Hungh... Tiengue turned his head to look at the grass sighing heavily. His thick forehead crunched down to meet his frown. They are both stupid, and Tiengue the worse for his choice. We have a stupid turtle and a befuddled child, I wonder if they would let me back in my cage?
Ah the grass has it right, "enjoy the sun" Tiengue said to the grass, "may the darkness stay away. "

Tiengue spared a slow glance to see if the two were done posturing...humph.

Aeviternus, at least the old man in him, had some humility it seemed. Xuan respected that. He wasn't altogether convinced he was right about Xuan's advantage, but then again he'd never had to share a body with someone else before either. The compliment was hard to take, however. All compliments made him uncomfortable.

Xuan did his best to ignore Tiengue and took a few moments before answering Ace. Was the big guy actually disappointed?

"My mother worked with Max and Orlando at a place called IONS, which, if I recall correctly, conducted research on the supernatural. My best guess is that my father knew those two by association with my mother. You are quicker than I am, or have the superior insight, because I have not pieced much of it together yet. In fact, it all seems so much more...complicated now. What do you know?"

In reply to Xuan Tien John Wu (msg # 60):

"Your thoughts are not entirely true warrior, be vigilant."The voice was heard but not by Xuan's ears. It came somewhere from within. He faintly realized that it was the voice of the water spirit.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:46, Mon 17 July 2017.

They appeared to have some time to go before closing in on their target, so Aeviternus settled in to the rhythmic gait of their hike and took a breath to tell a story.

"To better aid in understanding, I think it's best I start by going back a couple thousand years.  It will make more sense when you know how this began."

OOC- Please pause in this post to go read the next section of the Aeviternus history in the Background thread; "300 AD."

Aeviternus stared ahead for a few moments, deciding where to catch Xuan up to first.  When he began again, he wasn't sure if it was the right place to start and spoke quickly as if to make up for it.

"Kirby's kin are in my bloodline and, as a matter of fact, Kirby was to be a potential host for this generation.  His grandparents made some decisions that made that impossible, so Avery's kin were asked instead.  Elizabeth I chose specifically, she showed great potential and had she a son, he would have been chosen to host me.  She instead had a daughter and chose to have no more children, therefore my hopes moved towards the following generation, the Kirby you know.  To my knowledge, only the older Smiths are aware of this bloodline and to my observations, none of them recognize me.  The only one that would, really, would be Elizabeth.

On to the Tibbs'.  Orlando and his brother Earl are Analectines, a part of my order.  Earl's wife, may she rest, was a very high ranking member and was a part of the ceremony that bonded Avery and I.  Sharokina was hunted, followed by Earl and now Elizabeth, who led the ceremony, so there seems to be a conspiracy to destroy all of those that were involved.  Orlando's connections at IONS may turn out to be a signifcant part of this puzzle, as may your mother, but how is still unclear to me now.  However, whatever is keeping Elizabeth out of consciousness also seems to be holding your mother captive, if I'm reading this correctly."

He took another breath and added; "And I just don't have a lot of faith in coincidences."

It was a perennial minute before Xuan responded. Along with his spiritual passenger's words, he replayed the information silently and repeatedly in his mind, squinting against the chilled air that played gently with his unkempt hair. Aeviternus was right about the connections. It was bigger than Xuan originally gave it credit for, and the thoughts tornadoed in his mind. He was almost lost to it, but the frustration of missing those crucial points forced him back to the conversation, and he began to lay some of those pieces out aloud to release his mind from that endless circle.

"IONS. Analecti. Demons. The military. These keep circling my mental xuánzhuǎn cānzhuō. Am I correct in saying that our situation culminates into one overarching force at the root of it? If so, what is this force? It goes beyond Demons alone, but maybe incorporates them, uses them for its purpose. And yet, that would mean there is an equally powerful force bringing us together and guiding us on this path. But it all comes in little pieces, seemingly unconnected voices. To what end? What is this grand game we are playing? And are we the pawns, or the knights? And if your consciousness spans back that far, does that make you the bishop, or king?"

