Earl paused halfway up the stairs and looked at Aeviternus, "Are you really who you say you are?"

Aeviternus also paused, and moved his head slightly so that the hood cleared the path for his eyes to see Earl.

"There are a variety of ways I could prove it, but I think you already know the answer to that question."

Humor me, Earl said and began up the stairs again.

I need to know for the sake of my wife.

Wordlessly, Aeviternus followed Earl to the top step at which point he gently laid a hand on the man's shoulder.  He turned them so that they faced each other and as Earl turned to look at the hood, the eyes were again alight in pearl luminescence, pupils and irises lost in a glowing sea of white energy.

"With your permission, this will go much quicker...." he paused, then added ...and painlessly."

Aeviternus reached forth with his eternal soul, immediately making contact with the Custa Sub Rosa's.  He hesitated as he sought the man's feelings on the exchange...

Earl's heart wanted to believe but he had seen too much to trust, well anyone but Orlando and Sharokina and one of those people died because of trust. Earl's fear was palpable but he needed to know, there was too much on the line now.
He nodded in acquiescence to Aeviternus and waited.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:36, Thu 24 May 2012.

After acquiescence, came enlightenment.

The two souls pulled away from the still standing bodies, drifting but still connected.  The world around them fogged over and seemed to be in perpetual movement despite their solitude.  In this form Earl could see, though likely not understanding how, the venerable nature of the soul he faced.

Earl did not hear with his ears the words that were not uttered from Aeviternus' mouth, instead he felt them.

"This journey will be brief, we are certainly under a constraint this evening."  The message was direct, though not without kindness.

The world Earl could see around their bodies faded to white and the movement increased.  In an instant the landscape changed and it was as though he watched a panoramic movie from the center of a 360 degree screen.  Aeviternus pointed, and Earl followed the direction until his gaze landed on a youth that looked very similar, though not identical, to the man who's hand was even now placed upon his shoulder in the material plane.  The youth was walking with a woman along streets that Earl dated around the first few centuries of A.D.; if he was not mistaken.


The young man was talking gently to the woman who was shrouded in wealthy Persian robes.  As they rounded a corner, he guided her eyes towards a shelter that stopped her, aghast, in her tracks.  Her eyes welled up as she watched children toiling under threat of a bullwhip with iron shackles upon their necks.  She stiffened both her posture and resolve, and took the lead towards the scene.  As the two approached, one very bright looking boy noticed the young man and his joy shone in his eyes.  The man who had guided the woman knelt next to the child and spoke quietly as the woman marched stoicly to a man who appeared to be in charge.  She hurled her will and not a little money about and the deal was done.  The boy was unchained and the 3 walked away together hurriedly.

As they re-approached where Earl and Aeviternus watched from, their voices could be heard.  Earl observed as the young man who looked like Aeviternus spoke first; "I told you he was special.  I know you wish to free them all, but you must trust that this boy will do great things with your undivided attention."

They had stopped in the road, and the woman looked at her advisor with a mix of resentment and understanding.  "I remember.  And I can alreadly see the light in this boy's eyes."  She looked down at the boy under her arm.  "What is your name, child?"

The boy showed the first honest signs of youth in his hesitation, as if he wasn't sure he was truly allowed a moniker.

"Mani." he replied simply.

The woman smiled warmly.  "I have so much to show you in the world, Mani.  I hope you will learn to love reading; books will be your key to all the gates."


The landscape and the 3 were whisked away and replaced with a similar terrain, though slightly more advanced architecture.  Earl could quickly see a multitude of races in what was likely the first time in history such a city would exist, and his eyes were quickly drawn to structures he had only read of in history books: an enormous palace seemingly guarded by two other constructed masterpieces; the Hippodrome and the Hagia Sophia.  This view of the city was suddenly rushing at them as they flew into a underground cavern.  Again Earl noticed a man that looked like both Aeviternus and the young man from the last vision, though not identical to either.  This man was progressed in age, appearing to be in his 30's.  He spoke with intensity to a group of men dressed in dark and unimpressive garb, clothing that would allow them to blend into any corner of society other than the wealthy.  Though the voices were not audible, Earl saw with clarity the mark from Fx's neck on a piece of parchment in the middle of the table.  The man who looked like an older Aeviternus was angry, and kept pointing to the mark, spitting words and slamming his fist on the table the mark sat upon.

