Aeviternus was able to follow the small Finch, and it landed on a very small flower, chirping, the little bird waited for Aeviternus. He could tell the bird wanted him to find this spot. He looked around knowing that he had traveled miles farther following the bird. Keeping track of this little bird was not easy, it moved much faster than he would have hoped.
      He paused, looking at the bird and then at the flower. It was Althea he thought, his acolytes used these plants hundreds of years ago, during the Spanish inquisition. They hunted the Analectum in those years, using this plant was the only way he was able to find his hidden priests while he spirit walked. That had been a turning point for Aeviternus, he went underground after that bloody mess.  Many people died during that time. Yes, this was Althea, picking the flower his instincts told him to eat the flower. He bent down and picked the flower gently and placed it in his mouth chewing. It had no flavor at first, then tasted similar to no, it changed to a different taste, it was not settling on a flavor at all it seemed. Slowly a warm feeling crept over his body, a luscious vibration pulsed from his stomach. Aeviternus took the small moment to enjoy the pulse, but did not let it's effects alter his mood, he stood up from the plant and looked around. No finch, but he saw a fire in the distance. He blinked and stood outside a concealed campsite, with a fire dug into a small pit. The seen was empty as usual. He never saw human spirits unless he saw their bodies in the real world first. This was no different, but there was a fire.
     He found the bird sitting in the air, chirping softly. Aeviternus could not understand what he saw, then he heard whispered voices...
      "Yes little one I see you, thank you for visiting. Chirp chirp. Elizabeth, yes we are tracking them. We are close, chirp chirp, you don't say, are you sure, chirp chirp. I see, it is our duty. He is here? ah, then I will look, chirp chirp," the little bird hopped as if moving along an invisible branch moving side to side. Suddenly and remarkably, Aeviternus's sensed something, the smoky outline of a man with shining eyes appeared sitting by the campfire. The little finch was moving along his arm bouncing up to his shoulder. "I see him vaugely, brothers we are not alone."
       "What is here?" another whispered voice touched Aeviternus's ear. "Is it evil?" the voice asked accusingly.
       "I am not sure, there is darkness and death, but not maliciousness," the specter-like man said, he looked at the bird," Are you sure he, chirp chirp, yes Elizabeth. I will send for him."
       A bright flash and the man appeared shockingly, blewing dust in Aeviternus's face. Aeviternus found himself back in his body talking with Orlando.

His "own" words he'd just uttered reverberated as though coming to him from down a hallway as he rejoined the boy.

"...And you sound like a doddering old man."

This was the first time he'd separated himself so far from the body while leaving his host-mate in charge of it.  It was disconcerting to the old soul to return, not to where he'd left off, but with his back to an individual he was ostensibly speaking to and removed from the room he'd started in when embarking to the spirit plane.  He brought the body to a halt as he felt an unfamiliar struggle to do so, as if the legs wanted badly to continue on despite the command to cease their movement, almost like a mildly violent sneeze.

What are you doing?

What you asked.

I asked you for contol, to be vigilant for danger and to reach out to me if you felt at risk.  I sense the first item has already been disregarded.

Aeviternus stood still on the physical plane, his stance a tense and visibly defensive one as he made no more movement while the conversation continued within.

I was just trying to have a real conversation, for once.  He was being an asshole about it.

Our work is far from over and cooperation continues to be key.  If you stay on task, there will be no need for retaliation.

The boy made no rebuttal and full control was returned to Aeviternus.  Without turning around just yet, his stance loosened some and he turned his head to indicate he was still aware of Orlando's presence while waiting to see what the magician would make of it, the ancient soul wasn't fully apprised of all that had been transacted between them and needed to guage by Orlando's reaction for what was to come next.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:46, Sun 16 Oct 2016.

     Orlando froze in mid sentence when Aeviternus stopped so abruptly, for one he immediately went on high alert, he quickly looked around, then back to the man.  Orlando found himself scrutinizing this man's moves however so slight.  He didn't know his patron, well could he really call him that, Patron sounded so odd, founder, head numb-nuts, founder, shit starter, Ultimate Keeper.  It was a tough pill to swallow, but Aeviternus was, he now truly believed, the myth, no the man, that had really put all of this into motion. He was real and he knew next to nothing of him. So to say that his actions were odd was an understatement,  like trying to understand the motives of a serial killer from one session of psychiatric treatment, being a doctor fresh out of college...the analogy trailed off in his mind to absurdity.

