Orbs of Memory

[Creature of Shadow]

Her indigo eyes opened, blinking at the sunlight reaching her through the trees. Slowly, she pushed herself to her feet. She looked around, taking note of her surroundings. She was in a clearing in the middle of the forest. Nearby were weapons: an obsidian dagger and an ivory sword. She recognized them as her own. A slight breeze tugged at her raven-black hair, adding to the ethereal effect of her appearance.

Where was she? Who was she? She didn't remember. She spied a strange crystal ball by the sword and reached for it, but before she could grasp it, it lifted from the ground and stretched around her, then seemed to settle into her skin. She felt an split-second burning sensation, then a brief snatch of knowledge. She couldn't remember her past, she couldn't remember her location, but she recalled something that, for the moment seemed more important.

Faero. That was her name. She remembered the particulars of her weaponry again, but she couldn't remember anything else. She might as well not have existed before this moment. As she gathered her weapons and prepared to leave, not knowing where she was going, but knowing she had to go somewhere, she spied a small piece of parchment.

I've done you a favor, taking your memories from you. I placed them all in orbs like this so you could retrieve them if you wanted. If you truely want to remember your past, find more orbs like this, but let me warn you-some things you're just better off not knowing.

She crumpled the parchment in her fist and tossed it aside angrily. Who had done this to her? Why? She walked from the clearing and ventured into the forest, weaving between trees, not caring where she ended up.

[TDS]

Sylvia was humming happily, standing just outside Half-Hill. She was moving in time to an unheard beat, her staff spining around her in an enchanting way.

She wasn't humming and dancing for no reason, but was humming a spell. The grass that took up the bare area of Half-Hill's missing half was changing from just plain old grass into a garden. She was pulling stones from inside the forest to also make up her new garden.

She opend her mouth, the incohearant tones of her voice lifted up by the wind, and with new vigor, the plants started growing larger and faster. Trees sprung up, knitting together to form archways. Flowers bloomed, and small stones fitted themselves into places along paths that ran all over the yard.

Half-hill itself was massive, possibly a quarter mile in diameter. It was over 200 feet high, and not a tree grew on it. The whole thing looked like some giant hand had carefully taken a huge knife, and cut half the hill away. A huge stone door stood open, showing a dark entrance to some unknown place.

Sylvia dropped out of her song, bringing it to a huanting close as she slowly dropped onto a newly formed bench. With a satisifed smirk, she looked around her garden.

Something caught her eyes, looking beyond the tree line to someone standing over there. She got up and started over towards the person.

((OOC: Hoping that it is Faero over there... ))

[Creature of Shadow]

Faero stood at the edge of the forest, watching the girl work magic on the surrounding landscape. The life that sprung up around her was beautiful. She hadn't payed any attention to the direction in which she had walked, but she was glad she had come this way.

When she saw the girl turn and walk towards her, Faero stepped from the shadows of the trees to meet her. She swept her unruly wind-ruffled black hair off of her face, the only exception being a thin metallic blue braid that fell down in front of her face just to the outside of her right eye.

With an apologetic smile, she greeted the girl. "I'm Faero...and I'm lost."

[Vegeta]

In a land not far from Half-Hill, a renowned warriors trains hard to improve his skill. He has entered a dark cavern filled with various powerful creatures, in an attempt to raise his battle prowess even higher.

RYUUSEI: "Hm... I've nearly cleared the caverns out.. yet I still feel as though this is inadequate."

He sheathes his swords after eliminating the last of the threats. He decides to explore the caves further to see if any higher powered creatures exist in the depths.

As he progresses, the cavern's light begins to fade, and darkness surrounds Amidamaru. He produces a lantern to guide his path. Upon lighting the lantern, he notices a strange orb lying amongst the corpses of creatues killed in an unexplained fashion.

RYUUSEI: "...how odd.... perhaps I should take this with me, and find out what it does."

He places the unusual orb in the same satchel that he withdrew the lantern, and closes his eyes in thought.

RYUUSEI: 'Let me see... Sano told me about a guy in Half-Hill that's supposed to be good with weird stuff... perhaps I should go there and get his opinion on this thing.... '

Ryuusei Amidamaru exits the caves within a few moments, and begins his voyage to Half-Hill to meet with Tempest.

[TDS]

Sylvia let out a soft, childish laugh.

Sylvia: "I can see that... not many wander to Half-Hill without being lost... or knowing where it is. I'm Sylvia Lightfoot. Come on, you hungry? I am... though Tempest isn't going to be to happy... might order me to get rid of it... the garden, that is. Uh... Faera, right??"

Sylia suddenly looked rather confused. She looked at the garden, then back to Faero. Her expression switched right back to happy.

Sylvia: "Oh, thats right... You hungry?"

[Tasuke]

Kenshin sat at the mouth the cavern, leaning up against the wall. He sat with his arms crossed, cradling his katana, which was resting against his chest. He had his head directed out of the cave, and into the sky. He had previously finished training with his Sensei, who was now venturing the caves.

