Sierra knew she was in the dream long before it became apparent. It always felt different, the way the senses came, how the dream flickered and she was aware of the changes. Sleeping in the dream world was different than the the wolf dream.

And even this was different, it was more like watching a dream - maybe someone else's dream? Sierra didn't understand the dream. None of it.

A series of images flashed passed her a man and and a young woman. There is an argument. Tempers fly. The general feeling of familial ties - father and daughter. The argument is confusing. Death, assassination?

The two part, a rift forms between them. The tie that bound them broken. Sierra's heart sinks as they part ways forever.

Sierra walks after the girl, maybe she can help her...

The scene before her flickers and another one appears. Two men fighting. Again there is a family tie between them. A woman nursing a child looks on, she's tied to one, but the baby tied to another. Sierra watches as each person crumbles into ashes. Their lives broken. More loss...

Sierra turned a different direction - there was nothing to save here.

Another man and woman appear before Sierra. The dagger through the heart. Sierra collapsed to her knees as the daughter died. Why was the dream showing her these things? She wanted out - she opened her eyes and was crying. She missed Snow even more now, the warmth and comfort of her friend was gone.... all those families lost.

(( Just a time filler - I have no point to the thread. Feel free to jump in ))

Things with Dane had gone differently than expected. Promises were made - plans started. Aria was still reveling in the fact that Dane was back. The call of her power made walking the halls of the Kremlin difficult. The raw need to hurt was calling and Aria had to keep herself far embedded in her emotionless bubble. Not for her own safety - but for that of others. She was certain that the Ascendancy would only be so lenient.

The ZARS agents were scouring Moscow looking for any sign of the Regus. Aria gave them the location of several safe houses the Atharim commonly used. But she kept the ones with the most to lose a secret from her new found lackies. They didn't like reporting to her. But would Aria didn't like reporting to an unknown factor either. Her ZARS handler was still her handler. He was the intermediary between the agents and herself. She had never laid eyes on them.

Aria told them of the weapons used to fight Ascendancy earlier, but as of yet none of the safe houses had yielded any. They had only the two devices that she and Martin had carried, and they were likely damaged from the fight. Aria still missed her sword - she had nothing right now except her hands, and it bothered her a great deal. The need for the long duster type coat was unnecessary yet that was the first purchase Aria made. She would recover her sword! If she didn't she would make her case known to the Ascendancy himself. To have the ear of such a powerful man was almost as intoxicating as her own ability.

Today, Aria was searching the ruins of the Baccarat Mansion. She needed to see if Nox had a map of the tunnels still - it was the only logical explanation. How did the Regus get out with nothing capturing him on camera.

Aria crouched on the perimeter of the ruins thinking, as she absently fingered a piece of charred concrete. Where had the Regus gone? Why has he not reached out to the network...

There was a day and age when Methos would have done little preparation for a concert. There was also a day and age when Methos was young and spry and not age worn - or worn from having a child. He loved Chris who was happily hanging out in his dressing room with Bradley and Kay. The little one wasn't quite so little anymore. The past two years had shown much progress in the growing of a little boy from a toddler they had adopted.

Troy and Bev were in the arena setting up - doing their thing with this new fathomed magic he'd known about for a few years now. The world was just finding out. Methos was half tempted to bring Troy up on stage and preform some of his spectacular scenes with the crowd but he wasn't sure it would be well received. And Troy wasn't exactly a showman. It had taken Methos months of cajoling to get Troy to do the pyrotechnics from backstage.

Bev on the other hand took little to convince - she was a music major and knew exactly what Methos had been looking for. It was the perfect team. But did he want to tell the world? That was his big question.

But he had had to put that aside when it came time to warm up. Dancing and singing might look easy, but it hardly was. Methos had to warm up his voice and his body before even stepping foot on the stage. And both were getting more difficult with age.

And that wasn't even the icing on the cake - he still had to pick an outfit for the night. He was looking for something to be proud of - something that said the world was changing and with it so was Methos. He even planned on debuting a new single - he hadn't told Bradley yet or Kay for that matter. But the band knew his plans - everyone but his fans and the two closest to him. Methos loved to surprise people.

