A Quest for Knowledge and Home

[KoE|Takamori]

*Takamori Izanami plops down at the base of the nearest Ash Tree. Its soft, cool bark was a welcome sensation. He was home again. For too long had he neglected his homeland and now that he was here visions of the past were flooding his mind, visions he had ignored for many years.

*After an adequate rest Takamori pursed his lips together and whistled a tune no creature can hear, save the Mirdain of Mirendil. He calmly pulled his pipe and herb from his pack, knowing full well that while it was not required of other races, sharing personal belongings was customary, nay good manners amoungst the Mirendil.

*In the shade of the Ash Tree, on the edge of the Oromean's glade, he blew smoke spheres, awaiting audience...

[Kheiron]

He had noticed the new arrival long before he decided to squat by the tree and imitate a chimney. He wasn't Oromean, that much was plain, but as a Mirdain he didn't warrant an arrow in the back either.

Curious, and because he had nothing else to do, Nyran decided to investigate the stranger a little further.

[KoE|Takamori]

*Takamori rose and brushed himself off. He had waited an adequate amount of time to be received by the Oromeans and would not turn back around after such a long journey just because of inhospitality. Besides, his Grand Elder had built his study long before the Oromea claimed this territory.

*Packing his belongings he set out. Stepping onto the pine needled ground, he was not unaware of the cold eyes that were watching him.Generally he could tell when he was being watched however never had he felt such energy, except that once...
He put the thought behind him and walked on.The small silver rune that hung loosely from the chain around his neck seemed drawn forward, all the more reassuring that he was headed in the proper direction.

*After trekking for awhile he came to a gnarled tree. Ancient it seemed. At the base of said tree was a small rune shaped indent, identical to the talisman on his neck. Drawing the talisman forth, Taka proceeded to slice the end of his index finger. as rivulets of blood flowed down his hand he rubbed the necklace and placed the blood soaked piece of silver in its proper place. He waited patiently for the familiar fading of the shielding spell. Slowly the earth underneath the Elm gave way to reveal a flight of stairs down a dark passage. Singing a soft chant a flame appeared in Taka's hand as he descended the staircase. As he walked forward he noticed where wizard's fire had scorched the bark.
"Apparently I'm not the first seeking this place. If only they had thought to have found a blood relative t'would have save them the reagents. I must make haste however, for surely whomever was watching me is still out there"

*A short while later Taka emerged from the earth this time with an old book about the size of a personal journal tucked under his arm

[Kheiron]

"Curious..." Nyran thought to himself.

He had noticed that particular elm ages ago. It's curiously shaped indent and aura of magic betrayed it's attempt at camouflage with the other trees, though after about five minutes of trying to set the thing on fire it's mysteries no longer seemed quite so appealing.

Only sparodic attempts at deciphering the elm followed throughout the years and Nyran was ashamed to say he was no closer to figuring out what was going on now then he was the first day he found it. That was, of course, until today.

While his ability in stealth was laughable in comparison to some of his Oromean comrades, his affinity for darkness at least made him proficient. Even so, he was pretty certain his quarry knew he was being watched. The book though, that was interesting...

[KoE|Takamori]

Pleased with his discovery, Takamori set about building camp. He gathered firewood, collected water from a nearby stream and set about cooking the snake he had trapped that morning. All the while, the words of his father singing in his mind...
"Remember Taka the wise hunter must know what it means to be hunted;only then can he survive not as ruler of the land but as a part of it."

The eyes had followed him all the way from his family's Elm. The last time eyes like that had hunted him....A shudder ran through his spine. "Well let them come" he mused, "I am not entirely unprepared". Setting his bow and staff down on the log next to him, he settled down in the flickering campfire and opened the dusty journal.

After a short read, he sighed and drew his dagger from its sheath. pricking his finger he drew a small rune in the ash and settled the bones of his dinner down upon him. a quick glance at the journal and he set about chanting. a ominous green glow appeared in the serpent's bones and it shuddered as it attempted to raise its head...shortly after however the glow faded away and the bones promptly scattered in the dirt.

