Sazil and Artua - Righteous Glade

Sazil looked about him...

He had trekked long and far to reach the ground he himself dubbed the Righteous Glade years ago. It was a place of unnatural energy, seemingly to boil with power. In a nook in between the mountains of Tarin was located a set of ruins, and all about the destroyed remains was a forest, much older than the forest around it. It could only be found by venturing into a concealed cave above the paths that encircled the mountain range, and so it was here that Sazil employed to serve as the grounds for his political gains.

Summoning mages from far and wide, they met to discuss their plots and their progress. The mages were quickly ushered by their kingdoms, villages, and guilds to join the mettings of Sazil, to benefit all with his grace. It was all in the name of Good...

Indeed it is for Good... This holy cause... and I am it's forefront.

Sazil removed himself from his thoughts, and motioned to his personal guard, a group of mages and mageknights among various schools and experience, to prepare the area for the arrival of the others and the beginnings of this consulate.

Hmmm...

He looked back behind himself and the others, peering down the path to the mountain cave.

I can feel... something or someone else... odd... only those who I summoned would be able to find this place... it must be the distortions from this ancient forest.

Sazil turned back around, staff in hand, and walked towards the center of the ruins.

And if it's not... I'll just have to use them for myself.

The travel had been long, winding roads, wrong turns, and misinformation abounded. It had taken quite a time for Artua to piece together the bits of information, from drunken slips of the tongue by the occasional traveling mage. If it had not been for that last one, who had a particular tendency of talking in his sleep, it would have taken much longer to discern the location of this "congregation".

Coming upon the mouth of a very well hidden cave, hinted at by the ramblings of a younger mage, "Who could have known he had an allergy to honey when I bought that mead for him?" thought Artua gleefully to himself.

"I have come this far, time to meet this man i have heard so much about, heh, but first I have some unfinished business to attend to" Artua said as he looked down upon the sword he had taken from that broken man. "YOU WILL OBEY US""WE ARE IN CONTROL" The sword pandered on in its cryptic whispers, trying desperately to prove to itself that it controlled Artua.

"You have taught me what I sought to learn, now you are of no use" Artua thought, so that the sword could understand clearly. "You have extended your consciousness too far in your mad bid to control me, now I will use it against you" and Artua forced mana from his body into the sword. "YOU! you cannot do this to US we are ETERNAL we are ALL POWERFUL we will control ALL for we are the DESTROYERS, you are but a PITIFULINSECTTOUSandyouwillbeourTOOLforthedestructionoftheUNI..."*crack* and the sword was in pieces in the grass, a loud bang echoing in the mountains, and a drop of dew, glistening on the obsidian pommel.

"Time to press on" Though Artua, as he entered the mouth of the cave.

"Your Holyness... everything is ready. All we need to wait on are the others."

Sazil looked at the white robed man, and smiled.

"Excellent. Everyone can now go about as they wish, with a rotation starting from squad A every thirty minutes."

The man looked puzzled, but nodded and went to deliver the decree. Sazil watched him go, and looked about the ruins. The entire camp was set up around it, tents and makeshift shanties, as well as the mobile library. He looked up to see the artificial roof made of cloth stretched out over the ruins and the encampment. He traced one of it's connections to the far mountain wall.

One of my engineers' more amazing inventions...

He looked down from the connection, then back across to the road.

I'm beginning to doubt that's just a distortion... it's getting closer, and it doesn't seem to be anyone I'm familiar with...

With his bright yellow white eyes, he cast his gaze over to a group of mage knights, a group of his bodygaurds currently off duty.

"Guards."

His words caught their immediate attention. They stood and focused on him obediently.

"Follow me. I must investigate something."

Sazil turned and began walking down the path towards the mountain passage. It wasn't far off, but it was best that he not endanger the encampment. His guard quickly ran to his side, and one from either side entered the woods, leaving two to either of Sazil's flanks.

The cave was damp, but the ground had been disturbed recently, "someone went through a lot of trouble to conceal this place" thought Artua "I seem to have found my destination". The cave was short, and soon Artua came upon a great wooded area, older than even he was.

Emerging, Artua felt the warmth of the sun, so refreshing, and yet so sad. He looked into the distance, and noticed something moving through the woods, slowly and deliberately. "Not an animal" Thought Artua "Must be guards of some kind. I will pay them no heed, and continue as though I had not noticed them, they pose no threat anyways"

Artua continued walking, following the remnants of an almost invisible trail, content on finding out what these mages were clamboring about.

Sazil drew the hood of his cape over his head, casting a shadow over his face. He tucked his scepter behind him, the cape flowing over the harness that held to to conceal the artifact of power.

I'll see what this intruder's true intent is before I show them anything...

