Chasing Shadows

[Riamah]

Tilting her head, her whiskers and ears twitched forward and clear curiosity was displayed by Ailuros.

"So does that mean you are dead? Am I dead?"

Recalling drinking that strange drink, the next thing she knew was waking up in the bed she stood next to and seeing Kosh standing over her. He poured them some tea and offered her some bread. It hadn't been there before and she looked at it like it might really kill her if she ate it.

"By drinking that is going to knock me out again? I'd rather stay and talk as long as I'm welcome and not go back so soon."

[member="Daxton Bane"]

 

[Daxton Bane]

“Me? I have been been dead a long but my spirit, my consciousness lingers for I fear what lies beyond. You are not dead, on the contrary, the spark of life burns strong in you. This place and all you see is a mental construct of Bane, how and in what manner we choose to interact with it is up to us.”

Sipping from the cup before him he continued to explain to [member="Ailuros"], “Bane may have given you something that would allow your consciousness to merge with his without severing your contact to your physical form. You must be very special indeed, he allows precious few individuals to glimpse, much less interact with us. Tell me are you an apprentice of his? He did mention to me once that he wanted me to mentor and guide a young apprentice of his.”

 

[Riamah]

"Why are you afraid, Kosh? My people don't fear what is beyond. Just think, it might be better than being alive. Just a new area to travel and write on yourself. The stories you can tell of what you did in this life."

It was nice to know she wasn't dead though and Ailuros actually let out a mental sigh of relief. Taking a drink from the cup given to her, whatever fear she had moments ago went away and the curiosity returned.

"Yes, I am an apprentice of his. I've learned more on fighting and some things within the Force. No path calls out to me though. Am I here to have a direction given to me? How long will I be allowed to stay?"

[member="Daxton Bane"]

 

[Daxton Bane]

“He has created a bridge for you and I, that we can speak with each other at any time as long as you reach out to me with the Force. I can manifest in the physical realm but as a shadow of what I once was, for I would have no physical form to house me. You can visit me here, but to do would expose your physical body, so best to do it in a secure location. For anything outside a face to face discussion, you can reach out with your thoughts and I can reply in kind, @Ailuros.”

“Given that I collect lore from the past, perhaps you need instruction in uncommon Force talents, tell me can you weild magic, talk to spirits or move the elements?”

 

[Riamah]

Kosh did not actually answer her first question, but maybe he was afraid to. He went to explain they could speak any time through the Force and Ailuros nodded.

"So it would be sort of like using telepathy? It is one of the skills I do well at."

When he said any time she​ came to visit him here, it would put her physical body in danger a small wonder went through her. While this time, Daxton knew she was here and would take care of her body, what would happen to it if nobody knew about the visit?

"So this is more of a mental place to be and I'm eating or drinking here, what does it do to my body?"

He asked if she could wield magic, speak to spirits or move the elements and the cat paused to think a minute.

"I am a much better combat dancer than a mystical one, but I am quite spiritual. So likely I could speak to spirits."

[member="Daxton Bane"]

 

[Daxton Bane]

“Yes like telepathy. Good you understand. I can offer council but not all the time mind you but we can do it without having to utter a word.”
He nodded at how quickly [member="Ailuros"] picked up what he taught, “Food and drink here are constructs of your mind. Created subconsciously, they help you grasp this as reality. You could eat and drink yourself sick and have no ill effect on your physical form.”

“Interesting, what kind of spirits do you see?”

 

[Riamah]

She sat primly on the squishy floor with her legs curled up under her. It might look odd if one looked at her, but she was comfortable. In the way of feline body language, it would be a sign. If a person knew how to read the language, it would indicate there was a storm coming. It was usually about a physical storm, but those couldn't happen here. However, there was one brewing within the Force. Something was going to happen and Ailuros picked up on it.

Almost laughing when he said she could eat or drink herself sick here and it wouldn't bother her physical body.

"What of my body left behind? How does time pass for it? Can it starve to death because I'm in here? You mentioned to visit here, I should be in a place that is safe for my body. What happens if it dies? Will I know I'm dead? Will I die here or be in this location with you?"