     He refocused on Aeviternus..."ugh...Is something wrong?" Orlando asked knowing (slightly moving his head to see his face better) that he wouldn't get much of a response but asked none-the-less hoping to see some slight micro-expression.

      The image of the fire still  echoed in Aeviternus's mind. He realized for the first time, that someone had finally seen him in the spirit world, if only for a second.  The man looked  South or Central American, and he would send for him? Elizabeth some how had answered him, and had lead Aeviternus to this campfire. What was the connection?

The question reassured Aeviternus that whatever the conversation had included, Avery hadn't caused any real damage, only confusion.  Growing pains of testing new endeavors were to be expected.

Ace turned to face Orlando and the curiosity was all but gone, the weariness in his eyes had returned and the enduring calm was once more prevalent in his posture.  All signs of irritation were wiped away as Ace's expression softened into almost a smile, not completely shrouded under the hood.

"Nothing is wrong.  Let's take that walk, I need your help dissecting some information I just received."

     Orlando's mind itched with questions, specifically towards Aeviternus, but he had to put those to the side to listen to his account. Spirit walking or Astral Travel was a unique ability, one that he didn't possess, so he had to ask a couple of clarifying questions.
    "Explain to me the nature of your travel. I have read that you can go deeper into the spirit world, so deep that what you see has no resemblance to the real world. Do you think you could retrace your steps and find this campsite?" Orlando said still walking. "Also, the dust that sent you out of the spirit world is consistent with Native American Spirit Walking lore, so I doubt that you saw something that was trying to trick you. As far as Elizabeth helping you, that is possible, she could have crossed her spirit over to the spirit plane, which is why she remains unconscious here," Orlando paused, looking at Aeviternus, "But unfortunately, I have no clue as to who this person or shaman may be. Elizabeth is the head of Earl's and my order, and we were extremely secretive. I never mixed with anyone outside our circle. We didn't even talk about you, our sole purpose these last 10 years was hiding The Prose, and for all intensive purposes, I was retired."
     Orlando slowed his pace, he really couldn't hold it back, but he didn't really know what to say, after all if the wrong secret were overturned who knows what could happen with his team mate. "Look, I've," Orlando paused, trying to find the words to say.  He placed his hand gently on Aeviternus's arm, as if asking a friend to wait a moment. "I've seen and done crazy shit, but this is, you are, we are in pretty fuckin deep right now. I'm here to help a friend, and now help another friend, and as we go I'm finding this rabbit hole has no bottom. What just happened between us, has me inexplicably confused, almost like I am talking to someone else right now...his words trailed off as he regrouped his thoughts mid sentence, "What I've been trying to figure out, is how you just spirit walked and had a conversation with me at the same time. Nothing is impossible, but that seems impossible. I know you ARE Mr. Secrets, but I think a little faith in me is due. Be straight with me..." Orlando said candidly.

As they walked, Aeviternus listened carefully to all of Orlando's musings and questions as was his habit, often finding that allowing a conversation-mate to complete their thoughts led them to their own conclusions and most of the time that was preferable.  However these questions were genuine, the old soul could sense Orlando's sincere desire to understand. He slowed his pace dutifully as the magician did and even stopped as the hand was placed on his arm, meeting Orlando's inquisitve look with a smile and knowing nod.

"You're right.  You've earned at least that much."  He turned to keep walking once more, though kept the slow pace so that they could glance at each other as needed without worry of road hazards.  Aeviternus found that walking helped the brain move fluidly and appreciated the opportunity to engage in this ancient practice.  He breathed in looking for the right place to start and decided that the very beginning might help in this instance.

"The Anelectines were created to help me on a search that I seem destined to embark on until I've found the only other soul on the planet like mine.  In all sincerity, without the help of those like you, I would simply be a wandering spirit with no more purpose than those who haunt the place they were taken from the physical plane.  There are some things yet that I do not fully understand, such as why most spirits flee when I enter their plane, but I suspect most of the answers fall in the category of being something unnatural myself."  Aeviternus digressed into how he came to be in his current state, adding the details of who he knew his parents to be for Orlando.

