Stranger in a Strange Land [Invites]

[Silver Eyes]

(This is on the outskirts of Moon Valley. Quite a ways from the city.)

A young woman bolted upright and wildly looked at her surroundings. Panic seemed to grip her, and a taloned hand gingerly touched the back of her head. She didn't notice it ahead of her, but she had fallen from a great height, skidded across the ground, and was now hopelessly lost. Whoever she was, she crawled into a crouched position and began to survey her surroundings while remaining motionless. Her nostrils flared repeatedly while she took in the foreign smells. Something was strange about this place, but she couldn't put her finger on it.

As if to assure herself, she brushes back her red, tattered cloak and pats one of the two guns she had in a holster--they were still there. She breathed a sigh of relief and uncurled to her full height. Well, there was no sense in lingering around here waiting for something to happen. She started walking in a direction that may lead to civilization, or a means to get her bearings.

[Linx]

It was mid afternoon as a solitary figure traveled along the road to Moon Valley. Any that would see him would mark his passing and steer clear of him. With skin as white as bone and hair to match, he clearly stood out. Upon his brow rode a golden circlet, keeping his hair back to reveal moody crimson eyes. He was clad in black breeches and knee high leather boots, with a blue tunic. On his hip rode the massive black silver battle blade Stormbringer, and as his fingers rested on the pommel, it seemed to stir in it's sheath, a low thrumming sound emanating from it. Upon his right ring finger rode a single brilliant stone that seemed to swirl in a prismatic array, reflecting every color of the spectrum. It was the Actorious Stone, the Ring of Kings from the ancient island of Melnibone. The figure was none other than the White Wolf, Elric of Melnibone, last ruler of a sundered line.

As he traveled along the road, he noticed something fall from the sky above, crashing into the ground not far from where he walked. With a piqued interest, he redirected his path to investigate the occurrence. After a few moments of quickened travel, he came upon the crash site, for that's what it seemed to be. He looks down upon a slim figure rising from the ground, seemingly disoriented. Her motions seemed meant to reassure herself, and as she did so, he noticed something. The guns she was carrying seemed rather familiar to him. He felt as if he'd seen it and it's owner before, though he couldn't recall where. He leans against the tree next to him, resting one hand one his blade as he watches the figure below, trying to puzzle her out. Rather interesting to his mind that someone should fall from the sky and get up as if nothing had happened. Not to mention that she bore a weapon that was familiar to him made sure his interest was kept on her. After a moment of debate, he decided to approach her, and determine why she was familiar to him. He lifts a hand as he approaches her, stopping a safe distance away from her.

"Who are you?" he asks, not bothering to offer his name or purpose, nor any explanation yet. If he found them rather less annoying than everyone else he'd met, perhaps they would learn with whom they spoke.

[Silver Eyes]

The motion was too fast to be noted until it was completed. The guns were in her hands, cocked, and her fingers were ready to pull the trigger at a moment's notice. The man may show no signs of hostility, but he was carrying a weapon, and he looked...abnormal.

"Who are you?"

She opened her mouth to speak--'course he couldn't tell from behind her mask--, but something dawned on her. The hooded woman loosened her grip on the guns, and she lowered them to her sides.

"I...I don't know. Last thing I remember seeing was a light in some room, and here I am."

[Linx]

He raises a brow as she raises the guns, taking the chance to study them in detail. He recognized them, and he felt a certain sense of attachment to their owner, being one of the few friends he'd made. As she spoke, his eyes snapped up to where hers would be, his gaze intent upon her masked face. She didn't know where she was? Nor remembered anything? But her voice, he knew it. He remains silent for a moment, processing what had happened. The familiar guns, and now that he was closer the cloak she wore as well, the voice. A sense of familiarity and closeness. He blinks once slowly, pausing in thought before speaking to her once more. "Amoura?" he asks, his eyes still intent on her.

