Porcelain Child/Vana

Prelude Session - Teresu Sou Vana

RL 763, five years previously....
<onine> You are asleep... you think, but there is a tremendous heat, an oppressive heat that beats down on you. The kind of heat that stifles you, presses against you almost tangibly... odd, it isn't usually hot, at least not *this* hot during calibration. A deafening rumble, no, not a rumble... just... a noise beats into your brain
<onine> It feels hard to breath... tremendously hard, you can feel your body thrashing
<onine> Then with a hoarse gasp you wake. You are awake now, that much you are sure of, you can see all of the features of your room in the Teresu manse in Lookshy. A sheen of sweat covers your skin and matts the sheets to your body.
Vana breathes hard, holding the damp sheets against her with one arm.
<onine> A vague memory of the fitful sleep tugs at the corner of your mind. The eyes... beautiful, but horrible. A pair of eyes that seemed to twinkle like an opal, all the colours of the rainbow clashed together like a kaleidoscope in those eyes...
<onine> Reunion. What does that mean?
<onine> You become aware that it is dark. Abnormally dark, a little darker than when the clouds cover the sky, yet it is still warm and the air to dry for storm clouds.
<onine> By your recollection, it should be the middle of the day...
<onine> You can hear commotion in the halls, and indeed more from outside on the Manse's other verandas
Vana sits up slowly, folding her legs underneath her.
<onine> You hear booted footsteps from a few people running past in the hall outside, they don’t stop, but seem to be shouting something about the sky
<onine> You notice that it seems to be getting darker still, it is not almost night-time darkness
Vana shivers once, then stands, approaching the door to her room cautiously.
<onine> As you reach the door there is a sudden sharp knocking that makes you jump a little
<onine> "Vana? Vana!? Wake up!"
<onine> It's the voice of Milla, one of your younger cousins
Vana draws her hand back quickly, then relaxes somewhat at the voice. "Y-yes? I'm awake!"
<onine> The younger girl shouts through the door "Well open up, aren't you watching this?!"
<Vana> "What? What's going on?" She opens the door carefully, peering out through the crack.
<onine> The younger girl's face is excited and she pushes the door open rudely "Come on come on!" She squeezes in and tugs on your arm, pulling you towards the balcony door "Quick quick!"
Vana holds the sheet to her as she's dragged along, not having had time to dress. "W-what? What is it?"
<onine> The girl pulls you onto the balcony, and you can see the entire city of Lookshy is bathed in a twilight glow in the middle of the day. On the balconies above, across and below you can see other members of your extended family gathered, gazing up at the sky in awe, chattering amongst themselves, a few point up at the sky.
<onine> "Look!" Milla gasps in childish awe
Vana looks up, following her gaze.
<onine> Up in the sky, a black form moves slowly across and in front of the sun, casting a massive shadow on the land. You appeared to have arrived just in time, the moon now fully obstructs the sun, and the blazing corona of light now paints a dim, but terribly beautiful ring in the sky
<onine> A solar eclipse...
Vana is just as awed as the rest of her family, the sheet slipping a bit before she remembers to protect her modesty.
<onine> Milla steps a little closer to you, her eyes and mouth wide
<onine> "What.... what is it?"
<onine> Another voice speaks up from a balcony to the side
<onine> "That is a solar eclipse young ones."
Vana hears the voices only vaguely, mostly focused on the amazing spectacle.
<onine> The deep gravely voice comes from Teresu Malthuesa, the family swordmaster. He is tall and bears many scars from years training the young swordsmen and women of the Teresu household.
<onine> He has a slight twinkle in his eye as he tucks the mouthpiece of his tobacco pipe under his thick grey moustache
Vana looks at him for a moment, before being drawn back to the eclipse.
<onine> "The moon steps in front of the sun in a cosmic display of heaven's power and harmony" he muses philosophically. "Beautiful. Truly beautiful."
<Vana> "Yeah..." She nods faintly, with Milla probably being the only one able to hear her.
<onine> As he speaks, the moon begins to move out of the sun's light, and soon the warm glow begins to wash over Lookshy's buildings once again. You have to squint as the light suddenly assails your eyes once again
Vana raises her spare arm to shield her eyes.
