Part One - The Caravan to Homlet

After only a few weeks journey, I have located the mortal called Innil Galanodal.  I found him as part of a caravan heading to the town called Homlet.  He was traveling alone, and carrying a package.  Although not large, I could tell it contained something heavy from the way he carried it. 

I stayed with Innil's section of the caravan, and for many days I was able to keep a fairly low profile doing what Prise do best: watching.  Whenever any of the other mortals interacted with me, I would keep the conversations friendly but short.  I am still not certain about these beings or how best to interact with them.  So much of what they do seems illogical, and devoid of foresight of consequence. 

However, one of the members of the caravan stood out to me.  Not literally, of course, considering he is a dwarf, but in more of a spiritual sort of way.  He said he was called Eunin, and asked me to look at a map he was carrying.  Although the map was badly aged, and nearly indecipherable, I was able to distinguish the outline of a druid religious sight.  He appeared by dress and manner to be a seafaring man, and it was not hard to tell that he thought the map would lead him to some of the fabled lost treasure in the area.  Perhaps he is only chasing gold--which I am finding holds a quantifiable power of these mortals--but I felt that there was more to him.  If nothing less, a sea-faring mountain dwarf is an odd and intriguing individual.

On the day before we were set to arrive at the town of Homlet, our caravan was set upon by bandits.  So far as I understand it, this is not an uncommon occurrence in these parts.  Sadly, four mortals' lives ended on that day.  Two men, a woman, and a child gave their lives so that fools could chase the fleeting gratification earned by gold.  Frail and frantic these beings are.

None of the individuals in our section of the caravan was killed in the attack, but myself and one other were severally wounded.  If it had not been for a paladin with some healing powers, I fear I may have died.  I mustn't forget that I too now poses a frail body. 

We were set upon from both sides of the road.  I saw Innil fire an arrow off towards the group of bandits coming over the hill to the right when a man and two hounds appeared at my right.  The dwarf, Eunin and I engaged the hounds as a druid from the caravan set upon the man.  I swung my quarterstaff at the hound nearest me, and it snapped over the hound's back.  It seemed to be completely ineffective, so I was glad to be gone of it, and took to fighting the hound with my bare hands. 

Although I was fairing well, the druid was the one to deal the killing blow to the hound with which I was grappling.  Through druidic magic, he entangled the hound in a spiny vine, which was so sharp and strong it spit the dog in two.  Clearly he is a fellow of some significant powers.

Meanwhile, Eunin had smashed his hound's skull with his hammer and had turned his attention to the dogs' master.  The druid and I followed suit, and that is when I was knocked unconscious.  The man was powerful and fast, and with two quick strikes I was on the ground with the world fading around me.

When I was brought back into consciousness, I found myself on the ground next to the man.  Next to him, as near death as I had just been was the druid who had slain my hound.  The caravan guards and the others from our section had him surrounded and severely outnumbered.  Despite all hope being lost, the man fought on. 

I moved away from the danger, and summed the powers of the Prise to heal my wounds.  Although I am now mortal, I can still feel much of the powers of my race flowing through me.  This realm's celestial energy is much weaker than that of Heaven's Fence, and I am certain that I could not have healed myself again on this day.  I will have to learn to tap further into the energies that do exist here. 

Once upon my feet, I watched as Eunin the Dwarf smashed the head of the bandit man so hard with his hammer that what was left was compacted into his chest.

Exhausted, we spent what was left of the daylight gathering the scattered supplies and tending to the wounded.  That night when we made camp, and the others were drinking and telling their stories of battle, I sat near a fire and meditated.  With my focus clearly set, I slowly blocked out the sights and noises around me and looked inward for the Ki energy of the Prise.  It was certainly there, flowing like a river around me.  It was different here... more fleeting.  But, I do believe that I will be able to adapt to it.  Perhaps I may even eventually be able master it in the same way that I had mastered it while in Heaven's Fence.  Only time and practice will tell.

Ambelina, The Prise Inferno

Celestial beings tend to think of themselves of being better than anyone else. The Prise are no different. As far as any of them can remember, the Prise have always existed. Before the Prise, there was nothing:  no time, no world, no others, and no purpose.

Ambelina was there in Heaven’s Fence in the beginning. When time first began, Ambelina came into existence with her sisters. Her thoughts were single minded, focused on her purpose. One day, Mariah the Eldest would awaken from her long meditation with a message. Until that day, Ambelina, along with all the Prise, were tasked to observe the world and wait.