If this was truly Amoura, it would be rather fortuitous for him. After all his travels in this land, he'd yet to have made a friend or any sort of acquaintance. "You are Amoura Clarice Ethelia, are you not?" he continues, wondering if perhaps he'd found his only friend as it were. It had been what felt like years since he'd last seen her in her mansion, with the gathering of their little group and induction of their newest members. He offers her a short bow of respect before speaking again. "It is Elric of Melnibone, do you not recognize me?" he asks, the nagging suspicion taking root that perhaps this was merely someone in the guise of Amoura, though he knew she would never willingly part with her weapons. If indeed this was the real Amoura, than perhaps it meant his luck was about to take a turn for the better.

[Silver Eyes]

"Amoura?"

The woman took a few tentative steps back when he started observing her. His eyes were strange. There was something about them that made her feel uneasy. Regardless of his friendly intentions, she refused to put her guns away in case if he suddenly became volatile.

"You are Amoura Clarice Ethelia, are you not?"

He was persistent in finding this girl, it would seem. Still, maybe she could take off this ridiculous mask to ensure if she was this "Amoura" he spoke of. She pushed back the hood, pulled down the mask, and shook out her mane of black hair.



"It is Elric of Melnibone, do you not recognize me?"

She quirked a brow and narrowed her eyes--they were silver. "No, and I'm not sure if I'm 'Amoura'. I don't know who I am. I really don't and that doesn't ring any bells. I don't even know who you are. I don't know anything except what I can do." She pointed the nozzles of her guns up and gestured towards them with her head.

[Linx]

He waits while she removes her mask, listening as she speaks. She sounded almost exactly like Amoura, had her weapons and cloak, yet she remembered nothing? And her eyes...they had been red when he knew her. He retreated into his mind, thinking through this. Perhaps a different Amoura? Reality was converging here, it was not unreasonable that one Amoura from them would have different eyes. But one thing was clear to him, it was not the Amoura he had known, no matter how similar. He studies her for a moment longer, before breathing out a light sigh. So, it seemed as if he might have to carry on alone after all then. When he returned his gaze to her, he was once more impassive and cold, collecting himself.

"I see. I apologize. Save for your eyes, you are identical to the woman I knew." he says, shaking his head. "If you know naught but what you can do, then know this. You are in the world of Genesis, on the continent of Jherra." he raises a hand, pointing off in the distance to Moon Valley. "In that direction lay Moon Valley, currently occupied by a demonic army I believe." he says, letting his gaze wander. Seeing this woman invoked memories in him of the bygone days where he'd been part of a powerful group under the lead of Amoura, a group he'd considered rebuilding here on Genesis. With these memories, he was more determined to do it. If he must be wander this land, then he would take what lands he could for himself. He might be alone, but he would not be a pauper.

[Silver Eyes]

His reaction to her changed. Since she wasn't the 'Amoura' he knew, he wasn't going to show any warmth, and perhaps no kindness in any manner. That meant he could possibly turn against her at any moment if he so chooses. That placed her at a disadvantage since she knew nothing of this man. She took a few more steps back.

"I see. I apologize. Save for your eyes, you are identical to the woman I knew."

Her eyes? What was wrong with her eyes? She tilted one gun towards her face to see silver hues staring right back. But that wasn't all she had taken note of. Engraved in the metal was the word: Redemption. What a strange name for a gun.

"If you know naught but what you can do, then know this. You are in the world of Genesis, on the continent of Jherra."

"Oh, finally. I know where I'm at but I still have no clue where in the universe I am, I suppose I could say." Now she was feeling ridiculous with her weapons out. She slid them back into their holsters but didn't buckle them in should a quick draw need to happen.

"In that direction lay Moon Valley, currently occupied by a demonic army I believe."

"That explains the strange smell." The stranger sniffed the air again, "Sulfur, Brimstone. Weaknesses usually are: silver, holy water--" She cut herself off abruptly and looked puzzled as to why she suddenly started talking like that.

