Eternal Knowledge (short story) - Revision history

GS4-XERAPHINA: updated template for new required parts

2024-03-22T02:39:50Z

updated template for new required parts

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:39, 21 March 2024
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	{{creative-work \| title = Eternal Knowledge \| type = short story \| author = Rohese \| author-displayed = [[Rohese (prime)\|Rohese Bayvel-Timsh'l]]}}		{{creative-work \| title = Eternal Knowledge \| type = short story \| author = Rohese \| author-displayed = [[Rohese (prime)\|Rohese Bayvel-Timsh'l]] \| date = 2019-04-17}}

	First published on the 17th day of Olaesta in the year 5119		First published on the 17th day of Olaesta in the year 5119

CHIVERSFREE1: /* Surrender */

2021-09-11T16:07:53Z

Surrender

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:07, 11 September 2021
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	Rohese stirred, dawn bathing her in a golden glow as she lay sleeping on the soft feather bed. In stark contrast to her preternaturally pale skin, faint black letters rose to the surface on her outstretched arm and settled into position like lines of text on the page of a book.		Rohese stirred, dawn bathing her in a golden glow as she lay sleeping on the soft feather bed. In stark contrast to her preternaturally pale skin, faint black letters rose to the surface on her outstretched arm and settled into position like lines of text on the page of a book.

	She sleepily reached out to trace the familiar prose with her finger ~~and was reminded of Aendir's feather-like touch the night before~~. ~~She was fascinated with how she now responded to~~ the ~~slightest sensations. Unaccustomed to her~~ new~~-found~~ ~~sensuality~~, ~~her~~ ~~cheeks~~ ~~flushed~~ ~~with~~ the ~~feel~~ of the ~~soft~~ ~~silk~~ ~~sheet~~ ~~slithering~~ ~~over~~ ~~her~~ ~~skin~~ ~~and~~ ~~she~~ ~~shivered~~ at ~~the~~ ~~mere~~ ~~memory~~ of her ~~lover's~~ ~~whispers~~ in ~~her~~ ~~ear.~~ ~~The warmth~~ of ~~his~~ ~~breath~~ ~~across her skin was like~~ the ~~brush~~ of a ~~candle~~ ~~flame~~ ~~and~~ ~~the~~ ~~lingering~~ ~~scent~~ of ~~him~~ on ~~her body fuelled her hunger~~. It ~~was~~ as if ~~her~~ ~~senses~~ ~~had~~ ~~finally come alive~~ and ~~there~~ ~~was~~ a ~~whole new world to~~ ~~explore~~.		She sleepily reached out to trace the familiar prose with her finger. Welcoming the new day, she stretched languorously and savoured the warmth of the late summer sunlight now pervading the bed chamber. She was eager to learn more about her burgeoning transformation and noticed the stack of abandoned books on the nearby table. How easily she had been distracted from them last night. Smiling to herself, she slipped from the bed and reached for a nearby robe.

	Welcoming the new day, she stretched languorously and savoured the warmth of the late summer sunlight now pervading the bed chamber. She was eager to learn more about her transformation and noticed the stack of abandoned books on the nearby table. How easily she had been distracted from them last night. Giggling to herself, she slipped from the bed and pulled the white sheet with her to wrap around her otherwise naked body. Until recently, she would have never considered such immodest behaviour.

	A gentle knock on the door was followed by an elderly Winedotter gnome entering with freshly brewed tea and a bowl of sun ripened berries. Rohese was late beginning her fast today but it didn't seem to bother her as it normally would. With a polite nod and discreet cough, the gnome left, closing the door behind her and Rohese turned her attention to the window. She gazed over the garden stretched out beneath her and noticed her grandfather – fishing rod in hand - leading Aendir towards the river in the distance. Taking a bite of a strawberry, she smiled to herself and allowed the juice to fill her mouth, flooding her tongue with its sugary sweetness. It astonished her that she had never noticed how delicious a strawberry was before; it felt like such an indulgence now.		A gentle knock on the door was followed by an elderly Winedotter gnome entering with freshly brewed tea and a bowl of sun ripened berries. Rohese was late beginning her fast today but it didn't seem to bother her as it normally would. With a polite nod and discreet cough, the gnome left, closing the door behind her and Rohese turned her attention to the window. She gazed over the garden stretched out beneath her and noticed her grandfather – fishing rod in hand - leading Aendir towards the river in the distance. Taking a bite of a strawberry, she smiled to herself and allowed the juice to fill her mouth, flooding her tongue with its sugary sweetness. It astonished her that she had never noticed how delicious a strawberry was before; it felt like such an indulgence now.

