Author: Mariska V
Post Date: Sun Oct 13, 2013 5:59 pm
Post subject: Enter the New Padishah
Her return to Aleris had gone largely unnoticed. The time she’d spent on Eiler had been brief and she’d stayed relatively secluded. Regardless, Eiler had bigger issues and her arrival was barely a blip on the radar. Right on the heels of two devastating wars the land was now besieged by plague. Humans seemed to be at the greatest risk and as luck would have it she was human. Not your average human to be sure, she wouldn’t die from the illness, but she could still succumb to it. As a result she was never without one of the Death Dealers Maniac had sent with her at her side. Each had been given the option of returning home once they had seen her safely to Aleris but they had chosen to remain, having become bored with Earth and what they considered a sedate life without the daily threat of war.
She was grateful to have them there. They not only provided additional resources and protection but she had a ready and constant source of power. She was possessed of a unique gift, one that allowed her to copy the supernatural abilities of any person or creature she touched. It was why she was never without a pair of leather gloves and also why her companions were so useful. A simple touch gave her the temporary immunity of a vampire, as well as their strength and regeneration abilities. In essence it was a vaccine that kept her from getting sick but should she get caught without one of them around, and the borrowed abilities wore off, she would be as at risk as any human.
There was a reason for her return but it was put on hold when the conditions of Aleris became clear. Travel by sea was dangerous, travel of any kind was dangerous for that matter, and all hands were needed then and there to help fight the plague sweeping the four continents. She and her companions, Mordant and Arthur, helped where they could. When those driven to violence by the illness needed to be fought back she gladly lent her sword to the fight but there were other ways for her to help. Healers were in high demand and, when needed, she could take on the more advanced healing ability of those who healed through supernatural beings simply by touching them. In that way she was able to help stave off the illness though she suspected it was only a matter of time before their effort would not be enough.
Though it was rare she was occasionally gifted with some time to herself and in those hours she made discreet inquiries as to the state of things on Heruin, specifically regarding the Bel Telal. There was little of interest at first, reports concerning the Bel Telal’s efforts to fight the plague on Heruin. Then questions began to rise regarding the absentee Padishah and just where she was in her continents time of need. The rumors of the Padishah burning down their house before going into seclusion in the Magister’s manor in Drybrush spread like wildfire, no pun intended, and the news quickly reached Mariska’s ears. Now more than ever it seemed as if her return was not well timed. How could she make him deal with the shock of her return when he already had so much on his shoulders? He thought she was dead…she began to wonder if perhaps she should stay dead.
Fate had other plans for her, however. Reports came to Eiler that the Padishah had fallen ill and was being taken to her home world of Eternelle Lune for care. That left the continent of Heruin without a ruler, the Bel Telal the last remaining presence of Order in the desert land. Elias needed someone to see to things in Heruin until the ill Padishah returned, or stepped down, whichever came first. With recent events, however, most of his people were already assigned and he was short on able bodied emissaries to send out to the renegade continent. But rumors spread, even in times of crisis, and word of the woman who mostly kept to herself unless she was helping the sick or fighting off the violent infected.
She was summoned to the palace for an audience with King Elias. He had heard much about her and it all seemed to be good. After a brief interview he seemed to agree with everyone else’s assessment of her and asked that she travel to Heruin as the acting Padishah until the fate of the former Padishah was determined. He needed someone with her skills that would not fail the people and he felt she was the best choice. He must really be strapped for help, she silently determined, but still agreed to the assignment in spite of what it meant for her.
She was going to have to face Valorius. She was going to have to tell him she was alive. He deserved to know, anyway.
Two days later she was on an airship bound for Heruin. It was the quickest, and safest, way to travel and as soon as she was deposited at her new post it would be turning back to Eiler as no hands could be spared for long. They traveled swiftly out of necessity and soon Heruin was on the horizon.
Given all the open space it was easy enough for the air ship to find a spot to set down on the hard packed ground just outside of Drybrush. The King’s emissary that had accompanied her showed her and her companions to the Magister’s Manor in the center of Drybrush where she would be staying during her time as the Padishah. No Magister had been named for Drybrush and with her presence in the city none would be necessary for now.