OOC- Backgrounds thread has been updated to reveal the beginning of the Aeviternus timeline.  It is recommended to read that before continuing.  :)

"There are many events between then and now, and to tell them all would take... well, years.  I'll skip ahead so that the conversation you just had with me makes more sense."  He cleared his throat, it felt odd to gloss over so much history but time would allow for more to be revealed.  What Orlando needed was how it started and who he was talking to.  "The rite allows for my new host to select one of two choices for the soul that was born into the body.  You could call it the host spirit.  The choice is made by the parents; either the soul becomes dormant and simply an extension of my own or it is left separate to experience it's natural life beside me, witnessing and experiencing as I do and even at times," he cocked his head to provide Orlando an almost knowing, parental glance; "take action."  Returning his gaze back to the path before them, he paused to find the right way to continue.

"Avery has an exceptionally strong spirit.  It's why I recommended the second option to his parents and am grateful they felt as I did.  Strong in spirit to me means more than 'passionate,' his will is allowing for new abilities and making my journey more effective.  In this case, it allowed me to take my sojourn to the spirit plane while he carried on the body's actions without my direct guidance.  Previously, as when your team first met me, when I disembark the body it must remain stationary and in a relaxed state.  With Avery, I can be two places at once, though his abilities are reduced without my control.  That said, his personality is the one you'll encounter in those instances."

Aeviternus wanted to answer Orlando's first volley of questions, as they might lead to answering his own, but he wanted to make sure he was providing the understanding that was asked of him.  He finished on a somber note; "It is considered the highest honor in the cabal to have a child that is selected for my journey.  There are so few ways to express my gratitude for their sacrifice aside from continuing my quest, that giving those who've chosen to come along for the ride an opprutnity to simply be seems like the smallest of offerings."

"Tiengue is it?" Now we're getting somewhere.

Xuan did his best not to show his relief that the chains held. He needed to remain confident and in control. There was no way to know if he could take this Tiengue alone, and he'd rather not try. He kept his tone level as he continued.

"That's a good start at building some kind of trust. Let's talk a little more and then we'll decide if you should be let go. Please understand, you were just trying to kill us all before this." He paused to let that sink in, then nodded as if it were understood. "We know very well that the mask is dangerous. But alive? How? And who are these masters you speak of?"

      Orlando removed his hand from Aeviternus's arm seconds into the conversation, he walked and listened taken aback from what he heard. He started to ask questions many times, but held his tongue. This was a rare moment when...secrets of the Earth he thought..these were secrets that he had been searching for himself, not specifically about Aeviternus, but his story or legends like it were in large part, the part of history that intrigued him to go into his field of study, to learn magic, to help his brother and sister, and father, and well, you didn't interrupt someone when they were giving you fucking Secrets of the Earth. So he shut his mouth and listened, mind blown, he listened.
     By the end he had so many questions, and now that Aeviternus had shared maybe he would be more open to answering them. Then a thought occured to him, a very bad thought. "Aeviternus, I have so many questions, umm... What is your quest?, why are you on this journey?, what are you trying to accomplish?, who knows about you?, how do  you choose your hosts?, how many people know this ritual and how many people are needed? why did your mother do this to you?, your parents knew Jesus, Jesus Christ-Jesus Christ?, how many cabals are there?, how many people know this ritual?, "Sharokina, my sister-in-law, was there during the ceremony or ritual that involved you and Aveeriee, and she is now dead. Someone tried to Kill my brother, or has been and Elizabeth, was there as well(i'm assuming), and she is almost dead, is someone trying to..."he stopped, looking into Aeviternus's eyes. His line of thinking eventually brought him to a very severe point. Someone was trying to end Aeviternus, why?

Aeviternus held Orlando's gaze as he trailed off, cocking his head slightly to one side as if to discern what the rest of the question might be.  While his expression didn't lend much, his tone told more of the empathy for the concern Orlando might be feeling.

"The Analecta Arcanum has always had enemies.  Most cabals do, I think;" he said with a little shrug and a half smirk as though the boy had returned, though no other signs were evident.  "Whatever has me wandering back and forth across this planet is likely to have similar interests in my own fate."  He knew he'd left out much that would make that sentence sensible, but the question had him distracted for a moment.  His Analectines were trained in the arts rigorously, specifically because of the inherent danger of their primary charge, however this family was bringing to stark clarity that the hunt may be getting closer.  A harbinger of doom that meant more than the deaths of innocents and those he cared for.

It could mean failure.

Aeviternus briefly lapsed into silence at this thought.  He had never been quite sure what the consequence of failure was, but since he'd encountered his first true sense of hopelessness on the moon it represented more than he'd ever previously considered.  Annihilation of life on Earth.  He wasn't sure if the dots would connect, but he suddenly found himself anxious to see if the secrets would align with the present reality and compelled to treat Orlando as though he were several ranks futher into the circle.

