Legends of Belariath

Tempest

Tempest: ~ “Give Life, and Be Forgiven” ~

~ BACKGROUND ~Tempest came from no where and every where, born one cold winter's morning to her Father, King Adrain as her mother Storm, she being small in body as Tempest was premature. Storm passed on that stormy cold winter morning no sooner then she pushed the bundle of joy out into the world. Only to abandon her to her father's hand and his people's. The gypsy king adored his bundle of joy and protected her from all things. The caravan traveled across the empire from piller to post as she grew stronger and stronger, learning of many different things, of different societies and belief's. Tempest was taught hearth lore from her people and of herbs. The child was found to be an excellent healer and was loved by her people for the most part.

The First Vision: Awakening

Years later Tempest found herself at a place in her life that was enlightening the awaking of her gift. She was only 12 at the time and wise beyond her years. A very diplomatic child that was looked highly upon by her father and the entire camp. Her existence was constantly under a microscope and never was she left totally alone hardly. She sat one evening not to far from her father's fire and embraced the power of her gift....Her awakening...

Crystalline tears glisten like morning due against the snow white of her skin as she approaches the altar of the seraphim, each step a measure of the strength of her faith. She trembles slightly, knowing that despite her innocence, she must now leave her home in respect of the Great Balance. Calmly, a voice washes through her thoughts like a gently crashing wave, issuing forth in a soothing tone, “Be thee at rest, young one, for thou are looked upon with favor by the face of the Almighty. Your sacrifice is valiant, and shall one day be rewarded once more. Know thee this: thou art allowing for the sanctity of the Balance. For if shalt come the Omega, so must first be the Alpha. For if shalt come the shadow, so must come the divine light to split the darkness. Go thee now without fear, child, but with hope for thine return to His bosom.” As his words echo through her mind, she closes her eyes and a soft prayer tumbles silently from her lips. Then she feels the rush envelop her as Heaven fades from around her.

A cross roads: The angel and the Cradle a new vision..

Burning against the night sky, a lone figure hovers amidst an aura of crimson, a pair of partially shorn wings spread wide and ruffling in the wind. His eyes gleam with a cold fire, shimmering in a lightning blue, and contrasting deeply against the crimson aura.

Bellowing in a voice louder than the volume of ten men, he threatens, “I am Tezekiel, the second to fall from the Glory. Surrender the angel and the Cradle, and I may strip the flesh from your bones quickly. Otherwise, you shall know the pains of a thousand lifetimes in Purgatory.”

Tempest sits shaking not to sure whot to make of the vision. These questions plague her mind as she realizes there is much more to her vision then just the flickering remains of whot she saw and felt, it was almost as if she were there. The Cradle continues as the exiled angel, Tezekiel, battles for possession of the Cradle. But what is the Cradle? And just how can a novice cleric, a young sorceress, and wounded angel hope to stop him, with a bounty hunter at their backs? a thin film of beaded sweat gathered across her brow sending a rush of cold chills over her. She tries to turn over in her bed and sleep a bit longer as it was the middle of the night and her father decided it was best to make it to the next to last stop.

Tempest tossed in her sleep as the vision continued to play out in her dreams...another bit or piece remembered...

He has never considered himself to be a God-fearing man, his heart and mind split over the notions of Christianity and the Voodoo superstitions that permeated his familys history. From a young age, he had been taught to walk the balance carefully, paying homage to the spirits of old while still striving toward a dutiful and sin-free existence, in the eyes of the Lord.

From her youth, she remembers the old cathedrals, proud houses of faith that somehow stood separate from other buildings within the cities they traveled though. Stone pillars stretched into the skies, reaching into the deep blue ceiling, marred only by thinning wisps of cloud. She used to stare up into the pillars, wondering how close one could come to Heaven if they climbed to the top of those towers. The bells would ring out gloriously, and then her attention would be called back to the world below, her nanny tugging at her hand as they crossed the threshold into the church.

She remembers the echo of her footsteps against the cold stones, bouncing from wall to wall in a slowly-dying reverberation. He loved to listen to this echo, intermingling with the whispers of the citizens that went there as they shuffled to their seats and caught up on the weeks passages. It always seemed like a large amount of fanfare, pretending that life outside the church had been more exciting and eventful than your neighbor`s.

The service would begin shortly thereafter, and she would find herself absorbed into the tales of those who embraced the Gods way and those who opposed it, and the ramifications thereof. Her eyes would drift from the priest's face to the gestures of his hands, and finally, they would come to rest on the lead windows and the thin beams of light filtering through their colored panes. It was always an uplifting experience, but the phantasm had faded some and twisted into other more serious things as she got older in years, until it seemed almost be a chore, this celebration of faith. And eventually, she had stopped going entirely, appearing in church only on random holidays or to make intermittent confessions.

But today was a different matter entirely. Instead of listening to the sermons of the priest and wondering what those magnificent scenes were like, Tempest is faced with the verified existence of the God`s chosen, and his rejected. And this, she was not enjoying it one bit.

Again, the dark angel speaks, the crimson aura fluctuating with the tone of his words, “I am Tezekiel, the second to fall from the Glory. Give me the fallen of Heaven and the Cradle, or risk the wrath of an eternity worse than Purgatory.” For a moment, Tempest finds herself considering the angel`s words, wondering how it is that she walked into this, but then she realizes that it doesn`t matter how she got here. He`s here, and there is nothing further that can be done about it. The important thing is to try and figure a way out of this. Lowering his voice to a whisper, she says to the man in her arms, “I think you might owe me some answers.”

He doesn`t in words, but instead, a rush of pictures floods Tempest`s mind. For a moment, she watches the birth of light in the universe, and she thinks on his experience in Slumber*. Then, a second set of images come, and she witnesses the birth of the world, the first steps of life pressing into the sands of the first land-mass. Thens he sees the first man, running through the glorious garden, carefree but lonely none-the-less, until the first man comes unto her. The man reaches up and wraps his hand around her wrist, guiding her fingers to the box held tightly against his chest. His touch is soft and warm, despite their environment and the desperate situation that she finds herself in. His eyes search his out, flooding them with the rich and flawless blue, pleading with her to understand. Struggling to find his voice and coughing up his words, he manages to say, “Cra-dul”

Vission or Dream..The angel and the Jousha the bounty hunter...

