You can only win one freebie Soquili and one freebie Familiar during the event. You may co-own a Soquili prize, but the prize will count as both your and your co-owner's Soquili freebie for the event. Due to the nature of the contest (partnered plot), you cannot gift either soquili or familiar prize won. Be sure to fill out the form in its entirety. You can only win one pony and one familiar combo from this contest. As this is a judged contest, staff cannot enter. No proxies allowed. Sorry! All entered work must be your own. I've left space for three plots but feel free to add more by using the [*] to form a new bullet. You may edit your post until the time of closing. Late entries will not be accepted. No exceptions! Please do not delete your posts. Deleting posts will result in disqualification and may incur further punishment. All other usual Soquili rules apply. Feel free to PM me if there are any questions!
Background These two devious seathi and their gorgeous koi familiars think they know all..! For they can usually single out the soquili and familiars that are the next to be ousted into the deep. As of right now they have their "all-seeing" eyes set on a pale and speckled seathi and a graceful white-gold carp as the one they have Singled Out! Nobody knows what the terror in the deep is, not even these two, but the fear is real and alive.
Whoever it is...
...whatever it is...
...sacrifices are demanded for the greater good, and these two with their familiars have it down to an art.
Form
[size=11][b]Username:[/b] [b]Soquili Choice:[/b] Yellow or Pink (eye glow) [b]Familiar Choice:[/b] Sunset Koi or Twilight Koi
Soquili Name: Wolf Soquili Temper: Nefarious Soquili Temper Blurb: Wolf is the brains when it comes to the sister duo. She is a very quiet female that blends into the shadows without any effort without any disturbance around her and she observes everything that is going on around her, taking mental notes so she could direct her sister to carry out whatever diabolical plans they have that day. Forever cunning and calculating, the female always will have the control of the situations around her and she is always learning about new things so she could stay few steps ahead of her prey or enemies. Unlike her bloodthirsty sister, Wolf is content with stalking her prey for few days before executing the perfect plan to bring it down. The female rarely smiles so when she smiles, its time for something to die.
Familiar Name: Twilight Familiar Temper: Straightforward Familiar Temper Blurb: Twilight was born into the world of silence, devoid of hearing and she quickly learned how to navigate through the world by using her keen eyesight and sensory touch. She is constantly in a company of a mute Koi named Sunset, swimming in circles with her companion while they silently serves two sisters. Twilight communicates with the sisters or other koi with her body language, forming into gestures or imaginary shapes. An observant female that constantly keeping her mute companion out of the trouble by ensuring that they are proving to their 'owners' how useful they are. Being deaf doesn't mean she will sit by meekly and allow something that she doesn't like slide by, she will make herself heard and make sure that it doesn't happen again
Username: Revel1984 Soquili Choice: Pink (eye glow) Familiar Choice: Sunset Koi Soquili Name: Viper Soquili Temper: Beastly Soquili Temper Blurb: Viper is on a hunt to rip things apart and taste the sweet metallic tang of blood filling her mouth while watching the water turning misty red and her sister, Wolf, is the only reason why she is not dead due to her impulsive tendencies. Like her sister, Viper enjoys learning about new things so she could take them apart to see what kind of things will make those creatures tick. If her sister is not around to restrain Viper, there will be a carnage in her wake because she feels so alive after she is done ripping something apart. Seductive and dark, this female could spin a web of lies that will be so tantalizingly sensual and wait for her prey to get caught up into the web so she could play with her prey. Logic will not work with this female because all she believes is her own truth so don't bother trying to sway her with the logic.
Familiar Name: Sunset Familiar Temper: Dark Familiar Temper Blurb: This koi is an opposite of her companion, she is born without any voice at all so she couldn't vocalize and she quickly learned how to communicate with her body language and using things as a communication tools. Sunset likes to keep things very simple without making things complicated because she likes to live an easy life, she scavenges after the sisters' kills and cleans up after them. She seems to enjoy that kind of lifestyle but sometimes its a struggle because her usefulness gets challenged pretty often by the sisters so her life is in constant danger with her companion trying to save their hides on daily basis.
Plots
Love or death= both sisters falls for the same stallion so they are at conflict with each other because of their loyalty to each other but at same time they want to be able to produce strong offspring to carry on the lineage. So the sisters are slowly turning against each other, plotting to kill their competition off. End of Family? = Both sisters collides with each other with a flurry of words and hooves along with other things they could get their mouth on over a huge disagreement about the stallion they both were interested in. One of them decides that its not worth the energy or effort anymore so she abandoned her sister and left for a very long while. When the calls went out for sacrifices, the sisters are reunited again Sea Evil meets Land Evil - Both sisters encounters a particular skinwalker that have a fondness for eating fishes and it puzzled them when the land monster goes after them with a vigor. They both discovers that not only ocean have evil forms but land have evil forms too. Third Wheel- Make or Bust? Sisters decides to try to bring 3rd soquili into the sacrifice business to see if it will make things easier for them. Complications arises so how will the sisters react to the mess they created for themselves Truth being challenged The sisters believes that THEIR truth is the only truth since they know virtually everything about the oceanlife and the landlife (so they think) so they would encounter a soquili or familiar that will challenge their truth with the evidence that can't be denied. It will causes one of the sisters to have a complex and causes her to question everything now.
Soquili Name: Morana Soquili Temper: Anomalous Soquili Temper Blurb: Morana was named for the goddess of winter and death. Her name means death and plague and this girl is certainly a plague upon this world. She's obsessed with the entity in the cave, calls it the creeping darkness and wants to be sure its happy. So together she works with her twin to find just the right sacrifice. If perfection is not gained she is not pleased and this anomalous little Seathi is more than likely to tear apart anyone who fails to be 'perfect' for her "god" She watches as her sister experiments on the others. The mind games Agrona plays tickle her funny bone and she can't help but enjoy the way she makes them squirm. Its all for a good cause. Right?
Familiar Name: Nuria Familiar Temper: Unhinged Familiar Temper Blurb: Nuria is a strange unhinged little fish. Cannibalistic by nature she only eats other fish. Named for her fiery scales her personality is fire incarnate. And what is fire but something you cannot control? Oftentimes she'll lure others to their demise at the paws of the twins. Luring them with slight flashes of brightly colored fins around a corner. This too is how she hunts. Its all about the lures and Nuria is quite the piece of bait. Who ever could resist such a brightly colored fish?
Username: Dea and #Teddy# Soquili Choice: Pink Familiar Choice: Twilight Koi
Soquili Name: Agrona Soquili Temper: Manipulative Soquili Temper Blurb: Agrona is above all a determined little Seathi. She'd do anything to further her cause or to help her twin. Quite the fan of the more macabre things in life she adores watching blood spill and how it disperses in the waves. Fascinated by the inner and mental workings of other Soquili she's not above getting her paws bloody to learn more about, well anything. One of her quirks is experimentation. She loves to play head games with others and test their resolve and personalities. After all one must find just the right sacrifice to keep "it" happy...
Familiar Name: Lilith Familiar Temper: Cunning Familiar Temper Blurb: Lilith is known for her beautiful starry scales, that she uses to her advantage. Anything the twins need, she is game, sometimes adding her own twists to their plans. Need her to play dead, she has no trouble with making it look convincing. She is always amused by how naive some of their prey is, but she enjoys the games. She worships her bonded and her twin, there is none more clever or vicious.
