back to Hope. "Now, to get down to business. You say that a new power has arisen, inspiring human sacrifices."

 

            "Previous janissaries have died trying to face this power, but no one even knows who is corrupting the ghosts. All I know is that the oldest ones are acting quite different, demanding things from the people that they never would have before.." Hope says matter of factly as she lets out another impish chuckle. "This isn’t exactly my domicile.. it's sort of a safe house should the need arise.."

 

            "Too bad." Crows rubs his chin, leaning against a wall. "Well then, it seems the first thing we are to do is to discover the corrupter. What sort of resources do you have? Allies, weapons, information? Do you know when this began? Or where?"

 

            "There are other cells, and other girls. I know they are being sent to serve as maids and servants at the tower to try to find out some information.." Hope says matter of factly as she runs her fingers through her hair. "Masuki is the one who's been there the longest. We should be hearing a report from her soon.."

 

            Keeper nods. "That is good news. They might also uncover the 'why' behind the deaths. Sudden, mysterious sacrifices? It could be a ghostly power-play for total control over the area. Or perhaps they are trying to forge a shadowlands." He looks out over the empty, rolling plains. "Tell me. These other girls, and yourself, have you ever had to use your golden janissary training? Besides today, of course."

 

            "We were all trained by different masters. It is to keep us hidden should one set of master and apprentice be found, all the others wont suffer.." Hope says matter of factly in the end, wrinkling her nose a little once more. "I do not know what the end goal is, but I do know that an area of these forests..instead of giving one the feeling of happyness and life only emanates a sense of death and forboding.."

 

            "A tragedy. But I fear a far greater tragedy was if they wilted, with none who cared. No matter who, or what, is instilling this hunger for sacrifice, and burdening the trees with fetters of discord, I am unconvinced a squadron of Golden Janissaries who have never fought with one another before are of the ability to put it down. You yourself admitted that some have been killed in the attempt. You need support." He glances back out at the hills, where atop a close rock, a screeching raven picks at the remnants of some unfortunate animal, its feathers disheveled.

 

            "Perhaps that is our undoing, the fact that in order to maintain our secrecy we do not coordinate attacks and work with each other. As far as I know, there are other girls who are still being trained. The order picks us when we are very young.." Hope says matter of factly as she hrmms, pursing her lips at the raven picking at the corpse. "That is a rather ominous omen, if I ever saw one."

 

            Keeper turns his head, offering Hope a large smile. "Crows are seen as harbingers of death in many civilizations. Of what, though," he looks back. "That is not always so certain." He remains silent for some time, watching the bird glut itself. "Twice in my life I have fought with necromancers." He finally offers.

 

            "I am a necromancer myself.." she admits ruefully as she heads over to her table and grabs an apple, starting to munch on it. "Though admitted, I am merely a student. I know how cancel other spells, along with cutting the strings of those dead raised my dark magicks. And finally, I can create these.." She reaches into her satchel and pulls out a bone with a rune covered in a prayer strip. "They're handy in tight situations.. trap ghosts.."

 

            "Many necromancers use their powers for good. I am often loathe to even use the word, for the connotations it carries. These necromancers, though. They were the epitome of the legends which mar the art. Calling a rain of blood from heaven. Sucking flesh and bones into a horrific screeching wind." The raven finally, preening itself with a bloody beak, flies off, in search of its next feast. "You have not set an easy task out before yourself, Hope. I admire that. What will you do after you remove the vile presence from these Peaks?"

 

            "I.. don’t know. I suppose I have greater responsibilities now that I have been chosen.." Hope admits ruefully as she lets out a slight eeep as the raven flies away. "They tried teaching us how to defend ourselves with necromancy.. even if it means calling upon the dead to do our bidding. But.. I honestly don’t know. I don’t think these lands will be cleansed easily...whoever is corrupting the elders is certainly powerful.."