Again the scene was washed away and replaced, this time with a current landscape and a face Earl very much recognized.

Aeviternus was an enigma; his ability to Spirit Walk had many facets. Using his ability to connect with a soul and share information or to gain information had been useful in his past. There were other aspects of Spirit Walking that Aeviternus had not used very often, the woeful chasm of desert-like infinity betide his travel in the Spirit World. The Spirit World to Aeviternus was bleak, a dichotomy of life, grey and fleeting.  The Spirit World itself had never lent itself to want to be explored.  Aeviternus found it empty, the only souls that he saw were the few that he had sent there, once entering the spirit world they would fade from his sight. On occasion he would speak with a soul, like now, in the closest layer, the part that touched the real world, in this layer he could see and gain valuable information that was hidden from the real world. He used this tool most often. He was used to slipping from his vessel’s confines to explore the world and other bodies but that did not prepare him from what was about to happen…

The world tugged at his soul, like reality washing down a drain, the world of his mind was gone and he stood in the true spirit world, grey and cold, Earl was there next to him looking just as confused.  The staff was in his hand, he had not retrieved it, but it was there glowing softly, the only color in the world not in a varying shade of grey.  Solid, it felt solid, the only thing that had ever felt solid, it made him feel attached, grounded and anchoring point.  Aeviternus became fixated on the staff, the runes glowed like small light-houses warning him of danger or not danger, but something…”My son,” the words were spoken but not heard through ears, years of time had confounded the true sound of this voice, but like dusty cobwebs being ripped away became clear in moments.  This was the voice of his mother, two thousand years dead. The world bent and shifted as he turned and she was there glowing brightly, love and affection and sadness and regret flooded his emotional well. She held her hand out waiting for him to move to her. Was this real, truly her, so much time had elapsed…She moved to touch the hand that was held out by Aeviternus. “I have been searching so long for you my son, I am sorry that it has taken me this long to find you,” She was amazing, her energy filled the area with color, they were now in the stairwell but with more vivid color than before, the cracks and crevasses in the brick work clear and pronounced, she was an angel of light.

She looked to Earl, "He helped me, they helped me," next to Earl appeared Sharokina, a being of light, lesser than Mary, but love was exuded from her as well.  She did not hesitate in grabbing Earl in an embrace, their souls combined with a flash of light that lasted moments and years in a touch. “She was able to bring me to Earl and to you. May we go my son, I would take you to another place.” She looked at the staff, “A marvelous gift, use it to tether yourself to the waking world, it is your anchor. I would take you to another place if you let us leave.” Aeviternus’s thought allowed them to leave, and they were in a desert, in North Africa, "There was life here before, many years ago, and soon there will be again. You may trust Malcohm; he is a wayward soul, not so unlike our people many years ago. Help him and he will help you. He can remove the protections that I placed upon you, they hinder you now more than help, and you will be able to truly see.” She waved her hands, "all that you see is full of soldiers, but to you a desert, your soul is closed.  You have not begun to find your true purpose, your true power. I have sheltered you, when I thought to protect you; I kept you from knowing the truth. You are destined to save our people…think of your anchor…I love you my son.”
Aeviternus, felt for his anchor and it was there, with him in the hallway, Sharokina fading away from Earl’s embrace...Tears streaming down faces, both men stood together in the waking world, looking at each other. “What can I help you with,” was all Earl was able to croak out.