<onine> The rest of the 'peanut gallery' on the Manse balconies has quietened down since before, but are no less excited by witnessing the spectacle
<onine> "You know..." Malthuesa says, "There hasn't been a solar eclipse since... hmmm."
Vana looks up at her mentor. "Since when?"
<onine> He abruptly turns and walks inside, turning his back on the now brightening city. You can hear his heavy booted footsteps and clinking armour fade into the background noise. As he left, you are fairly sure you caught an odd look in his eyes.
<onine> Almost as if he is greatly concerned... perhaps a little uneasy.
Vana looks somewhat worried. She stands there for a moment, then follows after him nervously.
<onine> Milla watches as you walk out of your room and into the hallway with a confused expression
<onine> You head out into the hallway into a din of chattering family members of all ages, Malthuesa however is nowhere in sight.
Vana is crestfallen. She reluctantly heads back inside her room.
<onine> The solar eclipse seems to be the subject of the day for the entire of the Manse, and indeed for the rest of the city. A truly bizarre event...

---

RY 768 - 'Present day'
<onine> The blade sinks into the flesh as easily as a hot knife through butter, the finely honed edge of the dagger slides almost effortlessly across the man's throat. Blood spills over your exposed breasts as the now stricken assassin launches himself back clutching his throat
Vana shudders uncontrollably, both from the pain and the splash of warm blood.
<onine> The man staggers back and topples heavily off the bed, thudding against the stone floor, gagging, retching, trying to hold on to his life. His legs thrash and spread the ever-widening pool of scarlet
Vana feels like she's going to be sick herself, never having killed a man so... personally, before. But she can't help but watch as he dies, her arms wrapped tightly around her torso, bloody weapon beside her on the sheets.
onine> He rolls weakly over onto his back, one hand pressed against his ruined throat, trying with grand futility to arrest the flow of blood. He stares glassy eyed at you and tries to say something, a last retort perhaps, but his words are a mere gurgle as the life force leaves him.
Vana lets out a cry of pain as the strange moment ends, the blood loss and hurt returning with vengeance. She whimpers quietly, hunched over the side of the bed, before slowly falling onto her side, cheek pressed into the bloodstains left by the man's torture.
<onine> And so, the two lay in an aftermath of violation and murder...
Vana is crying weakly on her bed, yes.
<onine> Through the tears you see a black shape outside the window, a person, crouched like a cat on the vines a short distance from the room's window
Vana stares at them uncomprehendingly for a moment, then slowly sits up.
<onine> The figure does not move, but it cocks its head to one side when it notices you've spotted it. You cant see it all that well in the forest night, at least, not through the window and the tears.
Vana tries to wipe her eyes, then takes a better look. Her hand strays unconsciously to her blade.
<onine> The figure remains still...
<onine> The forest outside is completely silent, and abnormally dark. The light of the full moon is doing precious little this evening.
Vana closes her hand on the blade, holding it out before her. She calls out. "What... what do you want?" Her voice shakes as much as her body.
<onine> The figure stands lightly on the branch with its hands behind its back.... then it simply free falls in a graceful swan-dive of the vine and out of your sight
Vana lets out her breath slowly, and tries to clear her head of the pain-induced haze.
<onine> It occurs to you now as the adrenaline begins to wear out of your blood, that you are very badly wounded, in fact still bleeding from lacerations. The clothes of course are ruined, slashed and torn in many places.
Vana looks down at herself for a moment, then heads over to the closet, pulling out her armor's undergarment. She very carefully gets into it, hoping the material will help seal her wounds.
<onine> It's slow painful work, but you eventually have the garment secured into place
Vana fastens the last connection, wincing quite a bit. The item does help, though.
<onine> You notice that the forest's regular background noise is back, the rustle of windswept leaves, crickets and the occasional hoot of an owl. The moonlight streaming in through the window is at its proper brightness once again as well. As you look across the room, you can see the assassin's body in the ghostly light.
Vana shivers once more, and goes to get her sword and armor.
<onine> Well then, you get your sword and armour!
Vana gets into her armor and takes up her blade, realizing even now that she'll die if she stays.
<onine> That is definitely a logical assumption given the laws of the Lookshy legions. You have the blood of a soldier on your hands, and one with friends significantly more powerful and influential than you.