Plots
Twin Plots: A Life Worth Giving - In which the twins are born to a unique pair of parents. A manipulative cruel mother and a kind giving father. Whilst in their shells, shortly after their father birthed them, he is selected for sacrifice and because of his giving nature he does what he must. The twins only memory of him is the screaming, heard while they dreamed in their shells. Bio Luminescent Blessing - In which the twins emerge from their shells blinking their three eyes. Initially startled the mother soons accepts them as blessed by the entity in the cave. She begins grooming them to take over her position as a sacrificial chooser. A Tale of Two Fish - In which the twins meet their familiars being menaced by a shark. The fish are tired and harried and making mistakes. The twins decide to intervene to rather bloody results. Learning to Play - In which the twins decide to test out their abilities to manipulate another Seathi from the village. The results are not at all what they expect. Apparently mental fortitude is a thing... Perfecting the Technique - In which the twins discuss their failure and makes plans to ensure this doesn't happen again. In Unison - In which the twins learn the more time they spend together, the more they seem to become of one mind. Everything they do as a team, one never being far from the other. Born together, die together after all. What Could It Be? - In which the twins sneak a peak at the darkness in the cavern and both make their own assumptions about what it truly is. Dissonate Thoughts - In which the twins discuss their thoughts about what is in the cave and realize that in this they do not match. An argument ensues that threatens to tear them apart. Passion Play - In which Agrona is captured by a Kelpie and stored in a shallow pool to be dinner for later. Despite their recent fight, the distance of her sibling bothers Morana greatly and she embarks on a journey to find her other half and kill the one responsible. Together. The World Above - In which the twins take a trip to the surface and find how very much they dislike the world above. The abyss suits them much better. Groomed by the Best - In which the twins are grown and finally take over for their mother, by sending her to the cave. After all she's still beautiful and with a voice like an angel. The entity should be pleased... The First Taste - In which the twins explore a recent human shipwreck and find that they quite like the flavor of human flesh. Carnivorous by nature the two find this an absolute delicacy and definitely want to have it again soon. Shiny Baubles - In which the twins find they quite like human treasure and begin decorating their home with it. Like Music to Our Ears - In which the twins slowly take apart a Seathi captured from a village outside their own. Warning for major gore factor. True Bliss - In which the twins discover they quite like torture and makes plans to do it again soon. Sweet Poison - In which Agrona lures a Jellyfish and a Koi into her laboratory and experiments on them. Pain thresholds, how much skin they can lose before it becomes detrimental, and many other things. Sweet Meats - In which Morana is caught by a villager eating the flesh off a human leg and she must silence the troublemaker. Share and Share Alike - In which the twins, after a few staid boring flings, find one as twisted as themselves and deign to claim him as a mate. Being as there is only one of him they decide to share. After all, family comes first.
Koi Plots: Stolen Food - In which Nuria steals a fish from a shark's territory and the shark doesn't take kindly to this. Stupidly the fish tries to fight the shark and almost loses both their lives. Liliths distractions sadly make little difference. Soft Words - In which the twins discover the harried, tired Koi and save them from the shark. The bond is absolute and Lilith begins worshiping Agrona, while Nuria and Morana get along quite well. Playing with Others - In which the Koi learn how to play dead to further the twins machinations. The fish are quite surprised by how easy it is to lure in fools with such a ploy. Flashing Some Fins - Distractions never looked quite so good. Blood, Who's Afraid of a Little Blood - In which the Koi watch as Agrona and Morana take apart another being and find it quite fascinating. Two Twisted Little Fish - In which the twins attitude begins rubbing off on the Koi.
Little note because I want to be sure its clear. Their mother is a "chooser" for the sacrifice in this. She's the one who helps size up the ones chosen and ensure they are perfect for the "job".
Soquili Name: Cansu Soquili Temper: Decitful Soquili Temper Blurb: She enjoys her game of cat and mouse that she and her sister play with others. Never one to allow for someone to go without at least talking to them. She likes to nose into their talents and such. She plays the part of a budding friend rather well...then she shows her truer intentions as she leads her new "friend" to her special play area. There she and her sister leave their new friend with nearly no way out. She likes to sneak around the darkness to stalk and watch others as they play around in the light. She likes being in the dark, being of the mindset this is all a highly twisted game. As far as she's concerned...she's winning.
Familiar Name: Dusk Familiar Temper: Mellow Familiar Temper Blurb: Dusk really doesn't care that his best friend is a twisted little soul. He thoroughly enjoys talking with her and making sure that she at least stays healthy. Most of the time, its honestly Dusk's carefree nature with his friend that convinces the victims that she's being honest. He knows this. He giggles about it, but he doesn't honestly want to change. Its too much fun to keep her happy.
Soquili Name: Enid Soquili Temper: Ambitious Soquili Temper Blurb: Enid has a very direct way of communicating. With a low tolerance for what she concludes as unnecessary prattle. She is prone to go straight to the point than to beat around the bush. She has a very clear vision of what she wants and that is power. She is tenacious and once her mind is set on something it isn’t easy to change it. Willing to go through whatever it takes to get things done no matter the cost. Because of this. She has very little qualms about the fate of the victims, of the sacrificed. It’s a kill or be killed sort of world and she is bent on surviving.
Familiar Name: Rakan Familiar Temper: Committed Familiar Temper Blurb: Rakan follows his namesake and tries to be as honorable as he can to what causes he believes in. Loyal to Enid since they’ve met and bonded. Her cause became his in which he then committed himself to wholeheartedly. Yet he has a very troubled soul as at times doubt wiggles it’s way in and he sometimes wonders if what they are doing is right. Yet when push comes to shove. If Enid needs him. He is always there to fight and do his part.
Plots
Bait and Switch: The twins lure victims to the place of their demise. Most of the time this works very well in their favor, but maybe...one of these so-called victims turns the tides on them. Be Our Minions: Enid and Cansu are approached by a near frantic Dusk as he freaks out over his friend who's in trouble. The twins agree to help. Enid demanding loyalty from the rescued koi. While Cansu finds the other highly amusing koi. When innocence is lost: It is the first sacrifice since their birth. The time has come for the first sacrifice. Powers start to stir. To betray a friend: Time for the next sacrifice. Older and a little more experienced. They are shocked when their foalhood friend is the next chosen.. They struggle with what they must do shocked and rattled to the core.. and how to go about betraying the one which they bonded with.
Soquili Name: Lachesis Soquili Temper: Hedonistic Soquili Temper Blurb: Completely submerged in her role, Lachesis obsesses over her duties in a macabre fashion. Attuned with the ability to see what the sacrificial beast would determine as the 'perfect sacrifice', she often lurks around the corner when least expected. She is always watching, always waiting to find the better candidate. Hedonistic in nature, Lachesis does what she desires and doesn't contemplate the 'what if'. If she wants it or feels it, she'll do it, and often Lachesis borders on an almost psychopathic wavelength. She enjoys the power she feels due to her birthright as one of the sacrifice chooses, and she likes spilling blood for her own morbid pleasure. It makes her feel special, and while she often upholds a strong and manipulative persona, Lachesis does feel a deep insecurity brought on by her inability to speak and the fear that, just like her mother had been, she could be replaced any day.
Lachesis is mute and has Atropos act as her voice.
Familiar Name: Ker Familiar Temper: Possessive Familiar Temper Blurb: Ker was given to Lachesis by the ponies mother, and while they were ordered to keep an eye on Lachesis and report back to the mother, Ker never ended up obeying. Lachesis was always oddly kind to the koi, even when they were a young fish. Whether touched that the normally demonic-like pony cares for them, or simply pleased to be safe, Ker gives Lachesis their loyalty while also growing increasingly impatient with Lachesis' growing absence in their life. They keep an eye out for Lachesis as she sleeps, and tend to try their best to chase off those they view threaten their bond with their owner. However, now that Lachesis is an adult, the pony has stopped playing with Ker as much and focuses entirely on their job, even during the 10 year breaks. This has made Ker grow frustrated, manifesting when they lure ponies towards Lachesis' den to watch their owner tear them apart.
Soquili Name: Atropos Soquili Temper: Two-faced Soquili Temper Blurb: Atropos is proud of her position in picking sacrifices and is very dutiful in fulfilling that role. She is friendly to those around her and for many in their village she is a sympathetic ear for them to share their deepest fears and sometimes desires. However on the flip side she is very judgmental and views most as trash, even if she doesn't show it. This makes her a less than idea picker of sacrifices which is why her role is more in announcing the next sacrifice. She is quite a shows-man and makes the announcement quite the show. She is able to use her sense of duty and sympathy to manipulate others into an outcome she, or her sister, want in terms of becoming a sacrifice. In general she is pretty manipulative even if she doesn't make use of that talent. As the 10 year mark approaches she seems to become more attuned to the beast like her sister is and becomes a little less friendly and more bloodthirsty.
