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 Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 5:57 pm
The Root of the MatterEcho and Nergal's Side: Last Man StandingSosiqui The scepter was heavy and cold in Illumin's hands, and the mist that drifted around them was cold as well, clinging to his wings more than it seemed it should. He resisted the urge to blaze with light and sear them away, for that might assuredly attract unwanted attention.
A cold wind rushed along the ridge where they stood, himself and Ea and the mortal Corporal Tiercan, who had refused to leave them even though the thick, wallowing mist in the valley made sounds and probably other unpleasant emanations detectable by someone with a sensitive mind. Nergal and Echo had gone alone, Underworld confident in his ability to deal with the dead he had once judged and contained. He could feel their movements below, tiny light-orbs tucked in empty canteens - not enough to be seen outside, but enough for him to feel, and enough that he would most certainly see them as a signal should something happen.
There was a road that had led up here, and a stone platform walled with a waist-high barricade - the place where Captain Ghavaliel's ancestors had looked over the pass, where the man himself had been brought as a child to see this place.
Where they watched murderers die.
Echo and Nergal's presence was bright below them. Illumin could not see the two gods, but he could feel them, and - ah-
It was as if the whole pass had drawn a breath; the mist rushed towards the lower pass entrance in a shocking, unnatural movement that left no doubt the mist was not a phenomenon of mere weather. "That's it! Quickly-" Illumin raised the scepter, slowly, remembering what Nergal had told him about its use. He concentrated, and a moment later the beams sprang out. One of them lanced downwards towards the mist, and he swiftly sucked all the light away from it, not wanting to attract attention from the spirits there.
The other flickered towards the tower, but it jumped around, shifting back and forth. "Am I not doing it right?" Illumin muttered, but no amount of concentration as Nergal had instructed made the beam firm up onto one place. "Well, fine. It's that way, at least. Let's go, gentlemen..."
He scrambled over the wall, onto the trace path that had been revealed on the Captain's maps of the area. A ridge path, one that crept to the crumbling tower on the far side of the pass, the Woldpost. Zero Dream There were, indeed, various sounds and many other unpleasant things that Illumin's mind probably could not have been able to warp itself around their existence. Tiercan looked much like a haunted man as he followed, face pale as if trying to mimic Nergal's tone. But he was also a soldier - young, yes, but well-trained and having reached his rank by sheer skill and strict mental discipline. He knew how to keep his fear in check. He had a mission to accomplish - to lead the two gods safely to what they sought, and then all the way back to the agreed meeting point. Until that was done, he could allow nothing to distract him. "Perhaps the ghosts are causing interference, lord ?" Oh, he could feel them indeed - trying to hinder them, but Illumin's light seemed to keep keeping them at bay. For now. "I do believe the terrain in that direction is also quite uneven and unstable... We must be careful." Sosiqui "Careful, yes, but swift as well..." The two gods could fly, but the mortal could not, Illumin reminded himself. Though the young Corporal did not have the mental skill that Captain Ghavaliel possessed, he was a valuable resource for his abilities nevertheless... and for something more. Illumin could feel the faint waving flame of belief in Corporal Tiercan's soul, and that was beyond precious. He could have stayed behind. The Captain had given him leave.
But he had not.
Hunt cleared his throat pointedly in Illumin's direction, and the god stopped, abruptly. "Oh. Yes. The... the ropes. I nearly forgot." Ea was ever more practical than he was. The ropes had been brought for just such a purpose, to keep them together on the mountain path. "Here, Corporal." He caught the rope that was tossed to him, and looped it around his body, carefully, as Hunt directed. "If you should fall, both of us can fly, and between the two of us we should easily be able to carry you out of harm's way." They could have flown directly to the Woldpost were it not for the soldier, but since the guide was willing, it was more prudent to take a longer route to have him along. They could also have flown there with the man between them, but if they were attacked in the air... what then?
"Is there additional lore you know about the tower?" Illumin asked, as he passed the rope on to the man. Zero Dream The brown haired man nodded in turn, looping the rope around his waist and interweaving it into his thick, sturdy leather belt for more strength. It was, quite obviously, not the first time he had done such. Not on this particular mountain, but... That done, and the knots all secured, he could answer. "Beside what has already been said... I fear there is not much else, lord. The events have happened long before the kingdom had been set as it is now... and most disregard it as simple legend, unless they have dared to come here and see the truth for themselves." Sosiqui "I would imagine this place is a bit of a dirty secret," Illumin said, with a nod. A few tugs at the rope verified that all seemed well, though he hoped they wouldn't need to use the ropes. They rubbed obnoxiously when he moved, but that was still better than letting the Corporal fall to his death.
A quick glance at the mist below verified that it was still roiling - and then, suddenly, a scream came from below, unmistakable. Echo... He strained to see if there was a signal - and if there was, what could they do from up here? Descend like angry birds, perhaps, Tiercan dangling between them? - but he saw nothing. No light, just mist.
He hoped fervently that the scream had been one of attack, as Eibhilin could do, and not one of fear or pain. "Let us continue," he said, firmly. He edged out along the path first, the scepter tucked safely into his belt, with Tiercan next and Eamnonn at the rear. It was a clattery trace, covered in pebbles and scree; with every footstep, gravel showered down to plink and patter on the rocks below. Hardly secretive. Please, please, stay distracted. Don't come up here, Illumin thought, for a moment, until the unpleasant idea that maybe the ghosts could read his thoughts occurred to him. Zero Dream "Something like that, yes. We try to keep people away as much as possi-" The scream made him freeze, also, for a moment - Tiercan had also recognized the voice, and watched, green eyes going on Illumin, waiting for him to decide what should be done. When he decided to continue onward, he nodded, took his place in between the two gods, and followed. It would have been easy for him to feel out of place, if he had let but one of his thoughts wander off. But his mind was focused on what he could feel unfolding around them. Illumin's unguarded thought had been picked up quite easily, but he gave no notice that he had, in fact, heard it. Such odd gods, to forget to keep their thought guarded against mortal power. Perhaps such thing is unknown, wherever they came from ?He could, at the very least, figure that the ghosts where still distant by what little echoed of their thoughts. There was only madness, pure madness and instinct there. Nothing quite definite and nothing reassuringSosiqui "If anyone can tame them, Underworld can." He quite deliberately did not think about what would happen if Nergal couldn't. "Lady Echo can scream as a mode of attack, I think that was what that was all ab-"
Suddenly, there was a warning rumble - just a few seconds - before far more rocks than just a small shower slid away under their feet. Illumin yelped and leapt into the air, beating his wings frantically; the ropes tightened and strained as Eamnonn took up the slack behind them. Dust rose all around them as the path crumbled away, and Illumin grunted against the strong tug of the rope taking Tiercan's weight between the two gods.
Was it his imagination, or had something laughed, an evil little titter, just barely audible beneath the crashing of stone? A shiver ran up his spine as he hovered, waiting for the dust to clear so that he could see what was left to land on. Zero Dream Quite suddenly, the ghosts moved. The young corporal did not even get the time to warn them - his limited abilities having detected the sudden convergence too late. Or perhaps they had led him on... ? It was possible. However, there was little he could do now but dangle below the two gods, and hope... or perhaps maybe pray.... that it would not break under the strain. He probably couldn't land from such altitude without at least spraining something. Sosiqui Another gust made the gods wobble in the air - but it also pushed the dust away, revealing that the slide had destroyed part of the path, but not all of it. Beyond the twenty-foot section that had collapsed the path went on as it had before. Illumin, extremely grateful for Hunt's foresight, slowly began to move forward in the air towards the safer part of the path. "Ea, hold the Corporal's weight while I test the path," he called out, as he descended.
A few quick prods and then landing his full weight determined that the path was indeed actually solid, not a trick. He relayed that to Eamnonn, and before long they were all on solid ground again. Illumin's ribs were aching from the whole thing, but that was much better than anyone being dead. Anyone else being dead.
"Was that really a ghost? Ghosts?" he asked the Corporal, with an uneasy glance around. He couldn't see anything that seemed blatantly out of the ordinary. Zero Dream "That is very likely." There where leftover reactions of the fright on his face, but his voice was even and focused. "They all suddenly moved as one, just before... I cannot tell what they are thinking, lords. There simply isn't enough awareness left in them beside ill intent and madness for clear thought to occur to them. Mad and unpredictable... And the hillsides are easily set off." He sighed, returning more of his attention to doing his best to watch on the mad beings. "We should linger here as little as possible, lords. They seem aware that we did not fall as they intended." Sosiqui "Then let us move on ahead." There was music dancing at the edges of his awareness, and again it seemed as though the valley inhaled as Echo's singing below drew the spirits down. The actively hostile was more interesting, more delightful, than a mere mountaineering party. If there was one thing the ghosts remembered, it was battle.
Slowly, Illumin edged along the path, careful and tense. The light from his wings crept back along the rope, a dancing of iridescence like St. Elmo's Fire coloring the length of it. After a few more feet, he stopped and lifted the scepter again. As before, one beam lanced downwards, and he dampened it as quickly as possible. The other still jittered and skipped about, but it seemed to be confined to the area of the tower, the Woldpost. "Blasted thing," Illumin muttered, under his breath. There was some dim idea in his mind, relic of his host, no doubt, that hitting it might make it work better... but Nergal would probably never forgive him for that. Zero Dream This time, when Illumin raised the scepter, Tiercan was ready. As the god summoned forth the beams, the young corporal sent as much as he could of his awareness outward, if only for confirmation of what he was suspicious of. His speaker training - incomplete due to lack of skill, but there nonetheless - was coming in handy now. Sure enough, just as the energy of the scepter where called forth, the ghosts went right for it. "It does seem like they are affecting the signal in some way, lords... But I cannot tell exactly how." If only their thoughts would betray them.... but they did not. He could not delve deeper and pry it from them - not only was this one thing he was not exactly skilled at, it was also possible that he may fall to their madness. Much like staying alive, he was more useful to his queen sane. There was one thing that the ghosts did notice - and it was that he was distracted. A sudden gathering to their left caught his attention, but too late - when he opened his eyes and turned to look, a rather large boulder was headed right for their direction. Again, there was little time. "DOWN !" He ducked, pulling on both sides of the rope as hard he could, in hope to destabilize the two gods should his vocal warning come too late. Sosiqui "Affecting the signal, h-"
"DOWN!" the man yelled, and suddenly Illumin was jerked off-balance as Corporal Tiercan yanked hard on the ropes. Ea had already moved into a crouch on his own, his reflexes being much faster than any of them, but Illumin had to settle for a rough tumble, wincing as rocks bit into his palms. The boulder bounced and soared over them, close enough that the wind from its passage ruffled his hair and gravel bounced off of his shoulders.
That... could probably have killed him, or at least severely inconvenienced him. He remained on the ground until all seemed quiet again, then took a shaky breath. "Thank you, Corporal," he managed. "Perhaps now would be a good time for me to try that thought-dampening technique you taught us on the way here." Zero Dream The brown-haired man did his best to shield his face from the gravel being carried by the sudden burst of wind following the boulder - only daring to look up once things had been (mostly, to his mental senses) quiet for a few seconds. "That... probably would be a good time, yes." The corporal worked himself back on his feet, paler than he had been if it was even possible, arms shaking on his side - not having quite come down from the surge of adrenaline that had just coursed through him. Having enemies around you was one thing - having enemies you could barely feel around you was a whole different thing. Sosiqui It was one thing to practice mental tricks while sitting in a coach, but quite another to attempt them while scrambling along a treacherous mountain path. Still, Illumin tried, even as he cursed the whole affair under his breath. Make a wall for yourself, and keep behind it; think lightning-quick, linger on nothing of importance, move on instinct, and if all else fails fill your mind with utterly inane thoughts. Ooh, he was jealous of Ea.
But the tower was close. The builders had wedged it into the other side of the pass, a tall thing that was only freestanding at the very top; the rest of it climbed and leaned along the mountain itself. Some of it looked to be built directly into the mountain. The stones were weathered and snagged, and most of the roof was missing. Good thing it isn't winter here.
And yet the damned scepter's beam refused to stay still! "Stop that," Illumin ordered with a hiss, but it didn't do any good. "Well. It's in there, I think. Somewhere. We'll have to search it." At least they had Hunt with them; this wasn't precisely his sphere of influence, but that library hadn't been, either. Though now I wish we hadn't been quite so thorough... or perhaps we weren't thorough enough. Zero Dream Tiercan nodded in answer, not looking quite as shaken now that he had a moment to calm down, but definitively a bit distracted - keeping track on the ghosts was starting to take it's toll, it seemed. It was odd, that they hadn't tried to come close by now - they had tried to attack, yet always through manipulation of the landscape - they hadn't tried to do so more directly - or went for their mind, through he had felt a few attempts on his own slip off easily against his mental barrier. Either not speakers in life, not skilled enough... Or too mad to grasp how to do such effectively anymore. His attention was split in between the ghosts, and watching Illumin closely. He looked to be doing well enough, so far - and hoped he would continue to do so, as he wasn't quite willing to figuring what kind of backlash he would get if he tried to sheild him. Unlike me, those ghosts are already dead. AND mad.Sosiqui Mist clotted around the tower, thick and unnatural. Just looking at it gave Illumin goosebumps - highly undignified, but the body had more sense than he did. It did not want to go.
He wasn't going to give it a choice. Illumin set his jaw and strode ahead, wading into the hip-deep mist as if it were water. To his surprise, there was no sense of humidity or dampness, but it was cold, and it nearly hid the path. He had to slow to a crawl, and flap his wings to try and blow it away. It was far more stubborn about giving into the breeze than it should have been. There was a sudden, terrible moment when it felt like dozens of tiny, freezing palms went patapatapat all up his legs. "Tiercan?" he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "I think this might be haunted. Extremely haunted." Zero Dream Extremely haunted seemed almost like an understatement, really. After his first step into the mist, his hands holding the rope in order to allow Illumin to guide him through the fog had tightened, building up a noticeable resistance that the light god could probably feel quite easily. The fog was thick with the ghostly presence. In fact, he pondered if the mist wasn't simply the ghosts themselves. It did not help that he could barely see a thing though the fog - Illumin's glow seemed more distant than he knew it to be, even as it ran down the rope. Keep a hold on yourself..."Indeed." He finally answered, voice actually unsteady for the first time since they had entered this damned place - which was quite a feat all the same. He tried to reach for them, to push them off, but just like their attempts failed on him, his own seemed to slip off. He'd never been quite skilled at actual mental attacks. It was odd that they came so suddenly, when earlier they where keeping their distance. Strength in greater numbers ? Or... "Lord. Do you think you could create another orb of light, as you have done before ?" It was worth a try. Sosiqui Without a word, Illumin spun a blaze of light between his hands. Zero Dream When the light flared into life, there was a sudden panic among the ghosts, so intense that Tiercan felt he could have rose an hand and touched it, and they parted, almost like a sea splitting in two, dashing away from the intense light, settling meters away and trashing wildly. Just as he had hoped. The daylight seemed to do little to them, but this light, divine light... That seemed, at the very least, to affect them. Not stop them, but affect them. Sosiqui "Ah..." Illumin smiled, wickedly. So that was the game, and how to play it. Immediately the glow around him intensified, and he spun away wisps of light to twirl around Tiercan and Ea as well, directing them to dip and chase at any mist that got too close. The mist, for its part, arched and loomed overhead, like a wave waiting to crash down... but it did not. It shied away from the light.
"Well. It seems my plan to dampen the glow and avoid detection was foolish. This... this is much better." He disliked sneaking, anyway.
