ᴏᴏ1 ( ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏ ) | ᴛʀᴀᴠᴇʟs ғᴀʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡɪᴅᴇ.

[kathashun]

[ a few hours after the circle arrives back in the temple, a network ping sounds. Most of the time this happens, it is astoria… but this time around, it is the same strange young man you all found passed out in the center of the temple of beginnings. He looks impossibly exhausted, but his eyes are bright and alert. ]

I apologize, for not being able to speak to you immediately, I . . . my abilities are very draining, and it takes some time, to regain consciousness after I use them -- I am fine, but . . . at any rate, I have been looking for all of you.

[ it seems like a nice place to start. But the young man draws a deep breath, letting it out slowly. ]

My name is Kathashun, and I am… where I come from does not matter. It is irrelevant. But I have been traveling through the Rift to find all of you, to try and stop what has been happening, and . . . now that I am here, I am not entirely sure what to say.

[ at least he’s honest? ]

I can try to explain, but first, I have questions, for all of you. How long have you been here? Where is this witch, Astoria? And --

[ he pauses, before pursing his lips together. ]

-- is someone named Jalin, here?

Comments

[hackedhistory]

"Where is Astoria" is a question we're all asking right now.

[Because, you know, she's gone.]

My name's Zari. I've been part of the Circle for a year. I haven't met anyone named Jalin. I also don't think that where you're from doesn't matter. It might be information that will better help us figure out what went wrong.

[kathashun]

[ the words a year causes his brow to furrow, and he opens his mouth... but seems to reconsider what he wants to say, and instead takes the half a moment's pause to think before responding. ]

I come from a land known as El Minha. Your Circle visited it, some time ago.

[ evenly enough. ]

I was their king. But the city has long since fallen, and I have been searching for the Circle ever since.

[hackedhistory]

That must have been before my time. We bounce around a lot and sometimes it makes it hard to figure out how long it is for other people.

[Kind of like time travel! It doesn't seem to bother Zari much, probably because she's used to it.]

Well, you found us.

[She swallows hard. She wasn't at the glow, so she doesn't have a whole lot of information when it comes to what happened.]

We were in Joikull, and we were helping the people there and then ... something happened. I'm not entirely sure what, but suddenly we were yanked back here.

[kathashun]

So I have gathered. I have been tracking you for some time. I lost track of you all in Struxta... I have been unable to catch you, since.

[ still. zari seems to be kind, and so kathashun is a bit more wiling to engage in proper conversation. ]

I have the ability to travel through the planes of reality. And after the Circle left El Minha, the city fell. I and my -- the man I am looking for, Jalin, we escaped when I stepped through the planes of reality. And I have been attempting to find you ever since.

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[moneytwin]

Oh, but where you come from is entirely relevant.

[ Her tone is sharp, and not entirely friendly; Kathashun has (apparently) become today's target for her mood in the wake of returning. ]

I fail to see why any of us should share anything with you when your presence here looks entirely suspect. We arrive back here only to find you staggering out of the ruins of what was 'home'.

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[kathashun]

[ it appears, for half a moment, that kathashun is ready to return that sharp tone, with an equally frustrated manner. his eyes narrow, and his shoulders draw back, and . . . then his shoulders droop, deflating slightly. ]

Of course.

[ quietly enough. ]

I apologize, you are correct. I should not have demanded something without giving something in return. But I can assure you what happened here was not my doing. It was . . .

[ and he pauses, before he continues, a bit lamely. ]

It was like this when I got here.

[ he knows how incredibly stupid that sounds, but it is true. or, at least, it appears to be. ]

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[moneytwin]

So you say.

[ She doesn't appear to be giving him credit for admitting the corrected position in this conversation, but her eyes are bright - if wary. Ever has she been good at reading people, a strong insight into others. How soon she'll believe him, if at all, remains to be seen. ]

I don't know you. But I remember your face, and your name. You left the Circle a message on Akvos.

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[kathashun]

[ yeah, well. kathashun hadn't expected the whole "it was broken when i got here" thing to work, so he doesn't take that personally. but at the next part, kathashun nods, wrapping his cloak (or robe? it's hard to tell, really, from the camera angle) a bit closer around him. ]

I did. I had hoped you would receive it, by the time I had to leave... the Princess, there, was lovely. But the people there did not take kindly to my presence, and so I had to leave before I disrupted the order any further than I already had by arriving.

[ he tilts his head slightly, his eyes curious. ]

Did you save it? Akvos?

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[dadandgone]

[Maes' jovial nature is currently replaced by a rather serious one. Not that Kathashun would KNOW that about Maes, El Minha was before his time. He'd gotten careless and lax about life at the temple and now they were in more dire straits than ever before. Before replying Maes takes a seat on some of the rubble, brushing his hair back and deciding this means he can take a break.]

Okay, Kathashun, it sounds like we have a lot to talk about. I'll answer your questions first, but I expect the same in return. I'm Maes Hughes and I've been with the Circle a little over a year now. Of course, if you mean present at the Temple since our last visit to another world...well it's only been a few hours and it looks like while we were gone something major happened. There hasn't been any sign of Astoria since we came back and I'm not familiar with the name Jalin.

[There's a beat and he nods his head. He's answered your preliminary questions, now it is his turn.]

Why were you looking for us and was it your ability that has something to do with all of this?

[He gestures around him. There is a slight edge to his voice, but it's hard to tell if it's just exhaustion or irritation.]

And what's been happening exactly? It sounds like you had a reason for being here, so why not start with that?

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[kathashun]

[ kathashun seems to take all the information in quickly and readily, and once maes is finished speaking, kathashun seems ready to do the same. ]

The Circle visited my home, El Minha, and helped me remain in power. I was their King, and . . . it is a long story, but I remained in power, thanks to your... or, their, assistance. But when the Circle left, the city fell, and an attempt was made on my life. I fled, with Jalin, and . . .

