[center][h2]Monica & Mortals[/h2][/center]
[hr]
Dark riders on dark steeds rode through a land that made them look radiant by comparison. At the center of the tight formation Finley, Anak'thas’ messenger, rode with little experience made up for by a high degree of fear. All that stood between him and the dead lands beyond the road were five nomads and a horned priestess who were putting on brave faces. 

Their steeds were weighed down by saddle bags stuffed with food, as well as plentiful arrows and at least one spear each, which slowed them some, but if there was one upside to this land, it was that the road that pierced through it was a marvel that entirely made up for the speed lost from their food stores. 

As such they were making good time through the wastes, their steeds having allowed them to either out run or skirmish to death the odd giant insect that had wandered into their path, and their ignorance to the value of the crystalline flora having meant there had been no temptation to stray from the path. Now, however, their pace slowed as they approached the node, they slowed, for there was a presence there. It was towering, wisps of darkness that their minds took in as a whole and read as strangely human shaped, though it was so vague that none could say if it were just a trick of the light or the mind.

So they found themselves stopped in their tracks, unsure if they should push on and risk whatever the presence was, or turn back and renege on their oaths. Eventually the horned priest cursed and put herself forwards as the one to test the waters, the cloaked and hooded woman urging her steed forwards at a nervous trot towards the node while the rest hung back with their bows (likely futilely) held at the ready.

Monica stepped out of the shadows, as though she had been traversing another unseen realm closely beside the horned priest for an unknown period of time. The light of the golden path slowly introduced her, as sections of her shape appeared piece by piece, a deep darkness alive with reverence and curiosity, clinging to her like a child, reluctant to let go. The lone goddess revealed herself akin to the way the moon and stars, gentle and glowing with pale peacefulness, revealing their sacred selves when night descends upon a forlorn world seeking illumination. Her eyes seemed to shimmer as she gazed upon the riders, and so she presented herself with a delicate smile and soft words.[b][i] “I am Monica, the Mother of Maelite, and a protector of the pilgrims upon the Golden Path. There is no need to be afraid when in my presence.”[/i][/b]

Both human and horse were startled by her sudden appearance from the gloom, but her words soothed the fear of the mortals, who in turn quickly soothed that of beasts. The horned one slipped off of her steed and onto the golden rode, before bowing and saying “We are honored by your presence and protection” as the other riders put away their weapons. Then she stood upright once more, flipping back her dark hood to reveal raven hair, rosy skin and a warm smile.

“And I am sure I speak for all of the 12th realm when I say that it is a relief to find you alive and well” she said, which got a few nods from the others as they rode over and joined the priestess on the ground. She made a quick round of introductions, ending with “and I am Lilly, disciple of Xavior.”

[b][i]“I am seeking my brother. Do you know where I may find him now?”[/i][/b] Monica asked, ever exuding a polite and yet awkward aura around even the very small number of humans. She stood before them as a kind and gentle goddess, but retained an eternally ethereal quality that alienated herself from the rest of them, separated as a source of visible comfort yet so distantly out of reach akin to the moon and stars. She was otherworldly; an aspect of the divine, and to be divided from mortals in such a non-subtle, but still insidious fashion, evoked grief which painfully grasped her heart, so frail, and strangled it. There was cruel irony in how she seemed to be the more haunting visage among their number, how she must have appeared akin to a ghost returning from death, however it was these humans in her eyes which were mortal and would eventually die regardless of her efforts to save them that seemed much more macabre.

She startled herself with the sudden feeling of wet streaks trailing down her cheeks, as obsidian tears fell from her eyes. Monica averted her gaze from Lilly and the other mortals, hiding her tears of mourning for her sake and for the sake of the humans. Her sorrow should burden others, and she wished that others would not heed her crying for she sensed the looming presence of the Shepherd come closer. The dark colossus had vanished from view when she had greeted the riders, but it had yet to actually move until now. Even with her divine sight, she could not see its shape, but she knew it was kneeling right beside them, head almost pressed against the ground to better see her. The shifting shadows were long and hazy around them, slowly easing the boundaries between the endless black and finite bright path they stood upon, warning those that dwelled in the light of their limited life, dreadful evidence of an awaiting inevitable demise.

The human’s for which she moved were confused by the brief flash of emotion she displayed before hiding it, and ignorant to the source of it too “When we left he still resided in the temple around the 12th node” Lilly explained, and then added “If you travel back the way we came, you will no doubt find him there still, safe and sound” misplacing the source of that glimpse of sorrow.

“We ourselves seek Benea, and, to an extent knowledge of what happened here and to the people that followed you. Are they safe? Did they continue down this road to another land?” she then asked, as the others humans and their steeds closed ranks instinctively as the darkness played at the edge of their senses.

Monica merely nodded as she cleansed herself of teary stains, before turning to face them once more and gesturing along the glittering golden path that traveled north beyond the stout black pillar that could be seen ahead. [b][i]“Benea went farther onward to claim a node. Her intention was to reconnect with Anak’thas and Dzallitsunya before reconvening at another node to discuss the future of the Crucible. Unfortunately I do not know her exact location, but I believe the others that traveled with her remain safe.”[/i][/b] She explained, and her words were accompanied by the arrival of numerous umbral specks drifting languidly through the air like blackened ashes carried by the wind - the textureless dark inviting itself onto the golden path, aimless and ambivalent as it swirls around the goddess and hovers among the riders.

