The landscape was dominated by rolling hills covered in a blanket of long green grass. A gentle breeze swayed the wild flowers that clumped in groups. The sun shone brightly above, signaling a warm day despite the altitude. Out of no where a black circle hung in the air and stretched until it was big enough to let a grown man through. Instead a feminine figure stumbles out, blonde hair flying from the momentom, landing on her hands and knees. Her long, gauzey, white dress pooled around her as she peered up in confusion out of her strange violet eyes. An orange aura encompassed her, a visible manifestation of her disorientation.

Lianna stood slowly and stared at everything around her she had no idea where she was. Last thing she knew she had been walking in some building and now she was here. There was a tightness in her chest she couldn't explain but there was something strange going on. Lianna tried to recall what else she had been doing, even somethiing simple as waht she had eaten the day before and could not remember. With a gasp she spun around trying to find whatever had brought her here and the black circle was gone. She ran walked around trying to see if maybe it had moved out of sight but as she crested the nearest hill she realized it was no where to be seen.

Fear gripped at her and her aura turned a sickly purple. There was nothing around that she could see, no people and here she with nothing to her name. She felt like there was something missing, not just the fact that her memories were gone. Her aura felt strange as if some of the Crean had left her, she seemed almost weakened despite the bright sun shining. As an Aurai Lianna and the Crean that made up her Aura lived off of sunlight so to feel weakened on a day like this was unheard of.

With a deep breath Lianna pulled herself together, there was no use in panicking. Her aura returned to the gold that was her natural resting state and really looked at her surroundings. There was a stream to the east it was her best chance at finding civilization and someone to at least tell her where she was. Trying to ignore the ache in her chest and the feeling of being lost she pressed through it following the stream to lead her to the Gods knew where.

Whist the sun might have been a boon to the newest inhabitant of this realm it was something quite different to one who had been a part of it for centuries. The bright sun beat down upon the black shrouded form, a form from which nothing but two thick gloved hands and two heavy boots could be discerned under the cloak, it moved as if the sun itself were an enemy to be shielded from, its hood pulled low and the shroud, so dark that it seemed to eat the light which struck it, cinched tight to prevent anything beneath it being revealed to the glare of that luminary body. The figure stood unaccompanied by the stream save for a horse, as black as the figure, and oddly calm compared to almost any other horse. Most would be seeking to move about or search for feed, but this one appeared happy to just stand by the stream, occasionally dipping its head to the cool water. On the distant ridge a series of regular mounds were heaped up, too perfect in shape to be anything other than artificial, occasionally the hood of the figure drifted over to look towards the ridge, almost as if drawn there but a pull it couldn't resist.

The figure bent down and picked up a bundle, which on closer inspection could be determined to be a archaic kind of tack, the bit was of bronze with fine details inset at the ends where rings attached it to the reins. The saddle itself would appear strange to those familiar with current designs, it had four protruding horns, one at each corner, and no stirrups for a rider's feet. But despite the strangeness of the tack the figure handled it, even cloaked and hooded with a familiarity which suggested that it had had years of training with which to become fluid with it. Indeed it took mere moments for the saddle to be fixed onto the horse with a split girth and for the bit to be between its teeth. Throughout this process the steed was almost unnaturally passive, it did not seem discomforted, but anyone who knew horses would know that a horse seldom acquiesced to such actions as saddling by simply standing in readiness. The figure mounted by placing his hands either side of the saddle and lifting himself up, mantling over with all the swiftness of a horseman born and bred, with simple pressure of its knees and a light touch of the reins the horse wheeled about. 

From the elevated position of horse back the figure spotted another moving along the stream, with a deft touch the horse was soon on its way towards the figure. The figure aroused some curiosity from the horseman, it appeared to be surrounded by a strange pattern of light and colour, gold if sight didn't deceive it. The horse moved swiftly, not breaking into a canter but staying just a little shy of that speed, before stopping short about fifteen paces from the woman before it. The horseman looked towards her, still completely obscured by its shroud, for a moment silence reigned, then finally it spoke, its voice quiet, airy, almost akin to the rustle of the wind amongst dead leaves. It asked, "Whence come you, whither do you go." There was a discomforting feeling about the voice, as if the thing that made the sounds shouldn't be able to do so. "Who are you?" 

