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 Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 7:59 pm
{ part 1 }
Many of Duniya knew of the Divine Order. They all had varying thoughts of the religious body, but most held some measure of respect for them whether it was for their devotion to the Pantheon or for their willingness to cope with the unreliable Duniya gods. The Divine Order did not typically involve itself in the everyday affairs of its residents, but something about the uniqueness of the existence of the Tabula Rasa had intrigued the gods.
The Order contained the gods' messengers, and so, the Divine Order learned that they must interfere with these 'Tabula Rasa'--blank slates born out of Rasa. The particular reasons for the gods' interference was unknown, but no matter if Locke particularly agreed to it or not, the new manifests were to be brought to the Divine Order--specifically, Shakuni--immediately upon manifestation.
Shakuni herself was a deeply devout priestess of the Order. It was said that the gods had touched her themselves, and therefore she held a deep connection and affinity to the affairs of the gods. Shakuni was a leader in the Order and perhaps the most important messenger of them all. To be called to bring the Tabula Rasa to the gods meant that the Tabula Rasa held some deep significance. The certain significance was, as of currently, unknown, but one did not question the gods' wishes.
Locke recently told her of five new manifestations. As directed by Shakuni, and therefore the gods, they were brought to her temple as soon as possible. "Adara, Cheshire, Damaris, Ophelia, and Reginald," quietly whispered she, glancing over the names as soon as she had got the message. They could not be long; in matters of the gods, one did not delay.
Shakuni kneeled in front of the altar of the gods' and meditated to become one with the gods' wishes, all the while listening for any new entries to the sacred temple.
Ophelia entered the temple with her expression haughty and her movements a swagger. The Tabula had acceded to the summons, more out of mild curiosity than anything else. She doubted she'd find anything worth her time, but then again, maybe she'd get something interesting out of it for herself. While the thought of mingling with imperfects made her lip curl - and it did, marring her haughty look and making her look momentarily ugly - she still accepted that she had some obligation to appear, even if she didn't care to find out why.
Hearing steps approach, Shakuni began to emerge out of her meditative state. In a short few moments, she stood and bowed to the altar before turning around to watch the new Tabula approach. She made short observations of her behavior as she approached, noting that this one seemed particularly smug in her blank state. Perhaps she would find roots in hatred.
The priestess stepped forward, ready to confront this haughty creature. She closed her eyes and sighed deeply before opening them once again. "You are Ophelia, am I correct?" Hopefully, this haughty Tabula would cooperate. She had a sinking feeling that Ophelia was going to be quite a troublesome Tabula, even from the start. Nevertheless, Shakuni had work to do.
After waiting momentarily for confirmation of what she already knew, she beckoned to the youthful manifestation. "Come with me, Ophelia." Shakuni started back inside the temple.
"I am," Ophelia said imperiously, looking at the new creature coolly. She bristled slightly to beckoned along like a child, but held her temper in check and followed. Her body language made it clear she wished she were elsewhere, but she pasted a horrid, falsely indulgent half-smile onto her face and tried to keep her teeth from grinding. Her own warped views on imperfections and status were running through her mind, and she was certain they'd give her no peace during this entire little escapade.
"May I ask," she said, training her voice to honeyed sweetness, "What it is you want of me?"
Shakuni would simply ignore the manifestation's wish to be elsewhere. The gods' wants took precedence over the Tabula's impatient, haughty behavior. She took in another deep breath before stopping in front of what appeared to be an empty, stone fountain. Then, her attention was turned back to the sickeningly sweet Ophelia.
"I wish nothing of you personally. The Gods of the Pantheon have taken great interest in creatures such as yourself. I am simply here to fulfill their deep curiosity." The devout woman bowed her head and whispered a word of prayer before looking back to Ophelia. "What they wish, I shall grant. Do you have any further questions before we begin?" Even if Ophelia was faking the behavior, Shakuni did not care as long as she fulfilled the will of her gods.
Ophelia's eyebrows shot up. Gods? Hmm. Perhaps she was overstepping her bounds...she could care less what this woman thought of her, imperfection-ridden as she was, but gods were certainly a different matter. Ophelia inclined her head in mild respect.
"None, madam," she replied, abandoning any pretense of sweetness. "Lead on."
Humbling Ophelia had made the task that much simpler for the messenger of the gods. Shakuni nodded. "Excellent. I request that you move closer to the fountain." She gestured to it, before moving out of the way.
Though she had moved, Shakuni did not go too far away. The priestess knelt down on the cold ground of the temple, closing her eyes. Once again, she was entering a meditative state. In this state, she could better communicate the will of her gods. Her hands clasped and pressed to her chest, Shakuni began to quietly chant words of prayer to herself.
Becoming a vessel for the gods made Shakuni float only slightly off the ground and made her eyes roll back. If her trance was not freakish enough, the daytime seemed to suddenly end. It was replaced with total darkness. From the darkness came a few speckles of light that beckoned to Ophelia to venture towards them.
