Requiem of Fate [Krule & Caeli]
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		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Human Solos =&gt; Topic started by: Caeli on 11-05-2008, 16:28:01</h2>
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				Title: <strong>Requiem of Fate [Krule &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Caeli</strong> on <strong>11-05-2008, 16:28:01</strong>
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				<table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td>(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/c/ce/Siliea.png)</td><td><em>Siliea, the Goddess of Fate. She is youngest of the gods on the Divine Council, which rules the pantheon of Vayulla. She adores her elder brother Soren, who is the God of Fate. Together, the Gods of Fate maintain the divine Balance between good and evil. They also pass judgment over the souls of the dead, and decide when souls are reincarnated on the mortal plane. In the Divine Council, these two gods are most involved in the lives of mortals, and travel most often to the mortal realm. Because they are observers of the mortal plane, it is perhaps these two who have the most sympathy for humans. They always maintain their distance from mortals that they meet, for it would be disastrous if they developed an attachment to one.<br><br>On a routine trip to the mortal realm, Siliea becomes trapped there, unable to return to the Realm of the Gods. None of the gods on the Divine Council, even her brother Soren, can find her anywhere; they only know she is alive because of her bond with the other God of Fate.<br><br>Down on Vayulla, a mortal man rescues Siliea when she runs into trouble. Though she is skeptical of his ability to help, she accepts his assistance, and they make their way to the northern edges of Vayulla, to the ruins of an old temple called the Gateway to Heaven. It is there that she hopes she can find a way to contact her brother and the Divine Council, and get home.<br><br>However, as the goddess and her companion travel north, she becomes closer to a human than she has ever let herself in the past. She sees the imperfect beauty of the mortal realm. She sees a side of humanity the gods blind themselves to. At the end of their journey, will Siliea be able to bring herself to leave the mortal realm?<br><br><br>A spin-off of the story and setting of <strong>Phoenix Rising</strong> (http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/index.php?title=Phoenix_Rising)</em></td></tr></tbody></table>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Requiem of Fate [Krule &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Caeli</strong> on <strong>11-05-2008, 16:29:26</strong>
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				The only sound that could be heard in the night was the gentle chirping of crickets, hidden among the shadows of plants and trees that populated the countryside of Vayulla. Across the land, families and wanderers all slept under the peaceful gaze of Khelius, the God of Darkness, for all that they were uneasy about the current temporary cease-fire between Aladel and Morovia, the two most powerful countries on the continent. War had raging in Vayulla for centuries, but thanks to a group of history-changing adventurers who had dared to act in accordance to their wishes for peace, there might now be a permanent respite to the previously never-ending violence.<br><br>While the night seemed peaceful, that description was hardly accurate for Siliea’s current situation. Having just returned from speaking to the water mage who had played the largest part in bringing the peace to Vayulla (even if only temporarily), Siliea was anxious to return to the Realm of the Gods, since she had come alone to the mortal realm for this latest assignment. Usually, any speaking to mortals that had to be done was completed with both Gods of Fate, not just one half of the pair; tonight had been an exception rather than the rule, in that the twins had decided that for efficiency’s sake, it might be best for Siliea to come down to the mortal realm while Soren took care of business with Titus and Atalanta, the leaders of the Divine Council.<br><br>“Why isn’t it working…”<br><br>The whispered words seemed loud amidst the sounds of nature, and the goddess finally bit her lip and cast her eyes away from the heavens, where the stars twinkled and sparkled, heedless of her plight. Even soaked in lake water and mildly exhausted from trying to return to the Realm of the Gods so many times, her beauty was unquestionable; Siliea’s silver-blonde tresses caressed her lithe form, the elegant lines of her body graceful even as she moved towards shallower water.<br><br>She had been trying to return to her home for hours now, but each attempt had failed, backfiring with a slingshot of power that had knocked Siliea unconscious the first time it happened. Usually, returning to the divine realm was little more than retreating to an area with a lot of natural energy – for Siliea and Soren, areas such as lakes and mountain tops were ideal – and exerting some divine energy to return. But this time…<br><br>A sudden discordant lurch made Siliea whirl, simultaneously throwing up a magical defensive barrier. The darts that had been thrown her way bounced off harmlessly, but at that very moment Siliea cried out in pain as she felt a searing pain in her ankle. She collapsed to the ground, magical barrier forgotten, and moments later felt two male humans behind her. They grabbed her arms roughly and twisted them painfully behind her back, pulling her hair so they could see her face.<br><br>“Well, I didn’t expect this expedition to have anything in it for us, except killing that light-and-goodness mage who’s going to stop the war, but I’m sure the Master will throw us a nice bonus if we brought in this beauty,” one of them laughed. Siliea turned her head away, gritting her teeth as tears sprang to her eyes. A mixture of hatred and malicious lust colored his ‘aura’ in Siliea’s mind; but struggling earned her nothing more than contemptuous laughter.