As time and the world grew from newborn, to curious child, to violent teenager, the Prise waited. They watched the many beings emerge, and over the centuries slowly intermingle. Not long after that wars began. The Prise, tasked as they were, observed these wars, but took no part. Inherently they knew they were above war, above violence, and above these mortal beings whose lives were so fleeting.  

Ambelina grew restless watching so much violence.  The Prise considered themselves beyond such things, yet they stood by and watched it happen. Could their purpose truly be so divine if all their entire purpose was to watch the world destroy itself?

Ambelina dared not voice these thoughts to the others. She knew they would not understand. By the way they spoke, it was clear that her sisters were without compassion for the other beings of the world. All they held for the mortals was pity and contempt.

Ambelina considered leaving for awhile, and one day even wandered near the gates of Heaven’s Fence. As she approached, Tiensteed, guardian of the gates, stirred from his slumber. At the sound of Ambelina’s footsteps, the fire within Teinsteed’s rib cage grew stronger and moved to the empty sockets in his skull making it appear as if his eyes were opening. The great ram’s skull lifted off the ground and turned toward Ambelina. Although his body never moved and he made no sound, Tiensteed’s message was clear.

So, Ambelina returned to her place and waited in silence. She observed the world with her sisters, but grew distant from them. Why were they not allowed to interfere? Why were they not allowed to leave? And what made Mariah the Eldest among those who were all as old as time? Why must they wait for her to awake?

Answers would come. Ambelina believed this. She had to. Her original purpose held for her no meaning any longer, so seeking the answers to these questions became her new purpose, her new reason for existence.

As it always does, time and the world grew older.  As they came into adulthood, one day without warning or fanfare, Mariah awoke from her meditation. “It is time,” she told her sisters. She spoke softly and calmly.

The Prise gathered around her without being asked, and-as they were accustomed-waited. Mariah starred passed them down the hill to the gates. Ambelina followed her gaze and saw that Tienspeed was climbing towards them. She had never seen the beast stand before. The top of his ram’s skull head must have been twelve feet from the ground. His body was the skeleton of a great wolf, but one larger than had walked the world since time was young. Now fully awake, the fire reasonanting from his hear encompassed him entirely, and the flames stretched back behind him as he moved with a terrifying silent efficiency towards them.

He came around the crowd of Prise in a wide circle, but even so Ambelina could feel the heat radiating from him. More and more of the Prise noticed him as he came around. As they did, a few even broke with their normally calm demeanor and let out small gasps. They had not seem Tiensteed up close as Ambelina had. They didn’t know what terror guarded the gates to their paradise.

Tiensteed reached his place beside Mariah and sat staring out over the Prise. “It is time,” she repeated. Her voice was still calm, but now it was louder-more awake. “A mortal leaves his home. One among you must go to him. Your task will be to protect him and guide him as he grows. The one who leaves must give up her wings and become mortal.” More gasps from the crowd. Ambelina allowed herself a small smile. Of course to her sisters that would seem completely unfathomable. They all preferred to stay atop their mountain, above the mortals in every way.

“The rest of us will return to our purpose,” Mariah continued. “We will watch you, but we will not interfere. One day, we may all be tasked to leave. In time, everything goes away.” The fear spread amongst the Prise, and the air grew thick. Heaven’s Fence was all they knew.

“I will go.” Was that Ambelina’s voice? It cracked as she spoke. Before she even realized what was happening she was moving towards the front of the crowd. “May your time here be long, sisters,” she said, now more confident. “I believe this task was sent for me.”

Mariah looked at Ambelina without emotion. For what seemed a very long time, their eyes were locked. “Yes, I believe you are correct, Ambelina. You will be the one to seek Innil Galanodel. Protect his life, even at the cost of your own.”

Ambelina stepped from the crowd closer to Mariah, and knelt before her. Bowing her head low, she responded, “I accept the purpose for which I am tasked.” She unfurled her wings and stretched them straight up towards the heavens. With a silent command from Mariah,  Tiensteed moved behind Ambelina. She could feel his heat, and her eyes began to water. With the lightest touch from one his flaming horns, Ambelina’s wings caught ablaze. All at once, and in a blinding inferno, Ambelina was mortal.