<onine> They will come for you...
Vana knows this. She gathers up a little food from the lower floors, along with a change of clothes, and stuffs them into a carrying bag.
<onine> As you step outside the main entrance to the Tower of Hanged Vines and into the glade outside, you notice and unfamiliar crunching under your feet, that is, different to grass.
Vana stops suddenly, looking carefully at the ground.
<onine> It is easy to see in the moonlight that what you have stepped on is a pristine white feather, and there are in fact several about the glade here and there.
<onine> Each feather is at least 8 inches in length and is almost immaculate, no frayed edges. Odd, there are no white birds with feathers this large in these woods.
Vana kneels, with a great deal of effort, picking up a feather. She studies it carefully.
<onine> In this light, it appears to be a white feather, albeit a very *nice* one
Vana looks for a while longer, then puts a couple of them in her satchel, deciding that flight is more important than some feathers.
<onine> And with that, you set off towards the gem of Lookshy, once a home for you, now the very place you are trying to get away from.
Vana doesn't know of any other docks that she could get to before the Legion found her.
<onine> It is nearing close to dawn by the time you reach the city, a fine mist covers the outlying lowlands. Walking in your state was a lot slower than usual. The lights in the city glimmer in the pre-dawn air
Vana concentrates on staying conscious, the pain in her abdomen growing ever stronger.
<onine> You realise that you will probably need medical attention, someone more skilled than you at least, a ship's surgeon would suffice, convenient you think...
Vana places a hand on her lower torso, still staggering along. She realizes this, yes.
<onine> You near the large gates of the city, you can see two guardsmen chatting to one side of the gate, there are doubtlessly more elsewhere in and around the entrance
Vana slows as she approaches, trying to look a little more composed.
<onine> The guards seem to perk up noticeably when they see someone approaching. As you grow closer and they can see you and your Jade Cardinal Virtue better in the predawn fog, they stiffen considerably, attempting to look as if they had been alert the whole time.
Vana takes a deep, extremely painful breath, and approaches. "Good morning."
<onine> One of them hastily puts out some sort of smoked product he was enjoying
<onine> The two stand in front of you, they don’t act in a threatening way, you ARE a Dragonblood after all, but they are curt.
<onine> "*cough* State your business in Lookshy... er, ma'am." Demands the one who was smoking
<onine> They both look a little young....
<Vana> "I am returning after leave. Is that alright?"
<onine> "Well uh... ah-" The other begins, then a loud gruff voice roars out from the guardhouse door at the gate
<onine> "Idiots! Let the lady through, don’t you recognise a legion soldier when you see one?!"
<onine> The two dolts look at the insignia on your left breast for the first time, and step aside quickly
Vana passes by them with a nod. "Thank you."
<onine> The guards gulp, a bit shaken "Ma'am."
<onine> The other man at the guardhouse is one of the older guards whom you recognise by face. He nods to you and steps back into the guardhouse, but not before glaring at his two younger colleagues. Routine Routine.
Vana continues until the fog obscures her, then slumps to her knees, breathing hard. That small bit of composure cost her greatly.
<onine> A few carts pass here and there on their morning errands. At archways and bridges here and there you can see paired guardsmen.
Vana continues through the city after staggering to her feet, heading for the dock elevator.
<onine> The docks, as usual, even in the wee hours of the morning, have a fair amount of activity, cargo here, passengers there, sailors here, unconscious sailors there.
<onine> A bell tolls somewhere.
Vana goes to the port office and checks when the next boat out is.
<onine> At this hour, the only port office that looks attractive to you (the others have soldiers nearby) is staffed by a particularly salty looking portly man.
Vana comes up to him. "Excuse me... when does the next boat leave?"
<onine> He doesn't look up from the book he is reading (pornographic literature no doubt) but grunts a greeting, when he does look up, he gets a little more polite of course...
<onine> He sounds bored "Destination ma'am?"
Vana "Realm."
<onine> He wheezes out a laugh. "Only one ship going to the realm this week ma'am, and its *that* one."
Vana looks where he points.
<onine> He points out at a very odd ship that you are surprised that you didn’t notice before, smooth lines, very pretty, definitely the toy of some high ranking realm dynast.
