Silent Peaks is truely living up to it's name tonight. The moon shines clearly in a cloudless sky, and even the chirp of insects in hardly noticeable. Saffron patrols along the dirt paths that wind around the region, like he often does between his meditations. This time he has recently arrived, coming ahead of the shipment of salt he has secured from Masq Timor. Saffron keeps to the side of the road, his yellow robes pale in the moonlight, working his way around the boulders endemic to the area. Occasionally he pauses to look up at the moon, shuddering slightly before continuing his patrol.

     As Saffron comes around a rise, he sees a figure silouhetted on a boulder ahead. The figure is wrapped all in black, and is sitting on top of a large rock just off the path, staring up at the sky. As you come into hearing range, you hear him sigh slightly. His hands hang at his side, and he looks lost in his thoughts. Something about him seems just a tad...off, but you can't place it exactly.

        When Saffron spots the figure on the rock, he stops, frowning. Figures cloaked in black have not left him enamored of them recently. Squaring himself and planting his spear in the ground, he hesitates, and then calls out "You, on the rock there, who are you?" to the figure, a tone of challenge in his voice.

     Slowly, the figure turns his head to see who is talking to him. He gazes at the man for a moment, taking in his appearance. After a long pause, he speaks. "Who am I? I am a traveller, moving with the winds of change from place to place. I am nobody and nothing, completely unimportant and unknown, a mere blip in the Loom. I am also everything, because without me, this all would cease to exist. I am known by several names, mostly as Walker of Shadow. I have come seeking wisdom and guidance, knowledge and skills. I am seeking a teacher in the ways of the worlds. Mayhap you are such a man, sir monk?" His tone is that of detached boredom, but beneath it, you sense that he's probably a lot more interested than he appears. After all, the bored don't venture into the mountains of the silent peaks. Only the driven.

        "Yes, I am a monk, Walker of Shadow. I practice Golden Janissary, though I do not yet call myself Master." Saffron steps forward, moving toward the figure on the rock. "I took an oath, that I would teach those who are willing to learn. Though you will not find a stranger teacher of this style. The path of the Golden Janissary is frought with prejudice and danger, is it a teacher of this style that you seek?" Saffron asks with a note of suspition, not fully trusting this odd stranger.

     Walker of Shadow laughs slightly at this. "Indeed, I am looking to learn Golden Janissary style. You will not find a stranger student of this style, so maybe we are meant to be pupil and sifu." He lifts himself up on his hands and jumps down, betraying an excellent grace and balance, as well as quite a bit of strength. He bows before Saffron Horizon. "I wish to become a student of the Golden Janissary style and learn as much as I can about protecting Creation from those beyond who would see it torn down. Thank you for giving me this opportunity, sir monk."

        Saffron frowns, "I admit, I have never before taken a student. I am a bit suprised at the suddeness." Saffron stops, and laughs for a moment before continuing "though I suppose I should not be suprised, I came here for the very same reason." Saffron takes a breath, before bowing in return to his student. "I am Son of a Saffron Horizon, Walker, and I have used the skills I have learned to defend creation against those who nibble at it's edges and those that seek to drag it down into oblivion." Seriously now, Saffron states "I swear to you, my student, that I will teach you what I can, so long as you swear to use my teachings against creatures seeking to destroy this land." Saffron reaches out one hand to shake Walker's.

Walker of Shadow reaches out his hand unhesitatingly, grasping Saffron's hand in his own. He looks the other man right in the eye, and says, as solemly as he can, "I do so swear, Sifu Saffron. I will use your teachings to protect those unable to protect themselves, however I can, from wherever I am, for as long as I can. If it is in my power to stop those from other realms who wish to hurt or destroy this world, I will." He pumps their clasped hands up and down once, sealing the deal.

        Saffron nods as he shakes, a flash of concentration moves across his eyes, but it is gone about as fast as it appears. "Walk with me for a while, Walker, and let us talk. I will not enter into a relationship like this with secrets lying between us. I did not lie when I said I was a strange teacher, and I regret I do not know how long I will fufil my role as your teacher. Saffron takes a deep breath, his tone deadly serious, whith an undertone of sadness, "My father is a Fair Folk, a Noble hiding in the east. My mother is his slave. As I develop my own essence, I feel something alien warping inside my mind. When I can bear it no longer, I will confront my father and free my mother before it takes me completely." Saffron sighs, "I do not know how long I will be able to teach you. Each passing day the pressure grows worse."

     Walker of Shadow falls into step with his new teacher, half a pace behind. He nods. "That is indeed strange. And, I agree that there should be no secrets between us. I also did not lie when I said I was a strange student. You see, almost a year ago, I died. I am currently a ghost, and this body you see is the one that I inhabited before my death. Despite this, I am not like other ghosts. I want to help people. I want to end this destructive cycle of death and killing. I want there to be peace. Now that you know, are you still willing to teach me?" He looks at the man hopefully, but resignedly. He knows what people do when they encounter a ghost, even one as unique as him, and especially if that person is a practicionner of an anti-undead art.

        Saffron stops, startled at the revelation. He momentarily steps back, tightening his hand on the spear, but stops... and begins to laugh. At first merely a chuckle, but bubbling out into a full belly laugh that causes Saffron to fall over on his back wheezing and cackling like a madman. "Ha, you are right, Walker of Shadow! You are right. We are two of a kind you and I. Our heritage means nothing... no... it means /everything/ to what we are. In spite of the taints on creation that allows our existance, we fight on. Besides, as something you should know as part of your training, Fair Folk cannot break sworn promises, and I inherited at least that much from my father. I would not do so even if I was able, an oportunity of this magnitude only happens once a generation! This will be more fun that I have had in a long time, Walker."

     Walker of Shadow watches the man bemusedly, smiling slightly. Then, he grins widely. His scarf, of course, covers it. "I believe that you are right. This will be fun. May I ask why you think so, though?"

        "Because it is /different!/" Shouts Saffron, inbetween bouts of slowly subsiding laughter. "Because something like this has never been heard of before!" He stands up, using his spear as a helping hand. "Can you think of the stories they will tell?"

     Walker of Shadow starts to chuckle as he imagines it. "Yeah, I can. Two creatures of darkness, teaching each other to become forces against their own kinds. Everyone will be so /scandalized/. You're right, that'll be hilarious to hear. I think I'm going to like you, Saffron."

        Saffron laughs weakly and whipes his eyes, "I think this is going to be one hell of a few weaks, here in the Silent Peaks. Come, we'll head back to the cabin I've been using as a point of reference, and talk about how we will proceed. You have a lot to learn, Walker of Shadows."