Familiar Name: Moros Familiar Temper: Morbid Familiar Temper Blurb: Moros was given to Atropos by the ponies mother and was ordered to keep an eye on her and report back to their mother. At first he did but it was little things he was reporting as at the time Atropos did nothing strange or bad. He ended up disobeying his orders when he witnessed Atropos kill some small sea creature and feast upon it as the 10 year mark drew upon them. He did so as moments before Atropos had struck he realized that the creature was going to attack him. He felt he owed her his life and has been loyal to her ever since. He has the habit of leading her prey whenever her blood thirst hits and it is whispered in the village that he is a harbringer of some sort as he usually is seen near anyone who will die in a sort while, mostly because he is fascinated with death
Plots
Lost Clotho: Back when their mother decided the sacrifices, Lachesis and Atropos had a sister named Clotho. Their mother determined Clotho was the best candidate for the next sacrifice, but Lachesis and Atropos disagreed. Days before the sacrifice was scheduled, Lachesis and Atropos helped their sister escape to brighter, cleaner waters, far from the place they called home. Claiming a shark ended her life, the sisters returned and kept up the story, insisting their sister was 'in a better place'. No one ever saw the double-meaning behind their claims. Clotho will reappear down the line sometime! Stepping Down: Their mother always believed she was better than previous ponies who held her role. While she hosted a multitude of powers believed to have been given to her bloodline thanks to a direct relation to the beast, the mother lost those powers upon giving birth to the triplets. Within the family, it is known that the powers travel through the generations and leave the previous one once they've found a child to attach themselves to. Distraught and unable to cope, the mother began to see things, believing they were spirits leading her to the sacrifices. While she went about 30 years guessing correctly, eventually she chose the wrong sacrifice and the beast was not pleased, destroying parts of the village as payment. She was forced to step down from her role and pass it to her daughters. First Sacrifice: Shortly after their mother has to hand the job to them, Lachesis discovers their first sacrifice is someone she and Atropos were close to. Atropos and Lachesis disagree about what to do, and it's assumed Atropos will say a different name than the one Lachesis selected upon announcing day. Instead, Atropos stays true to their duties and the two cement a life-long bond together. Goodbye Mother: Their mother, now old and unable to leave her den, always felt better attuned for the job than the two sisters, and often challenged them despite her age and disability. Increasingly annoyed, the two sisters end up sacrificing their own mother as a means to an end. You Remind me of the Babe: While they're aggressive in nature, they also are small, and it isn't like Lachesis and Atropos aren't aware that not all ponies appreciate them. They have absolutely no interest, at the time, to create a child themselves, and so they resort to stealing one. They raise the child to become their personal guard, telling them various stories of where they came from. While they won't ever be the best mothers, the child in question will grow into their warped fancies and believe it to be normal. Her Shadow: After years of dedicated service, the sisters begin to see Clotho's shadow everywhere they turn. While the idea of leaving never occurred to them at first, her shadow begins to illicit a curious and sudden need to find their sister again over the years. However, both cannot imagine leaving their duties behind after so many years of devotion, and so one sister ends up getting pregnant and dumping the child immediately on their adopted guard before fleeing to chase after Clotho's image. Mayhem: However, what they assumed what would happen doesn't; their powers do not move onto the child. It wasn't their time to relinquish the role. Instead, the sisters keep their abilities and upon discovering Clotho and returning with her by their side they discover that the beast is beyond reason. It is now their job to fix the disorder, but something stands in their way; the child does not wish to give up their role, and the guard has become loyal to them.
Soquili Name: Flotsam Soquili Temper: Apathetic Soquili Temper Blurb: Flotsam understands, it's nothing personal, but doesn't understand why everyone gets so worked up about being sacrificed, whether happy or sad about it. It's only once every ten years anyways, and she and Jetsam only need to pick one. She finds those that willingly go to their doom too boring, preferring the terror and hopelessness of those that would rather continue living, their sadness and fear filling her with a near-euphoric feeling of satisfying cruelty.
Familiar Name: Flow Familiar Temper: Paranoid Familiar Temper Blurb: Flow is almost always at Flotsam's side, convinced that he cannot leave her side, or else he'll be eaten by something worse than she. He knows he's a pretty fish, and pretty fish get eaten.
Soquili Name: Jetsam Soquili Temper: Morbidly Curious Soquili Temper Blurb: Jetsam is that fish that will push the button that says "DO NOT PUSH" merely because she wants to know what will happen. Her favorite thing is the yearly sacrifice. She's always curious about how the chosen one will react to the news and if they'll try to get out of it. It's funny to her when they try to run, because you can't outrun the terror in the deep~
Familiar Name: Ebb Familiar Temper: Encouraging Familiar Temper Blurb: Ebb is that voice in Jetsam's ear, telling her to go ahead and do those things she's curious about, nevermind the consequences. They'll handle whatever happens when it happens. Or run. That's a viable option, right? Well, for them it is. Not so much for the chosen sacrifices, heh heh heh.....
Plots
Something Wicked This Way Comes: Flotsam and Jetsam delight in the pain and fear of the sacrifices they choose, more so than the average Seathi. Their first Sacrifice pleads for his life, the twins laugh in his face as they take him to The Altar. Dude, Where's Our Sacrifice?: Flotsam & Jetsam begin arguing on the way to The Altar, and The Sacrifice slips past them. They must hunt them down and find them again, safely delivering The Sacrifice to The Altar. So Shiny!: Flotsam and Jetsam come across two eggs. Jetsam convinces Flotsam to keep them and see what they hatch into.
Soquili Name: Enyo Soquili Temper: Dutiful Soquili Temper Blurb: The youngest of the twins, Enyo has always had a strong sense of conviction and pride in her family’s duties. She knows that she comes from a long line of Speakers of the Abyss, her family having heard the growls and rumbles of the slumbering Deep One from early ages. It has always been their duty to supply the monster of the depths with a worthy sacrifice in order to appease its hunger. Enyo refuses to question her and her sister’s choice of the next sacrifice, and focuses purely on the fact that what they do is necessary, not only for the village, but for their lives as well. She strives to perform their task to perfection, to make their family proud and continue to appease the village elders. While she isn’t one to acknowledge it outwardly, Enyo knows, deep down, that there is always a threat looming; the threat not just from the creature of the abyss, but from the pressure their family and the elders place upon them to perform their task, lest the twins be the next offering to appease the beast lurking beneath them should they fail to make a selection that quells the hungry growls.
Familiar Name: Ker Familiar Temper: Disenchanted Familiar Temper Blurb: Twin to the koi, Thanatos and bonded to the Seathi, Enyo, Ker has a connection to her kin and her bonded unlike any other. The moment she and her twin hatched, they sought out their respective bonded soquili as if on an instinct. Ker acts with her brother and their bonded in beautiful harmony, moving together and acting as one. She follows along with Enyo and Deino’s duties, aiding them in their constant search for the next offering to the Deep One of the abyss. Ker understands and knows how her bonded is feeling at all times, and she respects Enyo’s constant drive to succeed and perform the duties that the village elders and the twin’s family has placed upon them. While Enyo believes that what she is doing is truly for the greater good of the villages, Ker embodies the deep knowledge that her bonded tries to ignore. Ker understands that what they do is dark and does not garner love from everyone. She knows the true risk that her bonded and her sister are exposed to with every selection of sacrifices they make. Should her bonded and her sister fail, Ker understands how quickly the village elders and their own blood would turn against them.
Username: Kaya Wolf Moon Soquili Choice: Yellow Familiar Choice: Sunset Koi
Soquili Name: Deino Soquili Temper: Wayward Soquili Temper Blurb: The eldest of the twins, Deino has always been aware that she and her sister hold a unique place in the world. They are tide-born. Sisters born upon the same day and within the same hour. From the beginning, their role in the village was certain. Their destiny to become the next Speakers of the Abyss, Protectors and Life-givers to their home. Deino understood this quickly enough. Together, with her bonded and sibling, they keep the peace within their realm by seeking out suitable sacrifices for the Deep One. It is a simple task to be certain, and one which they have developed an art for. Yet, deep within her soul, Deino questions and doubts. The blood in the water each season finding its way into her shrouded heart. They are responsible for so many deaths, yet they save so many of their own. She finds it more difficult with the passage of time to reconcile these feelings. The knowledge that one must outweigh the other in order for their home to thrive wars with the knowledge that they still commit homicide. Even as her doubts grow, Deino continues to press forward in her duties with her sister. Her features maintaining a perfect mask of obedience and duty, while underneath lies the heart of rebellion.