The prior part of the dream fades and more rushes into her vision another place perhaps they meld so well at times for Tempest it is hard to tell one from the other though it be of the same vision. Her breath come shallow and labored as she dreams and is lost within her gift. .Her energy connects with an unseen walls, spinning and dispelling before it ever truly reaches its target. Angered, Tezekiel open his mouth and screams, throwing out a supersonic cry that shakes the ground beneath them. “Seek not to damage me, child, or you shall know pain beyond any previous remembrances of pain..”

Looping her fingers beneath the arms of the bounty hunter, she pulls upward, trying to drag the man to his feet, armor and all. “Come on, you lazy bastard. I came back for you. Least you could do is show some stamina of some sort.”

Seconds before it strikes, he feels the warmth cutting through the air, and Joshua the bounty hunter shoves her unexpectedly backwards, saving her from being shorn by a flaming blade. Lying back in the snow and hoping that the angel gives him enough time, he taps a new program into his left gauntlet and fires a blast of vibratory energy at the angels wings, tossing the angel to the ground some fifteen feet away from them. “Gotta be more careful, frail. Otherwise the bad guys will get ya.” She stares back in disbelief, shaking her head and forcing herself to climb to her feet. She should have left him behind, and will likely regret this later, but she knows that this is the right thing to do. “You are one of the bad guys.”

”Doesn`t matter right now. If you wanna live, I suggest you get those feet moving. That was a courtesy shot. Don`t get accustomed to me helping you out.” He says, casting another blast into the stomach of the fallen angel, who shrugs it off and takes back into the air. “Well, this guy certainly isn't no pushover.” Tucking his wings in, the angel begins to descend, building his speed as he hurtles at the round. But Gypsy is prepared, as she forms a sphere in her hands and explodes it just in front of the angel as he nears her. He hurtles forward, planting himself face-first into the snow. “That ought to hold him back for a short while.”

”What did you do?”

”His powers, despite his exile, are ethereally based. So, when the explosion went off in front of him, he passed through a cloud of confusion, something I designed to make him think that Heaven never existed. So essentially, I just turned an angel into a non-believer. And until he remembers the truth, he's going to forget about his powers.”

”That is not gonna get you any bonus points at the Pearly Gates, girly.”

”Yeah, maybe not. But a girl has to do something.” She says, letting her feet break into a run and carry her after the remainder of her party. “Let`s go. We'll worry about your bounty later.”

Tezekiel descends into the arc of power, rushing into the spiraling energy and trying to draw it into himself. Seeing it as his last chance, Tempest drops the man to the snow without a thought and flashes a pair of tendrils toward Tezekiel, hoping to wrest him from energy wall. Unfortunately, this causes Tempest to get caught up in the blast as well. And the two collapse from the display of power, as the night returns to black...

The man pushes himself up from the ground, his strength slowly renewing as his wounds knit themselves. “May God help us all, the Cradle is shattered, and the dark one has been bestowed with the powers of Creation.”

Tempest last sight before the darkness takes her was of Tezekiel, who is now imbued with the energy released by the Cradle of Creation...

She could feel the soft rock of the wagon as the caravan across the lands towards the large city of Nanthalion. They have been traveling south for some time now. The camp decided to spend the cold winter in the valley and not up in the mountains as they normally do. They stopped at several well known places they normally camp when traveling through the mountains and down into the valley. They almost reached the stopping point just before Nathalion. The entire camps spirits were down and they all looked forward to spending the winter in the city of Nanthalion.

Tempest last thoughts was bad omen's usually come in three's. She could not help but wonder what the wheel of fate had in store for her. The hit of her life starting on some noble quest troubled her for she did not think she would ever leave her father and their gypsy caravan...she keeps these thoughts to herself though her gut feeling was one that brought warnings singles to the surface from her pure and innocent soul.

The Betrayal...Abandonment.

Tempest was accidentally left behind by the tribe one night and lost to her father due to lies of a Gypsy woman who wanted rid of his pride and joy and into his bed. The woman lied and said the girl was slaughtered and lost without no hope of finding her body as she professed she witnessed some men haul her off and hurried the camp to pack up and leave the city in a rushed hurry as she spread the fear they were going to come take them all to jail and hang for their thieving due to the thieves guild.

Journal Entry ~The Cra-dul ~

As I am now home I would think this journal would be a reflection upon the things of my gifts of sight as an oracle. I will start here a story of visions and a part of my life that still leaves me with much confusion and a feeling of incompleteness. Life is a puzzle meant to be figured out and this piece still haunts me to this day and I often wonder where it is going to lead me to, what paths will cross my own and end there within it. It grieves my soul as I remember this first entry because of the emptiness it has left me within my depths...

It was early one morning this past week that I was laying in my bed thinking of the night that I would be officially united to the elven wizard Halfmoon. He had already gotten up and started his day and left me to sleep in late. He is Headmaster of the Tower of Unigo and the only one of the council that deals straight up with the students if anyone else is around who is above him they are within the shadows of the workings of the school. Oddly enough I believe it is the one barbian who my life and path skirts along his and crosses from time to time, we are acquaintances as I have cared for him at the healers guild from time to time. He pleasured me once and left me rather smitten of him, I could easily call him friend.