 

            "I advise you start to consider your options. When the corruption is cleansed, you will have to understand, more than how it happened, why it was allowed. What was the weak point in these Peaks which allowed it to fester. What gave way, so that it might not happen again." He points out. "And these hills. How long have they been so desolate? What /happened/ to this place?"

 

            "From what I have been told, the corruption has been growing slowly, but steadily for years now. Even before my mother was born.. and perhaps whatever is corrupting these lands has acquired enough power to act so boldly.." Hope says with a shudder at the thought before she looks out towards the window. "I honestly do not know. The forest always was full of life. I remember playing here when I was child, in my few moments of respite from training, but now...it just reeks of death and decay.."

 

            Crows stares forlornly out, the jagged rocks dot the horizon for as long as one might see, the cracked riverbed, the uprooted, unkept gravestones. "Let us hope this friend of yours arrives swiftly, and carries.. informative tidings"

 

            "You have fought the darkest of necromancers.. how did you deal with them? What are their weaknesses? How can one even hope to match the power that they hold?" she asks curiously, now worried about her own abilities as she sighs and runs her fingers through her hair..

 

           

            The man turns to look at Hope. From underneath some robes, he draws forth a cruelly-curved chakram, marked with a filigree of white sigils atop a deep turquoise disk. Its ends are laced in black jade, and spiraling runes of obsidian lay inset, stretching toward its center. He tosses to onto a small table next to them, and it gives forth a soft hum, like its edges are clattering, vibrating. "One was the general of the armies sent against Light's Tempest. She robed herself in nigh-impenetrable soulsteel and bone. She called a rain of blood miles long, infected the people and lands of that place. She was a favored princess of the lord of Thorns. The other was one who dubbed himself 'the Mantra'. He was a cruel man, the champion of the Slaver's Union, and stood before the last gate of the city, slaughtering four helpless men, coating himself in their flesh as armor in the form of a howling wind." He looks at the chakram, then up at Hope, in answer to her query.

 

            The description widens her eyes as she lets out a soft gasp. "I have faced the hungry dead for almost all my life, but I do not think I have ever imagined such horror that necromancers were capable of. My teachers taught me to respect the dead and to only help them move on so they can hear the gentle call of Lethe in the end. That..is..abhorrent.." she says matter of factly.

 

            Crows nods at her words, lifting the chakram with care, lest it cut him, and placing back in some hidden sheath within his robes. "Terrifying things. Which is why it I am so inspired every time I see one doing opposite. Warring against such monstrosities, instead of succumbing to them." He stares at some of the strips on the walls, lost in thoughts, memories.

 

            "I do not think I am ready to face such things.." Hope admits ruefully as she hrmms for a few moments. "I am sure that whatever is controlling the creatures of darkness figured out that there is a newly chosen here. I sort of...flared when I was fighting.." her cheeks flushing a bright tinge of red from embarrassment.

 

            Crows gently pats her shoulder. "Indeed. I'm sorry to say the world is often not safe for those who burn with the light of the sun. If it knows you are near, and it knows what you are capable of.. well. You may yet force its hand. Push it to embark on a gambit it might not otherwise take."

 

            "For all my training, I have never fought anything beyond one of the mortwights, and even that was a challenge I almost did not survive from.." Hope says slightly fearfully while rubbing her arms up and down, remembering the wounds that she had taken from that fight. "However.. I.. was given this.. by.. a man whom I cant remember right now.." she says rather curiously as she heads towards her bed and pulls out a chest, pulling out an orichalcum powerbow and breastplate. Considering he had seen those things in the possession of Pearl, he'd certainly recognize them. "I was told that these would aid me in my fight.."

 

            Keeper looks over the items. "I've seen these before." Thinking for a moment, he inquires, "This man, did he possibly identify himself as Sesus Sakin?"

 

            "No.." she says shaking her head as she hrmms, trying to remember his features, and she describes a sort of raksha-ish looking man. "He.. tried to explain what I was, but I would not have it...until he gave me these.. and then I thought I would lose my mind. But that name.. Sesus Sakin.. yes.." And she sighs a little, closing her eyes softly. "He loved her didn’t he.."

