|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 2:40 pm
 Firestorm scowled skeptically at the fox, "What ritual, Fox? What are you talking about?" He asked with a frown. He hated being made the fool, and the way she was talking, it sounded like it should have been something every foal knew.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 3:00 pm
Kumiho's fur was standing on end; Firestorm was doing a wonderful job of displaying how much of an ungrateful bully he could be. But no matter... he was a smarter stallion than most and needed his blind rage to make him swallow the pill she was about to administer. What was the phrase? A spoonful of sugar...
"Well," she said, keeping her voice hushed and scandalous, "From what I know, not all Kalona are born. They are made," she said, a twinkle glimmering in her golden eyes. "The Great Raven Mocker came from the same place as skinwalkers, right? But his minions aren't purely evil like the Walker beasts. They are Soquili souls...blessed by the ka'lanu ahkyeli'ski himself. Rumor has it, if you preform his dedication ritual, new generation Kalona can be formed."
She paused for effect. "Transformed, even."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 4:15 pm
Taraxippus wasn't looking Kumiho in the eyes, but she could see his posture stiffen and an ear flick in her direction. Despite his doubt and feigned nonchalance, she could tell she had his full attention.
Could it be true? Certainly, Kalona could be born - he had seen that with his own eyes. But could they be created as well? Like a skinwalker? Kalona were named for the dark god, the Raven Mocker, a figure of the underworld. They said that they were created by him. But wouldn't they have to have been created from something to begin with?
He snorted. He had cursed his bloodline long ago, but impotently so. Could he really rewrite his very breed? The idea was planted now, and already it had begun to take root in his mind.
"Go on," He said simply, trying to downplay his interest.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 4:26 pm
Kumiho snorted. No no...if he wanted this information he was going to have to beg for it. "I don't know," she said, frowning. "I'm not sure I should tell you. I don't know, for certain it will work, and well, the price... its very costly." She sighed and took a few steps away. "I mean, I did meet a Kalona who swears that how he came to be. He had been born a unicorn - a unicorn - and now he's a Kalona. And I'm fairly good an sniffing out frauds."
She sat down and looked back up at him expectantly. "And liars. You have to swear if I tell you ... I can't be held responsible for what happens!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 7:16 pm
Flat-eared, Firestorm looked back down to the fox, a frown tugging at his mouth.
He took a few steps, circling her, his tail lashing behind him. The thoughts tumbled through his head, and he could taste the promise of what she spoke. And... it did seem to have a ring of truth, with the stories he had heard of Kalona...
If it was real, it couldn't be easy. Getting the attention of Kalona himself, and being changed by him?
He eyed the fox. "Very well," He rumbled, "Tell me of this ritual, Fox. He'd hear her out and judge it for himself.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 6:43 am
"First, you have to build an alter. I don't know if there are any specifics, but something that would impress Kalona. But that's just the beginning."
She moved closer to Firestorm, lifting up onto her hind legs, and balancing herself by placing her paws on his leg. She motioned for his head to come closer so she could whisper in his ear. "But the most important part, is a sacrifice. A real one..."
She dropped back down onto all fours, looking around furtively. "Of a lesser. And you're more likely to impress the ka'lanu ahkyeli'ski if there's some real... significance to your victim."
She stopped to gauge his reaction before continuing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 8:15 am
Firestorm felt a little uncomfortable when the fox chose to touch him. He frowned, but didn't back away. His stomach squirmed, though he wasn't sure if it was anticipation of this information and the promise of change, or the severity of what she was outlying.
The alter - nothing. Time and effort. He needed something to do to keep himself occupied while Taraxippus took his damn time getting ready, anyway. The sacrifice... he should have anticipated, and it made sense. If this were a real ritual, of course it would call for something as grave as that.
"A lesser...?" He finally spoke, his mind going through Balrog's herd and his relative hatred. "I would love to get my hooves on Thunderbird. That pretender to the throne. A four-winged freak. Do you not think that would be a glorious sacrifice? My replacement? Or does it need to be something... less than that. Or do you mearly mean less than a Kalona?" he was talking quickly, not thinking his words through."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 8:26 am
"I would imagine, anyone not a Kalona would be considered a lessor by the ka'lanu ahkyeli'ski." God the words even tasted bad in her mouth. Kalona's were such pathetic little posers compared to skinwalkers. Why would anyone want to be one?
For a moment, Kumiho had a pause of thought. Maybe she should offer corpse powder to him? Feed into this hate... make him something even grander than those demonic eunuchs.
Maybe...but not now. She couldn't let herself get wrapped up in his vendetta. He was her plaything. But if she could get him to take out some of Stormwild's brood in the process, even better.