While I was laying there thinking of these things and what a great match that I have finally made with Halfmoon who has been at my side for many weeks now. He, my truest friend and business partner, soon to be mate for I accepted his offer in sealing that pack between us. I noticed in the room from somewhere above, the room started to fill with a bright glimmering light, slowly increasing in intensity as if descending from above, through the roof of the room... a presence felt, strong and palpable. I slowly backed up on the bed uneasy and unsure of what was happening if it were real or part of a strong vision the presence felt was strong and palpable...I rubbed my eyes then pulled the blanket over my naked chilled body, soon after the glimmering light slowly started to diminish and the figure of a man stood before me in white silken robes and the most angelic features. I tilted my head as I watched him wondering who he was. My eyes would slowly roam from his feet then soon to meet his eyes. For what seemed like the longest time there was silence, I finally gathered up the nerve to break it with a simple question. “ Who are you?” The man... or rather, deity manifestation, had sharp striking features, yet a kindly expression that was somehow clouded slightly, with the faintest form of uncertainty, as he spoke, his voice soft yet somehow reverberating about the room and they seemed to speak as well “who I am is of no consequence. what does matter is that you, Tempest, will need to finish what was previously left unfinished, and gather the Cradle of Life into safe keeping once and for all.” I faintly remember wrapping the sheet around me tighter as I slowly slipped off the opposite side of the bed. This man I had never seen in my dreams of visions before but the feeling, was in some way one that I had felt once before, almost familiar to me, almost soothing to my soul somehow. My eyes widen as the shock of his command washed over me entirely. I could not believe what I was hearing. I could not even began to fathom how he knew about my visions. I had told no one of them though I have had them sense I was very young around the age of twelve. I can remember saying to him in protest. “But I am not worthy of such a task and who are you to command such of me, which higher power are you sent by?” I gathered up my clothes that I would wear as he continued to speak to me, I remember his words as if he burned them into my memories and soul. He spoke to me as if no refusal would be heard, he was not going to take no for an answer. “I am of no consequence, but the word of my Lord should be familiar to your ears . , he is known by, Jerge the one of such light and glory that I am but a tiny iota of what he stands for in his fullness. as to the task, the cradle is in a place of peril. deceitful hands have set it to the lands in the north, and even as I speak those of impure purpose are moving to bring it from that place where they were told to find it up for the final leg of its journey. A journey that my Lord, and indeed the world, even, might rather not come to pass.”

As I stood there listening I remember biting my bottom lip a bit, as all the visions came to the surface once more as vibrant as they were when I had there. The visions I had of the cradle of life were true, not that I had any doubt ever they were founded untrue...I left this one untouched or untold to anyone for the fears it filled my soul with were vast. As I nodded slowly taking into consideration his words I finally choose to do his bidding holding hope this path would find a way to help me understand more of the things I had seen as I grew up and they continued even into my young adult years. I finally gave him the answer he was looking for and the agreement he was seeking. “As you say I will do somehow...but I nae know whot it looks like.” He continued to speak his words flowing with such malevolence and power. “You will know it when you see it, child. now make haste northwards, with urgency lending you wings. the journey up north will not be easy, and there is much in wait for you. my Lord will watch over you, and you shall return with the Cradle to me, at an appointed time and place, that it may not be delivered unto the dark ones and he whose name I wish not utter, he who was second to fall.” I nodded slowly starting to gather the things I thought I would need, not a coin in my pocket I took no time to worrie of it after all I am a gyspy and can hopefully barter for things I might need on the way if nessary. I started to take off my clothes glancing at the man with a blush. “Ye can turn around any time now M'Lord” “ How far north will i need to go? Whot is the name of the city...ruins as i do not where know its resting place is.” His voice sounded distant after a long moment. “ of that I have no need to. I am beyond such earthly cares.”. the voice seems to be fading away, “and my cares are only for those of my Lord. it will be in the tower foul hands have taken it to, north of the village Snowfeld.” almost a whisper now, as the apparition seems to fade away. “now go...”I remember nodding then putting on my clothes as quickly as I could. The presence leaves the room, and the strength and proximity of it fading away...His voice sounded distant after a long moment. “ of that I have no need to. I am beyond such earthly cares.”. the voice seems to be fading away, “and my cares are only for those of my Lord. it will be in the tower foul hands have taken it to, north of the village Snowfeld.” almost a whisper now, as the apparition seems to fade away. “now go...” I remember nodding then putting on my clothes as quickly as I could. The presence left the room, and the strength and proximity of it faded away...I then took up my healing pack, and a pack with a few changes of clothes a couple of fur blankets and a few simple things like a lantern, some things to eat I had bought a few nights before luckly.

I soon wrote a quick note to Halfmoon. Half, Sorry my love but duty calls tis will be going north for a short time to a tower there to recover something..I remember signing it with love always, Tempest...I left the note where he could find it and then went outside to put the packs on my huge black war horse after gathering him some oats and the both of us some water. We then started off on our journey north.

I traveld north for a almost half a day of hard riding up north, some point past the borders where the air was getting slightly chillier as the altitudes go up, and there nestled in the valley as I crest a low hill, I remembered seeing the small village of Snowfeld a good distance up ahead. it seemed to be quite occupied somehow, even from such a distance. I stopped for a while to rest and watch the village for a while as I tried to stay warm wrapping my cloak around me tightly before nudging my horse onward towards the village. As I looked down over the valley I could see that which normally grew over the base was touched with frost over the entire landscape, it was then I notifved the village seemed to not move, just seeming to be occupied. In the distance the town square seemd to be filled with some wagons those of a carvans like perhaps the gyspy's or merchants...perhaps even a slaver cavran maybe. I slowly guided my horse down off the hill into the valley and to the edge of the village, I notived upon arrival that the houses were still. There didnt seem to be anyone about or anything, except the place I saw the carvans about the town square. Some windows were even broken in and the doors opened, where the houses seemed to have been looted, but there was no sign of the houses' inhabitants anywhere.

I was not happy with the sight of what seemed to be an village that was abandon or attacked, I urged my horse towards the center of town where I noticed the carvan had choose to take up camp for the night perhaps. I remember stopping my horse in its tracks per say as I soon realized the encampment was gyspy's and happened to be my own band that abandon me many months ago back in the town I settled in and choose to make a name for myself. I was shocked at the fact they were here and as I sat there on my horse observing the situation in hopes no one spotted me. I soon noticed that it was to late as I noticed there are some gypsies wandering around, returning back to the caravans carrying some things that they are carrying, presumably from the houses about. there is still no trace of the visitors. One of the gypsies notice me on my warhorse, pointing me out to his companion. She looked at me and her eyes widen and then turned and ran towards the carvan, both were relatively young and I was sure the would not remember me or recongnise me hopefully, I was saddly mistaken.