The show tonight was sold out - it had sold out quickly. Kay said there was some sort of glitch in the system and a couple dozen VIP tickets got oversold. Really wasn't that big of a deal. The more the merrier Methos thought... and he was Methos at the moment - Adam was still wishing he was in bed with his husband and son waking up from an excellent nights rest in a great city and a great hotel. But tonight was about Methos - and he didn't regret it one once. He loved to be him.

Or is that assimilated??

Anyone else hear that the collective has fallen? I've got it on good authority that Ph4s3r has gone missing. 3ff3rv3sc3nt has been looking for him all over. You'd think she'd keep better track of her boyfriend. I hear The Den is shot too - whatever protections the collective gave them have all but vanished. Everything in the server room is gone and no one knows what happened.

~Pierc3

Sage was still getting used to the house he was staying in. Everyone seemed cool for uptight rich folk anyway. Nox seemed to fit right in, though he hung out more in the kitchen and the basemen than in the lounge or study or anywhere other than his and Elyse's room. Sage still found that fact a bit mind boggling - Nox had a girlfriend.

But it kept him in check none-the-less. At least for now. Nox was downstairs in his makeshift gym throwing fireballs... it looked more like dancing to Sage with the way his friend's body moved from position to position with the occasional fireball thrown at the opposite wall only to hit a barrier of air Nox had created.

Sage sat at the top of the stairs well away from any dangerous play as he used a laptop. There was no need for pain meds, but he was still taking anxiety meds because of the lack of connection. But the dosage went lower and lower each day as he adjusted to his new life - Sage could only hope that one day the implant would work again. Hacking by hand had proven to be difficult. Even setting up the secure line for Elyse was something he had to reteach his fingers how to do.

Sage's wallet rang and he picked it up. "Hey."
His voice was chipper and he was truly happy to hear from Sasha, but it had to be late over there.

Sasha's voice on the other hand was concerned. "You heard from Bryan?"

"No. Why?"


"He's not been around for days. Last thing I heard was he was using the collective to hack the Kremlin. Something in your honor I think. At least that's the rumor going around the dark web."

"What?"


"I'll let you know what I find out but I wanted to check in with you? How's the little brother treating you?"

Sage grinned. "He's excitingly ignoring me right now."


"I'm sure you are bored out of your mind out there - no connection - no hacking."

Sage shrugged but knew Sasha couldn't see it. "Actually, I'm not. I like the view. And Nox's friends are cool. Cruz likes to play video games so I'm good."


"Alright. I'm gonna make some other calls. Find out what happened to Bryan. Call me Sage, I'm worried about you."

"I'm fine. Aurora's brother is taking good care of me. I promise - set me up in a mansion and everything."
With that little tidbit of gossip Sage hung up with a smirk.

Sage wondered what had happened to Bryan... but when Sage looked up he noticed there was no more view and Nox was standing at the bottom of the stairs looking up with a smirk on his face.


Edited by Sage, Jan 17 2017, 02:11 PM.

The night had grown dark and the sun was starting to reach its horizon. The collective was busy working away - the path ahead was blocked by firewalls and other hackers amongst the numerous security measures the CCD employed. They were getting no where.

But no one was complaining and Bryan was enjoying the challenge. Though he had lost sight of the original goal. Now it was just about breaching the walls. He'd started a fight he intended to win.

Bryan was locked away bundled in a fur lined winter jacket and fingerless gloves underneath a blanket. The server room was freezing, and the blue lights all around made it feel like some eeire winter wonderland in cyberspace. His ears were covered with noise canceling ear buds blaring some of his favorite hacking playlists. He didn't hear the team break in to Sage's apartment through the front door. He didn't hear the rush of air leaving the server room as they bypassed Sage's security panel and entered into the room with guns trained at him.

The team was small. They were all wearing black and were a stark contrast against the white walls of the server room. Three red lazer beams floated across Bryan's body and a man had stepped up to the computer terminal and tapped on the monitor in front of Bryan before he even noticed the four people standing in a once upon a time secret room.

