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 Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 8:32 am
A private island in the New World, Zandai was the home to a Buddhist sect many years ago, before an incident resulted in the loss of many of the priests and the temple itself. The first among the islands protected by 'Bright King' Anji of the Four Emperors, Zandai Island is always protected by at least one of his eight commanders, with the assigned commander never leaving the island for more than a day at a time. The Commanders are hand-picked from the ranks of the Fallen Ones, each one having a bounty of at least four hundred million Beli, and all of them literally Fallen Ones in some sense, mostly religious.
The island is heavily forested, with a small village (population 35) at the easternmost end of the island and the burnt wreckage of a temple dominating the top of the mountain slope. At the door to the temple is a small shrine to those who died, with a burning bowl of incense, a funeral tablet, and a picture of Yukyuzan Anji, the 'Bright King' before he fell from enlightenment, surrounded by five laughing children.
In this picture, unechoed in the living world, Anji smiles.
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Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 9:07 am
On the shore of Zandai rested a Marine vessel, the Admiral that had been on it walking up the mountain to the shrine that, by all accounts, was presently protected by a member of the Fallen Ones, that gang of corrupted priests led by the Bright King, Anji. Anji had eight Commanders in his crew, each one from a different 'representation.'
The Admiral went through the list in his head.
Roronoa Kuina was the daughter of the legendary first mate of the Straw Hat pirates, themselves consigned to the depths of time in the sixty years that had passed since the second Pirate King had risen. She was known as "Kamaitachi" to the Marines, for her speed.
Edgar Zveindarr was a Logia, blessed (or cursed) with the power of iron. Not the toughest of combatants, but a sadist to the core and an addict to the pleasure of forcibly exsanguinating opponents. he was known as "Drakul," for his kinship to the legendary swordsman and his habit of drinking the blood he gathered.
Jianbol was a Skypiean, wingless but with an unsurpassed Mantra, the Color of Intention practically leaking out of his ears. His ability to dodge seconds in advance earned him the title "Immaculate."
A cyborg known as '27' was counted among the ranks of Anji's eight Commanders, though for what reason the Admiral could not fathom. Surely the creature had never displayed combat prowess. It had been a security risk at some point in the past, and thus had a large bounty, but it was virtually ignored.
Soppoii was the greatest marksman among the eight, a anglerfish fishman with a force of lung unparalleled among his kin. "Poseidon" had well earned his name with the triple-shot "trident lance" that had taken down at least one Shichibukai in the past.
Elder Hurst was the Paramecia of the eight, a nonagenarian with the power to 'pinch' two points in space and travel between them. The 'pinches' stayed as they were, always, but the space in between was likewise altered. People could walk through it without missing a beat, but anything caught between the points was utterly destroyed.
The only nonhumanoid, White was a Neptunian that had partaken of the Hito Hito no Mi after Tonytony Chopper perished at Raftel. An albino Neptunian resembling a giant eel in his natural form, White was apparently unaffected by the water-hating curse of the Devil Fruit while in his natural form.
Lastly, and most mysteriously, was Oz. The giant's giant had shown up five years ago, revived, with Anji's crew. His bounty still stood, and no-one had yet seen him aside from the one time he had appeared at Anji's side during a pitched battle with another of the Emperors.
The Admiral finished going through the roster as he reached the top of the hill, wondering which Commander would appear this time as he made to desecrate the shrine to the dead.
A sword was held at his throat and a soft voice whispered in his ear. Kamaitachi, then. "You would do well to leave this place, sailor. The prayers and offerings to the blessed dead should be never interrupted, that the sutras might ascend to heaven forever."
"I am here as a representative of the Marines. Your leader is invited to a meeting in one year, to be held at Marinford. The Fleet Admiral wishes to negotiate for truce and stability."
The sword was withdrawn and the Admiral straightened. "The message will be delivered. Now leave, sailor, while you may keep your head."
