DM POST: The Mind's Eye (Part 1 of 2)

Consciousness slowly settled upon her as she began to lift her head. No sooner did she open her eyes than another wave of dizziness swept over her already fragile mind. She fell back to the ground struggling to subdue the swirling thoughts, trying to grab onto one thing to focus on, a single thought or memory to cling to for direction. The suddenly midst the torrent she heard a simple tune played gently on a lute. She strained her ears to keep the tune in mind and slowly she felt control being restored. The tune still playing in the back of her thoughts she slowly opened her eyes to take in her surroundings. The sky above her was dark, no stars or moon shone across its entirety. She sat up cautiously peering out into the strange world she had awaken in; a world of shadows and.... nothing...


No... not nothing... but....


Flames....


Shadows coalesced into something resembling a structure, but swirling with darkness, insubstantial and yet very present and clinging to the edges, red flames giving no light or heat seemed to burn away at the structure without consuming it; and then as if carried on an un-felt wind they would return to a formless state.


She forced herself to her feet, whatever the danger, she would not face it lying on the ground. The music played on in her mind, strengthening her resolve, fueling her to move on despite the uncertainty. She stood looking around her, at the formless place stretching as far as she could see, at the flames that would dance just out of sight until they faded back into the shadow and smoke. There was no direction to take, no choice better than another. Shadows continued to coalesce and dissipate around her to form familiar shapes, images... memories.... all burning...


Zarcharis...


Those buildings so familiar, so distant, but truly that is where they belonged. The more she bent her mind towards the familiarity of her surroundings the more consistent they became; shadows coalescing into structures that remained, still swirling in the moving shade, still burning in the eternal flames. She began to walk the spaces, the roads, between the shadow-buildings, unclear of her direction but resolute in finding a solution to this puzzle. The sights became more familiar, shadows of the city she knew. As she wandered the shadowy fire-lined streets she began to sense a oppressive force, malignant, evil, powerful.... pulsing about her. She looked further ahead for the source of the emanations and before her on the road stood a hooded figure obscured in the swirling shadows. 


Never one to back away from a confrontation regardless of the potential danger she strode forward to faced this threat head on. Banging her spiked gauntlets together she broke into a run, ready to hit the robed figure with a flying tackle. Just as she was about to leap the figure turned towards her and her eagerness became relief when she stared into the eyes of Ricin.


Where? Who? How? and a thousand other questions flooded into her mind. She wanted to know where everyone else was, where she was exactly, and why and how could shadows burn?


Ricin stared at her with the same unyielding stare, nearly impossible to read. He nodded his head in greeting and then spoke to her saying, "I admit you were not what I expected to see here". His voice was deep and devoid of inflection or any notable tone, so even in every word and yet, she could hear him clearly.


"Where are we Ricin? How can you speak? Were you lying this whole time?"


"To your last question: No. The second shall be answered by the first: We aren't necessarily anywhere, and yet, we are.. in a sense anywhere you have the will to see".

Confusion was evident on her face at the cryptic answer. Needing no further prompting Ricin continued with his explanation. "We are not here.... more... we are just able to see here... our minds are here. I would estimate that you fell prey to the mind attacks of those individuals in my quarters, as I have, they seemed very keen on making sure I was incapacitated, though for what purpose I am not sure". 


"Ricin, you are not making any sense. What mind attack? What people in your quarters? What are you talking about?"


"Yes, that answer was not beneficial, I apologize. Upon return from the Stoneyard we were attacked by unknown assailants, an attack on our minds. I presume, you were affected more than the others, though for what reason I do not know. As for the others, they seem to be fine, and not here. As for here: This is not strictly a place but more of a matter of perception. What you see around you is what your Mind's Eye perceives. Very few people have the discipline to truly see it and fewer still can control it. My guess is with the overload of psionic energy, you were "jumped" here. The Mind's Eye has a way of revealing the truth of your perspectives and the world around you as you see it. So tell me: What have you seen here?"


"Nothing. Shadows, smoke, flames. It looks like Zarcharis, but burning, but not consumed. None of this makes any sense. You know that right?"


"Actually, to me this makes perfect sense. I frequent this state often and have done so for many years; and t is through this that I have found you all. I bent my mind to look at the city, to truly see it, and there I saw each of you, beacons against the despair that chokes this city of all hope. That is why I can speak here; the image of myself before you is a manifestation of my mind. You are in the same state of being, a manifestation of your own mind and it is truly a spectacle that we can share this moment." He paused a bit and seemed to be lost in deep thought. After many moments had passed he looked up and his face was set in a grave expression, "Your perception does not lie, this city burns, everyday... every night. Yet, even now there is something else. A presence, a power that I have never felt when I meditate. Something stirs within the city proper, something we must take action against."


"I felt it to, a pulsing power, strong... and.... evil"


"Indeed. Come my friend, let us look into this matter for as long as we can. I do not know when we will awaken but let us learn what we can so that we may benefit the others upon our return" He motioned for her to walk with him. She fell into stride next to him until he suddenly jerked as if in sudden pain. She watched as he grabbed his head and struggled to maintain his balance. He looked at her in a panic and quickly shouted, "I can't hold on much longer, something is pulling me away! Find out what you can! Help the others and do not worry for me! You", he struggled to spit the last words out, "must... help... them...." he fell to his knees barely able to form words. He looked up and with a last effort he cried out, "Kirsi... give her.... pendant..... the key....Frozen... Soul...". He looked up to the blank sky and let out a cry of anguish and the he seemed to melt away. As she stood staring in confusion and disbelief words came to her mind, almost like a whisper from the back of a deep cavern, "The music will bring you out"


Evellyn stood for just a second more to see if Ricin would reappear. When it became evident that no such thing would happen she steeled herself and made ready to set off to investigate the pulsing magic. Her head swam with so many questions and cryptic commands from Ricin but now was not the time to give in to confusion. She would learn what she could of her present predicament, then she would find a way to make her way back outside of her mind and help her new allies.