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 Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 9:26 am
The Courtyard
The courtyard of Castellum Umbra is a wild tangle of vines and twisted trees, cracked paving stones, and broken sculptures of battle and torment. To the West, a gated drawbridge leads out over a dark-watered moat. At the east end, a portcullis and heavy iron doors lead into the castle itself. To the north pens of some sort, used to contain wild animals or perhaps prisoners are arrayed. To the south a distinct area for training, marred by long dried and blackened blood on the stones, is set up for ranged and martial combat. At the center of the courtyard is a giant fire pit, with stones ranging around it for sitting on. Large spits are set around the edges for roasting meat on, and trenches are dug among the coals for roasting vegetables inside earthenware pots.
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Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 5:25 pm
It's been a series of strange events that have led to this point in time. Although Sajhiri had contacted Kamiki about possibly being a Kithain, the Sajhiri who met 'Miki at the door of the tower this time around was...different. She didn't seem like herself, and it was more than just the glowing red shade her normally golden eyes had taken on. She seemed cooler of personality, her voice holding an icy edge to it, an imperious expression on her face.
She explained to the other woman about her possible fey blood, how if she was truly possessed of it she could cross through the fairy ring in the tower's center into Tir Nan Og, and follow the pull of her spirit towards the cursed child's prison whose family blood she descended from.
She told her of the sacrifice of a small bit of soul and a small bit of life essence to break the curse itself, and how should she choose to save them from their dreadful fate, that child would become her responsibility.
So it was that Kamiki crossed the threshold of the mushroom ring and appeared in the meadow of the Fey realm, and how her spirit was drawn towards the darker of the two castles, Castellum Umbra, the castle of the Moon Court.
Sajhiri grinned almost maniacally. "Follow the pull, old friend...and it shall lead you to where you are most needed. I shall await you here, with the Majestrix, to greet the child if and when you free her."
As if summoned by her title, a pale, dark haired figure stepped from the shadows. Her expression made Sajhiri look downright tropical by comparison. Nox peered at Kamiki through dark lashes, a tight smile on her lips. "Yes...I smell the blood of one of my people here. Go, child, and release them..."
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Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 5:34 pm
Kamiki was nervous but confident at the same time.
At first, Kamiki often just wrote off her ties to her adopted familly as mere coencidence mixed with maternal instinct.
Kamiki knew something had changed within her when she came to this place. Her memories were hazy, at best, but Kamiki knew they were dark and dangerous. This place she had come to - Gaia - was much better.
But the kitsune spirit inside her has been stirring recently. Vivid dreams lead her places in her sleep... ancient beasts whisper to her in her sleep and speak of something far bigger than Kamiki ever envisioned herself being.
And here she was, standing at the gateway to another realm... her blood possibily shared with a an ancient and cursed being. It was almost unimaginable.
Kamiki listened intently to Jhiri's words... there icey tone putting her a bit on edge. But now was not the time for questioning...
Her breath caught in her throat as she saw the Majestrix. Beautiful, but a air around her that almost made Kamiki shudder. She gave a small bow and nod, indicating that she was ready. Taking a deep breath, she stepped towards the castle
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Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 5:39 pm
The corridors of the ancient stone structure were surprisingly clean of dust and debris, in spite of the millenia of abandonment that came before. Someone had evidently been tending it well.
The hard dark stones rang out each of Kamiki's footsteps, echoing in the emptiness like a stacatto symphony of sheer lonliness. The desolate and cold sensation was something that seemed palpable, as if it were alive and could seep into one's very bones.
The insistent tugging that seemed to be pulling at Kamiki's abdomen grew stronger as it neared a spiral staircase, leading up not one, but two floors, and down a cooridor to a heavy metal door with ancient runes in some long forgotten language carved into it's surface.
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Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 5:47 pm
Kamiki was somehow not surprised, but alittle unnerved that she seemed to know exactly where to go in a place she had never been to before. Something was definately here... definately for her. She lets her hands traces over the door before focusing her courage enough to try and open it....
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Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 5:51 pm
Inside was what appeared to be a sorceror's study, filled with dusty and very much untouched tomes. Cobwebs were covering most everything, as if despite the cleanliness of the rest of the castle, this place was deliberately left untouched, or the cleaner could not pass the rune-carved door. Pale light flittered into the room and across the floor in shades of green, blue, purple, and grey, cast from a stained glass window set in the far wall above a desk. It almost seemed to be begging to have the dust wiped off it's time-dimmed panes.
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Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 6:00 pm
Kamiki felt an urgent need to clean off the window, quickly rushing up to the window, unheaving layers of dust in the process. She jumped up onto the desk with a fox-like grace and stood towards the mirror, quickly using her hands to wipe at the layers of dust accumulated on the glass.
Despite the somberness of her mood, Kamiki let out a exasperated, dry laugh as the face of a silver fox peered back at her from the glass. That was that... someone somewhere was definately trying to tell her something.
