Zarathustra
Troubadour
Posts: 10
Profession: Hermit
Affiliation: The Cult of Zarathustra
Guild: None
Affinity: Wind
Profile: Zarathustra
OoC Alias: Ryu
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Post by Zarathustra on Aug 21, 2017 11:09:19 GMT -6
Nabata.
A vast expanse of sand and rocks presented itself before the troubadour, who sat upon Zoroaster and stared as they slogged forward, slowly, through the sand. The town that loomed ahead seemed to have sprung out of the sand. The streets were made of sand, the buildings sat upon the sand... In fact, they seemed to be made of hardened sand. It appeared that the whole of this settlement was sand. Perhaps even the people were made of sand. It was an interesting thought. Dismounting, much like a fish flopping upon land, the 'prophet' and 'wise man' left Zoroaster to wander about and began to shuffle through the sand, mumbling incoherently to himself.
"Hark! For truth comes from within and lights the way, without need of candle or torch or fireball. Truth is an eternal light. Candles melt, and torches burn down. Mages run away, or run out of magic. But truth remains!"
The man withdrew a noxious looking flask of what appeared to be the type of brackish water one would find in a bog, or a sluggish stream, or a forest puddle. Taking a long draught, he smiled happily and continued to waltz along, poking at objects and the sand with his staff -- a long, gnarled stick with a dark red crystal in it. In fact, the staff was for Zarathustra less of a tool of magic and more of a backscratcher, a walking stick, a pointer, or a reach extender. He often forgot he could heal at all.
"From the air I detect a savory smell. Is it the scent of charred meat, cooked upon the skillet? The thick aroma of stew? Perhaps it is winged salamander, that which I long to taste!"
The troubadour wandered off in the direction of the smell, looking every which way besides in front of him and babbling nonstop. It would be a miracle if he didn't run into anything.
"And so one must never consume more than they produce, must never live in a way that suggests..."
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Aura
Priest
Posts: 117
Profession: Hereticus Exterminatus
Affinity: Light
Profile: Aura
OoC Alias: Vincent
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Post by Aura on Aug 22, 2017 10:46:39 GMT -6
It would appear that Nabata was even less pleasant than his master had lead him to believe, even still, this was the land his master had told him would contain his next adventure and so here he was, he only prayed he would not regret coming to this land of blistering heat and frosty nights. Even at the borders it was a world apart from Bern, hard earth gave way to shifting sands and misery.
While he normally wore what one might call a gentleman's garb he was now stripped down to light clothing and a cloak to repel the sun, and atop his head a wrap to contain his sweat. In his left hand was his walking stick, it would have been a perfect time to have gotten himself a staff but he was a stubborn man and made it his goal to be as good a nonsomantic caster as Althea was. Just as his canteens were beginning to lack cool water, or any water at all, he chanced upon a village, quite likely the last he would see for sometime should he look to venture deeper into the wasteland.
He wasted no time in arriving in order to rest his weary legs and drink his fill from the local wells. Perhaps he would stay the rest of the day and find a guide to take him deeper into the lands unknown. His pale complexion outed him as a foreigner with no need for a second glance, the same as his composure under such strenuous heat.
Though the scent of meat cooking in the distance was savory and reminded him of his stomach and not just his thirst. The juices of a roasted meat could satiate his thirst just as well as any water he reckoned. Perhaps it was a stall somewhere that he could use just a few coins on? Either way, and whatever answer he would find he was determined to locate this source of nourishment.
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Zarathustra
Troubadour
Posts: 10
Profession: Hermit
Affiliation: The Cult of Zarathustra
Guild: None
Affinity: Wind
Profile: Zarathustra
OoC Alias: Ryu
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Post by Zarathustra on Aug 22, 2017 21:53:13 GMT -6
Zarathustra continued to meander about, but as he approached the meat he became more and more focused and was able to move in a straight line. Soon, he came upon the source - a street vendor, with a whole roasted pig. The cuts of meat were glistening, cooked to perfection and shining with fat over the crispy skin. The food looked to be exquisite, and in the one gesture that seemed to recall the learned and respectable man Zarathustra once was, the troubadour withdrew a golden coin from deep within his robes and offered it to the vendor.
The man stared blankly at the coin in his palm and at the man handing it to him. The food merchant's eyes widened in surprise, confusion, and then awe, but he took the coin, pressed a few silver coins into the perplexed healer's hand, and then took the whole of the pig and offered it to Zarathustra. Little did the 'prophet' know that he had paid almost thrice the cost of the pig, and the honest merchant had dutifully given him proper change and the whole of the pig.
"But is this not the most lovely? For I pay with one coin and receive four in exchange, and a whole roast pig to boot! This is truly a boon, a beneficial day. I am blessed by the ^@*%^$ and all is going my way!"