My heart was torn in half as I sat there on my horse, half longing to see my father and the rest of those elders and families of the tribe of Sapphire Pheniox and the other half filled with dread and dispare for if they seen me they would know I sent the bounty man back and bought him off so he would lie for me. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly and would urge my huge black war horse forward slowly to finally face what I had ran from for months my tribe and most of all my father. I stopped my horse once I saw a few of the carvan guards come out with one of the elders of the band. The man I would recongnize as my new step mothers brother. He was an older man a good many years older then my father with a stocky build. I could tell his family was more of the side of our race that was with barbian blood and it showed. The two youths drew into the center of the caravan, out of sight from me, and as I came closer I heard a great commotion coming from the centre, and after a while, a *lot* of gypsies moved out from between the caravans, spreading about in one semi-circle to face me as I drew nearer to the encampment. I noticed that none of their faces weren't entirely pleased, from the looks of it. With hope I searched for my father to come before our band and greet me and realized he was not present. The leader my step mothers brother raised his hand as I stopped my horse about ten feet before the simi circle and announced who I was. I spoke in our native band language of Romi. “Greetings I am Tempest of the tribe of The Sapphire Pheniox, is my father the king here among you or the old woman seer?” I had an general idea from their reactions that they seemed to be waiting for me perhaps. I was not welcomed back among my people this night. Alex the man's name was who seemed to be leading my father's band finally spoke after he allowed me to respectfull announce who I was and my return. “It was said we would find you here, in a village like this.. empty, yet without a trace of death. And sure enough, so you have came. Come then, let your steed be and I'll take you to your father.” I noted his smile was the only smile given out of the whole crowd. Such told me that there was something afoot and politics were surely part of it.

I noticed the other gyspies that came from where she had road my horse into the town but even then something just isnt right...I slipped off my horse and cursty to all lowering her head slightly a show of respect and it is tradition of accepting hospitality of anothers camp fire. soon I lead her horse along with her as she makes after Alex questioning him of his words. “ Whot do you mean you knew I would be here? Whot is your name ifen I might ask?” is my father well? I would ask Alex as i peered up at him studying his dark features that seemed to remind me of a hawk along with his fine colorful clothes.He smiled at me before backing away and giving time for one of the gypsies to take my warhorse away before speaking of my father once more. “He's well, but he was hoping you'd not come. but the words of Heim cannot be denied. His smile turned once more to something of the a sinister tinge now. “I'm afraid we have to hold you here, miss Tempest. It appears Heim would have us finish the job of bringing your willfulness to justice. I can remember the gypsies started slowly closing around as Alex moved to reach out for to grab me. I moved to get on my horse as that gut feeling sarted to close in upon me. Hoping my attempt would not be in vain and the others were not able to reach me before she got on my massive war horse. “ I donna think so.” it was then that I turned around to find my horse being led away and the circle closed in on me, easily about 20 men. they all had a grim faced look, a look rarely found on gypsies. I tried to talk my way out of it or at least buy me some time, i remember saying. “ Look now this is not a true reception of a gyspy....come now tis our right to be free..let me go in peace.” i gave them one warning in my own defance. “ I mean it.” then I started to lift my hands and start to cast stun bolt I wasn't one that likedto kill. I aimed it at the closest man. my words filled the air in a soft chant as I cast the incanation with my small hands moveing them quickly to raise the spell and release it. “It is the right of any gypsy, but not you. not only are you no longer one of us, but your presences here, shows you are in league with the dark ones to put an end to goodness. and but for Heim's watchfulness, you'd have passed through here unmolested, but he bade us come!” I remember Alex's voice barked out, then he watched in dismay as one of the gypsies is bolted back, shuddering back by a step before being held in a daze by my powerful stunbolt spell. His next orders were loud and for anyone that was able. “Get her!” He quickly gave the order for the men to rush me leaving me no choice but to cast once more. As I quickly cast once more demension door to make to escape them. My words came quickly, a few simple words to cast the incantation and soon I appeared out of their range, I then attemped to run leaving my war horse behind and heading out of the village towards the opisit side I came into town in. I could hear a low cry as I had made my escape from them their anger in their failure heard in those crys.

I found my self making a run for it down the old dirt road as fast as my feet could carry me, regreting I had left my war horse behind for now. I turned as I heared a fimular voice that I had longed for and stumbled abit as I almost lost my footing his voice filled with longing and clear doubfullness. I finally got my barings and balance and waited for him to approach as he brought his horse to a canter drawing closer to me, I could see his eyes were bright yet with saddness somhow, he looked down at me imperiously, somehow I could not only see but feel with my empathic nature the weariness about him. his calling my name and then the words that followed brought a deep painfull feeling in my chest. I remember his voice as clear as if he were here now. “Tempest!” He called to get me to stop, soon the second time as I think he was unsure if i had heard him or not but yet again he yelled to me calling me. “Tempest Stop1, I am your father, I am afraid I can not let you go. Why did you leave me to serve the dark ones?” The sound of running feet was heard soon after his words died upon the air as I answered him the truth. “I didna leave you to serve anyone father I was left behind for dead, the bountyman came and I was ashamed and did not wish to bring you any more dishonor upon our household. tis best all thought I were dead sense I had been raped and tricked and was unpure in body. Tis please father ye have to let me go. I have to save the oracle from darkenss.” I remember backing away as I spoke to him my face filled with greif and sorrow. I would not attack my own people and bring them harm, this I have to live with the agony of living with the thoughts of disobaying my own fathers commands. His gaze hardened as he spoke his next words which cut me to the bone that he would think I dare lie to him of anything my beloved father who was once the center of my entire existance and world...I his beloved daughter. I will never forget them as long as I live or the quizzical expression as he spoke to me. the crees in his lips that formed a deep frown as he continued to speak. “save the oracle from darkness? what foolishness is this? Heim sent us to stop you...” His gaze hardened “you'll not lie to your own father now, would you, you wayward girl!?” “Nae Father tis would never lie to you “ I sid to him then turned to run off into the woods to keepp from getting caught from the band guards and fellow gyspy's that would take part in hunting me down if they were given half the chance to do so. I noticed most of the men were very close and as I turned my father held up his hand to them and they seemed to stop behind his horse, gathering about me, before he rode forward to cut me off from my escape. “What is this about an oracle? our seers have told us of a vision from Heim, where we had to stop you, the harbinger of darkness, in a village emptied by forces unknown. this village.” He still questioned me futher seeking more of the truth and knowledge I had held within.

