The Altar Room

Nereus trudged through the endless corridors and twisting tunnels until he came near thee entrance of the Altar room. Finally, light. Something to motivate him to continue forward in his current condition. His jumpsuit was shredded to bits from the waist up, exposing his wounded shoulder. Viscous, golden liquid leaked from his wound.

He propped his good shoulder against the wall and grit his teeth in frustration. His surroundings, his confusion, his hunger. Nothing made sense anymore. "Father...where am I? Please, answer me." Staring a hole into the ground, he would reach into a pouch located on his waist. "Forsaken." He whispered to himself, gripping a small vial of fluid in his hand. It looked strikingly similar to the ichor leaking from his wound. Popping the cork off with his thumb, he would tilt his head back and ingest the foul looking substance.

Instantly, his shoulders broadened and he gained his footing. His aura flickered to life, surrounding him like a thin cloud of smoke. Anyone within the area would clearly feel the entity slowly making his way through the corridor. "The coinspinner knows good odds..." The man whispered what seemed like a poem under his breath until he reached an open room. He didn't look like he was in any condition for battle. The old, beaten sword draped across his back and the empty holster on his waist didn't agree, though. He was clearly defeated.

"Aye, I doub' yer power," Pathos said before he took a drag from the flask. It was smooth and delicious. The drink burned all the way down to his belly. He grunted in appreciation and tucked the flask away once more.

"Th' dead belong with th' dead, laddeh," the elven man stated as fact. "I not goin' t'be the on t'make 'er come back an' disturb 'er rest." Pathos became thoughtful. The scars on his face exaggerated the look of sadness. It was easy to tell that at one time he had been a beautiful elven man. Time and war had taken that away from him, along with his grief.

"I don' care what ye say. You leave tha' woman be," Pathos said to the freed woman as he pointed a finger at her. He swayed on his feet and it was difficult for his eyes to remain steady on her. Before she could say anything to defend herself or not, Pathos shouted, "I said leave 'er be!"

That was when Pathos noticed, or rather, felt something. It took him a second or two longer to react but he eventually looked back the way he had come. There was another man standing there. It was obvious that he was wounded. Immediately Pathos's thoughts jumped to the woman he kept speaking about. She had been a healer.

"Friend?" Pathos grunted the question at the woman. He didn't wait for an answer before staggering over to the newcomer.

"Yer hurt. Lemme 'ave a look at ye," Pathos muttered. "Shouldn' be wanderin' 'round 'ere. Damned females snatch ye up an' drag ye under to who knows where." The man attempted to slip himself under the arm of the other man to aid him. Of course Pathos would not be much aid, but he had to offer. He would easily step back if the offer was denied.

Shayla was about to speak up in protest to Pathos' decisions, but his sharp answer silenced her into a beautiful scowl. The hair on her neck rose, however, when she felt the presence of another. This cavern had become quite popular in the last week. The times were changing, and the age was calling for an end. None the less, Shayla planned to survive the changing, and she needed all the help she could possibly muster in a short time span. Tugark had already left this place and was in pursuit of his long lost possessions. She would need to do the same.

"I've been captured in that box for a long time." Was her only answer to Pathos' question. She did not feel the need to explain herself any further. She followed gracefully after Pathos, like a cat who's merely following because she wanted to.

"Yes.. Females tend to do most of the dragging. Never mind the beast that once lived here as well.. Part man, part beast.. Trapped me in here with him.." She pouted, running a hand through her white hair. She did not seem to care that the other man was terribly injured or not. However, if asked by Pathos, she would do anything. "Left me in that box when he decided he wanted more treasure.. He's out there now, probably killing men and stealing women.." She sighed.

His eyes widened slightly at the aesthetic figure who had come to his aid. He grudgingly obliged. Nereus wasn't used to being helped, let alone touched by those he did not know. His current condition spared him no luxuries when it came to picking his allies. "You two...this place. Where are we? Is this hell?" The golden ichor leaking from his wound had the consistency of thick honey. It was obviously not blood.

Nereus tensed up against Pathos, his hands and legs shaking ever so slightly. His aura was weak, but was still visible. It flowed off his body in tendrils of wispy smoke, slowly surrounding the elven man like a warm blanket. "I'm sorry. That was stupid of me. Neither of you are Charon." He shook his head slowly, obviously disappointed in himself. What would his father think of him now? Did he even care?