[Linx]

He watches her warily, now unsure whether she could turn on him in a moment if the desire hit her. He knew nothing of this lady, save that he'd intruded upon her and forced his company upon her. Despite her returning her guns to her holsters, he didn't relax. As she begins speaking, he raises a brow at her. "Indeed. You know how to kill it would seem." he said, his mind beginning to work over the problem. She wasn't the Amoura he knew, but she could still prove to be an Amoura, and that could benefit him in the long run. Perhaps fate truly was smiling upon him for once. He clears his head, a half smiling playing across his lips.

"Genesis seems to be the convergence zone for all of reality, which is apparently collapsing." he says, wondering if perhaps this mad scheme of his would begin to work out and bear the fruit of his labors. "Well then, as you seem to know how to handle yourself yet naught else, perhaps you would consider accompanying me? I can help you to regain your memory, and help you to learn this land until you know enough to make your own choices and go your own way if you so chose. I warn you now however, that should you desire to travel with me, the path shall not be an easy one. I am Elric, son of Sadric, 428th Emperor of the now sundered Melnibone. I seek to recreate the Blood Dynasty and raise from the ashes of a pauper and king of ruins to make myself known and feared throughout the land." he says, his voice growing hotter as the fires of his hatred were stoked within him.

[Silver Eyes]

"Indeed. You know how to kill it would seem."

Perhaps how to kill this "demon" he spoke of; but what of everything else? What else was there? Those questions were temporary since a smile was tugging on his lips. Didn't a smile like that mean trouble? Silver Eyes --perhaps that would be a decent nickname for now since she was lacking one--studied his body language closely, and paid more attention to his speech patterns than the subject itself.

He was very cocky with the skills and title to back it up. He has seen things that has left him a hardened, seasoned warrior with other abilities that could not be seen on the body. There was a faint sound coming from his blade, and the ring on his finger would have been explanation enough of a royal lineage.

"I seek to recreate the Blood Dynasty and raise from the ashes of a pauper and king of ruins to make myself known and feared throughout the land."

"Get off the f--" Silver Eyes let out a hacking cough, a forced one, to stop the sudden word vomit. Where on earth did that come from? "Uhm, I mean, it sounds interesting enough. But how can I trust you?"

[Linx]

He lets out a soft chuckle. She was worried about trusting him? In all fairness, she wasn't from his world, they knew better than to consider trusting Elric Kinslayer, he who'd been cursed with a terrible doom. "As long as you remain useful and competent, I've really no reason to turn on you. If you prove otherwise, I'd gladly loose my blade on you." he says, patting the blade at his hip which moaned hungrily at the thought of feeding. "Let me be perfectly frank with you. There is no trust in the Blood Dynasty, merely a cooperative effort towards the common goal. As long as we remain useful, we remain living. Turn traitor, fail your given task, or otherwise anger the leaders of the Dynasty or displease them, and you can be certain repercussions will follow. Is it not thus in any enterprise?" he says, waving his hand idly.

"I do not expect anyone to trust me, nor do I expect to trust anyone. Trust only in yourself, and you can be certain no ill that befalls you is to be unexpected. Trust is a waste of time, in the end, it really is only yourself you can trust and rely on." he says placidly, all too familiar with the lesson. Even Amoura he never trusted, but he respected her. She was as close to a true friend as Elric could ever have. Yet here he was now, continuing on what had been their common goal, establishing their rule and superiority over the rest of the mindless flocks of mortals. "It is ultimately your choice on whether or not to join up. If you do, it is not something you can back out should you decide you no longer have an interest in our goals. If you do, and do well in our service, the reward itself will not be insubstantial. We are not a charity. We do not shelter the weak. You are strong, or you are dead. The choice is yours." he says, turning his gaze on her once more, wondering where she would choose to stand.

[Silver Eyes]

"As long as you remain useful and competent, I've really no reason to turn on you. If you prove otherwise, I'd gladly loose my blade on you."