Familiar Name: Thanatos Familiar Temper: Willful Familiar Temper Blurb: Thanatos arrived into the world under the most special of circumstances. Born into the abyss, he burst forth into life on the same day, at the same time as his bonded, and mere breaths before his twin Ker. The elders of the village bore witness to the signs, and knew immediately that something special had taken place. Bonds which were typically formed later in life between Seathi and Koi were apparent from the instant. Neither Thanatos, Ker, Enyo, nor Deino acted alone; instead, acting as one unit, moving in unison as if of the same entity. Thanatos knew his place to be with Deino without question. His first complete thoughts being only to find and dwell with her. His twin, Ker, would do the same for Enyo. Each acting as an extension of their bonded, personifying in some way the depths of the Seathis’ souls. For Thanatos, he is the willfulness which resides within Deino. He is that voice that no one can quell. The one whom will persevere and triumph when all others fail. His tenacity knows no bounds. Due to his nature, he is not afraid to let others know what he thinks or feels at any given instant. Nor does he hold any qualms with altering his opinion from one moment to the next. Once his mind is set, rest assured that there is no changing it without a hard-won fight. Such tendencies lend themselves well to the duties set before him. He lives to aid his bonded and kin in their task. His entire being seemingly fitted to them, and them alone.
Plots
Surfacing Doubts - Deino and her sister have always selected the next chosen of the deep. They have never wavered in their duties, never questioned their choices, never had doubts of their necessary task for the betterment of the village. However, this time around, they’ve made their choice early. The chosen one must reside in the sacred halls of the village, being groomed and their talents perfected so they truly become a golden sacrifice. During these times, Enyo and Deino take up residence within these halls as well, making certain all goes accordingly. One day, unwittingly perhaps, Deino ends up talking with the current chosen. Their conversation is short in the grand scheme of time but it is profound in its effects. The arrow of doubt has been fired, and it has landed squarely amidst her soul. She struggles to reconcile all that she thought she knew with all that she has yet to discover. Her eyes will gradually open to a new realm of understanding...one that may eventually lead to the destruction of all she holds dear. The Weight of Choosing - Enyo and Deino have been groomed to choose the next sacrifice since they first emerged from their shells. They have always been told to seek the best, the most worthy creature of sending into the abyss, and they have always followed through with their task without question. One year in which the twins must choose, Ker learns that, should the twins fail to select a sacrifice in time, Enyo and Deino will be the ones sent to the dark and bloody waters. With more pressure than ever to perform, Enyo pushes her sister and their familiars to select the sacrifice to preserve their own lives, but it seems that Deino is oddly unwilling to truly help in this year’s selection. Enyo notices the distance that her sister is putting towards the selection and confronts her. Their lives are worth more, greater than those of the ones they pick to send into the abyss. If they fail, there is no doubt that their family and the elders will elect them the next sacrifice; after all, they have been groomed for ultimate perfection in their duties. The Speakers of the Abyss - History is important. It is what gives life to the past and enlivens the future, and it is through history that one learns of past mistakes and strives not to recreate them. However, history serves another purpose. The passing of tradition from one generation to the next ensures that the knowledge of all those who have come before shall not be forgotten. That their struggles and plights will not be overlooked or ignored. Each generation is prone to its own troubles and triumphs, with these tales being added to the stories of the next. However, there are some tales which have transcended the realm of stories to become legend. Within these histories, heroes and villains are decided, their actions marked as certain and true. There are many such tales among the denizens of the deep. Yet none are so clear and dominant as the legend and history of the Speakers of the Abyss- a group of water-dwelling Seathi whom are fabled to share the bonds of blood with a dark entity, known as the Deep One. Deino and Enyo are heirs to this fabled clan. As young fillies, it is tradition for them to be taught the sordid history of their clan, so that they might come to understand what is to be expected of them. Their young minds, unified as one, will delve into the rituals set forth by the ancient ones. The grooming process will begin so that they will one day take on the mantle. Seekers of death, protectors of life, speakers of the abyss. The First of Many - The twins come from a long family line of those connected to the Deep One’s call. Generations of their family have selected the chosen of the Deep One, quieting its growls and keeping it on the edges of slumber and awakening. No one is prepared for the creature’s return to the world, it has been lurking in the depths of the ocean for longer than there is an account of. The twin’s family has kept the full force of the creature at bay by offering it sacrifices and keeping its constant hunger suppressed. Once they became of age to inherit the task of so many of their bloodline, the twins must make their first ever choice in the next chosen one to send to the Deep One and its ever hungering maw. It is a moment of celebration within their family, a moment of pride in those who have groomed the twins for this very moment within their lives, and a moment of joy and excitement for the two sisters. They have heard stories of their elders, of all the others like them that have made their first selection of sacrifice. Now it is their turn to shine and make their selection. There are nervous jitters between them, excitement, and even the hidden beginnings of some semblance of doubt in their duties. Discord - The sisters seem to be at odds. They have always acted as if of one mind, the yin to the other’s yang, but with Deino’s apparent wavering in their duties, and Enyo constantly pushing her sister to perform them, they’ve hit a very serious block in their sisterhood. They butt heads and argue, all while the grumbling from the Deep One grows ever louder, more noticeable, even by those unattuned to its clamour. Enyo and Deino have been picking lackluster candidates for a while now, and the village elders begin to sense that the Deep One’s growing frustration is due to the poor quality sacrifices it has received as of late. The two, so sucked into their own discord, hardly notice the change of the Deep One’s slumber, and have been putting off their appointed task for too long. The beast in the abyss hungers, and the elders demand they choose the next sacrifice from the village, lest their family do it for them. The twins would make a lovely meal, after all. Blood Tide - The twins have failed. All of their training, grooming, and hunting has all been for naught. Their constant bickering of late seeming to summon the Deep One from below. In fear of the beast, and having given the twins one final chance to succeed, the elders have decided that two sacrifices must be the answer. Deino’s and Enyo’s lives have become forfeit in lieu of their failures. Elders and family alike hold them responsible for the beast’s anger. They seek them out during a time when the twins would least expect them, swiftly subduing them and ushering them to the sacred halls. Frightened and uncertain, the twins hope to reason with their family, to plead with them to allow one more chance. One more opportunity to make things right. No doubts to hinder them from fulfilling their duties. Their pleas fall on deaf ears, however. The rituals must be upheld and a Blood Tide must occur. The beast must not awaken. They are told that they should take comfort in that they will save the village one final time, and that their sacrifices would see the Deep One slumber for an eternity longer. This does nothing to quell the twins’ fears. No, instead fueling them to a fevered pitch. A mixture of emotions rage within either sister as they struggle to comprehend the tidal wave fate has dealt them. Deino knows the blame and responsibility lies with her. She was the one who lost course and drew her sister into it. Now both must pay with their lives. If only they could make the family see reason, or if Deino could simply save her sister from their new fate. All seems lost. Remember though, that when everything is at its darkest, the smallest of lights can shine the brightest...and help has more than one form. All That We See or Seem - The twins have been and gone through a lot… They were groomed for greatness, meant to be the saviors of their people through their sacred duties, and then they failed, were turned on by their family and the elders of their village, and their bond remains broken, even after their escape from their doom. The two have been through thick and thin with one another, every moment of their lives spent together, and yet the bond that they shared may never be repaired. Enyo feels as if her entire life has been thrown away all because of her sister’s unwillingness to perform their duties, and Deino is steadfast in her conviction of how wrong they were to send someone off to their death. Who were they to pass judgement on others and how could Enyo be so blind to the cruelty they were imposing on others? Their familiars push them to repair the bond broken by their doubt in one another. Together, Ker and Thanatos reveal Enyo’s and Deino’s true feelings about one another, their deepest thoughts, their biggest fears, their greatest concerns for the future. They have the world open to them now, with the constant looming weight of choosing no longer resting on their shoulders, and they need to be able to experience it to the fullest...and together. Voices From the Deep - After having settled down into their new life, away from their village, the twins catch word that something has happened in the depths of the ocean, something horrible, and to their former home. The twins debate whether they should return to the village that turned on them, for words can often be just that, words. They are finally happy in their new life, closer than ever before, so there is little reason to return. After some time mulling the decision over, Enyo and Deino decide to go back to the deep where their village resides. The water near their