He stopped in his tracks and faced the mage fully, face turned up to the big man with a new intensity.  "On the moon... with your bother and Malcohm, I witnessed something that caused me genuine fear for life.  A gaping and approaching void, like a black hole but with intent, and the only thing I walked away from the experience with was a single word that I only know to be a name."

He spoke it with the hopes that it meant anything to Orlando; "Dhroga."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 03:07, Fri 04 Nov 2016.

In reply to Aeviternus (msg # 19):

      ...."Dhroga, Now that's a curve ball." Orlando said with confusion.  He had never run across this name in all of his studies. It sounded Hindu, but Aeviternus came across the name on the moon, so maybe he wasn't from Earth.
     "Aeviternus, this word or name doesn't have any significance to me. How did you come across the name? Did Malcolm know of the name?" Orlando questioned. "If you came across this name and felt that it held so much dread, there couldn't be a coincidence, how does it involve you? I was going to ask if you knew who was trying to kill you. It seems as if someone is going to a lot of trouble to kill off all of the cabal that knows how to complete your ritual. Could Dhroga be this person?"

"Cao!" It wasn't the only expletive that came to mind. Xuan didn't even realise that even one had slipped past his lips, so intent on Tiengue as he was.

So many thoughts were flooding him that Xuan barely registered that he had flinched back a step, the staff appearing in his hand out of reflex, already glowing. Mention of the Demon Clan had already had him on edge, and then Tiengue's outburst caught him off guard. Had he escaped his bonds, Xuan would have easily been blindsided.

Wide eyed, he stared at the creature before him, wrestling an onslaught of thoughts and searching for insight. Part of him felt pity for his captive, wanted to help him. Surely, the thing must be afraid, if it would rather die than face capture by the demon clan. A darker, more afraid part wanted to grant his request and destroy him. Was the mask responsible for twisting him into what lay before him? Did that visage come from prolonged exposure to demon essence? Was he even a man at all? If so, how much demon was left behind? What could Xuan trust?

Taking a measured breath, Xuan fought for control of himself. There was no one else around. Swallowing his pride, he yelled out to anyone, "HEY!" and then to Tiengue, "STOP!" He hoped someone out there had heard him, just in case things escalated. He also hoped that Tiengue would stop before the tractor fell apart.

With effort and some trepidation, the staff disappeared, but Xuan allowed his Chi to spread, filling his body from head to toe as his skin began to glow. The Way was not to fight this, but flow with it. An avalanche would not be stopped by a barricade. The barricade would be buried under it for its effort. However, with enough Shui, it could be slowed and even course corrected if channeled appropriately. And if the avalanche continued to come, then Shui would do its best to overwhelm it.

His expression taking on that of concern and compassion, Xuan approached again, slowly and with his hands raised, placating.

"Tiengue," he said, loud enough to be heard over the crunching metal, but much more softly. Demons would not be gentle. They would not be gentle in the least. Therefore, Xuan would have to be. "Tiengue. Calm. Calm. Then I can help. Help." kneeling down to get closer to eye level, he held his hand out to Tiengue, within reach, doing his best not to take his eyes off of the big man's. Not looking at the crumbling tractor. Do not waver.

"Please."

His eyes drifted a little to one side as Aeviternus absorbed Orlando's response, processing the questions and possibiities.  He dove right back in on the last question.

"If the soul I seek has the potential to keep Dhroga at bay, yes it's possible that this entity is intent on my death.  What's more concerning is that if it is true, this being has the ability to operate on many levels, from planet swallowing to mechanations of people." Clarifying was probably in order.  "Your brother and I traveled to the moon with Malcohm to view a gate that could be used for them to return to Earth, the associated gate is here and powered by a man named Saul.  It was there, on the moon, that I saw what can only be described as a black hole anomaly (after some research), and Malcohm described it as 'Dhroga.'"

Wishing he'd pursued this subject while still on the ship with Malcohm, Aeviternus stopped there, again seeming absorbed in thought.  Malcohm's people, the scrolls, Elizabeth... it all seems connected.  Perhaps we can view the Prose and find something together.