My path blocked and my easy escape as well as my father made sure he would get the truth of me as he questioned me and soon I would find myself not able to continue on without him knowing of it so then, there before all I spoke of whot has be fell me in the early moring hours of this day and how it begain. “Tis not true I am not whot you say. There is a oracle of the Cra-dul of life, I must take it to a god that quested me to return it to him...he of the light Father he has watched over me protecting me and restoring me to life though a palidan, her god ask this of me and I must do as he bids of me Father.” My father's face was still filled with disaproval as i spoke. we have heard some news of that God as well, but the seers say you were not sent by him. his voice hesitates, for a moment, as he looked at me with much uncertainly. a flash of fear in his eye, and there can be no doubt now what might happen to Tempest` were she to be captured by the gypsies. I protested still telling him the truth. “ I was father and I ask you to forgive me of this second time that I must advoid you in my path for which you now try to bar of me.” With that I quickly cast once more demison door chanting quickly the spell with the movement of her small hands a soft glow of an opening which she would attempt to step though and escapes deeper into the forest near a far tree she could see, in hopes to hide behind it and pray they give up and let her be. I appeared some great distance within the woods and at a place from were I took cover behind a tree, I could see shock on my father's face then a palpable relief, as he wheels his horse around, but the next moment an angry voice is heard, the voice of her uncle whom she had first met. some commotion, which she can't hear much except “let her get away!”, of some confusion then barked orders, and then of her father dismounting as the her uncle bade the men lead him away. I chewed upon my bottom lip as I watched them lead my father away.

I would lay wait then after an hour I attempted to call my war horse in the silent of the night in hopes it would break free and come to her this a trick they would not expect for she never had the horse till she had swore fielity to her lord not long after I was left behind in the town. I had hopped that the gyspies had tethered my war horse with an ordinary rope, and hoped he would break with relatively little fuss would wait untill I heard the galloping of my horse as it would head at full speed out of the town after getting a ways from it...the smartly trained horse would soon appear near me and I waited for a few long moments to make sure it isnt followed then seek to climb up on its back and head north yet again. Her father will be alright hopefully till my return.

As I started back upon the dusty well travled road, I had come to realize that the land started sloping upwards as I made my way north, and it got gradually chillier about here. the grass started growing more interspersed with white, as I rode up higher... and turned onto a slight plateau.. and the impression hit me so hard it left me gasping, for it was the place she had dreamed about, a long time ago, almost the same... except now at the back of the place, there was a tower. a man was sitting at the base of the tower, slouched over slightly and there were patches of new grass, different colored about the plateau of the hillside where cool winds blew, perhaps where unknown forces had blasted the ground. I noticed a little off the side of the tower, there is a slightly overgrown grave. the man sitting down against the tower not far from it seems to be resting. and he looks familiar somehow. I started to shiver as I was so taken with the rememberance of my vission...I slipped off my horse and wrapped my claok about me as i quietly called to the man who looks familiar somehow...I knew his name once I got closer to him and seen who he was. I spoke softly as to not startle him. “Joshua? Tis I Tempest?” I stopped about ten feet from him uneasy still as many things back at the gyspy carvan still troubled me. The man shifted slightly as he heard a voice, then rose to his feet. he was by no means as shrunken as he appeared, as he stood at full size. I noticed his hair seemed tinged with white, and unlike in my vision, he seemed of my father's generation rather than mine, and as he looked at me his eyes were closed, sealed shut in a line of blood. “who is there? What name be Tempest to me, girl?” He spoke out, not vehemently, but his voice carries, imposing still despite his disability “and how came you by the name I have not used for many a year?” It was then that I really started to notice the grave as it was seemingly unkept, I cast a glance from the man back to the grave before turning my full attention back to the man that is before me once more. “You were in my vissions, I am an oracle of the tribe of the Sapphire Pheniox, my name is Tempest. a noble daughter of King Adrain “ ”I know not any of those names.” The blind man informed me “I am but the groundskeeper here now, and I keep it the way it should be. Joshua is a name I left behind when my sight was reft from me. and from the sound of your voice, how have you seen me? my sight was left possibly while you were still a babe, or before that, even. and what brings you here, girl? even the sound of the way he pronounced “girl” was familiar to my ears, as that from the vision. I soon told him of the angel, the Cra-dul and the Bounty hunter and nae your eyes were fine when i was but 17 a year ago in my vission.” He would inform me still with a rather stubbon insistance. “ but I've been blind many a year, girl. how came you by that vision, a mystery it is indeed. I was a bounty hunter as well, a long time ago. but such deeds I have left behind. those great deeds of battling winged men and what not... they belong to Joshua. I'm just a blind man getting by about here.” I softly inquired of him once more. “Will you bid me entrance to the tower Joshua please? others come to take the Cra-dul and use it to harm others with instead of whot it is ment for?” The man seems to stiffen slightly, then relaxes a little as he spoke once again. “Because you knew my name I will give you fair warning. it is my place that none may pass within the tower. it was set as it was, and thought I am blind, I would prefer it if you ask this not of me. the rest of this place is yours to abide in, but ask not to enter within. I have no joy of hurting others, unlike in my youth over those I hunted for gold, though I am blind.” I frowned deeply as I heard his words. “I bid you please donna make me fight you to enter but ifen I have to do so then I will....the Cra-dul must be returned to the one that made it and sent me to recover it.” I would make to move closer to the man carefully cautiously. His spoke as if he were almost betraying his deep thoughts but I was unsure as I had to complet this task. His words gruff somewhat. “Because your voice is so close to a voice which I have not heard for many a time, I shall not move to strike you first despite your threat, girl. if you would do me ill, come at an old blind man. there will be not many winters left for me to lose, in any case.” I stood and watched as his fingers push back one of his sleeves, exposing that gauntlet she had seen him used previously, but even that seemed old now, and his fingers moved lightly over it, but nothing seemed to happen.