village is red and murky, shrouding their former home from them, and the smell of iron is rich as they venture near the edge of the clouded waters. The two fear that the worst has happened, that the Deep One has consumed their family, friends, and the other aquatics that dwelled in their village. After passing through the thick of the blood cloud they find their former village completely destroyed. There is no sign of life anywhere around them, and the sounds of the Deep One are minimal, no longer the great growl that it had been before they were tossed out. The Deep One is sated until another time and the twins decide that they will continue to keep an eye on the slumbering monster, waiting for signs of its awakening once more. We are as One - Born amidst the darkened depths, twins Thanatos and Ker know but one thing. They are not whole. Part of them resides elsewhere in the deep, somewhere near yet too far for their liking. Moving as one, they seek to find that which is lost to them. Their proximity to their other half bringing with it ever growing clarity. Minds sharpen like the coral they swim past. Sight grows keen, glistening with the same clarity as the crystal waters in which they swim. Their every sense awakening with a spine-tingling raptness. Only when their other is found will they truly be alive. All Seeing Eyes - After having found their other half, or halves as it were, Thanatos and Ker take on the task of helping their bonded obtain sacrifices to appease the Deep One. Their duty is to wander the ocean in search of the next potential chosen, providing a sort of litmus test for the individual to gauge whether they could be a contender or not. If the two deem the one possibly worthy, they then bide their time, studying the one and learning of any weaknesses to be exploited. It is then up to them to draw the unaware one into the fins of Deino and Enyo who would make the ultimate decision. Masks - Ker and Thanatos know well the inner workings of their bonded. They are as one and always shall be. But such understanding bears its own tribulations and quirks. While each is as one, so too are they divided. One serving as an extension to only a single twin, the one to which they are thoroughly bonded. Their personalities marking some invisible quality ladden far within the subconscious of the Seathi twins. Thanatos and Ker come to realize that there are masks everyone wears, even themselves. What is important is to keep from losing one’s self behind the masks. Something easier said than done, especially when they are uncertain which is the mask and which the true self. Chaos - The twin Koi find themselves caught between their bonded and their arguments. Ker and Thanatos understand how their bonded feel more than the twin sister’s understand each other. Tempers between the twin koi flare as they are pulled to the sides of their bonded, Ker defending Enyo for her devotion to their task, while Thanato defends Deino questioning the ethics of their position. What right have they to send someone to their demise? The koi bicker and argue as much as the twin sister do with each other, the chaos between the four growing ever stronger. This is not them, this is not who they are, this is not how they should be acting… and yet… They cannot see to come together as one. A bond unlike any other before it is breaking and the four cannot seem to stop it. We are as Two - Things are not always as they seem. The masks have shattered and sides have been chosen. Battle lines were drawn, yet a greater darkness is rising. The Deep One is awakening. Ker and Thanatos are alone, with their bonded having been taken for sacrifices to appease the beast. Despite all that has transpired, neither Koi feels complete without the other pieces. The one has become two and that is unacceptable. It is an empty feeling, nearly darker than the abyss itself. The twin Koi recognize that only one thing can make the all-consuming emptiness disappear. They must come together, reunify themselves as one, so that they might rescue their other half. It will not be easy. Many obstacles lie ahead of them. But they do not carry fear. Their goal foremost in their heart and mind- mend the bond torn by doubt. Let two become one once more. Harmony - The time has come. The Blood Tide draws near, but the twin Koi refuse to let it be done. They have come up with a plan that they think will work, and waste little time in employing it. With their other halves now with them once again, the holes within the Koi’s hearts have been filled. Yet they have no time to rejoice. The family and elders of the village call for a sacrifice, and they are not keen to let their current ones escape so easily. It is imperative that the two sets of twins regain their harmony in its entirety if they wish to be eternally free. Old and new faces will surface as they find their way in new waters, create new lives, and seek to break from the past’s hold.
Soquili Name: Zempasuchitl Soquili Temper: Obstinate (stubborn) Soquili Temper Blurb: Coming from a long line of those chosen to select the perfect sacrifice Zemp takes extra care and consideration when it comes to planning with her twin as they chose the 'lucky' contestant. Overall Zemp is outgoing without being outgoing. If that makes sense. She likes to put herself out there in the crowds and get to know others but not really open up too much herself. She has a set belief, much like her sister, about celebrating death. While life is important, death isn't the end and she strongly believes in the afterlife. While most think of the ceremony as sacrificing their life, she views it as celebrating a life well lived. She doesn't know what happens in the cave and is just as curious as the next to know what happens beyond the lights in the cave.
Familiar Name: Angelito Familiar Temper: Reclusive Familiar Temper Blurb: Angelito is very close to his bonded and helps in making the initial selection for potential candidates. While Zemp and her sister have the final say Angelito and Angelita have in important role in making the selection pool smaller and narrowing it down to a few select candidates. He's rather reclusive and only sticks to his bonded and Angelita's sides. It's not that he's not caring, he just only likes to put himself out there when it matters, and he doesn't like his judgement to be clouded by outside influences so keeping close to his bonded is the simplest way to accomplish that.
Soquili Name: Cempazuchitl Soquili Temper: Recondite (of a subject or knowledge) little known; abstruse. ) Soquili Temper Blurb: Cemp feels as though they have been at this forever (but then the souls of the departed did linger, did they not?) Though this is only their second sacrifice, they were successful in their first. Where her sister likes to be amongst the others, Cemp does not. She prefers to look on from the shadows with glowing eyes to study them. Each small facial expression a hint of a possible secret. Be careful what you say, she is always watching for you to slip up. You cannot fake mediocrity and get by her, she will see through your ruse. A little more argumentative than her sister, Cemp barely speaks above a girlish whisper in front of anyone who is not Zemp. Señora Muerte will take them all one day, what does it matter if it is this day rather than another?
Familiar Name: Angelita Familiar Temper: Petty Familiar Temper Blurb: Angelita stays close always to Angelito. She is more childish in nature than he is and sometimes can be clouded by pettiness. For Angelita believes that she and her brother are but vessels for past sacrifices, allowed to live on in a lower form to help with the choosing. Do not ask her about it though, for she cannot speak.
Plots
The Ceremony of Death: Since they were born, they have been raised for this moment. They have been taught the duty of Iluminación (the light ceremony that guides the souls to the altars) by carefully harvesting coral called Echinophyllia sp. Their coat coloration handed down for generations are a reflection of that illuminación, an embodiment of their sacred task. Others may wear the careta when the ceremony was over to scare away the spirits of the dead, but not these sisters. They welcomed Señora Muerte as an old friend. Everyone is born of darkness and to darkness they shall return eventually. It is their family motto No hay remedio para la muerte, pero la muerte misma es un remedio. There is no remedy for death, but death itself is the remedy. The Angelitos (the souls of dead children, "little angels" ) - They were not that old at their first choosing ceremony but they were trained well and unbiased. It did not bother them at all that it was their best friend who was chosen to be the sacrifice. It was an honor after all to be chosen and taken to the cave. (This would be a plot showing how that choosing went and how eventually it caused their friend to curse their very existence. It would also be when the acquired their two koi mysteriously and lead them to the assumption that they are gifts for serving well). Señora Muerte - It is their belief that Señora Muerte is what lives in the cave. The darkness they came from and the darkness to which all things shall return. She must be served and honored lest she take offense to all of the colony. It is a gift to be chosen by her. They believe that Señora Muerte touches those who are to be sacrificed and if they look long and hard enough, they can discern her mark. (Basically look for who's next!)
Cempasuchitl - a yellow marigold, the symbol of death, also known as zempasuchitl.
Soquili Name: Sköll (Old Norse for "Treachery) Soquili Temper: Somber Soquili Temper Blurb: She functions as the "ears" for the Ancient One she and her twin serve. The rare few who seek the twins out may go to her to either voice prayers or confessions, to which she will respond that the Ancient One has heard them. Some dark individuals may even seek her out to "suggest" the who next sacrifice should be; this she relays to her sister and they seek the Ancient One's approval of the intended victim. Sköll rarely speaks; when she does, either it is in sync with her twin in a disjointed manner (one starts, the other continues or finishes) or they completely harmonize with one another (speak at the same time). On the rare occasion she speaks not to or alongside her sister, it may be to "console" the sacrifice as she performs the ritual. Sköll is introverted in that she forms a wall to keep her heart guarded against loss, after having experienced it as a foal when the twins' brother was stolen away from them by the beast in the trench. She thinks it was as punishment for her parents' failure to perform a ritual, and she fears future failures. Not knowing whom the next sacrifice will be keeps her from forming a bond with anyone outside of her sister and familiar.
