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 Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 4:42 pm
Many of Duniya knew of the Divine Order. They all had varying thoughts of the religious body, but most held some measure of respect for them whether it was for their devotion to the Pantheon or for their willingness to cope with the unreliable Duniya gods. The Divine Order did not typically involve itself in the everyday affairs of its residents, but something about the uniqueness of the existence of the Tabula Rasa had intrigued the gods.
The Order contained the gods' messengers, and so, the Divine Order learned that they must interfere with these 'Tabula Rasa'—blank slates born out of Rasa. The particular reasons for the gods' interference was unknown, but no matter if Locke particularly agreed to it or not, the new manifests were to be brought to the Divine Order—specifically, Shakuni—immediately upon manifestation.
Shakuni herself was a deeply devout priestess of the Order. It was said that the gods had touched her themselves, and therefore she held a deep connection and affinity to the affairs of the gods. Shakuni was a leader in the Order and perhaps the most important messenger of them all. To be called to bring the Tabula Rasa to the gods meant that the Tabula Rasa held some deep significance. The certain significance was, as of currently, unknown, but one did not question the gods' wishes.
Another manifestation had arrived—Zero. It was time.
As routine before she had to present someone with the gods, Shakuni entered a meditative state where she could speak with her gods. No matter what, she kept alert for the sounds around her, to make sure she would not find herself surprised and to make sure she knew exactly when the manifestation would enter.
If the gods wished to meet all the manifestations, Shakuni would be the vessel which would allow that.
(( The gods have spoken through their faithful servant! They have decreed that all new manifestations are to be brought to the attention of the Divine Order and brought to Shakuni, their faithful messenger, as soon as possible.
This PRP thread is reserved for the manifestation Zero.
This introductory post is very similar to the ones of the other Tabula because the Divine Order and Shakuni have not been known very long; it gives you a chance to get to know them as well. ))
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Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 5:58 pm
It was a simple task to feed the palace's hunting dogs. One had to simply carry a bucket of meat scraps to their pen and toss them in, once at a time first to the dog's alphas, then once they were distracted to feed the rest of them. There was something about them this morning that gave the servant pause, and a look caused the scrapbucket to be forgotten in favor of seeking out the hounds' keeper.
Neither he, the servant, nor the priest of the Divine Order that was summoned was prepared to witness a tabula manifest himself (it was quite clear to see) in the hound's pen. What chance was there of a shard appearing there? Zip. Zilch. Zero.
Once extracted from his new "friends," Zero was whisked away to the Divine Order whereupon a quick detour was taken before he was allowed into Shakuni's presence. With the aid of two adepts, the priest that had retrieved the tabula forcefully held him down to scour him clean of the dirt and muck that had been applied liberally to him through play with the hounds. It was only after his skin was flushed with a tinged pink hue and a suitable hand-me-down tunic and trousers were placed upon him was he lead to the sanctum.
Zero took a few steps into the chamber, stopping to crane his neck back and gaze open-mouthed at the chamber. "Woooow," he breathed, seemingly taken aback by the splendor of the size of it. He tilted his head to one side, waiting for the faint swish-swish of the priest's footsteps to fade away before peeling off his tunic. This was quickly cast aside before he began walking forward towards the priestess. This... is what he was told to do, right? He had to keep the itchy-things on his lower frame on because he was yelled at when he tried to take them off earlier -- he didn't have time to see if they wouldn't let him remove the upper until now.
He shook his head, then paused to scratch behind one ear. With that accomplished, he approached Shakuni, biting his lip as he saw the priest do when he first met him. "'allo? Hello? Um."
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Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 1:23 pm
Shakuni watched this new manifestation taking in the temple and smiled slightly, putting her hands on her hips and shaking her head slightly as he stripped as soon as the priest left. Oh, this one was going to be a piece of work. But Shakuni could not complain. The gods had requested that the Tabula meet them, and she was not one to argue with the gods.
"Hello, Zero," she said in response to his greeting, smiling.
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Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 2:13 pm
Zero jerked back in surprise, then took a couple steps towards her, uncertain. "Zero? Zero-zip-zilch! That's me, isn't it?!" He exclaimed, clapping his hands. He then paused, head tilting to one side before looking down at the gaping hole in his chest. "Or is it this? Maybe both?" He indicated the pale, nearly invisible shard in his chest.
He looked back to Shakuni, his head tilting in the opposite direction it was previously. "I here now. What next? What is...?" He waved his arms, gesturing to the grand space around them. "I told, 'Zero go here.' I here."
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Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 2:30 pm
Shakuni's smile broadened at the almost happy-go-lucky antics of this particular Tabula. He was certainly...energetic, among other things. She got the feeling that he was going to be more than a handful for those who had to watch him. But of course, that was not her concern. This Tabula right here in front of her was. "From what I've heard, your name is Zero," she answered, extending a hand and gesturing from the top of his head to his feet. "All of you."
"And it's all of you I need right now. The gods have summoned you here through me."
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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 1:04 pm
Wait, so all of him was 'Zero'? The Tabula tilted his head to one side, considering. It would be easier and less confusing than to, say, call his right hand 'Zip' and his left hand 'Zilch.' I mean, what if he had to use Zip to help Zilch lift something? Would they still be his hands, or would they be as they were -- Zip and Zilch?
Zero scratched the back of his head, lips pressed into a line before nodding. "Zero! I like that," he announced with a grin, "but if I'm Zero, then... Are you zip? Zilch? Nada? Something else?"
