Emoria: Chapter One; Kvatch

"This council is dismissed."

Ja’Dhannar remained seated and reflected upon the events of the past few hours as the other ambassadors began filing out of the chamber. The Tynir representative had answers to all of his speculations sure enough, but the Silencer had not been convinced that they were genuine. Everything seemed to be too conveniently timed with everything else; a storm was lurking in the horizon that had the potential of devastating the land, and Kvatch was practically at its epicenter. At least they would allow a team into their borders to get more thorough information on what is going on. In the meantime, we will have to continuing our people for the worst case scenario…

Representatives were still in the process of vacating as a few of them spoke in hushed whispers to one another. At that time, Ja’Dhannar’s eyes met Venteux and there wasn’t even the slightest trace of awkwardness or hesitation when neither broke the gaze. He had not forgotten what happened in the moments before the meeting’s start and was unsure of how to address his new close friend. The Khajiiti Kiseen is not entirely unheard of among other races, though it is more often believed to be a myth or some form of hypnosis. He had no idea how he would begin to explain it to somebody who knew nothing of his people while he knew nothing about the person that he was explaining it to.

With a reluctant sigh, he lifted himself from his seat and began his walk around the table toward the Ionairus. One major advantage to this situation was that the bonding would make them as familiar to one another as though they had been friends throughout their lives, if not identical twins. It is quite common that memories and thoughts would transfer between them given enough time together along with uncanny insight into what the other may be thinking or feeling without speaking a word to one another. An issue arises because of this; it is very likely that she has a good idea of what Ja’Dhannar looks like under his guise, which is very risky for somebody of his status. He had to make sure to fill her in to all the particulars with their newfound situation.

“Good afternoon, delegate of the Elemental Planes.” Ja’Dhannar intentionally addressed her in a professional manner so as not to spark much attention from the few that remained. “Would you mind accompanying me somewhere that we may speak of current circumstances?”

Venteux exited the Council Chamber as she heard the call to dismiss.

The grand meeting of all Emoria seemed as though it were all for nothing. What had she learned? That the races of men were forever warring, full of discontent and wrought with preconceptions; she had before been told that. What now was there to show for their discussion? That disappearances from all races and peoples occurred and a dark being was behind it. What good would that limited knowledge be?

What was she to tell the Ancients? That she knew nothing. The Council called together of the Elemental Planes already had been skeptical of this endeavor. What would Venteux say? That it was a mistake to reach out to the Material Plane’s people?

The Ionairus sighed. She must acquire her things at once and deliver the news. Or, perhaps, a letter would do. The Guardian did not wish to speak any more of today.

Before Ventuex could leave the hall for her chambers, however, she was approached by the man from before. Her eyes instantly locked with his. Yet, this time, she did not feel compelled to turn away.

“Good afternoon, delegate of the Elemental Planes: Would you mind accompanying me somewhere that we may speak of current circumstances?”

Ventuex, a bit unsure, nodded in acknowledgment and waited to be lead away.

Save for a faint movement of the cloth, Ja’Dhannar’s smile was mostly veiled by his mask as she accepted his invitation. He still had no idea how the conversation between them would go since they clearly had a lot to learn about one another’s people and traditions, but he felt a little reassured by her willingness to speak with him in private.

“Thank you for honoring me with your time, I do hope I am not keeping you from prior obligations.” The Khajiiti found such official wording to be awkward with Venteux in the same sense that most people would when speaking in a similar fashion to their close friends or siblings. He still felt that he should maintain the guise of official business between them until they were no longer in the presence of other representatives, though he longed for the use of casual conversation with her. “I’m sure we can find a smaller study somewhere in here. It is a library after all.”

With the help of Sailahína, the two of them were able to find one such room that was decorated and furnished in a similar fashion as the one their conference was held in, though about a third the size and was entirely enclosed save for a single doorway. Despite the lack of natural sunlight, the room was well lit to the point where it made the room feel larger than it actually was.

“I hope you find this room comfortable, my people tend to prefer smaller spaces, but I’m guessing that is not something the people from your plane share with us.”