Bryan's hands shot up and he yelped loud enough he heard himself over the music playing. As quietly and as quickly as they had asserted themselves into Sage's apartment they left...Byran dragged along with them with a black bag over his head, his noise cancelling ear buds in place and a gag in his mouth.

The scent of grass and flowers and fruit and water filled the crisp air. Warming rays of sunlight cut through the leaves, leaving shadows on his arms and legs. He put his head back and rested it against the rough bark, stretched out sensuously and felt the cool earth and the tickle of the blades against his palms and fingers, feet and toes. He inhaled deeply and with satisfaction, the sound of chirping summer birds and the cool rustle of leaves filling his ears.

His entire life, it seemed, he had lived here, was one with the earth, one with life. The memory of a simple life- filled with hard work, with the sweat of ones brow and the soreness of hard-earned muscle- was all there was, all there ever was in this single moment. The sound of children playing. The laughter of friends and brothers and sisters. A connection in the web of life, his roots firm and deep. A lifetime. Peace. Tranquility.

Pop. As if a soap bubble burst. And then things shifted. It was him. And now it wasn't. Or rather, now it was him. The other....a fleeting memory. Even as he reached out to it, to examine it, it vanished like smoke through fingers. The harder he struggled to reform the image- the recreate the scene- the more ephemeral it became. Not his dream.

His consciousness seemed to crest the surface and gradually he became aware of his surroundings. Each sense individually presented itself, one at a time. The warm slightly sulfurous smell curled his nostrils. The sounds of muffled distant voices echoed off stone, the words strange and twisted. The warmth of a heavy furred skin on him trapping his body heat, the feel of hard padding beneath his naked flesh. He opened his eyes to a semi darkened chamber, the flicker of fire light from far outside the room.

The cobwebs of the dream were brushed away as easily as by hands and now he was firmly awake. He listened to the distant voices, making out words here and there. He wondered how long he had slept. He checked his timepiece. 10 hours.

He was surprised. He thought his body would demand much more. Indeed, tiredness seemed to wash over him for a moment, but then it was gone. Or at least was something he could push aside. The ache was there but dull. The medication and burn treatments had done their job and while tender, it was livable. He was sure he'd need more rest later, but it was enough for now.

He sat up, ignoring the light-headedness for a moment, and then stood. His robe was folded on the ground. He stood and stretched out, felt the delicious pain in his arms and chest, felt the warm dry air over his body. It was all very sensual and strange. He dressed in the clothing he had been given, the robe last over his bare shoulders furry and warm, though open at the chest. His packs on the ground yielded his water- untouched- and he performed his morning ablutions as best he could. He also ate one of the energy bars and the rumble of his stomach dissipated.

His strong nose and blue eyes were sharp and alert as he stood in the entrance way. The rest had been good and necessary. He was Armande, Regus of the Atharim. And apparently, amazingly, was some sort of Messianic figure to these Khylsty. What that meant, he did not know. But he was will to trust this much. Something was at work and he had a purpose to play.

The opening skirmishes with the reborn gods had left casualties on both sides- thankfully Apollyon himself included. But the war was far from over. What he had lost he needed to gain. Apollyon's death would not stop the resurgence. The Atharim needed to be strengthened. They needed leavening. These Khylsty could be that straw amidst the clay.

He stepped out into the rock hallway, his robes brushing the rough ground, and strode purposefully to the voices he'd heard.

A larger room- the one he'd remembered from his treatments- came into view. Matvei and his apprentice were there, along with a few others. Valeriya was nowhere to be found. He knew the dynamic here. He had no interest in helping Matvei- the Hand- upset the order. Not unless strictly necessary. Valeriya was the one who had seen and recognized him. She was the Eye. What that meant for him, he couldn't specifically say. Or wouldn't say, anyway.

"I thank you for my accommodations. I found them very restful." He nodded his head a fraction graciously. He studied both men. If they had slept, he did not know it. Now that he had rested, he felt a renewed sense of vigor. Other kinds of hungers squirmed and for a moment he was torn. The map called to him. For a moment, a memory of a scent came to him, familiar. Warm. And then it was gone. He shook his head, returning to his thoughts. What did the map mean? Where did it point? The Eye. A living map, a conduit to otherworldly knowledge. His. He was unsure which to ask to see first.