Locking eyes with Orlando, he offered; "let's view the Prose of Moses, you and I, and see if we can-..." Aeviternus was cut short by Xuan's call, his head cranked to look in the direction it was heard from.  With one more glance at Orlando, he slapped the big man's shoulder once in invitation and turned to run full speed to the barn.  As he sprinted, he recalled what was placed in the barn and Lotus was in hand before he got there.

      "Oh Crap!"Orlando said realizing something bad was happening in the barn, and if Xuan was calling for help... Orlando feeling old, much to old to go off sprinting, couldn't let himself look old. He mustered his meaty thighs into movement and found that old familiar ache in his knee, you know that one that told you running was bad for you in the first place. Shut up, he told his knee and gave as much speed as he could chasing after Aeviternus.

Just then, Aeviternus raced into the barn, then Orlando, then Max, both older men, breathing slightly harder than normal. Tiengue looked at the men and tensed, maybe his captor wanted more to help give him pain.

The tractor was coming apart, and Tiengue was more than agitated. Xuan was in a comforting pose out of arms reach of the creature.

all roll an insight check, perception. And of course anything else you would like to add.

First on the scene, Aeviternus scanned the situation quickly for as much story as it would tell in an instant.  What he gathered caused him to shoot his arms out to both sides and backwards, a gesture to all those following to stop where they were, his palms facing behind him and imploring a halt to action.  Lotus remained in one hand but only to serve as a barrier extension.

Xuan knelt next to the abused like a spiritual savior reaching out to the sick and weary, offering solace and safety.  The being that took the team to bring down now pulled against likely all-too-familiar bindings, almost appearing to belong in chains it seemed so accustomed to them.  The scars were obvious, the deformities a kind the old soul had seen before and made him angry to think about.  The feral nature of the huge man would likely see any signs of hostlity as aimed at him so Aeviternus choked it back and focused his efforts on aiding Xuan in creating a quiet place of peace.  The evidence was clear; the scars were a tale of many rituals and dark experiments, the tattoos from a clan Xuan must know much more about than he, others that bore signs of a magical nature, the signs of torture- the kind that goes on for years- indicating this was a deeply wounded soul.

Yet there was John, offering the olive branch instead of the blade he was quite capable of employing.

When Aeviternus spoke, the words came from centuries of understanding and patience and were delivered in Chinese.  "We are not here to harm.  We are here to help."  Moving slowly, he returned the metal staff to his pack in a deliberate, if small, gesture to emphasize his statement.

In English he spoke very quietly to those closest to him.  _{"Xuan makes progress.  Let's back his play."}

"You could have it right, I can't read his mind. It is barred from me somehow. He looks like a cornered animal." Max said introspectively to the three of them.  He made no motion to move forward or breath really.

Relieved to see his friends arrive, Xuan made to hold a hand up to stop them from going on the aggressive, but saw that they were already aware of the situation. This group of men gave Xuan no shortage of reasons to marvel at their capability.

"We fight against Demons. And other evils." Xuan stayed crouched as he addressed the large man. "I think that maybe you are not evil. Just used by it. In which case it is in our best interest to protect you so that you cannot be used again. However, we will need a show of trust that you will not be violent. If you can remain calm, we can remove those chains. You must understand, we only bound you because you tried to kill us all, while wearing the mask. There are ways to heal the scars left by demons, but it will take time. In this way, we can help."

Xuan wasn't lying, not completely. There were indeed ways to heal demonic possession, as his own clan had done on occasion. However, he had not learned how to do it yet. He hoped, and was even confident, that maybe between all of them that they might be able to work something out.

Without changing position, Xuan shared a look with the group. His decision was made, and he hoped he was right. What he wasn't sure of was what to tell him about where he was from.

"Ok." Xuan began to unlock the chains. "I come from the mountains of Hubei, in China. But now I live in San Francisco, California. America." He pulled the last one open and dropped the chain unceremoniously next to him. It was a show of good faith. Xuan imagined he could feel the men behind him tense. He shared their concern but dared not show it.

"How about you? Where do you come from?"

And though he knew Tiengue didn't need it, Xuan stretched out a hand to him. A hand that looked like a small child's in comparison, Xuan noted with some trepidation.

Aeviternus thought about chiming in with his own origins but it barely made sense even to him, let alone that this didn't seem like the audience for qualifying each attempt with 'kind of, but not really."  Choosing instead to observe, one of his most natural states of being, Aeviternus folded his hands into his hoodie pockets and held his position until the conversation, circumstances or Xuan dictated otherwise.