Meeting of Destiny? (Nascent)

[prythian]

"The crest first appeared on my hand 15 years ago." Prythian replied, following him. His eyes had a distant look, as if he wasn't seeing Magus or anything else around. "My village was attacked by the Heartless when I was 10 years old. The dragons, the rulers of Druthisrael, I suppose you could say, dared not let the Heartless spread out into the rest of the world. The village was burned to the ground."

"I was the only survivor, having been hidden in a special cellar and barely managing to escape from there with my life. I realized something about Light and Darkness... neither should attempt to rule over the other. It only results in destruction and more fighting than if they were in balance. Once I realized this... the crest appeared on my hand, and I felt its power coursing through me. I had a glimpse of four other crests... When I came to, I was on another world. I had traveled between worlds with the power of the crest."

[nascent]

"A land of dragons, you say? Such noble beasts are only mere legends on most worlds." Magus observed. They'd entered a long hallway now and were progressing deeper into the castle. "Four other crests like unto your own, with the power to whisk a person instantly from one world to another... fascinating."

"This place doubles as a training ground for a small group of my allies. Should you wish to try your hand at what we have I'll make it available to you." He added. "In fact, the Serpent's Gauntlet may be a good choice for training your new ability."

[prythian]

"I would like that very much... However, first I would like an explanation, perhaps, of this small group of allies you mentioned." Prythian said, curiosity flavoring his voice. "After all, when people gather allies and have training grounds... usually they intend a war or battle of some time. This is definitely part of my interests, as such a thing is sure to upset Light and Darkness, and concerns me very much."

[nascent]

"Hmm..." Magus stopped in mid-step and regarded his new acquaintance. "So... you consider yourself a paragon of balance, I take it?"

He wasn't quite certain whether to trust Prythian with that knowledge quite yet, though he was leaning towards it. "Tell me something first, Prythian. What are your thoughts on destiny and fate?"

[prythian]

"Destiny and Fate..." Prythian mulled the answer. "I suppose that depends on how you define them. Some say they are the same thing. The Sages, or dragons, of my world would not. Fate is... it implies inevitability, an ending, so to speak. However, Destiny..." He paused for a moment, closing his eyes, and began to recite.

"'Destiny is the movement of time, the beginning of a story, eternal...'" He opened his eyes. "A Sage once visited our village. We were honored. I asked him questions. That was one of the answers. It resonated within me at the time... though, I was young; all things resonated with me. That one, however, has stayed."

[nascent]

"Your Sages are wise beyond most other mortal kindred." Magus said, an intent look upon his face. "I dare not guess at how... but their philosophy is unerringly close to the truth."

"There was another race who found this revelation, thought it was late in their golden age -- on the cusp of their extinction. It is through the writings of one of their oracles that the knowledge passed on to me... and in possessing it, I suddenly found myself inextricably involved. I will not lie to you: what goes on here may well tip the balance of light and darkness in the worlds, but only that existence itself might be preserved against the coming storm."

"Those who gather here, Prythian, are guardians... sentinels against a will of annihilation that has been preparing its endgame almost since the dawn of time itself. In fact, that's what this is all about: time. That is what Fate and Destiny have always fought over, the control of all time... because Fate and Destiny are not merely abstract concepts."

"They are factions of a race, a race of the very spirits of time, the invisible puppeteers pulling the strings of history each for their own cause. Those pledged to Destiny raise heroes and protectors to maintain and restore balance... those of Fate aim ever to hasten an 'inescapable' apocalypse, to restore the universe to the way it was before time began to flow."

"And now you know the why..." Magus closed his eyes and gave a half-hearted chuckle. "It must sound like the rantings of a lunatic, but I swear by my life it's the truth. Take it as you wish, though."

[prythian]

"Fate... Destiny..." Prythian looked down for a bit, a small laugh coming up from inside him. "Sometimes I wonder exactly what the Sages of my world see... there is a reason they are mere legend on most worlds. The dragons possess a bond with the land itself... they sicken together, become healthy together. I suppose that would certainly change how an ordinary mortal would see things, and they aren't even ordinary."

He looked up at Magus, eyes glinting. "Tell me, then... the side that you name Destiny... They would have something to do with THIS." He held up his hand, the crest ablaze as if lit from within by some powerful emotion, but the only thing that could be seen on his face was determination.

[nascent]

The warlock considered the question for a long moment, gazing at the radiant crest... then ultimately shrugged in response. "Possibly. I no more know the mind of the Powers of Destiny than I know yours, I'm afraid. I know only what I have read... and what I've been told in visions."