I pleaded with him once more hestating not really wishing to have to harm this man I was sure I knew on a personal level along time ago some how. “I nae want to hurt you old freind..” “ Nor I you, girl. it is strange though, that one so young would call me an old friend. perhaps if I could see, all might be made clear. but I can't, and I cannot allow you to pass.” He aid to me once more. I slowly approach him then softly touch his hand and guide it to my face...letting him see her by his touch. her voice would speak softly as she speaks with the most non forgetable enchanting voice. “I truly need to protect whot we have fought so hard for in whotever life time it was, we are old freind nae you doubt that for I feel it in my soul as sure as you and I are standing here, the fallen one seeks to conqure us still.” Joshua frowns, and stiffens as I took his hand, and as I did so I noticed his form was covered with an invisible shield, and he hesitated as I guided his hand up to my face, and then he touched my face a little then draws away quickly as he spoke. “How be you so sure? how can you know!? you are of 18 years, you cannot know this.” stepping back 2' from me, the hand that just touched now shining with a hazy green light, as if readying up to deliver a blow “if you would have me touch you, then let me touch you with this.” raising up his hand, burning with hungry green flames. “Because old freind you know my age by your touch of sight, you know in your soul I lie you not, what of the vissions you shared with me more then any words could say? Whot of them and whot of that which we went through?” She would not move nor fear the old blind man she once knew in his youth. She would step one single step closer as she spoke knowing trust still would be the final ally. “Whose grave lays yonder?” Joshua looks at her oddly, then gestures with his hand abit, “Go and see. I knew not her name.” letting her past to the grave beyond him, but he still stood between her and the tower. I slipped past him and walked over to the grave and look upon its stone...after clearing the brush away to see what is written there.

I can remember the headstone of the grave had been weathered by many years of elements, and there was no name written upon it. There was a year though, carved there in stone, the date of demise about 18 years ago. In place of the name was a face carved upon the stone, the features cannot be made out clearly by the normal vision of my eyes, due to it having been weathered. I caressed with my hand upon the face of the tomb stone carefully and soon would close her my and shut my mind off of the current things and clear it entirely using my empathic gifts to grasp any impressions that were left upon it. I let my body channel it's engery though allowing that part of me that holds my empathlic gift to encourage any vissions that might hopefully come of it. I continued to softly allow my fingers trace the face carved onto the stone, an image started to form in my mind of a girl that was looking back at me. As the image started to become more clear with fine detials, I realized that it was someone I thought that I might knew perhaps my mother, or someone I was unsure and the vision started to waver for a few moments before I realized that is was someone looking back at me with golden skin and long raven hair... piercing crystal blue eyes, staring at her almost accusingly... I soon realized it was my own self as I staggered back from the tomb stone and fell on my rump as I opened my eyes, the vission so strong still as if it were a day dream almost, I shocked soon scrambled to my feet and start to run towards the tower and around Joshua if at all possible. “I will nae believe that which I seen for I am in two places at once frist there then right here.” were the words that I said to him as I gasped for breath and was seeking to escape the vission that I had just seen, this one one of few that I expreienced fully awake and awear of my suroundings as well as being so strongly attached to it as if time stood still for me there and here. I noticed the time of year was far more winter then it currently was for snow was everywhere and much thicker then that which is upon the ground now. Joshua looks at me quizzically, at least in a sense. his eyes were still closed and his back to the wall, so as not to let me get past him despite my movements, both hands burning and flickering with green fire now “What did you see, girl? was it someone you knew? an aunt, perhaps?” sensing my frantic movement and genuine confusion “Myself!” I said to him as I continued to franticly seek to entrance at the tower's door by banging against it to get it to open in panic. “Stand back, girl!” He growled as he pushed me away from the door with his flaming hands. the hands did not seem to burn me, though.

“Who are you? He asked me while looking at her suspiciously, a hard expression for a blind man to do, but he managed it somehow and rather easly it seemed to me. “Stand back, girl!” He growled once more. “I am Tempest I told you who i am now please let me pass before Tezekiel, the second to fall from the Glory of the higher powers show up and takes that which we both were charged with to protect...tis times is running out for each of us.” I pleaded with him once more as I attempeted to try the door handle once more to seek to open it as his hand try to prevent me from doing so, I soon realized they did not seem to burn me just yet. Joshua looks at me once more questioningly, then asked. “I would feel your face, before I let you go...” His hand suddenly surged with heat, a searing heat as if to warn my hand off from touching the door and getting past him. “I must know who you are, that you would utter the name I would not myself speak.” “Then feel my face my bounty hunter for you once saved my life against Tezekiel in that feild yonder in a battle to protect the oracle. Joshua looked at me quizzically, at least in a sense. his eyes were still closed and his back to the wall, so as not to let me get past him despite my movements, both hands burning and flickering with green fire now “What did you see, girl? was it someone you knew? an aunt, perhaps?” sensing my frantic movement and genuine confusion “Myself!” I said to him as I continued to franticly seek to entrance at the tower's door by banging against it to get it to open in panic. “Stand back, girl!” He growled as he pushed me away from the door with his flaming hands. the hands did not seem to burn me, though. “Who are you? He asked me while looking at her suspiciously, a hard expression for a blind man to do, but he managed it somehow and rather easly it seemed to me.

”Stand back, girl!” He growled once more. “I am Tempest I told you who i am now please let me pass before Tezekiel, the second to fall from the Glory of the higher powers show up and takes that which we both were charged with to protect...tis times is running out for each of us.” I pleaded with him once more as I attempeted to try the door handle once more to seek to open it as his hand try to prevent me from doing so, I soon realized they did not seem to burn me just yet. Joshua looks at me once more questioningly, then asked. “I would feel your face, before I let you go...” His hand suddenly surged with heat, a searing heat as if to warn my hand off from touching the door and getting past him. “I must know who you are, that you would utter the name I would not myself speak.” “Then feel my face my bounty hunter for you once saved my life against Tezekiel in that feild yonder in a battle to protect the oracle. Joshua looks at me, then moved one hand over towards my face, feeling it slowly... as he guided it over my skin he swallowed, and I could feel the heat in his fingers as he murmured. “No.. it can't be you. I didn't save your life...” He said with shocked edge to his voice as he withdrew his hand, staggering to one side. “I didn't save you. He took you.. away. and you perished... you both did. “An expression of shock upon his elderly face. “Nae I did not...my old freind. I do not know where the fallen one is however...do you know where he is at?” I asked him softly. The man frowned, as he looked at me, still shaking “He fell with you.. you both fell and you both perished. he was with you.. then you were both no more. but now you here... where then is he? where? “ He started, and then suddenly runs past her for the grave, and starts digging at it frantically. I took that takes opertiunty to try to jimmy the door to open it as quietly as possible. I already decided within that moment to take the oracle and then the old man far from this place back to reutrn the item to the god that commanded her to protect it. I finally managed to force the door give way and slip into the tower.

