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PSL - A wandering Cepter (WARNING FOR VOLUME 5 SPOILERS!)
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
The city had once been a great and bustling place. Now it was mostly a ruins, with a few people here and there eeking out a miserable life on the rim of a crater where the town had once stood. A population of hundreds, possibly a thousand people was now a few dozen people at most.
Signs of fire damage and of general decay were everywhere. The town had been at the edge of a desert. It was now being devoured by it.
The damage was at least a decade old, possibly closer to two, and the few people remaining had a hard wary look about them.
They didn't seem to like strangers, and glared from behind windows in the few houses that were liveable. People who could afford to fix their homes generally chose to spend that money elsewhere. So he would have drawn attention very soon after arriving. Not that anyone would approach him.
But he wouldn't be the only stranger for long. Two - or depending how you counted it, three - people were walking into town from the direction of the not so distant ocean. Its salt was on the breeze, damp sand mixing with dry. Arid winds mingled with wet winds making the whole place feel unnatural and wrong.
But if this town was unnatural, the people approaching might be even more so.
The most immediately noticeable was an older man who carried his years with strength and pride. He was clearly aged, but he was just as clearly formidable. Not someone with whom one might wish to tangle. Especially once one noticed his eyes. They were sewn shut. They eyelids bulged as if there were still eyes behind them, but the stitches were old and long since healed over. Despite this, he moved as if sighted, and wasn't the one using the walking stick.
The one with the walking stick was a young woman, possibly in her early teens. She was in a dark blue dress with gold trim, a matching scarf around the lower half of her face to keep the sand out of her mouth. Where the old man was pale with white hair to his shoulders, she was dark skinned with brown hair that carried just a faint hint of red.
What made her stand out, though, with the man there to steal attention, was the walking stick she held. She didn't grip it by the rounded top, but by the shaft, keeping the bottom from striking the ground. The top of the cane had a man's face on it, the rounded part his bald head. He even had a long drooping white mustache, and of the three, it was the man-headed cane who seemed to have noticed the other stranger first. The edges of the mustache curled as he watched the new person carefully.
Signs of fire damage and of general decay were everywhere. The town had been at the edge of a desert. It was now being devoured by it.
The damage was at least a decade old, possibly closer to two, and the few people remaining had a hard wary look about them.
They didn't seem to like strangers, and glared from behind windows in the few houses that were liveable. People who could afford to fix their homes generally chose to spend that money elsewhere. So he would have drawn attention very soon after arriving. Not that anyone would approach him.
But he wouldn't be the only stranger for long. Two - or depending how you counted it, three - people were walking into town from the direction of the not so distant ocean. Its salt was on the breeze, damp sand mixing with dry. Arid winds mingled with wet winds making the whole place feel unnatural and wrong.
But if this town was unnatural, the people approaching might be even more so.
The most immediately noticeable was an older man who carried his years with strength and pride. He was clearly aged, but he was just as clearly formidable. Not someone with whom one might wish to tangle. Especially once one noticed his eyes. They were sewn shut. They eyelids bulged as if there were still eyes behind them, but the stitches were old and long since healed over. Despite this, he moved as if sighted, and wasn't the one using the walking stick.
The one with the walking stick was a young woman, possibly in her early teens. She was in a dark blue dress with gold trim, a matching scarf around the lower half of her face to keep the sand out of her mouth. Where the old man was pale with white hair to his shoulders, she was dark skinned with brown hair that carried just a faint hint of red.
What made her stand out, though, with the man there to steal attention, was the walking stick she held. She didn't grip it by the rounded top, but by the shaft, keeping the bottom from striking the ground. The top of the cane had a man's face on it, the rounded part his bald head. He even had a long drooping white mustache, and of the three, it was the man-headed cane who seemed to have noticed the other stranger first. The edges of the mustache curled as he watched the new person carefully.
Anubis walked through the town, the low brim of his hat making him even less welcoming as a stranger, though his clothes were simple. The threads of a traveling pilgrim, his sounding staff striking the ground only slightly as its rings clatter faintly, giving a gentle warning to those ahead. There was a time he would have reveled in the fear of those around him, but as he tries to follow the teachings of the Ancient One, he feels pity, especially as he discovers the ruins of a once great city. It reminds him of many of the places he'd helped the Evil Tulpa lay waste to, and at one point, he pauses to offer a prayer over the long-dead, hoping they had not suffered greatly.
Having wandered, he was looking for a place he might stay, though he was fairly certain he'd be sleeping in the sand tonight. It still gave him time to see what few living spaces there were, and at last, other arrivals.