      Tiengue soaked in the information almost tripping when he heard how old Aeviternus purported to be. Observing was something he was used to, listening.  He knew his language was that of a simpleton; being talked to was not his norm.  No most of the time anyway, mainly he was a silent passenger to the "dominants", those evil spirits that often took rides in his skin, pushing aside his mind so that they could control him.  He was a submissive slave, a vessel...a special vessel and an inconsequential gnat.  The demonic beings that took control of Tiengue thought him less than a slave and therefore almost never guarded their thoughts from him, why should they.
      It didn't occur to Tiengue to even use the information or to try and make sense of it until he overheard the two sharing. It dawned on him that he knew many things, knew many secrets, things that the evil creatures even hid from their human counterparts. It was during Xuan and Aeviternus' conversation, hearing how the men talked with one another that Tiengue made two very important decisions moving forward.  One, was that he needed to know more from these two Xuan and Aeviternus, so that he could start making sense of all of secrets he knew; and that the people that kept him were truely evil men. Seeing how these two talked and enjoyed each other's company, sharing, talking of family freely, and not hiding themselves, this was what it meant to be good. He had dared not believe the whisperers of such people, nor did he ever truly believe what he saw in his victims. He now understood that some people he had killed had been good people. He'd seen it, and not really understood it no matter how long he studied a potential victim.  Now he knew it was true. Good people did exist and he knew these two were good, not in their actions to free him from the demons, that could have been a ploy for them to gain advantage, not for how they protected what was theirs at the dwelling, that was natural. It was how they enjoyed each other on their walk in the sun. Teingue in forming these thoughts came to his second conclusion, he realized he should help these men.

Something drew his attention to Tiengue, Aeviternus stole a glance at the big man who continued to keep his own counsel and wondered at what must be going on in that huge head.  Tiengue seemed mostly content to take in the countryside as they walked and Aeviternus found himself curious if this had ever been possible for him before.  It didn't seem likely, considering their new knowledge of him, and it caused his own sense of gratitude to sparkle for a moment in their current surroundings and knowing that the forest they were headed to was dead or dying, plagued by evil.

"I cannot say with certainty that all roads lead back to one source when it comes to our troubles, but from my perspective I agree it appears as such.  My..." he paused mid-sentence because he still struggled to wrap his mind around it; "experience on the moon... lends itself to this hypothesis.  As to your thought that there may be an equally powerful force at work on our side, I hope you're right.  However I've seen plenty of instances where those who are attacked and oppressed simply find ways to join forces to defeat their enemy with no particular individual behind it all.  They do it for freedom and survival... as I think we are.  I've been the silent guiding force in many of these instances, but still just one piece of many on the game board.  No, I am no king."

He thought on that for a moment and felt compelled to add; "I seek no land or wealth, glory or justice.  Only knowledge.  Admittedly I cannot say I don't seek power, but that is only because of the well known belief of what knowledge is.  If what I know gets me closer to the end of my quest, then power so should it be considered."

If you blow any harder, you're going to windsail us back to the plantation and make us start over.

I'm explaining.

You're pontificating.

You're being critical.

You're being a sad sack.

_{...grumble...}

Whether there was more to hear or not, Aeviternus ceased speaking.  His shoulders lurched up and his head shook once to a side, almost in a spasm, then he returned back to his gait as though it was simply a chill down his spine.  As if to promote this appearance, he shoved his hands into his hoodie pockets.

The subtle movements from Aeviternus gave Xuan pause, curious as to whether those spasms were from some thought or just a tick. If it had something to do with the body sharing, he was glad he missed that boat. Control over himself was enough of a task, as much as giving up control to follow The Way. Xuan wondered if Aeviternus had ever learned and followed The Way, and what it must be like to have to then begin again due to a recent cohabitant.