MOD-GSMOTTE: Updated essay template to creative works template and categorized as a short story.

2020-12-27T16:16:15Z

Updated essay template to creative works template and categorized as a short story.

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:16, 27 December 2020
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	{{~~essay~~\|title=~~'''~~Eternal Knowledge~~'''~~ \|author=[[Rohese Bayvel-Timsh'l]]}}		{{creative-work \| title = Eternal Knowledge \| type = short story \| author = Rohese \| author-displayed = [[Rohese (prime)\|Rohese Bayvel-Timsh'l]]}}

	First published on the 17th day of Olaesta in the year 5119		First published on the 17th day of Olaesta in the year 5119
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	Continued in a [[Search for the Truth]].		Continued in a [[Search for the Truth]].

	[[Category: Essays]]

MOD-GSMOTTE: MOD-GSMOTTE moved page Eternal Knowledge to Eternal Knowledge (short story): I am moving this page for across-wiki consistency. Player created content is appended (log), (essay), (short story), (song), or (poetry) in the article title to help s...

2020-12-27T16:15:26Z

MOD-GSMOTTE moved page Eternal Knowledge to Eternal Knowledge (short story): I am moving this page for across-wiki consistency. Player created content is appended (log), (essay), (short story), (song), or (poetry) in the article title to help s...

← Older revision	Revision as of 11:15, 27 December 2020
(No difference)

CHIVERSFREE1 at 15:29, 9 April 2020

2020-04-09T15:29:55Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:29, 9 April 2020
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	Pressing two fingers to her lips, she rested them for a moment against the smooth surface of the obelisk. With a final fearful glance skyward, she disappeared into the night.		Pressing two fingers to her lips, she rested them for a moment against the smooth surface of the obelisk. With a final fearful glance skyward, she disappeared into the night.

			Continued in a [[Search for the Truth]].

	[[Category: Essays]]		[[Category: Essays]]

CHIVERSFREE1 at 21:17, 27 January 2020

2020-01-27T21:17:26Z

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	"I will do all I can to find out where your brother is, I promise." Her words sounded hollow in her own head but the intent was genuine. "Do not lose faith, we will prevail."		"I will do all I can to find out where your brother is, I promise." Her words sounded hollow in her own head but the intent was genuine. "Do not lose faith, we will prevail."

			===Grief===
			Grief never really ends, it just changes. It is a passage and not a place to stay.

			Rohese knew all about grief; she carried it with her every day having experienced significant loss in her relatively short life. First her mother and father, then her beloved grandmother. More recently, her husband, and now ... Socius. She had loved him too; not in any romantic sense but they had shared a lot during their all-too-brief acquaintance and he had understood her better than most.

			Standing at the obelisk that marked his grave, Rohese mouthed an incantation and a small tongue of silvery blue flame appeared in the palm of her hand. She used it to light the candle that she had placed on the pedestal.

			A solitary tear trickled down her cheek and sizzled as it hit the lambent flame.

			In the eerie stillness of the Mist Harbor night, memories – both fond and painful - found their way to the forefront of her thoughts. She was reminded of how he had encouraged her to face her fears; how she had gone on to retrieve Nazhor's tome and been subsequently responsible for the death of the meek, Ghaila.

			''More loss''. She wiped away another tear. ''I'm so sorry, Darcena.''

			For a moment it seemed as if the text on the onyx and ivory surface of the obelisk flickered. Whether it was a trick of the candle light or her tear-blurred vision, she couldn't be sure, but by the time she had focused on it again, the text appeared to be unchanged.

			Her fingers lightly traced the words etched into the stone.

			"Goodbye, my friend. I shall miss your counsel."

			Grief was not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith. It was the price of love.

			''But what a price. Why must I lose everyone I hold dear?''