He pauses in the street, not hiding, but going very quiet as the brim of his hat tips up a bit more to allow him to see a very strange sight indeed. He trusted the staff to sound if there was danger in these people, but he still found some of his instincts hard to fight. There was the man with eyes sewn shut, the woman in colorful fabrics, and the head on a stick. Anubis' eyes narrow when he swears that face on the stick moves. The cane and the warrior monk watch each other carefully, Anubis making no effort to hide any of this, or himself, as they walk down the street in his direction.
Having wandered, he was looking for a place he might stay, though he was fairly certain he'd be sleeping in the sand tonight. It still gave him time to see what few living spaces there were, and at last, other arrivals.
He pauses in the street, not hiding, but going very quiet as the brim of his hat tips up a bit more to allow him to see a very strange sight indeed. He trusted the staff to sound if there was danger in these people, but he still found some of his instincts hard to fight. There was the man with eyes sewn shut, the woman in colorful fabrics, and the head on a stick. Anubis' eyes narrow when he swears that face on the stick moves. The cane and the warrior monk watch each other carefully, Anubis making no effort to hide any of this, or himself, as they walk down the street in his direction.
"Um... Master Horowitz....?" the young woman said, sounding unsure once she noticed him. "I'm pretty sure that's not Zenith Dragon-Eye...."
"Oh really, Najaran?" the old man said dryly. "Share with me, what gave you that impression?"
She pouted at the mild rebuke inside the sarcasm, then blinked, shifting the cane to the crook of her arm, so she could punch a fist into a palm. "Ah! A disguise?"
"Najaran..." the old man said, the warning in is voice not quite able to hide the affection.
"Spell card?" she asked.
"NAJARAN!" the cane in the crook of her arm scolded. "That is clearly not Zenith. Focus!"
She put one hand to the back of her head sheepishly, the other shifting to hold the staff properly again. "Sorry Gooligan." After a moment, she added, "Sorry Master Horowitz." Another moment, then she looked up at Anubis. "Sorry, stranger."
The mustache of the cane - Gooligan - drooped, like he couldn't quite believe this girl.
"Oh really, Najaran?" the old man said dryly. "Share with me, what gave you that impression?"
She pouted at the mild rebuke inside the sarcasm, then blinked, shifting the cane to the crook of her arm, so she could punch a fist into a palm. "Ah! A disguise?"
"Najaran..." the old man said, the warning in is voice not quite able to hide the affection.
"Spell card?" she asked.
"NAJARAN!" the cane in the crook of her arm scolded. "That is clearly not Zenith. Focus!"
She put one hand to the back of her head sheepishly, the other shifting to hold the staff properly again. "Sorry Gooligan." After a moment, she added, "Sorry Master Horowitz." Another moment, then she looked up at Anubis. "Sorry, stranger."
The mustache of the cane - Gooligan - drooped, like he couldn't quite believe this girl.
Well, between the discussion going on and the staff, which was also now talking, Anubis looks clearly confused. It's only compounded as the young woman apologizes to him.
"Apology accepted, though I'm not certain what for." His voice is a bit raspy, sounding a little older than what his younger face appears, but that shy smile in his expression is genuine.
"Apology accepted, though I'm not certain what for." His voice is a bit raspy, sounding a little older than what his younger face appears, but that shy smile in his expression is genuine.
"Talking about you like you're not here. That is rude, isn't it?" she asked, seeming confused now. And seeming a lot younger than she looks as she glanced back to her master.
"Yes, Najaran, but perhaps we shouldn't be just standing here chatting, should we?"
"Oh! Right! We're looking for someone, want to come with us?" she asked. "Do you have any yummy food with you?"
The ends of the mustache came up over the staff's eyes, the closest it could manage to a face palm.
"Yes, Najaran, but perhaps we shouldn't be just standing here chatting, should we?"
"Oh! Right! We're looking for someone, want to come with us?" she asked. "Do you have any yummy food with you?"
The ends of the mustache came up over the staff's eyes, the closest it could manage to a face palm.
He reaches up to tilt his hat back, his eyes shining a little bit in his amusement at all this strangeness. He pauses when she asks if he wants to come along, and then if he has any food. Even though the staff 'face palms', he shakes his head and reaches into the pouch around his neck.
"I have a little, if you are hungry." He produces a modest rice ball, holding it out to her. "As for..." Just as he's about to say he's on a trip of his own, there's a gentle rattling of the rings from his staff. It's not something he could have produced on his own and he pauses, looking to the staff and going quiet for a moment.
"Very well, if you would have me, I will join you." Why the spirits of the Ancients would have him take this journey he's not certain, but he'll do as they instruct.
