Swinging lazily in a hemp hammock, bare feet dangling off the sides, Sebastian feasted upon a particularly luscious Laeto mango. His pant legs were rolled up, and he had a plethora of notes and maps sprawled across his nude torso. He had been here since the morning, and it was gradually leaning towards evening hours. His long and arduous series of tasks involving locating books for a certain vampire lord of Egjora had led him to the central rain forests of Canelux. He was not far along in his ventures, so he did not find the need to write to Wilmark of his progress. He had wrote ahead to Bryony, however, letting her know where he would be, should she wish to rendezvous.

"My Dearest Bryony,"

He had written. The played-up accent, and amused smirk would certainly be palpable within the opening lines with his choice of words. Sebastian was definitely one for romance, just not in such an exaggerated fashion. The sentiment was quite serious, but the verbage was not…at least not entirely. She was sure to get a kick out of it.

"Should you acquiesce to leaving your duties in Arri, I should wish to gaze upon thine twin seas to your soul once more. It is so soon, but I feel that I cannot be long without your touch…"

He went on to describe the establishment in which he now took refuge. It was a lesser-known native-run "tavern", if one could call it that. There was no drink present, other than fresh water. It was more like a produce and herb market with beds for the night. Sebastian was a fairly well-known face here, given his dietary habits, and penchant for simplicity in all things. The countryside of Laeto itself was ripe with legends, ancient texts, and forgotten, obscure, occult-driven tribes. Obviously, the nature of his work would bring him through the region on a frequent basis.

The establishment rested in a clearing of the rainforest in the Eastern side. There was actually a melting pot of construction techniques and materials to be seen, despite the nameless gem of a waypoint's apparent simplicity. There were palms in Laeto bearing notably sturdy and kaleidoscopically-colorful wood. This was used for all of the framing and as accent pieces. Imported and stained pine and oak could be seen for the main "bar" area. The whole of the place was actually quite open-air. The roof was a tightly-woven thatch, and the windows were only artistic geometric holes in the walls. Each one was a different shape, and glowing lanterns of ingenious alchemical design were hung on a hook outside each one, to keep pests at bay. The building had two stories, and Sebastian currently resided in the commons area, between the bar and the back rooms on the ground floor. He had been alone here, before a voice drew his attention away from his notes.

"You appear to be quite engrossed," a rather tall, lean, and bald man remarked. He had an unhealthy pallor to his skin, and a cold, calculating look to his dark eyes that Sebastian immediately disliked. He had a slow, methodical, and pleasant voice, however. Beyond the rain-drenched noble's cloak that was wrapped about him, not much more of his attire could be examined at a glance. Over this visitor's shoulder, there was a dark and statuesque man of one of the local tribes. His dread-locked hair was adorned with colorful feathers, and his face was painted with ash to resemble a skull. He wore nothing but a loincloth, and carried a spear with a head of sharpened bone. Sebastian at first hesitated to answer, seeing Celia beyond both of them, hanging in the doorway. She was a sweet girl, who did not speak much common. She indicated wordlessly that she had told the pair where to find him, and was not sure now if it was alright. He gave her a reassuring nod and looked up at the one who spoke with a quirked eyebrow.

"It is bloody engrossing work," Sebastian replied flatly, huffing a bit of herbal smoke in the stranger's direction. He had lit up just before they had entered. "How might I help you gentlemen? Introductions such as yours usually denote some level of familiarity. Would I be incorrect in assuming as much?"

The man grinned ear to ear. Sebastian grimaced slightly. He did not like that either, and much preferred the stranger did not do that. He chatted lowly in a tongue he did not recognize back and forth with the tribesman before replying. "You are as direct as your reputation precedes, Sebastian,"
the man inanely observed. He had begun to introduce himself and his companion, but before he could speak, a pair of arms laced around Sebastian, soft hands carelessly knocking his notes to the floor as they caressed his bare chest.
"Ah, I knew you couldn't resist, love," he remarked, without even having to look back to know who it was. "Not after I likened this place to a certain room of ours."

Both pairs of unknown eyes hungrily traveled over the woman that had arrived. "Who is this lovely flower?" the man asked, his sickly grin deepening even more.