			Retrieving a crumpled piece of parchment from her robes, she turned it into the meagre light and studied it closely. Five names of significance had been written on it. In a moment of distraction some time ago, she had ascribed each of them to a point on the pentagram that filled most of the page. Only one remained in her life now and fear gripped her at the thought of losing him too.

			Whether it was simply the lateness of the hour or something more sinister, she felt a shiver run down her spine. Gazing up at the vast midnight blue canvas, Rohese was horrified to see the six-fingered talon raking across the night sky. After the events that had unfolded earlier that evening at the Silithyr Villa, it felt as if the twelve stars of the Ur-Daemon were looming ominously over her. She trembled again and drew her shawl tightly around her.

			A gentle sea breeze whipped her pale hair around her face, bringing with it the scent of nearby dogwood and a whisper of familiar words.

			"We are all broken; that’s how the light gets in."

			Glancing over her shoulder, Rohese half-expected to see her grandmother standing there but the cemetery was empty.

			Pressing two fingers to her lips, she rested them for a moment against the smooth surface of the obelisk. With a final fearful glance skyward, she disappeared into the night.

	[[Category: Essays]]		[[Category: Essays]]

CHIVERSFREE1 at 17:14, 18 January 2020

2020-01-18T17:14:53Z

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	Rohese Bayvel-Timsh’l</pre>		Rohese Bayvel-Timsh’l</pre>

			===Resistance===
			Rohese had an innate fondness for nursery rhymes; they reminded her of her childhood and the time spent with many of Elanthia's children in the Talador refugee camps. Dressing herself that morning, she caught herself humming one of her favourite counting rhymes.

			''One, two, buckle my shoe.''<br>
			''Three, four, knock at the door.''

			Fastening the buckle on her scuffed leather shoe - making a mental note to ask Akenna for a new pair - she was startled to hear an abrupt knock on the bedchamber door announcing her maid's entrance.

			"Apologies for the interruption, my Lady, but there's someone here asking to speak with you as a matter of urgency."

			Pushing past the maid, a woman entered the room mouthing profuse apologies before grabbing Rohese's hands in her own.

			"I am so relieved to see you are alright! I heard rumours of an attack and treachery and ..."

			"Calm yourself, Mireth, I'm fine. Now, take a deep breath and tell me what happened."

			''Five, six, magic tricks.''<br>
			''Seven, eight, seal their fate.''

			Somewhat breathlessly, Mireth recounted the news of an alleged attack on someone in Selbi's office that had supposedly included Rohese and some of her friends under the guise of a glamour. Rohese could barely contain her anger over being so maligned but her mood soon changed as she realised that this could actually work in their favour. Each overt and unchecked action on the part of the renegade lily-toting faction was sealing the fate of the Flock.

			''Nine, ten, a band of men.''<br>
			''Eleven, twelve, who will delve?''

			Rohese was reminded of her encounter the other day with Nehor and his request of her. She also recalled something else he had said: "I would not have asked, would not have troubled you ... but with the recent activities I cannot just stand by and let this continue down the path it is going."

			It would seem that things were beginning to unravel for him so perhaps her best response to his appeal would be to simply do nothing and allow things to "continue down the path." Let the band of mercenaries posing as Defenders carry on unabated and watch it all implode on the Flock. ''Let them clean up their own mess!'' Her conscience pricked her for a moment at the thought of turning a blind eye. ''What am I becoming?''

			Kissing the woman on the cheek, she urged her to return to the Isle and her family. Their safety and well-being was paramount and Rohese didn't want them implicated in the fallout of the resistance movement.

			''Thirteen, fourteen, draw the curtain.''<br>
			''Fifteen, sixteen, don’t cause a scene.''

			Pulling the cowl over her head, Rohese retreated behind a curtain of white wool. Without word to anyone, she headed out of the Manse and towards the Shining City to fulfil an obligation. She had made a promise to approach the Council of Thrones regarding a business matter.

			''Seventeen, eighteen, ladies in waiting.''<br>
			''Nineteen, twenty, my plate's empty.''