Her arrival at the manor was met with some relief from the servants that cared for it, the very same ones that had watched their former Padishah waste away. The King’s Emissary did not tarry long but rather departed as soon as he deposited her at the manor. He intended to visit the Bel Telal and inform him of the acting Padishah’s arrival before he would return to Eiler though she had asked that he not give Valorius her name, rather preferring to tell him herself given the circumstances.
Soon word would spread that a new Padishah had been chosen. Soon Valorius would come to meet his new ruler. Soon he would know she was still alive and she would have some serious explaining to do.
She was grateful to have them there. They not only provided additional resources and protection but she had a ready and constant source of power. She was possessed of a unique gift, one that allowed her to copy the supernatural abilities of any person or creature she touched. It was why she was never without a pair of leather gloves and also why her companions were so useful. A simple touch gave her the temporary immunity of a vampire, as well as their strength and regeneration abilities. In essence it was a vaccine that kept her from getting sick but should she get caught without one of them around, and the borrowed abilities wore off, she would be as at risk as any human.
There was a reason for her return but it was put on hold when the conditions of Aleris became clear. Travel by sea was dangerous, travel of any kind was dangerous for that matter, and all hands were needed then and there to help fight the plague sweeping the four continents. She and her companions, Mordant and Arthur, helped where they could. When those driven to violence by the illness needed to be fought back she gladly lent her sword to the fight but there were other ways for her to help. Healers were in high demand and, when needed, she could take on the more advanced healing ability of those who healed through supernatural beings simply by touching them. In that way she was able to help stave off the illness though she suspected it was only a matter of time before their effort would not be enough.
Though it was rare she was occasionally gifted with some time to herself and in those hours she made discreet inquiries as to the state of things on Heruin, specifically regarding the Bel Telal. There was little of interest at first, reports concerning the Bel Telal’s efforts to fight the plague on Heruin. Then questions began to rise regarding the absentee Padishah and just where she was in her continents time of need. The rumors of the Padishah burning down their house before going into seclusion in the Magister’s manor in Drybrush spread like wildfire, no pun intended, and the news quickly reached Mariska’s ears. Now more than ever it seemed as if her return was not well timed. How could she make him deal with the shock of her return when he already had so much on his shoulders? He thought she was dead…she began to wonder if perhaps she should stay dead.
Fate had other plans for her, however. Reports came to Eiler that the Padishah had fallen ill and was being taken to her home world of Eternelle Lune for care. That left the continent of Heruin without a ruler, the Bel Telal the last remaining presence of Order in the desert land. Elias needed someone to see to things in Heruin until the ill Padishah returned, or stepped down, whichever came first. With recent events, however, most of his people were already assigned and he was short on able bodied emissaries to send out to the renegade continent. But rumors spread, even in times of crisis, and word of the woman who mostly kept to herself unless she was helping the sick or fighting off the violent infected.
She was summoned to the palace for an audience with King Elias. He had heard much about her and it all seemed to be good. After a brief interview he seemed to agree with everyone else’s assessment of her and asked that she travel to Heruin as the acting Padishah until the fate of the former Padishah was determined. He needed someone with her skills that would not fail the people and he felt she was the best choice. He must really be strapped for help, she silently determined, but still agreed to the assignment in spite of what it meant for her.
She was going to have to face Valorius. She was going to have to tell him she was alive. He deserved to know, anyway.
Two days later she was on an airship bound for Heruin. It was the quickest, and safest, way to travel and as soon as she was deposited at her new post it would be turning back to Eiler as no hands could be spared for long. They traveled swiftly out of necessity and soon Heruin was on the horizon.
Given all the open space it was easy enough for the air ship to find a spot to set down on the hard packed ground just outside of Drybrush. The King’s emissary that had accompanied her showed her and her companions to the Magister’s Manor in the center of Drybrush where she would be staying during her time as the Padishah. No Magister had been named for Drybrush and with her presence in the city none would be necessary for now.
Her arrival at the manor was met with some relief from the servants that cared for it, the very same ones that had watched their former Padishah waste away. The King’s Emissary did not tarry long but rather departed as soon as he deposited her at the manor. He intended to visit the Bel Telal and inform him of the acting Padishah’s arrival before he would return to Eiler though she had asked that he not give Valorius her name, rather preferring to tell him herself given the circumstances.
Soon word would spread that a new Padishah had been chosen. Soon Valorius would come to meet his new ruler. Soon he would know she was still alive and she would have some serious explaining to do.