Lianna had been walking for a while trying to focus on the calming sounds of nature around her. The panic had threatened to seize her a few times now but she pushed it down. The sounds of the rushing water and the ruffle of the wind in the grasses soothed her. There was no use in the fear, it wouldn't help her find someone to help her. She knelt down at the stream, cupping her hands and taking a long drink. Lianna took stock of what she knew. 

She remembered she was not alone, there had been other people beside her before she had fallen through a black portal. It had appeared out of no where giving her no time to dodge it. The strange part was that she couldn't remember where she had been or who she had been with. There were no memories of anything All she knew was that she was here now. 

Slowly Liana stood and watched as a rider cloaked in black approached her. There was no way to discern if it was male or female and the horse they sat upon was as black as it's rider. There was something strange about them, darkness clung to them despite the brightness of the day. When the person spoke Lianna had never heard a voice like it, unnatural and dry.

"I don't know where i came from nor where I am. I'm headed towards the nearest civilization so I can get help. My name is Lianna. Who are you?" she asked, despite not knowing if she wanted the answer. Something about the rider unsettled her, but with no knowledge of what land she is in she didn't have much choice.

"Do you know where we are? I fell through a portal and I have no idea where I am." she admitted. Her aura darkened to a dark blue as she thought about being lost. She knew she had a home and a place to belong, but where was it. The sadness that gripped her passed quickly as she regained her composure. Her aura changed back the the neutral gold. Who was this stranger, was this land full of people like this? Would she be facing so much darkness on the road? Who was she? Where had she come from? The confusion swirled around her until her head felt dizzy. She could feel a memory nudge at her gently, but as soon as she let it in she knew it was not hers.

The Crean sent her an image of a man standing on a hilltop alone. He was completely lost but the suns warmth seeped into his core. Soon his family surrounded him and a child took his hand leading him home. The memory was meant to calm her and remind her that eventually she would find her way. Peace washed over her and Lianna looked up at the stranger and squared her shoulders. 

The black rider took stock of Liana, listening to what she said, for a moment he was silent, then without any visible motion the horse stepped forward slowly, walking towards her as if willed to by the rider. He stopped close enough to Liana that she could see how thoroughly his cloak shrouded him from view, even staring straight into the cowl revealed nothing of his face. His hands flexed slightly on the reins, the first sign in her view that he moved at least somewhat in human fashion. Again the dry, rattling voice spoke. "You are not the first to find themselves in a strange world it seems, some are separated by time, others by less transitory things." Although the words came out well formed, there was something about the way they were spoken that sounded disjointed, as if the speaker wasn't truly used to the language, but knew enough of it to approximate a native. He continued to answer her questions, "The nearest settlement if further down the stream, at a point where another joins it, although whether you'd call it civilisation is debatable. For more solid forms of civilisation you will seek Cittapashe, a port city where all are welcome and safe."

The figure noted the changing colours of the aura around Liana, seemingly in time with her expression, he surmised they represented emotions, a curious, and possibly dangerous trait in someone, being unable to hide their true feelings. Finally, after a pause as if considering whether to answer her he simply stated, "My name is Bryn yr Gwyn." It would mean nothing to her, just as it would mean nothing to almost anyone in the past few hundred years, and even then the few who might have heard of it would hardly believe that such a figure could be the famed and feared warrior dead centuries ago.

