~~~IC~~~

This is your homeworld, my loard?

Yes.

Tell, me. What was it like to have a family? I have only known the priests of the monastary.

::chuckles:: There are many good things about having a family... being part of a family. ::shrugs:: And then there are the expectations. Many expectations.

Expectations. Yes, I know this. My teachers expect much from me.

Well, then you must know that sometimes these expectations are a little, eh, too much?

No, they has spent years training me and I am to pass this knowledge on to others. If I fail, then knowledge may be lost.

Well, with nobility it is not knowledge being passed on that is the expectation. We Hazat, we have no more lands to conquer in the Known Worlds. So now we fight the Kurgans hoping to incorporate those lands into our own. Land is power, or so they say. ::shrugs::

So, youe feel that land is the object of self worth?

Oh, Pancreator, no. No. Living. That is what is important.

Living in this temporal existance?

Temporal. Yes. Life passes so quickly.

What if you spend your life building up something that in the end really doesn't matter.

The flesh is merly the temple of the soul. and the Worlds are forever in the Pancrator. Surely, there is more than this? What of the next life?

Does it not relate to what we make of this one?

What we do in this life, is reflective of how we polish the mirror of the soul to reflect the light of the pancreator.

Ah, yes. Straight out of the catechism.

Thus allowing us to transend closer to the realm of the Pancreator. I do not always agree with this statement.

Yes, yes. But what if we spend all our life in contemplation, or in abstainance, or building

I feel that we can posses the holy spark within each and everyone of us

up power and in the end we only feel empty. Found we've worked so hard we forgot to live... If the Pancreator gave us life, should we not be grateful and live it to the fullest?

But, not to excess.

Excess? Excess in what?

Excess in anything and all things. Like too much drink. Too much food.

Ha. You misunderstand my meaning then.

These are bad, weakening the body and thus the soul.

I mean the things that restrict us from living. Power. Wealth. Noble duty. Imagine being a part of the family where you make no choices. Everything is determined for you. Where you will study. what you will eat. Where you will fight. Who you will marry.

Yes, this was the way of life in the monastary. But also you are told when to pary, to sleep,

Have you ever wondered that you may be living someone else's life?

No, I am living the life layed before me by the Pancreator.

You came with us because you had a vision, yes?

Yes, the Pancreator sent me a vison. He showed me the path

But what if you monastery's abbot forbid you to follow that path? What if he said the Pancreator had a "greater plan" for your life?

How could he oppose the will of the Pancreator?

::you wend your way down the central avenues of the city while you talk::

The Pancreator spoke to me. Not to him.

He is the abbot. Should he not know the Pancreator's will more than a mere acolyte should?

::tien gets a strange feeling but cant quite place it::

Yes, but he would know that the ... ::Looks around::...The Pancrator spoke to me...

::the crowd presses in about you::

::Stops walking::

What if he says he doesn't care. That the Pancreator's will for him includes a will for you. Is he not your spiritual authority?

::Looks around:: Where are we?

Would you break that to follow your own vision?

::you are nearing the upper-class area of the city, which has as yet no name...

::looks around:: On Aragon. Why do you ask?

I would have to stop and meditate on the matter.

the spaceport was close enough that you decided to walk while the others went ahead by shuttle::

SOmething is strange. I do not know what.

Stop here? ::looks around::

::Examines the surrounding buildings and people::

::rubs the hilt of his rapier with his thumb::

::nope, nothing at all out of the ordinary::

No, my lordship. I would have to retunr to the meditation chambers of the Monastarty and seek guidence.

Now you begin to see the dilemma. Do you live your life or the life someone else has set for you?

You must quest for your own fate, as the prophet said... "Seek ye unto the stars."

Hear, hear, my clerical friend.

Have we passed this way before?

This area... was... not built the last time I was on Aragon.

::nope, you've been going basically straight, Ric has been here many times before you've never seen it before::

::yes, it's the main road that leads to the Hazat manors in this city::

:: walks over to a spot where he can stand on something to see higher::

::an electric lamp post offers itself::

::Steps up onto the edge of the lamp. Looks around the street::

I do not see anything out of the ordinary. Perhaps I was confused.

Indeed. Let's continue on then.

::Dismounts lamp and falls in beside the lord. Are we going to see your father?

::chuckles nervously:: uh, yes, I'm afraid we are.

How should I address him?

Simply, my lord, or, my lord the Baron.

Is he a religious man?

Yes. he is very ... orthodox.

Good, and you follow in his footsteps?

