I've Got Friends In Low Places..., Calling Spiorad!

Flapping his wings with effortless grace Nomad made his way to the borders of the Spiorad but made a quick circle around the lands to see what it looked like for himself. Nomad could see other wolves within the borders and such, but none were near them. Nomad didn't wish to call for them if they were doing something more important, but this was a matter of importance and needed to speak to one immediately for the sake of his pack and the remaining members within the mists. As Nomad landed his royal blue pelt waved in the wind and looked about the place. It indeed had a spiritual feel to it which he adored already and eyed the environment they lived in. A little different from theirs, but not so much. They didn't live on a mountain which was okay and they had a lot more forests though they had just about the same amount of snow which was interesting enough. Nomad let out a sigh knowing he was at the borders and did not want to intrude. Nomad then focused on the situation at hand. Half his pack maybe even more were lost in the mists and no one was sure how they would get out or if ever they would return. He knew he needed to speak to the spiorad and get more information. Nomad as he sat there for a moment or two, looked about and wondered where they could be? It just didn't make any sense. no matter in either case. He needed to be patient and wait for one of them to show though he wasn't sure where any of them were in the first place. He was tempted on letting out a howl to speed the importance and just to ask any spiorad out there that may know, but he also didn't want to be rude, but at this point the lives of his pack members and the pack itself were at stake. So with that, Nomad tilted his head back and let out a howl using the winds to carry it across the ways to reach the ears of any spiorad that might show. “I come here for not only our Luminary but a few of our other members have disappeared into the mists. I have been sent by our Aristocrat to gain information on the Shrouded Lands. I know it is a place of the spirits, but what is such a place? What dangers does it hold? ”

This post has been edited by Nomadic Psyche: 26 Oct 2009

"No one is coming, they have left me alone, But the Thunder no longer has its deafening tone."

As she came into the material world, Andromeda exhaled largely. The slight, cool breeze made her fur tingle, and she reveled in the feeling. What would her life be without this land? The Carnelian Isle was her home. Taking in the glorious, varied scents around her, she caught a whiff of something that wasn't so familiar. Feolan?

Immediately, Andromeda's mind thought of the feolan who had travelled with her in the Shrouded Lands, but this wasn't he, this was a different wolf. It was only seconds later that she heard this stranger's call. Taking in a breath, she turned and wandered toward him. She had learned time was not something to rush. This felt especially true considering the land she had only moments ago escaped.

>>I am here, Feolan. Now, slow down. What knowledge is it you seek? I've an inkling that I may be of use.<<

The wolf she approached was, indeed, a Feolan. Again, Andie found herself rather bedazzled by his bright display of colors, so much more vibrant than the one from the Shrouded Lands, though that may have been because the Land itself tends to mute one's vision in that sense, hers less than others. She awaited silently, now directly in front of the other wolf, for him to address her with his inquiries.

Nomad enjoyed the silence of Carnelian Isle. It indeed was a different place to be and allowed him to meditate a little while he waited. Though he was ranked as a Ranger, he didn't mind acting as a meditator from time to time. The wind barely ruffled his fur as his ethereal wings were partially wrapped around him with the tips of them just at his front paws. Soon enough, he heard a voice enter his head.

"Oh! Yes, I was wishing to know a few things if you had the time. I need to know what the Shrouded Lands are and the dangers that lie inside it. My luminary as well as a few others have been missing for some time, and I have been wondering if that is where they have gone."

Nomad spoke as he opened his eyes looking upon the silver hued female. He was hoping she would be able to tell him something about it for the Spiorad were those that knew a great chunk of Paragons history and such. He hoped she didn't mind sharing it.

"No one is coming, they have left me alone, But the Thunder no longer has its deafening tone."

Andromeda smiled. It seemed the Feolan had come just in time to hear some good news! As well as that, Andie had been beginning to feel ignorant after travelling with her own luminary for such a time, and these questions again helped her balance her own self-image.

>>Worry not, friend. Time is one of the few things I have excess of.<<

Without further ado, she addressed Nomad's questions. Her words were slow and thoughtful, she chose them carefully, so as to accurately portray the images she described.