Her question as to their location was met with more silence for a while, but eventually the rider answered, "You are in the Highlands, a region within the Northlands of the continent of Canelux. Although I doubt those names will be especially helpful." He gestured towards the ridge with several mounded barrows on it. "These lands were once home to numerous tribes, although most of them have since vanished. The Northlands are a region that consists of most of the lands between the verdant forests at the centre of the continent and the desert even further north. They consist of these highlands, a valley and the steppe regions, within that Cittapashe is the sole major city, but from that you can reach most of the rest of the world by sea." After that much longer speech the rider fell silent again, as if waiting for Liana's response. 

Lianna froze as the stranger moved closer to her but she listened as he told her where she was. None of the names he said meant anything to her. She peered up at him, trying to discern a face within the depths of his hood but couldn't. There was no way to tell if there was truth to his words, but he had said she wasn't the first. If there were others that ended up like her maybe some knew what had happened to her. She was determined to find out where she had been and how she could get home. There was no way that everything she had been had ceased to exist. There was no way every memory she had for the past 22 years had simply vanished forever. She hoped that in time they would come back. Though with her luck they would never return.

"I thank you for the information, I guess I will head towards the village or a start. I have no gear nor any other possessions. I may be able to find work there or a few days in exchange for a place to sleep." she said. That was as far as she had planned out. She would be lucky if someone would take her in but she was hardly intimidating. Her long blonde hair brushed her hips and she wore a cream colored dress, fitted through the waist with flowing skirts. She was skilled enough in cooking and was a decent worker. At least she thought she could cook well. It seemed like she still knew about herself and her likes or dislikes. That was a relief.

"Do you know more of others like me? Did they get their memories back? Have they been able to survive in this strange place?" she drilled. She couldn't help herself though she knew it was rude. There were so many mysteries surrounding her arrival. If these portals were popping up everywhere who was making them? Where they all from the same place? What was being done for these refugees? So many questions Lianna wasn't sure what to make of it. 

The man before her unnerved her, someone who hid behind his cloak and was covered completely from the sunlight. It seemed so strange to her since if she had the choice she would have nothing between her and the warmth of the sun. She wasn't sure what to make of him but he was being helpful she Lianna let it be. She wasn't one to jump to judgement lightly. Lianna looked across the rolling hills in thought. There wasn't anything she could do right now but find shelter and a way to make some coin before she was too starved to do so.

Bryn wheeled his horse in the direction of the village, it was maybe a few hours walk away, invisible due to the hillocks and ridges which bordered the stream. "A reasonable course of action, and one that may bear fruit." The dry voice took on an oddly kind note, the first real inflection that could be attributed to it throughout the whole conversation, "But if you will, I would accompany you at least to the village." He gestured in the general direction, "I have business there of my own, and this land can be hostile to those not familiar with it, or its people." The hood faced her again, as if taking in her looks fully, "Perhaps I might stay with you longer, let's just say that these out of the way places don't care too much for strangers, or their safety." While in truth Bryn might not care over much as to a stranger's fate, at the same time he had no intention of being the one who would let another walk blindly into danger. That was one thing the black rider had retained from his life, a sense of honour, and once his word was given it was solid enough to build on, although it might be best that the one whom his word was given listen closely to how he phrased it, he'd stand by it to the letter, but no further.

Her questions about others like her brought a shake from the hood, "Not personally. But it has been the talk of the two continents, some appear through portals, others through mist. A number fell from the sky." Her question about memories brought a non-committal answer, "Some recovered theirs swiftly, although those may be those who are simply out of time rather than realm." His own memories had returned after a few moments in the case of the most recent memories, and a day or two in the case of those of a longer term nature. "Most seem to be of at least partly adventuring stock, able to find a means of support for themselves. But there are some groups who are helping the newest arrivals." Apothecaries and at least one priestly order if the rumours were true. But that wasn't likely out here, the highlands, and much of the Northlands were considered badland country, full of raiding parties and savage tribes. There was some truth to that summary to be sure, but it was mostly based on tribal lines, bystanders weren't generally involved in the feuding. 