That was a story he didn't immediately want to go into... how Shizoukesa, whom he could only assume to be one of the Time Race, had appeared to him while scrying and entreated his aid. That one was a mystery herself, answering little while expecting much. Though he didn't like the thought of being simply a pawn in the game, he could neither simply ignore a threat of such scale and determination as she had described those of Fate to be. Perhaps Prythian's crest was a similar call to arms, but in less obvious form.

"The Race of Time generally pull the strings of small, subtle events in order to shape much greater ones... but I wouldn't put it past them to have arranged that you received the crest, somehow." He paused. "Of course, the logical question is why... but by the time we find that answer it may be irrelevant. They are very aloof... even those that aren't out to destroy us all."

[prythian]

"All events are small events. The larger ones are merely culminations of many, many small events." Prythian said, glancing at the crest. "I've no doubt about it. The crests may very well be the result of these powers... consider; it appeared once I decided that balance between light and dark was the most desirable. That would not be the goal of the side of Fate, and I've no doubt that both sides have a hand in most everything. I've decided."

"Magus, the Shuffle Alliance is allied to you in your battle against these powers of Fate. I have no doubt that upon hearing my worlds the other crestbearers shall agree with my assessment. We are formidable allies indeed."

[nascent]

Shuffle Alliance? Other Crestbearers? this struck Magus as quite a surprise -- he had been hoping to make a new ally, not recruit an army! The mage's jaw dropped, but he quickly recovered himself.

"I... don't know what to say. Thank you. I'd heard of your alliance before, but only in passing -- am I to assume you are their leader, then?"

[prythian]

"The founder of the Shuffle Alliance. There are only going to be five of us, I believe, based on the fact that I saw four other crests... We currently are missing one of our group, but we tend to gravitate towards each other. We'll find the Ace of Clubs soon enough. I am the King of Hearts, the leader of the Shuffle Alliance." Prythian said, nodding. "Not all of us have figured out how to draw on the powers hidden within the crest, though. It will come in time. But we are formidable nonetheless."

[nascent]

"From what I have seen of your crests' power, I have little doubt of that." Magus remarked... then paused for a moment as though a curious thought had struck him. Crests... hadn't he seen something like this somewhere before? From someone he had...

"Dante." He whispered to himself, disbelievingly. Now he was quickly beginning to loose any notion that this was a chance encounter. He looked back up at Prythian. "In your alliance... would one of these crest-bearers happen to be named Dante Hyubasi?"

[prythian]

Prythian moved backwards, startled. "Dante Hyubasi... the Black Joker. He is one who has tapped his crest to the fullest potential any but me seem to be able to tap. He learned a very powerful move indeed from it. How do you know Dante?" Prythian frowned. Despite what he had said earlier, he had indeed have a few doubts, but no longer. Now he was positive that these powers of Destiny had meddled to do this. Small events... small, like making one world seem more attractive to train at than another?

[nascent]

"He came to me -- came here -- seeking training... though my first encounter with him was at a cursed place called Castle Oblivion." Magus explained, his suspicions confirmed. "He is a surprising competent and determined young man, though given the demons that haunt his past it isn't especially surprising that he'd have such drive."

"I told him the same as I have told you, about Destiny and Fate. He reacted much as you did, to my surprise." There was a brief pause. "I suppose there's no sense in keeping much hidden, as it seems Destiny is at work to bring us together..."

They resumed walking. "The others who come here are largely unaffiliated, though two are members of the mercenary group Res Nullius: Kassom Sercha, a feral rogue in service to a demon of metal powers from his own world, and Captain Cordell Furor, a pirate who commands a cursed ship and a crew of lesser Heartless. I don't know what the Alliance's position on Res Nullius is, but I must insist that this place remain neutral ground."

"The others are Kassom's family, and his rival -- a wind-knight by the name of Melana. They come and go as they please, and are not here currently." Magus stopped and faced Pyrthian. "Since Destiny would have us be allies, the Shuffle Alliance is welcome to join us in this place. I'll gladly put our training and resources at your disposal, if you wish it."

[prythian]

"Any who bear the crest would share the same ideals as I do." Prythian explained. "It seems to be the requirement of the crest, that they believe in balance, and this certainly falls within that category. As for Res Nullius, I have no personal problems with them. If they joined one who sought to upset the balance, we'd be temporary enemies, but only then. However... the Shuffle Alliance possesses a... I suppose you could call it a strange fortress, made of an entire world."

"Essentially, it is a station that seems built for the Shuffle Alliance. I discovered it many years ago while traveling, and it reacts to the crests. We may train here, but we must stay there, I feel. However, you are welcome to join us... And perhaps it might be best if we visit each other's strongholds and train in both places."