The questions and thoughts just came. She was still young enough to just ask as they came, but old enough to actually give some thought to the meaning.

When he asked what kind of sprits she saw, she looked into her cup with the tip of her tongue stuck out just slightly at she thought. As what she wanted to say formed in her mind, the cat looked back up at Kosh.

"It isn't so much as seeing them, but talking to them. In the Force."

[member="Daxton Bane"]

 

[Daxton Bane]

“Time here flows in a much different way, @Ailuros. We could train here for months on end and when you return to your body only a few minutes have pass, but alternately a brief visit could last days, even weeks in the real world. The flunctuations are hard to predict but the more you become familiar with it, the more control you have over how much actual time you are here.”

“Having said that, you body would be in meditative state so body functions may slow down, again that varies from species to species but I have never heard of anyone dying from hunger from this technique.”

“Would you know if you are dead while you are here? Perhaps, but again I speculate since I have never heard of it in my experience. Mind you, for obvious reasons you want your physical body to be protected as best possible, why engage in a pointless risk otherwise.”

 

[Riamah]

Her tailed waved back and forth as Ailuros listened to what Kosh was saying about the working of time. It was certainly something confusing, but perhaps it would become clear...sooner rather than later. She also hoped when she returned, however long it was in here, that only a little had passed on the other side.

"So do I just need to meditate to come here or drink that black drink again?"

Maybe it was something she could learn to do on her own without the help of the drink, but not knowing the answer, she asked. It was good to know he hadn't heard of anybody physically dying from this type of thing no matter how long they were meditating.

"Yes, of course. I trusted Daxton to take care of my body while I'm here. He was the one that opened the door for me so to say."

[member="Daxton Bane"]

 

[Daxton Bane]

“No need for the drink, you only need that once. To come here, you need to clear your mind and picture this place. To return, simply wake up as if from a dream.”

“There are a few spirits I want you to meet. Are you ready to make some new friends?” He asked [member="Ailuros"] almost eager as one would be it was infectous.

 

[Riamah]

"What would happen if I fall asleep normally and dream of being here...?"

It was a question voiced, but more of an idle type than needing a serious answer. When Kosh asked if she was ready to meet some new spirits and make friends, she nodded, stood up and stretched. Ailuros has grown used to the feeling of the floor under her, but still felt like giving herself a good cleaning.

"Yes, I enjoy meeting all sorts. What and who I am meeting?"

[member="Daxton Bane"]

 

[Daxton Bane]

“Come and take a walk with me then.” Kosh urged [member="Ailuros"] as he got to his large feet and motioned for her to follow. “Don’t forget to take those with you.” Indicating three neatly wrapped packages that appeared on the table, “ Spirits are fickle, so you have to get their attention and they love receiving gifts. If you want to woo them a proper offering needs to be made. For now it will suffice that the gift is here in this realm but once you go back, the offerings must be made in the physical realm as well. Have no fear, its nothing elaborwte, although they really love those, the complexity of the offering depends from spirit to spirit.”

“Do not show fear, for they cannot harm you, no matter how threatening or scary they may appear. So having said all that, are you ready to begin?”

 

[Riamah]

Kosh said they would be taking a walk to visit these spirits and told her to bring three packages along. Of course she was curious about what was inside of them and shook each one as she picked them up unless he stopped her. He went on to explain spirits were fickle, but loved getting gifts and the attention that came with them.

"They sound like children."

Not meant to be insulting, but it could come across that way. More of Ailuros stating what she thought of as fact.

"How will I know where to find them in the physical realm, Kosh?"

One arm held the packages, her other was empty. When he told her not fear these spirits since they couldn't harm her, she tilted her head slightly and the tip of her tail twitched.

"Why I would fear anything?"

[member="Daxton Bane"]

 

[Daxton Bane]

“Make no mistake, they are far older than what they appear to be, yet can act worst than a young child if they ever get it into their heads.” Kosh explained as they exited the room and started following a path into what appeared to be a wooden groove. Thick bamboo lime the path as soft red rays of light peeked through the foliage overhead. One could hear the soft mating calls of unseen creatures coming from the distance as Kosh continued to explain. “You call out to them, ask them to lend you their strength to aid you their strength. Depend on who you ask, they will ask for something in return as a token, @Ailuros. While they are useful, the more often they lend you wait the greater the token they will ask in turn.”