Wincing slightly, he would fix his gaze onto the woman in the room, completely ignoring his injures for the moment. He didn't know if he should be grateful or worried at her presence. The man was all too used to dealing with powerful, malevolent beings, so he wasn't too worried. Keeping his lead low to the ground, Nereus would silence himself. It was better to be respectful than hotheaded. He had learned that lesson the hard way.

The sounds of footsteps echoing through the western passageway preceded the sight of a faint glow coming from further down, towards the rest of the old temple proper that stood below the Patronus base so far overhead. Making her way down the stone hall was a slight figure, a girl with white hair and pallid skin. An ethereal glow filled the air around her, and her elegant robe-like dress seemed to glide upon the air, unhindered by gravity.

Aiedai stepped out into the room, casting her eyes across those assembled with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. "We had thought we sensed presences here." she said, her words reverberating oddly, as though spoken by a small chorus of voices as opposed to a single girl. "For what reason do you step upon this sacred ground unannounced, strangers? You walk the hallowed halls of a temple dedicated to old gods. The Patronus watch this place, as surely as we watch our own temple above. It was the site of a battle which reforged our order, and the death place of the Lady Taima, Champion of our order, now ascended to the heavens as something greater still."

The pale but beautiful girl gestured with a hand, back down the passage "Should you have required shelter, our temple above is open to all. There your wounds can be tended, and more suitable accommodation found. We are uncertain how you reached this chamber without passing through to begin with. We request that you proceed upwards, and leave this place undisturbed."

Pathos didn't understand what the leaking man was saying. He was obviously delusional. The blond-haired elf rolled his dark eyes and handled Nereus none-too-gently.

"Righ' then. If'a you say so, boss," Pathos said to Nereus. The elf's eyes shifted over toward Shayla. His stare was still distrustful as it fell onto the woman. He was about to open his mouth to tell her as much before another female's voice echoed through the room.

Pathos's face grew dark and discomforted. Far too many people present for his liking and none of them he knew. Pathos pointed a finger at the newcomer.

"It en't none o'yer business woman. Too many womans 'round 'ere. I don't like it," Pathos said. "Gonna get outta 'ere as soon as can... leave now iffa I could," the elf muttered beneath his breath.

The woman merely picked at her nails as the newcomer came along. "Backdoors, m'love." She answered Aiedai simply and without hesitation, leaning forward slightly as if to accent her point, or her bosom. It was hard to tell. "There is always a secret backdoor. Don't have to take my word for it." She gestured to the two men. "Myself, however.. I've been here." She said curtly before adding, "For a very very long time..." She drew her words out slowly, deliberately. "But I've had enough of the drab carpets, so I'm planning to move out. You may have this place, it holds no memories for me any longer."

She moved closer to Pathos. "I can arrange that for you, my Master.." She giggled and gave a sly grin. The black mist started to shroud the floor once again, originating from her feet to engulf the two men and herself. Of course it was easy to back away from her power, as there was a limit as to how far she could extend it. But one way or another, she was through with being here. There were more important things to be dealing with than the creatures that hold the world today.

She was getting ready to move them away from this temple, away from these mountains if she had the juice enough to transport them there.

Nereus watched intently at the black mist slowly surrounding him. "This isn't right. You two, you're goddesses are you not?" The man's eyes darted back and forth at the two women, unsure of what to make of the situation set before him. Placing a hand on Pathos, he lightly pushed him away. Every fiber of his being wanted to retaliate, and so he reached for his holster. It was empty. It seemed as if he had just realized this fact.

He took two steady steps back, away from the three strangers. "You need to start giving me some answers. Now. Where am I? A sacred temple...of the old gods, no less? I would have heard of such a thing. Instead, I am here. Your prisoner." Gritting his teeth, he would quickly draw his sword. The hilt of the blade had an inscription of a unmarked coin spinning through the air. "I have good odds...whichever move I make." Raising the sword up at the man in front of him, he would quickly point it over to the woman bearing the black mist. Such power was not to be taken lightly.

"You, the sharp looking one. Who is Lady Taima? Did my father put you up to this?" He kept his eyes fixed on the woman with the coy smile, all the while keeping his injured arm tightly pressed behind his back despite the pain. Nereus had a good stance, especially for a man who had been wandering aimlessly for days on end.

"I am going to say this once. I am Nereus, the old man of the sea. If you do not make your intentions clear I will attack will full force." The man's blue eye gleamed, as did his blade. His figure was impressive, but it didn't hide the fear in his eyes. You could almost taste it.