"I was not suggesting a god as such. More of a... a driving force. Say there's an energy, and that energy requires balance. Like the Yin and Yang, chaos and order. When the balance of the universe tips, perhaps there is a driving force that pulls or pushes the opposition, all of which sings at a similar resonance, or frequency. There may well always be those seeking power and control, just like there will always be those that value freedom and survival. I think of this energy like water. Nourishing and gentle at times, unforgiving and destructive at other times. It has as much say over life and death as any god. But there is always a flow, and survival and freedom can happen when you learn to embrace that flow. I myself try to embrace that flow, not to be water itself, but to be a part of it."

Xuan cast a furtive look at his companions, somewhat chagrined and realizing that maybe he had said too much. If it had been a purposeful explanation, then there was nothing wrong with that, but Xuan had let his thoughts escape, the words coming out as fast as they entered his head. It was undisciplined and unlike him. It was an opening to vulnerability when he needed to be vigilant. They were soon to assault the Demon Clan, and here he was chattering away as if with his master in his private dojo. Xuan didn't even share most of his feelings with any of his close friends. And if knowledge was power to the Ancient Boy, Xuan had just gifted some of his own, complete with a ribbon and bow.

But is that so bad?

True, he did trust him now. Tiengue, not so much, and there was no doubt that he was listening to every word, even if he didn't have perfect understanding of those words. However, maybe it wasn't so bad to allow Aeviternus in.

"I think there is too much of the Master in you. I ramble like a naive student in your company. It's been some time since I have been caught off guard like that. I doubt I've spoken as much to my own father."

Aaand there you go again. Silence. Regain control. Divert the attention back. Xuan bared his teeth in a failed attempt at a smile while trying to pass his words off as humorous.

"Anyway, what is this end game of yours? Knowledge of what?"

Note to self. Do not play chess with this man.

Aeviternus, who'd been nodding along as Xuan opined on the shifting nature of the balance between growth and destruction in the universe, turned to the warrior just in time to catch the panther's fangs flashed in what passed for a smile from Xuan.  At first Ace just blinked, but from beneath the hood a smile of his own began to form in genuine mirth and for a moment, the lines in his face belied the youthful visage and told instead of venerable joviality.  An old man preferring to laugh together rather than commiserate.

Indeed, this was more words from Xuan than he'd heard altogether since they'd met.  Aeviternus, in an effort to curtail any potential embarrasment, offered; "In times where peace is minimal, we tend to make of what little appears as we can.  I think, were you and I to have the time and tea, we could fill many hours allowing our minds to flow like water."

He took another few steps in silence, and before deciding on the answer to Xuan's last question decided to add; "I also think your many moments of listening instead of talking has made you very perceptive.  Perception is wisdom."  Another pause.  "Speaking of..."

He turned his attention to their BFG in company.  "Tiengue, you as well are a being that exhibits this trait.  Are you able to tell us what you know from hunting us?  What did your masters know and take for granted that they imparted to you?"

Nobody talks like that and especially not this guy.  You need to dumb it down.

Even the boy had a wisdom of sorts.

"What do you know about us?  Can you tell us?"

In reply to Aeviternus (msg # 67):

     The groups's conversation continued...slowly, Tiengue softly interrupting with strange questions when Xuan and Aeviternus began talking to each other..."How many hours in a day?...Where on Earth were they?...Where they are from, How do men travel long distance?...When do you stop to pray?..which was followed up with 'Who do you pray to? and Who do other people pray to?" These questions were asked more crudely by Tiengue of course, Xuan and Aeviternus were able to capture the gist of his questions.
     The oddity of his inquiries completely derailed the conversation Xuan and Aeviternus were having after a while, almost seemingly purposeful on Tiengue's part as he would only ask a question once they really got into their conversation. However, this caused both men to shift their thoughts, contemplating Tiengue's "situation." How long had he been in captivity, was it possible that this man was born into slavery, how could someone not know the answers to these common questions?
     Aeviternus now thoroughly intrigued by the new riddle called Tiengue, he first tried to place his language, it was the first step in understanding a man's background.  Having been in contact with Tiengue's soul gave Aeviternus an uncanny connection to the newcomer. Understanding the man was a marvelous benefit, if communicating in a language. However deciphering language based on one's personal knowledge versus a spiritual connection was a little different. Aeviternus's long experience and exposure to language all around the world made it easy most of the time, often a dialect or local of a person was harder to pin point. It made it much easier if Aeviternus had the personal experience as well.  He found in this situation, that it was much harder. At first, Aeviternus just simply understood Tiengue's language, that was the most useful skill of Aeviternus's ability, but this wasn't what he was after. He wanted to know what the language was. His first attempts at identification were no where close. This gave him pause, almost as if he had mentally thrown away flash cards. He realized that his language was much older, then realized, that it was dead, no, no longer spoken on Earth, well that wasn't entirely correct either. This was interesting indeed. Aeviternus realized after a few moments, that he hadn't heard this language spoken...ever. It's closest relative was Ancient Egyptian, which had died out around 200-300 A.D. Tiengue's language predated Ancient Egyptian, almost Latin to Italian in correlation.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:59, Sat 26 Aug 2017.

