[Group 2] Prologue: A Trail of Ashes

The large woman, crossed her arms, and gazed out at the forest village. She smirked as the people had found the bountiful uses the trees held. She scratched many of the trees with her nails, and felt the strength within them. The trees of this area were quite strong indeed. Perhaps she could lead the Vorah people to conquer this land, and make use of these mighty trees. But, that would be for another time. Zaltana's Heracross, Cauli, grabs onto one of the tree trunks, and begins to sniff around. Zaltana chuckles, and pats the bug's abdomen. "Ahahaha! Looking for nectar, my young warrior!? I'm sure these tese trees will offer great sustenance. Come along." She notices Sister Lisali shout, and run off towards a camp fire. The little sister loved to talk she did. Zaltana shruged, and follwed her over to where tales were being told by a small, beautiful male. As she leaned against a tree trunk, Zaltana didn't really pay attention to the story, but rather the beauty of the male. She thought about how he could prove to be a great mate, and help produce worthy offspring. He didn't look very strong, but with such an appearance, it was worth a try.

The village folk around the fire, both young and old, are completely intoxicated by the atmosphere Aestiva creates with only his words and expressions. Indeed, the stranger's eloquence has yet to disappoint them in his days here. However, one innocent child pipes up with a simple question to break the mesmerizing spell the storyteller seems to have cast. "What's a... a 'sea'?" A few of the older adults chuckle, apparently having heard of it from a past encounter, though the rest of them seem just as ignorant to what it was. "Picture the stream. Now, imagine if the stream was so large and deep and wide that it is all you can see. That's what I was told to compare it to long ago." Having a better understanding of the tale now, the circle of people mostly nod, though some kids start to tear up and cry.

Zaltana listens quietly to the male's tale. It had been quite a while since she had seen the sea. She was more accustomed to the land, but the grand waters were a beautiful mistress. She looked at Lisali, who was quite enraptured with the story, and firmly pats her on the back with a chuckle. "It's merely a tale, sister. It also warns you not to underestimate the mighty sea. You must venture out into her arms with respect, and understanding. Disrespecting her will induce her vengeance upon those fools." The large woman finally takes a seat by Lisali, and the fire. She takes out some jerky she had made, passes some to her companion, and takes a strong bite out of it. She then looks to the attractive male. "Entertaining stories, male. My fellow sister seems quite invested."

Lisali's eyes widen in understanding, and she nods, smiling. What the man said made sense, and she supposed that not all stories came from the real world.

She nods enthusiastically, smiling widely at the man. "My name is Lisali, and this is Zaltana!" she says, gesturing to her companion. She tilts her head in thought as the man asks for a story, thinking on what she'd seen and experienced that would make for a good story. Quickly, her face brightens as she thinks of something. "I do have a story to tell, yes!"

She begins speaking in a melodious, soothing voice, a serene expression on her face. "I once met a man, who, when night fell, would climb this tall mountain. Every night he'd try to reach the top, climbing throughout the night, but whenever sunrise came, he'd tumble down the mountain and end up at the bottom. Still, he climbed, and as he climbed he'd encounter many things. Terrible beasts that would try to hunt him, throw him down, winged animals that would help him up, carry him higher, gnomes and tricksters that would challenge him with riddles and tricks, not allowing him past without an answer. He'd meet people he knew, who he loved and hated and all in between, who would encourage him, jeer him, ask him for help or advice as he ascended. Sometimes, he'd leave the mountain be a for a night, busy with other matters, but eventually, he'd return there, climbing.

No matter how often he tried to get up the mountain, he would never quite reach the top, daylight always breaking before he'd get there, sending him falling back down. No matter how many helpful little things happened on his way up, he'd never reach the summit. This continued on for a long time, until one night. On this night, everything went right. No monsters came to chase and harm him, no tricksters to delay him, no familiar faces to distract him. The only creature he encountered was a great, magnificent bird, who met him near the foot of the mountain and carried him up most of the journey. After this, it was just him and the mountain, and slowly but surely, he made his way up, eventually reaching the summit."

She pauses for a few moments, seemingly thinking, considering the right words, before continuing.

"On the summit, he found a small, completely flat plateau, with the most spectacular view of the sleeping world down below. He spent the rest of the night watching, admiring the world beneath him, as the stars travelled through the sky. Come daybreak, he approached the edge, stopping right before the fall below him to see the sun come up. Once it had fully risen from the horizon, he... jumped down."

She stops again, smiling.

"And the next night, he began his ascend again, determined to find out what he'd discover this time..."

She is still smiling as she finishes her story, looking around the group as she absentmindedly pets Shackle.