He took a half stride more than the guards around him, waving two fingers to either side, signalling the far two guards to also disperse into the forest. The remaining two kept their slight distance from Sazil, as it seemed their leader was determined to face... well... whatever it was Sazil had called them for.

It couldn't be too much of a threat if he only asked for four of them.

Through the shadow of his cape, Sazil could make out a figure ahead on the path towards the cave. He drew his fingers to his mouth, then blew across them, letting the screeching whistle fill the air.

The two forward guards leapt out of the forest to either side of Artua, drawing their glaives.

"And who may you be."

It was more of a demand than a question.

Just as Artua had thought, they sought to contront him. "I will humor them" thought Artua "My name is Artua, I am a traveler and scholar, and I seek an audience with a man who has been sending out for the best and brightest of mages around the land, a man named Sazil." "And who may you be? you seem awfully far from a town."

Artua hoped that the guards would not notice the suspiciousness of a traveler with no weapons. "They may think me a mage" thought Artua "But if they require a test of my skills, I may be in trouble"

The guards looked at Artua distastefully, raising their glaives and stepping towards either side of him.

"We are Sazil's guard. You may find him down the road."

They motioned down the path, where the robed figure and the two guards were still making their way towards them. They were only about a quarter-mile distance away. The robed figure waved his hand and called out.

"Hail, stranger! Why are you here at the Righteous Glade?"

Sazil smiled from beneath his hood.

A performance is in order... I need to discover this intruder's true intent.

"Ahh, you must be Sazil!" called Artua back. "I have heard so much, and yet so little of you, you do well to keep out of the public eye." Artua stayed still, not wanting to show anything that could be mistaken for hostility.

"Many have spoken of great deeds of holyness, great power. If you draw this power from a diety, I would seek an audience with it. If you form and control this power of yourself alone, I would seek to learn from you. I hope I do not unwelcomely intrude."

Artua bowed his head in solemn respect.

"And surely you could use an extra pair of hands for such a great undertaking."

Sazil smirked...

So... another seeking power, hoping that one of great power could bestow some of their gifts on them... I may have something in mind...

The smirk quickly turned into a smile, a peaceful and seren look about his face.

"Ah yes... I wasn't expecting any new guests, but I believe I can accomodate some room for you."

Sazil turned around, motioning for his guards to assume an escorting position around himself and the newcomer, and began to walk back towards his camp.

"You'll find the best and brightest of mages and warriors. Once I introduce you to a few things, you'll be welcome to seek guidance from them as well."

Sazil looked slightly behind his shoulder.

"So... Your name and your adeption, if you will. I can't keep a guest if I know nothing of them."

He applied another smile upon his face, a gesture of sincerity.

Guards quickly flanked Artua on either side and began escourting him to the camp, Sazil striding a distance ahead.

"Your name and adeption" I'm doomed No, I can think of something...

"My name is Artua, and I specialize in a combination of Conjuration, and Fire-Evocation. I hope that combination-magics are not a problem?"

"I also dabble in the alchemical, but I am glad to be accepted into a place of such great knowledge."

Sazil turned his head to face the path once more.

"I see. No, they won't be a problem."

There's something very different about him. It seems as if the life about him is greater and flares with more energy...

"Besides... what I have to teach you doesn't concern that."

Sazil saw the camp up ahead. Only a few more minutes until they entered it once more.

Artua could see the camp now, hear the mages arguing over arcane formulae. The encantations and strange sounds of experimental sounds gone awry. There would be much to learn here.

An enormous grin grew onto Artua's face at the thought of so much to learn.

After entering the camp, Sazil guided Artua and his guards to his tent. Inside were many things of magical value, artifacts which kingdoms would love to control. He sat at a small table while a young woman served him some tea in two cups. Sazil placed the second cup across from him, while the woman slid a chair opposite of the holy worker.

"Come, come, have a seat, and tell me about yourself."

He motioned for Artua to sit.

I'm not exactly worried about this one, but I'd rather have a better grasp on who he is than some random fire mage with a name...

Artua quickly sat down.

"Should I lie? Can I even tell the whole truth? No... now is not the time for lies or doubt."

So Artua sat, and talked about all that had happened in his life, even about his extended life. He told of the plague, of his many travels, but omitted anything that would hint at him not actually being a Mage of Fire.

Artua even told about the man, Ashatair, the sword, and the beast of darkness.

Sazil listened deeply, intrigued at every end.

This longer life could be caused by the inhanced life energy about him... Perhaps he does not even know... but that does not matter.

"Well, Artua... it seems you're a mage of renown. I think you'll be worthy with what I have to teach you. But before that... I can tell there is something deeper to the story, which you may more may not know. The life energy within you is great. Do you know of this?"