"I have a little, if you are hungry." He produces a modest rice ball, holding it out to her. "As for..." Just as he's about to say he's on a trip of his own, there's a gentle rattling of the rings from his staff. It's not something he could have produced on his own and he pauses, looking to the staff and going quiet for a moment.
"Very well, if you would have me, I will join you." Why the spirits of the Ancients would have him take this journey he's not certain, but he'll do as they instruct.
Naja looked like she was about to lunge at the rice ball then stopped herself. Clearly it was difficult. "No, if that's all you have, I shouldn't take it from you," she said sadly.
Master Horowitz looked startled and pleased, like a father who just watched his kid start walking for the first time. Even the staf lowered its mustache to stare at her, wideyed.
Master Horowitz looked startled and pleased, like a father who just watched his kid start walking for the first time. Even the staf lowered its mustache to stare at her, wideyed.
"I insist. I have some more, which should last long enough." He holds it out to her, appreciating the restraint she's suddenly shown, and feeling it was only right to reward her for the thoughtfulness. He had two more of the small rice balls, and he had practice making such food last.
Well, that didn't last long, but at least she offered him some thanks. There's an uncertain smirk, he's not entirely impressed by the manners, but he's seen worse.
"Perhaps, while my young student finishes eating, we should find somewhere else to converse?" the man suggested. Somewhere else being not at the edge of the crater with all who remained watching from their windows.
Naja looked around as she chewed, making a small thinking sound.
Naja looked around as she chewed, making a small thinking sound.
"A wise suggestion, thank you." Anubis nods, having tried not to mind all the prying eyes fixated on the strangers conversing in the streets. "I will follow." He had no idea where here was, technically, but he should soon find out at least where this trio were going.
The Master led them back the way they came. When Najaran hesitated, he kept walking, but said "we arrived early just in case the unforeseen occurred, and it did, so we are fine, Najaran."
Naja blinked, and swallowed, wiping the last of the rice from her face with her thumb. "You foresaw an unforeseen circumstance?" she asked, confused.
He chuckled and slowed enough that she could catch up, clapping her hard on the shoulder when she did. Naja thoughtfully sucked the rice off her thumb.
Naja blinked, and swallowed, wiping the last of the rice from her face with her thumb. "You foresaw an unforeseen circumstance?" she asked, confused.
He chuckled and slowed enough that she could catch up, clapping her hard on the shoulder when she did. Naja thoughtfully sucked the rice off her thumb.
Anubis follows, the staff jingling only faintly behind them as he keeps up. When she questions about foreseeing the unforeseen, it brings a wry smile to his expression as he ducks the brim of his hat slightly. It only helps to hide the smirk a little as he walks along.
Naja considered this as they walked, but her silence didn't last more than a moment. "Did Miss Gtubel see this, then?"
He smiled and nodded at her. "Very good, though she wouldn't thank you to address her so informally, these days. But yes, she saw something pulling on the fabric of creation from outside of it, near where Salvadore's boy would appear." They came to a beach. "I will leave you to our new friend, and I will return to Shantenion, to try to talk to Zenith myself. If he will not listen, he is most likely to come this way. To the presence of a true threat."
He pulled out what looked like a somewhat battered deck of playing cards, though the decorative back was all that could be seen. "Not that I think you will need these, Najaran, but there is no reason for you to be without them if we are not in the town."
She took the cards and pressed them to her chest with a solemn nod. "Master... where is....?" she started.
He laughed. "The vessel we came in? Were you planning to leave without me?"
She shook her head quickly in negation.
He smiled and patted her head. "Be good, Najaran." He turned to the stranger. "Do not underestimate her," he said, conversationally, "she is a fierce friend."
With that, he headed back the way they had come while Najaran stood in the sant, trying to figure out if she had been insulted or complimented.
He smiled and nodded at her. "Very good, though she wouldn't thank you to address her so informally, these days. But yes, she saw something pulling on the fabric of creation from outside of it, near where Salvadore's boy would appear." They came to a beach. "I will leave you to our new friend, and I will return to Shantenion, to try to talk to Zenith myself. If he will not listen, he is most likely to come this way. To the presence of a true threat."
He pulled out what looked like a somewhat battered deck of playing cards, though the decorative back was all that could be seen. "Not that I think you will need these, Najaran, but there is no reason for you to be without them if we are not in the town."
She took the cards and pressed them to her chest with a solemn nod. "Master... where is....?" she started.
He laughed. "The vessel we came in? Were you planning to leave without me?"
She shook her head quickly in negation.
He smiled and patted her head. "Be good, Najaran." He turned to the stranger. "Do not underestimate her," he said, conversationally, "she is a fierce friend."