As I continued to hear behind me the sound of Joshua clawing at the earth with his bare hands. I took a look back wondering if the man had not fallen in love with me or not...a cringing dark feeling sworled up inside my soul as that realization came to pass. I then started out to find the oracle makeing haste to search it out. I went up the staircase carefully incase of any traps were upon it only to discover it was but a simple tower, roughly constructed in some ways, for so simple it was. at the top of the tower I emerged into a room. The door had been torn off its hinges and indeed the door itself was but shattered pieces of mouldering wood, as if long blasted away, yet somehow not decayed with the passage of time. within the chamber were blasts of power, and indeed one side of the wall had given way to show the outside, and light shone from an ark like structure within the centre of the chamber, that was blasted with surges of ice and burns and soot marks, and the smell of combat was fresh, as if a battle had just been fought here in the last few hours, yet over it all was a fine layer of dust, as if of the years... as if the room was preserved perfectly from what had previously transpired, but the dust indication of the true age of this place was upon this room. I carefully entered the chamber and looked for the object I was sent for that I had helped protect years ago it would seem her vissions were not vissions but memories of her prior life maybe? I was and still am unsure of anything as I searched the chamber from top to bottom seeking it.

I discovered within the center of the room a golden ark, about 5' by 4' wide, set into the ground upon a dias, with a cover atop. the gold seems to shine brightly even through the dust, and it seems to fill this place with a light of its own. warmth and vibrancy flows from it in gentle surging waves...I approached the ark slowly trembling but I knew the task was set ahead of her she would seek to push off the top to recover that which laid within. The cover of the ark is warm to touch, unlike the way gold and metal would normally feel, and a renewed vigour flows through her as she touches it. it seems to move back, but instead of making a sound it might have said something else instead, but it was barely heard consciously, and pushing it back she would unveil the amulet, the Cradle of Light, in the base of the huge golden ark, shining softly, and the light of the ark was but a fraction of it. I slowly with shakey small hands seek to lifted the amulet Cra-dul, the gift of light and darkness of true balance from its resting place carefully, the amulet was of the finest crafting of a metal I had never know or recongnize before, the detials were of the most equisit design of a Sapphire eye silver Phenoix with a heart shapped of clear crystal in its breast, a smaller amulet pershaps which could be held within the huge one, and in its feet is a crystal rod both of light crystal and dark sapphire crystal. Her eyes seep with tears the power of the item abit overwhelming for her young body. My eyes filled with tears the power of the item abit overwhelming for her young body. It was then that I felt a surge of well being courses through my flesh, giving me strength and resolve, but in it there is a warning, somehow, and almost forcibly my eyes drew over the section from which it had been lifted, and the words etched there “Give Life, and Be Forgiven” amidst the gold base of the ark, over which the amulet had been set. the fire was coursing through me now, and from somewhere outside I heard a shriek of frustration, recognisable as the voice of the old blind bounty hunter. I carefully took and pull the cover shut on the ark and carefully place the oracle amulet into my pocket to ensure she had it safe. Then she would turn and make haste to leave the tower and went to seek my old freind to sooth his soul and try to coax him to go with me.

Fiinaly I emerged from the base of the tower after retracing my steps back to the ground floor. I found Joshua standing in a pit, before the gravestone. how he had dug so far and so hard was beyond my imagination, and surely there were marks of magic used to blast open the earth. tears were flowing freely from his face, his hands bloody and dirty, as he stood in the ground, and before him was an rough coffin fashioned of wood, the cover split open, and within there was no body... no skeleton or anything it was totally empty. I spoke softly to him as I drew near the grave and him. “ Jousha come we must leave this place tis not safe for us.... I nae claim to understand this and donna want to even try to ...we must go now...lest he will seek us out and destroy us for sure this time.” I triedto help the man out of the grave trying to comfort him...my attachment to him is felt strongly, I refused to leave him behind ever ifen I could help it. It was then that I noticed that Jousha turned to face me, and for the moment there is a brief surge of power as he leapt up from within the pit, energy coursing emerald and golden about him flickering over his form as he lands in front of her, and indeed his movements were swift - doubtless a lethal foe if Tempest had fought him. he glared at me, through eyes sealed with blood as he snarled at me gruftly “Who ARE you, girl!? as I watched moved every so quickly to seize me by the collar as he landed behind her, his hands flaring with fire. His movements rather fast and well before I was ever to touch him was he there facing me a foot from me beside me, I never touched him he was simiply that fast it was shock that frist rushed over me then an overwhelming fear stuck in my throat as my heart nearly skipped abeat I found myself facing something more then just a shell of a man I once knew. but whot? This still puzzles me to this night as I write here in my journal my frist entry. I remember Joshua looking at me, as he lifted me up off the ground, to stare him in the face, my feet dangling off the ground though by holding nothing more then my collar of my tunic and robes. he did not strangle me, and as he did so I felt something strike him, and with a low cry he let go of me, staggering backwards and falling down, clutching at his face. I quickly move to help him after gather my own senses, I tried to slip my small hands up under his arms to haul him to his feet. “Come on I nae will leave you behind we must travel now please” It was in that moment he suddenly moved to grip my chin, not hard, guiding it to face him, and as he turned to regard my face, his eyelids moved, and then sprang open, slowly, and he looked at me full in the face, his eyes were just as I remembered them... the lines of age on his face momentarily receding, not completely, but noticeably, as he looked upon me for a long moment that seemed like forever his voice whispered to me filled with shock and surprise as he comfirmed my deepest fears that some how I was possibly either much older then I thought I was or I was rencarnated possibly. He simply said. “You're... you *are* her.” Still looking at me, he grew quiet once more , then his gaze widened as he stepped back from me. “I do not need your help. I can walk on my own. but you are not her as well.” that last line almost half to himself. But I heard him as well and commented comfirming to him who I truly was and knew to be in my deepest part of my soul. “I am here now lets move.” I whistled for my war horse and once it arrives I climbed up on it then offered him a hand up. He looked at me, then my horse, with a snort of derision. “No.. you are not her. she was pure, you are not. She had never been touched by him, but I can sense him on you. yet I will come with you, because you are one and the same. the chapter of my life has to end somehow, and I will find her once again. He looked at me, quietly, before tilting his head and with another gruff order he said lowly. “lead the way, on your steed, and I will follow. only, be warned.” It was then that noticed his hands have ceased to bleed as well his condition imporving sense they touched I had almost found this odd but said nothing as I watched him with a sadden expression. “I will follow. there may yet be hope, even though he knew I would not harm you. but perhaps.. he did not know what you might be.” he looked at me, quietly, watching me, then barks. “Move, girl! get away from here! hope has been rekindled in me, and I need you to move that I may lay it, into fullness, or into rest! I then with a nod made haste to move the horse forward as the man bade me to do so. as I started to ride away I saw him move, the flames flickering around him once more, as if heading towards my direction, but then midway perhaps something seemed to happen wrongly, or perhaps it didn't, and the flames slowly grew on him as he sped after me on his feet, consuming his form into nothingness. I had glanced back having witnessed this and turned my horse around to see what happened to the bounty man...I would look to see where he went or what went wrong. I called his name as fear rose within me leaving a lump in my throat and a deep sadness in her heart. “Joshua where are you?” There was no reply from around where he vanished. it was as if as he left the place he was assigned to guard he had ceased to exist. the road was clear and the woods about there was no sign of human movement. I frowned then moved on it odd to me that I had not as well disapeared this thought dwelled within my head as I lurched my horse forward after checking for the Cra-dul in my pocket to resure the same did not happen to it, its words inbeded in her thoughts locked with in her heart forever...give life - be forgiven..