She got as much of the dust from the window as she could without proper tools, and stood back, at the egde of the desk. Her hands felt drawn to the delicate patterns on the glass, and she lets her hands glide over the smooth, cool surface while she basked in the colored light.
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Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 6:03 pm
As Kamiki touched the window and traced the images upon it, inside her head a strange, genderless voice, ethereal and cool, spoke.
"Do you, Kamiki, give freely of your spirit and essence, to free Vulpina, daughter of Defixus and Mirus, of her dread curse?"
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Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 6:06 pm
Kamiki tried to keep her breathing even and her voice steady as she replied, "Yes, I do."
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Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 6:09 pm
With the pledge sincerely given, for a moment Kamiki could feel something tangible slither out of her body and merge into the window, invisible, but there, making her feel a slight loss with it gone. Then the window began to glow with an intense blackness from within, enveloping the glass, then pouring out onto the floor in a wash of seemingly liquid, tar-like fluid. It pooled there, and expanded, pulsing as if alive, then in an instant it was gone, leaving a fey child in it's wake.
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Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 6:15 pm
Kamiki jumps off the desk at the awakening, quickly dropping to her knees when the child appears, lifting her up off the dusty cold floor. She stops and looks over her, simply amazed at her beautiful and already feeling a strong bond
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Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 6:18 pm
Recovery from the ordeal her freedom brought her through will take a day or two for little Vulpina, but cold, joyous laughter rang out through the castle, as Majestrix Nox revelled in the release of yet another of her subjects. It had indeed begun and she waited in the courtyard with Sajhiri.
"Vulpina, as I suspected, my dear Sajhiri. My mage is free and shall be able to grow into her power, and help me crush the Sun Court!"
Sajhiri nodded and smirked. "Indeed, Majestrix, I wait for the day."
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Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 8:16 am
Title: Along Came A Spider
Date: 10.12.04
Participants: Sayuri_Nitta, Aranea, Sajhiri, Majestrix Nox
Synopsis: Sajhiri brings Sayuri to Tir Nan Og, where she frees Aranea from the curse.
A strange message arrived for Sayuri_Nitta a few nights past, asking her to meet with a Psychologist named Sajhiri Jihaar in an odd location. Upon her arrival at the ancient stone tower, Sayuri was greeted by Sajhiri, a woman with a somewhat imperious personality, made eerier by the reddish gleam in her eyes.
Dr. Jihaar explained to the other woman about her possible fey blood, how if she was truly possessed of it she could cross through the fairy ring in the tower's center into Tir Nan Og, and follow the pull of her spirit towards the cursed child's prison whose family blood she descended from. The tragic tale of the fey children of Tir Nan Og was dramatically retold, in a manner to tug on even the hardest of heartstrings.
Sajhiri told Sayuri of the sacrifice required to break the curse...a small bit of soul and a small bit of life essence. Were Sayuri to choose to save her ancestor from their dreadful fate, that child would become her responsibility.
So it was that Sayuri passed through the mushroom ring and appeared in the meadow of the Fey realm, and how her spirit was drawn towards the darker of the two castles, Castellum Umbra, the castle of the Moon Court.
As the pair strode through the portcullis and into the dimly lit courtyard of the castle, they were met by a slender, pale woman with iridescent wings emerging from her bare back.
Half naked in tribalistic garments, Majestrix Nox peered at Sayuri with an anticipatory expression, excitement dancing in star-laden eyes of twilight hues.
"Welcome, child, to the home of your ancestral kin. Umbra calls to you...heed and follow it's summons and you shall find that which you seek. Lay hands upon the prison, and make your choice." The regal woman gestured towards the darkness of the castle entrance beyond, beckoning Sayuri to follow the now discernible and insistent tugging within.
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Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 8:28 am
It was odd indeed to discover dark secrets about oneself; odder still that it came from someone she had only the smallest of contact with prior. If this were all true, that she had within her the key to release one of these Fey, well not alot could stop her truthfully. Following the almost sky clad women, whose bearing proclaimed her regal status, she felt something - a pulling almost. What was it that called to her spirit, that guided her steps.
'Stairs,' she said, feeling foolish for saying just that word out loud but knowing there was something behind it.
'Into the basement? I can almost see them.' she said, as her body was pulled through the castle and to the top of said stairs. She descended slowly, nervously.
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Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 8:32 am
Majestrix Nox watched Sayuri begin her descent into the bowels of the castle then turned back to Sajhiri. "We shall wait for her in the courtyard. The moon is bright tonight and I wish to gaze upon my stars."
Sajhiri glanced at Sayuri's retreating back for a moment before nodding to Nox. "Yes Majestrix, as you wish." She escorted the Fey woman back outside to await Sayuri's return.
The pull, stronger and more insistent with each step, was drawing Sayuri through the winding corridors of the castle dungeons, past cells long emptied of life, if not of remains. Scattered bones were on display, some dangling in manacles, their hollowness indicated their owners were likely Fey and not human, save for a few exceptions here and there.
At the end of the corridor, a heavy iron-banded door seemed to beckon.
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