     Tiengue could tell that the men were studying him, but it wasn't threatening, it was curiosity.All that he had known was harsh treatment, when someone wanted knowledge about him, they just took it. Mental rape wasn't really a thought or a phrase for what Tiengue had experienced over the years, but it was the best description.
     It was a relief; Tiengue did not have to hide within himself, he could feel no onlooker, no one waiting to gleam secrets, no one to hurt him. Tiengue for the first time since he could remember stepped out of his mental shell, probing tentatively with the two men.
     In captivity he had rare moments to him self, able to feel, to think, to sleep, to string thoughts together. He had to hide himself, but not now, it seemed that he could be free. Too hard to imagine, Tiengue the wounded animal inside slowly stretched his mind to enter into this new world called Earth.
     "Tiengue from Eden," Tiengue eventually said to Aeviternus, "Aebyedoss province actually," he mumbled in his home tongue. "People on Earth call it Shangri-La, Asgaard, Mt. Olympus, Nirvanna, The Garden of Eden. I have heard other names. This place, people go there?" It was a question Tiengue asked with longing. To go home...
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:32, Mon 28 Aug 2017.

Xuan turned to Aeviternus, also interested in the answer that the Old Boy might have to the question Tiengue posed. Could there actually be such a place? Would it be so different from his own peoples' beliefs about the Bodhissatvas and the Jade Empire? Though he had never heard any evidence of mortals being able to enter the heavenly planes, his father had often eluded to the actuality of its existence. However, he couldn't imagine that these places could be one and the same. Shen and Bodhissatvas living next door to Greek gods and angels? It seemed even more implausible than mortal ascension. Then again, this group was in communication with an actual alien race, so what couldn't be possible at this point?

Truthfully, Xuan had been doing his best to pay attention to everything Tiengue was divulging, working with Ace to dig further and gain more insight into not only Tiengue's character but also his experience before and after uniquely being freed from Demon slavery. His heart, however, was still laboring over the boulder that Tiengue dropped in their laps about his mother and the Demon Clan's plans for him. There was a small part of him that expected something like that, but he was not prepared for it. He was rattled. Concern for his mother threatened to consume him. Concern, and a lava-like rage that bubbled into the exposed cracks of his discipline. His skin burned with it, heat radiating from his body as his Chi begged for release.

The barrage of questions that volleyed between them all helped to be the distraction Xuan needed to keep his composure. He didn't need his imagination about his mother's circumstances running wild. Seeking the water within, he used it to cool and soothe himself, reminding himself that there was no point to letting his judgement and logic get clouded. This was just part of the journey. And if he didn't get his emotions under control, it was possible that he could have an occurrence similar to one he'd had as a youth in training.

The crater that marred their temple on the Mountain was left as a reminder to Xuan of the damage that a lack of control could do.

His face inquisitive, if not unnaturally placid, beckoned Ace for an answer. Xuan needed to keep the conversation going in this direction to quell that boiling lava. "That's a good question Tiengue. What do you think Ace?"

"People certainly try..." Aeviternus found himself almost muttering.  He cleared his throat and continued.