<br><br>“Don’t worry, my lovely, we’ll make sure to keep you alive and intact when we report back to our leader. Of course, we should test the goods first, and make sure of the quality…”<br><br>As both of her captors began to summarily strip the dark blue and silver silks from her body, Siliea burned with helplessness, unable to use divine magic (especially since she didn’t yet have the power to alter memories) to blast them away from her, but also not strong enough to fight off both men at once. How stupid of her, to be so preoccupied in her thoughts that she had forgotten to activate her spell of invisibility… and being unable to contact the other gods meant that none of them would be able to come to her rescue, especially if they also could not leave the divine realm.<br><br><em>Someone! Please help me!</em> Her mental and spirit-voice echoed painfully as she struggled not to cry, and though her efforts to disable her captors only earned her slaps on the face and even rougher treatment, Siliea was determined not to meekly accept this disrespectful treatment that she was being subjected to. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Requiem of Fate [Krule &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Krule</strong> on <strong>12-05-2008, 10:06:04</strong>
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				Aladris was a warrior, a knight turned mercenary, and a hardened one at that, he had fought on both sides of the war between these two powerful countries.&nbsp; In his younger days, his late teens actually, he’d been somewhat idealistic noble, but he had lost his lands to the wars, and other hardships.&nbsp; That had been more then 10 years ago.&nbsp; For a time, he had even served as a knight in the service of the gods, a paladin of sorts, but he had abandoned that when he lost a certain measure of his faith, never finishing his training.&nbsp; The gods were cruel, they cared only for the fates of nations, not men and women.&nbsp; There were times, however, when he wished there was more, that the gods actually did care more, or that he was wrong, moments he was wistful, that he shook off when he could.<br><br>Today, he was in his 30s, a battle hardened veteran, and one of the best warriors on the continent, his skill with weapons was remarkable, for he was not only a warrior, he was a weapon master, there was no weapon that he wasn‘t at least familiar with.&nbsp; He had no magical abilities, other then a resistance to mind control magic’s, as he’d been trained to resist and recognize such magic’s in the church, and the experience to recognize and dodge certain mystical attacks using directed energy, but really, against magic, he had few defenses.&nbsp; <br><br>Physically, he was interesting, being six feet and two inches tall, with long dark hair, reaching just past his shoulders, with a white streak in it, from one strike with a weapon, and a powerful muscular body, though he had a large scar on the right side of his face, above and below the eye, from an attach that had barely missed the eye.&nbsp; &nbsp; His body was actually covered in scars, though he didn’t get as many these days as he used too.&nbsp; He wore articulated plate, plate armor mixed with chain mail at the joints, but it was enchanted, so that it wasn’t quite as heavy as normal, he could move with ease in it.&nbsp; He also had a huge great sword sheathed on his back, a long sword on one hip, a small hatchet and a mace on the other… each of them more useful on one kind of enemy then another.&nbsp; He had once had a horse, with a lance and spear, but had lost it in his last battle, and wasn’t ready to replace an animal that had become a dear friend yet.<br><br>He was just passing through, when he heard the call, and some part of his mind recognized it as a mental scream, though ht didn’t think of it that way.&nbsp; Something about the call reached a part of him that he thought long gone and dead, a part that still cared about people, and how they were treated.. There was an innocence and purity to the cry that seemed almost heartrending.&nbsp; <br><br>Swiftly he ran toward the scream, loosening his weapons as he did, running quickly to the source of the scream, to see two men stripping a woman, in fact, by this time, perhaps they had torn all of her clothing off.&nbsp; She was beautiful, with long silver hair, and a lovely graceful body.&nbsp; How she had ended up here, he couldn’t help but wonder, but he pulled out his great sword and stepped forward.&nbsp; “Excuse me, boys, but it seems that the Lady doesn’t care for your intentions, and I admit, neither do I, so, let her go, and run away, I’ll let you live..&nbsp; Or stay, and die.”&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>His own aura was likely cleaner then theirs, though there was an edge of desire as he looked at her, it was a clear one, not touched with malice or hate, he simply found her attractive and desirable, it wasn’t in him to force her, like they were.&nbsp; There was however, an incredibly weary heart under that aura, one who was tired of the world disappointing him, and who was acting here because he wanted to something good, because he didn’t like what he saw of the two men assaulting her, and nothing more.<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Requiem of Fate [Krule &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Caeli</strong> on <strong>12-05-2008, 12:47:19</strong>
