RP; Acceptance

Life ever changes and for those who do not embrace change life is ever painful. Having learned long ago that only the branch that bends but does not break will last the test of time. It is with this sentiment that Syvil has decided to accept that things are indeed changing. So one morning he can be found standing outside the Lodge of Light, watching as one after the other the poor and destitute of Haven come for the healing aid of Ser Cain Immortui, he bestows his blessing on them; the steam rising from their conversation in the still bitterly cold winter air. Once the visitors thin Syvil, long since spotted by Cain, approaches. Still doing your part I see? The brothers of Sol are better for having you. Do you have time for the ailments of one not so unlucky as your usual patients? I would seek your guidance.

Cain turns to you and lets out a chuckle as if he were excited to see you. Ahhh! Hello Syvil what is it that you need? Have you gotten some ailment on your expedition that you need cleansing? Or do you seek my advice friend?

Syvil returns your chuckle with a smile; it seems as carefree as ever his eyes tell you he has come on a serious errand. Advice, it seems I have managed to avoid this winter's ailments and afflictions. But I'm troubled not in body but spirit. Is there anywhere we might talk in private? It is not, perhaps, a secret matter but it is personal.

Cain stands and puts his hand on his chin to think for a moment. Hmm, I think I know of a place where no one could overhear us. When I was out healing doing the rounds I saw a dock about a 200ft long that seemed abandoned we can stand out there and have our conversation in peace.

Walking with Cain through Haven Syvil engages Cain in small talk, but he seems distracted and it is obvious that his mind is on what ever bothers him so. Once they reach the dock; where the cold air is ever crispier and the sound of the waters blot out most else, he looks to Cain. Well, I'm not sure how to go about this exactly... You have abilities, yes? Tell me; where do you get them from? And how did you come by them?

Cain sticks his hand out in front of Svyl while holding his Maul in the other you see a light build up in the gem and it shoots down his maul across his body and into the open hand in front of you and stays there for a moment. We paladins have a holy symbol that we channel our gods through in order to perform some of the different acts you have seen me do over our adventuring. I keep mine in the sides of my maul and the symbol belongs to Sol, but there are other gods and other paladins that serve them. As for how I received them, Cain looks around to see if anyone is near , Sol had spoken to me not long after I had lost my home to the Mysts and he had guided me to Maladon and after that I had decided to become a paladin for him I was a Knight before though. What has made you take interest in paladins friend?

Syvil looks at the light not with amazement but with some hesitation. He turns and walks a few steps before coming back. There has been a change in me, a power that was not there before now channels through me and I don't understand it. Yet somehow I know it like the grooves on the handle of my bow; a bow I no longer need. He extends his hand to mirror yours, and see, through the leather of his glove a sapling sprouts and gives leaf. The sapling passes into small motes that shimmer as they scatter on the wind, leaving behind them a scent promising of the coming spring that has yet to come. And there is a voice, it speaks to me of many things, and I speak to it. We are becoming friends and I'm learning to trust... But should I? How did you know what you were, what you are?

Cain closes his hand on the light and through the cracks of his fingers the light fades back to normal. Well friend those are tough questions to answer as I do not know myself most of the time. Sol only guided me here as to what I am doing and what needs to be done, I simply trust in my faith for Sol and let my path of devotion guide me down the correct path. I think you too should trust this deity  that speaks to you if it does not seem malicious, but through my battles with you it does not seem that the power you are receiving is evil. You may find better communication with it if you find some type of holy symbol that aligns with it as a buffer between your power so to speak like mine to Sol.

So you just knew. Perhaps I do to... And I'm not sure about this holy symbol; what would it even look like? Hum. this raises a few new questions Cain, but I will seek them within, as you suggest. Thank you my friend; the path is a bit clearer now. Syvil walks with you to the Lodge of Light and though he still seems distant in thought you sense that it he is no longer brooding; no longer doubting. He leaves you at the boundary to the Lodge and with breath still coming in puffs of mist he walks down towards the sea again. A morning soon there after he appears again but this time only nods to you and stands by your side as you heal those who would seek your aid. And when Sol can no longer grant your wishes Syvil steps forward and plants a small seed. It springs up quickly, branch and leaf spreading out and reaching for the skies. Soon a small shrub, brown with scruffy little leaves stands on the ground at our feet. From it Syvil plucks a few clear green berries that had been hidden underneath its unassuming foliage and hands them to you. Once, every morning, this brush will sprout new berries, those who eat of them will regain something they have lost; much as from your touch. If you use them for good the brush will grow and bring ever more joy but let evil's taint take it and not one berry will there be. This is my gift to you, for being the light. Or so she says... Syvil smiles and this time his eyes are as windows into his heart; and see a sapling grows there, in a light just kindled.

It is the evening after Syvil has planted the bush; he is looking out over the sound towards Maladon; the dusk making the hills blood red with the dying light of the sun. The Sun sinks below the horizon and at that moment Syvil feels a sudden and terrible chill. In an instant, he starts from vertigo and then finds himself standing in the ruins of a old tower. Something is familiar about the place, but before he can process where, dark creatures burst out of the night to assail him. Each bears the antlers of a stag and their eyes burn with cold fire. They advance in terrible unison, but just as Syvil moves to draw his blade, and old man steps through him, as though he is not really there and Erolith stands beside the old man. There follows a terrible battle in which the creatures strike at the two; who hold a gap at the ruined tower's base. Eroloth bears a fell staff but the old man wields an ancient blade that burns with the same cold fire as Calinaar; and wherever he brings it to bear, the fell creatures are dismayed. Yet in his winter grey eyes is only serenity; no fear or anger. Erolith is wounded; two of the creatures pierce him with their fell ice daggers and shards of poisoned ice enter his body and he falls. Syvil somehow knows that this is the moment of his death...or worse.......and then a shining light envelopes Erolith and the ice shards are shattered and he opens his eyes and breathes again in a convulsion of shock. At that precise moment, Syvil comes back to his body and Atheral bursts into radiance; the illusion cloaking it scattering like leaves in a storm. As Syvil's eyes are drawn from the unveiled sword to the wine-dark shore, he sees in the far distance a sudden burst of fire; far away on a hill close to Hunters Inn. And he knows deep in his heart that something has changed; for they are coming. They are coming; the Dromen walk again!