That disturbed him.

It was the eyes that decided him.

"Please take me to the things that have been taken from the hidden chamber."

Matvei's assent was followed by his leading the way.

Elyse felt nervous. More nervous than she had ever felt when staring down a monster of sorts. Elyse knew her parents and knew what they believed. She also knew that this conversation could go either way. Her parents could never talk to her again - even decide to come after her. They could also decide that they loved their daughter too much for that. That is what Elyse hoped for.

Nox's friend Sage had set up and untraceable line for her. Elyse hated taking this precaution, but she had to. Just in case. It had been Ana who had convinced her to make the call, and it had been seeing Dorian's approach to this situation that had made her decide to actually do it.

Still Elyse calmed herself before making the call. She had asked to do this by herself and was unsure of how she would respond if they took this the wrong way. Elyse was ready to cry.

ELyse took her face out of her hands and took a deep breath before hitting send. The phone started ringing. Elyse took a deep breath. She couldn't turn back now.

The Kallisti thread with the Dranaika and Nox has been burning a whole in my head for some time now. While I plan on using bits and peices of this Fanfic in game, I kinda want to write what's running through my head out anyway knowing it won't go like this in game. So this is a portal stone adventure for Nox.

The title is in reference to the following quote on wikipedia:

Quote:<dl>
<dt>Kali</dt>
<dd> </dd>
</dl>
Shakta Hindu and Tantric sects additionally worship her as the ultimate reality or Brahman.
~ cite: Kali on Wikipedia

Their only plan to find the Regus was seek him out. The Baccarat Mansion was gone. That would only scatter the Atharim making them harder to find. But the Vatican still stood. If it feel much more than their hidden society would fall - parts of the world might go down in hail of glory - everyone against everyone. It reminded Aria very much of the doomsday feeling she got from the parchment so many months ago. It had really only been months. Not a year or years - months.

The greatest irony of all was that Aria was still receiving funds from the Atharim. Her apartment was still in good standing. Whatever had happened at Headquarters had deterred the Regus from whatever he intended to do about her. She would play it safe, but she wasn't a traitor yet. If he were dead - well and truly dead, she could still function within it's ranks. She was Atharim and there was nothing more to her than that.

Aria could use this knowledge to enter known safe houses, replenish supplies and even ask about the Regus' whereabouts without raising any flags. Not anymore than usual anyway. It was knowledge that she sought, and someone had to have some idea. Martin was dead. The Regus has been injured - Aria was sure of that, but here she stood without a scratch. She was completely whole - in every sense of the word.

Her gift returned. Something she would hold to until the end of her time. It was part of her and it was like dying without it. It was in those memories of pain that Aria remembered the solitude that she'd sought and found again... Returned from his travels without a word. Not that Aria expected anything of Dane. But she had been so busy focusing on Ascendancy she'd missed the change in venue when Dane purchased tickets to Moscow. Aria hadn't checked in on it, she knew where he was.

And while she needed to see Nox and figure out how they would proceed in the future she felt the crushing pull to find that which she was obsessed with. Wandering the city seemed a pointless venture. She knew he'd stayed at the Ritz Carlton before that was where she would start.

Aria was thankful for the casual business attire she'd been given after leaving the hospital. It was most uncomfortable and very not her, but she wouldn't stand out much in the lobby of the grand building. She could easily walk in and search floor by floor for the presence she was looking for.

Aria bore no weapons over the black dress pants that fell over a pair of black heeled boots. The green button down was a close match to her eyes. The weather was cool, but not cold. Spring had sprung and Aria wore only the matching jacket over the shirt. Her oroborous tattoo was fully covered by the shirt and jacket, not that it was a major deal breaker but Aria wasn't certain that people would recognize the symbology of it from the images leaked to the world.

Aria extended her senses to cover only a few rooms at a time. She glided through the halls like she belonged there. She moved with a purpose. The man she sought had to be here...