"Here it's more of a hope than a destination.  I wouldn't be surprised at all to learn that it's real or that there are means to get to it.  Maybe not on this planet, but then again in my travels along it there seems to be evidence of pathways to many places that are accessible to those with different knoweldge than mine."  He thought about the moon and the gate he witnessed upon it while travelling with Malcohlm.  It still seemed strange enough to the old soul so as to cause him discomfort to talk about, still so surreal, so he left it out of his meandering theories.  Something had caught his ear, however.

"You say Garden of Eden.  Tell us more."  Truth could be lubricated by easing communication, he'd always found, and decided to add; "If you'd prefer to speak in your native tongue, I can translate to Xuan."

In reply to Aeviternus (msg # 72):

Tiengue looked to Aeviternus with concern and speculation. He felt tentatively in his mind to see if were being "touched", but he felt nothing, which felt wonderful.  "How do you know my language?" he said in Abyssal.

There wasn't a creature alive that knew this language here on Earth.

Answering so Xuan would know the question, Aeviternus replied; "I know your language because once I have made contact with a soul, I can understand that soul no matter how it communicates.  I can't speak yours because I have no context and it doesn't sound like anything I've encountered in my travels, where usually I can speak the language as well by putting the pieces together from millions of interactions with people across history and the planet."

In reply to Aeviternus (msg # 74):

    Tiengue looked sideways at Aeviternus, and lowered his head in thought for a moment. "Ancient One, do you know the lineage of your parents? Were they Judaen?"

"It's complicated."  The contemporary phrase fell out of his mouth like a sneeze.  Aeviternus wasn't even sure if it was he or Avery who had responded.

Recovering, he expounded some.  "I do and I don't, they are and they aren't.  You could say my father was Judean at one point and then was among the first Christians... quite literally... but he also serves to be one of the first anti-Christians of history.  My mother may have been Judaen, but it wasn't spoken of, not to me anyway."  He ruminated for a bit as was often the case when his deep history came up.  "I suppose the most direct answer to your question is: I'm not sure."

He looked over at Tiengue as they walked with that last summary.  He added; "I'm happy to answer your questions in return, but we're coming back to the Garden of Eden."  He made sure his smile was audible if not visible in the promise.

In reply to Aeviternus (msg # 76):

     "Don't worry old one, I'm not keeping secrets, I could give a fuck at this point. I merely marvel at your ability to speak my tongue. To my ears it sounds perfect, from my home. This is not an ability that is common even among my people or Earth's. Only the Elders and Royalty had this ability. The Judaens are the direct ancestors of Royalty, it would be in their blood. This is why I ask. I'm not a scholar, so I don't know as much as many, but probably more than anyone here." He again looked down in thought.
      "I am or was a soldier during the SAW, as we called it. The Second Apocalyptic War of Eden. I have been a prisoner of war for a little over 60 years here on Earth." He flexed his hands open and close, turning them over, seeming to look at them for the first time in quite a while.
     "Eden, is the AO, the Prime world, the birth of life, cradle of life, Seed of Souls, there's too many names to list. It is the birth place of this world, Earth is from Eden, it was created and then sent out to where it is currently traveling during this phase. The "garden" is an extension of home, Earth was made in the direct image of Eden, many were not, but here was just like home. A garden just like home. Every place on Earth is a wonderful creation in Eden's image. So technically I was born here in a colony,  but we pulled out, back to Eden when the war broke out. We were lucky, many of our people did not make it. Later during the war I was captured during a rather intense battle, a war criminal they said. A few years later I was sent back here, to be used like a stud animal to breed and to kill."
      He spoke so plainly, so matter of fact, it was truth to him, raving as it sounded, he said it in a retelling state as if he were reminiscing in the past.

Aeviternus, marvelling at the information pouring out of Tiengue, looked to Xuan to see what his reaction might be and remembered he was supposed to be translating.  So unique was this situation that he hadn't realized he had started speaking Abyssal when answering Tiengue's question about his parents' lineage.  Xuan was a patient man and was likely to be simply waiting for his turn to hear and understand, making Aeviternus that much more self-conscious about leaving him out for a few beats.

