A Nightmare’s Requiem – Prologue: Silence before the Storm.
 

IT BEGINS! Sorry for keeping you guys waiting.

“<Mahia tula stchik lanmna, fura binu que rresque lopeur dan kirra. Virra, D’hishtack turla mani farla. TULA, mahia est.>”
~ They say that Reality is what is there, what is solid and can be seen. But it is really what you believe in. THAT, is reality.~

~~

The raven cawed.
He soared, over the bright, whitewashed buildings of the Citadel dwellers, his beady eyes roaming across the beauty of the towering spires and tall, imposing structures. Upon midnight wings, glossy black with the oil he so painstakingly groomed with, the raven wheeled above the sky of the Catharsis Citadel. With slow beats of his wings, he stays aloft a draft of cold wind that signified the encroaching winter. Beneath him, trees, in their golden splendour, swayed in time with a sighing breeze, releasing their jewels of colours into the sky.
:You see, Kalia, friend,: the raven cawed with evident delight, taking joy from his free flight over the great sprawling citadel that he called home. Though he watched with his own eyes, a separate pair revelled in Catharsis’ beauty. The presence was ever close, and the raven was drawn towards it.

Dark turned and glided lazily through the air, allowing the air current to take him where it pleased. The landscape changed; the sprawling suburban-wise view with its many turrets for protection against hostile forces yearning upwards gave way to a crowded city, and in the middle, his destination.
The great domed building. The meeting place of the Council of Twelve. Dark cawed once. Twice. He wheeled slowly, circling the white, marble roof once before dipping low. A guard spotted the black bird, and waved. Dark gave a replying caw, and dove through the open door that the guard offered him. He landed at the threshold of the entrance, ruffling his feathers like a pompous being readying for an important meeting. Amidst a slight chuckle from the guard, Dark mock-strutted into the room that unfurled itself before the old bird’s golden eyes, their colour distinguishable due to his unnatural age. Bobbing his head as if signalling a thanks to the guard still standing by the door, Dark hopped quickly over the ground, his watchful eyes picking out every detail of the large hall.

“There you are, Dark!” the sharp clatter of hooves made Dark caw with delight and take to the air. His strong claws flashed out and found purchase on soft, human flesh, and in the next moment, he was melting into the idle scratching of his long-lived friend and mistress.
“Those images were beautiful, darling,” she whispered as she smelt autumn’s splendour in the raven’s feathers. Quicksilver looked about her finally, as if awoken from a dream, to survey the large domed hall that she had arrived in.

The hall was massive, with four giant marble pillars spiralling upward, engraved upon them a historical being of each race. Quicksilver noted with an expert’s eye the strong support they gave to the overall structure of the building. The ceiling, curving to the smooth straight walls that circulated and created the room, was painted with both avians and draconians soaring about, and to give a touch of extra beauty, magic was splashed within the art to give the creatures life. They flitted across the ceiling in mesmerising beauty and splendour.
Now why would beings of such power be in need of a half-breed like me? she idly wondered, unconsciously sharing her thoughts with Dark.
:Special. Your touch can both create and kill. They have something special in mind for you.:
:Sadly, that does not assure me. Something’s up, and there will be hell to pay – forgive the pun.:
:Forgiven,: Dark acknowledged Quicksilver’s thoughts. Used to 50 years of telepathy and experience, the raven’s mind vocabulary has extended somewhat into far complex words that are utilized by her and the other races. Normal beast-telepathy would involve broken sentences with little knowledge of any humane-wise emotions and words. Dark prided himself on his wider knowledge, and exercised it constantly with Quicksilver’s quirky mind.
It was at this time, when Quicksilver was idly wandering around the large dome-shaped hall admiring the roof, when she bumped into a mild, human-shaped creature. Her advantage only her height and four hooves, she looked down, surprised, and eyed the rather unremarkable human with interest. Why is he here? she thought, but before her expression could be noticed, she changed her demeanour.
“Sorry about that, darling,” Quicksilver smiled apologetically, “I wasn’t looking to where I was going. The ceiling is such a wonder,” she added. But she had noticed his outright awe of the ceiling the moment she had bumped into him, and so didn’t comment further. It was evident he was caught in the splendour of the animated art, and probably didn’t even hear her apology.
:There are more,: Dark announced to her with an extra loud caw. Pretending to look startled and annoyed at the raven’s sudden noise, she looked about her, and sure enough, a score or so more individuals of all races and characteristics were making their individual way into the domed hall, their eyes all likewise drawn towards the splendour of the ceiling. A creature among them caught her attention. Hmm? A wilder in our midst? This must definitely be serious then!