Familiar Name: Sól Familiar Temper: Dedicated Familiar Temper Blurb: Sól is even more silent than Sköll; so silent many think him mute. He faithfully serves his "master" and her twin in the duties they perform. Often he'll act as a scout, gathering intel on the next sacrifice or finding trinkets to include in the latest ritual.
Soquili Name: Hati (Old Norse for ""He Who Hates", or "Enemy" ) Soquili Temper: Devotee Soquili Temper Blurb: In many ways the twin sisters are similar they see themselves as two parts of a whole. Since Sköll is known as silent one, Hati tries to speak for both of them. Many soq will come to her and plead with her for their family members not to be chosen. She will offer them guidance and tell them of the honor it is to have a family member selected and she will give them advice on what item sacrifices the ancient one prefers. Some soq believe that if you give the ancient one a rare and unusual gift that he will turn his eye away from that soqs family. Hati is fanatic in her belief that the Ancient one must be served at all cost. While her sister might have some doubts and concerns Hati does not . She believes Aegir (The ancient one) to be the creator of life under the water. Hati believes that it is an honor to be chosen as a sacrifice and those chosen ones feed Aegir life energy that he uses to uphold the health of the ocean plants and animals. Hati believes her sister and her have served the ancient god since creation of the ocean. She believes that she and her sister have been reincarnated through many life cycles to serve the ancient one. Both sisters receive dreams that they think are messages from Aegir the ancient being in the trench.
(As a side note; they do not actually have any physic powers, but they do believe the dreams they receive or messages from the ancient being the creator of the ocean-the beast in the trench. They believe they have the power to channel the god’s message and speak with his voice- however, they are both fanatics and they actually don’t have any power. They have not seen what lives in the trench, but have the mistaken belief it is a god. )
Their brothers being spirited away by the ancient one didn’t bother Hati as much as it affected Sköll. Sköll lost most of her ability to speak after their brother was taken thus she is referred to by many underwater soq as the “Silent One.” However, Hati thought their family had regained its honor after her parents the previous Servants of The Depth, failed to make a sacrifice. However the incident caused both Hati and Sköll to have extreme separation anxiety, they are never far out of each other’s sight. The sisters do not seek to have mates or have offspring , though they would have flings if the ancient one came to them in a dream and told them to. They would view their offspring as new servants for Aegir the ancient one.
-An interesting fact about Hati, is she makes art out of some of the objects Máni her Koi brings to her. However, her art is -rather terrible and nobody minds when she gifts her artwork to the god in the trench.
Familiar Name: Máni Familiar Temper: Secretive Familiar Temper Blurb: Máni felt the pull of the twins natural charisma . She is bonded to Hati though she has almost the same amount of affection towards Sköll. Like Sól , she spends some of her time gathering information on all the nearby soq and fams. However she feels like her main duty for the twins is to search the ocean to find pretty trinkets that the twins could gift the ancient one. She and Sól are seldom in each other’s company as one Koi always remains with the sisters while the other one performs it job. They two fish switch jobs during different hours –like the sun and moon they are inspired by.
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"In the begining, their existed no life forms because the the land was still burning hot and the water was boiling from the earth's lava. Through the merging of land and Ocean the the ancient gods were born. However Aegir, was the only god that lived in the water and he became lonely. Stretching himself and breaking himself into little bits he created the ocean plants and the ocean animals. Though pleased with his creation Aegir's body became weak since he had given away so much of himself. Aegir hides his weakened self at the lowest point of the ocean. The most deep and dark trench in the whole ocean. It is our duty to find Sacrifices for Aegir to replenish his energy. For if we don't he will cause the ground to shake and the underwater plants to die." words of Sköll and Hati
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Plots
All Journeys have a start- The girls and their elder brother first hear from a traveling bard the story of the ancient god Aegir, the beast in the trench.
A brother’s disappearance- The story told by the sisters of how their parents did not honor the god in time because they were pressured by other soq to not perform the sacrifice. Their brother later went missing and his cries could be heard. The ancient one always collects. This is also the story of how Sköll lost her ability to speak with her own voice and became known as the silent one.
Servants of the ancient one- As foals Sköll and Hati never expected to be chosen to replace their parents as servants of the ancient one. They expected to live their lives like most regular seathi. However, their parents the acting servants receive a dream that the girls will be the next set of servants for the ancient one. Sköll is unsure if she wants the job as she is still traumatized over the ancient one taking her brother. However Hati is overjoyed and she convinces her sister to accept the apprenticeship.
A fish is a jewel unlike any other- The girl’s parents take them to a school of Koi fish where the two girls are ordered to pick the companion they have the strongest emotional pull towards. The sisters pick the two Koi that will be their companions as well as fellow servants of the ancient one.
A slight tingle to the heart- During the apprenticeship Hati becomes emotionally attached to a young and gallant looking seathi, that befriends her and asks to court her. She contemplates having a romantic relationship with him , but overhears him discussing their relationship with another seathi. The male seathi tells his friend how he was courting her, so that neither he nor his family would be selected to be sacrificed. Feeling betrayed Hati vows never to get in a romantic relationship unless the ancient god picks her partner. Instead she will give her whole heart to serving the ancient one and she will not be tied with romantic bonds or bonds of friendship.
Duty- The girls have now received all their training from their parents. Both Sköll and Hati believe they are reincarnated servants to the ancient being. They believe that they have served the being in the trench for many lifetimes. They believe they receive dream messages from the ancient one and his speaks through their mouths. With the girls training done, their parents disappear.
A shiny object- Máni the koi, finds a shinny statue. She leads the sisters to the object which they girls believe to be a statue of the ancient god. However the statue is in pirates territory and the pirates don't want to give their booty up. The girls most think of a way to outsmart the pirates.
Separation- The girls become separated for the first time. In a panic they can’t cope with their environment and their loss of connection with each other. However both of them as stronger then they think and they are able to reconnect with each other. --We are still working on this particular plot. We haven’t decided if the girls become separated because a mer or kelpie took one of the sisters in an effort to stop the selection that year or if the girls become separated because of a storm.
Dreams- One of the sisters dreams of a stallion and realizes the ancient one is asking her to bear the next generation of servants
The Nightmare- The girls see the one the thought of as a god and realize everything their parents taught them was a lie. They are not reincarnated servants to the creator of ocean life but have been the servants of a underwater monster
Soquili Name: Nereid (Greek ocean spirits, similar to mermaids, sirens and undine) Soquili Temper: Persuasive Soquili Temper Blurb: If her twin is the sweetness that makes you feel comfortable and at ease, then Nereid is the one that makes the whole situation feel off, slightly. As though there is something amiss and that only you can make it right again. Nereid is quite apt at convincing you that if you don't sacrifice yourself for the good of the town, that your dear little sister may be asked to do it in your place. While she'd never admit it aloud, it's a convincing game of blackmail, though she only needs mention the threat of such to get others attentions. Fear is a powerful thing you know.
Familiar Name: Nami (meaning "wave", Japanese) Familiar Temper: Nosy Familiar Temper Blurb: Nereid's little helper, " " is there to collect information, learning all about their victims. After all, how else could Nereid magically know what their victim holds the most dear or fears the most unless " " didn't tell her?
Soquili Name: Undine (Greek ocean spirits, similar to mermaids, sirens and nereids.) Soquili Temper: Hypnotic Soquili Temper Blurb: Undine invokes comfort in her victims, lulling them into a false sense of security. She'll tell you whatever you want to hear and be the best listener ever, gladly hearing out all your troubles and woes. Brimming with sweetness that never appears false, she's one of the more sincere Seathi you'll meet. Just listen to the sound of her voice, relaxing and warm as you unwind and agree to seal your fate when she asks kindly for you to be the next chosen one. If you don't like the way she put it, maybe you'd like to talk it over with her sister, more?