With that, he headed back the way they had come while Najaran stood in the sant, trying to figure out if she had been insulted or complimented.
He watches as she's given a deck of cards, a curious parting gift and one he doesn't take at face value. He doesn't know what they mean to her, but there's probably something more to them. He's not about to pry just now, however.
As the man pats Najaran's head, Anubis is addressed, and he's not certain if it's a warning, or something else. He simply nods, sandals and staff dug into the sand as the man walks off.
"You are fortunate to have such guidance." He finally speaks after a time, looking over at her as he tips up the brim of his hat. "He said you are a fierce friend, but I believe we have skipped introductions."
As the man pats Najaran's head, Anubis is addressed, and he's not certain if it's a warning, or something else. He simply nods, sandals and staff dug into the sand as the man walks off.
"You are fortunate to have such guidance." He finally speaks after a time, looking over at her as he tips up the brim of his hat. "He said you are a fierce friend, but I believe we have skipped introductions."
She reached around behind herself and secured the cards to a holster hidden between her wide belt and her dress. "Master Horowitz has been taking care of me foreeeeeeeever," she said, leaning lightly on the man-headed staff. "You wouldn't say I was so fortunate if you ever saw him angry though." But she said the words like a kid might say about a parent who could be stern. Even as she shuddered dramatically and said "just thinking about it gives me nightmares" there was no sense that this was a man who would ever actually harm her, she wasn't ACTUALLY afraid of him, even if she herself thought she was.
But she blinked at his last comment. "Ah... yeah. Sorry. Got a bit caught up in everything. I'm Master Horowitz's student, Najaran. This is Gooligan."
The staff's whiskers bobbed in greeting.
But she blinked at his last comment. "Ah... yeah. Sorry. Got a bit caught up in everything. I'm Master Horowitz's student, Najaran. This is Gooligan."
The staff's whiskers bobbed in greeting.
Anubis just has a gently amused expression on his face as she talks about her mentor. Anubis could have used someone like Master Horowitz about 400 years ago, but even the few short days he'd had with the Ancient One had been enough to turn him back toward righteous ways.
"Najaran, Gooligan, it is a pleasure. I'm Anubis." He presses the free palm to his chest and gives a nod of his head.
"Najaran, Gooligan, it is a pleasure. I'm Anubis." He presses the free palm to his chest and gives a nod of his head.
"..........." She just stared at him for a long moment, like she was sure she couldn't have possibly heard right.
"Anubis?" Gooligan repeated, a little stunned himself.
"You're.... YOU are Anubis...?" she asked, to be clear.
Obviously his name is known around these parts, but not as him.
"Anubis?" Gooligan repeated, a little stunned himself.
"You're.... YOU are Anubis...?" she asked, to be clear.
Obviously his name is known around these parts, but not as him.
When she pauses, so does Anubis, an uncertain expression working on to his face as Gooligan repeats his name. Surely Talpa's evil reach hadn't made it this far? He couldn't remember setting foot here, even as she asks him.
"It is the name I was given many years ago. Is...there something I should be aware of?"
"It is the name I was given many years ago. Is...there something I should be aware of?"
"The card?" He watches her closely, seeing her eyes glance out to the water, and then back to him.
She nodded, then frowned at the city.
"Naja...."
"Master Horowitz said no one in the city should know. But we're not in the city, and he did give me my cards back..."
Goligan did not look convinced, but for the moment, held his peace.
Najaran reached behind herself, and some of the cards from her deck flew into her waiting hand. She held up one that held an image of what looked like someone had magically thrust a tetanic plate upwards and etched out a rough face. "Like Wall Of Stone."
"Naja...."
"Master Horowitz said no one in the city should know. But we're not in the city, and he did give me my cards back..."
Goligan did not look convinced, but for the moment, held his peace.
Najaran reached behind herself, and some of the cards from her deck flew into her waiting hand. She held up one that held an image of what looked like someone had magically thrust a tetanic plate upwards and etched out a rough face. "Like Wall Of Stone."
He watches closely, and doesn't so much as flinch when the cards fly into her hand. He's used to many kinds of magic, and his own staff can be called back to his hands if he needs to do so. He studies the card a moment, head finally tilting.
"So there is a card called Anubis." His words are reflective, he can tell there is more magic here than her flourish, but he's never seen a magic deck before. "You will have to forgive my ignorance, my friend, but I don't understand the importance of my name being the same as one used in a deck of cards."
"So there is a card called Anubis." His words are reflective, he can tell there is more magic here than her flourish, but he's never seen a magic deck before. "You will have to forgive my ignorance, my friend, but I don't understand the importance of my name being the same as one used in a deck of cards."
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