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				Once the bandits were distracted by the newcomer, Siliea leveraged herself off the ground and elbowed the man directly above her in the face. He cried out in pain and let go of her, giving the goddess just enough room to scramble away. Only two scraps of silk still protected her modesty: a band of silk that wrapped around her chest, and a wider band that fell over her hips and upper thighs, seamlessly as only divinely-woven cloth could. However, she showed no sign of maidenly shyness as she ducked underneath the quick grab of the other bandit, summarily blasting him with raw magic pulled from the leftover energy in the lake. Her eyes blazed with righteous anger as the man collapsed on the ground, and her eyes turned to the remaining offender.<br><br>Seeing his friend motionless on the ground, he backed away, almost directly into the sword of the warrior. He screamed in terror and ran into the shadows, leaving Siliea alone with the stranger and the unconscious bandit on the ground.<br><br>She tilted her head to the side, wondering who this man was, to come so quickly to her rescue, in the dead of night. She sensed some measure of weariness in the warrior, but couldn't tell what or why; however, despite his guardedness, Siliea sensed that he was good at heart, and worthy of her gratitude and trust.<br><br>She walked towards him, seemingly unaware of her almost completely unclothed state. She was not as voluptuous as Deiara, the Goddess of Love, but any man with eyes could see the curves of her firm bosom underneath the silk. Her lines were elegant and lithe, rather than curvaceous, her appearance a more feminine version of her brother's lean body. There was a strange detachment in her attitude, for all that she was strangely beautiful, and a peacefulness that was similar to one who had achieved true enlightenment and understanding of the world. She passed under the shadow of some trees, for one second passing out of the moonlight; when she emerged into the silver glow of the moon again, her hair was slightly darker, a light hazel that gave her a more normal, 'mortal' appearance. A gentle smile spread over her lips when she finally stopped in front of the warrior.<br><br>"You have my gratitude for coming to my rescue, warrior. May I have the honor of knowing your name?" She asked softly.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Requiem of Fate [Krule &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Krule</strong> on <strong>12-05-2008, 20:27:32</strong>
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				His attention was first on the other warriors, sense they were the dangerous ones at this moment, but he smiled slightly when the girl elbowed one of them in the face, and his eyes widened slightly when the girl blasted the other man with magic.&nbsp; She was no shrinking violet at least, she appeared to be a mage of some kind, he couldn’t help but wonder how she had been caught.&nbsp; He idly considered cutting down the man who ran, but he did say that he would let them go if they departed, so instead, he sheathed his great sword, and pulled off his gauntlets as the lady he’d rescued approached him.<br><br>She was almost naked, though the small bit of clothing she had left was a bit unusual, he couldn’t see a seam anywhere.&nbsp; Still, she didn’t seem too disturbed by her state of undress, so his eyes lifted to watch her as she approached.&nbsp; She was lovely, there was an elegant beauty about her that drew his gaze as she approached, and if she checked his aura now, she would find attraction and admiration for her beauty.&nbsp; He did think something else&nbsp; about her was a bit strange, a moment before, he could have sworn she had silver in her hair, but perhaps that was just a trick of the moonlight.&nbsp; &nbsp;After all, the goddess Siliea, the Lady of fate was said to be silver-haired, perhaps the goddess was taking a hand in this matter a moment, binding his fate to this beautiful woman’s.<br><br>When she addressed him, requesting his name, he drew on his old and unused courtly and knightly manners, and took her right hand in his, lifting it to his lips for a soft kiss on the back of her hand, and a sweeping bow.&nbsp; “You are welcome, Lady, my name is Aladris, and I was only passing through when I heard your call, I am glad to have arrived in time to make a difference.”&nbsp; For a moment, there was a slight edge of sadness to the last, as he had failed to arrive in time to save his own sister a number of years ago.<br><br>“In any case, Lady, I should point out, traveling a former war zone alone, is not exactly safe.”&nbsp; He paused, and an impulse came over him.&nbsp; “Perhaps I should offer my services, as I am presently unemployed, and a weapon master.&nbsp; I see that you are a mage, but even the greatest of mages need someone to watch their back occasionally.”&nbsp; &nbsp;He didn’t see anything she could offer to purchase his services, but then, appearances could be deceiving, and considering the cost of the silk she was wearing, she must be wealthy.<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Requiem of Fate [Krule &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Caeli</strong> on <strong>14-05-2008, 08:49:13</strong>
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				As she listened to his greeting, Siliea couldn't help smiling. This one was different from most mortals already, in that he still held the mannerisms of old in greeting mages. For all that he didn't know she was a goddess, the respect and deference he gave her was reminiscent of a paladin whom had come under her favor over a century ago.<br><br>"You have my thanks for rescuing me, warrior," she said softly, inclining her head slightly to acknowledge his bow. Siliea had to fight a smile, though, when he informed her that it was unsafe for her to travel through a former war zone. She knew better than anyone how unsafe it was - after all, she had been one of the goddesses who had predicted that the existence of the lost Phoenix Amulets would eventually beget a disaster of a scale larger than any war that had happened in the last few centuries upon Vayulla. Of course, Siliea was also a goddess, which made any danger to her moot - in a situation of true danger, her powers could destroy anybody who sought to inflict harm upon her, or chosen mortals whose existence was imperative to the cycle of Time.<br><br>Then again, it was not as if she could tell him that she was Lady Fate.