Bryony sat atop her damn perch and glared about the city watching for any signs of the impending doom the girl would face. She felt more like a shadow than an oracle. A deep breath left her lips as her blue eyes spotted a figure scaling the side of the castle walls. A smirk played across the lips of the oracle as she got her glaive and aimed it just right. Throwing it hard and true it landed right in his ass. She winced a bit but still it did its job just fine.

Hopping off of her perch she was approached by a courier. “Lady Bryony! A letter from a Sebastian!” Nimbly she tossed a few coins his way and took the letter between her fingertips. Her eyes read it over as she walked. The little bastard was screaming so loud she pulled out the glaive and rolled him over. There was blood spilling out onto the fresh grass. “You know, games like this are fun… but I’ll make this short.” She got down next to his face with a smile. “Tell whoever sent you that they're next.”

She had a cleric standing by to heal him before studying the letter once more. “Oh yes.” A quick chop with her glaive severed some fingers. “No more climbing. It’s dangerous.” She was clearly mocking him as Bryony looked up at Kirika standing on her balcony watching all the commotion. “Tell that Aunt of yours my job is done. I have some where to be. Have Echo go after whoever sent this fat sack of shit.” She did a shooing motion at the princess gone queen and smiled.

From there it was a matter of getting to the rain forest, which was easier done than said since she used Angela’s gateways to get around. A whistle left her lips as she traveled through the forest and made her way to the clearing. Finding her beloved Sebastian she wrapped her arms around him and chuckled a bit. “Sorry if I am a bit late.” She kissed his cheek and smiled. “Had business and hunting to do.” She leaned the still bloodied glaive against the wall and looked up at the pair of eyes. 

“Flower? Hardly, my name is Bryony.” She answered it easily enough before looked down to Sebastian to hear who his new friends were. “Friends, love?” She easily rolled herself into the hammock with him and laughed. “I do love the surroundings.” She was trying to avoid the man’s hungering glance. Her blue eyes went to Sebastian for answers.

“Sorry about your notes,” she leaned over the hammock carefully to put them into an organized pile. “Couldn’t help myself, as it looked very inviting.”

“Bryony it is. My name is Gerard,” it was the way his eyes stared at her that killed the inside of her soul. She was being polite for Sebastian as the creepy feeling went over and down her spine. 

Sebastian's expressive autumn-tinged look back at his lover told her that he was just as confused and uncomfortable as she was. The way the stranger had blatantly undressed Bryony with his eyes wore at his patience, and he unconsciously gritted his teeth as his arms wrapped about her protectively. "What is it you have come to discuss, Gerard?" Sebastian snapped with a dismissive tone. If this conversation felt any more like an awkward intrusion for much longer, he would find it very difficult to remain civil.

"My young friend here, Idgulla, has known of you for some time," Gerard explained. "He has seen you coming and going, and feels very strongly that you are associated in some way with his tribe's gods. As a…cultural expert of sorts, I have been in contact with his tribe for a good stretch of years. I came to simply confirm or deny these beliefs, right from the horse's mouth."

The overall uneasy tone of this meeting alone suggested that there was a lot more going on than what was said. Gerard, aware of the holes in this line of logic, filled in the missing pieces. "I've heard your name before mentioned among colleagues of mine. Being steeped in various bits of lore as you are, and being a man of letters, we've followed your work for a long while. At least what we could find of it. You are often sought out to seek other things…but it is not often you are the very thing sought after, no?"

Sebastian was still thoroughly unconvinced, but he would humor the man out of curiosity. He felt a tug at the fringes of his heavily-guarded consciousness when the man spoke, which made him even more uneasy. He'd read about people with talents of bewitching by means of speech. Gerard seemed to be unaware that his double-talk had no effect on the mind of a psion. For now, he would play along, just to see what this game was all about. It was mainly the tribal gods part that interested him. Perhaps he would learn a little more about the entities in his dreams and visions?

"What do you propose?" Sebastian asked.

"The Ikusala tribe merely wish to perform a rite with you present. Nothing more. I shall pay for yours and Bryony's lodgings and meals in return," Gerard replied. "The site for the ritual is not far from here."

"…And if the tribe finds me to be possessing of one or more of the supposed 'divine' qualities on their list? What then?"


"Why, you'll be treated like a king, of course."