He paused, then stared at her. "I... I was summoned through you? But..." Zero studied her, then walked around her. "I don't see a door? How can I be summoned through you if door over there?" At this he pointed towards the portal he came through, then brightened as an idea struck him. "Maybe! Maybe you is part of door, yes? That's how I came through! Er, right?"
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Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 11:01 am
Shakuni closed her eyes, eyebrows raised. This was going to be... interesting. She didn't quite know what to make of the barrage of questions that had just hit her.
"I am Shakuni, high priestess of the Divine Order and vessel of the Gods." She paused, trying to think of a suitable response to explain to Zero that, no, she was not in fact part of the door.
"The Gods... they chose to ask you to come here by asking me. Then I asked you. That is how you came through me, Zero."
She hoped that would make sense to him. "The door," she pointed to it herself, "is just a door".
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Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 12:13 am
The Tabula chewed on his lip for a moment, processing the information. "Oooooh," he breathed, looking from the door to Shakuni and back. "So door is a door unless you're being called through it, then it's not! Or, wait, someone could shout beyond a door, and that'd mean they're calling me through it..." He started to get a bit panicky, fretting. "But if I can't go through door, then --"
He stopped as a new thought struck him. "I.. If Gods called me here through you," he ventured, "Where are they? I no see them -- see you, me, and that." He pointed at the fountain, adding in a hopeful tone, "I no have to go in, yes? Already went in one. Was cold and wet."
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Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 8:40 pm
Evidently it had not made sense to him. Shakuni decided she was not going to try any further; it was delaying the events that were the purpose of the Tabula's visit. "The Gods are everywhere. You will see them shortly, if you wish." She paused, imagining Zero in a fountain, and thinking of the one that stood in the courtyard of Locke's wing of the palace. It was not a hard thing to imagine. "Do you wish to see the Gods?" And as her words died into the vastness of the room, so too did the light until nothing could be seen but tiny pinpricks of light surrounding the white stone fountain, now singularly illuminated in the darkness.  (( There is a black light between the blue and green lights. ))
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Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 12:11 pm
The gods were everywhere? Everywhere?! The gullible Tabula threw his gaze left and right, up and down -- but there was nothing to see. Then realization dawned on him, and he scuffed his foot in embarrassment. "Er, yes! Maybe?" He looked at her, then jumped in surprise as the lights dimmed. What just happened?!
A flash of light to one side caught his eye, and Zero turned to face the fountain. It was still wet and still had water, but now... He edged close to the fountain, studying the lights in wonder. "Oooh," he breathed, walking a slow circle around them. "What are these? They... No, not bubbles. Bubbles come with soap," he frowned, "right?" Without waiting, he reached out and poked a green light, just to see if it would pop.
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Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 3:07 pm
The green light, touched by Zero, seemed to liquify, shaping itself into the form of a tall woman who appeared almost colourless; she was present simply in shades and tones. The woman's blank eyes looked down her long nose at the Tabula as she towered over him. This did not seem right.
"You have chosen Bhibasta? Do you know what the path of disgust entails?"
He did not seem to harbour any serious feeling in him; it unsettled Poena.
"Speak, Tabula."
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Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 5:13 pm
It was a trick! A trap! It WAS a soap bubble! Zero scrambled back, shaking his hand with quick, jerky motions as if to rid himself of the sensation of... Wait, where was the water? He studied his hand, then looked up... and up...
He wanted something to hide behind desperately. "N-n-nooooo?" He replied, inching towards the fountain. Maybe he could put it between him and this... really, really tall person? "Do I want to know?"
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Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 5:32 pm
Poena simply stared down at it.
"You have chosen Bhibasta. Some part of you must wish to know."
It was such an odd little thing. She wondered what the rest of them would have thought of it. The Gods of Bhibasta tended to either be stoic and withdrawn, like herself, or indescribably destructive. Except for... Felo. She looked away from the Tabula from a moment. Perhaps his choice was not as haphazard as she had originally thought.
"Bhibhasta," Poena spoke, her voice devoid of intonation, "can emcompass many things. Revenge, retribution, punishment and justice. There also exists sickness and disease, destruction and pain. And..." She paused. "there is the ego."
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Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 6:39 pm
As Poena stared down, Zero stared up. And inched to the side, pressing up against the cool stones of the fountain. He didn't know what this... this reallybigscaryperson wanted, and in fact he honestly didn't know what to make of her. Her voice wasn't loud and sharp, so she wasn't displeased with him. It also wasn't light and coaxing, and pleased. She was just... is.
"R-rrevenge? Punishment? For what?" He asked, "Why do any of that? That... that..." He paused, his eyebrows furrowing. "That is... it's... I not like," he finished lamely. Why? What is the point of that? Why is it so..." He raised his hands and waved them around, mindful of the floating red lights above him. It wouldn't do him any good to hit another of those, especially if this happened! "Why so selfish?"
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Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 8:02 pm
Poena continued to look at Zero, completely unaware of the effect she was having on the Tabula.
"For justice. Divine retribution is necessary for those who commit the fallacy of hubris, among nother things. But all stems from hubris." She paused. "Tabula, it is not just revenge for the personal self. It is punishment to uphold the cosmic order; to prevent such things from happening again. If we did not reinforce the rules of the world, chaos would ensue."
She paused again, taking longer to speak this time. "I cannot tell you of the ego. Felo is a singular god of Bhibasta. But we are not all the same; this I am sure you will not take long to learn. Bhibasta, thus, is not always selfish."
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