Once they were both in the room, Ja’Dhannar closed the door and locked it behind him. With a heavy sigh, he removed the lower crimson cloth from his face so that his facial features were no longer veiled. He had never revealed his identity to anybody save for his fellow Silencers and of course the Listener, but he knew that at this point it was more of a formality with Venteux. Thanks to their bonding, he would be recognizable to her out of his guise even though she had never seen him before. He turned and sat in a chair across from her, though making sure his back was facing the doorway should he need to restore his mask if somebody intruded.

“I’m sure you have a lot of questions about what you had experienced at the beginning of the meeting, especially since you probably know as little about my people, the Khajiiti, as I do of yours. I suppose I’ll start there.” Although it felt strange to be in his uniform without the mask, he did not feel as vulnerable as he had expected he would. Without it, his more prominent feline teeth were revealed as he spoke that indicated the cause of the staple accent of a Khajiiti. “What we experienced back there was what my people call Kiseen, which is basically the harmonizing of two minds in a way that makes them entirely familiar with one another. It is most often a way my people find their soul mates and it is extremely rare for it to occur outside of my species. In such an instance, like with us, it is more of an instant best friends forever deal rather than a husband and wife thing.” Ja’Dhannar chuckled softly that had a heavy underlay of a purring sound. “It’s probably for the best that it is like that, it helps avoid some rather awkward situations.”

With a deep breath, his expression became sober as his eyes met directly with hers. “However, this places me in somewhat of a vulnerable position, which is why I needed to speak with you in private. I am a high-ranking agent from the nation of Kvatch whose government officials are almost entirely anonymous. The history as of why is rather long and I’ll save for another time if you wish to hear it, but needless to say, it is vital that my identity remains a secret. Through the Kiseen, you know more about me than anybody else and given enough time together, our memories will even become shared through this link. Normally, such a threat to my nation’s security would be dealt with swiftly, however that is not the case with knowledge that is shared through Kiseen between bondmates… As long as that is as far as it goes.” A somber undertone lined his words now. “If you reveal such secrets, we will both be killed because of it. My life will be forfeit because my bond to you will not allow me to stand aside while your life is in danger.”

Ja’Dhannar paused for a moment not only to allow that information to sink in, but to also push aside the thought of Venteux being killed by the very people he serves. “Can I trust you with this responsibility?”

Kiseen.

So that was the strange familiarity Venteux had felt when her violet eyes had locked with the strange cat-man for the first time.

Now she had a name for the feeling, but she still wasn't any closer to understanding it. He - Ja’Dhannar - explained what that meant, but Venteux did not fully understand, at least not yet anyway. The harmonizing of minds? Was that even possible? Such a free flow of persons was only supposed to occur in the Spirit Plane.

But as he took off his mask, she began to comprehend it more. Venteux knew that there was no possibility that she had ever seen the man's face before. No one in the Council Chamber had either. Yet, when the man's cloth was removed, she saw a face her heart told her was not new at all.

Her mind drifted to what he had said before. "Harmony of minds? How can that be?"

Suddenly, in the recesses of her mind she saw the silhouette of a small tailed boy running...

Venteux blinked and she was once again face-to-face with the Khajiiti. What was that? Her mind didn't have time to answer that question.

"If you reveal such secrets, we will both be killed because of it. My life will be forfeit because my bond to you will not allow me to stand aside while your life is in danger... Can I trust you with this responsibility?”

Secrets and their keeping were a thing Venteux knew well. She wouldn't be a good Portal Guardian if she were not good with such things. She nodded gravely.

"Yes. Your trust is safe in me."

She wondered what this would mean for them, but no answers came.

The Khajiiti let out a breath of relief when she reassured him that his secrets, as well as the secrets of Kvatch, would be safe with her. This was indeed an unusual situation; she was not of this plane after all. What if she did reveal them when she returned home? Would it even matter? Do the beings of the elemental planes even care about the happenings of this one? There was so little known to him about them that he had, up to a few hours ago, believed them to be fable. Yet, here he was with a being of the Air Elemental Plane in the flesh, what’s more is that he was now bonded to her effectively rebuking any lingering doubt. Ja’Dhannar could almost envision the world Venteux comes from, like a memory that is so faded in the back of your mind that you can’t quite picture it even though you know it is there.