<br><br>When she withdrew her hand again, the goddess smiled kindly. "I thank you for your concern, but I believe I shall be fine." If everything went well, she would be back in the Realm of the Gods before the night was out. Her inability to return was likely some kind of cosmic disruption, or some disruption in power. "After all, I have nothing with which I can purchase your services, and my magic will serve to keep me safe."<br><br>With a slight bow, Siliea turned to scoop up the silk dress that the bandits had tried to strip from her body. She easily pulled the cloth back around her, where it settled with strange perfection over her hips and around her slim body. Once her dress was twitched into place, Siliea glanced back at Aladris. "I would hate to disturb you from your task, warrior, but having you escort me to my destination. Thus, it would perhaps be best if we both went on our separate ways." That gentle denial aside, Siliea curtsied gracefully and wondered how far she would need to go to find another secluded place with suitably high spiritual energy - at least, enough for her to attempt going home again.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Requiem of Fate [Krule &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Krule</strong> on <strong>14-05-2008, 11:04:38</strong>
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				“Lady… I hesitate to call you a fool, but what just happened could happen again, you know?”&nbsp; And having rescued her, her could hardly allow her to walk off into danger yet again.&nbsp; At the same time, he was a mercenary… or at least he had been, for the first time in years, he was feeling like a knight again, remembering the days when he listened to the teachings on honor and chivalry.&nbsp; “I can not allow you to go into danger, without some form of protection, surely your family would not care for you to wander into danger, as you just did?”&nbsp; She was confident of her safety, and at this point, he was concerned, even a bit dismayed, over confidence was entirely too dangerous, he’d seen more then one person get in trouble because of it.<br><br>“After all, what if you aren’t fine?&nbsp; I’m not sure where your going, or what your purpose is, Lady, but if your going to be that crazy, I’ll at least see you out of this area before I let you go off on your own.. After all, one place is as good as the next for my work.”&nbsp; He found it interesting, and slightly disappointing that she managed to put her clothing back together with so much ease.&nbsp; <br><br>If she took another look at his aura, she would see that he genuinely meant what he said, or at least, that his emotions backed up his words, he was dismayed that she would travel such a dangerous area alone.&nbsp; “I can’t go off and leave such a lovely Lady as yourself in distress after all.”&nbsp; He then paused suddenly, realize that he had given her his name, but he didn’t know hers at all.&nbsp; <br><br>“Excuse me, but, having given you mine, might I have the honor of your name, my Lady?”
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				Title: <strong>Re: Requiem of Fate [Krule &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Caeli</strong> on <strong>14-05-2008, 13:08:01</strong>
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				Siliea paused as she was about to leave, looking back at the warrior. His hair gleamed in the pale, weak light of the moon, which washed out all the color in the world and painted everything in shades of gray. Would it be wise to accept his assistance, since the warrior - <em>Aladris</em>, Siliea told herself - seemed determined to at least see her to a nearby city? To be honest, she sincerely doubted his willingness to simply escort her to another deserted clearing and then leave her there to fend for herself.<br><br><em>Men... they always think women are absolutely helpless.</em> Siliea couldn't ignore the fact that she'd been struggling against her two attackers earlier, but she stubbornly dismissed it as a consequence of her unwillingness to use god's magic against human mortals who posed no real threat to her person. So next time, she wouldn't make the same mistake! It was really that simple.<br><br>Siliea curtsied again when presented with his question. "I am no Lady, noble warrior, but a simple maiden. My name is Siliea," she answered. The true irony was that her pose and tone of reply completely contradicted her statement - Siliea had the quiet demeanor of a confident ruler, and the gentle peace of one with vast wisdom. She held an inborn dignity that came with being a goddess for centuries. And then there was her refined beauty.<br><br>No fool could possibly mistake one of Siliea's mark as a "simple maiden" - but then, what goddess could understand that, from a mortal's point of view?<br><br>She tilted her head to the side, considering silently, before picking up the cloak she had left on the ground earlier, prior to her failed attempts to returning to the divine realm. "If you insist on assisting me, then you may escort me to Kreeshta, where the current peace talks between Morovia and Aladel are being held." Without even waiting for his response, Siliea fastened the shadow-black cloak around her shoulders and began striding in the direction of the nearest traveler's road. She pulled the hood over her magnificent hair, hiding her lovely features beneath the dark cloth, such that only the her boots could be seen underneath the abnormally long cloak. With her features hidden, she almost blended into the shadows created by the moonlight, at once a shadow and a facet of the nighttime world.<br><br>When Aladris was walking by her side again, Siliea glanced over at him, raising her head just enough so she could meet his eyes from underneath her cloak's hood. "Indeed, this region still has yet to see the peace that Lady-Mage Sorayiis seeks to bring to Vayulla. But then, what reason has one such as you to seek out the war-fraught border between Aladel and Morovia, warrior Aladris?"
