Maegan Davenport's Story

A mounted warrior rode down along the beach. Her dark hair blew in the sea breezes, and her dark eyes focused on an odd group of people. Maegan Davenport was patrolling her liege lord's lands and had noticed something falling from the sky.

It was not the first occurrence of strange pieces of armor and metal falling from the skies for Maegan. There had been those that had come before. Each mysterious and mystifying traveler had explained where they had come from and it fascinated Maegan.

There were worlds beyond Gaia and Siv'en, but unreachable and unattainable. Those who had come mentioned how it was nigh impossible to return to where they had come from. A force was keeping their ... machines of metal and armor from working again after arriving to Gaia. Most had mentioned that their coming upon the world was a mistake, or an accident.

This appeared to be the case as well, as far as Maegan could discern.

The white stallion rode at a steady pace toward the group. The rider was clad in simple garb. Maegan wore a boiled leather jerkin over a tunic dyed blue. The dye alone marked her as a noble or a minor noble. Such luxuries were not afforded to the peasant caste. Her sword marked her as a high standing citizen as well.

It was finely made. The cross guard was gilded in gold and wrapped in beautifully tanned leather. The blade was long and thin. If inspected closer, the inspector would find that it closely resembled the ronin's in its own way.

"State your purpose travelers," Maegan demanded as she and her mount arrived a few paces from the others. Her stare was curious but cautious. Her right hand rested on the pommel of her sword.

In the far distance, the Empyrean Sea was beginning to churn and turn turbulent. A massive storm was brewing and growing quickly. The sun had already begun to darken; a shade covering the lands.

Ralen smirked at the ronin and said "A teacher is it, proclaiming to save lives by seeing that they know how to fend for themselves? But such a pursuit is without yield. You may prepare a boy with a sword, you may teach them to wield it, and may even grant them a glimpse of what war is. But you can never prepare someone for the taking of a life. You can never prepare them for the feeling of having ended a persons journey, and without that they shall always be forced to make a decision. Whether to let darkness claim them, or to rise above their own mortality."

Ralen looked up at the mounted woman and smiled. It was a smile both handsome and terrible, for within it was belied a knowledge of the man who wore it. "Purpose is a falsehood given to those sheep who need caring for, I am a lion who would choose his own destiny."

As Ondona listen to the two men talk, she soon heard the sounds of hooves approaching them. When she turned to look, she noticed a woman armed with a sword and she asked why they were here. "I was here enjoying the beach and relaxing in the sun, however it now seems that the day at the beach will have to end...as for the two men, they simply washed ashore. All I did was tend to their injuries and offer them food." Ondona spoke, visibly unhappy at the change of weather.

Once she finished with her tea, Ondona walked over to a bag and pulled out a long pink dress and put it on. The sun was no longer shining and it was getting a little bit cold. Once she was done getting dressed, she simply began shaking Royka to wake him up.

"My purpose is not known to myself right now. I was brought here by whatever forces of destiny and the spirits that guide it. So I can not give a clear answer as to why I washed up on this beach." Saito said looking at the woman before turning to look at the other man. He stood sheathing his weapons once more, minus the polearm that was simply tucked away into the bag.

"I prepare my students with the tools they will need to make that decision to take a life. This is no different from the physical weapons they are trained in. The sword is an extension of oneself the wielder chooses to give life or take it with the blade. The defining elements of Battojutsu speak of this. The Nukitsuke, Kirioroshi, Chiburi, and Noto. Nukitsuke or drawing of the sword is to give ones opponent time to rethink their actions and ill intentions hence the life giving. The Kirioroshi is meant to take the life of one suffering a mortal wound that would cause them suffering, this reminds s that ethical and morally just actions should be an aid to ending the suffering of others. Next comes Chiburi, the cleaning of the blade before sheathing, this reflects the cleansing of the soul for our swords are our soul. This leaves the soul clean of the negative aspects of violence for the sake of violence. The final step that is taken by us is Noto, sheathing of the sword, this is taught to us in the contemplation that evil may still exist in the minds of others around us. We must always be diligent and vigilant in our duties because of this." Saito stopped himself looking in the direction of Ralen. He gave this lesson untold times before the students even picked up the sword, it was one of the first lessons to be learned and remembered.