[ he stops, there, before he swallows, and clears his throat. ]

I have the ability to travel through the planes of existence. I was born with magic, a connection to the goddess. And -- I do not know what happened here, but it was like this when I got here. I arrived shortly before you all did... I thought I was alone, but when you all arrived, I --

[ passed out. ]

My ability to step through the planes drains me significantly. I am sorry that I was not able to speak with you sooner, but I required rest.

[ he still does, judging from how tired he looks, but kathahsun seems driven, and honest. he wanted to be able to speak, and so he's forced himself to do so. ]

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[dadandgone]

[He considers this. He wants to ask more, but he supposes like most things it is in the past now...it would be like asking about his own world.]

I've gotten the gist of it before from some friends of mine. Though I didn't realize you had a connection to our hostess. [beat. Former hostess?] I'm sorry about your city though.

[He seems thoughtful for a moment and then adds.]

Is that how you reached Akvos then? We received a message from you when we were there.

[Maes can't tell if it's true or not, but the fact that Akvos fell shortly after that message and now the Temple was in ruins with his arrival made him uneasy.]

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[kathashun]

Oh --

[ and there is a quick shake of his head, and a raising of his hand. ]

My power comes from my goddess Thaamira, not whatever witch imprisoned you all here. Thaamira.... it is a long story, full of lore and ancient history, but I come from a bloodline of Chosen. It is how I became King of El Minha, like my fathers before me.

[ spoilers: kathashun Did Not Want This (tm). ]

But you are correct in that my my powers, the Blessing, are how I reached Akvos. And other worlds, too... I was attempting to find you all, to let you know word of my fate, but I discovered a larger problem, as I did so. Jalin and I have been attempting to find you all for what feels like an age.

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[invasif]

[ She peers closely. Her blue eyes are always deep with sorrow, but now there is also something hungry and piercing in them. ]

King Kathashun. There was some hope that we might see you again.

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[kathashun]

[ . . . someone who recognizes him, but he doesn't recognize her. he did leave a message, in akvos, but . . . ]

There is no need to call me King.

[ he says that first; el minha is gone, and kathashun has long since abandoned that life. ]

Kathashun is more than appropriate, for here. What is your name?

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[invasif]

As you say, I expect no one call me Queen in a realm not my own.

[ Also you were ousted, Ilde. ]

I am Lady Ilde. Your magicks do not disappoint what was suggested to me.

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[kathashun]

[ the lady causes his eyebrows to arch just a bit, but kathashun carries himself as someone who regularly exchanges talks with royalty, and so he doesn't comment on it. instead: ]

The pleasure is mine, Lady Ilde.

[ whatever floats your boat, ma'am. ]

And I am not sure what you were told of me, or my powers, but I will try not to disappoint.

[rougerebelle]

[Carmen offers a slight smile, though it's not much of one. Much like everyone else she's...dealing with some things. But she's always been pretty good about hiding her true feelings.]

Glad to see you back on your feet, I'd say it's nice to see a new face but...all things considered maybe not so much.

Are you sure you were looking for us though and not Astoria? It's not like we have much control around here. Besides we just got back and I don't think any of us much understand what's going on.

[She pauses and then asks.]

So what's been happening?

[kathashun]

I have had worse days.

[ evenly enough, but it's pretty clear that kathashun is (1) exhausted and (2) somewhat nervous, speaking in front of all of these strange people in the midst of an apocalyptic nightmare. but he carries himself well, regardless. he's used to speaking to a bunch of people who probably hate him. it's called politics. ]

And I was searching for the group of people known as the Circle, which is organized by the witch, Astoria. I never met Astoria, in El Minha, only the kind people who saved my life. I trusted their guidance, not a vague idea that I had never met.

[ and kathashun pauses, before his shoulders drop a little. ]

And I was hoping the rest of you could tell me what happened here, but it appears we are both unlucky.

[rougerebelle]

[She nods.]

They're a pretty good group from what I've experienced so far. So that's understandable. What'd you want with the Circle then?

[It's a little more reassuring that he was looking for the Circle and not necessarily Astoria, but she's not sure how much they can help with being stuck here.]

I can only tell you about some of the stuff going on before we left and then what we experienced while in Joikull...but what happened here? Your guess is as good as mine...

[kathashun]

I wanted to gain a better understanding of what they were doing. I was not afforded such an opportunity in El Minha, as I was dealing with . . . my own personal difficulties.

[ to put a word for it. ]

But it seems that I have arrived too late to speak to the direct source of the Circle... so perhaps we may work together, to come to a solution on how to proceed.

[brodakota]

The same rift that was in Akvos and Joikull? I guess it didn't work for reliable communication.

Can't say I've met anyone by that name though. Or where Astoria is.

[kathashun]

Something similar, yes. I step through the planes of existence and close the gap behind me, when I do so. But there are Rifts throughout the universe that are left open, which... well.

[ you've seen what happens there, so he gathered. ]

And thank you, for the information. Has she ever been absent from this world before?

[ he won't comment on jalin not being here, yet. ]

[brodakota]

Yeah. That's a normal occurrence? The rifts being left open? Or is someone not closing the door behind them?

[Because one of those is a bigger problem than the other he figures.]

Not to my knowledge...but I haven't been here the whole time.

[kathashun]

The rifts should not be open at all, ideally.

[ tiredly; he knows he is a hypocrite, but -- ]

But closing them is necessary, else they are... like never-ending mouths, eager to feast. Controlling that amount of energy is hard to do.

[clickclickbloom]

Explanations would be good. I'd like that.

We could trade answer for answer if you'd like?

I'll go first to just keep the game fair. I got here maybe four-ish months ago?