Finally Bryn said, "If we move off now we should make the village just after nightfall. Then we can see what can be done, hopefully my own business will be swiftly concluded and you will find work enough to keep bones together." Perhaps it was just his rasping and disjointed speech, but there seemed an odd emphasis on the word bones. The horse, again without any apparent prompting began to move off at a sedate walk, slow enough for a person to walk alongside on foot.

Lianna listened to the strange raspy voice that Bryn spoke in. He seemed to want to help her though she was still unsure what to think of him. Since he was on horse there was no way for her to outpace him anyway if he decided that's what he wanted to do. She turned so the stream was on her left and walked alongside the hooded man. It wasn't a stained silence, Lianna wasn't one to press conversation where it wasn't necessary. She listened closely to the sounds of life, the gentle brush of the wind through the grasses, the buzz of insects flying past. It all meant that despite her lack of memories she was alive. With that in mind her aura remained at its resting state, a constant gold.

Being an Aurai was still so knew to her, she was aware of that. The Crean that made up her aura had sent her little memories of Aurai living past five centuries. She was only seen twenty two name days and most of that had been spent as a human. She couldn't recall how she'd become what she was but it didn't matter because she did know she was the only one. That was the first thing aside form her memories that Lianna must achieve. There needed to be more Aurai in the world and since it didn't take reproducing she just needed to find like minded people.

After a while Lianna felt compelled to than the rider again. As she thought about it he was aligning himself with a person who came from another world. If the villagers thought he had brought a foreigner to them they could blame him for any of her oddities. 

"I would like to express my gratitude to you. I know you didn't have to escort me to the village but I appreciate that you are. It's comforting to not be alone so soon after coming to a new land." she said with a nod to the ride. Even in the bright sunlight his hood was so dark she still couldn't see anything within it. Maybe he had scars and wanted them hidden? Perhaps he was like she with some visible sign of magic that he'd rather others not know of. She had no choice in her aura being expressed, but she was learning to control her emotions so it wouldn't change. It was extremely inconvenient to have every person around you know what you are feeling.

Lianna kept pace easily with the horse and she was thankful for the movement. Walking cleared her head and she needed that now to form a plan. If these villagers weren't going to help her she would have to move on to the bigger city Bryn had mentioned. There she would be able to find some sort of work especially if she could find an apothecary. Lianna had an affinity for healing and if she could show the right person she could be employed doing that work.

The silence suited Bryn too, the less he had to talk, the less chance of her working out that underneath the shroud was nothing more than an animated corpse inhabited by its former soul. Granted that while the shroud protected him from the sun's rays he at least had a vaguely human semblance, albeit that of a withered, dessicated husk, but without shroud all he would appear to be was a skeleton. The true term however for one of his nature was wight, or if using the words of his native Hernystiri, a draugr, he had woken in his barrow after someone had broken into it and looted it of all that was valuable. Apparently when the druids had carved their curses on the walls of his tomb against those who would rob it, rather than calling on the spirits and gods for vengeance they that instead said that he would rise to reclaim all that was his. Had any of his tribe still live he might have had words with them for that.

Her thanks were waved away, not with a dismissive gesture, but one suggesting that the one being thanked considered the deed nothing out of the ordinary. His weathered voice answered, "It is as nothing, while others in this land have forgotten the ancient laws, some still remember the laws of hospitality. You are a stranger in this land, with no kith or kin, as such you have a right to ask for hospitality and for your safety to be assured by someone with standing." Standing in this case meaning that they had a right to be on the land, and while Bryn doubted anyone remembered those laws he had been a chieftain of a powerful tribe, and so to him those laws were as immutable and eternal as his own nature.

His own quest for when they reached the town was to gain information on the tomb robbers and to pick up any artefacts which they might have sold or hidden. His true hope was that they had stayed in the town, but like as not they'd bypassed it to avoid being charged as tomb robbers. That at least was still considered a crime he was certain.

