Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-29559990-20150109200212/@comment-12599067-20150123041641

Talnarach was quiet for quite some time before he spoke again, suddenly clasping both iron-gauntleted hands on either side of Sibbi's face so that they held one another's gaze. He was firm but not overly so, forcing Sibbi to look at him but not hurting him in the process.

"I am sorry, you know," Talnarach said simply. "For Borskar. I knew Maven was a monster and such a thing does not surprise me, but he has my condolences."

"But I am sorry for you, too. To think you understand so much of monsters and men without having truly seen the world," Talnarach mused, after which there was a pause. "How many times have you been outside the city gates? A dozen at most?"

"Let me tell you something, Sibbi. You do not learn the most about the world by sitting behind walls. I have learned most of what I know from time spent beyond walls, unbound by any kings or masters. I spent much of my life free and know many things. And I have seen horrors, Sibbi. Horrors worse than any physical pain or loss."

"A wise man named Divayth Fyr once said, "When one entereth into Oblivion, Oblivion entereth into thee". A surprisingly prophetic quote from a mage known for his selfishness and lack of compassion," Talnarach noted. "And it is true, too. I have not learned what lessons I have by sticking to the high road. But you... noble Sibbi, betraying his own family for what he deems the greater good? That would be a great tale, if only it's hero knew the important lessons of life."

Suddenly Talnarach stood and rose to his feet, removing his hands from the sides of Sibbi's face. One hand hung at his side while the other moved to rest on top of Sibbi's head, forcing him to look up at the towering Reachman.

"But I will spare you that fate. It is obviously not one you accept, anyways. You are content in thinking you have done so much good, yet you feel no guilt for your mother's murder. That is twisted and foul, Sibbi Black-Briar. To call yourself a hero of the people when you kill without conscience."

Sibbi noticed that the iron hand upon his skull was starting to grow warmer.

"I pity you, Sibbi. You know nothing. You pin this upon your mother's actions, and yet, it was you who made the decision to kill her. And yet others-- and yourself-- will herald you as a hero. It is all wrong, Sibbi. But I intend to fix it."

As the hand that sat on Sibbi's head grew to a feeling of burning heat, Talnarach's other hand reached up to the mask that hid his face.

"But I will not do this without imparting some knowledge upon you, before you leave. It would be unfitting for you to not have learned something from my words," Talnarach said as he slowly slipped off the mask that hid his face from the world as the burning vice grip on his skull grew to an intense heat, so much that Sibbi felt as if his skull would melt and be crushed in the Reachman's grasp. But his attention was turned elsewhere as the mask was removed and Sibbi found himself gazing right into two intense blue eyes that stared back at him, reflecting a mix of sadness and almost eerie intelligence. "So look into my eyes, Sibbi. Look into my eyes, and know that I am the solution."