The Admiral, one of the rare high-ranking Marines that kept respect for civilians, bowed deeply to the shrine and vanished, the Suke Suke no Mi wiping him from the guardian's eyes. He returned to his ship and set back for his post, wishing as he did that he had not had to provoke Anji's most innocent commander to deliver the message.
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Butter My Biscuits Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 5:23 pm
Mordred's ship along with the passengers had finally made it to Zandai. Exiting
her room and brushing past the others, she walked up the long flight of stairs
towards the main temple with her arms folded and no expression on her face.
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 5:28 pm
Sahtya walked off to the village the moment they landed, changing into her robes and changing her appearance with the help of the villagers. While normally shorter than most, Sahtya lengthened her torso with ice so that she appeared to be well over six feet tall and thin as a rail, while the flowing robes disguised the icy extension to her torso and legs. The same held true for her arms, while white gloves covered her hands. Simple makeup disguised her face.
She then took a shortcut that only the priests knew of so that she would reach the temple well before the Marines, greeting her fellow Admiral at the door. With all the different ways she'd disguised herself, there was no way on Earth she would be recognized. "Welcome to the Temple of the Bright King, travelers. I am Immaculate Sati, the priestess that the Bright King has chosen to assign to this house of mercy. May we be of any service?"
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Butter My Biscuits Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 5:45 pm
Mordred felt an unnatural chill coming from the priestess. A smirk came across
her but she didn't let that deter her from her true motive. "Yes you can."
She shot an ominous stare at the girl (activating fearful presence ability.) and
her large black wing extended, causing a great gust of wind to blow. "I have
come...for the treasure." Mordred withdrew Albion from its sheath and held
it in her right hand.
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 5:59 pm
Sati smiled benignly as she ignored the aura, wing, wind, and sword. "We carry no treasure within our temple walls, traveler, except the infinite mercy given to us by Starbound Seiryu that we may teach to all who wish to learn it. This Temple of the Bright King is dedicated to his teachings."
Two visiting neophytes, dedicated to the worship of Suzaku and each training in their own way to become instruments of their Sainted One's Vengeance, felt the aura and heard the words from within the temple and came out to flank Sati. While the priestess was dressed in flowing robes of cloth gold, the neophytes were clothed in loose-fitting combat garments of deep blue edged with angular designs reminiscent of lightning. Sati did not show any physical sign that she noticed her newly-arrived guard. "I am sorry that we have no physical treasure within our temple that you might claim, traveler, but if you wish to go within we might talk for a while."
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Butter My Biscuits Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 6:21 pm
Mordred withdrew her sword in order to keep her visit to the temple civil.
She bowed to the priestess and the men. "My apologies. May lord
Seiryu watch over me as I enter this house." She said coming up from the
bow and having a calmer look on her face.
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 6:29 pm
Sati smiled and moved to one side as Mordred approached, so that the Admiral might enter the Temple first. Once they were both inside and the doors closed, Sati motioned for the neophytes to leave them. Once they were alone, Sati clasped her hands before her and turned to face Mordred. "Your words paid respect to Seiryu the Merciful, traveler, and your voice did as well. You are a talented actress indeed. If your eyes had not held such avarice I might have been taken in. I take it, then, that you are no believer in the Teachings?"
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Butter My Biscuits Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 6:46 pm
Mordred closed her eyes and opened them again, letting out a deep sigh
as she made eye contact with the priestess (sati). "To be honest, I know
nothing of the teachings." She bowed once again out of respect and
knelt to the priestess. "Long ago, I descended from the heavens in order
to co-exist with people of the blue sea. I have read about these four great
men in tattered and ruined books that were sold to me by merchants in my
homeland."