Then the attack came, and Illumin let out a little mewling cry and tripped as the ghosts tried their other tricks. Our pain, our loneliness, our anger. Feel it. Drown under it. Drown. Die. Join us. That wave crashed over them all, and while Eamnnon was immune, Illumin and Tiercan were not. Zero Dream Indeed, they where not - Tiercan was quick to shut them out, clamp his mental shield in place, and while that did work rather well at drowning most of the voices out, the return of clarity left him with a realization. Illumin.There was nothing he could do for the god - at least not directly. Not without jeopardizing himself in the process. If only these gods did not resist the slightest mental touch... this whole trip would probably much easier. He was probably as mad as those ghosts, to have come here in the first place. He pulled ahead, with the green god apparently understanding his idea, and with the two of them, it was easy to drag Illumin along, each catching an arm. "Remember what I told you !" He said, tone completely different. "Drown them out with your own thoughts if you must, focus on my voice instead !" He would probably have a rather miffed god to deal with later - after all, there he was, shouting orders at a god, a foreign one to his people but yet for all matter, this seemed to be the truth - but, in this situation, he had little to fall back but what he knew. He'd used this method on trainee before, to teach them to focus on different things with ease - but this wasn't exactly a trainee. And heck, apparent disrespect might get the light god's attention sorely on him. "Don't let go of my voice, Illumin !" Sosiqui Illumin gritted his teeth, hard. Damn Eamnnon for being ascended, for not feeling any of this - perhaps as an echo, but a truly ascended deity did not have to bend to the clamorings of mortal minds, even deceased ones. Think of... walls, barriers - deep penetrating sadness NO! not that, happy things. Kittens, puppies, gods, where is THAT coming from? Sosiqui's consciousness, ugh... Surely they weren't powerful enough to drag her up again, or what little remained. He hoped not.
"Don't let go of my voice, Illumin!"
I'm not going to! He spun that declaration and his own rage, his own superiority at being made subservient to these... these dead mortals... into a wall, a whirling thing that would throw off all attacks made - and gained a moment of shining clarity.
Light. I am Light.
He grabbed the Light, and infused it into his mind.
Something shrieked and flashed backwards, and those frozen hands patted at his flesh again, this time all over, from head to toes - then, gone. Gone.
Illumin opened his eyes, slowly. "Buh...." Zero Dream In despite it all, the corporal couldn't help but smile. Sometimes, it was the most unorthodox methods that worked best. That did not make him stop running, however, and while Ea's stamina would probably had held on for.... oh, probably a few more days as far as he knew, the mortal man was quick to tire, and had to stop to catch his breath, sending a glance back. The fog was behind them, now. All he could do was hope that it would not follow. "Lord, are... you alright ?" Sosiqui "I will be better when I get out of here. How do you people live like this? It's exhausting," Illumin complained. Living every moment waiting for something to pluck your secrets, or even your life, right out of your head... your skull should by rights be a private place, damn it. He shook his head. There was a glow around it now, bleedoff from the mental aspect, that looked almost comically like a halo. "Well. The sooner we find this fragment, the sooner we can leave..."
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 5:58 pm
The Woldpost TowerSosiqui There was a tumbled gash in the wall of the tower, ending in a doorway with no door in it - perhaps it had rotted out, years ago. Illumin shuffled over and tentatively poked the floor inside with one foot. It seemed sturdy enough. "Damn this scepter, damn this valley, damn
Aristogeiton," he muttered, under his breath. Zero Dream "It is all we is." The brown-haired man answered, shaking his head. "The only way of living we know - the very thing our society is based on." Something so common, so banal this was normal, for each and every one of them. Gods knew he never thought twice about it - it was a part of functioning in society. He did, however, agree with the light god on one thing - the sooner he would be out of this place, the better. So he followed the pace, even as his legs protested after the physical effort he had needed to give. In other circumstances, he probably would have been inwardly amused - gods directly damning something ? But he wasn't. He remained silent, and watched the floor wearily. It looked stable, but things weren't always as they looked, especially here.The tower seemed quite large, especially with multiple stories in mind - this may take them quite awhile to find the object, if it was even in there to begin with. "Lord, does the scepter give any clearer indications now ?" Sosiqui Illumin nodded and raised the scepter. It flared with sudden light as it fed off of his increased radiant Light, then speared - straight downward for one blinding second before the 'signal' broke up again, dancing and sending pricks of light scattering over the ceiling like some sort of divine disco ball.
"There," Illumin hissed with satisfaction. Was that how Ea felt when his quarry grew near? "Downward. Or in the floor... but I doubt that." He could hear vastness echoing under his feet. "How do we get down? Did the Captain say anything about it?" There had been ancient maps at
some point, but he had been so tired... Zero Dream "There should be a stairway down further back..." Tiercan was quick to answer. Some kind of clear path. finally. He remembered the maps pretty well, but his memory was, of course, not flawless, but it would have too do. It was too bad, really, that he had not been allowed to bring them - but the ancient, brittle paper would probably not have survived the trip. He took the lead, Illumin's glow being enough to give him some sense of his surrounding without having to wait for his eyes to get used to the dark. The floor seemed to hold, but he keep his footing light, just in case. He navigated the corridors for a few minutes, until he stepped into nothing and clung to the rope, staring downward. There should have been stairs there but... there wasn't, anymore. Only a few complete stones at the bottom and rubble was left. "....Well, there used to be a stairway." Sosiqui Illumin swore under his breath again. "Well, we have rope for you, and we can fly." He unwound the rope from his waist - it was useless now to have them all three strung together like beads on a cord. Ea did the same, and handed the bundled rope to Tiercan. "I'm not sure how to tie knots," Illumin added, earning an eyeroll from Hunt, "but I'm sure a soldier such as yourself can manage?" Zero Dream "Of course." The corporal was quick to do the same, and instead knot it solidly to one rock and start his descent downward. It was a few meter's drops, but he reached the bottom without too much of an effort. The floor on this level was stable - felt even more stable under his feet than the previous one. "Everything seems stable down here." After a moment, he called the gods over. Sosiqui Illumin sent a ball of light floating down after the man, then slipped down himself - there wasn't quite enough space for him to spread out his wings all the way, so he needed to use the rope to slow his descent, but he made it down to the next floor. There was mist here too, but it was pressed into the corners, radiating sullen anger and resentment at them. The spirits seemed forcibly quelled for now.
"Hrm. There doesn't seem to be anything here, either," Illumin said, after a moment. He sighed. There were trap doors leading down, and a few doors that went away into the darkness, burrowing into the mountain. The Woldpost was larger than just the tower, it seemed... and, sigh, a quick check with the scepter saw the light-beam pinging off into the tunnels. "Fantastic." Illumin shook his head. Perri Indiya Eamnonn followed close on Light's heels, staring into the darkness beyond them. His eyes were good, but they still needed light to function like all living beasts' eyes. Those of the non-living, though...
The Hunt concentrated, and three shadowy creatures formed themselves from the ether, merely four legged shapes with glowing red orbs for eyes. "Follow him. Do no harm." He commanded them, giving each a lick of his blood before waving them off. They disappeared in a moment, but he could feel where they went as if an invisible thread stretched out from his belly and wrapped itself around theirs.
"Shall we?" He asked his companion, leading the way down the tunnel with ears and nerves focused in lieu of his eyes. Surely he had light with him, but it never hurt to ere on the side of caution. They padded after man and beasts, just catching sight of them up ahead-
A snarl and a snap pulled Ea's attention away from walking for a moment, as something tried to grab one of his hunters and his creature returned the favor. Disorientated, he focused on the other two before taking off into a lope. "Ghosts up ahead: move!"
They were no real danger themselves, but as the tunnel seemed to twist and break around them it was clear that just getting past the wretched things was the easiest course of action. The Hunt stumbled a few times before he dropped on all fours as the roof began to shake and wail. His shadow beasts moved on reluctantly, wanting to stay and tear the poltergeists to ribbons instead of fleeing. They went were they were told, of course, and did end up getting to attack the occasional harassing spirit that got too close to their master and his friend. It surely took longer to traverse the tunnel than it would have otherwise, but soon enough they reached the end, their guide, and what could only be the Root. Zero Dream The sudden appearance of the shadow beasts seemed to startle the mortal man a bit - especially having them to close, as he headed down the hall. Thankfully, they listened to their master and not one of them did any threatening actions toward him and they, like Ea, seemed shielded from being mentally read. A good thing - less distraction to worry about, and more mental focus on the ghosts. The beasts picked up the sudden disturbance one step ahead of him, and Tiercan broke into a run just as he saw the hunt dash right past him. He wasn't exactly lucky with the falling debris, but at the very least, he was glad he made it to the other side without breaking anything. He probably looked like a mess of stone shards, small cuts and a few deeper wounds, from the way his body was protesting and the blood clinging to the fabric of his white shirt - but at least, he was in one piece. And would have one hell of a story to retell if he managed to crawl out of this hellish place in one piece. "Is that.... ?" He glanced at the root. It looked erriely like it was shaped like a person... Sosiqui Illumin ran grimly after Eamnonn and his hounds, blazing like a torch; Light spun off of him with every movement and flowed after the ghost-mist, sending them hissing away with a surge of frustration and resentment. The ceilings shook and pebbles pelted them, yet it seemed the tunnels had been too well built for the ghosts, even as angry as they were, to truly bring them down.
At last, at last - the shadow-beasts panted their success, and Illumin stared at the thing they had found. It was just lying there, and for a moment he did think it was a person, a shrunken corpse of some kind. He sent light to curl around it for a moment, to verify. No, it was a root... but that face, surely that was no accident of nature.
He raised the Scepter, and the light would have blinded him if he had not been Light himself. It stabbed out, dancing as it indicated the root - but then it broke up, fuzzing as it had before. Why...That quickly became evident, as mist slid out of the floor and curled around the root with a hiss. Miiiiine, it projected. Zero Dream Tiercan had to look away as the light flared up, but it seemed that it was, indeed, the object they where looking for. But of course they would not be granted an easy go at it. God damned ghosts... He was starting to quite honestly be sick of them - he couldn't get out of here fast enough. But, for once, there was only one of them - it was entirely possible he had scared the others away to protect what was "his". He had been about to send a mental statement to Illumin before he thankfully stopped himself. This was making proper plan formulation hard. How did these gods manage like this ?! But there was always good old fashioned physical language. A few nods of the head to catch the gods' attention, a few gesture to let them know to dash and grap as soon as they could. He figured the After we got the root, run like hell part of the explaination did not expecially need to be highlighted. When it seemed to him that all was understood, he turned his focus back to the ghost, and gave a mental push, as hard as it could manage. Unlike the more skilled of his brethen, this one relented quite easily, screeching as it phazed though the wall. Not a perfect art, expecially as far as he was concerned, but it seemed to work well enough. "Now, lords !" Sosiqui Illumin directed a sharp burst of light at the ghost Tiercan had attacked, driving it further back. "Ea!" he shouted. The Hunt should take the root, the... the piece (and what manner of mortal had Aristogeiton been, that his soul took such bizarre forms?), for he was the least vulnerable to the poltergeists, and the most athletic besides. Perri Indiya Beasts snarling and snapping, a shifted Hunt dodged forward, grabbed the Root in his mouth, turned and ran. A giant green wolf-life thing he
raced back to the open air, ignoring the gashes stone and ghost cut in his skin and letting his shadow hunters attack to their hearts content. Hopefully that would be enough to keep the way clear for the flight of the others. Zero Dream Tiercan was quick to follow in the running, pushing himself as much as he could to try to at the very least keep the hunt god in his field of vision. There was a very big intensive to run faster than he had ever ran before - they'd really pissed the ghosts off now, and it looked like they where trying to bring the tower down on them. However, their attempts, as strong as they where, seemed to be in vain. All that he knew is that he'd never been more happy to see an open sky in all his life when he finally made it out, and collapsed on the ground to catch his breath once more. He didn't want to think that they still had to go all the way back. Sosiqui Illumin soared after them, not running but flying now, a luxury he had not been able to enjoy when the Grigori had chased them back in the Ashlands. Though the ghosts wailed and screeched, and shook pebbles and dust from the ceiling, Eamnonn' shadow-beasts bit gleefully at them - and if they did not actually touch, you would not have known it from the cries the ghosts made. They shied away from Illumin's light, too -
The run was a jumble of ghost-sounds and dust, stone and then floor and creaky staircases down, then a doorway now empty, and out into what passed for meager daylight in this place, but was in every way preferable to the darkness of the mountain tunnels. Thabara
Nergal and Echo had just made it to the base of the tower, when a large Beast (Hunt, Nergal corrected himself absently) shot out of the entrance and way past the startled deities. They'd approached the ancient watchtower by a different route, further down the mountainside, following the whispers of the ghosts rather than the scepter's guidance.
The mortal was next to emerge from the impressive ruins, pale as a sheet but apparently otherwise unharmed. But where was Light? The whole tower seemed to be shaken by a tremor which affected only the building alone, an earthquake, only that the ground beneath their feet remained still. And none but Underworld was able to see the cause of it. They were shaking it, quite literally.
"Stop," he whispered, the word barely audible. But it was not intended for the ears of those still alive anyway, and to those whom it concerned... They heard and heed his command. The moment Illumin emerged from the ancient ruin, it stopped shaking, its collapse no longer imminent. A tad too late, perhaps, Nergal admitted to himself. But the area surrounding them at the very least was clear of the strange, unnatural fog for now, and almost all ghostly activity seemed to have ceased abruptly. Though they were still there, that much was obvious.
It felt strange to have himself stretched out so far, attempt to keep things in check in several directions. But at the same time strangely familiar. "Have you found anything, at the very least?" he asked, not intending for his tone to seem so dry and almost mocking, but it came out like that nonetheless. They had found something, it told, very clearly, even if the others had not. War, sowing the seed for conflict wherever he can, he realized, his hand tightening lightly around Echo's.
"I hope you did not have to endanger yourself such for nothing," he added more softly, trying to take the edge from his words. He should feel responsible, not be mocking them. After all he had let them wander off in this place without his protection.Zero Dream When Ea darted out, Echo almost screamed in surprise, apparently still a bit on edge from the previous ghost encounter. It took her a few second to realize that it was indeed the hunt, followed by some obvious distance by the Corporal and Illumin, who all seemed spooked in varying degrees, but where also all in one piece.
Nergal had gotten the question out before she could, and his tone earned him a rather solid glare in his direction. War sowing the seed everywhere he could, indeed. The second sentence came out a bit better, at least, and she sighed. Now what not the time for such things.Tiercan had slunk off against a rock, sitting awkwardly on the ground in hope some rest would make his body stop complaining. He remained silent, leaving the talking to the deities present. Sosiqui Illumin landed with a skid of clattering gravel, his wings shedding light and dust, and had to catch his breath for a moment before nodding in Nergal's direction, a tired smile on his face. "We have. A root. Ea, they've stopped, come back..."
Hunt bore the thing, a fetish root of mandrake, with an eerie resemblance to a person. "A ghost was guarding it, but we frightened it away and ran, and here we are. And you?" Illumin took the Scepter from its resting-place on his hip and held it out to Nergal. Thabara "The living frightening away a ghost.." The judge's dark lips perked up ever so slightly as he bent forward to examine the root, the irony of the tale not entirely lost on him. "This is--"
He did not get to finish the sentence as an invisible force brushed past him, like a sudden gust of wind, immaterial claw-like hands manifesting visibly to attempt and grab the petrified plant. Mine! a bodyless voice hissed, half speaking to their minds, half audible to their ears - and full of loathing. When the relic could not be touched, a flood of curses spilled forth, shifting to a frustrated howl which would send shivers down most everyone's spines.
Nergal frowned, wordlessly accepting the scepter back from Illumin's hands while his powers tugged at the mad speaker to reel him back in before Hunt's shadowy beasts could snap at him and do damage. He shouldn't be so strong still.
Unless..
"A ghost is what we found," he explained with a wry smile, holding up the scepter to verify his claim. Despite the obvious likeness, he still might have been wrong.. "The speaker and shaman of which the legend spoke, the very same person, both of them. He is quite powerful even dead, as you witnessed and.." He paused, glancing at the one he'd just mentioned. He was still glowering at Hunt with a look as if he was ready to tear him apart, no matter the consequences.
"This is yours, you said?" He inquired. "This strange root?"
The alraune, the spirit-root, yes, carrying my Voice much, much further. Handed down for generations from the tribe's shaman to their successor. I was last. It is MINEMINEMINE. Again the ghost lunged forward, but this time was stopped short rather abruptly by Nergal's powers. He was slowly starting to get the hang of it now.