>>The Shrouded Lands are a world other than our own, here. They are named for the mists that cloak them, so that most cannot see past their own nose. Most wolves have no sense of smell and no sense of direction. While many believe the Spirits that wander there are the only threat, that is not so. It is, in fact, just as common to simply walk off a cliff, or tumble into crags. The Land is ever-changing and, as I said, impossible to navigate, aside from for the Spiorad, that is.<<

At this moment she paused, giving the other wolf a few moments to process this new information. She had nothing to ask from him in return, like some of her kind do, but was content only to know that his questions would be answered, his thirst for knowledge satisfied. After this pause, she continued, her tone much lighter.

>>However, I happened to have arrived here from the Lands just moments ago. I, as well as those of several other of various elements, found passage out, and I have a feeling that others will soon follow. I do believe I already met some of your fellow packmates. Let me see... they went by, I believe Chrome Spell and Kinpento.<<

Nomad became excited when he heard the names of his two pack members. "Amazing! Can you tell me how they are fairing!? I am sure Kinpentos mate would love to hear that he is fairing well." Nomad wagged his tail as he waited anxiously for an answer. Nomad was excited to see the pair again. He hoped that they would return from the lands alright as well so he could give the news to Illyia.

"So the place is a danger then. How do they return from the lands?" Nomad asked as his expression became more serious now. He awaited Andromedas words as he pondered about what it was like in there. Of course he wished not to go himself, for he would hear the words of Kinpento and Chrome when they returned, but he would wait until they returned for that.

"No one is coming, they have left me alone, But the Thunder no longer has its deafening tone."

Andie couldn't help but cheer up at Nomad's joy. Indeed, was it not she who was supposed to be a peacekeeper in her pack? Yet now it was this stranger here who was uplifting her. Perhaps even Mediators needed a little cheering.

>>I lost track of Chrome Spell at some point... but I watched Kinpento leave with my own two eyes, as I was guarding the escape. Speaking of which, he should be around here now, perhaps already on his way home?<<

As she spoke, she glanced around, wondering where Kinpento had gotten off to. Maybe he had returned to a different spot? She was still slightly foggy on exactly how the fountain worked.

>>Well, I am not quite sure myself how one can return. Some Spiorad have taken the Rite of the Spiritwalker, which enables them to travel back and forth at will. However, the rest of us may become trapped for years at a time. I myself wandered there for fifteen years quite a time ago. As it was, we had my luminary with us this time. We escaped through a fountain, one identical to the elemental focus of our lands. When it is in repair, it acts as a gate between the worlds.<<

This post has been edited by Andromeda: 07 Nov 2009

Nomad listened as he chuckled when she spoke of Kinpento. At least he got out safe - even if he acted like he was scared of everything. He knew that Kinpento had some bravery there in his heart and he was sure it showed when he wished to get out of there. No matter. Nomad continued to listen as she spoke of a fountain.

"And this fountain. If it were to be activated say on 'our side' of the shrouded lands, would the shrouded lands become opened? Or what if it were destroyed? Would it keep the shrouded lands from opening? Or if one were to become trapped would one never be able to leave it?"

Nomad wondered these questions for they were the ultimate ones. Why was the fountain the only way out? Wasn't there another way out? These things rambled in his mind in efforts to understand how it worked and the secrets within its workings.

"No one is coming, they have left me alone, But the Thunder no longer has its deafening tone."

Andie hesitated. She wished she had the answers to these questions, but, unfortunately, the Shrouded Lands were something not even many Spiorad fully understood.

>>Well, I'm sure the fountain is not the only way out. Many of us Spiorad have been pulled back and forth without having ever gone anywhere near our fountain. It's just... a mystery. The fountain on our side is already in full repair. I don't know what would happen if I were to step into it... but I've no mind to try. Though I'm sure others have before. And yes, once you are trapped, there is rarely a way out.<<

These thoughts brought her again to the past, to those pups. But that wasn't something to be moping about now. The Anord pups this time--at least one of them--had escaped, and that's what mattered. She was disappointed that she sould not answer most of Nomad's inquiries, but her well of knowledge was running dry. She was, indeed, young for a Spiorad. Perhaps in another 20 years she would know all she needed.