“Tell me. Where are you going from here? Was your duty to simply act as liaison for the other planes or were you the one who was to also be their hand when dealing with the current situation?” He listened to her answer and nodded. Despite the answer she would have given, Ja’Dhannar would have still attempted to ask her for help.

“I do not know if you have decided your next step, but I want to share with you the reason why I am here. You remember Ayurent, the ambassador for the Tynir, right? His kind had been responsible for nearly wiping out my people once before, centuries ago. Drove us to the brink of extinction before our tribes unified and struck at their leadership thereby breaking their ability to maintain the pressure of their charge. We were eventually able to push them back enough to regain our land under a united banner, though the hostilities at the boarder never ceased. To this day, we do not know why they were so dedicated to their cause apart from the apparent drive for power and land.”

“As I am sure you heard from the council, the Tynir are rearming. Even though they say it is for their own protection, there is no doubt in my mind that they are planning another offensive to finish the job they once started. We do not know when or why, but such questions are irrelevant when millions of lives of your people are at risk. From the looks of it, most of the other nations are focusing their attention to the Mountains of Night. While they are preoccupied by that, the Tynir will flood across our borders with the intent of wiping out every Khajiiti that they come across. Perhaps that is their plan.”

Ja’Dhannar was nervous about what he was going to ask from her. “I… We need all the help we can get. There are several contingency plans at the ready for when the Tynir strike, but the one we are looking at will require all skilled fighters to hold a line while the civilians flee to safety. I do not know if your people, or any of the other planes for that matter, would be willing to fight for our cause. Of course they will receive compensation for all of their help, though we do not know if we possess anything that is of value to your kind…” He realized he had been dancing around the question and decided to just get it out there. “Would you and any of your kin be willing to fight alongside of us when the time comes? Every fighter on the front line will save hundreds of innocents from a brutal demise.”

Venteux listened to the Khajiiti and empathized with the man, but she knew in her heart there was little she could do. The Planes were so disconnected with this world. She doubted they would fain interest in a small nation. Theirs had been a history of non-interference for so long. Even with many of her own people, the Ionairus, on the Material Plane it would still be a small number even if she could recruit them. They were few and far between and contacting them was near impossible. Her people’s numbers were so small, especially since they lacked a steady influx of new blood.

But perhaps there was a way. The people of the Planes would surely act if the Shadow Plane was involved. It was their duty to maintain the balance of the Planes. If she could only prove that the Mountains of Night were involved, her people would surely send aid. They just had to.

Wasn’t that what this was all about? This had to be more than just a quest to find their representative, Dawndeux. There were much greater things amiss here. This was the time for the people of the Elemental Planes to awake from their long sleep and aid the people of the Material Plane once more. In her heart, she knew that the Plane of Shadow was somehow involved, but she would need proof to convince the Council to act.

“I do not think I will be able to secure anyone from my people. Not unless we can prove the involvement of the Mountains of Night. The people of the Planes were already skeptical of the benefit of the Council from the beginning.”

Venteux looked to Ja’Dhannar as if it hurt to deny him.

“I need to send a letter to my people. We will see.”

“I need to send a letter to my people. We will see.”

Ja’Dhannar nodded in understanding. He was not certain if there were restrictions with the other planes interacting with this one, but he figured there must have been a reason why their presence is so rare that they had practically become things of lore. As it stood, a message to the other realms was more than he had expected to be done for his small nation.

“I cannot thank you enough for just for the effort of rallying aid. Even if you manage to gather only a handful of your kind, combat experienced or not, my people will be in your debt. If all goes according to plan, there will be a group dispatched into the heart of the Tynir’s land to determine the source of their newly acquired technology. I didn’t want to say anything directly in the meeting, but we have good reason to believe that Morgarath or some other agent of the Shadow Plane is responsible for their newfound power. If you need evidence that the Shadow Plan is interfering with affairs in this realm, that will be the most likely place to find it.”