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				Title: <strong>Re: Requiem of Fate [Krule &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Krule</strong> on <strong>14-05-2008, 13:26:52</strong>
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				He was glad when he saw that that she was actually sensible enough to stop and consider his words, and then to accept his offer of aid, when she thought the matter over.&nbsp; Perhaps she wasn’t quite as mad as she appeared at the first moment, maybe she had been testing him?&nbsp; Mages sometimes did that, in the stories he had read, in his younger days.&nbsp; &nbsp;Of course, he had meant everything he said, he was concerned for her safety along this road, it wasn’t the safest of ways to travel, and he still suspected she was the sort of woman who needed looking after.<br><br>“Simple maiden, that, I doubt, Lady Siliea, but if that‘s all you wish to be known as, Siliea it is.&nbsp; Your parents named for the goddess then?&nbsp; It fits you, you almost seem as though you have her beauty and pose, perhaps you even have a measure of the deep wisdom the goddess of Fat is said to have.&nbsp; In the moonlight, for a moment, you even seemed as though you had her hair.”&nbsp; He had no idea, of course, that the he was speaking to the goddess herself.&nbsp; “Though, I’m afraid I have lost the faith I once had in the gods, Fate can be cruel, I still strive to live with a certain measure of honor and courage.”&nbsp; There was a moment of deep sadness in his aura as he spoke of lost faith, before he continued.<br><br>He moved quickly to catch up to her, as she picked up a cloak that he had yet to see, and pulled it over her shoulders, she almost seemed to melt into the darkness and shadows, and he couldn’t help but think if she had been wearing it earlier, her assailants might not even have seen her.&nbsp; “I am a mercenary, Siliea, though once that wasn’t so, and I am somewhat choosy about who I will serve, a mercenary goes where the work is.”&nbsp; He paused a moment.&nbsp; <br><br>“Even so, I would be glad to see peace in this region, it has seen hard days, I think that there are areas where the ground is littered with centuries of bones, from one battle or another.”&nbsp; He said, once he was fully in step with her, moving along the road beside her.&nbsp; 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Requiem of Fate [Krule &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Caeli</strong> on <strong>15-05-2008, 09:56:14</strong>
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				To his assumptions, she said nothing; let him make of her what he would. After all, she would be long gone from the mortal realm, at the first chance; from the looks of things, it might have to wait until she could lose him in Kreeshta somewhere. For all that she was determined to keep their interaction to a minimum, though, Siliea couldn't let his comment pass without a remark in the gods' defense. That was no surprise to her, at least - after all, she <em>was</em> the Goddess of Fate.<br><br>She organized her thoughts in the night's relative silence, content with listening to the sound of crickets as they buzzed, the signal of early summer's arrival. However, Siliea noticed little beyond the pale glow of the moonlight - the world of the gods held gardens and forests that were much richer than anything that could be found in Vayulla, with flowers that bloomed in quiet perfection, and without the bloody reminder of war staining its beauty. Though Siliea could see the beauty of the mortal realm, its comparison to the divine realm would be akin to a drop of water compared to a roaring waterfall.<br><br>"If men were perfect, then would there be a need for gods?" Siliea tilted her head back as they walked, staring up at the stars. "I don't believe that the Fates choose to dispense happiness or unhappiness; the destinies of men are determined by their own actions, after all. For many, Fate is but an excuse. I think it is only for a chosen few that have their lives altered by the bonds of destiny, by the bequests of gods."<br><br>Siliea couldn't help but chuckle. It was quite strange to hear herself describing the very nature of her existence to a mortal. "But then, what would we know? The actions and reasonings of the gods are fathomable to the likes of mortals. There may yet be some hidden truths that men could not hope to know, that determines their lives."
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				Title: <strong>Re: Requiem of Fate [Krule &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Krule</strong> on <strong>15-05-2008, 10:54:06</strong>
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				He listened to her words, and was slightly irritated by her chuckle, considering what he had experienced, and why he felt that way about matters.&nbsp; Of course, to him, she was only a mortal, like everyone else,&nbsp; he had no idea he was actually speaking to the goddess of Fate herself.<br><br>“Well, it wasn’t any action of theirs that had my parents killed, and my sisters tortured and gang raped, and our estate burned to the ground, so many years ago, they didn’t do anything to deserve that.&nbsp; &nbsp;And all this, while I was training to take up the path of the paladin.&nbsp; I want to trust the gods, but I can’t, no matter what the reason for even permitting that, I can’t have faith in deities who allow such evil to occur, even for the best of reasons.&nbsp; I have sense taken work as a mercenary, and sent a good sum back to my sisters, to restore what they can.”&nbsp; His aura was filled with both sadness, anger and frustration, as he responded to Siliea’s words, a bit like she had bitten him.&nbsp; He actually hadn’t seen his sisters in years, and in part, one thing that he couldn’t forgive himself for, was that he wasn’t there to defend them.<br><br>“And if they were unable to act, then what good are they?&nbsp; I know that men aren’t perfect, but there are times when I don’t think there is any need for the gods.”&nbsp; He paused a moment.&nbsp; “I would have sworn myself to the Gods of Fate, Soren and Siliea, who at least have some care for mortals, had I finished my training.”&nbsp; He sighed, for a moment somewhat wistful.&nbsp; <br><br>“But no matter, you are entitled to your view, and perhaps you are even correct.. But I don’t think I can ever give a deity much faith anymore..&nbsp; Not even if they were to appear to me directly, I can’t think of any I would be willing to serve, anymore.”&nbsp; He continued to walk beside her down the road.&nbsp; “Though I do continue to hold myself to the code I was taught in my youth, though not as perfectly as I might like.”
