RP:First Contact

From HollowWiki

Part of the A Different Halloween Arc



The Kelay Tavern...

Ocano stirs in his seat, having fallen asleep some hour ago. Slowly, he opens his eyes, revealing to him a scene more-or-less the same as he'd left it. With a yawn, the elf stretched his arms and legs accompanied with a few cracks as old bones popped. He sat up and took another look around the near empty tavern before going in search of food in his satchel.

A brief flicker of green light appears beneath a chair on one side of the room.

Ocano feels the hairs on the back of his hand stand on end. He could feel someone, or something, watching him. He looked about, eyes squinted in suspicion.

Cyllth speaks directly into Ocano's mind, "yes. a Sensitive, as I thought. I can Use you, if you are willing, bard. take my hand..." A ghostly image of a hand appears before Ocano, one that only he can see.

Ocano gasps, all the hairs now standing to attention, and shivers racing across his skin like electricity. He stares at the image for a moment, trying to control his breathing. Slowly, he reaches up with one pale hand. With his heart pumping, he grasps the ghostly image.

Ocano reaches up and appears to grab at the air, then suddenly vanishes into thin air.


The Oracle's Lair

Ocano coughs, choking on the mixture of shock and adrenaline. Holding a hand to his chest, he collapses to his knees, gasping for air. Once again, he can feel the unknown gaze bearing down on him. His eyes stay firmly shut, praying that this wasn't real, but the result of a badly cooked meal, or spiked drink.

Cyllth whispers a command, and a half dozen light sources spring up around the cavern, allowing his guest some visibility. "welcome, Guest. you are safe here, you have My Word. I can Use your services."

Ocano remains as he is, on his knees, eyes clamped shut. With dry lips, he attempts to speak. "W..Who are you? Where am I?"

Cyllth shifts his nearly-invisible projected form around slightly, causing some air drafts to swirl around. "names have power. what I wish of you is to act as my Emissary for a short time. I wish you to take word of my awakening to the local rulers. is this something you are capable of?"

Ocano shivers, the draught seemingly passing though his clothing. Slowly, he opens his eyes and squints through the dim light of the cavern. He stares up into the skeletal structure before him, his vision clouded slightly, as if by faint smoke. "You're awakening? Who must I go to?" He stuttered slightly, a mixture of fear and cold chilling him. "I will try, spirit."

Cyllth peers down at Ocano, his glowing green eyes appearing to be set inside a giant glass dragon, while his bones lay off to the side against the wall of the cavern. "excellent. I felt you would be right. I wish you to tell the local rulers that the Oracle has awoken, and that those who can find their way here and meet the price will get the Answer to any Question they choose to ask. the price will be steep, but those who make the effort usually are able to meet it."

Ocano nods, still unsure whether the situation is real, or merely the side-effect of an accidentally ingested drug. "Yessir. I will try. Where might I find these people? And where is 'here' exactly?"

Cyllth lays his head down upon the cavern floor, putting his eyes at about the same height as the bard's. He chuffs once in amusement, a blast of air pulling at the edges of Ocano's clothes briefly. "you should know who the local rulers are. the feline woman in the northern mountains, the dwarves, the vampire in the west, the pixie queen, the drow mage, and the human woman in the northern forest. as for where here is, I have no desire to be pestered by every seeker after inane questions who happens to hear of my location. those who wish to Ask must find Me first. it weeds out those who are not serious about their Question."

Ocano gulps, staring into the spirit-like eyes before him. He shivers again, screwing his face as the air flows past him. He nods, "I understand, spirit. I will do your work." He tried smiling, but found his face was still locked in fear, so merely twitched.

Cyllth watches the high elf for a moment, visualizing the swirl of his aura. "for your Payment, I suspect that if you play your cards right, you will be rewarded by at least one of the rulers for your efforts. let your intuition lead, and stay true to your nature, and you will do well." The glowing green orbs dimmed slightly. "have you anything further you wish to Ask Me?"

Ocano attempts to steady his breathing, as he stands to his feet before the lich. "No, Spirit. I have no more questions."

Cyllth reaches out a translucent talon toward the bard, then taps the ground with a metal claw ring that appears to be part of the image. At that spot the ground swirls around and opens up, revealing a dark passageway. "I return you to your location, untouched. fare well, bard, and forget not the Task I set you."

Ocano takes a deep breath, walking forward into the darkness, putting faith once again in the ghostly figure.

Back in the Tavern

Ocano awakes with a jolt, eyes struggling to adjust to the bright light of the tavern. He looked around, the room filled with people, as it was before. Getting up, he looks about his seat, particularly under the chair. He tapped the floorboards, pressing his ear to the ale-stained wood with an expression halfway between panic and determination. Seemingly coming to no conclusion, he sat back, mouth contorted into a concerned smirk. "Well..."

Ocano stands, brushing down his clothes in an attempt to remove some of the sticky particles and hair he had accumulated whilst on the floor. Nodding to himself, he rememberd the task entrusted to him and began work. He moved to the bar, attempting to catch the gentleman there. He cleared his thoat, hoping Danarien would look his way.

Danarien glances back to Tanya and responds through the private medium of telepathy, before his attention is taken by the high-elf gentlemen nearby. Ocano is recognised with a lofted brow, and a polite, "hmm? May I help you?"

Ocano smiles, nodding his head, "Sorry to disturb you, sir. But I'm in need of a little assistance. I'm looking for the ruling houses here. I've just arrived here, you see. Are there any names I should look out for? Lords, or Ladies you might know of?" He trailed off, nervously. His hands, in his pockets in a process of clenching and unclenching constantly.

Danarien says to Ocano "Thinking about it..." Danarien pulls a contemplative frown, as if in emphasis of cognitive process, "I actually don't. The mainland seems very lacking in lawful bodies. Well, I believe there is a Lord Luthentius up in Larket, along with the Queen. And Venturil I've heard is quite ordered. And Frostmaw. Though if you seek the high-elf lords, I'm afraid Rynvale is in quite some turmoil. Freelance tabloids report the fall of House Nonalla, the Governor abandoned the island some time ago, and House Falirae has become very withdrawn. Of the other houses, I know nought." The finely-dressed mind-mage then offers an empathetic grimace, "I'm sorry I can't really be of more help. You make your own law here. Order is maintained through power and reputation."

Ocano nods, making a mental note of the man's advice. "I see. Well. That's very helpful, actually. Thank you, sir." He bows to the man, turning and making his way to the notice board. As he walked, he took another fearful glance at the chair in the corner.