1 - voice/action;
[Eraqus' arrival is a rather subdued one. There's no yelling or rambling of questions for the seal to pick up on. His mind races, but he keeps his tongue still. He regards his surroundings from where he stands, hunched over with a pain that barely registers in those first few moments. A new world. A new world and he's alive. Only when that realization dawns on him does he take notice of the pull and ache throughout his muscles, the sharp pain that cuts up his back when he forces himself to straighten up. He ignores it all, pushing it out of his thoughts as best he can. He needs answers, but how to go about pursuing them? Slowly, taking care not to aggravate his wounds or alert anyone nearby to his presence, he pulls the hood of his haori up, letting his face sink into its shadow.
He makes his way out of the hall and into the city with the same precise caution. A Master must always do what he can to mind the world order. He makes no effort to summon his Keyblade since his condition doesn't warrant the risk, and he keeps well out of the way of the people he passes. He doesn't stray far from the hall itself, though. Rather, after walking for some time, he finds a place outside a building to stand and watch the goings-on of the world he's found himself in. He may be utterly baffled by the situation, but only the faintest traces of confusion find their way into his partially-masked expression.
His idling doesn't last long. There must be a reason for his arrival into this world, but he'll have to address it later. Eraqus makes his way into an alley well away from any bystanders and there lets his Keyblade flash into his hand. He has to get back to Departure and find Terra. There seems to be no urgent trouble here. He'll just make a note to return later or request Aqua visit the world in his stead once their troubles with Xehanort and the Unversed are resolved.
And that's the plan of his that's effectively shattered moments later when pointing his Keyblade to an open space in front of him doesn't produce an exit portal to the Lanes Between. Oh. Well. That's not good. When repeated attempts yield the same result, he gives up with a low sigh. His Keyblade is dismissed in a twist of light.]
Never assume you understand the inner workings of worlds. [He chastises himself lightly, touching his hand to his chest.] All hearts guards their secrets closely... [He hesitates a step -- The hearts of worlds are no different, he thinks but does not say -- before returning to the street he'd been walking.]
Terra, Aqua... Ventus. It would seem this world means to keep me here, but rest assured I will return to you in due time. May you forgive your foolish Master for his mistakes when that day comes. In the meantime... stay safe. As a team, you should have more than strength to see you through these struggles Xehanort would impose upon us all...
[And, with that, he resumes his careful search of the new world.]
-----
[It isn't until late evening that Eraqus, having explored some of the Metropolis District and perused the message board, returns to the building he first appeared in. He never thought he'd see the day when he'd be unsettled by a lack of darkness, but in not finding any hint of trouble lurking in the city streets, he has also failed to uncover the reason he's trapped here. Giving up on his search for the night, he takes a seat outside the city hall and there takes to looking over the seal.
As he's come to understand it, all he needs to do is talk to the thin slab of metal to communicate with others in the world. That means of long-distance communication isn't exactly a foreign concept to him, so after giving his message some thought, he addresses his seal. His voice is a touch rough with age, but he chooses his words carefully and his tone is thoughtful, if not a little resigned. He does manage to mask the fact that he's exhausted and wounded rather well, though. Go him.]
When children learn of the light, they are always told how swiftly it moves. The light is faster than any other element could hope to be, it is said. Attack with the light on your side and you will land the first blow in battle. What goes unmentioned in those early lessons is that the darkness is so bound to the light that they must move in tandem at all times. So the truth of the matter is that darkness is as fast as light. Truly, one should never underestimate the speed with which the darkness can come upon you, ridding your heart of the light of familiarity, understanding... compassion. From light to darkness. Birth to sleep. And how is any man or woman, Master or student, to know there is light yet waiting in whatever foreboding shadow may come upon them? New light and a new world, it would seem.
[He sighs and can't quite keep himself from muttering a somber something.]
There were some things he was right about... If only he had used that knowledge in a less... destructive manner.
[But he speaks up a moment later, all traces of distress done away with.]
The papers on the board here say the name of this place is Splendor. I take it there are many here like myself... Visitors from other realms?
[The protection of the world order may be a moot point in a world full of people from other worlds, but he's trying to play things safe just in case he's mistaken about one thing or another.]
My name is Eraqus, Splendor. I would appreciate more information about this place, if any one happens to have that knowledge and would be willing to share it with a newcomer. I assure you any help I receive will be repaid in full. Kindness begets kindness... Or, in some cases, begets rewards.