"You call yourself a lion but you bind yourself by no code which will lead to ill intentions eventually entering you. If you wish to become a leader I suggest a greater introspective look at yourself." Saito finished looking away from Ralen and back to the woman. The man hovered on his vision though.

Maegan listened to each person reasons in turn. A lion looking to find destiny, a woman swimming and basking in the sun, and a warrior teacher spreading his lessons. It was an odd gathering, Maegan thought to herself. There was no rhyme nor reason why any such should be gathered together.

"Very well," said Maegan. "There is an inn a league ashore. It is called The Leaky Wench. They will have mead and bread, perchance some meat. Leave whatever payment that you can. Your other world money is not accepted here."

Maegan explained as best she could the laws of Skyfall. Kill no man. Take nothing that is not yours. Disturb not the peace. Speak no ill against the King. Find good work and be a contributing denizen until a way to their home is found. She was clear that they were not wanted but neither would they cast out those who were thrust into this place like so many others.

"If you are in need of me or my council, send word to Warhorn Keep to the west," Maegan said. Her hand pointed to a hill in the far distance. Sitting atop of it was a large wall with turret towers.

"I'd make for the inn if I were you. The storms move quickly here and can be very deadly," said Maegan. Another peal of thunder rolled across the sea and the beach. A gray wash settled onto the horizon as rain poured down into the ocean, mingling salt and fresh waters.

Ralen's smirk fell from his face at the ronins words. He did not return a response, though to the mounted woman he said. "Storms of wind and thunder do not bother me. And besides, I have no money to pay for a room, from this world or otherwise. I would not sleep soundly, in any case, without the treasures of my house"

At this he turns away from them all, and turns back to the sea, searching it with his eyes, futile a task that may be.

Although the threat the storm posed to Ondona was clothing ruining at best. She knew it would draw even more suspicion on her, however she did not have any currency on her, or currency that was worth a single nights stay at an inn. Of course, they relized he had magic so she decided to use it to disguise her real identity. "Thank you for the warning miss, however a storm of that size does not affect me. I will respect the laws of you land but for now I shall camp out here. Royka dear, please assemble the tent." She spoke and Royka unpacked what appeared to be a very simple camping tent, adorned with the artwork of hunters slaying massive beasts.

The tent appeared to only fit two people but as Ondona went inside she signalled the others to join her. "There is plenty of room inside the tent, so if you do not have the necessary currency to rest at the inn you are free to join me until the storm calms down. Also don't worry, this tent can survive the storm and much worse." She smiled as she vanished back into the tent.

"Do I take my chances in a strange camping tent with a strange woman on a beach or do I take my chances at the inn?" Saito mused to himself for a moment.

It did not look like he was returning home anytime soon after all. Then again the laws of this land did not differ too much from that of his along with the same attitude towards foreigners. He wasn't too worried of a fight then again those that live here may possess magic after all which to Saito is the stuff of fairy tales.

"I'll stay for the time being till I figure out my own path." Saito said at last after some contemplation.

"Be wary travelers, plague is spreading across this land," Maegan warned before sending her horse into a gallop away from the group of odd people. She headed for Warhorn Keep and left their company.

Watched over his shoulder as the mounted woman rode off, before turning and ducking into the tent. He didn't intend to stay the night, nor to sleep. He only sought the woman, so as to discuss with her a rather delicate situation that he would rather attend to sooner than later.

As Ralen entered the tent, he would find that the inside was much larger than the outside. The inside was furnished with a nice flat screen TV, a comfy looking couch made of cotton, fancy red carpet lay on the floor along with a pair of fancy beds, the roof was a couple stories high and there were many different appliances making this tent look like a mansion instead of a tent. "Please make yourself at home. I hope you enjoy your stay." Ondona spoke as she took off her shoes and sat on the couch before turning on the TV and began to watch some sort of cartoon.