"But there's more." Her voice dropped back to her scandalous whisper. "Once you sacrifice your victim on the alter you have to...." she did her best to look pained, like what she was saying was almost too horrible to even utter. "...you have to eat their heart."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 8:48 am
A look of distaste crossed Firestorm's face. This was a serious command. As much as he envied them, Firestorm didn't have any kalona blood himself. He couldn't eat meat. Well... he could physically chew it and swallow it... but it made his stomach ache, and the time he had tried it once, as a colt, when he had first met Shinoma he'd proven his mettle by killing and eating a part of a rabbit. He still remembered the heavy, metallic, phlegmy taste and the way it sank to the pit of his stomach. And how sick he had felt for a few days aftewards.
But it would be worth it. And if it worked, he should have no problem eating meat thereafter.
The look of distaste stayed on his face, but he didn't balk. "Is that the extent of the ritual?" It certainly seemed severe - and not something someone would accidentally stumble upon, an undertaking that required mettle and dedication. But he wanted to make sure that he followed this through precisely.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 8:58 am
Kumiho tried not to smile...he was buying this! She fur stood on its end, the excitement beginning to brew inside her. "No, there's more," she said, looking him over carefully, like she was contemplating something. "After you have...done the deed. You have to burn the sacrifice, and with it something else. Some gift to Kalona, something important to you. Symbolic. A true sacrifice to your own self, to show Kalona that you are willing to do anything to be reborn in His own image."
She paused, looking him over. "Your horn, perhaps? Or maybe - yes - maybe your wings?" She stood up and paced in a circle around him. "Show the Raven Mocker you are no longer willing to share those feathers with your deceitful 'family'."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 9:09 am
"My wings?!" Firestorm exclaimed, reactively. He scowled, ears pinning back. His feathered wings were the very thing that defined the herd he had come from - the one he had grown to hate.
But if he was successful.... his wings would be glorious, batlike things... He stretched them, still thinking. By that point, the herdgrounds should be his, anyway...
Still... sever his wings entirely... the thought made him cringe. He could cross the bridge when the time came... the importance was a personal sacrifice... all the better if it were a piece of himself... something representative.
"Are there words to say?" He finally spoke up again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 9:14 am
"I'm no expert in black magic," she said, looking at his wings as he stretched them. "Honestly it should be your decision what you offer, just make sure it will impress the Raven Mocker. Otherwise you'll just be left a disfigured murderer."
She bit her tongue, she should be less venomous. "But surely you'll think of something. If you have enough conviction to kill and devour a heart, I'm sure you'll be willing to do whatever is necessary."
She rolled her shoulders when he asked her about the words. "I don't know, I would imagine Kalona view actions stronger than funny sounding words, don't you? Trust me, I think you'll definitely get his attention!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 10:28 am
Firestarter nodded, still mired in thought. How glorious it would be, to reclaim the herdgrounds he deserved, to transform himself into a glorious Kalona through the sacrifice of the pretender, Thunderbird! The symmetry of it all, the narrative.... Firestorm began to wrap it all up into a glorious story.
He would say something - even if not convoluted nonsense words... such a sacrifice deserved words. Something in the common tongue - a dedication of himself to the dark god, of a renewel of flesh and destruction of all ties to his old family.
"Thank you, Fox." He finally rumbled, no longer looking at her again. His eyes searched upwards, to where the peaks of the mountains of the THunderbird herd were.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 10:41 am
"I hope it works for you, you deserve it," she lied, though her smile was a genuine one. She certainly did hope she managed to convince him - that he would have the wa'toli to actually go through with the sacrifice. It was very rare for grass-eaters like himself to actually kill, especially another Soquili. If he fails, then Kumiho would certainly be around to rub it in his face.
If he succeeds in the sacrifice, surely she didn't actually believe the ka'lanu ahkyeli'ski would actually transform him. It was merely a legend, but of course Firestorm wanted it badly enough he was ready and willing to kill just for the chance!
How delicious! What would she do when he failed? Would she blame him, for not being worthy enough to the Raven Mocker? Would she come clean and reveal it was a trick all along?
So many possibilities- but for later. "I shall be on my way for now, Firestorm. But I'll be keeping my eyes and ears open. You will be in my thoughts as well."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 1:06 pm
Firestorm hardly noticed as the fox padded away. His eyes were fixated on the peaks of the mountains. Soon. Soon they would attack, and he would be living above, surveying his and his family's vast, bounteous domain. Home to the very Kalona that they once feared.
But... he finally wrested his eyes away and back at the clearing he had found himself in. This place would do nicely. Right in the shadow of the herdgrounds... he could hear the rushing of the waterfall that cascaded down the mountains.
He finally had something constructive to at focus his hatred on until Taraxippus and his herd were ready.
It was time to build a shrine.
~Fin~
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