And with that fear in his heart he would race to the Tipsy Mermaid, paying no heed to the burning blade at his side. Bursting through the door he locks eyes on Adolfo. Panting he speaks: Eadric. The barge. Now. Without any other words he takes a stabled company horse and rushes down towards the harbour and would soon be on his way; words to uphold and friends to aid.

Syvil charges his horse out through the darkened streets, heedless of whom he might run down in his fervor. And Aldofo is suddenly beside him; riding on a huge charger, his axe unveiled, his face grim. They rush to Eadric's boat but the ice holds it fast and with unspoken determination, both ride the causeway of ice that now links Haven to the mainland. The darkness enfolds them and both know fear and they urge their horses onwards, reaching Hezard's Ford and splashing across the river under the baleful light of the moon. As soon as they gain the other side, dark shadows rush towards them from the near shore; fell creatures that walk upright like men and yet bear the terrible horns of a stag. They hurl themselves at the two companions, their eyes blazing with fell power, a shard of ice grasped in each hand. They quickly surround the two Blue Sashes. Just when all hope is lost and Syvil and Aldofo start to dismount to fight and die back to back, a shining light suddenly appears and drives the creatures back. Athral and Calinaar awaken; burning fell and green in the night air. Running from out of the ford comes a creature wreathed with cold fire and he wields blades of ice and attacks the Dromen. 'Fly you fools; save your friends' shouts Carlos, as he veils himself and slices at the two Dromen barring Syvil's way. Suddenly the icy fear around Syvil's heart recedes and he breaks free, Adofo following him; their horses charging into the night like a pair of lightning bolts. Glancing back, Syvil sees the battle by the ford raging and then suddenly all is lost to sight. It is a fell night of riding and both horses are pushed so hard that Syvil must heal them several or both would be dead; yet still the companions rush onwards, fearing every shadow, Calinaar and Atheral now lighting their way. Yet at dawn they reach the tower; a mile upriver from Hunters' Inn; but of Erolith there is no sign. Tracks lead towards the Blackspire and as his expression changes Aldofo says 'I will go to Hunters Inn and roust out the Dragons! Do what you must but do not lose the tracks!' As dawn washes across the winter sky, Syvil sets out following the clear tracks of two men that are only hours ahead, and of other dark things that stalk them and have burned and withered the grass wherever they have trodden.

Recalling the fell thing from his vision, he spurs on wards towards the Blackspire; now rising as nail hammered into the very heart of his world. As the tracks lead him on he reaches out for Elisvara, calling on her to aid Erolith, promising to hurry to his side if only there is time. Making sure to leave clear tracks with his mount he gives pursuit. His mind if full of flashing images, the horned Dromen, Adolfo's hand on his shoulder as he left for Haven and the wounds dealt Erolith as he stood at the tower. Finally he recalls an old woman talking incoherently in a dark alley, calling for children; now lost. As his thoughts rush he suddenly finds himself at the at the very end of the tracks; yet the beginning of a trial. In the courtyard outside the Lodge of Light the brush suddenly bursts into silvern flames that reach for the skies. Yet it seems not consumed by the fire and it is only when Cain has approached that it stops; leaving a single broach in the make of an oaken leaf on the ground.

A voice reaches into Syvil's mind; Lasto Bethni; Tolodan N'Galath. Come to me Syvil; he is here. Tarville brought him to me at terrible cost. To the Cave.

Syvil's cloak flutters loose of his back as he turns to steer the horse, not now following tracks but rather his heart, for the cave is ever there and a place of longing to him. With a slightly light prance the horse now makes down the side of a hill and as the sound of a small waterfall can be heard its ears no longer lie flat as the very air seems suffused with an ancient calm.

Cain curious of what has happened to Syvils gift scoops up the broach with his hands and ganders at it for a moment. Realizing that it is the broach that Syvil wears and seems attached too, Cain wraps the trinket well in some spare silk after cleaning it. Cain worried that the burning bush may be some type of omen and having misplaced his prized broach he sets out to find Syvil and heads toward Syvil's normal hangouts.

Cain would know it as the pin that holds Syvil's cloak up and he's never seen one without the other. Its shape signifies the brothers of Oak; a ranger troop in the Drell Forest to which Syvil once belonged.

As Syvil is walking down the path and into the cave he feels calm, but in the air hangs a heavy sadness and loss, although comfort and warmth is the strongest feeling there is here, there is a weakness to it as if it is further away then it was before, making his way down the slope Syvil sees Erolith pulling himself out the pool of water but he looks completely different his skin is as pale as ice and his movements are slow and feeble Erolith lays on the ground legs laying the water and lays as still as a corpse  

Two days later Syvil again appears in the Tipsy Mermaid inn and looks for Adolfo, and if not him then Bruno.