[Anyone who passes by the Golden City Hall at sunset may notice a figure hanging out there. He's not especially noticeable, per say, especially with the hood hanging over his face, but more observant passersby just might notice an errant light spot or two appearing and disappearing in his general vicinity. Of course, they come and go so quickly, they could just be figments of one's imagination.]
He makes his way out of the hall and into the city with the same precise caution. A Master must always do what he can to mind the world order. He makes no effort to summon his Keyblade since his condition doesn't warrant the risk, and he keeps well out of the way of the people he passes. He doesn't stray far from the hall itself, though. Rather, after walking for some time, he finds a place outside a building to stand and watch the goings-on of the world he's found himself in. He may be utterly baffled by the situation, but only the faintest traces of confusion find their way into his partially-masked expression.
His idling doesn't last long. There must be a reason for his arrival into this world, but he'll have to address it later. Eraqus makes his way into an alley well away from any bystanders and there lets his Keyblade flash into his hand. He has to get back to Departure and find Terra. There seems to be no urgent trouble here. He'll just make a note to return later or request Aqua visit the world in his stead once their troubles with Xehanort and the Unversed are resolved.
And that's the plan of his that's effectively shattered moments later when pointing his Keyblade to an open space in front of him doesn't produce an exit portal to the Lanes Between. Oh. Well. That's not good. When repeated attempts yield the same result, he gives up with a low sigh. His Keyblade is dismissed in a twist of light.]
Never assume you understand the inner workings of worlds. [He chastises himself lightly, touching his hand to his chest.] All hearts guards their secrets closely... [He hesitates a step -- The hearts of worlds are no different, he thinks but does not say -- before returning to the street he'd been walking.]
Terra, Aqua... Ventus. It would seem this world means to keep me here, but rest assured I will return to you in due time. May you forgive your foolish Master for his mistakes when that day comes. In the meantime... stay safe. As a team, you should have more than strength to see you through these struggles Xehanort would impose upon us all...
[And, with that, he resumes his careful search of the new world.]
-----
[It isn't until late evening that Eraqus, having explored some of the Metropolis District and perused the message board, returns to the building he first appeared in. He never thought he'd see the day when he'd be unsettled by a lack of darkness, but in not finding any hint of trouble lurking in the city streets, he has also failed to uncover the reason he's trapped here. Giving up on his search for the night, he takes a seat outside the city hall and there takes to looking over the seal.
As he's come to understand it, all he needs to do is talk to the thin slab of metal to communicate with others in the world. That means of long-distance communication isn't exactly a foreign concept to him, so after giving his message some thought, he addresses his seal. His voice is a touch rough with age, but he chooses his words carefully and his tone is thoughtful, if not a little resigned. He does manage to mask the fact that he's exhausted and wounded rather well, though. Go him.]
When children learn of the light, they are always told how swiftly it moves. The light is faster than any other element could hope to be, it is said. Attack with the light on your side and you will land the first blow in battle. What goes unmentioned in those early lessons is that the darkness is so bound to the light that they must move in tandem at all times. So the truth of the matter is that darkness is as fast as light. Truly, one should never underestimate the speed with which the darkness can come upon you, ridding your heart of the light of familiarity, understanding... compassion. From light to darkness. Birth to sleep. And how is any man or woman, Master or student, to know there is light yet waiting in whatever foreboding shadow may come upon them? New light and a new world, it would seem.
[He sighs and can't quite keep himself from muttering a somber something.]
There were some things he was right about... If only he had used that knowledge in a less... destructive manner.
[But he speaks up a moment later, all traces of distress done away with.]
The papers on the board here say the name of this place is Splendor. I take it there are many here like myself... Visitors from other realms?
[The protection of the world order may be a moot point in a world full of people from other worlds, but he's trying to play things safe just in case he's mistaken about one thing or another.]
My name is Eraqus, Splendor. I would appreciate more information about this place, if any one happens to have that knowledge and would be willing to share it with a newcomer. I assure you any help I receive will be repaid in full. Kindness begets kindness... Or, in some cases, begets rewards.
[Anyone who passes by the Golden City Hall at sunset may notice a figure hanging out there. He's not especially noticeable, per say, especially with the hood hanging over his face, but more observant passersby just might notice an errant light spot or two appearing and disappearing in his general vicinity. Of course, they come and go so quickly, they could just be figments of one's imagination.]