"Lady Taima, dragonborn warrior of the Patronus. It was four years ago when she fell defending this temple and her allies from the Lahmian Sisterhood, agents of the Sealed One who sought to bring about the destruction of this world." Aiedai said, shaking her head sadly as the man drew his weapon. "Do not defile this place with violence any further. We mean you no harm, nor do we have any interest in detaining you should you wish to leave."

The pale girl waved a hand in the direction of the other man and woman, who were not quite so volatile. "You are free to depart by whatever means you wish. We can lead you to the stairs, should you so desire a more mundane exit."

Aiedai turned her eye back on Nereus. "We do not know of you, Nereus. We do not know of any of you. Our intentions were merely to investigate the presences we detected within our order's old temple. We have no designs upon you or the others here. You are free to leave, or to accept our hospitality, as you wish."

It seemed that the wish of Pathos was going to be granted. He grunted his approval and allowed Shayla to stand closer to him. A lift of the eyebrow was all that Pathos offered the injured and worn man as he moved away from the elf. Pathos did not know that man and owed his nothing. There would be no sadness if they parted ways. He had stopped caring for others unselfishly a long time ago.

"Away," Pathos said as he took out his never-dry flask. He took a long drink from the contents. The elf's eyes watched the black mist surround him and Shayla. When he swallowed the crisp liquor, he tucked the flask away for safety. It would be a travesty for Pathos to lose it during Shayla's transportation of them.

Of this ability, he didn't doubt the woman. It was bringing back the dead that no one had the right, nor should have the power to do.

"Somewhere sunny an' warm, if ye don't mind. Iffa I can go fishin' that's even better," Pathos said to Shayla.

He didn't even say goodbye to the others.

Shayla's slanted hues turned bright at the moment Pathos asked of a place sunny and warm. "Granted." She stated.

Soon the mist would begin to swirl about the woman and Pathos, picking up speed as it did so. Soon the two would be engulfed in the dark mist. It would linger a few seconds, only if the other man wished to join them before they simply disappeared. Not a trace of them remained, hurtled across time and space towards who knows where.

Nereus fixed his gaze on the only person standing in the room. His face was thin and aesthetic, like a young man, despite his advanced age. "So...I don't suppose you could have made that all up off the top of your head, eh?" Dropping his sword arm abruptly, the steel blade would make a sharp noise as it hit the floor. Whether this carelessness was due to his condition or attitude is unknown.

Smirking to himself, Nereus calmly slid the weapon into it's scabbard. "I'm sorry. You just don't look like anything or anyone I've ever seen before, and I've seen a lot." Taking a few steps closer to the figure, he seemed to take comfort in the fact that the other strangers had left his presence. The fear had left his eyes just as soon as it had arrived.

"I did not choose to come here. I know nothing of this world or it's inhabitants, but that doesn't mean I'm not willing to learn." Taking a quick glance at his surroundings, he suddenly came to the realization that he was out of his element. Quite literally, out of his element. "I will bear my respects to this temple, and to you if that's what you wish. All I ask in return is someone to tend my wound....and saltwater."

"Come," Aiedai inclined her head towards the passageway that led winding further into the mountain, to a set of stairs that would take them upwards and out towards the Patronus temple that was currently in use, "There is food, water - salt water if that is what you wish - and medical care to be found above, at our order's temple. We will lead you there."

A small smile formed upon the eerie girl's face, "We are used to others finding our appearance and our manner of speaking unnerving. We are not all of this world, though the host is. But rest assured, we are benevolent. We shall recede for now, and leave you with her alone."

Something almost imperceptible changed in Aiedai's eyes, and she blinked. "There," she said, "It's just you and I, now. I can explain what that means at another time. For now, let's get you somewhere those wounds can be treated properly."

Turning, Aiedai set off down the hallway, making her way towards the stairs that would lead them to the mountain side temple above.

Nereus felt a small shiver run down the length of his back. This woman reminded him of a former adversary. "Thank you...whoever I may be talking to right now." Despite his recent setback, he somewhat looked comfortable in the presence of this being. It seems as if he hadn't had a helping hand in a long time.

The vertical cut on his shoulder blade had stopped leaking, yet the golden ichor that sat on his wound did not begin to scab. "I would take care of myself, but I'm weak. I've spent days in those tunnels. I only have theories as to how I got there in the first place, but I'm sure all that means very little now."