Finding it incredibly difficult to find words himself, Aeviternus replied, "Let's go get your things." and moved his arm across Earl's shoulders in a half hug gesture to turn both men towards their original direction.

After a step or two, Aeviternus put his hands in the pockets of his hoodie and walked with Earl in silence.  He played the events of the Spirit Walk over and over in his mind, looking for details and devouring them like a man with a first meal after being lost at sea for weeks.  Mother?  He had not used the word in reference to his own in many centuries, it almost felt bulky and unwieldy while being comforting at the same time to think of her.

To her pleas of allowing Malcohm to lower his protections he was reacting in his heart just as a child who has been told to ignore a life lesson from a parent that was responsible for instilling it.  He was angry, confused, doubtful... and yet hopeful.  He couldn't even blame the anger on Avery whose soul was far too young to grasp what just transpired; no, all these feeling belonged to the elder.  The Spirit world had held virtually nothing for him other than utility to propel his quest for so long, the idea that there was even slightly more to it was incredibly appealing, let alone being able to "truly see".  That had real meaning to one who has seen so much.

"Earl, you and your safety were my primary purpose for this trip.  My secondary goal was to view Sharokina's library; those documents you mentioned earlier sound like a great start."

"I'm a plumber by trade, and I have quite a few safe houses throughout the state. I have hidden our libraries within the houses in the pipes, I have only a most recent, but important document in the cottage. It is the Heretic Prose of Moses, uncovered from a very unique source, a man named Saul, he was the one who helped Malcohm and his people.  I think he is a prophet of the Lord." Earl stopped and stared at Aeviternus, "he shared things with me that he couldn't have known, intimate things, then it dawned on him, you were alive in ancient times, maybe he was there as well...Earl seemed to reflect as both men walked out of the Church. The car was still on fire, sirens could be heard in the distance.  He quickly ran the walkway to his cottage and stopped at the door.  It was ajar.

Did you are my brother enter the house...physically...I left this door shut and locked.

The staff in his hand ejected blades and Aeviternus answered:

"None of us set foot in your house."  He held up his hand to Earl to indicate they remain still for a moment.  His eyes went white as the old soul swept the house in the first layer of the spirit world...

The house is ran-sacked, someone was probably here looking for Earl or his things. You don't find anyone in the house. But you are wary, you have seen for the first time in your life a soulless being that happened to significantly apt at carnage. You realize that if something like that was in the house, you wouldn't see it, well this way.

OOOC-fyi- I rolled a few other skills for you as well, to help with this info.

Not at all enjoying the idea of encountering another Fx without Kirby and Xuan to help with the battle or Max and Orlando to help with the protection, Aeviternus spoke quickly and quietly to Earl.

"There are no spiritual energies in the house, however the tank did not have one.  Without a little more time, I can only look for spirits.  The power that you share with your brother; now may be a time to use it and any plan you may have to enter your home.  Your belongings have been searched."

He didn't bother trying to disguise his trepidation at facing another enemy of that ilk as he mentioned it.  Fear can be channeled into something wicked and its usefulness would be borne of necessity, he'd learned that centuries ago.  He peeked through the open doorway as he concluded his summary to Earl.

"Oh, damn, my witts are addled, this should help us," he picked up a dusty handfull of dirt and took Aeviternus's hand in his, bent his head and mumbled the incantation. Both men slipped into the earth, melding with it as if wading into a lake and becoming one with lake. Once inside both men moved slowly like in the water but shifting through the earth and entered the opening to the house apart of the solid fixture of the house and basement below, unseen and unmoving to the human eye. Before Earl shifted into the earth he spoke, "We won't be seen and will be able to travel to through the solid surface of the dirt and house, going through metal will slow you down but still be possible, when you want to exit the earth just think to leave the earth and walk. Inside the earth you cannot attack or be attacked.  You will be able to take small items with you. We only need a few things. If you watch my back I will grab them." His voice sounded gravely and course.