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				Title: <strong>Re: Requiem of Fate [Krule &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Caeli</strong> on <strong>26-05-2008, 21:08:53</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"But do you think a utopia could even exist?" Siliea said quietly, lifting her skirt slightly as she stepped over an errant tree branch in her path. "A world without evil, a world without violence, a world without darkness and shadows? I do not doubt that what befell your family was terrible, a hand dealt by fate that is cruel and undeserving. But do you not think that it is unfair to ask even the gods for the impossible?" The young goddess tilted her head back to look up at the moon, even her gaze a silent reverence to the glowing shape and the divinities that it represented.<br><br>"You ask for gods that are perfect, and yet pledge loyalty to none when imperfect gods are given to you. Of course, people would have no comprehension of why things happen, or for what reason - but would it really be too difficult to believe that any such reasons for evil and cruelty might be beyond human understanding?" The goddess glanced over at Aladris as she said this, but her tone was gentle, not at all patronizing or argumentative. She did nod when he explained his views, her eyes sad as she imagined how he must have felt.<br><br>"You are not wrong, though. Sometimes, it does feel as if the gods can do little more than watch over the world and allow events to happen."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Requiem of Fate [Krule &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Krule</strong> on <strong>27-05-2008, 08:16:55</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Well... that is a new answer, most of those who I have spoken to had other things to say, like trust in the gods, or that pain and suffering have a purpose in life, or that evil happens to good people and it's part of the nature of life."&nbsp; He paused a moment, before continuing.&nbsp; "However, I ask you, if the gods are imperfect, how are they anything more then extremely powerful beings, why should I give them my worship or allegiance?&nbsp; If they can not protect those who are blameless, what good are they as gods?"&nbsp; He paused again, wondering at what reply she would have to that statement.<br><br>"If even the gods of fate can not control fate, then why should I pledge my loyalty to them, Lady?"&nbsp; It was another way of asking the same question, but he felt it was a way to emphasize his meaning.&nbsp; "I have served a number of different agenda's after I became a mercenary, and I send a portion back to my estate and sisters, to rebuild our lands..&nbsp; All one can do in this world, as far as I can see, is look after their own."<br><br>Of course, his actions had proved that he wanted to take on more, that injustice and harm to those who were innocent was not something he cared for at all, as he had run to her rescue.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Requiem of Fate [Krule &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Caeli</strong> on <strong>03-06-2008, 06:55:38</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"They are hard questions to answer," Siliea finally admitted. She had no satisfactory answer for him - how would he answer, if he knew that she, as the goddess of Fate, chosen between the suffering of some, in order to guide the destinies of many? That the sacrifice of one meant a better life for more than a few, was not an argument that many mortals took or understood well.<br><br>"You are, correct, of course... all one can do is to take control of your own life, and to follow the path in which you believe." And after that, Siliea remained silent, a dark shadow that traveled alongside the wordly mercenary. Every once in a while she stretched her magic around her, to see if there was some way she could free herself and return home... but there was no reaction. Her path home seemed blocked to her, and it didn't seem as if she could communicate with Soren or the other gods at all.<br><br><em>What am I to do...</em><br><br>After a good hour and more of walking, Siliea finally spotted the city she had left earlier that night in the distance, and wondered, briefly, if the young water mage who had forever changed Vayulla would be able to help. But as soon as the idea came to mind, she dismissed the idea - the young woman was a mage, but her powers were her own. If she'd had any powers that could have broken through the block against Siliea, she would have well been a goddess herself.<br><br>"Where are we to pass the night, honored warrior?" Siliea asked softly, as they approached the city gates.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Requiem of Fate [Krule &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Krule</strong> on <strong>06-06-2008, 21:02:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He let the conversation lapse there, it had more or less been covered to the point that he was comfortable with, even somewhat, to a point that he wasn’t comfortable with.&nbsp; The silence actually pleased him, as they moved further along the road to the city, and he let his mind drift a bit, to think about his family and his once lost faith.&nbsp; It was a bit of a nostalgic feeling actually, on the edge of sorrow, but not quite there, he missed some things about who he used to be.<br><br>Eventually, they city appeared, and she asked him a question, one that he considered a moment, then offered her his hand, in a almost courtly manner.&nbsp; “A inn, I think.. Though considering how busy things are, I expect it may be a touch hard to find an inn with a single room available, let alone two.”&nbsp; His main reason behind offering her his hand, is that no one would be likely to mess with her, with a protector who appeared as dangerous as he did.<br><br>Of course, she might be fine just walking with him, and he would continue forward even if she didn’t accept his hand, though he sort of wished she would.&nbsp; There was a inn or two along the back roads he knew about that he thought they should try, a better chance of finding something suitable along that direction.&nbsp; “There’s a place a I know, called the ‘Golden Mug’ that’s both a bar and a inn.. A bit out of the way, but they should have a room.”
