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[Tris has been rather lonely since arriving and spent most of his time working with the kedan and continuing his practice and studies as best he could alone. He has tried to make an entry many times, but given up each time until now.]

The passage of time here is surreal. Perhaps because I was so used to being on the road and surrounded by friends and suddenly I'm alone... I think were I back home it would be about time for Winterstide. We always have lavish banquets and festivals and a ball, but I suppose my home won't be celebrating this year - there is very little to be joyous about. And I should have held the Court of Spirits to help restore balance to the flow of magic.

But that isn't something I can do here. Not least because I can sense people's souls and their magic, but I have been unable to project onto the Spirit Plane. It's as though it doesn't exist here, like there are no ghosts and no spirits. Perhaps what they said is true, that this is a land between death and life. [His lips press into a tight line. The worst part is that where ever this place is, he is no longer able to sense his sister's spirit and guarantee that it hasn't been devoured by the Soulcatcher...] Still, it's like losing a part of myself, even though I've only been able to do it for a few months.

Has anyone else discovered changes to their magic or their abilities?

Oh, speaking of abilities, I worry that in my time here I may lose practise - I don't suppose there are any other swordsmen here who would be willing to spar?

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The Spirit Plane is a plane between the land of the living and the next world, where the souls of the dead pass to. It is where spirits bound to the world who cannot or do not wish to pass over remain.

[It seems similar to the spiritual plane Leonardo himself is familiar with - but he suspects they're not quite the same. A place for souls stuck in limbo...it sounds a bit like their whole situation, really.]

Do you think it's possible that this world is something like the Spirit Plane? [Maybe that's why he can't project onto it?]

I don't think so. I know what we've been told, but this place feels nothing like the Spirit Plane. How could our physical bodies exist on a plane where only spirits can exist? [Which is his way of saying he doesn't know what to believe.]

[Makes sense. Leonardo knows for certain that their bodies here are physical in every sense of the word - they still bleed, get hungry, tire. He isn't sure what projecting onto the Spirit Plane entails, exactly, but from the sound of it, that place and this one seem unrelated.]

[Well...it's a relief, either way. Leo is still pretty sure they aren't all dead, but it doesn't hurt to check every now and then.]

Stranger things have happened...but you're probably right. I think it's more likely that this place is a sort of nexus between worlds - I've been to one before, but it was mostly self-contained. This one's on a much larger scale.

If not something like that, then I cannot even begin to imagine what this place is. The people here, the kedan? They don't seem to want to give anything away, either. For how could they not know more about their land than they told us? [Tris frowns a little, but he's glad some things are falling into place. Perhaps things he would have realised given time, but time wasn't something he was used to having.]

[Here Leo sighs, rubbing the bridge of his snout and grimacing. That's something he's been bothered by since he was pulled from the ocean.]

I'm guessing they're under some kind of orders. For someone who never seems to be around, the Emperor has one heck of a loyal kingdom. [Or maybe a fearful one.]

Is it loyalty? Or are they in fear of their ruler? [He's going to go ahead and voice Leonardo's thoughts because living in fear is precisely what his home will be like for as long as his brother is on the throne...]

[Loyalty free from corruption, or fear unassuaged by rebellion...either way, he's never seen such absolute control over a populace. It's probably one of the more unnerving things about this place.]

If it is fear, she's got the wrong visitors in her kingdom. I have a feeling most of us won't bend that easily.

[Tris's expression turns dark, but determined. It's clear from his face that this isn't something he could accept, that it's something he would fight against.] Indeed we won't.

[There's a beat of silence on the other end. Leo's own eyes narrow in response to the resolute look in Tris's expression, and he clasps his hands in front of his face. Eventually, an approving smirk crosses his mouth.]

Glad to hear it. [He lowers his hands.] Leonardo.

Edited 2013-01-09 00:18 (UTC)

Martris Drayke. People call me Tris. [He smiles, already used to the strange names of the people here.] I hope there are more people who feel that way.

[He sighs again, but the turn of conversation has relaxed him a bit, and this time it's with a sort of put-upon exasperation.]

I can think of a few.

I'm glad. It's good to know we're not alone.

[It is - but that's only if the Emperor is truly a tyrant. Leo is glad there would be resistance in a worst-case scenario, but there's always the chance that things aren't black-and-white as that.]

...I've heard that the Emperor sometimes comes down for an audience with anybody who petitions for one.

Is that so? Do you know of anyone who has met with her? [Maybe meeting with this Emperor would be a good idea. He could plead his case to her...]

[Headshake.] I just picked it up from one of the kedan...but I'm planning to meet her myself. Along with my brother, if possible.

I hope it goes well for you and-- Your brother is here? [Lucky. Tris wishes he had--not his brother, but Kait, his sister, and his friends here. Kiara too. He missed her a lot.]

One of them, anyway. I wish I could say the same for the other two. [The missing ones are the main reason he wants to see the Emperor.]

None of my family is here, though I am grateful for that. I do miss my friends though. You're lucky you have someone close to you here with you. [A small smile.]

Luckier than most, I hear. [He knows it's selfish to want his whole family here when many of the others don't even have one person from home...but he can't help himself. He shakes his head with a sheepish smile.] I'm sorry; I didn't mean to rub it in.

It's alright. If time has truly frozen back there as I was told, they won't be missing me. Perhaps my time here was a gift, so I can learn more before returning to them.