			An hour later, having left word that she wished to speak with the Lady Amalexia Amalathia, handmaiden to the Argent Mirror and friend, Rohese gave the crescent moon at her breast a sharp turn and found herself standing face-to-face with a defaced propaganda poster on the wall of Hale Hall – this one bearing the word, "RESIST" in bright red paint. Glancing up at the window of Selbi's office, she muttered a few choice words and headed north towards the Boreas Ridge and the home of her friend. On entering the house though, she was appalled to find Mireth in a state of distress.

			Rohese pulled the distraught widow gently into her arms and let her cry. Between the despairing sobs, she caught the phrases, "they’ve taken my son ... can't pay the fine ... no rations this week."

			Once the sobbing had subsided somewhat, Rohese kept a comforting hold of the Mireth's hand and led her over to a chair. Two young children sat themselves at their mother's feet, holding tightly onto her skirt and stared fearfully at Rohese. The look of helplessness in their eyes tore at Rohese's very soul. ''Always the innocent are the first victims.''

			The young boy was doing his utmost to look defiant and his little sister was struggling to hold back the tears. With their curly brown hair and big green eyes, Rohese was reminded of their father – lost in the war and subsequent obliteration of Talador a few years ago. Rohese had helped the family relocate to Mist Harbor to build a new and better life for themselves. ''Had she brought this upon them with her actions? Was this all her fault?''

			"I will do all I can to find out where your brother is, I promise." Her words sounded hollow in her own head but the intent was genuine. "Do not lose faith, we will prevail."

	[[Category: Essays]]		[[Category: Essays]]

CHIVERSFREE1 at 10:12, 13 January 2020

2020-01-13T10:12:50Z

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 First published on the 17th day of Olaesta in the year 5119
-Following on from [[A Difficult Journey]] and [[A Healing Process]], this journal is a repository of vignettes including insights into Rohese's continued story and her involvement in [[The Nazhor Chronicles]].
+Following on from [[A Difficult Journey]] and [[A Healing Process]], this journal is a repository of vignettes including insights into Rohese's continued story and her involvement in both [[The Nazhor Chronicles]] and [[Clipped Wings]].
 ===Prologue===
@@ Line 985: / Line 985: @@
 Nehor smiles slightly, regarding Rohese with eyes that are pained but determined. Slowly, he shakes his head no and takes a small step back.
 You close your eyes for a moment.
-You think to yourself, "This is what must be done …   there's no turning back now."
+You think to yourself, "This is what must be done ... there's no turning back now."
 With unbroken composure, you shift in place while surreptitiously plucking a silvergilt imflass bodice dagger with an intricately knotted vaalin-chased pommel from the lining of your green silk gown.  With a solid grip on the weapon, you gracefully shield it from view by bringing it to rest behind your back.
@@ Line 1,121: / Line 1,121: @@
 It hadn't worked.
 [[Category: Essays]]

CHIVERSFREE1: /* Confusion */

2020-01-11T14:18:54Z

Confusion

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	Her nights had been restless recently; she had spent most of them tossing and turning with her mind racing through a jumble of random thoughts. Her days weren’t much better; so many silly things irritated her lately and she had often found herself just staring out of the window. Like now!		Her nights had been restless recently; she had spent most of them tossing and turning with her mind racing through a jumble of random thoughts. Her days weren’t much better; so many silly things irritated her lately and she had often found herself just staring out of the window. Like now!

	The tea in her cup had gone cold. With a frustrated sigh, she refreshed it and resumed her seat at the desk. She had woken early with the dark veil of night still drawn across the sky. Her first thoughts had been to write a rather sternly worded letter to Selbi regarding the possible misappropriation of funds and she had become distracted ... again.		The tea in her cup had gone cold. With a frustrated sigh, she refreshed it and resumed her seat at the desk. She had woken early with the dark veil of night still drawn across the sky. Her first thoughts had been to write a rather sternly worded letter to [[Selbi]] regarding the possible misappropriation of funds and she had become distracted ... again.