OOC: it should be warned that all council members that wish to join the party must do so undercover. Therefore, Arhra, I have given you an opening ^_^ a VERY convenient opening. Others, you are making your way into the domed hall. CANNOT BE ANYWHERE ELSE! BWAHAHAH!

A chill wind blew as Aeria entered the domed hall. Or perhaps it was more a sense of forboding that caused the others to shiver. She was a legend in some parts, and used as a story to scare children. Both respected and feared, most people kept their distance. She noticed though, that these weren't 'most people'.

The people though were not her concern. Most things were not her concern; while everyone else was captivated by the art in the room, and near silent in their awe, she barely even noticed it. She was concerned with why she was invited here. She had been running in her regular form, as she couldn't carry her sword while a large black cat, when she stopped by a small village. This village was on the fringes of Ti'Phanas, and was home to Gentera, the man of whom she got her bounty notices. She had spent a large portion of her life hunting those who the Citadel wanted slain, but had never once kept any of the reward for herself. Gold meant nothing to her. This time however, Gentera had no bounty for her to chase, only a letter of invitation to a meeting with the council.

Returning her mind to the present, she attempted to find a person to report to. With all of the varied people currently in the hall, she could not tell. Everyone seemed to be waiting for something to happen, but that was not Aeria's style. She was quick, efficient, and impatient.

"I am here!" she called out, her voice echoing in the quiet hall.

Sharak had noticed Quicksilver bumping into him but he had taken advantage of the link that the momentary physical contact had given him to take a lightning fast glimpse at her mind. The Council could not be too careful, the Darkness was everywhere. As he thought, there was no sign of taint in the alchemist.

Though he had seen it hundreds of times, the hall still moved him. Still, showing this awe openly as though he had never seen it before was a minor part of his disguise. Like all such things it was an integral part however. It was all too easy to make one too many little mistakes that jar with how you wished to be percieved.

He knew exactly why this disparate group had been called here. It was not his job to tell them why but instead he would be accompanying them anonimously to ensure that their purpose would be fulfilled. But before then even he was acting as a kind of filter. Before the Council spoke to these people it was his duty to use his mind magics to find out if any of them secretly belonged to the Darkness. In this inoffensive form he unobtrusively makes his way over towards Aeria, looking as if he was preoccupied with the murals. Only a few more remained to be tested before the meeting could begin.

Elnalyn woke up, her ruby red eyes blinking several times, then remaining half closed as sunlight broke through. She promised she wouldn't let herself doze off like this and silently blamed it on the tranquility of the garden. Because she had arrived so soon, and because she had nothing better to do, AND because it'd be rather silly to stay in the waiting room of the Citadel all the time she was here, she more or less rooted herself into the ground near the expansive garden and rested. When she didn't rest, she played the harmonica. Stretching out and yawning, she figured it was about time for the others to arrive.

Looking back, Elnalyn was glad she got here so early. The messenger they had hired to find her must've been paid well to track her down even when there weren't even paths through the forest, where she had been laying low from a previous incident. Going back to jail wouldn't've been bad, she thought, except that once was enough. Slicing an acre of trees as a result to wielding a considerable amount of gathered sunlight as a giant ray of incineration, though awesome, was definitely uncalled for. Luckily, they haven't quite matched her to the crime. Just as Elnalyn warmed up to the day, a well dressed woman approached her.

"Milady Vahlgamine," she began, "the party is beginning to gather inside the Grand Hall. We would ask that you report there as soon as possible."

Elnalyn nodded. "Certainly. I'll be there once I clean myself." At this, the messenger nodded and slowly began her trek back to the Citadel. Elnalyn pulled her tentacles up from the ground where she had inserted them the night before last night, and brushed each one of them clear of dirt. One of them even had a worm wrapped around it, which was gone in a flash by Elnalyn thumping it away. She sighed as the tentacles began pulling her to the entrance of the Citadel, not looking forward to having to listen to yet another client make his or her speech, but realizing that it's just a part of the job, and when Elnalyn thought about it enough, it was the easiest part of the job. She scaled the stairs and entered the Cathedral, not particular about taking in its sights. She had already been inside to inform them of her arrival, let them know where she would be if they needed her, and to have a messenger sent a half hour before the estimated time that the clients would be ready to explain her job for her.