Silver Eyes gave no indication if his words bothered her, but within the safety of her mind, she thought to herself about how he was far too confident in his abilities. He may have royal blood, he may be her superior in age and in the heat of battle, but he wasn't her. He didn't know what she was capable of. It was always foolish to act so brashly despite past successes. But her thoughts digressed from that matter to the next that struck a nerve:

"It is ultimately your choice on whether or not to join up. If you do, it is not something you can back out should you decide you no longer have an interest in our goals."

So, if she were to join, there was no backing out. Silver Eyes would have to stay until the sweet or bitter end--it raised the hairs on her neck. But there was a factor in this equation: she had no where else to go, knew nothing of this world, didn't know who she was, and this man held the answers in an open palm. The only way to get the reward was to follow the crumbs he'll be leaving. With a defeated sigh, she nodded at him.

"Very well."

[Linx]

He waits patiently for her answer, wondering what thoughts tumbled through her mind. He was aware that he came off as rather arrogant and confident, but he didn't care. He didn't care whether he lived or died or if there were those better than him. He would succeed at his goals no matter what the cost would be. When she finally spoke, it was but two words. Two words of acceptance. Perhaps fate indeed then did smile on him, to have been fortuitous enough to gather into the fold someone who seemed so capable. Only time would tell he supposed, but he felt a certain sense of confidence about her, and he was at ease with the decision. "So be it then. From henceforth, you are to be a member of the Blood Dynasty, until such a time as death take you, or the Dynasty is broken and scattered." he says, crimson eyes boring into silver.

"You've made a wise choice. Being among the members of the Dynasty means you choose to be the predator, not the prey. You choose to be strong, or die in the attempt." he says, wondering what all he would have to teach her in order for her to behave according to her new station. "Until such a time as you are capable of handling yourself, I shall work with you. Teams work better than a single member in any case. During that time, I shall be instructing you in what it means to be a member of the Blood Dynasty, about Genesis, and generally answering any questions you might have, and providing you with any tools needed to survive on your own." he says, turning his mind now inward. They had a lot of work ahead of them, and with any luck, little would go awry.

[Silver Eyes]

Silver Eyes had to stop herself from rolling her eyes. Rules may be rules but they didn't always have followed.

"So be it then. From henceforth, you are to be a member of the Blood Dynasty, until such a time as death take you, or the Dynasty is broken and scattered."

"So I don't have the privilege to scout around these lands by myself to discover?" That hardly seemed like fair thing to do.

[Linx]

He pauses at her question, debating it to himself. Should she be allowed to run free? Hmm. Perhaps unconventional, but it would be in keeping with their organization. "Very well. I suppose I'd be wasting time coddling you. If you die, you die. If you live, you live. Either way, it will be on your own merits I suppose, and shall be a proving of sorts, however unorthodox it might be." he says, shrugging lightly to himself. He roots around inside his cloak for a moment, before handing over a belt with pouches attached to it. "At the very least, you'll need this. It contains food, water, and other survival gear you might need while travelling. I'd like this returned if you ever happen to visit our main headquarters." he says, holding it up for her.

"They're specially created by another member of our group for our use. He calls them pouches of holding. The space inside is bigger than it appears to be, allowing you to carry more with no increase in weight or alteration of size and shape. Within you'll also find contained the location to our meeting grounds, where you might meet the one who made this stuff. He's rather good at providing us with what we need." he says, shrugging again. "You're free to come and go as you wish, and can find sanctuary at our main location at any time, or merely return for a break from travelling to confer with our other members." he says, waiting for her to speak again.

[Silver Eyes]

Silver Eyes snatched the bag out of the air, opened it and peeked inside. The necessary supplies were inside a vast abyss where many more items could easily be stored if she didn't feel up to carrying anything else. The woman nodded her head in thanks and tied it to her belt. "If anything, I can read a map. I'll be sure to find the base once my explorations are complete."

Silver Eyes saluted him, turned around, and ran. There was no point in seeking to fight demons when there was a new world to discover.