"My... Life-Energy?" sputtered Artua

"He really is an amazing man, to notice this much about me"

"But I get tired just like everyone else, and I don't sleep any less..." Artua said trying as hard as he could muster to sound like an imbecile.

Sazil looked at him intently, trying to discern his reaction.

It's hard to tell...

"Yet you have a longer life span..."

Perhaps it's time to offer him something...

Sazil set down the tea, finished, and slowly stood up.

"Quite possibly the only services I could offer your concern that life energy of yours. I don't know much knowledge in the path of fire."

"I have heard tell that you know much of restorative magics, about light and the holiness of the world. That man I mentioned before, Ashatair, when I came in contact with his corrupted sword I suddenly became aware of all that can be wrong in the world, all that can be corrupt."

Artua's face fell into a grimace

"As such, my body is in an imbalanced state. I was wondering if there was some way you could help to quell the chaos in my soul, and put balance back into my mind."

Sazil thought for a moment, pleased that things were going the way he wanted them to go.

[i]I will be able to help him... and he will be able to help me./i]

"Artua, I will be able to cleanse your body of impurities, and set you into a peaceful rest where your mind may be cleansed of such things as well."

Sazil turned and walked away from the table, planting a hand under his chin.

"However, it depends very much on your faith in such an act."

"If there was a man better suited to this task, I would have sought them out. You are the avatar of purity in this land, a shining beacon of hope in a hopeless world. If I did not have the utmost faith in you and your abilities, I would not ask of such a favor."

Then something struck Artua, an ominous and foreboding feeling. He glanced outside and noted the time of day, it was noon. The scar on his forearm flared up with black flame, searing pain shot through his body. Then it was over, or atleast it should have been. The pain continued, and began to spread, as did the flame. It crawled like worms from the scar, setting fire to the table, quickly engulfing his forearm and slowly moving further up.

Sazil was about to reply to the man's stated devotion, but heard odd sounds forming behind him. He turned slowly, expecting to see anything but the sight behind him. He turned in full once he caught a glimpse of the black flaming fellow, drawing his staff in a defensive stance, pointing it towards him.

"What is the meaning of this, Artua!?"

He had never seen anything like it in all his travels, and neither had his personal guard who entered the large tent at Sazil's outburst, and drew their weapons.

Artua's arm continued to sear with immense pain. The flame had moved further up his arm and grew ever closer to reaching his shoulder. When the bodyguards charged in the flame changed, a tendril about the thickness of a quarterstaff shooting out grabbing one of the guards, and launching him several yards out of the tent.

The pain grew so extreme that Artua's vision began to fade. Screaming in agony, he managed to choke out a plea for help.

"ARGH! CLEANSE IT NOW! OR TAKE THE ARM OFF, I DON'T CARE JUST MAKE IT STOP!"

Sazil marched forward, taking his staff, and in full swing stabbing at the burning arm. As it connected, he forced the mana inside the staff to form a shield of diffusing mana around the arm.



(The mana shield would fight against the flames, contact his skin, and then go about destroying the mana inside of Artua. That would probably be painful enough to knock him out, but certainly not kill him)

*babump*

Sazil had done something, surrounded Artua's arm. The flames stopped spreading, and began to recede with the barrier.

*babump*

Where the fire had been, only charred flesh remained. Though the fire still burned the rest of his arm, the burnt flesh caused an unimaginable agony at the mere presence of air.

*babump*

The pain had totally clouded Artua's vision, and the world around him sounded muddled, as though underwater.

*babump*

The last thing he heard before slipping from the edge of consciousness was the sound of his frantically beating heart.

*babump*

"Atleast i'm alive"

*babump*

Sazil stared down at the fallen man, his arm completely roasted.

Apparently there was more to this man than he let on... and he could've killed some of my followers had that fiasco drawn out any longer.

Sazil looked up at one of his glaive-wielding gaurds.

"Sever his arm, I'll make sure he doesn't die."

The guard wordlessly stepped forward, and slammed down the blade of his weapon at the joint of his arm. Sazil quickly knelt, placing his hand over the wound, sealing it completely within a few seconds.

"If he proves worthy enough, as it seems this event was unintentional, I'll give him back this arm."

He proceeded with the same treatment on the severed arm, and then handing it to the guard who carried out the amputation.

"Take him and his arm to the medical tent, make sure they place his arm on ice. See if he comes to any time soon, but make sure that he won't be able to see his arm upon waking up. We'll have to test him. Oh.. and make sure the other one is carried there as well. He was thrown out after all."

With that, the small group of guards carried Artua, his arm, and the injured guard that was attacked to the medical tent, with no question to their master's commands.