 

            Crows sits down on a wobbly chair, facing her. "I never met him. But she certainly loved him." He locks his hands together, giving her a little grin, to lighten the mood. "How about you, Hope? The suitors lining up?"

 

            "Hardly. My training wouldn’t allow it.." she says with her cheeks burning a bright crimson as she sits on her bed, staring at the two artifacts, sighing a little as she looks at them. "I was told that every bearer of the spark used these exact weapons, and that there is an even more extensive panoply. Perhaps.. if I can find the other pieces.. I might stand a chance?"

 

            "That surely broke some hearts." He looks down at the items. "Yes. Items made of these, magic materials. They are potent. World-shaking. If there is more of the panoply, it would surely do you good to find it. They don't tip the scales of a confrontation. They tip the balance of nations." He runs one finger down the powerbow, admiring its craftsmanship.

 

            "I doubt it. I trained with nuns. I barely had interaction with the opposite sex, except for my father and trainers.." Hope says, definitely leading a somewhat sheltered life, even if it meant she was training all the time. "but they do feel like they complete me when I hold them.." she admits ruefully.

 

            Crows just stares at Hope, nodding slightly in agreement. "I know precisely what you are talking about. I spent over ten years in a single monastery on the Isle. It's partially why I became an itinerant. To remind myself there was more to the world than what was taught in those walls." He leans a little closer. "It is not my place to ask, but I am deeply curious. How long ago did you receive the Solar blessing?"

 

            Hope hrmms for a few moments and hrmms, trying to recall. "Just.. well.." and her cheeks flush a bright tinge of red as she seems to be embarrassed. "Just under a week.."

 

            "No kidding? That's incredible! How are you feeling?" He leans back a moment, a bright smile on his face. "Well, let me be the first to thank you, Hope. For having the courage to hold such power, and the wisdom to accept it." He bows his head to Hope. When he looks up, he has a mischievous grin on his face. "One moment." He stands, and walks out, closing the door behind himself. A few seconds later, he knocks on the door.

 

            "I..I'm okay. It was definitely a rush of power.." she says matter of factly though she quirks a brow as he steps out. She wrinkles her nose a little as she tentatively goes to the door, opening it very slowly...

 

            Crows stands there, holding a bundle of wrapped cloth, offering it to her "Here, I got you a present." It might come in handy if you plan on challenging every dark god from here to the Skullstone Archipelago.

 

            Now she's just confused. How did he get something so fast? What could it be? She blinks blankly at him for a bit and peers curiously towards him. "Um..thank you?" Hope says, not quite sure what else to say as she takes the bundle and peers inside to see what's there.

 

            Inside lay four thin, but large, thin rings of black jade, lined with silver and covered in a pearlescent filigree of brass etchings. The monk rubs his nose, explaining. "They might not look like much, but until recently, they were part of my wartime panoply. When worn and bound to you, they project a tangible shield of your own will, deflecting life-threatening blows into minor ones." He shrugs. "It was the best I could do on such short notice. I hope you won't ever need their protection."

 

            She's taken back by the gift and she shakes her head, trying to have the monk take them once more. "I...I cant take this!" Hope says as she figures he might still need them after all. "These are yours, and you will need them if you are going to help me.." trying to convince him to keep it in the end.

 

            The monk shakes his head. "No, I won't. You'll need them, though, or know someone who will. The first time I matched arms with a necromancer, she fell without scratching me. The second was wiser, and my life was nearly forfeit. I suspect this one will be my end. Either way," he shrugs. "I won't be on this land for much longer. They are yours now."

 

            "I am humbled by your gift.." Hope says as she bows deeply to him, smiling warmly as she runs her fingers through her hair. The way he speaks though causes alarm and she closes the door behind him once more. "Are you traveling.. or.. something else?" she asks, hoping that's what he means. "And do not talk that way.. I've seen you fight and you are strong. There is so much you can teach me I am sure."