"Blast! At this rate I'll never achieve the skill necessary to use my uncle's final spell. Patience was a necessary trait for his line of work but this magic was too foreign. he would never learn fast enough. Determined, however, he decided to rest for the night; It would take more than one failure to deter him from his goal...

*Settling into the earth beneath him, Taka closed his eyes and promptly fell into slumber

[Kheiron]

"Curious..." Nyran thought to himself once again, "He's a Necromancer. A particularly pathetic one, but a Necromancer none the less.

The time for this pacifist sneaking crap had passed, and with his usual subtlety and charm, Nyran stepped forward to get some questions answered.
His new found colleague in the dark arts seemed to be sleeping soundly by the fire, but he seemed a little chilly by Nyran's opinion.
With practiced grace he tempted the fire to break the confines of the campfire, spreading the flames alongside the sleeping Mirdain before coaxing them to encircle him until he was entirely confined by flame. With a sprinkle of sulfur he fueled the flames until they leapt to waist height.
The encircled stranger began to stir under the increased heat and woke.
"Hello," Nyran said, all manners.

"...I'd like to ask you a few questions."

[KoE|Takamori]

Eyes closed, Taka addressed the stranger

"Bad manners it is to come into a fellows camp uninvited. It's that sort of behavior that will get an arrow in your throat or since my bow is set down at the moment, a mouth full of teeth..."

A low growl can be heard from behind the mage. The blue eyes of Taka's wolf dog flashed in the darkness. "You didn't think that a woodsman would so easily be tracked in his native forest would you? However your mastery of this fire has surprised me. It does not feel like a normal Fire elemental spell, this is something darker...

Takamori opens eyes and stares into the familiarly glowing orbs in front of him.
"It appears we are at a stand still wizard. So what shall it be? should we destroy each other? or would you rather learn about this? Holds up the leathery journal
"Would you risk burning that which you have sought after for so long? Kheiron..."

[Kheiron]

A smile cracked Nyran's lips as he looked down at the Mirdain holding the journal. Both of them would likely end up dead if he pushed towards a conflict with that wolf waiting behind him. Though, if he freed his captive the wolf could simply attack regardless. A curious impasse, and for the first time in weeks Kheiron found himself amused.

"I'm not exactly known for my manners," Kheiron began, "Nor my tolerance. Tell your beast to come sit down in plain view and I'll quench the flames. Try anything else and I'll set all three of us on fire. I'd bet gold I'm not near as flammable as you are."

[KoE|Takamori]

"A reasonable compromise," Taka says

Taka whistles for his companion to back off and motions for her to sit in wait on the edge of the flames. Still growling she stares intently at Kheiron.

"Are you satisfied master wizard? I'm afraid I can't command her to trust you as she's a protective spirit about her. Always has ever since the day I captured her. "

Taka slowly reaches into his pack and pulls out his pipe, fills it with his finest Dreamweed and lights it from the flames surrounding him. The subtle hilt of a throwing dagger rests in Taka's sleeve, procured in the same movement that brought out his pipe

"I have come from afar to visit my homeland and I seek knowledge. Knowledge from you Kheiron, Necromancer of Oromea. Oh yes, I have heard many a tale of you, some of which I imagine are true. Come now quell these flames, I grow tired of this game. Sit and ask the questions you have come to ask.

A grin spreads across his face

"I suppose nether of us should make an sudden moves"

[Kheiron]

As Kheiron eased his hands back to his side the flames surrounding the stranger shrunk and receded back to the campfire, where they proceeded to burn with a slight eldritch haze.

With that, Nyran showed the other Mirdain his empty hands before dusting them off on his robes.

"Questions..." He began, almost as if to himself, " I do have questions, so many questions...I'll just start with the ones of immediate interest. Who are you?, why are you here?, what's with the book?, what's with the elm?, what's with the pendant and where'd you get the dog?, she's quite impressive."