"There is more to it than meets the eye," Nergal said thoughtfully, eying the eerie plant, its shape resembling a miniature human entirely too much. "The Mother might be able to tell more, I asume, or perhaps my own brother.." Zero Dream Echo jumped again when the speaker darted right past her, but calmed down once more, shaking her head. "So that would be everything, then ? There's no other beams pointing for anything else ?"The corporal had been silent all this time, but he quite suddenly spoke up, eyes wide. "Irisun.... has managed to pass by the false lighthouses." s**t. He worked himself on his feet then. Sosiqui Illumin recoiled at the sudden appearance of a much, much more powerful ghost than any they had met - yet the spirit was restrained after a moment, easily, by Underworld's power. Companions well chosen indeed... Still shaken, he nodded at Nergal. "I think this is everything. The other beams I saw were faint, but there were only four. One to the root itself, one to what I can only assume was your... ghost friend... and two thick but faint, pointing distance. No doubt to our own cache... and to the other pieces. They must have been regathered by Fire as she said." Had that goddess found Panacea as well? He could only hope...
His thoughts were interrupted as Tiercan breathed the words he had been dreading. "Damn. I was hoping... well." He glanced over at Nergal. "I think you should keep the root, since your friend seems so very attached to it. Hunt and I must fly... you will follow?" Grimly, Illumin began turning his mind to thoughts of war. War. Have I ever done such a thing? I do not remember. "Corporal. Stay with them, if your orders allow."The Captain's thoughts in Corporal Tiercan's mind were urgent and sharp. A twenty-ship fleet. Seven were brought down by the traps we set. Thirteen remain to plague us. I know not of the capital. Speaker activity here is not strong, but - send the gods- And that was all, a quick breaking off of thought contact. The Captain had much to deal with and there was no time for detail. Perri Indiya The Hunt snarled at the ghost as his shadow beasts merged back with him, catching himself after a moment. Shaking his head at himself, he held out the root to Nergal. "You are welcome to it. Thanks for putting Boo on pause." Zero Dream "Yes, you must go ahead." The corporal shook his head. "Seven ships where brought down by the traps that had been set... But thirteen remain. That is all I know." To the last question, he nodded. "I will." Echo did her best to bite back her sigh. She had honestly been hoping that this would not happen, that it wouldn't come to this, but perhaps that had been an impossible wish.Sosiqui "Very well," Illumin said, grimly. He glanced over at Ea. "Let us fly, then - we have our promise to fulfill." Damnable promise; they had what they wanted, and they had to pay for it, and it would be so much easier to just go- but honor, and the promises of the gods, had to be upheld. They could not afford mortal hate and anger in these times.
Illumin nodded at Echo and Nergal. "Safe journey... we will see you at the Sea-post." He jumped into the air, light flaring around his wings.
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 5:59 pm
The Battle DivineSosiqui War. Legends spoke of it as glorious, but as far as Illumin could see, it was the farthest thing from glory he could imagine. He and Eamnonn had arrived on the wing from the Woldpost and seen Irisun's surviving ships spewing soldiers onto the accessible beaches. From then on, it had been nothing but unbridled chaos. They had put him in armor, clanking and unpleasant and extremely hot, but better than being pierced by arrows from below.
Close, Illumin sent, clumsily; Tiercan had not had much time to teach him about mental abilities, but those of Captain Ghavaliel's troops that could read minds were set to monitor him and pass his warnings on to their men. One beat, two beats, then the god lifted his hands and flooded the area in front of the Sea-post walls with blinding light. The Irisun forces below stumbled and shrieked, and the Captain's men, warned to close their eyes in the brush of thought, took advantage and filled the air with arrows. Below them, men screamed and died.
But this was only one front of the war - Illumin knew this. The true war was being waged in the mental realm, and he wore a veritable halo, his own Light-infused mental shields at the ready... but he knew, with a sickening lurch in his stomach every time he thought of it, that the Speakers of Irisun could do just as the Captain had, and worse. Could they kill him? Probably not, but they might be able to derange him, and his shields were mostly raw god-power with no finesse. Yet, as of now, there had been no such mental weapons wielded.
Which mean they were probably focused on the capital...
A ladder thudded on the wall; Illumin jumped and looked down, then focused light between his hands and swung it in an angry swath that hummed against the air. More screams, more smell of roasting flesh that reminded him far too much of Kishara's wounds. No, he did not like this at all. Perri Indiya The Hunt wore plates of thick, creaking armor, as healing from becoming a pin cushion was likely to distract him from more important tasks and
such garb was easy to discard in the event of major shape shifting. The smell of blood and sweat made him strangely hungry, and he schooled his face into an image of bone and threat in effort to intimidate as much as to hide his eagerness. He was no warlord, but a battlefield had too much in common with a hunting ground for him not to react.
Turning to the sea he focused his thoughts there, causing toothy shades to bubble up from the depths and drag many a hapless enemy back down under the waves. Sleek, shark-like beasts patrolled the waters while massive crocodilian jaws crunched through bone in the shallows. They tore through flesh with ease, quickly turning the frothing sea from blue to red. He could smell the salty, bleeding air from here.
To the land armies went the wolves and cats, slippery half-seen things that slid between the lines and bit every vulnerable pulse point they could. When the men tried to defend themselves, the shades dissipated and reappeared to attack a different, unsuspecting soldier. Eamnonn's fangs dripped with slaver, the song of slaughter singing in his blood. It was far too easy to get drawn into this, with his hunters happy in their tearing and all the smells and sounds of death encouraging him to join in. Sosiqui Sharp and feral, all of it; Illumin took no instinctive delight in bloodlust as the Hunt did. For mortals in this type of conflict, good and evil were labels, the first assigned to one's own side, the other to the opponent. Was Irisun truly evil?
But he was not fighting for morality. He was fighting because of the promises they'd made.
Someone shouted to his left, then screamed; a man fell from the battlements with a grappling-hook through his chest. Illumin gritted his teeth and directed a shot of the focused laser-light down to take the man who had thrown that hook. But there were so many of them, and short of standing there and spinning about wildly with the cutting light...Speaker activity, came the Captain's mental 'voice', suddenly. Lord, cease mental commands-Illumin swore under his breath. If they had people listening in now, he could no longer do the large light-burst attacks without blinding the Brilsworth defenders as well, or without inadvertently warning Irisun in advance. He had no illusions about the secrecy of his own mental projections. Instead, he watched Ea's shadow-creatures wreak havoc, sliced any ladders in range to bits, and did what small-scale blinding he could...Captain Ghavaliel stood with one of his Relays at his side, both directing the battle and coordinating via Relays to the capital. They are coming, Speakers - Captain? came the distant cry. Tell them... Lords, this was a gamble, a mad one. He built every protection he knew over his mind, a silent swift thought, and reached to the limits of his power. The Queen - the false Queen - the touch was quick, only a moment, but secret.Place this in the most secret reaches of your mind: The Weapon of Brilsworth lies at the Sea-post, a great green beast; if we lose his mind, we are lost-He withdrew, shaking, hoping the message had been received. Hoping they would take the bait. Hoping he was right that not even a Speaker, not even multiple Speakers, could take the green god's mind. Thabara The Queen and her court had assembled in the War Room, the military advisers staring with deep frowns and serious faces at the large map table, the figurines which symbolized the troops - theirs and Irisun's. The Queen's entourage was present as well, a small group of noblewomen gathered at one side of the table, speaking only in hushed voices and curiously peering at the table whenever new information came in via the Relays and the figurines were moved about. Servants poured strong, hot kaffe from porcelain pots, passing around the cups which were accepted with grateful glances. None of those present had found time to rest ever since the attack had started, and none of them noticed how the Queen stilled for just a split second as she moved the cup to her lips to take a sip of the bitter, but invigorating brew. She caught the glance of one woman among her entourage over the golden rim of her cup, her free hand shifting slightly into a certain pose at her side. Secret signals, so much safer to use than focused thought or word. She set down her cup, soon enough approached by a maid telling her that the ladies wished to retire and were begging their leave. She approved of it with small, distracted wave of her hand, not even waiting for them to curtsy properly and leave the room in a rustle of expensive fabrics before she returned her focus back to the map. Not a single Eldeli seemed to be present to guard and shield the small group, their skills obviously needed elsewhere more direly, the escort consisting merely of a few members of the palace guard. None those present would have even remotely considered to think of the earnest, dark-haired woman walking in their middle as anyone else but Countess Esthelia, a distant, but dear cousin to their Queen. Perri Indiya Blood, sweat, and screams filled the air, but the blasted wave of bodies kept coming. Something within the Hunt's being bayed, louder and more hungrily than any of his shades ever could. It was huge but illusive, like a ghost of an age and not just a person. A memory, perhaps. Of what he had been once, and what he had now returned to.
Metal slashed uselessly at his leg, the sword wielder screaming as he reached down and casually tore off the arm and threw it on the men below.
A memory, and all he had to do was let it run.
Eamnonn unbuckled the armor, wondering why he had thought he even needed it. His wings spread and his hunters below dissipated, as if he'd cast them away. A memory of what they had been as well, and were again. Of a great hunt. A Wild Hunt.
The horde of ethereal beasts that fell upon land and sea battlefield alike was not the full strength of the Wild Hunt, but it was no less frightful and hungry. The riderless mash of creatures fell upon the army as if it were a nest of chicks, tearing through hide and armor as if they were merely tissues and feathers. Death and blood coated the ground, painting a great mural to the strength and power of a god reborn.
The Hunt found himself howling. Sosiqui Illumin stared, caught between awe at the unbridled power of a fully ascended deity, jealousy that he himself could not do as much, and a strong urge to vomit at the carnage unfolding before him. Yes, yes, if the battle continued like this, they would surely-
The thought was interrupted by a tremendous crash, a sudden cacophony of screams, and the entire wall shuddered. Dust plumed upwards and pebbles rained on them all; closer to, much larger chunks of rock plummeted down and battered or even squashed the unlucky men stationed there.They have a rock-eater- came a sharp mental cry that cut off in a strangled fashion.
Damn it! Illumin strained to take to the air, but the armor was just too heavy for him to manage proper flight. No, as decisive as the battlefield right in front of them had been, there was more going on than just that one front...They have pierced the wall!Captain Ghavaliel blunted his fear on a sharp curse, then spun out his mind to catch the reports from the Relays around the Sea-posts. Salmanack Tower, a rock-eater - we've lost the outer barricade-
Here, too. Corbreak Tower. The base, it's tilting. We're evacuating-
Eastern Shoal, they have fire arrows, the granary is burning-And then, from farther away- The Speakers are attacking the capit- and then a wave of pain came down the link. The Captain cut it immediately, trembling from the aftermath. They had taken that man's mind. So the physical forces were here... a distraction. The mental warfare was focused on the capital. On the Queen... If we lose her...But if they lost the Sea-posts, and gave Irisun a physical foothold, the ending would be just as bad. Brilsworth could exist without a Queen, somehow, if Irisun could be expelled. And if his little plan worked, then... Grimly, the Captain reached out to the Relays at the Sea-posts. Those of you with distance, reach out to the capital and link there. All others, continue to defend. We must drive them back into the sea!But he had so few men. It would not be enough, even with the terrifying power of the Hunt and the sharp blades of Light. Underworld and Music, perhaps they... but what songs could save them now? I may fall here. A blunt, terrifying thought that he shielded from everyone. Zero Dream And then, at that very moment, there was another voice speaking in the captain's head - Tiercan sounded positively rattled, unsettled by something. He had spoken of it at random, an idea that had come to him while they where walking downward to go back to the mounts they had left behind. He hadn't expected Underworld to take him seriously. And he had expected even less that he could have pulled it off. We are coming.
Oh, are we ever coming. We have... Backup.The mounts where running at amazing speed, absolutely terrified by what trailed after them. By carefully working together, Music and Underworld had gathered their own little army - the ghosts trailed after them, kept under Nergal's orders with some help from the bound speaker, and Echo's voice. They trailed to the side of the battlefield, the chaos unfolding in front of the eyes of the three that where rushing by as fast as they could. Rock-eaters, fire arrows, the mental assults on the capital... The corporal feared that they may have arrived too late. Their ride had been mostly a silent one. Tiercan had been listening, and relaying. Nergal was keeping the ghosts under as tight of a control as he could, with what little help Echo could give him. She surveyed the area, and quite suddenly, an idea came to her mind. She wasn't sure she could pull it off, and really, it was so horrible to her that, if it hadn't been the week of war, she would have probably been horrified with herself, just as she had been with the dark thoughts that had plagued her when her lover had been taken away from her.
It could work. Maybe.
Suddenly, wordlessly, she separated from the two, sliding to the side of the cliff that towered over the sides of the sea-posts. From here, she could see those attacking directly, and those standing back, those who where doing a whole different kind of assault - the archers, what she presumed to be the speakers, and the rock-eaters. She navigated to the very edge of that cliff, right over their heads, where they thought they where safely away from the rest of the conflict, protected by those who where doing a direct assault.
I am sorry. Hopefully the judgment will be fair. Those where soldiers, doing simply as they had been ordered. But there was no way to avoid this, no way to reason with them. There was no way to end this, but battle.
Hands moved from holding the bridle to pluck the poor frighted beast's ears in hope to at least dampen what she was about to unleash. The goddess inhaled as much air as she could hold, and then screamed - as loud as she could, with no restrain applied. The length of the horrible sound was unnaturally long, and some of the men below collapsed, probably deafened on the spot. More importantly, something under the horse's hooves rumbled, and the goddess left the edge as sharply as she had reached for it, leaving the chaos unfold in her wake.
The sound had been so high, so powerful, that part of the cliff had detached where she had screamed second before - a twisted version of an opera singer shattering a crystal glass. The men below only realized what was happening too late.
And, to everyone save the captain, this was the first sign that the rest of the deities had, indeed, arrived.Thabara Nergal didn't realize that Echo had parted ways with them until Tiercan pointed it out to him, but even so he couldn't do much but follow her with his gaze for but a moment before he had no choice but to return his focus on the task at hand. But it had been long enough to see that her expression was none of fear, but grim, determined. She had a plan of sorts, it seemed, and had her mind set on carrying it out. He trusted her. Ever since he had returned, she had surprised him time and again, and it was about high time he acknowledged her newfound strength.
"Where to?!" he shouted over the thundering sound of hooves, not daring to bring the poor beast to a halt. It would collapse from exhaustion the moment he did, he was sure of it. And probably die on the spot. He did not know the area, did not know where the 'reinforcements' were most sorely needed. The corporal would know he hoped, as he was familiar with the area. Or - at the very least - he would be able to check back with those in charge.
Behind them, the air quivered unnaturally. There was something there, like a massive, bank of fog, or possibly dust raised by the feet and hooves of a marching army. But moving too fast to truly be what it seemed to be, the misty white swirls taking shape here and there only to dissipate again moments later. Perri Indiya Eamnonn snarled, tearing through ever enemy man he could reach. His hunt attacked more wildly than before, the insanity of a blood frenzy screaming through both of them.
"Weaklings! Cowards!" He snarled across the land. "Have you too much fear to challenge me?" Sosiqui Tiercan?! Captain Ghavaliel stared, feeling the rage, the aggression he had seen from above when he was a small child, and had been taken to the Woldpost overlook... but no, they were here, all the ghosts, a mad stampede, unbridled no more but under the command of the gods. Swarm over the area - take anyone not of Brilsworth, kill or disable - the sea, there are three ships far out. One of them has a Speaker, or close to it - take him down! He sent the order as a sharp arrow, daring to touch the minds of the gods even though it burned. "Echo!" Illumin turned sharply at the distant reverberation of the scream, saw the rising plume of dust from the cliff's collapse. "They are here..."
His eyes narrowed, and he spun hot light between his hands. "Ea!" he shouted. "Your beasts, the ships! Take them!" They were well out of range of his cutting beams, but the Hunt could extend that far. Probably. A clot of men swung at the gates below; he sent a pulse of sharp ultraviolet light and heard the sizzle and shrieks as it went off, burning them instantly. Perri Indiya The Hunt with burning eyes towards the ocean, and his creatures raced to the shoreline. A rain of blood and thicker things fell beneath them, leaving a trail from the field to sand, and continuing on the water as they rushed over the sea. The snaps of wood and bone echoed in Eamnonn's ears as they went, slicing through every ship they could find.