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Requiem of Fate [Krule &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Caeli</strong> on <strong>21-06-2008, 10:31:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Siliea nodded, but pretended not to notice his offered arm - she had no idea if he had any hidden senses that might hint to her divine powers, but it was better not to take any chances, especially since he already seemed overly protective of her. "The Golden Mug will be an acceptable resting place for the night. If I remember correctly, their fare and drink is better than most in its neighborhood," she commented, revealing that it was not her first time in Kreeshta. She was content to let silence fall around them, listening as the nocturnal sounds of the natural world faded, and the sound of the city that never slept became louder. Eventually, they made their way past the city gates; when the mercenary turned his back to speak with the other guard, Siliea slipped a tiny spell of forgetfulness into her guard's mind, netting herself untroubled passage and a guarantee that he would not remember her come morning. <br><br>Though the streets of Kreeshta were hardly empty (as many cities would be), there were few people who wandered the lantern-lit main road, paved smooth with stone. The night was just reaching its pinnacle - the moon was at its peak, and some night performers and traders still wandered the streets. Occasionally, Siliea and Aladris would pass a pair of guards making their nighttime patrols. Siliea noted that the amount of guards had increased since her last visit, as had the presence of Aladellan and Morovian nights. Normally she would have found the change alarming, but the atmosphere in the city was one of relief, not tension...<br><br>Clearly, peace would come yet, for Vayulla.<br><br>Siliea smiled when the Golden Mug came into sight, and she turned to her companion. "Do you insist on escorting me inside, warrior?" She asked, her smile wry. "Despite the circumstances under which you found me, I am quite capable of seeing myself into an inn. I am hardly some helpless maiden in need of rescuing," she said with a soft chuckle.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Requiem of Fate [Krule &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Krule</strong> on <strong>22-06-2008, 02:07:41</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He was slightly disappointed by the fact that she didn’t take his arm.. And then shook his head.&nbsp; “You may be correct, but regardless, I am afraid I must insist on being your escort, and protector, at least until you are returned to your kin, or at least another protector, one who can guard you physically while you bring your magic to bear.”&nbsp; He found those words escaping his lips, before he could help himself, and inwardly he was warring with himself.&nbsp; What was he thinking, he was well off, a very capable mercenary, and she wasn’t offering to pay him anything.<br><br>However, it seemed that old core of honor, the one he had pushed down for so many years, was rising yet again, and he continued to speak.&nbsp; Something about her simply made him feel protective of her, and when he thought her wandering alone, though the streets, or the wilderness, his every being rebelled against the idea.&nbsp; “My honor requires it, I can not allow you to wander unprotected, at least, until you return home.. Lady Silea”&nbsp; She had said he didn’t need to call her lady, but this time, he deliberately to, in order to emphasize his point.<br><br>Of course, she would be able to detect some of his feeling if she read his aura, that he was determined to hold to this course, though he was warring with himself some.&nbsp; “Now, let’s see what the innkeeper has available.”&nbsp; He reached out and opened the door to the inn, and waved her in before him, holding the door and waiting for her to act, quite continent to hold the door, until she entered.&nbsp; He would follow her to the front desk, in a manner of an escort, whether she liked it or not.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Requiem of Fate [Krule &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Caeli</strong> on <strong>06-08-2008, 17:53:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Siliea almost ground her teeth in frustration, when he insisted on accompanying her - not that she was ungrateful, but it was probably the most unwelcome bit of aid she had received in a long time! She had nothing against honor, nor against those who held that value in high esteem... but this was one of those times when she wished that she'd had Soren with her. She looked ethereal and delicate, but those qualities in Soren were transformed to masculine grace and subtle power. Normally, if they appeared to mortals, he was dressed in a manner suggesting that he was her protector, armed with a gods-blessed sword, double vambraces, and daggers; most who might think to attack Siliea thought twice about it upon seeing him.<br><br>The goddess tried not to sigh or make her dislike open, but her resignation was hardly given ungrudging. She swept past Aladris silently, entering the inn and approaching the front desk. Upon hearing the sound of the door, the clerk glanced up quickly, reaching for his books. The young man (probably the son of the owner) nearly fell out of his chair when he glimpsed Siliea's face, still hooded, and saw her hazel eyes, flecked with golden hues that seemed otherworldly.<br><br>"Ah... good evening, miss. M'lord. How is it I can help you tonight?" He asked quickly, eyes darting from mercenary to the beautiful young woman, and wondering what their relationship was. He might have thought them lovers... if the mercenary didn't look so emotionless and stiff, and the lady didn't have such a blank expression on her peerless face. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Requiem of Fate [Krule &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Krule</strong> on <strong>06-09-2008, 00:55:11</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He could tell she was upset, but better that then get herself in trouble again, in his opinion at least.&nbsp; The woman had entirely too much trust in destiny and magic, in his opinion, but then, she also had quite a bit of faith, at least, that was his thought.&nbsp; &nbsp;He was relieved, however that she finally gave into his insistence, he thought he might have had to keep the matter.&nbsp; Such a lovely woman, sorceress or mage, shouldn’t be out adventuring without some sort of protector, he had to wonder what her family was thinking.<br><br>“We need a room, two if possible, adjacent, one for myself and one for the lady.