When the villagers finally notice the new arrivals as they enter the circle, they are awed and whisper amongst themselves. "More outsiders?" "How strange." "How exciting!" "How ominous..." Still, they respectfully stay quiet for the most part while letting the women introduce themselves and tell their stories at the behest of their current guest. Lisali's tale seems to grab only the wisest and most experienced listeners, who smile knowingly alongside her as she concludes with the man willingly dropping down and starting a new ascent, while much of the younger crowd look confused about his actions. Once Zaltana shares her battle stories, however, even showing them the scars to prove it, they get much more involved and look at the warrior queen with high regard. "That's amazing! You really did all that by yourself?" "I bet she can't take on Old Durmo though." "I don't know, defeating an alpha Mightyena is impressive." "And a Scolipede too. You know how dangerous their poison is!" "Hmm, maybe..."

The audience's chattering soon ceases when an imposing man in his late thirties, draped in a deep green cloak and wielding a carved staff made of petrified wood, approaches the fire and addresses Lisali and Zaltana. "I was informed more strangers have come to our home, and it appears true. Welcome, you have done well to arrive here before nightfall, for our forest bears its true fangs in darkness. Now, do you have any business here, or were you merely seeking shelter for the night?" the man asks quite seriously. Through the entire time that he has spoken, the rest of the villagers have kept their heads low in deference.

Zaltana nods, and rises to her feet. "Aye. Sister Lisali can see things. I've deemed her visions quite important, and we are traveling to the sources of these dreams. The dreams show her things, and then the nature tells us of the people who have trekked through the woods, strolled through grass, and crossed rivers. They speak to me, and we have come here." She puts a hand on Lisali's shoulder, and scans the area. She scans the faces of the villagers, but the face of Aestiva sticks out for some reason...She turns back to the leader. "We do indeed seek this person of fire, and ashes. Perhaps they are here as the plant life has whispered."

Although the pleasant lavender aroma envelops the circle, a tense silence hangs heavily upon them. No one dares to speak a word. Even the forest itself seems to fall still, as if in mourning for what may come. However, the leader soon hums in a low tone to soothe the atmosphere, though his furrowed brow reveals his concern. "These visions of fire and ash, you are certain they originated here? No matter who or why, the imagery is foreboding. There has been no rainfall these past few weeks. I fear that if a single twig were to catch aflame without notice, there would be little to stop severe damage from being done." He straightens with a grave expression and announces to everyone around with a resounding boom and a wave of his staff, "We bury the life fire for tonight. I will not take any chances. Use Illumise and Volbeat for light if you must."

Almost immediately, the villagers voice their worries and outcries in a cacophony. One elderly woman outbursts, "The life fire has stayed lit since before my grandfather's grandfather! You would snuff out our sacred hearth by the word of some outsider?!" The man responds grimly with his own question. "Would you rather our lives be extinguished by morning?" She clams up, unable to answer him, but still furious. Someone else talks loudly to his friend, clearly intending to be overheard, "These people are causing nothing but trouble. They shouldn't be allowed to stay here. The man has already been here for days, using up our supplies without contributing anything of value."

Zaltana clicks her tongue as villagers start speaking out. Such insolence! Perhaps claiming this land for the Vorah was a good idea...But, the smell of lavender is quite soothing actually. She then taps her chin at Lisali's suggestion. "Forest fires are quite devastating, but from the ashes, an even more brilliant forest rises. Ehh...Perhaps we don't even need to stay much longer. What do you think, sister? Do you believe the person is here?"

The leader observes the women's faces for a moment, looking for an ounce of ill intention, then approaches the both of them and stamps his staff in front of their feet. "Good Lisali, proud Zaltana, if all you wish is to find this person who dreamed of ash and fire, I permit it so and grant you stay, upon the name Pura-ve. However, though you may think otherwise, I believe your arrival here a forewarning. My heart suffers at the thought of our home burning to the skies, even if it is meant to be as part of the natural cycle, and so I will take the necessary precautions."

Afterwards, he silently watches the singled-out villager wither from Aestiva's cool retort, then intervenes before more can be said by either side. "Your offer is gracious, honored Aestiva. Perhaps it will be only a temporary solution, but I am sure my people appreciate the thought." However, looking around the circle, it is clear the unrest has yet to settle even after Aestiva has extended his help. In addition, four villagers, including the one who spoke out against Aestiva, glare suspiciously at him, which does not escape the leader's eyes. "It appears some would prefer to keep watch alongside you. Do allow them to know your company tonight." At this declaration, most of the other villagers seem to lower their wariness and begin to disperse back to their tree shelters for the night, though whispers and murmurs continue.