Despite the bloodlust, it was getting hard to focus. It was a great magic to call the Wild Hunt even in part, and he could not hold it forever. "We need to eat their Speakers, Light. Before I am too tired." Zero Dream Tiercan glanced back to Nergal - that mental order had been so strong he was quite sure the god himself had heard it clearly enough. "The cliff lowers to meet the valley about a kilometer or so northward, lord." He had no issue making his voice audible over the nearby sounds, well used to making himself heard by now. "Then we can turn back and reach the towers. We will probably have to cut through enemy lines but..." The brown-haired man sent a nervous glance backward. "....I figure this may not be much of a problem ?" Echo did not stop to see the aftermath of what she had caused, or how many might have died - she didn't even want to know. She rejoined with the corporal and Nergal, as silent as when she had cut away from them.Thabara "Salmanack Tower," the Relay hastily informed them as the bad tidings started to come in one after another, one of the generals shifting the figurines on the table accordingly. "Corbreak too. And.." The man's voice trailed off, his expression growing first distracted, then pale with terror. " Protect the Quee-" He didn't need to finish his sentence, the present Eldeli immediately picking up on the situation and acting as one, their trained minds weaving a shield to hide and protect the minds of their regent and her advisors. But - trained and gifted as they were - they were no match for the full power of a Speaker, lest of all six of them. Only a minute later - though it had certainly seemed like an eternity - half of them had fallen under the mental onslaught, their minds eaten, while the rest, the strongest of them looked at the Queen, awaiting her approval to carry out the orders which had been given to them long ago for the case should the worst ever happen. She simply nodded, pale but composed, and the remaining Eldeli went to work, some giving their all to keep up their shield while others turned against the unsuspecting chancellors and generals, wiping memories and knowledge from unsuspecting minds too surprised to react in time. There were things Irisun's Speakers could not be allowed to know. Inevitably the first broke through, cold mental fingers brushing against the Queen's mind, probing, and then clenching into a tight, inescapable grip once they were certain they had found whom they had been looking for, the One mind which counted in this war. She buckled over, gasping, holding onto the map-table's edge to remain standing upright as her mind was dissected. Her love for her country and subjects, her grief over the loss of beloved consort and children, peeled from her layer by layer like an onion. Her knuckles grew white, she mustn't give in to their force, mustn't fall, I cannot let them know, or else they will turn against our only ho-- Her eyes rolled back and she collapsed, spittle dripping from her opened lips. She was still breathing, her heart still beating, but it would stop soon enough. Without a mind, without a will, the body would not function for long. The Speakers were filled with glee. Julstecca and her protectors had put up a remarkable resistance, but they were no match for Irisun's strength. The Queen is dead, one of them reported back to their own capital immediately. Tell his Highness,Julstecca has fallen, Brilsworth is his.The Queen is dead! another cast out for everyone fighting at the Seapost to hear, friend and - especially - foe. For them, the news would be devastating. _____One thing..
__________One thing left to do.
_______________Their weapon, that great green beast..A quick mind-touch back to headquarters confirmed it was indeed a problem, the raging beast ringing up a death toll much higher than anticipated among their troops. The Queen was gone, but they needed physical foothold within Brilsworth, could afford no more losses until reinforcements were sent. _____Take it down.
__________Focus.
_______________The green beast, destroy its Mind.
____________________And the others?
_______________Later. This is the one Julstecca placed her hopes on. This one first.
__________Focus.Perri Indiya Do not harry a wild beast, especially a predator. They have other things to spend their energy on, and will seek to get free from such an unwanted situation as quickly as possible. With fangs, claws, and strength, through you is often the easiest way out.
Something was poking Eamnonn's mind, like little buzzing mosquitoes made of ice. It was irksome, but not enough to distract him from the bloodletting. He was enjoying the hunt, the kill, and the terror borne from both. Another stab, stronger this time, made him hiss and snap. Too taken with sensation it took him a moment to realize what these annoyances were: the touch of the enemy Speakers. Pah. Cowards. To hideaway while their brethren died. In a calmer moment he might have acknowledged that this was their way of conducting battle, but for now all he knew was the sword. Let them come.
He calmed his thoughts, letting his Wild Hunt subsides. More jabs, scrabbling fingers trying to find purchase on the slick facets of his godly mind, thinking they were succeeding as the attacks on their shipbound fellows ended. It was the best trick the Hunt could play, being a far more physical than psychological deity. But he was a hunter, and knew how to wait. To stay still in the grass or tree, and let the tasty morsels come to him. Unlike the animals of his forest,
these mortals lacked the sense not to come to his door and knock.
A beat after the minds of the Speakers made a unified grab for his, Eamnonn sunk his mental talons into them. They were mostly still, startled that he had grabbed them when it seemed he had no defenses. With a wicked grin that climbed up his cheek, the green god pulled. Pulled their minds into his, dragging their wriggling thoughts forward, into the place a moment ago they had sought to enter by force. Into his mind, where the fire of his fully ascended power licked them like flames. In moments, they were on fire. Crisp. Black. And screaming.
"Too bad, so sad." He sung to himself under his breath. Thabara Nergal nodded grimly, simply following the Corporal's lead and noting with distinct relief when Echo rejoined them shortly after.
He had heard her unearthly scream, but there had been no fear in it, no distress, only intent and determination, so he had not been worried. The landslide immediately after, rocks and rubble coming down to crush bones and be Last Grave to many a soldier, filled him with grim satisfaction. He was certain now of what her plan had been, and that it had succeeded.
_____The Queen is dead!
There was no way anyone could have missed that mental shout, triumphant and loud, its sole purpose to discourage and despair Brilsworth's struggling troops.
Could this be? Nergal had experienced hands on how resourceful the woman reigning this country was, how manipulative. But the Corporal's face had frozen, paled and twisted into a mask of shock and disbelief. If they lost hope, the will to fight..
"Let us part ways here," he shouted. "Echo, Tiercan, head to the Seapost." Illumin was there, Light's appearance and rays of burning light hard to miss, even from the distance. "They will need your songs of courage. I shall head for where the enemy forces stand thickest," he added with a grim expression. The ghosts following in their wake were not only powerful, but also mad, way beyond reason. Two tribes which had once been enemies to each other, some murderers from later generations added for spicing. 'Take anyone not of Brilsworth' wasn't going to work, very much doubting they would able to discern between friend and foe.
But to point and let lose, fuel their anger and give it direction, that was fully possible. Sosiqui The Queen is dead! The mental shout rolled across the forces of Brilsworth, and as one the defenders slowed, shock snapping through them. Captain Ghavaliel reached out desperately, found only minds blank, closed to him, or eaten, except- Yes-And then the Speakers descended, their power a hungry and sharp thing in the mental realm. Descending... on the Wild Hunt. Please-Something shrieked, not audibly, but a many-voiced wave of fear and pain radiated for a moment before it was choked off, strangled, a beast pinned and destroyed beneath the claws of a greater one. The gamble had worked. " Warriors of Brilsworth! To your swords! The Speakers of Irisun are dead!" Captain Ghavaliel shouted it both mentally and out loud. He raised his own weapon, feeling a bit dazed at all that had happened in such a short time. "In the name of Queen Julstecca and the True Gods!" As he watched, the Irisun forces stumbled and slowed as well; he saw naked shock on the faces of those close enough to see clearly. But the Brilsworth defenders were still half-frozen in shock, not knowing which mental voice to believe. If I cannot get them moving- Captain Ghavaliel reached out once more. Tiercan! If the Lady Music is there, please - the Queen is not dead, the Speakers of Irisun are, and I must get these men to MOVE! Zero Dream She nodded, contemplating the situation. The men where stuck, their minds confused, some already grieving, others very clearly looking like they did not feel like the cause was worth fighting, anymore. Had the queen... really died ? It just seemed too.... easy. Surely they would have known this would happen. She glanced back toward her lover. "Be careful."Then, Tiercan and Echo broke away, and that was when the young corporal got the mental message. "Lady, you must sing ! Our queen is alive... This was a distraction to trap the speakers, and it worked out. Please !" We cannot lose this, not now...The goddess nodded, throwing the bridle of her horse to the young man. "Guide me, then."
Blue on blue eyes, returned to the battle - they where heading downward, now, closer and closer. Just a little bit closer and she could reach them all without too much straining... There. Perfect.
"Brave men, children of Brilsworth, hear me out
Heed my voice, listen to my song
Your queen stands, untouched by the enemy's grasp
The speakers are gone, mind broken and soul splintered
Overconfidence where their downfall
Brave sons of Brilsworth, the time is now
You musn't give up, the fight is far from over
Time to stand against those who would have oppressed you"
Rather quickly, it seemed, Irisun's intimidation tactics had been reversed, with them on the receiving end now. Sosiqui The song moved over the battlefield and Sea-post just as the mental shouts had, captivating. Captain Ghalaviel held his breath again, then began to smile as the music lifted his spirit and soared with it, catching up the defenders in a surge of hope, pride, and courage. Once again, he raised his sword high, a fine dramatic figure. " Warriors of Brilsworth! Onward!" And this time, thank the Gods, they answered him in a single massed shout. As one, the defenders began to move again, and this time it was the forces of Irisun who were cowed. The Captain reached out with his mind to brush the cold, distant burn that was Underworld, only just enough to communicate. The sea. Take them to the sea. The ships must be downed; with that, they will not be able to escape. Several ships just offshore, some landed, three further out; all wounded by Hunt's attacks but not yet brought low since the other god had withdrawn his power to destroy the Speakers. But there were none of Brilsworth on the sea right now. Thabara Nergal nodded grimly, frowning at the mental contact, even though it was only brief. He highly disliked the sensation of another's mind touching upon his, it brought back too many bad memories he'd just barely repressed, touched upon too many mental injuries which were still raw and festering. He could make use that perhaps now, that near-madness.
He rammed his heels into his mount's sides, even though the poor, terrified beast was close to collapsing and could hardly go faster than it already did.
With his powers, he fueled the ghosts with his own wrath and anger, urged them to rush ahead of him, a spearhead to clear his path. Terrified beasts and soldiers jumped out of the pale god's way as fast as they could. Even if their senses could not fully perceive just what this floodwave of strangely sentient fog was which preceded his advance and swirled all around him - they all felt the madness and bloodlust emitted by it. And if that wasn't enough to cause them to flee head over heels, the sight of their comrades being torn appart by invisible forces certainly was.
Onward! Onward!
There was a grim smile upon Underworld's face as he drove his terrified mount to head straight for the beach - he was enjoying himself a great deal. If it was the influence of Echo's song, or his once-brother-in-arms War, or simply his psyche yearning to let lose and vent after all he'd gone through - he did not know. And, honestly, he did not care.
The beast bearing him stopped when it reached the salty shores, refusing to carry him any further. But his ghostly army rushed past him like the untamed force of a tsunami, heading for the ships Underworld was pointing to. "Bring them down," he hissed, his hand shifting to an ages-old gesture, the thumb pointing downwards.
"You too," he added, glancing at the one ghost which was still lingering at his side, the most powerful of the lot. "There is one among them with powers similar to yours, make him feel the pain you felt, the grief, the anguish.."
Still he lingered, gaze of ghostly eyes lingering on the bag at Nergal's side which held the root, the sacred fetish. "Go," Nergal urged. "Return to me once the deed is done."
He could not fly, could not follow them, but he flung his mana along with them as far as he could, whipping the immensity of their wrath to even greater heights. Zero Dream It had worked... It had worked ! The men around them went in motion, and Tiercan only barely resisted doing the same. The only thing that stopped him was the fact that he had to lead the lady. It had worked out nicely enough, Echo had decided, if only from how the sound of battle started to take over her senses once more. She could have left it at that, retreated, and hoped all this madness would be over soon. She hated this feeling, the week's influence finally starting to crash down on her as hard as it could, at the moment, and she was mostly powerless to resist it.
There was another thing she could do, the realization coming with a smile so sweet, yet so wicked, that it did not look like it should belong on her fair face. Song turned low, twisting, almost as haunted as the ghosts which had passed thought from another angle. The targets of said song also changed - focused on the enemy lines.
The seed of fear was planted, all she had to do was water it and watch it grow to it's full potential. All with a rather sudden, twisted delight, and inwardly she hated every seconds of it, through one was hard-pressed to guess such by looking at her.Sosiqui llumin stared as the mist - the ghosts - rolled across the sea, mingling with the foam and spray to overtake the Irisun ships, a dreadful and eldritch tide. The dark song followed, breeding panic and fear in the attackers. Several of the Irisun soldiers dropped to their knees and clamped their hands over their ears, trembling. A few others shrieked and began wildly striking out, charging forward in fear-borne desperation; arrows soared out from the walls to meet them, and Illumin delivered several sharp bursts of cutting light to the ones that refused to stop despite the barrage.
But the majority of the Irisun forces that had landed before the Sea-post stood absolutely still, frozen with fear. A terrible cracking noise broke the silence as the ghost army met and shattered one of the ships, and the attackers flinched as one.
They are lost, and they know it.And now Captain Ghavaliel had a decision to make. The tide of battle had been so sharply and dramatically turned that he now had several regiments of Irisun forces frozen in their tracks at the gates of the Sea-post. Shall I show mercy? There would have been no mercy from them, he knew. But he knew, as did all commanders, that the troops of Irisun were common men, even as his own troops were. Something that one had to forget in the heat of battle, and something that one should remember at the end... "People of Irisun!" he shouted, echoing his words with a mental shout that the combatants on both sides could hear. "Drop your weapons and your mind-shields, and there may yet be mercy for you! If you refuse, then you will die." The last was iron-clad. He would offer kindness, but on his terms only. There was a long silence, broken only by the soft sounds of the men shifting on their feet, the hush of the waves, and distant cracking and screams as the ghost-army decimated the seaborne forces. There could be no mercy for them, which was a pity, but the higher-grade mental warriors and at least one Speaker were out there, and those he could not allow to live, no matter how many bodies he had to cut through before he reached them. Finally, he heard the first clatter of a weapon falling, and that one was followed by a cacophony of others, as the forces of Irisun dropped their armaments and took off their helmets. Not all of them did; about half stood firm and defiant, or turned screaming at their surrendering comrades and tried to turn blades on them. Take the defiant; no mercy.The arrows sang out again, followed by bursts of sharp light from the Bright God's hands, and the men who had refused the Captain's offer dropped where they stood. Perri Indiya The Hunt, somewhat dazed by the unfamiliar form of battle he had just engaged in, pulled himself back together and sent a few shadow beasts out to bolster the strength of the others. Wolves slid among the men below to assure their surrender while fins and teeth tore apart any who tried to escape the dead by diving into the sea. Zero Dream Echo had stopped singing when the captain's shout came to her ears - allowed him to be heard with ease without having to fight with the strength of her own voice, which could easily overpower his own. Some surrendered - some did not, and they where quickly dealt with. An errie silence then followed.
Did it mean that it was finally over ? Thabara Even out on the sea things grew deathly quiet after a while, with one ship sinking and other two seemingly adrift, with no one left alive or sane enough to steer them.
Nergal tried to reach out, but his ghostly army was beyond his reach now, and already he could see the unnatural mist start to grow thinner and dissolve. He wondered what would become of them, now, those nameless warriors from ages past.
They will return to the pass, most likely, where their bones lay.
All of them, but one.
And sure enough, there was a cold breeze whispering against his neck already, causing his mount to whinny nervously and shy back from the hostile presence as it clawed for the bag which held the Root. Nergal had a hard time keeping the poor beast under control, and eventually, he simply dismounted, letting it run free as it seemed impossible to calm it while the spectre was near.
"Did you do as you were told?"
There was no audible answer, but only a flood of images.
_____Soldiers clawing at their eyes to rid themselves of the horrible images they'd made to see..
_____Others, turning against their comrades, driven beyond reason by the ghosts..
_____Usually brave and calm men terrified enough to jump overboard where they fell prey to the treacherous currents and Hunt's beasts...
Nergal inclined his head gracefully. "I am satisfied." Those vessels still drifting out there, naught but empty shells now, much like the broken bodies scattered all about the beach and beyond. "You have done well." Ghost ships.
Slowly, by foot, he started to make his way to the sea post. Exhaustion was starting to catch up with him quickly now. Sosiqui Slowly, the Brilsworth forces were filtering through those of Irisun, coming out of the Sea-post walls to take inventory of those below. Small scuffles broke out here and there between Irisun soldiers who had only pretended to surrender, but they were quickly ended by the sharp snap of shadow-jaws or a punishing flare of laser-sharp light. Captain Ghavaliel took a deep breath, then let it out, slowly. They'd won... in a day, Irisun had been brought to ruin, all of its Speakers killed. They were safe. Free. They could move on... Shaking, he reached out to the capital again. Irisun's Speakers are dead, to a man, he whispered, wearily, touching the mind of the true Queen. The forces are dead or surrendered.