“That is heartening to hear” Lilly replied, letting out a breath she had not known she had been holding before continuing “and I am sure everyone back home will be glad to know it too, once we return from our journey there.” 

While she stayed focused the others found their eyes, ears and curiosities drifting to the dark motes, with one of them eventually plucking up the courage to attempt to scoop one out of the air into her hands. The small speck was chilling to touch, poking pinpricks of the frigid cold that left lingering traces upon the bodies as more motes descended upon the others, but the stains were quick to disperse as well, leaving no remnant of themselves behind.

[b][i]“Make haste… Never stray from the golden path on your journey, and should you encounter any of the lost denizens of Maelite upon the road, ride past them or please push them back into the darkness, as the light will protect you.”[/i][/b] Monica proclaimed, and her words stirred the shadows once more; pulsing before turning into a sudden vista of swirling, twirling, tenebrous terrain which appeared across the black realm, though whether it was the true shape of the land or just an illusion created by the dancing darkness was difficult for the mortals to discern. It was a combination of haunting beauty and agile horror, graceful like an unknown hunter in the night; swiftly surprising and passionately attentive as if alive and aware. The hypnotic patterns that appeared the longer the mortals looked seemed to stare back, conveying cryptic and enigmatic expressions that creeped into their minds.

“It will be as you say” Lilly replied before giving a short bow and a “thank you for your guidance” while the others muttered much of the same, with one having to be physically nudged into doing so after being caught by the spirals. What had been relief had set in upon the arrival of Monica discontent had begun to set in more and more, which meant that when the mote catcher asked: “If I might ask goddess … Why did you make this place the way it is?” She was elbowed in the side by Lilly.

“Heed not her words. You have already blessed us with your guidance, we should ask nothing more of you when we already cannot repay your kindness” she the priestess insisted, her eyes betraying the cautious fear she felt in her heart.

[b][i]“Were we blind before being born? Were we once empty vessels before becoming ourselves? Deprived of sensation and safety, will we regain what we lost, I wonder? Maelite makes us blind and empty so that we can learn to perceive the world around us, and be instilled with new purpose, new understanding. Darkness gives shape to light, and light gives shape to darkness. They define each other. Akin to darkness and light, I made this place with both the love and hatred in my heart. Perhaps after you leave and return home, you will understand.”[/i][/b] Monica answered with a combination of musing aloud and esoteric platitudes seemingly harmless, which starkly contrasted with the otherworldly sight of the white winged goddess standing before the precipice where the protective path of light and the profuse presence of the black fathomless abyss encountered each other.

The mortals certainly didn’t know what to make of it, not collectively anyway. As the asker of the question committed the words to memory and would eventually write them down, the priestess simply smiled and thanked her for her words of wisdom and finally asked “Is there anything we can do for you, goddess? Provisions? A steed? An Escort? Anything we can do to ease your own journey and repay you for your protection and wisdom?”

[b][i]“Your generosity is much appreciated, but I cannot accept such gifts. Our brief conversation has been more than enough to ease my mind, and my protection comes freely to the kind and curious like yourselves, so do not concern yourself with repayment. I only wish for all of you to find peace and joy in this world wrought with sorrow. Hmm… should you find Benea, would you please give this to her for me? Let her know I will seek her out after I have spoken with Xavior.”[/i][/b] Instead of receiving anything from the riders, Monica conjured forth a large crystal carved to look like a pair of wings; a crystal which fit in the palm of her hands, then she offered it to Lilly as she made her request. She gave another subtle smile to them, conveying her content and her faith in their conviction.

“Of course goddess” Lilly replied, a touch relieved it seemed at being able to do something in turn for the goddess, as she reached out and took the crystal as requested “we’ll make sure it she gets it, and let her know your will as well of course”

Monica remained silent as she ascended, disappearing in the clouds of darkness as though she were a figment of one’s imagination or simply a dream they all had shared. Then without warning, the path of light upon which the riders stood rumbled slightly, but became quickly still soon after without an explanation. Aside from themselves, nothing else stayed in sight, nothing except for the observant shadows that preoccupied themselves with swallowing the rest of the world leaving loneliness like a companion to walk beside them throughout the rest of their travels in the susurrating void. It was only the apathetic abyss all around, alone and clamorous, contemptful of the light and those that walk within its confines, always threatening to tear down the last source of illumination in this shadowy land.

The mortals, once more bereft of divine protection in this misbegotten land, collectively shivered and then, after the gift for Benea was hastily stashed, quickly remounted and raced one more towards the other side, still not knowing quite what they would find there.

[hider=Summary]
Anak'thas’ messenger and his escorts, a few nomads and a priest, are riding through node 11 when they come across Monica. They are glad to know she is alive and that the humans that had been with her traveled on into Benea’s territory. From the goddess they also learn a bit about the land and receive some esoteric platitudes and a vague understanding of why the land is the way it is (an understanding that does not involve “I hit it real hard and made this unintentionally”) and then promise to deliver a winged crystal to Benea on Monica’s behalf.

Then they continue on their journey while Monica travels back the way they came, heading to meet up with Xavior.
[/hider]
[hider=Might]
Monica does not expend Might.
0 Might remaining.
[/hider]