Zarathustra ripped a chunk of the pig off, cutting it inelegantly with a knife, and began to chomp upon it in a most savage manner. He looked rather like a ravenous beast, rather than a scholar eating a meal. As he polished off the piece and went to cut another, he slipped, the knife slick with fat, and gashed his hand, a long cut. Grimacing, the troubadour picked up the gnarled stick at his feet, raised it skyward, and then swept it down.
There was a tremendous flash of red light and a loud bang, and then as the man picked himself off of the sand, a little dazed, he realized that his cut was healed. Peculiarly, he couldn't quite place what he had done or why. All that mattered was that his injury was healed.
The smell of the pig drew him back in, and he returned to devouring his food.
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Aura
Priest
Posts: 117
Profession: Hereticus Exterminatus
Affinity: Light
Profile: Aura
OoC Alias: Vincent
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Post by Aura on Aug 23, 2017 10:28:17 GMT -6
Aura followed his nose guided by his stomach's urging until he came upon the source far too late. To his dismay the food was already sold off and in the hands of a... very strange man who devoured it. His stomach growled at him in protest as he turned to the seller. He looked over the stand in hopes that there was something, anything else ready for him to take. But alas there was nothing else. Aura tossed his head back and let out a slow heated breath, his throat was so dry. He downed the rest of his flask, casting an unintentionally dirty look at the man's direction. He bought it so it was his to eat and do with as he liked, but he did not have to like the situation for himself after all.
Just as Aura was to depart and leave the man to his fervent feasting for fine meats the man seemed to cut himself but without a care in the world he healed himself with his staff and continued to devour his pig. A mage? "Ex...cuse me sir." Aura interrupted slowly and hesitantly. The juices of the fats that seemed to crease his mouth was a bit of a turn off making this proceeding much more difficult, miraculous even that it got off the ground. "I just saw that you healed yourself, I was wondering if perhaps you were a mage." To clarify further, "You see, I am a mage as well and I was wondering if perhaps you knew a bit more." And who knows, if he and the man got on as friends he could get some meat too. He could not eat ALL of it could he?
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Zarathustra
Troubadour
Posts: 10
Profession: Hermit
Affiliation: The Cult of Zarathustra
Guild: None
Affinity: Wind
Profile: Zarathustra
OoC Alias: Ryu
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Post by Zarathustra on Aug 23, 2017 14:39:20 GMT -6
"Ex...cuse me sir. I just saw that you healed yourself, I was wondering if perhaps you were a mage. You see, I am a mage as well and I was wondering if perhaps you knew a bit more."
Zarathustra looked up, smiling at the man standing before him. He looked peaceful and true. Yes, this was a man, not a demon or beast. Just to be sure, the troubadour took up his staff and jabbed it tentatively at the man's shin. When he did not disappear into dust or leap snarling like a wolf, Zara was satisfied.
"You are a man! Come, sit, eat. We will discuss the meaning of life."
Zarathustra offered the man a huge slab of pig, beaming like an angel - a wrinkled, old, and absolutely insane angel - and continued to eat before gulping down the mouthful and speaking of things that seemed perfectly logical to him.
"One must never consume more than he produces. If one produces a great amount, then he can consume modestly for a long time before the balance is again struck. But if one consumes more than one produces, then the world descends into looting and anarchy. You see, one must never ask another man to live for his sake, or ever stoop to live for another man's sake. One must solely rest upon his own haunches, and stride with his own feet."
The troubadour picked up the staff, and touched the gnarled top. At his request the red stone glowed softly.
"This crystal I found myself. I mined it from deep underground, near a place of great magic, a cave that used to contain the secrets of some long forgotten power. All that was left was these rocks, which possess no power of their own, but are exceptionally good at channeling magic.
I am somehow able to call forth power from these rocks! I remember there was a reason I sought these stones out, but I have long since forgotten it. All that is left is a longing in my mind to find that cave again.
Do you understand me? I know not why I must go but I must go. I know not where I must go but I must go. I know not how I must go but I must go. I know not when I must go but I must go."
He nodded, satisfied with his perfectly clear explanation.
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Aura
Priest
Posts: 117
Profession: Hereticus Exterminatus
Affinity: Light
Profile: Aura
OoC Alias: Vincent
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Post by Aura on Aug 23, 2017 15:16:18 GMT -6
Yes? Yes he was a man indeed, why would he say tha- "Owe! Ah! What?" he had no time to think or respond, let alone form a word or two properly. It was not all bad however, the strange man had offered him some of his meat. It was a delicious and succulent meat. Honestly it was even better than he had imagined it, he was however terribly wrong in his earlier thought that the juices of the pig would satisfy his thirst. He would need to fill up at the local well still.
The man proceeded to talk his ear off, was this what it was like to listen to himself when he got going? At least he let others speak their piece between his incessant monologues. Even still Aura ate and listened to his advice or philosophy... whatever it actually qualified as. For what it was worth Aura found himself in agreement about the give and take situation, but all the same a man should give more than he takes, that way there can be an abundance to go around and the underprivileged were not made to suffer for it... but that might not be his point he suspected, maybe?