Familiar Name: Kaimu (means "ocean dream", Japanese) Familiar Temper: Soothing Familiar Temper Blurb: It is " "'s job to assist Undine in comforting those she seeks out. Naturally calming to observe, " " makes a habit of slowly undulating her body and fins whenever Undine is speaking, helping relax their victim even further.
Plots
Sweet and Sour - Undine and Nereid have successfully singled out an unsuspecting victim. It's time to lure them in and bring in their catch. Getting Dirty - For most of their victims, it merely takes a soft touch and an unpleasant reminder to get them willing to accept their fate, but when a particularly stubborn Soquili refuses to play their part, it's time to get their scales dirty, because these sisters will not take no for an answer. The Weak Link - These sisters have long ago devised this plot so that neither of them will be chosen as the sacrifice, but what will they do when someone else close to them volunteers to be chosen, rather than letting them decide? Will they choose someone else? Or will they see a loved one go to their doom?
Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2017 2:24 pm
Jeeeeez, you guys make things hard. ;o; Thank you all for your interest and hard work. It doesn't matter if they were a large amount of plots or not, I know everyone worked diligently and I appreciate the effort! BUT. There can be only one set of winners, and one we choose..!
CONGRATULATIONS, YOU'RE THE NEXT SACRIFICE ON SOQUILI AQUATICS--I mean CONGRATS, YOU'VE WON!
Soquili Name: Enyo Soquili Temper: Dutiful Soquili Temper Blurb: The youngest of the twins, Enyo has always had a strong sense of conviction and pride in her family’s duties. She knows that she comes from a long line of Speakers of the Abyss, her family having heard the growls and rumbles of the slumbering Deep One from early ages. It has always been their duty to supply the monster of the depths with a worthy sacrifice in order to appease its hunger. Enyo refuses to question her and her sister’s choice of the next sacrifice, and focuses purely on the fact that what they do is necessary, not only for the village, but for their lives as well. She strives to perform their task to perfection, to make their family proud and continue to appease the village elders. While she isn’t one to acknowledge it outwardly, Enyo knows, deep down, that there is always a threat looming; the threat not just from the creature of the abyss, but from the pressure their family and the elders place upon them to perform their task, lest the twins be the next offering to appease the beast lurking beneath them should they fail to make a selection that quells the hungry growls.
Familiar Name: Ker Familiar Temper: Disenchanted Familiar Temper Blurb: Twin to the koi, Thanatos and bonded to the Seathi, Enyo, Ker has a connection to her kin and her bonded unlike any other. The moment she and her twin hatched, they sought out their respective bonded soquili as if on an instinct. Ker acts with her brother and their bonded in beautiful harmony, moving together and acting as one. She follows along with Enyo and Deino’s duties, aiding them in their constant search for the next offering to the Deep One of the abyss. Ker understands and knows how her bonded is feeling at all times, and she respects Enyo’s constant drive to succeed and perform the duties that the village elders and the twin’s family has placed upon them. While Enyo believes that what she is doing is truly for the greater good of the villages, Ker embodies the deep knowledge that her bonded tries to ignore. Ker understands that what they do is dark and does not garner love from everyone. She knows the true risk that her bonded and her sister are exposed to with every selection of sacrifices they make. Should her bonded and her sister fail, Ker understands how quickly the village elders and their own blood would turn against them.
Username: Kaya Wolf Moon Soquili Choice: Yellow Familiar Choice: Sunset Koi
Soquili Name: Deino Soquili Temper: Wayward Soquili Temper Blurb: The eldest of the twins, Deino has always been aware that she and her sister hold a unique place in the world. They are tide-born. Sisters born upon the same day and within the same hour. From the beginning, their role in the village was certain. Their destiny to become the next Speakers of the Abyss, Protectors and Life-givers to their home. Deino understood this quickly enough. Together, with her bonded and sibling, they keep the peace within their realm by seeking out suitable sacrifices for the Deep One. It is a simple task to be certain, and one which they have developed an art for. Yet, deep within her soul, Deino questions and doubts. The blood in the water each season finding its way into her shrouded heart. They are responsible for so many deaths, yet they save so many of their own. She finds it more difficult with the passage of time to reconcile these feelings. The knowledge that one must outweigh the other in order for their home to thrive wars with the knowledge that they still commit homicide. Even as her doubts grow, Deino continues to press forward in her duties with her sister. Her features maintaining a perfect mask of obedience and duty, while underneath lies the heart of rebellion.
Familiar Name: Thanatos Familiar Temper: Willful Familiar Temper Blurb: Thanatos arrived into the world under the most special of circumstances. Born into the abyss, he burst forth into life on the same day, at the same time as his bonded, and mere breaths before his twin Ker. The elders of the village bore witness to the signs, and knew immediately that something special had taken place. Bonds which were typically formed later in life between Seathi and Koi were apparent from the instant. Neither Thanatos, Ker, Enyo, nor Deino acted alone; instead, acting as one unit, moving in unison as if of the same entity. Thanatos knew his place to be with Deino without question. His first complete thoughts being only to find and dwell with her. His twin, Ker, would do the same for Enyo. Each acting as an extension of their bonded, personifying in some way the depths of the Seathis’ souls. For Thanatos, he is the willfulness which resides within Deino. He is that voice that no one can quell. The one whom will persevere and triumph when all others fail. His tenacity knows no bounds. Due to his nature, he is not afraid to let others know what he thinks or feels at any given instant. Nor does he hold any qualms with altering his opinion from one moment to the next. Once his mind is set, rest assured that there is no changing it without a hard-won fight. Such tendencies lend themselves well to the duties set before him. He lives to aid his bonded and kin in their task. His entire being seemingly fitted to them, and them alone.
Plots
Surfacing Doubts - Deino and her sister have always selected the next chosen of the deep. They have never wavered in their duties, never questioned their choices, never had doubts of their necessary task for the betterment of the village. However, this time around, they’ve made their choice early. The chosen one must reside in the sacred halls of the village, being groomed and their talents perfected so they truly become a golden sacrifice. During these times, Enyo and Deino take up residence within these halls as well, making certain all goes accordingly. One day, unwittingly perhaps, Deino ends up talking with the current chosen. Their conversation is short in the grand scheme of time but it is profound in its effects. The arrow of doubt has been fired, and it has landed squarely amidst her soul. She struggles to reconcile all that she thought she knew with all that she has yet to discover. Her eyes will gradually open to a new realm of understanding...one that may eventually lead to the destruction of all she holds dear. The Weight of Choosing - Enyo and Deino have been groomed to choose the next sacrifice since they first emerged from their shells. They have always been told to seek the best, the most worthy creature of sending into the abyss, and they have always followed through with their task without question. One year in which the twins must choose, Ker learns that, should the twins fail to select a sacrifice in time, Enyo and Deino will be the ones sent to the dark and bloody waters. With more pressure than ever to perform, Enyo pushes her sister and their familiars to select the sacrifice to preserve their own lives, but it seems that Deino is oddly unwilling to truly help in this year’s selection. Enyo notices the distance that her sister is putting towards the selection and confronts her. Their lives are worth more, greater than those of the ones they pick to send into the abyss. If they fail, there is no doubt that their family and the elders will elect them the next sacrifice; after all, they have been groomed for ultimate perfection in their duties. The Speakers of the Abyss - History is important. It is what gives life to the past and enlivens the future, and it is through history that one learns of past mistakes and strives not to recreate them. However, history serves another purpose. The passing of tradition from one generation to the next ensures that the knowledge of all those who have come before shall not be forgotten. That their struggles and plights will not be overlooked or ignored. Each generation is prone to its own troubles and triumphs, with these tales being added to the stories of the next. However, there are some tales which have transcended the realm of stories to become legend. Within these histories, heroes and villains are decided, their actions marked as certain and true. There are many such tales among the denizens of the deep. Yet none are so clear and dominant as the legend and history of the Speakers of the Abyss- a group of water-dwelling Seathi whom are fabled to share the bonds of blood with a dark entity, known as the Deep One. Deino and Enyo are heirs to this fabled clan. As young fillies, it is tradition for them to be taught the sordid history of their clan, so that they might come to understand what is to be expected of them. Their young minds, unified as one, will delve into the rituals set forth by the ancient ones. The grooming process will begin so that they will one day take on the mantle. Seekers of death, protectors of life, speakers of the abyss. The First of Many - The twins come from a long family line of those connected to the Deep One’s call. Generations of their family have selected the chosen of the Deep One, quieting its growls and keeping it on the edges of slumber and awakening. No one