 

            He purses his lips. "A journey, of sorts. My time in the Order has come to an end, and I have finally found a suitable home for the refugees.." he gives a sheepish grin, "forgive me, Hope, I talk of things in a distant land. Suffice to say, my time on Creation is coming to a close rapidly. Darkness will consume me, or light suffuse me. Either way," he shrugs, "I am pleased to have met you. As far as a teacher goes, I am a poor choice. I know little of the occult, and have not the stomach to rule: both things you will have to master, if you are to conquer this rising consumption. I've always relied on my fists moreso than my voice."

 

            "I do not think I was born to rule, even if I was told otherwise.." she says with a sigh, pouting a little at the monk, seeming to understand. "I wish you well on your journeys, but at least stay the night.. and have some tea.. it's not much, but I would like to thank you for such a generous gift.."

 

            "A meager gift, but hopefully it will keep you safe in unsafe places." He looks around the room. "I think you misunderstand my situation, Lady Hope. My journey is coming to a close. Everyday I walk it, no matter where. I'll meet its end just as easily here as another location." He pulls out a small satchel, placing it on the table. "Tea leaves, grown in the fertile soil in the far western Isles. I've been saving that for three years. You did say, tea, right?" He smiles across the table to Hope.

 

            "Yes, tea.." Hope replies as she sets down the essence armor along with the rest of her panoply before taking the satchel to start preparing some brew. "Thank you again for your generosity.. though.. I am curious. You were a monk, and you know I am.. anathema.." she says, not quite sure how to say Solar yet, but hey, it works. "What made you go against.. the teachings?" she asks curiously, wanting to get more into the mind of the monk.

 

            The monk gives a sigh. "The world is not so simple as a sutra might have you believe. I can't quite place a time or reason on my questioning, pondering, philosophizing of such things. I never denied the fact that there are Anathema in this world. Just who, though, that is something I had contention with. I've met Dragon-Blooded who were more cruel than even the most horrifying stories of golden demons." He shakes his head. "My first action, ironically enough, was at the site of the first necromancer against which I drew battle. Her hidden companion struck a lady clad in golden armor, and she lay on the ground before me, bleeding." He rubs his hands together. "So I helped her to her feet, and offered her my sash to bind her wounds. That would be 'the fall,' I suspect." He glances back up. "To see with unbiased eyes. That is a great gift."

 

            "I see. Perhaps if all of the Dragon-Blooded host were like you, then perhaps all those chosen would be able to usher humanity into a new glorious age free from corruption and darkness.." Hope says, her eyes twinkling brightly as she then takes a deep breath and sighs. "But I do remember stories of the golden demons.. the anathema.. I am sure that there is still some truth to them. Such power is perhaps what allowed the elder ghosts to become corrupted..."

 

            "They are doing what they think is best, as am I. It's hard for me to judge them for following their beliefs, as I do." He ponders for a moment. "You golden children are undeniably powerful. Moreso than I might ever hope to be. But the same choices lie before you as a sun-daughter, as they do for a necromancer. To help or harm. Of course, this one is not nearly as straightforward." He leans in. "No matter which you choose, you will be labeled as a demon, hunted, stalked, hated. Lied about. Lied to. Some find it easier to become the monster others think they are, than to continue being the hero they think they might be."

 

            "I know my place in this world. Since I was little, I was told that I would defend creation from creatures of darkness who would wish to take advantage of the innocent, and I will do what I can to defend all innocents until my dying breath.." Hope says firmly and resolutely, as well, the propaganda from being trained as a golden janissary martial artist is kicking in..

 

            "An important place. Please though, Lady Hope, don't forget your own self under the burden of your path. You are a person as well, and deserve the same joy, the same.. hope, as those you will defend." The monk stirs up some tea, setting it down on the table.

 

            "I was taught to place others before myself, and that is what I will continue to do.." Hope says matter of factly as she offers the monk a seat before easing on down, having setup two cups as well.

 

            "As was I." The monk lifts a cup up in salute, and takes a light sip, then sets it down, content in the silence.