From: Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 13:48:12 EDT Subject: clearing things up <> Teri watched the robed priest walk away from them. The soft sound of his chuckle ringing in the silence made her shudder despite herself. Creep. Roland frowned but didn't speak. From the look on his face, it was clear he neither liked nor trusted the man. She looked from him to Shinji. The young fighter was staring at the priest, his face locked in unmistakable revulsion. Without speaking, the three turned towards the large doorway that rose all the way to the ceiling. just as the front door, this one swung open without any obvious assistance, but instead of the previous feeling of awe, Teri only felt a cold chill of wariness pass through her. Shinji was the first to walk through. Teri found herself breaking into a hesitant smile, and said, "lions and tigers and bears.. oh.." Shinji and Roland were looking at her fiercely, and the words died on her lips. She closed her mouth and continued to walk in silence. The room was darkly lit. The only illumination came from a weak green fire that barely burnt in the massive fireplace. It spluttered as they entered. Eerie shadows danced upon the walls, unusually dark looking angels peering down like gargoyles from their high pedastels. The furniture was ancient, carved from gnarled mahagony, giving an ominous appearance to the already dark atmosphere. Shinji couldn't help but feel a deep sadness. Years ago, this place had been bright and full of joy. . . but now? It was a shell of it's former glory. On the far wall stood a large chair. In it, sat the hunched figure of the T'aoli, one of the elders of the order. He was a small man, his size compounded yet by the hulking mass of the chair where he sat. But despite his size, he gave of an aura of authority and wisdom, something that none of them had felt in the priest that greeted them outside. He looked up at them, his eyes deep and encompassing. "You have business with the Aoli?" he said, his voice much deeper than Teri would have initially thought. He smoothed the deep crimson robe draped on his small frame and waited for their answer. "Yes, Old One, we have. Our companion, Teri," Shinji said, motioning towards her with his arm. "has in the past few days come into the possesion of a strange, uncontrollable ability." The Elder nodded for him to continue. Teri squirmed, not really sure what they were talking about. "For some unknown reason, she seemingly has the ability to project... feelings to others nearby. In the past few nights, they have begun to grow stronger and stronger, and unless you have an answer for us, we fear it may cause her harm." Teri shuddered. The T'aoli rubbed his stuble covered chin in thought. Teri thought it strange that a religious leader should have a five o'clock shadow, but before the thought should spark her animosity towards most organized religions, she shoved that thought from her head-- the T'aoli was speaking. "Young lady, you must be an ...empath," he stumbled over the word, "of immense potential, yet this is a double edged sword." He paused, and Teri blinked. Empathy? She'd read a book on that once... "Should you not learn how to control it, it shall control you. Your emotions will raise to such levels as to drive you mad, and your madness will be passed on to anyone around you," he paused, letting it sink in. The almost bland tone the man was using did more to affect her than his words. She was shaking. "The Aoli scoff at magic, since it is against our beliefs, but I know of someone who can help you." A collective sigh of releif seemed to draw from the three as they listned to the gravely voice of the T'aoli. The old man bent forward and opened one of the desk drawers. Reaching in, he pulled out a blank peice of paper. "If you follow the path west down the Long Road, past the border and the Crying Forest, you will find a small temple. Seek Rashka, she can tell you what you need to know. Perhaps she will send you to the Healing Guild," he said, finishing off the letter with his seal. "Give her this." he ordered, handing it to Roland, who took it and examined it carefully. "Why should we trust you?" he asked suspiciously, ignoring the glance that Teri threw him to shut up. The man shook his head sadly. "It is not us you should fear at this point, young man," he said, glancing at Shinji where he sat. Once again Teri noticed the crimson glow that the young man's one eye gave off. Shinji frowned in shame, but said nothing, and met none of their eyes. The Elder stood up and motioned for them to leave. Roland filed out, followed by Shinji. Before Teri could leave, the old man gripped her shoulder with suprising strength. Turning to face him, ready to give him an opinion or two about being grabbed by strange old men, she was cut off as he shoved two globes into her hand. "What're these for?" "Protection." The man met her eyes and she blinked. "Oh, from monsters and stuff right?" "Yes. . . monsters..." the T'aoli said with half a smile. He pressed one finger to her forehead, and she felt a rush of warmth-- and fear. He glanced at Shinji as the boy walked away, shaking his head. He waved away Teri's questions as to what he meant, hearding her out the door then closing it rather rudely in her face. Inside, she could not hear him as he muttered to himself. "The Mark of the Evil One...but why so young?" he said sadly, then began praying softly. "Lord forgive those who fail you, and save us from the Evil One, and all whom follow him. Lord, save...save the damned..." *** On the other side of the door, none too pleased at being saddled with not one, but TWO jiy (who had given her nothign but pain and trouble and confusion since coming to this godforsaken backwards city), Teri tried to swallow her almost immediate frustration and rage, settling instead for a swift kick to the door. IOne Jiy flared white as she cursed in pain-- she bit back her oath and looked at the Jii in her hand. She frowned and hurled them at the wall-- They floated in the air before her. She blinked. Shinji, who had turned around and was watching her (Roland was tapping his foot impatiently behind him), chuckled. The Jiy went black, then lightened to a rose color as she smiled. " I hate these things," she mumbled, and set off towards the two men. Roland still frowned, turned, and silently led the way out. Shinji took up the rear, dodging as the Jii rushed to hover by Teri's shoulders. He was about to respond when his face drained of color. One of the Jiy was clear.