Gripping one fist at his side, a silky white aura began to form itself around his body once more. The smoke traveled in wisps around his lower body as he began to follow the mysterious woman through the corridor and up the stairs. For some reason, it had the unmistakable scent of vanilla. A small grin formed on his face, as if he was happy with this mild show of strength. His power was slowly coming back.

Seemingly motionless, the figure standing before the altar had been there some time, for all seeming to merely be staring at the old, dusty surface. This was further along the room, fittingly an alcove deeper shrouded into flickering shadow. The altar was was of those nameless, but Josh knew who's it was. And the silence that answered him, the dead feel to it, gave credence to his suspicions. Never used, for this one favored a different sort of prayer.

Sighing, he finally turned away, choosing to walk, rather than drift this way and that. Much time spent going through the old room, perusing, thinking. At time dialogue with the twisted other he held under heel for the moment, the energy he required as sustenance seemingly just there in the air in the temple. Josh was at a loss as to how to proceed. He was a marked man, but that mark was his penance. It just seemed that his penance would have to be of his own choosing, for the marker was silent.

"One last chance to throw me a bone, Taima? Any idea at all would be nice here." Glaring across the room, its hallowed reverence of a number of gods that didn't care one whit their icons hung over blocks of stone, Josh crossed his arms.

"Talking to someone?" Shelby asked as she stepped into the rooms from the shadows of the stairwell. As she came into view she lowered the silver lined cowl of her cloak.

For being encased in the armor plating of the Le'thorian knights, she moved with remarkable ease and quiet.

For the most part since his arrival, the patroni had left Josh to his devices, and this was likely the first time one of them had actively sought him out.

A wry grin on the specter's face, as he turned to view Shelby. "Musing aloud, merely. Can I help you?"

It was sufficiently noteworthy to be stumbled upon here of all the temple. Few came to this old portion of the temple as it was, and this was the first time in his, ironically, haunting that he had been addressed.

"Perhaps," Shelby replied. "You bear the mark, and the majority believe your claim that you where sent to us, but we know not why anymore than you do," she explained.

"There are some that would have you turned away from our steps, for the crimes of your... former life. But Le'thorian teaches forgiveness, and rebirth. You would not be the first agent of darkness, to forsake such things. The decision has been reached to tentatively accept you among our own, but there are those who are not yet convinced as to your intentions, or the truth of your story."

She gestured towards the steps, an invitation for him to join her in departing the temple.

"We will extend to you our resources, and send you out into the world to show through action what you have spoken to us in word. And in time, your true nature will be revealed to us."

Drifting in her wake, he couldn't fault her the blunt statement of what he was. He himself was the reason for his current existence, and that of Kushin. Following the knight, Josh merely nodded.

"I appreciate the doubtless long negotiations on your part for me. Where would you have me go?"

Trepidation waxed through him, though he'd known it would come to this. Penance could not be achieved in exile, but through action. However, it was a world, while no doubt filled with cruelty, that contained innocent lives. And though his demons had chosen to lie low here in a temple filled with potentially lethal powers, Josh held no illusion he had mastery of Kushin's tendencies. And the price of failure...

Josh was resolved not to fail. But would Kushin be content to simply roll over? Not likely.

"Issunar," she answered as they ascended the steps. "A land where the dead walk among the living, and where the supernatural live alongside humans. A threat to this tentative peace approaches on the horizon, but our seers have not been able to ascertain the nature of the threat. It remains shrouded from our view."

It likely didn't take much to ascertain why Josh had been chosen to investigate the matter. Given his own undead nature, he would blend well enough among the locals.

"You will be accompanied by two of our order, and tasked with uncovering the nature of this threat. You're to maintain contact and report back to us for further instruction should your investigation prove fruitful. And be warned... failure in derailing the coming events will herald the bloodiest genocide Terran history has known in centuries."

That last drew a sharp stare from Joshua, searching eyes that seemed far too solid for a ghost. His lip curled slightly in a scowl.

"So, don't fail. That command never changes, no matter who gives it." Slightly acid, his response was almost automatic. There was bitterness aplenty in his human personality, a reminder that passed his own mind that Kushin was a by-product, not a cause. Shrugging, he continued following in silence for a time.

Finally, speaking once again. "Who's the lucky one who gets to watch the dead guy?"

"We will be sending Arrow and Oriel to accompany you. They have... business in Lutetia of their own," Shelby explained.