The Khajiiti rose from his chair and once again placed the mask to veil his identity.

“I too have affairs to see to before my window of opportunity closes. In two days, a caravan will be leaving this city to return to Kvatch. I will return to this building at noon of that second day. If you decide to join me, either to search for proof of Morgarath’s influence or to help out my people, I will be here to escort you and whoever else is willing to join you.”

Ja’Dhannar moved to the door looking back to Venteux for a moment before leaving. “Thank you. I hope to see you again in two days, Ironfeather.” He had already left the room before he realized that he had used a nickname that he had never heard before. After a brief pause, he continued on to see to matters at hand.

---

Ja’Dhannar had finished sealing the envelope with the signet of a Kvatch Silencer. Once the wax hardened, he flipped the letter over and checked to ensure the ink on the front did not smear.

General Siade Ayurent

The Khajiiti sneered at the name for a brief moment before stepping out of the private room in the city’s courier office. After handing over the missive and a few coins, Ja’Dhannar’s request for a liaison to guide a group of delegates into the depths of Korun Otak was on its way. As a sign of good faith, he had arranged for the Tynir representative to meet one of his most trusted friend and High Templer at the location where the caravan will be departing for the return trip to Kvatch. Two days should be enough time for him to make arrangements, if not return a message of his own regarding a new course of action.

---

The remaining hours of daylight, Ja’Dhannar spent in a small hole-in-the-wall bar where the poor lighting in mix with his passive illusion magic made him mundanely ordinary despite his appearance. To any onlooker, he was less notable than even the most frequent and introverted barfly. When the last shade of magenta faded from the small dusty windows, the Khajiiti paid his tab and proceeded through the darkened streets for his own meeting.

“It’s about damn time,” he barely said into the night.

Boyd stood consumed by the shadow of a nearby alley with his two pirate companions standing impatiently behind him. The three had been held up in the alley since Ja’Dhannar entered a small un-name-worthy bar.

“Look alive, boys. Our furry friend is on the move,” he whispered, as the Khajiiti exited the bar and turned down the secluded street. His two crewmen snapped up at the thought of some actual action.

“Stay at a distance,” Boyd ordered before stepping out from the darkness of the alley and moving to follow after Ja’Dhannar. The two sailors nodded, letting their Captain take the lead.

Boyd slowly trailed behind the assassin at a comfortable distance. Further and further he led the pirate down the dimly lit street until the bar’s stirrings were nothing more than faint echoes a few blocks back. There wasn’t another soul insight.

Too easy, Boyd thought of his unsuspecting victim, as Ja’Dhannar neared a side alley. The captain quickened his pace in an attempt to catch the assassin just as he would be turning the corner. He dipped into the alley after him, and the Khajiiti was gone. Just like that he had vanished, leaving Boyd arching a brow.

As quickly as the assassin had disappeared, he seemingly emerged from thin air catching the pirate by surprise. In a blink of an eye he had Boyd pinned with his back to the alley wall and a blade to his throat.

“Captain Waters, what a pleasant surprise. You weren’t following me were you?” Ja’Dhannar said playfully from beneath his mask.

The presence of a pursuer was practically a tangible sensation to the Khajiiti as he walked; changing his pace by only the slightest of degrees, which was perfectly matched by the presence behind him to confirm beyond doubt that he was the target. With this in mind, Ja’Dhannar began gathering all the information he could about his shadow without alerting them. First thing he noticed was the soft footfalls of leather soles, fabric against fabric, and the slightest clatter of metal on metal. No armor, though potentially armed. Average size and weight. Movements are too inefficient to be elven. Human most likely. He then took a turn down another small road, this time the wind was at his back and grinned as he recognized the faint scents of sea salt, gunpowder, and musk. Looks like Captain Waters has saved me the trouble of having to track him down.