It is over.
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 6:01 pm
The Return HomeThabara It felt strange to step into the cool, dry - and most of all - quiet air of the crypt after they had been fervently celebrated as saviors upon their triumphant parade into the capital. Despite their eagerness to simply return to the Pantheon as soon as possible, the queen had insisted that they'd hold court, and it had been a decision quite wise. Thought spread rumors faster than spoken word could ever hope to, and by the time they'd arrived at the dais prepared for them on the marketplace, the whole town seemed to have gathered there to witness the miracle which had saved them all.
The deities had been showered with gifts and offerings from those who could still afford them in these dire times, and there'd been songs and prayers from those who had nothing material left to give, sans the things they needed to survive: Gems and prisms and mirrors for Illumin. Hunter's trophies of the hunt like antlers, claws, furs and fangs for Eamnonn. Echo, it seemed, had been most touched by the performance of an orphanage's children's choir in her honor.
Nergal... The news of an army of dead had spread with lightning speed as well, causing the glances cast at him to be filled with respect at most, but mostly dread and distress. And - in some cases - fear. Those who approached him on the dais, were usually robed in black, the gifts they bore personal things of those they had lost, leaving the shy deity feel utterly awkward. 'Be kind,' they had begged 'He was a good boy,' others tried to ensure him. 'Tell me how he did die,' many had desired to know. He had done whatever was within his power, relaying messages and last wishes to the best of his abilities, but when their audience ended and they returned to the palace he was left feeling.. uneasy.Julstecca was there, awaiting them in the last resting place of her ancestors' mortal remains. The true Queen, not the double which had fooled them upon their arrival, and - in the end - given her life fooling Irisun's speakers as well. "I wish you could stay," she said, a sad smile playing upon her lips. "But, alas, I am more aware than anyone that you cannot. I shall pray for your success, and as the bell tolls midnight, all of Brilsworth shall unite in prayer to thank you. That shall be my parting gift to you. Worthy of a queen, I hope." Zero Dream "We can return, later, when everything has been worked out, when everything is safe." Echo smiled, tears still lingering at the corner of her eyes, brought out by the rather touching song of the children's choir. She wished there was something more she could do for them, but right now it was impossible. This had already taken quite a while more than she had hoped - and if time flowed the same here as it did home, this week would be almost over, with all the days they had spent in between places, traveling.
What would come, after war ? They had saved those people, for now - but would they survive what was to come ?
And that was exactly why they had to hurry. But, the most prevalent reason was probably the selfish one - she wanted to go home. Go home and relax, if just for a half a day, and try to remove the horrible images of that chaotic warzone from her head.
The goddess hated to think that she had, in fact, contributed to this - but there had been no other options. At the very least, she needed to convince herself that it had been. There was no use languishing on what had been done - victory as it was, there was a greater problem at hand that needed to be addressed. Sosiqui Now, this, this... this was worthy of a god indeed! Illumin's armor and battered travel garb were gone, replaced with soft, rich clothing edged with glass beads and embroidered with gold. He took special pleasure in guiding his glow through them for maximum sparkle and shine. Luxury...
But it won't last. This is a bright flash before the Dark, unless we succeed... Succeed in what, he wasn't sure. Would Aristogeiton be the answer to all of their problems? It would be nice... but maybe it wasn't quite that simple.
A pity. He would have liked to stay and enjoy, for as long as the glory lasted.
"Most worthy, Majesty," Illumin said with a nod and a smile. "But I would ask that you keep us, and all the divine, in your hearts for longer than that. We may well call on your prayers in our own time of need. Servants may come to ask this of you, as gods need followers even as followers need gods." A strange relationship, to think of it that way. Who was the god, and who the follower?
"I am glad that all is well, for now," he added, quietly. "We shall strive to keep it so, or at the very least to stop all from falling." Thabara The queen inclined her head politely in acknowledgment of Illumin's words. "I cannot dictate to my subjects what belief they are to carry in their hearts, but the stories of those who have witnessed your deeds with their own senses are spreading with the speed of thought and will do their own, I trust." She then bowed to them, deeply, an honor she would give to no one else. "I wish you best of luck in your endeavor. Even if you do not return, I shall not forget that - even if for a few days only - the true gods' smiles shone upon me and my people." With that she stepped backwards and then aside, giving free the way to the massive door at the back of the crypt. She'd had her guards check it, of course. It seemed to lead nowhere else than usual, deeper into the older cellars of the crypt, carved into the very rock itself. But there had been reports of the walls changing which could not be attributed to tricks of light alone.. "Farewell." Nergal nodded, his expression pondering and thoughtful. He knew already that, should the circumstances allow it, he would return. The scepter in one hand, he stepped forward to place the other upon the heavy iron fittings of the Door. He could feel the remnants of the path which had brought them here, but they seemed.. frayed, distorted. There was some strange sense of imbalance between the two ends. This would probably turn out to be quite a 'bumpy ride', to use his host's terminology.
He let the scepter's light guide him - the remaining pieces seeming much closer to each other now than previously - before he opened the door, and the massive, twisted knot of mana that was the Pantheon itself. He pushed open the door, holding it ajar with his shoulder as he reached for Echo's hand, drawing her close. "The pathway seems unstable," he warned, audible to all. "Should I lose control again," he added in a whisper intended for Echo's keen hearing alone, his lips brushing her silky hair, "do not hesitate to make use of your powers." Be it to restrain him, or to bring him back to his senses. They could not afford to get lost.Zero Dream Echo nodded, a reaction that could have been attributed to either statement rather easily. "We need to be careful.. Here." She hooked one arm to Nergal's own, the one holding the scepter. Her opposite hand went to grasp Illumin's - motioning him to take Ea's in turn. It created a rather awkward-looking string of deities, but it would hopefully work
And this time, she would not let go, even if it meant needing to drag Nergal backward or require a severe dose of screaming in order to go after the other two. Sosiqui "Farewell," Illumin told the Queen, nodding to her with a smile. Then he sobered, and turned back to the task at hand. The Door... it had to open again. They had to get home. He had not, he admitted, put much thought into the matter...
"I am ready. If I should extend my mana, tell me when, and where." They could not have a repeat of their separation on the journey home. Thabara "Focus on the Pantheon," he said, that being the only advice he could come up with. Perhaps Light should be the one to guide them, it seemed more suitable. "It is quite noticeable within the flows of mana, even now." Especially now. Cancerous, it seemed, a festering wound at the Heart of All.
Despite his lingering doubts he led the way for their strange polonaise, beckoning the mad speaker's ghost to follow him closely as well, even though he loathed to have him be so close to Echo.
The door clicked shut once the green, hulking form of the Hunt had passed through, something about the sound seeming strangely final. They were gone.Julstecca bowed her head, resisting the urge to re-open the door and see if there was some strange, magical kingdom hiding behind it right now. Instead she turned, the seams of her long gown quietly whispering upon the tiled floor. There was much work to be done. Zero Dream To say a storm awaited inside would have been an understatement. When the door closed behind them, everything seemed to go even more haywire that it had been and - as the group probably feared - the weeks started to tick down, trumpet, broken glass, and the crash of influences succeeding each other faster than they could even register, and Echo's grip on both Nergal and Illumin tightened to the point where it was probably rather uncomfortable for the two gods - the paths in front of them shifted out of control, and her own effort seemed useless.
For a few horrible second, it seemed like they where stuck, as time slipped away treacherously from them - would they remain here, trapped, only to die as the world did ?
But then, just as that thought had occured to her, something seemed to suddenly set on proving her wrong. The emptyness around them seemed to stop distorting, order restoring itself into the chaos of the world-in-between, leaving them standing in nothingness, but with no clear path to follow. Something unseen seemed to circle them, yet it did not seem malicious. In fact, the presence would feel extremely familiar to the Underworld in particular.
The presence then darted back, leaving a rather clear path for the group to follow in it's wake.Just as he had feared. They had went and gotten themselves timefluxed. Quite badly, from what he could tell. The disturbance had been big enough that he'd felt it in despite being nowhere near the door, but at least he had been able to get there and help along with the situation a bit. While projecting his mind in-between was rather easy, prowling down a specific path and making himself known to the group was a whole other ballpark. He had fully intended to speak to them, but after how difficult it had been to have them see him, he hadn't even made the attempt. When he finally made it back to his body he was hit with a wave of exhaustion, the body shaking and his breath heavy as he backed away to let the door open. Thabara The trumpet's blow, the crash of glass breaking, shards raining down.. Deafening in its suddenness, echoing through the paths and hallways of Between, rebounding from walls which parted Worlds only to return to them, again and again.
No, this was no echo, he realized, struggling to not lose the path which kept twisting and shifting before him, to remain focused on the place where all this mayhem was originating from: The Pantheon.
It was New Sound each time.
_____Once: Sickness spreading like wildfire, a cough from uncovered mouth, a careless touched by an unwashed hand, food and precious water spoiled, fever--
__________Twice: Locusts swarming, devouring what little was left of the precious crops, leaving only hunger and despair in their wake--
____________________Trice: Everything kept coming apart, rusting and rotting in insane speed like being watched in a time lapse, constructions which had been made to last years crumbling--
The fourth time was worst, followed by a tremor which went through All: Whole planes becoming disjointed, colliding with those they'd mirrored. In some cases they were forcefully merged, in others they obliterated each other, leaving naught but Emptiness behind.
And then there was only Darkness.
Nergal had stopped walking forward, there was nowhere left to go. But there was something incredibly familiar about the divine touch which restored order to their path, the presence leaving a trail for them to follow, for him specifically, a gentle touch of mana, the flutter of a Crow's wings.
He breathed in, took the time to carefully check if everyone of their little fellowship was still there before he made his next step, casting his own mana out to intertwine with his brother's and make the path laid out for them trailing with wispy swirls of gentle mist.
Sosiqui Illumin gritted his teeth and focused on staying with the other gods as time and space swept past them in strange succession. The beads on his clothing chimed softly, a music most unsuitable for the circumstances. The darkness was begging for Light, and he wrapped it gently around his companions, holding them together but not interfering with the mana flow he could sense from Underworld. Perri Indiya The Hunt focused on the hands in his, to the exclusion of everything else. He hated these in between places - too much like the Ashlands for
his liking. The other three had gotten him into this, and so he was sure they would get him home. Zero Dream They did not walk long before there was was finally light, and a familiar alleyway shown in front of them - and the black clad silhouette of... Adrian ?
No. Not anymore.
Nergal came out first - followed by Echo. When the goddess stepped out, however, it was just like if reality had crashed upon her and her alone - she collapsed onto her lover with a startled cry, only to be caught before she could hit the floor by the only one that had given it any thought that it would happen - the spirit guide.
"What...." Confused, the goddess finally noticed something - the wisps. The little lights. They... They where gone.
No.
No.
It couldn't be.
Not after all they've gone though, they couldn't....
But then, something darted into her field of vision. No, not gone. But there where less of them - three, now, slowly but surely taking different shades of color.
It was a quite telltale sign to those who knew the true nature of the little flames. Sosiqui Illumin stumbled out into the hallway after Nergal and Echo, infinitely relieved to feel genuine solid ground under his feet. No more traveling between worlds for a while, please... If they needed aid from Wellhaven, he would send Eliam to Julstecca's court. The Aoide would probably enjoy that-
Echo had fallen, he realized, and opened his mouth, then closed it. Hadn't there been more of the little lights before? He was quite sure of it. He stepped to one side, feeling awkward suddenly, not wanting to leave his companions without saying something, but not entirely sure what was going on. Perri Indiya Ea followed, worn and staring. As usual, he needed a nap. Thabara Nergal still was momentarily distracted, puzzling over Adrian's -no, Ankou's- changed appearance when he felt Echo's grip around his arm slacken, her fingers brushing against his back in an attempt to hold onto him when her legs simply gave in. What--
She was caught, albeit not by him, he noted with an irrational stab of jealousy. She seemed just as confused as he was, her expression full of fear and sorrow for a moment until the wisps darted into her field of vision.
Stronger now, burning so much brighter.
Oh.
"Is it time?" he asked gently, his concern plain to see as he knelt down beside her. "Do you know?"
He noticed the looks of his companions, confused and weary. So they hadn't noticed, all the time? But he felt he owed them an explanation now, now that they had returned and the Goddess would no longer be possibly seen as a hindrance. "She is.. with child," Underworld admitted awkwardly, his cheeks burning even though his blush thankfully didn't show anymore. "Children, actually," he corrected. "And as time seems to flow differently in Wellhaven than it does here.." He glanced at Adr-- Ankou with a questioning look, to see if he had guessed right. Zero Dream "I - I think it's fine." The goddess shifted to use him to get up once more, shaky on her feet but otherwise alright, through she seemed embarrassed by the sudden attention. "I apologize, I... I just did not want to be seen as a burden." She shook her head. ".....I... did not want to stay idle and hope someone else would fix everything so they could live.""From what I could see, time did not flow differently in the other place, but in-between. Time fluxes.... They are becoming more frequent." His face creased into a frown, worried eyes settling to the other runed door. Maybe he should have gone with them, if only to be able to perhaps do something from the other side if...
No, better not to think of that.
"...It look like you are all well, at least. I am glad." The god spared a strained smile - it seemed that something was weighting heavily on his mind. "How did it go ? There where two pieces, correct ?" Thabara He helped her up, slipping one hand around her waist so that she could lean against him comfortably as he got up himself.
"Two pieces, yes. A petrified mandrake root, and a--" Underworld interrupted himself for a moment to give his brother a slightly amused half-smile before he continued: "A ghost. A shaman at that."
He tilted his head slightly. Thoughtfully, concerned. "Four weeks.. What did we miss, what is the situation like? That last shift.. felt quite severe." Sosiqui "With... child?" Illumin blinked. Several times.
Oh.
"Er... congratulations?" he offered, after a moment. "Are you well? Do you need-" No, the only 'doctor' he knew was Pana, and who knew where she was. Fire might, but...
Flustered, he stepped back as Nergal moved to assist his lover. "It is good to see new life in such times?" Was anyone listening to him? He hardly wanted to listen to himself. What was it about little ones that sent him all a-fluster? Zero Dream Well, this was... awkward. Illumin seemed even more flustered than she was, and that was saying something right there - her cheeks still quite aflame with the sudden surge of attention. Apparently this was another reason why she had kept it secret beyond the more obvious one. "I should be fine." She made herself smile - maybe it would calm poor Light a little, too ? It could have been worse, really, even if initially coming out of there had felt like slamming head-first into a brick wall She leaned against her lover's touch, without really noticing it. "Thank you."Ankou, for his part, seemed to notice her embarrassment and was leaving the topic alone, through it probably helped that he had already known about the fact. "That.... should be all of them, then. Karaskis has returned with pieces of her own."
Four gods, marked by harp, sun, bone crown, and hunting knife come together with little stars, but stand there and don't do anything else.
As much as he loathed to do it... he had to tell them, even if he had no idea how and where to begin. "...A whole lot of things happened. More notably being... we seem to have figured out how to fix this, in a way... A prophecy from the fate stones from the old pantheon. Through it seems the consort is not a part of the solution that was found." But it wasn't useless. Couldn't be useless. They'd just put him back together once the crisis was adverted, and then...
...How in the name of all Creation where they supposed to put him back together ? He hadn't given that any thought, and he cursed inwardly. He did not need more complications right now !
"Most of the information is on a noticeboard in the lower rooms. I won't mind explaining everything to you all right now if you would all prefer it that way, but... I think you all need some rest, first." Tired and weary, both physically and mentally. He did not dare ask what had happened there, not now. "But other than that, the situation is... pretty bad." Lords, was that ever an understatement. There was one detail, at the very least, that he needed to mention now, and he sent a pointed glance at Nergal, his look almost haunted... and helpless, guilty, a far cry from how stoic he had been just prior.