Lianna let herself sink into silence after all this was a stranger and she wasn't in the mood for entertaining. Her mind reeled while trying to figure out what had happened. If she was in an entirely different world, was there a way back? Why had her memory been wiped away? Was it something magical, or a more simple explanation. This world looked similar to hers, no strange creatures she had found other than the one on the horse next to her. Perhaps it was a parallel world? If she could find a deity hey may be able to help her return to her homeland, though Lianna wasn't sure she wanted to. What would happen if she got her memories back and she did have people in her life she loved and had lost. Wouldn't it be better to live your life not knowing instead of bearing the weight of being apart from your family? With a silent shake of her head, she dismissed the idea. It was always better to know, even if it hurt. Knowledge was power.

The little valley they were in shallowed out until she was sure they were coming up to the village. Suddenly the ground beneath her shook violently. Lianna stumbled and fell to the dirt while looking around for the source of the tremor. There had been earthquakes where she had come from but none as intense as this. As she tried to reach her feet again, a huge cracking noise resounded from nearby. On hands and knees, she crested the small hill and looked out to see people running away from a giant chasm. Screams pierced the air, and Lianna's aura turned a frighteningly dark black. As the shaking stopped, she went to the nearest person and grabbed the woman gently by the arm. Tears streamed down her face, and she instantly curled to Lianna's chest to sob. 

"What happened here?" she asked as gently as she could despite the fear coursing through her. The woman looked into Lianna's eyes before managing to speak.

"The village….it's gone. Rhylana.." was about all Lianna could make out before releasing the woman. 

"Bryn!" she shouted over the bustle. Lianna wasn't sure he had followed her or if he had stayed back down by the stream. Instead of trying to find him she looked to see if there was anything she could do to help. Instantly her aura became the neutral gold again as she sought out a man whose leg looked like it had been crushed by something falling during the quake. His moans of pain filled her entire being and her golden cream inches along her skin to his leg. As she whispered to the clean, they entered into his wound and knitted it back together. When she finished, she didn't even wait for thanks before searching for anyone else who was injured. THIS, was what she was made for, helping, healing. No stolen memories could erase the drive she felt during a crisis. 

The silence wasn't entirely comfortable, after all they were two complete stranger, both somewhat out of their previously familiar world, she by her transportation, and he having laid dead for centuries as the world changed. It was however without the tension of two people wondering what the other's intention was. He guessed her silence was as much absorbed in what she was to do and wondering about where she had come from, it was a bitter-sweet relief for him to retain his memories, while he could not forget what he had lost and what a state he had fallen to, he was however in full possession of the knowledge of who he was and what that meant. That knowledge was power to him, and holding onto it might help to stave off the insanity that his eternally cycling existence might otherwise have brought. While he might be alone in the world he knew where he had come from, and although his people appeared long disappeared their traditions and laws gave him an anchor to cling to whilst everything else had changed.

The village was nearby, and the sun was beginning to set, as the light faded he began to feel more of his mortal form returning to him. It was far from a complete transformation, but it did make him feel more at ease around Lianna. That increasing sense of ease was rudely ripped away from him as the ground shook, his steed didn't buck or fret like any normal horse would, instead it stood its ground, taking the quake as it came. Bryn was likewise unmoved by the shaking ground, although somewhat confused as the Highlands had not been prone to quakes in his living years. Seeing Lianna crest the hill, and the change in her aura he spurred the horse to action, almost flying over the lip of it before pulling up short at what he saw. An entire village, swallowed by the earth, it was like something out of the darkest myths of his tribe, the wrath of the gods themselves made manifest.

He flew from the back of his horse, shroud billowing round him like immense black wings. He was no healer, but he could carry those who were unable to walk. He also knew the look of death in the eyes of those who had merely moments left and could steer apothecaries away to those who at least had a chance. They might not be his kith and kin, but they were people of the Highlands, and his code forbade him from withholding any aid he could render. So while Lianna tended the wounded Bryn began sorting through those who needed immediate help, those who could wait, and those for whom no help could save. Perhaps some muttered darkly about a black shrouded figure divvying up those who would live from those who likely wouldn't, but Bryn didn't heed them.