Fict:Facing the Phoenix

What defines a environment? Is it the creatures that live there? Is it the plants that grow there? If so, then the scene can only be described as a jungle. Tall trees reach towards the sky while vines and bushes declared sovereignty over all below the canopy. But these trees are made of granite stone, the vines of black obsidian, and the leaves are glowing metals. In this forest, those searching for inspiration will find no shortage of burning bushes. Through these trees and bushes, a sense of swift movement travels, leaving disrupted leaves and the occasional broken branch as the disturbance streaks through the trees, losing speed with each passing tree until the movement itself stops, and two people stand at the end of the fairies' path, both dressed in priest's robes.

"Another jungle." The elder priest, a man, knelt down and ran his hand over the bark of one of the trees. His hand came away covered in glowing sap. The sap quickly cooled on his hands, turning into a yellowish crystal, which he shook off his hand. "It's hotter then last night. We're heading in the right direction. Are you sure you want to spend another night in the woods? We're probably a few hours away from a village."

"Are you ready to deal with another village of angry Salamanders? I'm not. Besides, I like the color of these leaves. The last four forests we were in had leaves of red fire. It feels a little more natural with these green flames. And I need to sleep, something you seem to have forgotten how to do." The younger priestess glares at her older companion as she kneels down as she swings her backpack around to the front and begins to hunt through the bag. It takes her several minutes, but she soon pulls out a bedroll that shimmers as she shakes it out onto the ground and a sleeping mask that she sets beside it.

"I haven't had to; besides, one of us needs to keep watch." The elder priest pulled a slender ebony wand from his belt. "Concutio. How much food do we have left, Devora?"

"Five weeks, one left of what we packed for me, and all what we packed for you; it seems food is another thing Lord Ardyn Flameborn no longer needs to do." Devora pulled a wax-wrapped package from her bag and unwrapped it. "Jerky and vodka, the food of the discerning adventurer." She leaned against a nearby trunk and slowly chewed her way through the rations while Ardyn continued to set-up their defenses. She watched him over her food for a few minutes, then set her food aside. "Ardyn, I have a question. You think I might be your sister, correct?"

"Yes." Ardyn turned from where he was working to look at his younger companion, an eyebrow raised in question.

"I'm 18 years old. You were almost as old as I was during the Salamander war. Why is it that you think I might be your sister instead of your daughter?" You hear the pin, or in this case, the wand drop. Ardyn stares at her, not saying anything for a moment.

Ardyn coughed and collected himself for a moment. "It had not occurred to me. I would think I would have remembered if I sired any children, but don't know. And to be perfectly frank, I don't think it ever factored into my opinions that the truth of this situation mattered. Does it matter?" He stared directly into Devora's eyes, giving her his full attention. She stared at him confused for a moment like a deer facing down the wolf before she broke the gaze.

"I'm not sure."

(''Ardyn and Devora come to face a proxy of Kossuth, the priest who broke the Raumathari bindings holding Kossuth the the prime. He introduced himself as Aramodar Flameborn, the first Flameborn and messenger of the flames. He offered to teach Ardyn the ways of the Raumathari Battle-lords, but Ardyn starts to become sick as his both starts to fight against itself as his transformation into an elemental isn't complete. Ardyn is sent on alone to be judged by Kossuth.)

(Ardyn has been sent alone to face Kossuth. The path is embodied as a long Stairway, along which he tested with challenges of spirit and combat before he is allowed into the presence of Kossuth. As Ardyn faces these tasks, the weakness that has been plaguing him starts to abate itself, until during the final challenge, a salamander's spear scores a hit straight through his heart; but the wound bleeds only fire instead of blood. As he strikes down the creature, he finds himself being welcomed into the Throne of Flames as a Divine Servant. Kossuth asks what goals his servant carries and Ardyn replies that he seeks the banishment of the Black Flame and asks for Kossuth's permission to bargain with the Phoenix. Kossuth grants this and opens a door to the House of White Fire for Ardyn to travel through.)

(There are no challenges, no gates. Ardyn is brought straight before the Holy Aspect of Fire. Ardyn asks for his help, offering a bargain to gain the power. He is shot down, as his offer is vain and presumptuous. He motives for seeking the snuffing of the dark fire are flawed. As Ardyn turns to leave, thinking he will receive no aid, he is told to wait. The Phoenix offers him a chance to earn the power of holy fire. But first, he has to defeat the darkness inside of his own soul.)

(Ardyn is presented before a mirror. He initially identifies it as a Mirror of Opposition, but is told that this mirror sees only the good and evil inside a person. As Ardyn stares into the mirror, he initially sees no reflection of himself. As he keeps watching, a laundry list of the sins Ardyn has committed in his life roll before him in the mirror as he is called to account and defend against them. Also called out are his virtues, the aspects of himself that show a stronger nature that he doesn't carry with the same passion as he carries his other commitments. As this continues, Ardyn begins to see his reflection in the mirror, a personification of all of his vices and sins, bearing the symbol of the black flame around his neck. As the image fully realizes itself in the mirror Ardyn is asked to make a choice: accept the blackness inside of himself and go back to his fight without the Phoenix's aid or to fight the darkness inside and become something more. Ardyn comes to the decision that he must fight the darkness, or there is no way the black flame can be defeated. As he does, the mirror shatters and he is standing in the House that Always Smoulders with white fire glowing from his fingertips.)

(Ardyn discusses his revelations with Devora and his ancestor, and talks frankly about this difficulty of the path in front of him. Aramodar points out to Ardyn that his Pendant and holy symbol now shows the symbol of Kossuth wrapping around a Phoenix feather, showing that perhaps the Phoenix has offered a little bit of assistance. The elder Flameborn offers once again to train his descendant in the ways of the Raumathari battlemage. This time nothing intercedes with them and Ardyn and Devora are given some training in the old Raumathari methods of fighting. One aspect of this is that both of them are forced to learn Raumathon, so that they can read the texts brought to them and hunt for further teachings when they return. After several weeks of training Ardyn has learned quite a bit about Raumathari methods for fighting demons (He has learned how to enter the Holy Scourge class). Aramodar offers them a gate back to Eltabbar, and the pair return to try and apply the insights and lessons of their journeys.'')