	In an attempt to try and isolate the issue around her distraction, she abandoned the letter and, instead, began to scribble down notes about all the aspects of her life that might be giving her cause for concern. Her quill slowed and her gaze drifted towards the window again. Glints of silver and gold danced across her vision as the early morning sunlight glanced off the Manse windows, mesmerising her.		In an attempt to try and isolate the issue around her distraction, she abandoned the letter and, instead, began to scribble down notes about all the aspects of her life that might be giving her cause for concern. Her quill slowed and her gaze drifted towards the window again. Glints of silver and gold danced across her vision as the early morning sunlight glanced off the Manse windows, mesmerising her.
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	Glancing back down at the sheet of parchment, she saw various names clearly jotted amid the doodles. Without thinking, she dipped the quill back into the ink and began to connect the names in one unbroken movement. Once completed, she was amazed to see a perfect pentagram laid out before her.		Glancing back down at the sheet of parchment, she saw various names clearly jotted amid the doodles. Without thinking, she dipped the quill back into the ink and began to connect the names in one unbroken movement. Once completed, she was amazed to see a perfect pentagram laid out before her.

	Lumnis took pride of place at the spirit point or apex. Beneath, to the left and right, were her grandmother taking the position of air and Sighisoara notably aligned to water. Below those, again to the left and right, were Socius denoted by earth and Aendir by fire. Seeing the most significant individuals in her life represented as such suddenly made so much sense.		[[Lumnis]] took pride of place at the spirit point or apex. Beneath, to the left and right, were her grandmother taking the position of air and Sighisoara notably aligned to water. Below those, again to the left and right, were [[Socius]] denoted by earth and [[Aendir]] by fire. Seeing the most significant individuals in her life represented as such suddenly made so much sense.

	Resting her quill aside, Rohese pondered the symbolism and felt a weight lift from her mind. Finding herself in the center of this arrangement – of the magical circle - it somehow felt right.		Resting her quill aside, Rohese pondered the symbolism and felt a weight lift from her mind. Finding herself in the center of this arrangement – of the magical circle - it somehow felt right.

CHIVERSFREE1 at 14:17, 11 January 2020

2020-01-11T14:17:34Z

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	''Her wish had been granted and she knew exactly where to start looking!''		''Her wish had been granted and she knew exactly where to start looking!''

			===Confusion===

			''Confused? No, that wasn't the right word.'' Rohese was trying to find the term to describe how she was feeling. ''Unsettled? Yes, but there was more to it than that.''

			Her nights had been restless recently; she had spent most of them tossing and turning with her mind racing through a jumble of random thoughts. Her days weren’t much better; so many silly things irritated her lately and she had often found herself just staring out of the window. Like now!

			The tea in her cup had gone cold. With a frustrated sigh, she refreshed it and resumed her seat at the desk. She had woken early with the dark veil of night still drawn across the sky. Her first thoughts had been to write a rather sternly worded letter to Selbi regarding the possible misappropriation of funds and she had become distracted ... again.

			In an attempt to try and isolate the issue around her distraction, she abandoned the letter and, instead, began to scribble down notes about all the aspects of her life that might be giving her cause for concern. Her quill slowed and her gaze drifted towards the window again. Glints of silver and gold danced across her vision as the early morning sunlight glanced off the Manse windows, mesmerising her.

			Realizing that she had caught herself daydreaming again, she put her head in her hands and breathed another heavy sigh. ''Pull yourself together!'' At least she hadn’t thrown her teacup at the wall in frustration ... yet.

			Glancing back down at the sheet of parchment, she saw various names clearly jotted amid the doodles. Without thinking, she dipped the quill back into the ink and began to connect the names in one unbroken movement. Once completed, she was amazed to see a perfect pentagram laid out before her.

			Lumnis took pride of place at the spirit point or apex. Beneath, to the left and right, were her grandmother taking the position of air and Sighisoara notably aligned to water. Below those, again to the left and right, were Socius denoted by earth and Aendir by fire. Seeing the most significant individuals in her life represented as such suddenly made so much sense.

			Resting her quill aside, Rohese pondered the symbolism and felt a weight lift from her mind. Finding herself in the center of this arrangement – of the magical circle - it somehow felt right.

			Below them all however, was another. Written in boldly emphasised black ink and capitalised was the name, [[Nehor]]. Picking up her quill again, she scratched through it with a several strokes in an attempt to remove him from her thoughts.

			It hadn't worked.

	[[Category: Essays]]		[[Category: Essays]]