After walking what seemed and felt like a quarter mile they could hear the soft feminine laughter coming from a mushroom groove ahead. Ailuros could see a young humanoid female dressed in a flowing green robe dancing in a circle with some beastial creatures.

“The first spirit you will meet is Kamatari, a shape shifting healer. Trust not what you see, for he can appear in whatever form he fancies. You heard me right. That delightful young woman up ahead is Kamatari.” Kosh could not suppress the amusement he felt at the quirky nature of the spirit they were about to meet.

 

[Riamah]

In her short time of travel and what she had learned from Daxton before coming here, it was no real surprise to know these spirits were far older than the children they acted like. Ailuros listened as Kosh explained how she would be able to call on them in the physical realm and it seemed easy enough.

"Would the deal or agreement been made before or after the lending of power happens?"

Her ears tipped forward when she heard the sound of female laughter and soon a figure with different creatures surrounding her. She was dancing in the middle of them and taking turns between the beasts. Kosh said the spirit was male, but could appear in whatever form he wanted.

"Can I learn that skill to?"

To have the ability to appear as anything she wanted sounded very interesting.

[member="Daxton Bane"]

 

[Daxton Bane]

Kosh paused to consider the question, “You call on them to lend you their strength and in return they will ask something of you. You invoke their name when offering the gift and they are happy. Accept their power but forget to return the favor and they will remember. Perhaps deny you the next time or leave you all together.”

Watching the spirit frolick with the beasts, Kosh thought [member="Ailuros"] was indicating the skill of dance. “Perhaps you could, you seem agile enough. If you ask hm nicely and he is a good mood he might teach you. We cannot demand anything of these spirits, we implore them and catch their attention, to them we are but passing whims in a sea of eternity.”

 

[Riamah]

Tilting her head to listen to both the answer the sounds of dancing in front of her, Ailuros had the tip of her tongue stuck out slightly as she focused on both.

"I would just call their name, provide them a gift and that makes them happy? I guess different gifts for different spirits and I will need to learn which they like. If I don't offer a gift, they may not help."

Giving Kosh a quizzical look, it became obvious after a moment of thought he was confused at what she meant by her question.

"Not dancing, I can already do that. I meant the ability to appear however I might need or want to."

Perhaps their conversation would call attention to them. She didn't think either of them were trying to hide their approach or conversation.

[member="Daxton Bane"]

 

[Daxton Bane]

“Call them by name, sometimes you may have to call them several times to grab their attention. State your request, and they will name their price. Sometimes it is small and something you could do relatively easily. Those could be done then and there. While some are more complex......it depends on what you ask of them, so something complex would complex prize as well.” Indicating to [member="Ailuros"] to listen closely. “He likes sweets, liquor, dance and song. When you ask something from him, you can expect something along those lines.”

“You could ask him, if you wish. I don’t see why not if you are willing to pay his price.” If there were no further questions, he nods to indicate they would enter the ring and join the dance to begin the introduction.

 

[Riamah]

It seemed Ailuros was going to have to figure out a way to take notes to study when she woke up. Not sure if that was possible, she wasn't positive she would be able to remember everything taught to her here.

Names, rituals, gifts and requests, it was all so new to her. Being of a curious nature though, she would attempt to accomplish her goal to learn as much as she could.

"What is a normal price?"

She listened to what Kosh said about the gifts Kamatari liked and she nodded. When he motioned to enter the ring and start dancing, the cat did just that.

[member="Daxton Bane"]

 

[Daxton Bane]

“I once was shot through the lung. And yes, it was as painful as it sounds.” He explained to [member="Ailuros"], “There I lay wheezing on the ground, I called out and he answered. I asked to be made whole again and the price was I was to wear a pink swath of cloth over my torso for a month and to steal a kiss from the first being I meet on three planets. Suffice to say wearing the cloth was the easy part, although I did make so many interesting friendships in the process. Have you ever kissed an Rodian Shaman under the light of blue moon? Lets just say it was quite memorable indeed.”