&nbsp; If not, a single room, with a partition of some kind will do.”&nbsp; That more or less answered the question about them being lovers, if they were, the man wouldn’t have suggested separate rooms.. However, at the moment, there were no adjacent rooms, as so the young man replied.&nbsp; Of course, by calling her a lady, the suggestion to the young man was that she was possibly a noble, and the mercenary was her guard, which would make more sense.<br><br>“We don’t have any rooms that close together, but we do have a large room, upstairs, that can be partitions with some screens..&nbsp; Would the lady like us to send up a bath as well?&nbsp; One of the servants can heat the water, and bring in one our bathing tubs, and we can also provide soap and anything else you might need.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Requiem of Fate [Krule &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Caeli</strong> on <strong>08-09-2008, 08:46:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Siliea wanted to shoot her 'rescuer' a withering glare, but she sniffed and managed to keep her composure. A single room... how fitting. There was no way she would be able to escape, with some mercenary 'guarding' her from danger. How was she to get in contact with Soren now?<br><br>"A bath will not be necessary. Please show us to our rooms," she said quietly.<br><br>They were led up three flights of stairs, Siliea's footsteps strangely silent even though the servant walking in front of her stepped on more than one creaky or noisy footboard along the stairwell. The banister was worn, but it seemed very stable and solid; though the rooms were hardly soundproof, Siliea could tell that the inn itself was well-maintained, and at the least, she wouldn't have to worry about bandits or some rogue breaking into her room. If she had been some normal, mortal damsel in distress, that likely would have been the only thing she would have been worried about.<br><br>Off course, she was no mortal woman, so it was certain not an issue she was even remotely concerned with.<br><br>Once at their room, Siliea dismissed the servant with a wave of her hand. When the door shut, she turned to her erstwhile protector, eyes flat. "Was this really necessary?" She asked neutrally, not even a drop of emotion in her voice.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Requiem of Fate [Krule &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Krule</strong> on <strong>08-09-2008, 19:48:01</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He looked at her for a long moment, trying to figure out why she was so... hostile now, the he rolled his eyes.&nbsp; "Surely, you can't believe a man with any honor.. and I still have some measure of honor, would allow you to wander around unprotected, especially concidering what I rescued you from."&nbsp; He ran a hand though his hair, and then shrugged, what could he do, if she was bound and determined to be difficult, he could be difficult just as easily.&nbsp; <br><br>"As to the room, while you don't want a bath, I could use one, and a shave too for that matter, and getting out of my armor would be good too"&nbsp; He called for a servant, and made his request, for them to heat up a the water, and bring a bathing tub.&nbsp; He then pulled out a sharp razor, and a checked the room, then shook his head slightly, chosing a spot, he began to take off his armor, and outer clothing.&nbsp; He did concider the matter a moment, then shrugged to himself, she could watch or not, he didn't particularly care... after as many years he'd had as a mercenary, it wasn't like modesty was all that important to him.&nbsp; <br><br>Using a basin, and when they brought the tub, and some water, a wash basin, and a polished silver mirror, he began to shave the stubble from his chin.&nbsp; That done, and the tub filled, he made sure the door was locked from the inside, set his sword, sheathed and all, where he could reach it easily from the tub, and then he began to strip off the rest of his clothing, if she watched, she would note that he was muscular, well-built, and covered in dozens of scars all over his body, and indication of a hard life, filled with a great deal of combat, and a few close shaves.&nbsp; He hadn't been paying much attention to her though, other then keeping a slight eye on her, and now he glanced over at her, to see what she was doing, as he climbed into the bath, and got the soap they brought, began to wash.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Requiem of Fate [Krule &amp; Caeli]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Caeli</strong> on <strong>14-09-2008, 11:36:03</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She waited for the servant to leave before she spoke again, listening to his comments about what he thought her thoughts were... on him. Surely, he didn't believe... well, obviously he thought that her annoyance was directed at him. Why he thought she was annoyed or irritated to begin with, she hadn't a clue. Probably more of that ridiculous male arrogance.<br><br>Siliea watched him with shame, her eyes appreciating his strong, built form. It was nothing she had not seen before - Titus made a spectacular leader of the Divine Council and was one of the finest specimens of gods, and though he wasn't the strongest of the wide panoply of gods that watched over Vayulla (Chaos, undoubtedly, would have to take the crown for that particular attribute), the God of Order was certainly no one to scoff at. But then, they were gods, the epitome of bodily perfection in one way or another.<br><br>As he began shaving, she voiced her thoughts. "I did not say that you were a man with no honor... though as I'm sure you know, I am weary of your rather irritating sense of chivalry." It would have been much easier had some fool bumbled in upon that scene with those two idiot mortals. At least then, she would have had no compunction using her magic on them. She swallowed nervously, then - her magic had seemed to flux several times as they walked here, and Siliea had to wonder if this was happening due to some strange, cosmic interference. Some strange alignment in the stars, or in the sun, perhaps...<br><br>"However, seeing as you'll not leave me..." She paused as he began stripping down to his skin. Siliea didn't note his fine body (though it was that - not comparable with Titus or even Soren, the least overtly masculine deity in the Divine Council) and did not react at his nakedness, though she did frown when her eyes traced the white scars that traced over tanned skin. "How did you get so many scars, fair warrior?" She finally asked softly, seating herself resignedly on the bed.
			</dd>
		</dl>
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