Vana looks at it worriedly, then turns back. "Any places left?"
<onine> "No way you're getting on that one miss, that one is on some special business, she doesn't take passengers."
<onine> The ship is very low in the water, sleek, with sails folded at its sides, she looks good, even by Lookshy standards. A few armoured soldiers that definitely look 'Realm' patrol its decks. <onine> "Hmmm, if you're wantin' to get to the Isle, you can always take one from further down the coast?"
<onine> He scratches himself and grabs a roster list from his over cluttered desk
Vana "I need... I need to go now. Is there nothing you can do?"
<onine> "You seem in a rush to get to the Realm ma'am... Don't get a lot of that these days, not here anyway..." He peers at you a little then starts flipping pages...
<onine> "Lets see now... no, no, no, Thorns no, hmmmm..."
Vana "Something... came up. New orders. I'd really appreciate it if you could help."
<onine> He looks for a bit more. A few soldiers patrol past chatting quietly. They don’t give the pair of you a second look, but they do make you a little nervous
Vana feels blood leaking down her leg, as well as another substance she doesn't wish to contemplate.
<onine> "Well how about that, looks like you're in luck..."
Vana "Oh?" She tries to look calmly interested.
<onine> "Glitterstar, leaving at daybreak going north up the coast to offload cargo, then across the sea to the Isle... hmmmm"
Vana "Could you get me a pass?"
<onine> He looks at the sky. "You'd better hurry if you want that one, that’s the only one this morning. That one you'll have to negotiate with the cap'n of the ship, passes for independent ships isn't our responsibility, savvy ma'am?"
Vana "Yes. Thank you. Which dock?"
<onine> "Glitterstar, last one down on the north pier. Better run ma'am."
Vana "Thank you." She bows curtly, and starts off at the fastest pace she can manage.
<onine> A few people dodge you, calling out the usual 'watch outs' as you tear past them. As you're running, you start to go very weak at the knees, you zip as best as you can around a deck hand and then you careen into another person, both of you go down in a tumble of arms and legs.
Vana lets out a pained cry as she falls, landing atop them. "I-I'm sorry..."
<onine> A young man sits up and pulls the green cloak from over his head "Ugh, you should really watch where you're...Vana?"
<onine> There is a distinctly bad feeling as your heart enters your throat, its Viers, one of the other Dragonbloods in your unit
Vana blinks at him, trying to keep down her fear. "Oh, Viers... y-yes?"
<onine> He looks at you a little dumbfounded
Vana clambers to her feet awkwardly, lacking her usual grace. "I'm sorry... I have to go..."
<onine> He's a handsome young man, a well bred Wood aspect, who's hair hangs in bangs of red brown and tan like dried autumn leaves.
<onine> "But wha-? What are you doing here, I thought you were in the country?"
Vana "I was, I... Viers, I'm sorry. I don't have time."
<onine> "Uh-!?"
Vana "Look, I..." She looks at him worriedly, then gives him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Pretend you didn't see me, ok?"
<onine> You obviously leave the young soldier standing confused on the dock as you head off; you feel a little bad, he's a good friend.
<onine> Viers stares after you, confused as anything
<onine> You look back and see a few of the soldiers wandering up to him to find out what the commotion was about
Vana quickens her pace.
<onine> You finally reach the last mooring on the north pier and the Glitterstar... which does not live up to its name... in fact, you're seen bathtubs more impressive than the Glitterstar.
<onine> The crew are just pulling the sails into position and were almost pulling back the gangplank when you bound up it almost drunkenly
<onine> "What the-?!" one of the sailors exclaims as you nearly run over his fingers
Vana is almost at her limit. She trips when she passes the sailor, falling to her hands and knees.
<onine> A few of the other sailors look around to see what has happened, but spot little of interest and return to work. You look up into a pair of boots. Big boots.
Vana breathes hard, looking up at the booted person above her.
<onine> Your eyes travel up the man, who is positively huge compared to you, an easy 6'4", clad in banded white-jade armour. His arms are crossed over his barrel of a chest, and he looks upon you sternly with his one working eye. The other is hidden under an extensive scar.
Vana catches her breath somewhat. "C-Captain?"