"...Hell fell." Two simple words seemed too little to explain something that had done so much, but it was exactly what it was. "...Crashed in the mortal planes." Thabara "That is good news." He would have to see to it then, that a meeting with Karaskis could be arranged. They still needed to figure out how to make a whole of these fragments again, if it was possible at all. But as the bad news began to outweigh the good ones, his brows creased into a frown, which only deepened as his brother continued.
"So that was what I felt," Nergal murmured, more to himself than addressing anyone in particular.
'Hell moved,' the demon brat had told him back then, or rather, his host - and it made sense now, the boundaries between the planes must have been starting to crumble and become undone even back then. No small wonder that he had felt it, it had once been a-- no, not a part of him, but at the very least related.
He sighed, rubbing the side of his temple as he tried to wrap his mind around all he had heard. "For now, I think, we need some time to rest, even if ever so briefly. Then we can still catch up and figure out what action would be wisest to be taken next." Fate stones, prophecies.. As if the situation wasn't complex enough already. But it meant there was hope.
"Where will we find you?" he asked, directed to Illumin and Eamnonn, completely ignoring Light's apparent embarassment. "Will you stay within the Pantheon?" Communication, more than anything, was of importance in these dire times. Word needed to be sent out to Fire as well, about their return and their finds. Sosiqui Illumin listened to Ankou's words with a dawning horror, followed by anger. "Not part of the..."
So. So they, he had done this thing, worked so hard, unleashed the <******** End of Days and- it was... not part of the solution?!
"I see," he said, a cold snap that he knew Ankou didn't deserve - he was only the bearer of bad news, but he was too angry to care. He was trembling with sudden rage, his wings rattling against each other, and light flared irregularly in response to his ********> Aristogeiton-
The rest of Ankou's words passed him by entirely. He felt like screaming, like pounding on the walls, like crying.
"Thank you. I wish you well," he grated, directing that last at Echo. "My rooms are here, or at the Pharos Beacon. A lighthouse. If it yet stands." Thabara Nergal lowered his gaze at Illumin's apparent anger, avoiding to look at him directly. He could understand it, to some extent, though his motivation to search for the fragments of the consort's soul had never been the same as Light's - so the revelation didn't have quite as much of an impact on him.
And mostly, pretty much everything was much toned out by his concern for Echo and their children to be, right now.
"I will find you," he simply said. "The fragments, will they stay with me?" It seemed only reasonable as one of them was a ghost, and said ghost was rather unwilling to part from the root which had once been his. Certainly, he could asign that ghost to follow pretty much everyone else around, but neither Hunt nor Light would be overly pleased by that, he felt.
At Illumin's last words, he gave a questioning look at his brother. Their own house, did it still.. ? Zero Dream Where Illumin all but burst out in anger, Echo remained silent, through the look in her eyes seemed to speak volumes. That... had been all but nothing ? She might have been angry, too, if she had the energy to spare - instead, she just leaned on Nergal a bit more, as if seeking comfort.[/color[
The coldness of Illumin's words did not seem to affect Ankou much, through his eyes seemed to soften a little. He could understand this - and had also expected something like this would happen, but he had thought better to let them know, instead of having them figure it out on their own. He could not think of anything to improve the situation, nor did he knew of the state of Light's dwelling, so he kept quiet.
When Nergal looked at him, he knew exactly what he meant - and, slowly, he shook his head. Well, it did - partially, but it was much, much too dangerous. He had been wondering on how to tackle that - he doubted the goddess would take it well. At least, he'd gotten the aoidei out... Thabara Nergal gave a small, subtle nod. After all the other bad news this one didn't come as a surprise, but still.. That place had - however briefly - been 'home'.
"You have rooms within the Pantheon as well, have you not?" he asked, directed at his brother. He'd rather not impose themselves on Light for lodging, most definitely not now, but Echo required a place to rest. Zero Dream "Yes." He nodded, sending one glance to Echo. She was pale, pale enough to apparently worry him a bit. "You should rest. All of you, actually."
He didn't admit it, but he felt... rather useless, right now. And actually sorry for them, that this did not hold as big of a piece in the grand scheme of things that they had thought.
"We'll be.... around, if any of you need us." The spirit guide turned, heading toward his rooms with a nod of respect to the still-upset Illumin and Ea.
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 6:01 pm
Spark in the Darkness
Eibhilin was in his chambers; the Aoide coiled swiftly into the air when he entered. But Light was hardly aware of her presence, and her greeting died before it left her lips. His eyes were glassy, unfocused, unseeing; his steps stumbled.
Not part of the solution.
The words rang and chased merrily around in his mind, drawing his focus to the exclusion of all else. They had sought Aristogeiton to fix the imbalance in the Twin Crown, but in so doing had only made it devastatingly worse, and now... it seemed that the solution hadn't even been correct to begin with.
It was all for nothing.
I have ended All for nothing.
Someone was talking to him, but the words were an insensible buzzing in his ears. Illumin tripped up the few stairs of the dais and put both hands on the thick draperies that had hung there ever since the Age of Destruction began. He pulled on them, hard, sending waves of dust off of the fabric and into the air, highlighting every erratic flare of his element that swirled around him. Another strong tug, one that made his arms ache and broke several fingernails against the fabric, made one of the curtains tear from the curtain rod above. He yanked again, putting all his weight on it, and the whole thing broke free and crumpled down on top of him in a mighty swirl of dust.
He flailed out from beneath it and looked.
Outside, the landscape that had once been a beautiful garden had deteriorated even further. Even the lava pits from Destruction's Age would have been preferable to the panorama of sheer decay that met his eyes. The edges of the town that he'd been able to see were soft and tumbled, set in rotting soil. The sun was surely there somewhere, as a sickly light worked its way through the sticky brown clouds, but it was impossible to see.
All... gone...
Someone was laughing. It took him a moment to realize that someone was himself, and then he gave himself over fully to the hysterical, desperate sound. A grand joke, yes, send pretty Light and bold Hunt out to bring on doom in the name of saving the world, yes, very very funny, well played, indeed. Well played, Samyaza.
Ebhilin's hands were on his shoulders, suddenly; he did not turn but merely blazed at her, and she leapt away with a hiss, shaking her hands from where his Light had burned them. "Radiance!" she cried, angrily, and there was a warning undulation in her voice - Aoide or not, she was still Banshee as well.
Then the laughter left him, as quickly as it had come, and he was left empty, exhausted. Illumin slumped and dropped to his knees. "It was for nothing. Ankou said-" he began, tonelessly.
"With all due respect, Radiance, how many times are we going to play this scene? Illumin flinched and turned his head to glare at her; Eibhilin was frowning at him, her hands on her hips, a stern look that reminded him abruptly of Pana in her most irritated caretaker-mode. "I can shove you down again and sit on you until you're done, if you like."
"No," Illumin said, peevishly, then sighed. The crushing guilt, the sure knowledge that the damage done to the world had undeniably been set in motion, at least partially, by his hand... that was hard, very hard, to logic his way out of. But if he kept being trapped by it.... "Tell me. Tell me what has happened."
"There is a... a noteboard, I suppose you'd call it. A place where gods and Aoidei have been leaving messages and plans in these scattered times." That was not at all what Illumin had been expecting to hear, and he raised one eyebrow at her. She smiled, to his surprise. "Fixing this problem is not reliant only on you. The others are joining to shoulder the burden as well. And it seems there is hope, real hope, foretold in ancient relics."
Illumin's heart skipped a beat. "There... there is?"
Eibhilin nodded. "It's all there - well, not in great detail, but there is a plan that will lead to our True Lord's return. All we have to do is follow it. It won't be easy, and... Ankou was right, Aristogeiton was not necessarily part of it. Your quest was mentioned on the relics' tale. A gathering of stars, and then nothing... but at the end there was still salvation! You don't have to have Aristogeiton to restore."
"We... we don't have to. We don't need him..." In one sense, this was devastating - but it also brought a rising tide of hope. There was a real chance to fix what he had wrought, and the burden was - incredibly - not his alone to bear. He took a deep breath. "I am... glad." Slowly, Illumin got to his feet again. "What do we do now? How are the people of Solde?"
"Did Lord Ankou tell you of the fall of Hell?" Illumin nodded. "Yes, well. That, along with a terrible Week of Decay that preceded it, managed to weaken the Pharos Beacon to the extent that it is no longer safe. It's still standing - barely - but we moved the survivors. About seventy-five people remain," she added, quietly. "Times have been hard."
"That seems an understatement, judging from the view," Illumin said, dryly. "Where are they now?"
"I thought it best to bring them near the Pantheon. We have shored up a small complex nearby and made it our own, and treated with some of the wandering groups. Mortals seem to have shifted to a tribal structure. Hell's fall has also brought demons, but... did you know they pop under the right conditions?" Eibhilin smiled, with a feral light in her eyes. Illumin resisted the urge to take a step back. "And that is how things stand now. It seems the center of this plan is gathering mortal belief in Creation. Many gods have gone out trying to rally faith."
"And the people of Solde?"
"Discouraged... understandably. But now that you've returned, I believe we can truly inspire them and draw out their faith."
"Mmm. And here... hah. I just left behind an entire kingdom that was singing our praises." Illumin shook his head and let one hand trail down to touch the elaborate finish on his clothing. "There was a time flux on our return, but if I went back to them..."
"We should use all our resources." Eibhilin bowed. "Radiance. We will all do this. You do not have to carry this alone."
"Thank you," he said, quietly, and meant it. "Take me to Eliam and our people." A look of grim determination came over his face.
He may be battered, but Light wasn't beaten yet.
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 6:02 pm
Elements of Faith
Illumin changed out of the exquisite clothing from Wellhaven with a bit of regret, but Eibhilin was right on that count - it would not do to appear before the beleaguered mortals wearing finery when they themselves had suffered so much. He stored the raiment and offerings in Panacea's old room and changed into something simpler, his more normal 'skirt' and bracers. As he dressed, Eibhilin brought him up to speed on what he had missed - the fate-stones, the prophecy, the Manacles that even now stilled the procession towards the End.
They left through the window, as they had before. Illumin was still not entirely willing to see the Throne Hall, though he knew the time would come. Yet it doesn't have to be tonight. Eibhlin led the way, arching away from the Pantheon and going to ground in a slumping square of buildings that had once been a market area. It smelled terrible and looked worse, but it was close... and apparently safe. As safe as anything could be.
The mortals had made a shanty-city in the courtyard area. At their approach, Eliam soared upwards, a spear in his hands, then stopped as he realized who was coming. "Radiance!"
"Eliam - it is good to see you," Illumin said, fervently. "How are they? Is... is Alvir still...?"
"He is," the Aoide confirmed, turning to accompany them on their descent. The people below were starting to gather, peering up at them. So many fewer than there had been before. "The Hunt's people had the artifacts of Aristogeiton well in hand, so when things began to go bad at the Beacon Eibhilin was able to come back. We've... managed. Somehow."
The three of them landed, and were immediately surrounded by a chorus of mortals, everything from greetings to shouts to pleas for aid. Illumin held up one hand to calm the throng, then paused himself as the group parted so Alvir could hobble up. The old man looked pretty bad, limping along heavily whereas before he'd just been a bit stiff - but he was alive. "Yer back."
"I am. I hope my absence has not been a burden to you," Illumin said, quietly. "I will protect this place now. Have you... no, I can't ask if you've been well..."
Alvir snorted. "If ye'd been here it wouldn't have been that much better," he said, bluntly. "This's bigger'n all of us, right?"
"Yes, but... I believe... no, there IS hope." Illumin nodded, sharply. "There are many gods, not just myself, and their forces have been at work as well. I am sure you've noticed that things aren't deteriorating quite as quickly as they had been."
"Not much left for it to chew on," Alvir said, but he nodded slightly. "Aye."
"This has all come about because of entropy - destruction - going wild, to put it as simply as I can. But we may be able to reverse it by calling up Creation, a... sleeping power of the gods. The highest and most noble of all the divine, Lord Harmodius. He was Destruction, but he is Creation as well, if we can only call that aspect back."
A murmur ran around the crowd. "And how do we do that?" someone asked.
"Mortal belief. I have told you how powerful it is. If we can focus our belief - your belief, if you can yet believe in creation..." Illumin shook his head, trying to find the right words. He had been a decent orator, but his manner had always been exalted, speaking from On High to those below. Circumstances had changed. "In life. In hope. In... being. We can bring these things as offerings. I know it's hard to believe in things like this when there's so little of it left to see," he added, with a sigh. "But... we must. It is the only way."
"We must trust and worship this god we've never seen?" Alvir said.
"But you have seen him - in the sea when it was blue and bright, in the sun when it was warm and sweet. In the wind, the flame in your hearths, the grass, the fish... in all of that, He was there. Even in my Light. He... I was one of His first children, in the Beginning of Time." He spoke the last, softly; an odd look came into the eyes of the gathered mortals. To speak so casually of the beginning of All...
"I... we will consider," Alvir replied, after a long moment. "But it is good to see you back."
"I may need to leave again, but I will protect you," Illumin vowed. "Until salvation... or until the End."
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 6:48 pm
Collateral Damage
There is a ritual in the Throne Hall - mortals, with flowers... lotuses, I think. Radiance, they are offering to the Chrysalis. It is as the prophesy said. Worship.
Should we join them?
Eibhilin's report still rang through Illumin's mind as he sat, perched on a pile of old shipping crates in one corner of their encampment. He had made plenty of lights to illuminate and give warmth to the mortals, and while the lights had attracted some unwelcome attention, the battle experience Illumin had gained in Wellhaven served him well. The attackers soon learned their folly, and fell back.
Some welcome attention had come as well - more mortals, battered and wide-eyed, had come to the encampment and asked for shelter. Alvir had scrutinized them with narrowed eyes and let most of them in, swelling the size of their ranks. Though it also increased their burdens, Illumin was pleased. More mortals meant more potential believers.
And yet, now, with Eibhilin's news...
I don't want to go, Illumin admitted to himself, pulling his knees up to his chest. I'm afraid to really see... what happened. Which was stupid, considering the devastating effects of his - Samyaza's - actions were all around him, but that was different.
That was collateral damage.
But the mortals were still skeptical... suspicious. They believed in him, in a vague, skittish sense, but little else. How could he kindle those fluttering sparks into true flames, the fire they so desperately needed? Perhaps the Chrysalis, a ritual in which they were surrounded with other believing mortals, would serve as the best convincer.
But he was so afraid. Of seeing the truth, of being unable to really skate around what had happened... of what might happen to him at that moment. He might crumble to bits, as he nearly had when he'd returned from Wellhaven. He might... no.
I don't want to go...
But...
It might be the only way. Illumin sighed and wrapped his wings around himself, sulking for a moment. I don't want to. Don't wanna. Childish. I went to an unknown place and fought a war for the sake of Creation, and now I can't do this simple little thing?
I have to. He looked up beyond the broken roof at the sky, sick and roiling. They had to heal it. They had to make the prophecy come true, the Chrysalis fold open like a flower and their Lord step out.
Stop whining and man up, came a whispered thought. It sounded almost like his host - which was impossible, but it made Illumin smile for a moment anyway. "Fine, then," he mumbled. "Fine. I will."
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 7:08 pm
Believing in Flowers
Can I do this?
I'm not sure if I can do this.
The Pantheon loomed ahead of him, more imposing to his mind than it had ever been before. The place itself hadn't changed, but it was now the only complete structure in a world of utter ruin, its stark edges a sharp contrast to the soft and tumbled forms of the buildings nearby. It had shifted the entire world to bow in obeisance before it - before Gehenna.
He could hear the faint sound of singing coming from within. The ritual that Eliam had seen was still going on, then. Behind him, mortal footsteps sounded - Alvir, and a woman named Teril, and her young child Lita. The representatives of Solde-on-Palecliff to see what the gods had done, what the Crown had become.
Illumin was afraid. There was no denying it and no disguising it. His usual light aura flared erratically, sending odd flickers across the features of his companions, and his hands shook faintly at his sides. He was wearing the grand raiment from Wellhaven, mirrored and bright like the sun, prepared to go and face... it.
Face what he had done.
I am afraid. Father, wherever you are, whatever noxious fold you hide in - hear me. Protect me, embolden me. He paused on the steps, letting the song wash around him. "This is it."
The mortals glanced at each other. "Let's go," Alvir said, after a moment.