Yoshiaki entered the tent as well. He looked about the room seeing strange things he had never seen before, not in his life time or in that of other lands. He did his best to not react as he took out his weapons once more and began apply the oil to them.

"Thank you. I will be out of your hair once I find what it is I need to do. Fate has brought me here after all." Saito was sitting on the floor with his weapons refusing to sit on the furniture.

A figure shot down from the sky not burning from the atmosphere but letting out a trail of dark fog. This black cloud impacted the beach sending up sand and shadows alike approximately fifty meters in front of the woman on horseback. The situation as unclear at first but a sickening snapping noise would be heard coming from the pit as the thing began popping various joints and bones back into place as he climbed from his hole. A sinister laugh which seemed accompanied by that of children followed it.

"That ship thought they would sell me as a slave. They thought I was some vagabond. They'll pay dearly for that mistake." He continued laughing now standing on the rim of the hole.

The ship he spoke of came quickly into view over the sea. It was on a direct course for the sea and it would reach it's target. He had put all of the slavers into a paralyzed state and would allow them to drown in the ocean.

A boom of thunder rolled across the sea and hurled itself over the beach. Maegan pushed her war stallion faster to beat the incoming storm. A dark shadow flew overhead and landed before Maegan in the near distance.

Her horse came to a stop as Maegan pulled hard on the reins. The great beast snorted and sniffed for danger. It shifted its weight between its forelegs in anticipation. Maegan's brow drew down deeply over her eyes.

The first few drops of rain began to descend from the sky and speckle the sand under foot. Maegan watched as a man ascended from the crater he himself seemed to have created. The warrioress placed her hand upon the pommel of her sword.

Maegan did not yet draw steel, such was a threat, but she stared down the strange visitor. Black was his raiment, and a mask covered the person's face. Maegan could not make his identity.

"State your purpose here," Maegan called out. "These are His Majesty's lands protected by House Markett. I am Maegan Davenport, Master at Arms of Warhorn Keep. I demand a name." A strike of lightning ripped across the looming black clouds. Maegan's horse reared and screamed at the fright.

"Oh purpose? I embody chaos and only care about myself. You look like you would be fun to cut up." His words dripped with insanity and murder. There was no fear of authority in his speaking let alone fear of pissing off an entire nation.

Edan stood there pulling his hands from beneath the cloak/poncho. His left hand was disfigured and he began popping the fingers and joints back into place. He pulled his other hand back into the cloak to pull out the cleaver.

He stood there on the edge of the crater looking in Maegans direction the lightning silhouetting him against the darkness. His very aura gave off an overwhelming bloodlust.

Ralen paused and looked at the Ronin. "Fate? No chains exist worse than those crafted by belief in fate. Destiny is what you make of yourself, and thinking otherwise is to bind yourself without reason." He would scoff, before turning back to Ondona. "I don't suppose you, milady, have a way of searching the seabed. The crash robbed me of some of my families most precious possessions, and I would see them returned to me."

Ralen walked and placed himself fully in the tent, his eyes flashing with a light before he said "You need not hide yourself from me, for I knew what you were the moment you touched me in the sands. I could sense your power even then, and so I ask if it is within your power to see what is mine returned to me, and if so, what I may do to earn such a favor."


The crashing darkness in the distance vibrated through the earth, though few may have felt it. Ralen was one of those few, and he grew a degree more skittish. In his mind he could see those who had forced his ship to make the landing, such as it was, upon this world. That they would follow him to make sure he perished was not beyond the scope of possibility, but if that was the case, retrieving his artifacts was all the more important.

At the naked threat Maegan drew her steel. The man was mad with blood lust and looking to kill. It was her sole duty to protect her King's lands from such filth. Maegan would perform her duty even if it meant her life.