<onine> His long hair is charcoal gray and has a heavy beard of the same colour. A red-brown cloak rests over his shoulders. <onine> "Hmm, I'm afraid not." He answers in a deep bass voice. You notice that he wears an unfamiliar insignia pinned to his cloak
Vana climbs to her feet, yet again, standing with only a slight wobble. "Could... I see the captain, then?"
<onine> One of the other sailors (the one you nearly squished the fingers of), yells out for the captain
<onine> The big man looks down at you "You're wounded..."
Vana nods weakly. "Just... the captain, please."
<onine> Another man climbs down from the 'wheelhouse' such as it is on the Glitterstar yelling out orders to get the ship under way. The deck rocks as the vessel begins to pull away from the Lookshy docks, it is something of a relief even though you sway like a drunk.
<onine> The man blares out another order then turns to you and the big man "Alright, what's going on here?
Vana takes a few breaths to calm herself. "I am requesting a ride on your ship. I need to go to the Realm." She feels the blood seeping through the seams of her undersuit, but tries to ignore it.
<onine> He's a smaller man (still larger than you) fairly young, dressed in simple slacks and an open waistcoat even in the morning chill. His bright blue eyes betray exhilaration to be underway
<onine> "Oooh, that’s a long trip, we have a stop over on the north coast first you know."
Vana "I-I know... please. I have some jade..."
<onine> You empty the jade that you're carrying onto your hand, and he looks it over.
<onine> "Hmmm, there doesn't seem to be quite enough here miss."
Vana "I..." She sways dangerously, and her next sentence is barely a whisper. "Can we please... discuss this elsewhere...?"
<onine> "For a straight trip to the Isle, yes, but this is a long one, you would have been wise to wait for another... another... hey are you okay?"
<onine> The big man steadies you with a big meaty arm, then turns to the Captain
Vana is barely conscious now.
<onine> "Captain Theiosloah, this woman will be travelling with me, I will settle the cost of the transport with you later, but right now I think we'd best get her below. Acceptable?"
<onine> The captain regards you both... "Acceptable"
Vana nods faintly, only held up by the man's hand.
<onine> The captain is off and yelling orders again as quickly as he came. The big man turns to you "This way, can you walk?"
Vana "Yeah..." She follows him tiredly.
<onine> He leads you below to one of the small cabins underneath. Lanterns sway left and right casting crazed shadows all over the area. Between the wounds and the swaying of the ship, you have a very hard time walking, and fall a few times. Each time, the large man steadies you.
Vana nods in thanks each time, mostly from reflex.
<onine> He pushes open one of the doors, inside is a large man (not quite as large as the first) and a small, sad looking young woman
<onine> "Yengo, I am in need of your expertise..."
<onine> Your vision begins to blur, and black spots begin to close in on the corners of your vision. The voices echo and seem far away, and soon blackness swallows you...

---

<onine> Swoosh... swoosh... creak....swoosh.
Vana comes to slowly, opening her eyes a little.
<onine> You can smell straw, and a burning oil lamp... and... dirt?
<onine> You feel a dull throbbing ache in places, but the pain is nowhere near as bad as it was... when were you awake last? Vana groans, trying to sit up.
<onine> "Easy there girl, you should move too much, you'll reopen the wounds..."
Vana can't sit up, anyway. Too weak. She rests her head back. "Where...?"
<onine> "Aboard the Glitterstar, on the last leg to the Blessed Isle. You've been sleeping for quite some time."
<onine> The voice seems to say 'Blessed Isle' with quite a bit of pride
<onine> "Are you thirsty?"
Vana opens her eyes properly this time, looking at the owner of said voice. "Yes... I am. Thank you."
<onine> The large man from before opens a waterskin and hands it to you.
Vana takes it with a grateful nod, sipping from it very slowly.
<onine> Now that you can see him with a little more detail, you can easily tell that he is a Dragonblood beyond a shadow of a doubt
Vana passes the skin back. "You are... a Dynast?"
<onine> On his temples you can actually see small coloured crystals 'growing'. An Earth Aspect no doubt.
<onine> "In a manner of speaking young Lookshy, yes"
Vana nods a little, resting again. "How long have I been out?"