"Yes." There was only a faint tremble in his voice. The doors were slightly open; it was no effort to move them a bit more so he could enter.
"Mom," said Lita, quietly; Teril shushed her, and held her hand.
The hall was filled with people, quiet, exotically dressed people who echoed only the gentle song. Everywhere there were red flowers - red lotuses - their scent filling the hall, for once blocking out the scent of ash and burned things that had so long contaminated it. The mortals made Illumin's small retinue look shabby by comparison, and the three of them shrank inward behind him, Teril nearly hiding behind his wings.
Illumin ignored them, and walked forward, if only because to stop and tend to them would be to falter, and then he might never get... into the Throne Hall...
He stopped on the edge, between the first two dragon statues, his hand rising to his mouth unbidden. There, there, there was what he - what Samyaza - had wrought. A black and stained thing, a dark Chrysalis formed of his Lord's shape, noxious and foul...
Illumin dropped to his knees, tears streaming down his cheeks. Oh, my Lord, my Father... I am so sorry... But what apology could possibly make up for the enormity of what he had done? What he had enabled Samyaza to do?
He stilled as he felt a rough hand on his shoulder; looked up, saw Alvir there, the old man's face grim. "And that...?"
"Is... was... Lord Harmodius," Illumin confirmed, raggedly.
"Mmm." The old man's gaze moved to the Chrysalis, took in its shape. Illumin followed, noting the curves of metal - the Manacles, surely - that wrapped around it, gilding the whole like a very strangely ornamented egg. "I don't know. I don't know if I can believe in that."
"Alvir..."
"I've never seen the god you name Creator. But..." The old man knelt and lifted a flower from the many scattered there. "I can believe in the faces I've seen. The sea, the sun, the clouds. I can believe in this flower, Light."
"I can believe in you."
Illumin felt the spark of belief in Alvir's soul kindle abruptly into a flame, and he watched, breathless, as the old man stood with the lotus in his hands and limped up to the Chrysalis with the rest, a strange face among the elegant folk. He laid the flower reverently, knelt, murmured something, then stood. As he walked past Illumin, he said something the god only barely heard.
"Your turn."
Light took a shaky breath and stood, then paused as something tugged at his robe. He looked down to see Lita looking up at him, her eyes wide, a red lotus in her hands. She held it up to him without a word.
"Thank you," Illumin whispered, and placed his hand on her head as if giving a benediction. Then he took the lotus and moved, step by step, forward towards the Chrysalis, towards the fruit of his actions. Close at hand he could see the mucus and stretched filaments, still there despite the fragrant oils that someone had bathed it in, and he knelt once more, looking down into the yellow heart of the flower.
My Lord, my Father - Creation, Destruction, Twin Crown...
I am sorry, and the tears began again, drops of salt water anointing his offering. I do not know if I can atone for this, but I will do everything in my power to bring you back to us, even if it means I must stand before you for judgment. Even if it means my own death. He realized, softly, that he meant that - he could do it, he could die for this if he had to. Perhaps it was a fitting punishment, but that was not for him to decide. We will return, all of us, and call you by Name - she may have eaten One, but we have many, many to give you.
Be well, be at peace, be healed. My Lord.
We will return.
Light flared around the lotus, outlining each petal in radiance; he placed it down with the others, and let the glow spread to dance around the other flowers as well, curling gently up and lapping at the darkness of the Chrysalis. He felt dry, wrung out, exhausted; getting to his feet was an effort. He realized that Lita and Teril had been kneeling beside him, making their own offerings. He waited as they, too, rose.
"Let's go home," he said, quietly. "Go home, and tell them."
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 7:11 pm
A Conversation with ForestSkieBorne After speaking to a few others, he'd learned of the location of Light's room though neither name nor status. He had not found many others yet, had really only touched base with those he already knew, but did not want to wait for gods to come to him. It was faster... more efficient to approach those that they thought needed to be there.
Thus, Glyph and Malh'reth stood before Illumin's door for a moment before knocking on it. Would there be a labyrinth here as well? He hoped not... Neither Glyph nor he were in the mood for mazes. "I hope this is the right room..."It should be... it matches the description. Glyph replied, watching from within his host with curiosity. Sosiqui A single petal had managed to attach itself to his robes, to be found later. Now Illumin sat on the edge of his bed with the red petal in the palm of one hand, looking at it with a faint smile on his face.
He really wasn't alone - the offering of lotuses had proved that, and even though seeing precisely what had happened to his Lord had been terrible, the fact that gods and mortals alike were coming together was somehow more beautiful than the Chrysalis was horrible. They had found a bit of paradise in the midst of hell, somehow... and the people of Solde-on-Palecliff had seen it too.
I've never known Creation, but I can believe in this flower.
"Hm." How long had it been since he smiled?
The knock on the door startled him from his reverie. No one had come to seek him for a long time, even before all that had happened. The Aoidei were at the encampment with his people, so Illumin rose himself and walked over to the door to greet his guest, whoever it might be - but not before putting the lotus petal reverently on the side of the bed. SkieBorne Hands folded in the sleeves of his robes, the mage blinked as the door opened, his expression curious and unsure. Hastily, he pulled his hands free and bowed to the god before him, "Greetings. Pardon the intrusion but you are Light, yes?" He was squinting slightly at the other's aura, stronger then Phaedra's and more brilliant. Could this be one of the older gods then? The other hosts had had fainter auras that were surpassed by those like Phaedra... and this one now was stronger yet. "We need to speak to you." Sosiqui "I am indeed." Illumin gave the stranger a curious look. We, he had said - a host, then, most likely. Yes, he could feel the faint touch of divine power. "My name is Illumin. Please, come in... and you and your god, you are...?" SkieBorne "Thank-you." The mage smiled and bowed slightly once more before stepping in, "I am Malh'reth. And I am Forest, the Silvim Ilustirre. Glyph by name." The Aurion's posture had shifted slightly, his smile changing just enough to suggest a different personality, "It is a pleasure to meet you. We have recently returned from a city called Baadris where we, and a few others, discovered a possible means to assist Harmodius and bring about an end to this decay... We need to speak to you because you were named in a prophecy that was posted on a noticeboard in the Pantheon."
The God turned as he stepped further into Ilumin's quarters. "Have you been to the noticeboard recently?" Sosiqui "I have seen the noticeboard, yes - strange that so simple a thing should become a linchpin in our lives now. You are one of the ones who brought back the lotuses and their keepers, then? It is an honor." You've managed so much more than I, and you are so young. SkieBorne "I'm just glad that the board was replaced once Malh'reth summoned it. It would have faded otherwise." Glyph smiled then frowned slightly, tilting head to the side, "Aye. I am. We spent a handful of weeks there trying to return the populace to the true gods. Thankfully it worked and they and the lotuses came through safely."Malh'reth grinned from within the other, honoured by the other's comments, That means we don't have to explain a lot to him then. That makes this much easier Glyph.
Glyph nodded, though he spoke to Illumin and graciously accepted the compliment, "We are only doing our duty to our Lord and the mortals both. If you know of the lotuses then we don't need to explain it to you as Malh'reth just commented. Symbols of creation and perfection, we hope they'll be foci through which mortal worship will be funneled. But..." And the god paused, met the other's gaze, "The mortals alone are not enough, we think. A gathering of gods is needed as well - especially those mentioned in the prophecy. Would you join us then? Gather your followers and go to the Throne Room to join those already there? Combined, Mortal and God alike may be enough to call Creation back. Or at least we can hope for that - as that's what the prophecy foretells." Sosiqui "The prophecy mentioned me, yes... though I fear my named part is over." Illumin shook his head, then smiled, wearily. "But I will stay on the stage as long as I can. I wish the words of the prophecy weren't quite so vague, but we must work together if we are to succeed. I agree that Creation is what we must seek."
He paused. "We... must also be prepared to face the Grigori. I am sure they will not let things move so easily." SkieBorne "Gods are gathering a week from now, along with their followers and servants for that ritual. I doubt your part is over... it mentioned only my involvement in Baadris but here we are, pushing forward. Speak to any of the others that you know? That would spread word and the more, we think, the better." Glyph paused to think about the last comment. He knew very little of that.
"The Grigori?" Neither Glyph nor Malh'reth had been informed very much on the subject, having arrived at the Pantheon a few days after the encounter with Samyaza, when things had settled and her marks mostly gone. There had been fight, they knew, but not what had caused it. "Face...?" His mind traveled back to the note and the mention of weapons. Frowning, he tilted his head to the side, "Are those the weapons spoken of in the prophecy? In the chaos of the waves, we learned very little beyond the Twin Crown's fall." Sosiqui "I know little about the weapons the prophecy spoke of; I have heard that they may be of use against the Grigori, though..." He gave god and host together a bemused look. "If they come, we will all know soon enough. If we move before they do, then we may be fortunate and not have to face them at all." Illumin shook his head, then tried to calm the internal agitation that sprang up at the thought of Samyaza; the wing that Remuel had injured twitched a few times, beyond his control. "Gods, followers, servants. How many? I have a small enclave of my own... and, possibly, a few other resources..." Wellhaven was well and truly theirs, or it had been when they left. Could he return and call upon Julstecca again? SkieBorne "Let's hope we needn't face them at all." He pursed his lips momentarily, listening to what the other had to say. "As many as you can gather. We converted a city, brought many back with us, but I highly doubt that a single city will be enough. Whomever you can bring to join our cause would be much appreciated." Sosiqui "My companions and I - Music, Underworld, and Hunt as the prophesy said - journeyed to a kingdom on another plane. We won victories there. If I can find my way back to that place, I may be able to focus their belief. I do not think they can come here, as they must rebuild their torn world, but..." SkieBorne "But I do not think physical presence is required so long as the belief is there." Glyph smiled, "That city would be most helpful, as would your companions. If you see them, will you pass along my message? That we gather a week from now to call the Twin Crown back." Sosiqui "Of course. We meet... where? At the Throne Hall?" Illumin frowned slightly, thinking. "A focus of mortal belief and our own... and what else? It seems too simple, somehow, relying on that alone." Then again, lack of mortal belief alone had caused the Fading. It was simple, yes, but it was extremely powerful. Still... SkieBorne "Yes. In the Throne Hall, with everyone else who has come together to call Him back." He paused a moment to consider that question, a frown slowly curling the edges of his lips downward, "I do not know what else. We are working only with what we know and have seen - name that prophecy. You've seen it, is there something we've missed? It does not name the specific ritual, only the players therein." Sosiqui "No," Illumin said, with a sigh; he sat down on the dais steps, his wings automatically flaring behind him. "I know no more on that score than you do. It just seems too easy. Paranoia, perhaps; when the Twin Crown first began to tilt towards Destruction, the answers for balance seemed harder... but they weren't all correct, either." Boy, were they ever not all correct. True, if they called back Creation it would probably balance the Twin Crown in the process, but he doubted that narrowly avoiding the destruction of All had been part of Lord Harmodius' plan. SkieBorne "Gathering the lotuses and converting a city has been no easy task. Nor has surviving the hardships of the weeks and the ties that have been broken or formed in the process... I do not remember Creation and neither my host nor I know Destruction, we both came into this puzzle with the Twin Crown already struck down." He smiled and sank into a sitting position beside Illumin, "Even in the short time I've been aware to the world once more, I realized that complexity is not the only way. Sometimes the simplest method is the most effective. I believe it will work, simple as it is - what else can we do? To not believe would doom it before the start I think."Forest leaned forward as he spoke, "To borrow a saying, 'think positive.' If nothing else, we can pass into oblivion knowing we've at least tried to correct things." Sosiqui "Perhaps... regardless, I have no better ideas to offer." Such a young god, in reborn terms; would he even have time to take control if they failed? "I am grateful for what you have already accomplished. The lotuses... were lovely." SkieBorne "Keep thinking nonetheless... You can touch the world in ways I can't yet, surely that will play a role in the time to come." A broad, gentle smile touched the host's face as Glyph nodded his head in acceptance, "My comrades and I all played a part in that. Hopefully our efforts bear fruit. Where can I find you in the future? Here?" Sosiqui "Here, sometimes, though I will probably spend more time with the small enclave of mortals I've 'adopted', so to speak. They're in an abandoned market area not far from here. To the northeast. If nothing else, my Aoidei can take messages. I'll have to travel across planes to get to the potential wellspring of belief I mentioned." SkieBorne Glyph nodded as he tucked that information away for later, "At the marketplace or here then. I have Aoidei that can liaise with yours to keep you informed of what's going on. We're going to stay near the pantheon and organize things here so good luck with your trip, Illumin." Rising, he moved to stand before the god and offered a handshake and warm smile, "It was a pleasure to meet you. Hopefully we'll see things through, I'd like to meet again." Bowing slightly, he bobbed his hand a little. Sosiqui "Of course - thank you for coming to me." He paused, then decided to leave it at that. There was no easy way to really explain to the young host how much that meant, to not be alone. "I hope we'll have ample time to speak later, when all has been made whole again."
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 7:14 pm
Opening DoorsSosiqui Leave no stone unturned. Leave no resource untapped. The scattered mortals they had gathered were all well and good, but this area was devastated, stripped and broken. There was only so much they could do in this area - and the greatest resource of faith Illumin had yet encountered would have to come into play if they were to succeed. Wellhaven.
The time fluxes were dangerous, he knew; they had been affected by one on the way back from Julstecca's court and missed several weeks here. There was always a chance that he could return into chaos, miss the rituals, or worse - he might come through the door, through time, and into the heart of Gehenna. The thought made his stomach twist, but even with that cost, the amount they stood to gain easily outweighed the risk.
While they had opened the door to Wellhaven together, Illumin had little idea how to twist his own power to make the gateway, and little inclination to waste precious time in figuring out how it worked, much less risk trouble caused by his inexperience. The god who had guided them so expertly would be the key again.
Illumin left his room and padded down the hall, stopping by the stairs to glance down at the activity below. It seemed there was always something going on down there now, some planning or movement; the gods and mortals were slowly coming together. With any luck, the Spirit Guide would be among them. Zero Dream Indeed, it would turn out that Ankou would not be hard to find at all. The space downstairs was indeed busy with people, most of them mortal, some in worse shape than others.
There was little power at his disposal beside leading them there - but power was not all. He could act as an additional pair of hand, tending to injuries and mending what he could - which was exactly was he was doing.
Perhaps once, a long time ago, doing such things would have felt degrading, but not here, not now. The crowd made him a little uneasy, but he could deal with that.
He caught Illumin from the corner of his vision, but finished the bandage he had started before nodding to the woman and sliding away toward the other good. "Light." Sosiqui "Ankou." Illumin descended the stairs; several of the gathered mortals stared at him openly, but most didn't; perhaps they'd come to see gods often enough that they no longer felt the need to gawk. "If only Medicine were here to aid you. No doubt we'd have everyone put back together in no time." The old ache of Pana's absence had dulled, now, under the fresh wounds of Gehenna, and the thought no longer made him uncomfortable inside. There were far bigger things to worry about now. "If you have time, I could use your aid - I presume you've heard of the plans to gather mortal belief for Creation to try and call Him home?" Zero Dream "Yes, I have." Ankou nodded in answer as well. "I have been doing what I could - ultimately it is easy for me to lead them here, make them follow me to safety, but beyond such... I am afraid I handle spirits better than I handle mortals. My knowledge is limited, but we have been applying it the best we could."
He paused for a moment. "Did Nergal told you that we where still planning to try and put the consort back together ?" Most of the others had seemed aware, but Illumin he had not seen ever since the group had returned. Sosiqui "Are you?" Illumin said, a little awkwardly - he hadn't done anything regarding the relics or Aristogeiton since their return from Wellhaven, nor had he made any move to reclaim 'his' piece from where it was stored with the others. "I wish you luck, then - but, for now, I think my path leads elsewhere, and I could use your aid to get there. We left Wellhaven singing our praises, and I want to harness that belief in service to Creation." Zero Dream "That is indeed a great idea." More belief, after all, couldn't hurt. He could agree to that, and... well, most of the work ahead seemed to be his own. There was no need to hold Illumin back. "I can open the Door again, but... it may be dangerous. When Hell crashed, the worlds shifted... it might also take me some time to find it again." There was also no way to be sure it hadn't been destroyed in the process, thank to the time flux. Their return date ultimately did not cement anything. Sosiqui "I'd rather take that risk than lose the potential power," Illumin said, part of him rather grateful that he hadn't tried to just do it himself. "So this... calm, this peace... it is the opposite of the Hells collapsing. What else is there left to destroy?" That made him feel very uneasy. He could only think of one answer.