A small movement of the thumb sent the blades retreating back into their home of the staff, but he would not put it away.  Instead, he bent his elbow and held it close to his body, then Aeviternus said; "I will be at your side every step of the way, and continue to search the house for danger while we move."

He'd seen magic like it before, but he was nevertheless impressed.  Watching the effects of their slow movements for the first few steps, Aeviternus couldn't help but marvel at the reaction of the earth around them.  The brief but openly amazed smile on his face was Avery's, and then it was back to business.

"Good, you'll be able to see me wading through the earth like a ripple effect, I have my necklace, just need few things that I keep under the house.  Most intruders don't know a damn thing about plumbing or to even look under the house.  If there is someone in there, they shouldn't even know we are there, but if they are we should feel their movement over head. Let's go."

With just the two of them, Earl was able to lead Aeviternus under the house and through parts of the foundation of the cottage to where there was about a foot of clearance under what seemed like the bathroom area.  The pipes were thick and lead into the main sewage pipes for the street.  Aeviternus had enjoyed some inventions over the years and running water and pipes to carry away the muck was one of them.  Seeing the building from this view point was interesting and gave him many ideas.

Earl moved to a second large pipe that at first glance seemed normal, but didn't lead to anywhere of importance, Earl became somewhat solid and turned the pipe, pulling out a sealed tube about 5-6inches in diameter. Then he did the same to another pip about 5 feet away...at that moment movement could be felt from up above, slow precise steps, soft and agile, the shockwave of movement would have been hard to hear in the house, but with the added benefit of feeling the earth it was easy to pick up.

Both men froze in anticipation, what seemed like the back door well really the front door to the cottage opened and a woman's footsteps could be felt walking away. Moving this way through the earth was slow and was unsuited to be able to give chase.  Both men had to contend with waiting for the person to leave.

Earl had his belongings and began the walk back to the church, but did not lift for the lawn, instead he headed straight for the stairwell again and emerged with Aeviternus in the hallway of the stairs.

Aeviternus and Earl ran into the rest of the group leaving the room headed back up to ground level.  Finish your correspondance with them via Secret Operations thread. but finish up anything with Earl here, after you are done talking he will depart back into the room as the guys head up.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:30, Fri 01 June 2012.

While frozen and waiting, Aeviternus once again made an attempt at viewing the house from the spirit world, deciding that he would discuss with Earl any findings of interest, if any, later.

"You are an impressive man, youngster."  Aeviternus remarked as Earl retrieved his mysterious belongings.  The irony of using this endearment from such a youthful visage was never lost on him.  "I've never really had the joy of viewing pipework from such an intimate perspective.  The Romans would be proud."

"I'm sure you've read the Heretic Prose of Moses.  What was your take?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:10, Sat 02 June 2012.

Earl paused while he was getting to the last container, reflecting...hmmm...I can tell you why they call it the Heretical Prose of Moses, some of the things that are written about seem far fetched, but of course from our perspective, well mine at least, he was trying to warn us...he knew of aliens among us, talked of alien inbreeding with humans, and a special race of new humans with godly powers, quite a bit about his magic, which was completely cut out of the bible in a way." He talks about why the Jews were enslaved in Egypt...that is a must read section...ever wonder why the world has hated the Jews?...he answers that question.

OOC-When looking at where the woman would be, you only see a small glowing orb, you can tell it is soul energy, like a pendant, right about the spot on a woman who is about 5'7". It is a darkish color, which means quite tainted with evil and miss-deeds. But you get no visual on her.

Also, if you are interested in Malcohm addressing what your mother talked about you will need to see to that once we get to the hallway together, otherwise, it will need to be addressed later.

As the two men emerged in the hallway Aeviternus pondered Moses, the Jews, omitted magic and aliens.  He was anxious to read.

But the hallway snapped him back to the present, and he was suddenly even more anxious to know how the two warriors had fared.  That, and to speak to Malchom again.