He repeated all that had been said in the strange language, translating it to Chinese for Xuan to capture all of the nuance Tiengue had expressed.  An obvious question arose in the old soul's consciousness but decided the answer might come out organically.  Now that Xuan was caught up, he may have questions of his own.

xuan wasn't sure if what Tiengue was saying could be believed. He understood that other cultures had their own beliefs, but it sounded a lot like Christianity than a plausible world truth. He spoke Chinese at it would be easier for him to communicate his thoughts.

"How do we know that what you're saying is accurate? It isn't unheard of for victims of demons to come out brainwashed. If we are to believe what you are saying, you are possibly immortal, or you at least age incredibly slow, and you come from a place only Shen or Angels come from. What does that make you? What does that say about other cultural beliefs? Am I now to believe that there is no heavenly plane where the Jade Emperor resides? And what exactly is this war, the SAW?"

There was unintended heat in his words, Xuan's mind still trying to cast out thoughts of his mother. Not just heat, but genuine curiosity as well. What was the connection between Tiengue's disclosure and Xuan's own beliefs? He tried to read Ace's face to see how he was taking this information, but he was likely to glean nothing from him. His poker face was, admittedly, better than Xuan's.

     "Great! I should have kept my mouth shut," Tiengue grumbled under his breath. How am I going to explain time and space to them, they still think its linear, well at least they know the planets not flat anymore. "My appologies, I'm not a scientist and I don't fully understand the concept of time myself, but I am not immortal, I'm only...he looked up in thought, probably close to 140 years old. When I was hear first, never mind, that won't make sense. When we pulled back through the כְּנִיסָה ...the word didn't translate to Aeviternus, it was a confusing garble that gave him the vague idea of a hole through a hole, where space touches "innerspace," the space between space to allow travel through space. This hit Aeviternus all at once, mentally reeling he tried to follow Tiengue's conversation.
     Tiengue paused, then spoke clearly,"When our army retreated home time did not affect me as it does here on Earth, only a few years had lapsed on Eden, but about 8,000 years had lapsed when I was brought back. Time is difficult to understand. Just know that the distance between our worlds makes the time relationship different. That's enough, I don't want to mislead you. I'm not Immortal, far from it. I do age slower than humans that are on Earth now, it wasn't always so.  Humans and Royalty used to age slower as well. It was common upon a time for men to live 500, 600, even 800 years before passing the barrier. What is the average age of cellular mortality now?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:30, Sun 10 Sept 2017.

In reply to Xuan Tien John Wu (msg # 79):

     To Xuan, "Pardon me, I'm not talking about Earths' cultural beliefs, I'm talking about truth. You mentioned the Jade Emperor and shen and angels. They are real, but do you know what they really are? Ask him, he has seen the spirit world, he can tell you many things," Tiengue said pointing towards Aeviternus.
     "The problem is the War. The SAW has effected many worlds, Earth's growth and development for starters. Earth's lack of connection to Eden and knowledge is not to be understated, lack of magical flow, not to mention Eden's first attempts at inhabiting and cultivating this planet massively back fired, but I'm not a historian. Tell me does your planet have any legends of "Titans, giants, gods, or dragons? Any writings or should I say how many that describe how the universe was created?"

Nodding to Aeviternus to acknowledge the translation, Xuan released a sigh of frustration. Or maybe it was resignation. So much new information was being hurled his way that he felt as if he'd benefit from a flow chart in order to fully grasp it all.

"Yes, there are legends of all of those things, and writings to accompany those legends and... well, maybe I cannot use the word myths to describe them anymore. If I come to accept this information as true, that is. Although, I have seen a Titan now, so, there is that. It's not that I think you're lying. I just... It's difficult to accept new truths. I'm sure you can understand. There are probably many for you, becoming free after so long under Demon possession and affliction."

"So then, Ace, he says you can tell me what Shen and Angels and the like really are."