Sebastian glanced at Bryony, biting at his lip in thought. None of the promises particularly appealed to him, but he had a feeling that he would not be left alone unless he complied. He had work to attend to, as well as a lover that he very much wanted to spend time with.
"Will you be alright here waiting for me?" Sebastian asked her. "The owner and staff know me, and should treat you well."

The Rosenite clung to her lover as if she were defenseless but to be honest it was nice to feel safe with someone. Her blue eyes noted the similar look in his own. The snapping in his voice made her at ease as well. She was Sebastian’s and no one else could treat me like that, not anymore. Though it wasn’t like she would have given someone like Gerard the time of day any ways.

As they spokes she noted the holes in their stories and nodded. Her hand took to his before he left and kissed him softly. “I did not travel all the way across Canelux to just leave. I’ll be right here for you when you get back.” She stroked his cheek and noted how Gerard disgustingly stared only at her. She gave him a smile and put her forehead against his. “I’ll be here and I’ll be fine.”

She let his hand slip from hers as she thought about the situation. Sebastian left with the local and she found herself alone with Gerard. She jumped out of the hammock not alright with him being there with her. 

That was when the whispering caught her ear. It came slowly at first like a dangerous song. Her mind was trying to throw up defenses but already it was too late. She felt herself black in and out. Eventually her subconscious came to and she found herself on the outside of her body in a sea of spirits, more so, she was viewing  what the spirits could see.

“Damn it.” But who?

She watched as Gerard took her by the arms and put his disgusting lips down her throat. Well that answered that question. Taking a deep breath as she held in her vomit, she watch as Gerard began to strip off her robes.

Wonderful.

She was trying to remain calm but she sent her mind out to her beloved. “Sebastian! HELP. Something is really wrong.”

Expectations do not always prepare a person for what may lay ahead. Sebastian, for instance, had expected some sort of attempt on his life or welfare. He also expected to be able to be able to glean what he needed from this strange set of circumstances, and to move on with life. What he did not foresee was the sudden and powerful psionic attack emanating from just beyond the clearing where the tavern stood as he followed the native off the beaten path. He attempted to throw up his defenses, but this proved to be futile. The grating, screeching feelings and sounds in his brain caused him to cry out in agony. This feeling spread, first like pins and needles, then like burning knives, jabbing into every inch of his flesh. It was not the effort of one man or creature, but a congregation. The robed figures enclosed upon him like a blurred, mantra-chanting shadow.

Sebastian sank to his knees upon the damp forest floor, and gritted his teeth with the sheer effort he put into overcoming the hold that was put on him. He tried to close his mind and blink away, but to no avail. His every muscle and nerve strained against the mental attack paralyzing him. The chanting reached a crescendo when an actual dagger was embedded into his chest. It was the story with the witch's poison all over again, when he had helped Bryony's Kalyani. He felt his consciousness rapidly slipping away.

There was no pull of the great River to carry him further into Death. There was only a deafening quiet….the smell of the wind, and the dead earth.

The October Country.

Sebastian stood up, and was immediately confronted with the nameless presence that lurked somewhere beyond the dying star in this twisted dream world it had created. Now, as with every time his spirit was pulled into this realm, he felt overwhelmed with emotion. Tears streamed down his face as the dying light of the star cast a fire in his eyes. The leaves of the barren trees swirled about him upon the heady, perpetual winds. Every color within his eyes now surrounded him.

It was only now, as he truly faced death, that he was aware of the origin of the emotions he felt while here. The creature was communicating with him. It had always been talking to him. Not with words, or with vague pictures, but with feelings.

"You're…dying." Sebastian's voice echoed across the ashen plane to the presence. "You have been dying for a long time…I'm sorry. I don't understand. You…want to help me?"

In response, the presence embraced him. The tendrils in the sky rained down around him, and a large shadow, with wings as vast as the star itself ensorcelled him…

Sebastian arose…or at least what wore his skin did. His eyes were closed, as was the wound in his chest. Where crimson blood should have been upon his lips, there was now a pale, silvery liquid. Once he opened his eyes, he saw the world as he normally would, but as an observer. He had no control over his actions. The robed figures that had been around him were on their knees, faces planted to the ground in deep reverence. Sebastian had Idgulla, the one who had stabbed him rise. Shaking, heart racing, the young man struggled to gaze back into the eyes of the man he had slain. Instead of the warm, autumn shades that they normally were, they were now endless voids of darkness, complete with the stars of the night sky. He embraced the native with his hands, placing them on either side of his face.