is prepared for the creature’s return to the world, it has been lurking in the depths of the ocean for longer than there is an account of. The twin’s family has kept the full force of the creature at bay by offering it sacrifices and keeping its constant hunger suppressed. Once they became of age to inherit the task of so many of their bloodline, the twins must make their first ever choice in the next chosen one to send to the Deep One and its ever hungering maw. It is a moment of celebration within their family, a moment of pride in those who have groomed the twins for this very moment within their lives, and a moment of joy and excitement for the two sisters. They have heard stories of their elders, of all the others like them that have made their first selection of sacrifice. Now it is their turn to shine and make their selection. There are nervous jitters between them, excitement, and even the hidden beginnings of some semblance of doubt in their duties. Discord - The sisters seem to be at odds. They have always acted as if of one mind, the yin to the other’s yang, but with Deino’s apparent wavering in their duties, and Enyo constantly pushing her sister to perform them, they’ve hit a very serious block in their sisterhood. They butt heads and argue, all while the grumbling from the Deep One grows ever louder, more noticeable, even by those unattuned to its clamour. Enyo and Deino have been picking lackluster candidates for a while now, and the village elders begin to sense that the Deep One’s growing frustration is due to the poor quality sacrifices it has received as of late. The two, so sucked into their own discord, hardly notice the change of the Deep One’s slumber, and have been putting off their appointed task for too long. The beast in the abyss hungers, and the elders demand they choose the next sacrifice from the village, lest their family do it for them. The twins would make a lovely meal, after all. Blood Tide - The twins have failed. All of their training, grooming, and hunting has all been for naught. Their constant bickering of late seeming to summon the Deep One from below. In fear of the beast, and having given the twins one final chance to succeed, the elders have decided that two sacrifices must be the answer. Deino’s and Enyo’s lives have become forfeit in lieu of their failures. Elders and family alike hold them responsible for the beast’s anger. They seek them out during a time when the twins would least expect them, swiftly subduing them and ushering them to the sacred halls. Frightened and uncertain, the twins hope to reason with their family, to plead with them to allow one more chance. One more opportunity to make things right. No doubts to hinder them from fulfilling their duties. Their pleas fall on deaf ears, however. The rituals must be upheld and a Blood Tide must occur. The beast must not awaken. They are told that they should take comfort in that they will save the village one final time, and that their sacrifices would see the Deep One slumber for an eternity longer. This does nothing to quell the twins’ fears. No, instead fueling them to a fevered pitch. A mixture of emotions rage within either sister as they struggle to comprehend the tidal wave fate has dealt them. Deino knows the blame and responsibility lies with her. She was the one who lost course and drew her sister into it. Now both must pay with their lives. If only they could make the family see reason, or if Deino could simply save her sister from their new fate. All seems lost. Remember though, that when everything is at its darkest, the smallest of lights can shine the brightest...and help has more than one form. All That We See or Seem - The twins have been and gone through a lot… They were groomed for greatness, meant to be the saviors of their people through their sacred duties, and then they failed, were turned on by their family and the elders of their village, and their bond remains broken, even after their escape from their doom. The two have been through thick and thin with one another, every moment of their lives spent together, and yet the bond that they shared may never be repaired. Enyo feels as if her entire life has been thrown away all because of her sister’s unwillingness to perform their duties, and Deino is steadfast in her conviction of how wrong they were to send someone off to their death. Who were they to pass judgement on others and how could Enyo be so blind to the cruelty they were imposing on others? Their familiars push them to repair the bond broken by their doubt in one another. Together, Ker and Thanatos reveal Enyo’s and Deino’s true feelings about one another, their deepest thoughts, their biggest fears, their greatest concerns for the future. They have the world open to them now, with the constant looming weight of choosing no longer resting on their shoulders, and they need to be able to experience it to the fullest...and together. Voices From the Deep - After having settled down into their new life, away from their village, the twins catch word that something has happened in the depths of the ocean, something horrible, and to their former home. The twins debate whether they should return to the village that turned on them, for words can often be just that, words. They are finally happy in their new life, closer than ever before, so there is little reason to return. After some time mulling the decision over, Enyo and Deino decide to go back to the deep where their village resides. The water near their village is red and murky, shrouding their former home from them, and the smell of iron is rich as they venture near the edge of the clouded waters. The two fear that the worst has happened, that the Deep One has consumed their family, friends, and the other aquatics that dwelled in their village. After passing through the thick of the blood cloud they find their former village completely destroyed. There is no sign of life anywhere around them, and the sounds of the Deep One are minimal, no longer the great growl that it had been before they were tossed out. The Deep One is sated until another time and the twins decide that they will continue to keep an eye on the slumbering monster, waiting for signs of its awakening once more. We are as One - Born amidst the darkened depths, twins Thanatos and Ker know but one thing. They are not whole. Part of them resides elsewhere in the deep, somewhere near yet too far for their liking. Moving as one, they seek to find that which is lost to them. Their proximity to their other half bringing with it ever growing clarity. Minds sharpen like the coral they swim past. Sight grows keen, glistening with the same clarity as the crystal waters in which they swim. Their every sense awakening with a spine-tingling raptness. Only when their other is found will they truly be alive. All Seeing Eyes - After having found their other half, or halves as it were, Thanatos and Ker take on the task of helping their bonded obtain sacrifices to appease the Deep One. Their duty is to wander the ocean in search of the next potential chosen, providing a sort of litmus test for the individual to gauge whether they could be a contender or not. If the two deem the one possibly worthy, they then bide their time, studying the one and learning of any weaknesses to be exploited. It is then up to them to draw the unaware one into the fins of Deino and Enyo who would make the ultimate decision. Masks - Ker and Thanatos know well the inner workings of their bonded. They are as one and always shall be. But such understanding bears its own tribulations and quirks. While each is as one, so too are they divided. One serving as an extension to only a single twin, the one to which they are thoroughly bonded. Their personalities marking some invisible quality ladden far within the subconscious of the Seathi twins. Thanatos and Ker come to realize that there are masks everyone wears, even themselves. What is important is to keep from losing one’s self behind the masks. Something easier said than done, especially when they are uncertain which is the mask and which the true self. Chaos - The twin Koi find themselves caught between their bonded and their arguments. Ker and Thanatos understand how their bonded feel more than the twin sister’s understand each other. Tempers between the twin koi flare as they are pulled to the sides of their bonded, Ker defending Enyo for her devotion to their task, while Thanato defends Deino questioning the ethics of their position. What right have they to send someone to their demise? The koi bicker and argue as much as the twin sister do with each other, the chaos between the four growing ever stronger. This is not them, this is not who they are, this is not how they should be acting… and yet… They cannot see to come together as one. A bond unlike any other before it is breaking and the four cannot seem to stop it. We are as Two - Things are not always as they seem. The masks have shattered and sides have been chosen. Battle lines were drawn, yet a greater darkness is rising. The Deep One is awakening. Ker and Thanatos are alone, with their bonded having been taken for sacrifices to appease the beast. Despite all that has transpired, neither Koi feels complete without the other pieces. The one has become two and that is unacceptable. It is an empty feeling, nearly darker than the abyss itself. The twin Koi recognize that only one thing can make the all-consuming emptiness disappear. They must come together, reunify themselves as one, so that they might rescue their other half. It will not be easy. Many obstacles lie ahead of them. But they do not carry fear. Their goal foremost in their heart and mind- mend the bond torn by doubt. Let two become one once more. Harmony - The time has come. The Blood Tide draws near, but the twin Koi refuse to let it be done. They have come up with a plan that they think will work, and waste little time in employing it. With their other halves now with them once again, the holes within the Koi’s hearts have been filled. Yet they have no time to rejoice. The family and elders of the village call for a sacrifice, and they are not keen to let their current ones escape so easily. It is imperative that the two sets of twins regain their harmony in its entirety if they wish to be eternally free. Old and new faces will surface as they find their way in new waters, create new lives, and seek to break from the past’s hold.
Kaya Wolf Moon
As a reminder, Strifeling is the colourist for all four of these beauties!
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