The road down south led me past Snowfeld, from a distance. apparently the gypsy caravans had moved on, and there isn't much to see. the village is still deserted, as she continues down south. I frowned as I seen the cravan headed out so I continued to make the return trip back to where I came from, once this is delivered I would seek out my father and ensure his safety with a few of my freinds to help me see to it he is well.

I stopped about 4 hours on the journey to return home, and as I stop[ed to rest, the amulet seeming to grow more and more heavily upon me as if a burden or a warning, then she can feel it again.. the presence, that had begun all this, drawing closer now, growing upon me once more in all its ominipresence. I rested for a few moments then tried to seek my horse as if the spirit is pushing her forward back home to Halfhome to return there and give up the Cra-dul as requested. As I tried to move towards the horse, I felt the air shimmer warmly about me, a similar presence to the one she had encountered in Halfmoon's house, and indeed, it is but a few moments before the figure of the kindly handsome figure is formed, colaescing out of nothingness about 8' from her, standing upon the grass, his aura radiating goodness and his form an immaculate beauty. “Greetings, lady Tempest`. My Lord has bade me come to receive that which is due for safe-keeping.” I would turn and slowly look up at him then slip my small hand into my pocket lifting the Cra-dul out offering it up to the man she had spoken with before. I noticed as I did, there is a shimmer from about the air about me, and a burst of green and white flames as Joshua's voice warns. “Don't do it! don't give it to him!” the manifestation of the god turned to Joshua, looking at him curiously “Who are you, boy? that you seek to go against the path of all that is righteous and good? lift your voice not against my Lord.” I quickly pocketed it puzzled but trusting in Joshua's words...I would speak softly for a long moment. “Tis you will only have it ifen you can tell me the key of its place of safe keeping?” The manifestation looks at her oddly, and then to Joshua, then back to her “Key? it is kept within a tower, beside which lies a grave. this man here, used to guard it. and it is within an ark of gold, an ark of gold in a room with a shattered door and a shattered wall.” “ Whot says it in the bottom of that ark...tell me the key...so that I know whom i give it to is one of light for they would only know those words and know them as truth.” I remember the manifestation robed in white moves closer to me, his gaze still gentle as he looks at her then says. “It is one of the most sacred upon these earth, and there are some things that even my Lord would not have us, his mere messengers, know. now is the time to take this from this earth, that none here may seek to despoil it further.” he turned looking to Joshua, who seemed about to speak, but as he met the apparition's gaze he seemed to falter. “ But it could save lives why would he seek it to be taken away and disrupt such a balance in the world? I would not think that higher powers would seek to destroy such a wonderful gift?” I asked him softly my trust in him faltering by the passing moments. He responded in return to answer my question that I asked of him damanding an explantition. “He does not wish it destroyed, but it could bring great harm in the wrong hands, especially elevating those who have fallen back into the full glory and power from which they have fallen. it would restore to them their power and glory, but it would not sway their purpose. for though it gives life, it does so unconditionally. and whether one good or evil were to touch it, it would serve nonetheless,” I yet pressed him still with yet another inquiry imploying him to speak to the higher powers of things that might possibly come to pass perhaps but yet still I stalled for more time so that I might think of what to do to escape this creature that appreared before us so angelicly enchanting and majisticly. “Then ask him ifen I may keep it and serve its purpose to give lives and be forgiven. I must go home...” I remember his words in responce to my question that just did not sound truthfully right in my heart, tis knew it then he was not to be trusted. “ They have considered, long before I was sent to you. and it would not suit its purpose.” As he spoke to me he was slowly drawing another step closer to me slowly advancing upon me casually as if I were a foolish innocent child that cold not fend for myself or think, tis feeling rushed though my flesh as well as my soul and he yet spoke to me once more pleadingly so. “Come and deliver it to me, that I may present myself before the higher powers, in my fullness of my purpose.” I would make to climb upon my horse once more...leary and uneasy of the man who claims to be a messanger of the higher powers, I would seek out my most trusted of freinds and seek her advice if needs be. The manifestation was before me once more, standing before my warhorse now, as I had started to climb into the saddle, and barring my way, as he gazes into me “With this... my Lord could restore you. see! how you may be made whole!” The visions, came flashing before me in a sequence... frist my father, released from a place of captivity to be restored to the leadership of the gypsies, Joshua, becoming youthful once more, and my time with Spike... my own hurts, deep within me. memories of Soorelen.. ravaging me. taken away... healed as if it they had never been “Obey, and be made whole.” I could hear my own gasps shaking my body as tears start to fall. My emotions raging in a whole heap of confusion, my words tremble as I spoke those words as if a thousand times over and ever so natural. “Give life and be forgiven” this is the command

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