The woman unmounted from the war horse. Sand would be difficult to fight with it underfoot but there seemed to be no choice. There would be no picking of where the battle was fought.

"You have but one more chance to leave this place, to leave Skyfall, and take your troubles elsewhere or I will use the King's justice," said Maegan in an authoritative voice.

"Leave? Justice? What would a mad man care for your King? I embody the very disposition of sapient beings! I embody anger, hate and war." His words spewed like a volcano they were anything but music and dripped with his growing bloodlust.

The entire time of his still speech he began to walk in a rhythmic tone which his after images began appearing he started this by attempting to make a circle. The after images would follow him as if they were living beings as well. Edan wanted to have a little fun and play before he ever killed the human. His heart remained calm as he cloaked his presence with the after images.

Maegan watched with scrutinizing eyes what the man was doing. He was creating copies of himself as to confuse her vision and guess his next movements. It was an unsettling feeling to not have an advantage over the ability.

Reaching into a pouch at her waist, Maegan quickly throw a shimmering dust into the air in front of her. It was a defensive move meant to create a hovering field of static discharged to stun the enemy around herself. Perhaps it would provide a needed aid against whatever creature this man was before Maegan.

"You must die," cried Maegan. A foreign word followed; a holy word and ancient. It was a name spoken in that celestial language from Beyond. Maegan's sword was thrust into the air, lightning split the sky above them and bolted for her sword.

It was a conduit, the sword. The white-hot fire came raging down, through Maegan as she directed the bolt, and then left in an angry fury toward the targeted man intent on snubbing out his life instantly.

Edan moved out of the way of the blast quickly taking a strong jump to the right quickly gaining a his stance once he stopped. He quickly unleashed a second aura of fear. This was meant to throw doubt into the mind of his opponent and induce the flight over fight response. His plan for now was to toy and circle this woman until she grew weaker or he simply grew bored and decided to unleash something else to kill the woman.

"Oh you can shoot holy fire? You still need to chant though to cast it? I'll make sure to take your tongue first to stop anymore unwanted speech." Edan continued his insane laughing as he walked once more in the rhythmic tone creating more after images of himself as he circled his prey once more at a distance.

A wave of fear came down upon Maegan and she hesitated. Her attack had entirely missed its target. The woman tried to watch each image of the man, calculating which one could possibly be the original. It frustrated the woman to no end, even through the fear. Maegan reached down into her arcane abilities while glaring at the attacker.

A whirlwind of rain and sand formed out of the gusting sea winds. Maegan conjured up the whirlwind to blind and stunned her foe, forcing him to misstep as she had. Her blade drawn, Maegan ran her fingers along the steel and invoked Sariel to coat her sword in blazing flames of blue.

"I shall take your head and cut out your eyes!" Maegan yelled at Edan.

Edan watched his gaze unmoved as he stopped. This woman wanted a head on fight. A fight that she thought she could win with such ease. His attacks had yet to even become physical but it seemed she wanted to end this. He shot his free left hand out as three black figures took form. They took on the appearance of disfigured humans with no real discernible features other than the eyes. These wraiths would span out two of them moving with unprecedented speed to the flanks of Maegan with the last one blocking her path to Edan covering him from her vision.

The wraith as soon it covered him he took it upon himself to cloak his presence and body making him invisible and as if he had ceased to exist at all to the world. The wraiths remained however and were waiting to flank Maegan. Edan in his invisibility moved 20 feet off to the side to see if his creations could remove the soul from her body.

Edan seeing that his pet had stopped moving waved his hand the wraiths disappearing. Just when this was getting fun they just give up fighting. He chopped the cleaver in the air in front of him the space ripping open into a seeping portal in which he stepped.

He would head now to somewhere he could take over maybe somewhere larger and still needing repair. He would create his own kingdom there one of darkness and agony. There he could attract all sorts of fun prey.

Echo Wolf (Alex*) Wanders Around