Do I believe in the Pancreator and Holy Church? Of course. Do I believe in my father's path that he has chosen for me? There I waver.

::the crowd begins to thin as people reach their destinations::

Tell me, what has your journeies amoung the stars taught you?

::as you meander close to the side of the street you notice an old woman in a worn shawl::

::she turns to face you, one eye completely white, the other a dark deep brown::

::Smiles. Sign of the jumpgate cross::

Ha ha ha ha. I'm afraid I cannot tell you... ::signs the cross::

Many dangers surround you, scion of Hazat, will you hear your fortune?

::opens mouth but looks at Tien uncertainly::

Speak , southsayer.

come within, and I will soothsay for you both for only a wing

Could the Pancreator speak through such a vessel, Tien?

How is it sister that you can see the future?

It has long been the gift of my family, some say my many-times great grandmother was blessed by the Prophet

Remember the scorned woman?

Maya?

She could be a messanger of the Pancreator, my lord

Very well. Speak truthfully and plainly woman and you shall have a full bird.

::she nods and moves away from the street towards a small dark apartment::

Let us take a look and see if she truly is blessed or a worker of darkness

::follows the woman::

::Follows my lord::

::you enter the building and are taken off guard by a flash of flame::

::it coalesces into a matchstick as she lights a half-melted taper on top of a small circular table, surrounded by three stools::

::Disciplined Mantas Stance::

::cue the eerie music::

::otherwise, the room seems bare, but the sides are hidden by shadow::

::she sits on the far stool and gestures for you each to take one::

::Ric sits with a flourish of his cape::

::Relaxes and moves to a chair::

A great distance have you traveled... but your road is not yet even begun... Give me your palms ::she holds her hands palm upward::

::Looks at Richardo::

::looks uncertainly at Tien but does offer his hand::

::Extends hand::

::she takes them both firmly for one of her age, and bows her head, thankfully closing that horrid white eye that was giving you the creeps::

::you hear a mutter under her breath that sounds like a mantra or a prayer, and the candle flame flicks in time::

Young priest, you are seeking a purpose in your life... a meaning for you set by the light of the Pancreator... But the Pancreator favors those whose identities are their own, and true revelation is given only to those who act themselves instead of wait to be acted upon... Young Hazat, you suffer the opposite problem...

::holds breath::

You try so hard to prove your own identity that you cast off those who will support and aid you... You seek life and happiness, throwing off the ideals of your father and his father before him... but these ideals have been proven through time... and your route is the harder of the paths. You seek many women with which to dally, but within you know that happiness will only come when you choose one with whom to share your life... But you are like your house even in this... When a person does not do what you wish, you seek to punish her and keep others from the happiness that they could have... you must rethink your strategy before you lose the ultimate game...she looks up and stares at you both::

Darkness surrounds your future, only by being sure of yourselves can you hope to help others ::she releases your hands and settles back onto her stool::

You speak truthfully, sister. I will remember your words

Ahem, well, yes. Here's your firebird. we must go now.

::Standing:: what is your name sister, that I may commend your name to the Pancreator?

::her arm glides in and takes the coin::

::following Tien's lead, stands up::

Names are unimportant, you may call me whatever you wish ::at this she blows out the candle and darkness covers the room::

Very well sister. ::Sign o fthe jumpgate cross:: May the Pancrator bless you and keep you from harm. ::Uses staff to find doorway::

Um, Brother Tien? Where is the exit? I cannot see a blasted thing.

::the room is tiny::

##Passion+Focus = 2##::Will not use this rite, feels for door::

::Staff: Poke, poke::

Who's there?

::you remember that the door was directly behind you::

Sorry my lord. Trying to find the door. ::Open door with staff:: This way, my lord.

::the dim light floods back in showing the bare table and empty room::

::looks around uncomfortably:: Hurry, let's go.

After you, sir.

::exits and heads out into the street back on course for his father's manor::

::Follows::

Tien?

Lord Richardo, wait ... Ah. :;pants:: what do you think of this encounter?

Tien, will you do me a favor.

::Deep Breath:: Yes, my lord.

Do not mention this meeting to my father and especially not to my mother.

Is not the workings of the Pancreator blessed in all forms?

They are Orthodox you see. Strictly orthodox.

Even the Orthodox speak to beings of the eminations.

Are you certain she was not part of a coven?

No, but I have faith.

Well, let's just say my parents do not have full faith in me.

Let us be on our way then and not speak of this to any not on the quest.

I appreciate your wisdom.