Us. Zero Dream "I cannot be sure, but... it would make sense to me.." Really, he lacked a way to explain it. "I've felt something happen, something [iÂ]shift but... it wasn't as clear as when Hell fell. Everything being so calm only ultimately worry me more." He shook his head, but the unsaid was clear, and the same thought occurred to him.
The calm before the storm..
"If things get too dangerous... I will come get you. There is no telling how long this may last." Sosiqui "I appreciate the offer, though I sincerely hope it won't come to that. I will be swift - as long as it takes to speak with Queen Julstecca, no more. I don't think that should take very long, given the state we left Wellhaven in." True, many, many things had happened since then... but he had to trust that she would still be there, that they would still be willing to turn their hearts towards the gods. Surely what they had done warranted more than a few weeks of faith. "I am ready whenever you are." He brushed one hand along the mirrored edges of his finery from the Queen; it seemed best to approach her wearing that offering. Zero Dream At Illumin's last sentence, the Spirit Guide sent a look back - the small group had resumed from where he had left off, and everything seemed to be fine. They, after all, did not require constant attention - just enough to make sure their health was not in danger, first of all, and then enough to spark belief.
He had noticed so many of them had become more determined to live once they had found something to hold on...
"Then I am, as well." Sosiqui "Thank you." Illumin turned to go up the stairs, pausing to make sure the Spirit Guide was following. "Which door would be easiest? The one we used before?" Zero Dream "It does not matter very much... At least it does not, keeping in mind the circumstances. They may have some "memory" per-se, of who opened them and what path they took, but with everything shifting as is... I will have to find the plane again. Would it be more convinent for you if I used the same door ?" After all, there was no telling if he would need to send others on their own journey... Or that he would not need to undertake another one, on that matter. Sosiqui "Choose whichever you feel is best - I've no opinion on the matter, and I'm sure you know more than I do. Whichever will get me there the quickest, and back safely." Zero Dream The Spirit Guide only gave a nod in answer, stepping in in front of the first unmarked door, setting both hands on the smooth surface and closing his eyes, letting himself spiral within. He had not really looked at this perspective ever since the night Hell fell and he had focused all he had to keep everything up, but even as the fact that he kind of knew what to expect did dull the surprise slightly, but he was still taken back by what he saw.
So many worlds where missing, and suddenly he feared the worst for the one Light sought. He checked from where he had initially felt the links of the scepter go toward, so long ago, but of course there was nothing there. And so he looked, felt for the familiar energies. Hopefully...
Ah, finally, there it was. It had moved quite a bit away from it's initial location, but at least it was still in existence. How things truly where, however... He couldn't tell. He tried to make the connection as quickly as he could, but it seemed almost... harder, somehow.
Needless to say, the Spirit Guide did not like this one bit. That done, he followed the trail back and took over his body once more, backing away just as the runes flared to life.
"There. It is done."
He couldn't quite hide his worry. Sosiqui "Thank you," Illumin said, and he reached out tentatively and squeezed the other god's shoulder, unsure of how to properly express the depth of his gratitude for his aid - repeating 'thank you' didn't seem enough, somehow. "I will return as swiftly as possible, with the faith of Brilsworth behind me."
He took a few steps towards the door, letting his hand fall back to his side, took a deep breath. Opened it. Stepped through. Zero Dream Ankou seemed a bit surprised by the other god's reaction, but he simply nodded. "Yes... Be swift."
There was no telling how long everything could last. If the influences shifted again... No, he did not like to think about it. He waited until Illumin was gone before turning back and heading downstairs again.
He had to do what he could, at least for now.
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 7:16 pm
Offerings and Effigies
The door spat Illumin out rather ingloriously - he didn't so much walk into Brilsworth as trip, and he had to flail about to keep from falling flat on his face. Their first journey to Wellhaven had nearly been disastrous anyway, but it hadn't left him feeling horribly dizzy, or like small but important bits of his insides might have been left behind.
After that initial wave of disorientation, Illumin realized he was in the same place they'd left from - a certain doorway down in the castle crypts. That was good, that was what he'd expected; he definitely didn't want to end up far away from the Queen.
What he hadn't expected was the altar. It was off to one side, hewn from a single block of stone - ancient rock, similar to what the walls around him had been constructed from. A few fat pillar candles burned atop it, and there were all kinds of things mounded up around it. Carvings, trinkets-
"Who goes there?" came a sudden sharp voice, and Illumin whirled, abandoning his examination of the offerings. A guard, spear at the ready, rounded the corner - only to nearly drop his weapon at the sight of the god. "L-lord Light!"
Illumin nodded solemnly at the startled guard. "Indeed. Is-"
The guard bobbed his head up and down, hurriedly. "I will fetch the Captain at once!" And he was gone, leaving Illumin behind, perplexed. He hadn't even waited for Light to finish his sentence.
Bemused, Illumin stayed where he was, light swirling around him, exploring the corners of the hall and driving away the old shadows there. He remembered this area being rather maze-like, and he had no desire to get lost in the crypts. Fortunately, it wasn't long before footsteps echoed down the corridors again, and the guard reappeared, this time with a familiar figure accompanying him.
"Lord Illumin," Captain Ghavaliel breathed, dropping to one knee before the god. "You have returned."
"I have indeed - please, rise." Illumin frowned slightly as the Captain stood up again. The man looked haggard and quite a bit thinner than he'd been when they'd left - not emaciated, but definitely not as well-fed as before. "What has happened?"
"It has been some two months since the Great Victory, Lord... and while Irisun has not troubled us, a host of other maladies have. A great plague, a terrible famine... and then the creatures from the Netherplanes..." There was a look of deep weariness in Ghavaliel's eyes.
Of course, the same things that happened at the Pantheon have happened everywhere. Illumin had known objectively that that was the case, but it was different to actually see the mark of those events on the Captain's face. "Such things have happened everywhere, even to us - it is part of the progression towards the End that we told you about."
"Has it not been stopped, then? The relics you took-"
"-were important indeed, but not enough on their own," Illumin finished. "But don't panic," he added, quickly, seeing Ghavaliel flinch and, moreso, the sudden look of naked terror on the other guard's face. "I come bringing news of hope. We have a sure path to salvation, but we require your assistance again."
The Captain relaxed, just a little. "That, at least, is good news - and it will do the hearts of the people good to see you here. What do you require?"
"Exactly as you've said - the hearts of the people." Illumin nodded, solemnly. "How is Her Majesty?"
"Queen Julstecca is well - as well as any can be in such times," Ghavaliel replied. "I have sent word to her of your arrival; she humbly requests your presence before her throne."
"Of course. I must speak to her, and to you as well. To all who will listen."
"Then I will lead you to her side." The Captain bowed, then straightened and saluted. "If you would follow me, Lord?"
"Yes. Let us go, and quickly."
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 7:17 pm
Divine InterventionSosiqui Illumin waited outside the doors to Julstecca's throne room, feeling vaguely uneasy about the whole thing - true, the Captain had greeted him with no small amount of relief, but from what the man had said, things had been hard in Brilsworth. Of course they had, things had been hard everywhere, but after what they had done to save the country from Irisun, knowing that the people had still suffered under the devastation of Gehenna was... difficult. He'd known it would happen, but knowing was different from seeing.After a few long moments, the throne room doors opened, and Captain Ghavaliel saluted. "Her Majesty grants you leave to enter." Illumin nodded, brushed self-consciously at his robes - which were still the best things he owned, but no longer pristine as they had been - and stepped forward through the doors. Thabara The dark robed female on the throne seemed awfully small, fragile - a little lost almost - upon the large, ornate seat. Her ashen tone of her skin way beyond the cultivated pallor of the aristocratic class of her people, and even the carefully laced corset of her gown could not mask just how much weight she had lost since they'd last met. Her eyes, however, were clear and lively as ever, vibrant with willpower and intelligence. "Lord Illumin," she breathed, raising from her seat the instant the god entered the throne room. "We have been waiting." There was just the barest hint of an accusation in her voice, otherwise she managed to keep her tone carefully neutral. "Two months have passed. We expected you back much soo--" She broke off, a fit of dry coughs rocking her thin figure. An elderly man, some sort of physician most likely, rushed to the queen's side with a concerned look upon his face, but she dismissed him with a wave of her hand, dipping her lips with a lacy handkerchief before she continued to speak. There might have been blood there, but it was hard to tell from the distance. "Times have been harsh, as you surely can tell. However, if it had not been for your help against the forces of Irisun, Our people would certainly not have survived. We prayed, every single day. To offer Our thanks, but also hoping for your return. Now that you have returned--" She took seat upon the throne once more. The large hall certainly had seen better times. There were stains of meldew upon the wallpapers, the gilding had come off in places upon the throne, and the velvet curtains were riddled with holes, seemingly having aged years in a span of two months if Julstecca spoke truth. "May We inquire upon the occassion of your appearance? Did you come to offer help, or to seek help from Us once more?" Sosiqui "Majesty," Illumin began, then paused, concern washing over his face as the Queen was racked with coughs. He waited as she recovered and spoke again, then stepped forward until he was fully before her throne. "I have come, yes. I am sorry for taking so long," he said, quietly. "I thank you for your faith. I know things have been very difficult for you, as they have for everyone across the entirety of what Is. I have indeed come to offer help... and to seek, both." He could feel the sparks of belief igniting in those around him, faith that had begun turning to ash suddenly rekindled by his appearance; it had been just so, in the old days.
When he had died the first time, in part for want of such appearances.
"Majesty, a path to salvation has been found - but it requires all of us, all of those who exist in all worlds. I come to you seeking a rekindling of your faith, which I am delighted, honored to feel even at this moment." He smiled, and gestured, indicating the gathered court, even if it was only a remnant of what had been even at the time of their first visit. "The solution lies in that faith. Creation, one aspect of our Lord the Twin Crown, the one who brought All that Is into being, must be awakened again - and we can do it through your belief. We spoke to you before of the power you hold in that respect." Thabara "Humble words from one such as you," the queen inclined her head ever so slightly, the hint of a smile playing upon her delicate lips, "but most befitting. We must always be aware of the responsibility We carry in regard to those who trust Us to aid and protect them. Or else they will turn their backs on Us." She paused to suppress another another coughing fit which threatened to interrupt her words. "Pardon Us, We did not mean to lecture you - merely to show Our appreciation of your ways." "We know of the importance of faith, Lord. We have been to the quarters of those who sought refuge in the capital. Incognito, but not unguarded," the queen added quite sharply - accompanied by a reproaching glare at her court - and the anxious exchange of whispers which had started upon her words died down immediately. "And We have seen for Ourselves," she continued, "how Our citizens find solace and comfort in song and candlelight, remain faithful that those who died crossed the threshold to a better world, and draw the will to fight and survive from the tale of how Irisun was fended off against all odds. You have inspired Us. Had not been for that inspiration.." It was pride which caused her to leave that sentence incomplete, her own and that of her people. "It is the commoners you should be speaking to, not Us. Once word of your return spreads," oh, it had spread already, she was quite certain of it. "The hopes and expectations placed upon you will be quite high," she added warningly. It made sense, to her at least, that salvation would not simply be dropped into their laps, that they would have to work for it, to earn it. But if words were not chosen wisely.. Hope and dissappointment were ever so close to each other. Sosiqui "Good news indeed, Majesty," Illumin replied with a smile. "And now that faith you hold must be focused on a single point - Creation. Believing in myself and my comrades, while succor and honor to us, is not enough to reawaken the Crown..." He paused. How could he inspire them to worship a god they didn't know? Like with Alvir, perhaps...? It might be easier, since they already believed wholeheartedly in him and the other deities. "Could your Eldelli carry the message in their minds? Alas, though I would love to stay with you..." He sighed, regretfully. "I cannot. My own participation in the ritual of our salvation is required, and I must gather faith from all quarters. But I came to you first... my best beloved," he added, a genuine, gentle expression coming over his face. ((In progress, to be continued once Thabby's computer is fixed.))
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 7:18 pm
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 7:20 pm
Sorrow and Defiance
Illumin stared up at the empty sky, and trembled. It was gone, all gone, not just bruised but absent entirely. He wondered if they were celebrating in the Ashlands now, if they were happy that half of their precious 'free land' was open to the void.
His wings were shaking. Quickly, he formed a ball of light in his hand and tossed it upwards, then another and another, until a microcosm of the cosmos blinked and flared above him. But it was weak, false, a mere facade. With one gesture he dashed all those makeshift stars to the ground, and they flared and sizzled as they fell around him.
I may as well have done that myself, in truth - my hand, bringing down all the stars. Just like that. He dropped to his knees and hugged himself, wings curling to surround him in shelter.
He had wanted judgment and vengeance on Universe for what he had done, but now... now... I did not want this. I did not.
My crimes are now equal to, or even surpassing, yours.
I am sorry...
How many times could he be broken? Illumin took a deep, ragged breath. I am the Light that remains. I must give them a sign, I must...
Lucius...
He got to his feet, slowly, and brought light together again. No stars, this time, but a bright orb to return light to the emptiness above, to blaze defiance at the Void. Samyaza. You think you've won, haven't you? You're laughing now, aren't you?
His creation erupted upwards, beating against the air as it rose, bathing the surrounding area in brilliance. Illumin's eyes narrowed as he let his own anger rise along with it. The error was mine - but the treachery, that was yours.
All light, all hope, is not yet gone.
This is my defiance.
Above him, the light orb stopped and shone, a new sun, a pseudo-star gleaming angrily against the darkness.
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 7:34 pm
The Whispers of Names
In the compound, the mortals moved with hushed tones, talking among themselves in small groups, restless. They, too, knew the import of the ritual that was so near now.
Illumin had left Tiercan in the Pantheon to meet with his followers one more time. Alvir and a few others would be coming with him to the great ritual as representatives of their people, while those left here would focus all their belief and hope. As Light walked, he heard the small groups whispering to each other, memorizing the litany of names.
"This is how we will honor Him," Alvir had told him, gruffly. "Lord of Flowers, Breath of Sea and Sky, Heart and Foundation of All."
"They are beautiful names," Illumin assured them, with a soft smile.
Now he walked among them, hearing them and their names, feeling the flame of their faith all around him - faith in him, and faith in the Crown they'd never seen, only felt. He ended up perched on a battered old packing-crate again, watching, feeling a strange sense of contentment despite the empty sky gaping overhead. His light was still there, after all, between them and it.
"Quite a sight, ain't it?"
Illumin managed to quel his startle reflex that time. "How can you possibly be that good at sneaking up on me?"
Alvir grinned widely. "Skill." He sat down heavily on another crate. "Last night."
"Yes," Illumin said, quietly. "Are you ready?"
"I am. What about you all, hm? The gods?"
"I was at the Pantheon and saw the preparations. Everything has gone as the fate-stone prophecy said. Plague and Science even prepared a vaccine against the strength of Void - I think it's too dangerous for mortals to cope with, but..." He angled his body so Alvir could see the small bandage on his left shoulder. "It feels... warm, invigorating. Gentle." True, his eyes were also prickling slightly, and the injection site itched, but that was probably an after-effect of Plague's involvement. It was much better than what Remuel had done to his wing. "They've made a weapon against the traitors as well."
"Do you think they will attack?" Alvir's eyes narrowed.
"I don't know. They might. If they do..." Illumin's face twisted in sudden anger. "I will bring them down, no matter what it takes. Even if it costs me my life."
The old man was silent for a long moment, then nodded, slowly. "I, as well."
"What could you do?" The incredulous question escaped before Illumin could stop it.
"Be one more thing in their way, if it came down to it."
"One more thing..."
Alvir's smile was grim. "Every little bit helps."
"But until then, Alvir - keep safe. And pray."
The old man tilted his head to gaze upwards, where the light-orb shone against the darkness. "I will carry Solde's hopes. And if I must, I will fight. This old life has to be worth something."
"It is. More than you know."
"Hmph." He smiled. "Then that's alright, then. I count it well spent."
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