The man could only begin to register that something was wrong…that this was not the entity that they had hoped to summon for so long. Before his intentions could be seen, however, it was too late. Sebastian's hands moved quickly, twisting the man's head to an unnatural angle. As he fell lifeless to the ground, the other members of the cult screamed in horror and began to scatter into the woods. The thing inside his body did not seem interested in giving chase. It communicated to him, still wordlessly, that it was aware of something he was not.

Sebastian's body was violently whipped through space, much more rapidly than his ability to blink would allow. Trails of inky black seemed to follow in his wake, and surrounded him as he now stood in the room with Gerard, and a helpless Bryony. Tendrils of darkness spiraled out from his back like membraneless wings. Gerard let go of the mostly naked Oracle immediately.

"My lord! I…-"

The loathsome man's words were immediately cut off as the black tendrils snapped across the room, and wrapped about his neck. Another set of tendrils caught Bryony as he wavered upon her feet, and lowered her to the bed with great care.
As Gerard squirmed and thrashed, fighting for air, the thing within Sebastian approached with great calm. The expression it wore was neutral, with hints of bitter distaste. It did not seem to take pleasure in death, but it also did not approve of the actions of the people that sought to bring it to this plane of existence. Sebastian suddenly and violently grabbed the man's crotch, his expression still unchanging as he pulled with ever-increasing pressure.

The structural integrity of spine, larynx, and genitalia mercifully gave way all at once, and Gerard crumpled silently to the ground in a pool of blood.

Walking fluidly to the bedside, Sebastian's head tilted as he observed Bryony with a small smile. "That just won't do. We have to make you safe."
The voice that came from him was grating and unnatural, and did not bear the tinge of his accent. It sounded like something that was not accustomed to owning vocal chords attempting to speak.

"Gate," the strange voice coming from Sebastian's lips urged. Consciousness that felt very much like his own caressed hers, trying its best to counteract the forces clouding her mind and body. "Gate to the Earth Mother. Will aid….but cannot follow. Not allowed."

The sudden shock of everything that was happening had sent Bryony far away from the land at the moment. Straight into the subconscious of Eldora who was still hanging about the temple. “Tell Angela, I need help.”

“Make me,” the oracle laughed a bit before a power hit her mind and she writhed in pain.

“That was not a request. It was an order.”

“Of course,” the oracle pulled herself up off the floor and ran to tell the goddess. In all of her years Eldora had never known Bryony to hurt her own kind. Something had happened beyond Eldora’s sight and she was sure it was bad if the elder oracle was resorting to this kind of attack. “Aunt Angela, Bryony needs you.” She relayed all the information up to that point.

Though by the time the information was settled the gate had already been opened. Holding her pregnant belly the goddess went through the portal with ease. Her green eyes scanned the scene of carnage as her bare feet went through the blood on the floor. Going to Bryony, she sensed the other being inside of Sebastian. Obviously it had saved her and with a great sigh Angela began to do a physical and mental assessment. “You tried to help her after the psionic attack?”

Turning her green eyes to Sebastian’s skin. “I’m afraid it is much more complicated than you or I could understand.” She popped a bottle of something and put it into the oracle’s mouth. “I’m telling you this so that Sebastian knows what is going on. I fear she will be in bed for a while. Whatever happened was strong magic that will take its time to wear off. We can will her body but her mind was forced out. She’ll be fine with lots of rest and waiting for the magic to disapate. If I force it, I could damage her. I’m sure you both wouldn’t want that.” 

Angela took some time to dress the Oracle. “Eldora!” The sly one came through the portal. “I can’t carry her so you are. We’ll be talking her to Sularia to be monitored. She is safer there with the amount of healers that could watch her day and night.” 

Looking over at the man she nodded. “He should come see her in about a month. She will have regained consciousness but I have no idea if she’ll be able to control her body. Anyways! Doctor’s orders.” She did a shooing motion at the creature. “She’ll be fine in our care. Take care of him though.”

With that the two left to take care of the oracle. Eldora had the look of panic on her face as Bryony’s body wouldn’t respond to her touch. Angela appeared to be comforting her as they went through the portal. “Everything will be fine my child.”