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 6:54 pm
Sati tried to keep the laughter back, and barely succeeded. She was lucky that Mordred was kneeling and could not see how her face momentarily contorted with barely-suppressed mirth. Here she'd thought Mordred was more distrusting than humans, but she'd apparently bought a book detailing the Teachings, which every Priest of the Sainted Ones was taught orally. "There is no need to kneel, traveler. We teach only mercy at this Temple, and of the other Teachings the travelling Priests may inform you more. If you wish to know more, we might walk for a while in the Shrine Halls."
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Butter My Biscuits Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 7:04 pm
"After you. Please, tell me more of these teachings." Mordred still
could feel the unnatural coldness coming from the girl's body, like a walking
iceberg. But none the less, Mordred still wanted to know more of these teachings
from the horse's mouth herself.
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 7:19 pm
Sati held one of the two doors open for Mordred then led the way down the Hall towards the end, speaking as she walked. "The Teachings are usually taught to initiates based on three objects each Temple contains. I suspect that one of the missionaries has informed you of the basics, at least the names and special principles each Sainted One held dear. I cannot speak for the Priests of the other three Sainted Ones, nor for other Temples of course. The Temple of the Bright King, however, is dedicated to more than the abstract of 'mercy.'"
Here, they came into a round room with incense burning along the walls, a picture of a smiling man and six children on a plain three-legged table in the center. Sati silently walked around it and continued, waiting for Mordred to follow before closing the doors to the room. "The image in that room is our most sacred focus, the first artifact we hold close to our own selves. After the Deist Rebellions, this Temple was sacked and desecrated by the former inhabitants of the village. The current Seiryu, Bright King Anji, was one of the priests at this Temple. His six children were burned to death. 'Mercy and forgiveness in the face of all evil' is the principle to which we are most dedicated. That image is a reminder of what we teach and what has been lost."
Sati continued walking and came to a second, smaller room. No incense burned along the walls, and there was no roof here. The ground was grass, and a sapling grew in the middle of the room. "Here is the second Teaching, that the Sainted Ones did not live for their individual Teaching alone, but instead for all life. They did not kill without cause, nor seek to take life even if given reason to do so."
Sati waited for Mordred to walk through the opposite door before leading the way through once again. "In the final room is the last Teaching. All of us may have the power that the Sainted Ones bore, if we are patient and remember our path. Others believe these to be the most sacred relic of our Way, but they are quite common. We do not know which one this is, though."
She opened the final door to reveal a simple, unlit, square room. the candlelight from the hall showed a purple Devil Fruit sitting on a plain wooden table. "Power is a simple thing, and needs no complex vestments."
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Butter My Biscuits Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 7:38 pm
Mordred followed the priestess looking in awe as she laid eyes upon
the first room. "If I'm not mistaken, the others are...Forgiveness, Welcoming,
and Redemption." She said continuing to follow Sati. Going through the
second room and seeing the sampling, Mordred wanted to touch it and catch
a single drop of drew which hung from its highest leaf. Not wanting to offend
she continued on and stood next to the priestess and bowed once more.
"With great power, no mere mortal can control it. You must hold the power
with responsibility and use it for whatever means." Turning to the devil fruit.
"May I?"
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 7:41 pm
Sati shrugged diffidently. "The Teachings recommend that power be allowed into the world. If you feel that the time is right for you to gain this power, I am not one to stop you acquiring it. I would recommend, though, that you seek out the novitiates of Suzaku's teachings once you acquire what power it contains. They may be helpful in your adaptation."
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Butter My Biscuits Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 7:50 pm
After getting the okay, she stepped forward and grabbed the fruit. Unhinging her
jaw like a snake she took a large bite from the devil fruit and began devouring it
like lion devouring a gizelle. By the time she had finished her eyes had flashed
a different color before returning to their normal color. "So this is what true power
tastes like?" She said licking her lips and returning to Sati. "Why didn't you
tell me it tasted this good. Don't worry, I'm far from corrupted." Mordred folded
her arms and looked at the priestess closer. "I think I know you....You're so
cold, being in your presence makes me feel as though I'm walking in a blizzard."
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