After a while, he heard footsteps opposite of where he was looking. Glancing over, he spotted Amidamaru. Getting up, he placed his katana back into his sash. Stuffing his hands into the sleeves of his kimono, he walked alongside his mentor as they exited the cavern. After a while, he glanced over at him and asked curiously;

Kenshin: "If you don't mind me asking, where are we going, Sensei?"

He directed his attention forewards again, wondering if Amidamaru found anything interesting in the cave. Though, he decided not to ask, if it was important, Amidamaru would probably inform him.

[Vegeta]

Ryuusei just walks past Kenshin without a word.

After a few moments pass he finally responds.

RYUUSEI: "...we're going to Half-Hill."

He stops for a moment and after looking around, he has a strange look on his face.

RYUUSEI: "Which way was it again?"

[Tasuke]

Kenshin just stares blankly at Amidamaru. Blinking, he glances about. The he points over in a random direction.

Kenshin: "There! It looks... kinda like a half of a hill..."

Glancing around some more, he spots the gigantic structure in the distance.

Kenshin: "Oh wait. I'd say... that way."

He pointed over, where Half-Hill could be seen in the distance, looming over the rising landscape.

[Creature of Shadow]

"Actually, yeah, I am kind of hungry, but I wouldn't want to be a burden on anybody." Faero looked around, wishing that she could draw some sense of recognition from something...anything. She looked over at the hill, which looked like it had simply been cut in half. "Who all lives here?"

[TDS]

Sylvia: "Me an' Tempest, plus whoever else happens by, or decides to stay for a while. There are a lot of rooms, a huge kitchen, huge great hall, running water, plumbing, chimneys, and the beds are... lets just say, heaven on earth. Tempest wont sleep on anything else, and made sure that all the rooms have feather beds. He is odd like that. But you might like him. Come on... I'll cook."

Sylvia grinned and lead Faero to the entrance to the Hill, which stood open. She sent a bit of fire to a torch, which jumped around to all the other torches in the room.

Tempest: "If you are going to light those things, shut the door!"

Tempest's voice carried from somewhere beyond a pile of machines. It was irritated, to say the least.

Sylvia: "Ok, Scalley butt. I'm gonna make dinner, and we have a guest. I demand that you join us!"

Tempest: "Whatever."

Sylvia looked to Faero with a comical eye-roll, before pointing to the stairs a few feet away from the huge doors. The doors, being a good 20 feet high, were only half-way up the stair case.

Sylvia: "Kitchens up stairs, and that was scaly butt. I'm not going to close the door, that thing is heavy! It's made of solid granite. If he wants it closed, he can do it himself."

[Creature of Shadow]

"I'll get it," Faero responded automatically. She turned around and closed the door, which took tremendous effort, as it was very heavy. She looked around, but didn't so much as glance in the direction of...Tempest, was it? He didn't sound overly pleased about her intrusion, and she had a feeling he wasn't going to be easy to get along with. An uneasy feeling crept over her, a wariness of being around others, but she brushed it aside.
What happened to her? Not for the first time, she found herself thinking of the note. What could possibly be so terrible that th limbo of not knowing would be less of a hell than remembering?

[TDS]

Sylvia waited on the steps, sighing.

Sylvia: "You didn't have to... I've been trying to tick him off as much as possible for the longest time. It is the only fun i get while here. He never wants to go anywhere... I would say he shuts himself away working with those stupid machines, but not really... He only leaves if he really has too. Come on... food... and he will eventualy join us."

The kitchen was large, with running water and a large stove. there were pots hanging from the ceiling on chains and utensils on the walls. There was a cold box set against a far wall with a stand with vegtables next to it. There was a spice rack on the counter, and a few fresh ones hanging from racks. There were fresh plants on the counters and set into the wall, leaving the room smelling fragrant. The room was also spacious, with a large table for both preparation and eating. The chairs were built western style, therefore, raised off the ground. There were cushions on the seats.

Sylvia: "My domain... What do you think?"

[Creature of Shadow]

Faero looks around. "Looks great." Her stomache rumbles loudly, as if the general setting finally reminded her body that it was hungry. A little embarassed, she looks over at Sylvia. "Why are you trying to tick him off?"

[TDS]

Sylvia starts making her usual rice and soup.

Sylvia: "Because, it is fun to tick him off. I once got him so mad, he sent off a lightning bolt that arched from him all the way to the top of the Hill, on the outside. Then I had to run, because he decided to chase me for the comment. I don't even remember what we were talking about. I just have fun messing with him."

[Vegeta]

Ryuusei has reached the entrance to Half-Hill along with his young apprentice.

RYUUSEI: "This is the place.... Let's go."

He makes his way in, and after a few moments pass he finds himself in Tempests' lab.

RYUUSEI: "....Tempest, I presume...?"