He then went on and on about his magic channeling stone. He certainly knew nothing about it other than he found it in an important place and that there were more of them out there... perhaps this was the call to adventure he was told to look for out in Nabata... or he was about to get involved with a dangerous old man.
"Sir. This may sound insane, but I was told I should come here to Nabata in order to find a new adventure and to further hone my skills, if you would have me along for it I believe that hunting for those stones with you may very well BE that adventure."
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Zarathustra
Troubadour
Posts: 10
Profession: Hermit
Affiliation: The Cult of Zarathustra
Guild: None
Affinity: Wind
Profile: Zarathustra
OoC Alias: Ryu
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Post by Zarathustra on Aug 23, 2017 23:18:47 GMT -6
"Sir. This may sound insane, but I was told I should come here to Nabata in order to find a new adventure and to further hone my skills, if you would have me along for it I believe that hunting for those stones with you may very well BE that adventure."
"I know not where these rocks are. What use would a man like you have for these rocks? You could sell them perhaps to the little people who throw fire balls and ice balls and little lightning bolts, or maybe to the ones who keep praying and shining bright lights about. Even the ones that talk to the...Source...would pay you for the rocks. But you do not look like a peddler or an adventurer.
The rocks are no good for eating, so you cannot turn yourself into a fire ball throwing man, if that was what you hoped for."
After that completely random outburst, and a minute of only the sound of eating, Zarathustra commented again.
"You can put a bag of water and of food on Zoroaster and walk him through the desert, but it will be a slow walk. I do not know if the rocks were in the desert. I wonder what is in the desert. Why is the desert deserted? Perhaps a great power is in the desert. Or a great evil.
The Source seems not to be in the desert. It seems no more and no less anywhere I go. I wonder what is in the desert. Is something buried underneath the sands of the desert? Maybe if a man goes into the desert he should take a shovel."
Zarathustra's face lit up and he turned to Aura, looking at him with a deep, powerful stare. It was the first time he had appeared normal, earnest, and powerful, not the usual babbling lunatic most took him as.
"Do you want to walk into the desert with me? I am going to walk into the desert. I am going to see what I can see in the desert. I will walk in a straight line. When I am done, I will turn around and walk back. Do you want to come with me into the desert?
There was something oddly compelling about the voice and the eyes, even if the rest of the man inspired nothing but raised eyebrows and a few chuckles.
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Aura
Priest
Posts: 117
Profession: Hereticus Exterminatus
Affinity: Light
Profile: Aura
OoC Alias: Vincent
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Post by Aura on Aug 27, 2017 14:15:35 GMT -6
In truth Aura had no desires of his own for the old man's rocks, he just thought he may have found an adventure opportunity and was willing to take it. The call to adventure the great scribes would refer to this as, he thought. Aura's brows furrowed and fell ever so slightly and ever so slowly as the man ranted. When he fell silent merely to eat a while Aura was as a loss for words. What was all this about eating the rocks in order to throw fireballs at people? He waved the questions from his mind as they were unnecessary fluff instead choosing to focus on the comments of value buried within. There was no guarantee that the desert held the lost location of the stones he seeks, merely that he is going to go there regardless.
When the man finished speaking in his entirety Aura was afforded his chance to reply, "I know not what lies within the depths of the desert or the answer to any of your myriad of questions. I do however, know myself, and that if we should venture into those depths we will find something of value out there regardless, whether it be riches or something that stirs a man's internal soul." He smiled. "So yes, I would love to travel through the desert with you. I have traveled light so I won't be much of a burden to Zoroaster or yourself, of that you have my word." He finished his portion of pork at just the right time and opened his cloak to show his flasks of water and little else he carried.
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Aura
Priest
Posts: 117
Profession: Hereticus Exterminatus
Affinity: Light
Profile: Aura
OoC Alias: Vincent
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Post by Aura on Nov 2, 2017 21:13:19 GMT -6
After the meal the pair had a few more necessities to see to before they could begin the journey into the dessert. Aura told the old man he would gather them some food for the trip while he saw to... whatever his business was exactly. Aura ventured back into the market going from colorful stall to colorful stall, the arabesque patterns were quite attractive but he had no time nor funds to worry about fanciful clothing... and they weren't exactly intended for men. He tried to imagine Anne or Althea in such garbs but it was difficult, they just weren't the sorts for it. Even in his imaginations. That Cerche girl on the other hand maybe? He felt his face flush just thinking back to her clothing and made himself move on.
Gathering dried meats and extra water for the trip was a simple task all in all but finding the old man after the fact was far from. The market was not particularly large, he thought, but even in its meager size he managed to lose him. "For the love of..." If he didn't find the man what was he going to do with all of the extra food he gathered? He could travel far sure, but even dried meat had its limits, and so did his stomach with eating it endlessly. Aura searched for a time but to no avail, the man was a strange one but to think he would depart without him, or wherever he went was frustrating and upsetting. Regardless he accepted his inability to locate him and went on his way.
[Exit Thread]
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