Ja’Dhannar found the alley that led to his destination and stepped into its narrow passage then pressed himself against the wall just around the corner and waited with a veil concealing his presence. The footfalls got closer until the captain emerged, his expression bewildered as he searched for the quarry that was less than a foot away from him. He found amusement from the look that Boyd was giving and decided to have a little fun. In one fluid motion, he drew his weapon, advanced on the captain, and removed his veil as he shoved Boyd against the building. Ja’Dhannar smiled widely beneath his mask as he watched the expressions changed and gave the salty seadog credit; although the man was surprised, there was not a trace of fear upon his expression for even the briefest moment.

“Captain Waters, what a pleasant surprise. You weren’t following me were you?”

The captain responded nonchalantly as though the edge of a blade was as natural against his neck as the collar of his shirt. “So what if I was? Do you plan on cutting my throat because of it?”

Ja’Dhannar responded with the same casual tone. “So what if I was?”

”I'd say it'd be an ill advised move since you're currently outnumbered and outgunned.”

Ja’Dhannar felt a pressure upon his stomach and glanced down to see the muzzle of a pistol pressed against him. Then noticed the captain gesturing behind him and another glance revealed two of his crewmen with their hands upon the hilt of their swords still sheathed in their scabbards. The Khajiiti smiled wider and returned his gaze upon the captain. Impressive.

“It would seem that we are evenly matched and at an impasse.” He noted the quirk of the captain’s brow as though inquiring as to something he had missed. “I’ll admit that we are currently outnumbered…” There was a brief moment where the word ‘we’ was allowed to sink in before the silhouette of a seven-foot tall Khajiiti layered in thick slabs of muscle dropped from the roof and landed behind the two crewman before placing a thick hand on each of their shoulders in a pacifying gesture. “But we are hardly outgunned. So tell me captain, what need could have driven you to the point where you saw it necessary to attempt to stalk a Khajiiti Silencer?”

“I’ll admit that we are currently outnumbered…”

We? Boyd thought.

And as if to answer his question a shadowy figure dropped from the roof landing with such ease the shadow could have been standing there all along. The towering presence looked built to handle enemies in twos, and was nearly as wide as both his pirates combined. Boyd’s men stiffened beneath the shadows touch, and did little more than slowly glance back at the looming figure.

“But we are hardly outgunned. So tell me captain, what need could have driven you to the point where you saw it necessary to attempt to stalk a Khajiiti Silencer?”

“Pardon me, but this would be a bit easier to discuss if there wasn’t a blade at my throat. You understand of course.” Boyd said causally.

“Of course.” Ja’Dhannar replied, as he lowered the dagger sheathing it. “Ahem,” the Khajiitit cleared his throat and glanced down at the pistol still pressed to his abdomen.

“Oh… Of course.” Boyd responded with a grin, removing the gun and shoving it back into his sash.

“You were saying, captain?”

“Information,” he said abruptly, sliding away from the wall and rounding the alley to continue to talk.

“What do you need to know?” Ja’Dhannar was catching on.

“It’s not so much what I need to know, as it is needing to know how much you know? Back in the council you mentioned something. Something that implied you knew information. I need to know exactly what it is you know about me.”

A grin spread across the Khajiiti’s expression as he finally realized what had driven the captain to perform such a stunt. A common saying amongst his people slipped into his mind. Cats killed the curious. He had heard another version outside of his home territory, but it never really made sense to him.

“Is that all, captain?” Ja’Dhannar said clearly accenting the amusement in his tone. “You of all people should be aware that such information can be bought through the proper channels without the need for such displays. We are an entrepreneurial species after all.”

It was obvious that Boyd was not entirely happy with certain elements of that statement.

“Not to worry captain, I think sharing this information with you might be payment in of itself. Depending on what you do with it of course, but I think it might be an investment that is worth making. But first, we might want to put our colleagues in a more comfortable arrangement.” The Khajiiti took several paces back from Boyd before turning to walk to M’Raverr, giving a subtle gesture instructing him to remove his hands from the sailors. The High Templer did so without hesitation, allowing them to assume rank at Boyd’s flanks while Ja’Dhannar stood next to his envoy.