Leonidas silently entered the hall a short distance behind the feline who felt it neccesary to make the loud announcement of her arrival. Her name was whispered amongst some areas; something to the tune of Aeria. He silently strayed away from her and took a stride around the impressive building. Though his eyes were downturned, he noticed someone staring at him through the corner of his yellow, half closed eyes. A curious avian hybrid with a familiar. He looked up at her, to see her do a semi-nervous four-step with her hooves and look away. He allowed himself a small smile as he leaned against one of the gargantuan columns, closing his eyes, simply taking in the atmosphere of the place. Are my people so far and few nowadays that we attract attention whenever we enter? he thought as he turned his hooded head upwards to admire the full majesty of the structure.

Its hemispherical design gace it the illusion that the building was much taller than it appeared. Considering its remarkable size normally, this made the roof seem to touch the stars in the night sky. Rather restless in this foreign environment, Leonidas got up to have a better look at his surrounding, and perhaps to interact with the other's summoned here...

As if the Wilder sensed her eyes drawn towards his curious being, he turned his head towards her.
:Plan B!: Dark’s sudden, intrusive mindvoice made her four hooves do a slight shuffle and turn her head away from the curious creature. Right into the golden eyes of her familiar.
: Dear gods, Dark! You scared me!: Quicksilver shot. A foreign emotion, one emanating from her familiar, enveloped her. It was humorous satisfaction.
:Wish me to study him, then?: he asked. Quicksilver gave a mind’s nod, and the raven bobbed his head and fixed a fierce, golden eye on the Wilder.
While Dark converted a detailed study of Leonidas to memory, Quicksilver’s eyes also wandered. Her curiosity became very strong when she saw the tendrils of a fellow Polypedal enter, followed by the body of the being.
How interesting! Another rare species, she thought admirably as the plant Polypedal came in full view. The delicate elegance of the creature caught her attention, and her eyes were drawn towards the flower. Her interest grew wings and flew.
There was the soft clatter of hooves, as Quicksilver side-stepped a bit, before doing a half-rear and turning on the spot. She ignored the indignant caw from Dark as she cut short his full examination of Leonidas, and she did a slow canter across the room, intending to speak to either the rare breed of plant Polypedal, or to converse with the Wilder.

There was still no sign of the Council members.

There was one Council member but he was hiding in plain sight. Sharak reaches Aeria, still looking as though he was entranced by the splendid murals and bumps into her as if he hadn't been watching where he had been going. It was quite intentional though, he needed to examine each of those would be sent on this quest wtih his mind magic. He could probe minds from a distance but physical contact made the link much stronger and easier. With his glimpse of Aeria's mind gained from brushing against her oddly warm flesh he was almost moved to tears. There was such darkness there, not evil but still a terrible burden. She ran almost like an automaton, often just responding to her surroundings. Sharak has to wonder what event could have caused this. He looks slightly down at her, she was shorter than his own average height and says, "I am sorry, I must not have been looking where I was going." Sharak doesn't seem cowed by her though, silvery eyes meeting night-black ones.

Elnalyn simply took her place out of the way of the others and waited. She wasn't much for talking with other people unless she had to, and these masses assembled in the Citadel seemed rather preoccupied regardless. Almost entirely out of regard to avoid any conversation, Elnalyn bowed her head and closed her eyes as though in prayer.

OOC: If we could, try and watch the tenses. Past or present is fine, but not switching between the two.

More people arrived at the hall after Aeria announced her presence, and if she had cared she might have felt a little guilty for being so impatient. As it was though, she merely waited, standing almost perfectly still, her only motion her tail.

She noted that there were rather rare kinds of people here, but that meant little to her. In a world such as this, with so many different races and breeds, more than half of them were rare in one way or another.

As she waited for the explanation of why they were all there to start, a man, obviously trying to do too many things at once as he was thinking, walking and trying to appear inconspicuous, bumped into her. He seemed a fool, his eyes did not hold the wonder that the others had, and they darted all over the place, immediatly giving him away. She was going to tell him so, but after the collision however, he seemed to freeze for a moment, before offering an apology. That made her wonder, and she kept her eye on him. In doing so however, she became completely oblivious to the actions of the others.

A suspicious eye had been prowling about this grand dome, searching... an energy overflowing the dome had brought this little critter here. An energy of... goodness, full of life, yet strangeness. The streams of energy had not been very unified, each stream flowing their own direction, yet if combined together, could be a powerful force... almost as powerful as that of the Dark Lord himself. At first, this critter had been captivated by the imense glory and beauty of the dome, together with the flowing energy of the elect,which had an immense spendour, but the black furball quickly reminded himself that he was here for a cause. Also fearing for his safety if he was to be discovered, not of what these heroes would do to him, but of what torture his Master would bring upon his soul. Trembling at the thought, he placed himself in hiding, and watched carefully, determined to find out what all these... good heroes... were here for.