<onine> (that explains the scent of freshly turned soil too)
<onine> Around three days. The stop over on the coast was far quicker than Captain Theiosloah had expected, so we are making good time."
<onine> "We are just getting underway to cross the sea"
Vana "Oh... I see."
<onine> "Mmmmm."
Vana studies his face. "You... were the one who agreed to pay my fare?"
<onine> The man stares at the opposite wall
<onine> He nods
<onine> "I suppose the next thing you will ask is 'why'?"
Vana nods in return.
<onine> "You ran up the gangplank so wounded you were barely able to speak, let alone stand. When someone runs from a comparative 'paradise' such as Lookshy in that state, its clear that something is amiss. The only other option was to send you back to the city. Would you have preferred it?"
Vana shakes her head. "No, I'm grateful... it just surprised me. Not many people would be that generous nowadays."
<onine> "I have my reasons. To me it adds up that you have nothing left. Am I in error?"
Vana shakes her head silently.
<onine> "What's your name Lookshy? Or should I merely call you that?"
Vana "I'm Vana. Teresu Sou Vana. Sorry."
<onine> "So you are going to the Realm Vana"
Vana "Yes... that was my intent."
<onine> "And what would you do there Vana?"
Vana "I don't know." She shrugs simply.
<onine> "Mmmm"
<onine> You see in the corner of your eye, the man picks up a red item.
<onine> He examines it intently
Vana squints at it.
<onine> Its your Reprisal, it looks a little silly in his large hands, he seems to be admiring the work that has been put into the blade
<onine> "Extraordinary craftsmanship..."
Vana barely resists reaching out for it. "Please, that's... a family heirloom."
<onine> "Of course." He respectfully sheaths the blade
Vana "Thank you."
<onine> He places it carefully amongst your other things, armour, jumpsuit and the like
Vana realizes she's naked, and quickly holds the blankets a bit closer.
<onine> For the most part, you are covered in bandages
<onine> "Well now Vana, you are on your way to the Realm, you'll be in a foreign land, with little money, no job, and no plans for what you will do."
Vana nods a little. "Yes... that is true."
<onine> "Almost true. What would you say to an offer that would give you direction?"
Vana "It depends on the offer." She looks a little wary.
<onine> He quirks the brow over the eye he still has
<onine> "Well now, I have been rather impolite, I know your name, yet you do not know mine."
<onine> He stands to his full height in the small cabin... barely
Vana looks up at him.
<onine> "My name is Mnemon Diamandus. Magistrate of the thousand scales, and servant of the Realm and the Scarlet Empress" <onine> He bows his head slightly to you
<onine> "I am... a troubleshooter of sorts, in years past it was my duty to right wrongs, settle disputes and police the servants and tributaries of the Realm..."
<onine> "However... as you may know, things have changed..."
Vana nods slowly.
<onine> "It has been becoming a melting pot in the empire, infighting between the Tributaries, the Deliberative, towns, villages, even the branches of the Imperial Service. It has become a dangerous and unpredictable time. Dangerous to men such as myself."
Vana "So I would imagine." Her tone is carefully neutral.
<onine> "Old adversaries amass... and it becomes necessary for Magistrates to recruit people - skilled people - to assist them in doing their duty. This is what I offer to you."
Vana "You want me to help you?"
<onine> "If you think you can."
Vana "What use could I be?"
<onine> "I sense... that you will discover that in time."
Vana nods, looking at him evenly. "If I say no?"
<onine> "Then we part ways at Pangu, and you make your own way in the Realm."
Vana "I guess I had better accept, then." She smiles, very slightly.
<onine> There is a knock at the door, and the young blonde woman you remember from before. She carries a tray of fresh bandages and hot water that leaves a wisp of steam.
<onine> "Oh, I’m sorry, I need to change the dressings" She sounds... sad?
<onine> Diamandus stands "Very well Tara."
Vana looks at her worriedly, compassion coming to the fore. "Are you ok?"
<onine> The young woman blinks nervously "Uh... I'm fine..."
Vana keeps looking worried. "Are you sure?"
<onine> "Er... yes, I am." the young woman starts gently washing a sponge in hot water
<onine> Diamandus on the other hand strokes his beard as he walks to the door closing it quietly behind him.
Vana lies back, allowing the girl to work.