“Much better, now on to business.” Ja’Dhannar began, his tone regaining the neutral diplomatic air that it had in the council. “The information regarding you mostly pertains to your character, whom you are associated with, and with whom you’ve been dealing. Considering the truce we have between our nations, we make it a point to only investigate into the personal lives of your people if we feel there is an absolute need to do so. Fortunately, you as well as your clan did not evoke such a need.”

The tone now lowered into a more disapproving note. “However, the same cannot be said about the Pothorst and Erlingsson Clans. Whatever is going on in the Mountains of Night, we are certain that those Clans have gotten involved. It was my intension to bring up that evidence to the council had representatives from their kin attended. Unfortunately, it was your Clan that made an appearance instead and bringing up that evidence would have only put you and your people in the limelight of suspicion rather than the true culprits. As it stands, we’ve gotten permission to venture into Tynir lands and I wanted to avoid spreading council resources any thinner.” Ja’Dhannar’s expression turned to one of casual interest. “Do with that information as you wish. The way I see it is should the plans of your rival clans along with their conspirators fail; then your kin might just find themselves with an opportunity to obtain undisputed claim over undisputed power within your territories.”

“Now, if that information appeases your curiosity then I must get back to pressing matters between me and my friend here.”

“What you’re saying isn’t anything I haven’t assumed myself, but it certainly confirms my suspicions. There is one thing you seem to have overlooked, and that is my own Clan’s agenda. First, I should tell you my being here at the council isn't centered around the most honest of intentions. My Lady cares not of the kidnappings, but only in covering her own ass.

Now you’re likely thinking ‘Why would you be telling me this,’ and the answer is simple. To tip the scales, my furry-friend. I’m a pirate, not a fool, and I see the larger picture. It may be blurred but I see it. I believe my Lady is hiding something, but all I have is a hunch. That’s where you come in. I ask you to lend me your eyes and ears, and in return I’ll do the same.” Boyd said, and moved past Ja’Dhannar towards the entrance of the alley.

“I hope you consider my offer. No doubt your assistance will not be forgotten should say… someone was to obtain said undisputed claim over undisputed power within my territories,” he said with a glance before moving to exit the alley.

“Oh!” he stopped and turned back to the Khajiiti with that infamous smirk of his. “There’s one more thing. If you do indeed know of my character, then you know I’m not one to be trifled with…

In other words, I trust what’s been said here tonight stays between us.”

With that Boyd and his men left the two to their business.

"There is one thing you seem to have overlooked, and that is my own Clan’s agenda."

That prelude caused the Khajiiti to arch his brow with interest. "Oh?" He inquired simply.

"First, I should tell you my being here at the council isn't centered around the most honest of intentions. My Lady cares not of the kidnappings, but only in covering her own ass."

Ja'Dhannar's intrigue faded with that statement. No surprise there. That was already a given once you showed up to the council. Though as Boyd continued, his interest built up once more. Not because even the leader of his clan had some sort of plot, such a thing was a never ending cycle among pirates and rulers alike, but that the information was readily given. As Boyd walked past, Ja'Dhannar only turned his head to track his movements over his shoulder. Did he just ask what I think he did?

“I hope you consider my offer. No doubt your assistance will not be forgotten should say… someone was to obtain said undisputed claim over undisputed power within my territories.”

It was at that moment that it all clicked and a grin spread across the Khajiiti's lips. "I think that we both could stand to benefit greatly should such a thing come to pass." Considering the dark days that loom over us, such an alliance would be beyond invaluable. Especially if things turn out as the Listener expects and we need to take that contingency...

“There’s one more thing. If you do indeed know of my character, then you know I’m not one to be trifled with… In other words, I trust what’s been said here tonight stays between us.”

"Secrecy is a language that is fluent among all Silencers, captain. You need not worry."

The two remaining figures in the alley waited several moments in silence before Ja'Dhannar turned to face his personal agent. M'Raverr towered over the Silencer like an unyielding power and authority of a mountain. "Think that was the first time they've seen a Panthera up close?" The High Templer let out a deep chuckle in response, "If so, I made the first impression count. So, shall we relocate to the predetermined rendezvous?"

"Yes. Our conversation isn't secure here and I need to discuss with you an arrangement that has been made with the Tynir ambassador."