"Ophelia," Shakuni's voice echoed in this state, "choose your path."
Ophelia loosed a startled cry before she could stop herself. Her eyes flicked from the entranced woman to the fountain, and fright turned to calculating interest at the sight of the lights. They were rather... lovely. Her lips twitched into a smile that didn't reach her eyes, and she approached the fountain with her head tilted speculatively to one side. They all caught her eye, but it was the black that interested her most.
"How interesting," she said mildly, approaching the black light.
As Ophelia approached the black light, an avatar appeared behind the tranced Shakuni. The avatar was dark as night, and even approaching it could chill to the core. It appeared as a tall man in a simple masculine toga. Shakuni gasped hoarsely in her trance, before becoming enveloped in the dark light. The gods would speak through her.
"Ophelia," Shakuni's voice was unnaturally deep, "you have chosen the path of Bhayanaka. Chilling fear shall be at your fingertips if you learn to walk this path. An," she chuckled sardonically, "interesting path for a haughty creature as yourself. I'm most certain it'll serve you well."
The avatar behind Shakuni watched Ophelia closely, raising its brow in nonchalance. The Tabula intrigued him as they intrigued all the gods, but she would have to prove herself worthy first.
Ophelia glanced over her shoulder, the cold smile on her face again. Oh, she liked this one. What a delicious prospect. If she chose this path...oh, oh! She would be able to get rid of any imperfect she wished. She shivered in delight, her mad nature assuaged. What a wonderful thing...
"An interesting path, indeed," she said, bowing from the waist towards the dark avatar behind Shakuni. "And one I want to follow."
She straightened, looking towards the black light again with something like longing.
The woman appeared to lust for the power to rid the world of imperfection. Of course, for a haughty woman, anything that was imperfect was anything besides herself. The avatar acknowledged this, and decided she was worth a pindrop of his attention. If anything, she could provide a momentary amusement.
The avatar turned his attention to Shakuni before looking back to Ophelia. Shakuni's echoing, deep voice spoke his words. "I see that you have an interest in such terrifying emotion. Well enough. I, as the avatar of Tartarus, may grant you what your mind desires. What do you lust for, Ophelia?"
The black light danced and flared as she stared at it, growing stronger the more she longed for it.
"For order," Ophelia whispered greedily. "Imperfect things cause strife, trying to rise against those that are better than themselves. If these imperfect things are controlled...removed... perfection would take their place. No one cares for imperfections, they do everything in their power to hide them. I...I would do more. I would get rid of them entirely. Permanently."
Her cold smile grew, staring into the beautiful black light hungrily. She wanted it. Badly. She'd do whatever was asked of her, if she could gain the power that this avatar tempted her with.
The woman wished to find order. The avatar nodded, taking a moment to consider what she had said. Then, he turned his attention back to Ophelia. "To rid the world of imperfection is a lofty goal for such a mortal," spoke Shakuni. "However, I shall give you the ability to... begin on such a mission."
The black light flared brighter before suddenly forming into a key. The key was made of onyx, fashioned into a celtic knot design on the top. When Ophelia took it, a new black light flared in the place where the key had previously been. "The power is yours, Ophelia."
(( Key of the Impurities
You strive for a world of perfection, so that the world may become as perfected as you.
Gain 1 XP: Whenever you create order in an imperfect situation.
Gain 4 XP: Whenever you inspire enough fear in others for them to follow your perfected will.
Gain 5 XP: Whenever you rid a fellow mortal of their "imperfections."
Buyoff: Letting an imperfection sustain itself. ))
Eyes wide as she took the key, Ophelia held it to her chest like it was her precious firstborn. She would never part with it.
"Thank you," she said softly, and never had she been more sincere, and likely never would she be again. Her smile was like a rictus.
Shakuni vaguely chuckled, representing the avatar's very slight amusement. This Tabula may prove herself an interesting follower of the path of fear. "I have simply granted what you wish. Follow the path of fear and inspire the fear in others to become as perfect as you, Ophelia." With that, the dark avatar simply vanished. The glow vanished from around Shakuni as she floated back down to the ground.
Slowly, the lights began to disappear, included the beloved black light. However, what remained was the key Ophelia ever-so-tightly clutched, an empty fountain, and Shakuni, who was slowly coming out of her trance. Once again, the room was lit.
Fairly glowing with pleasure, Ophelia inclined her head again.
"I will," she said under her breath, voice fluttery with terrible excitement. As day returned and the beautiful black light faded, Ophelia's darkly ecstatic expression smoothed away into trained politeness. She eyed Shakuni speculatively - if such an person was able to give such gifts, perhaps Ophelia could overlook her imperfections. Maybe, perhaps, this one wasn't so bad.
Shakuni offered a mild smile. "The gods are pleased, Ophelia. Thank you for your cooperation." This one was not too bad once she was humbled, and therefore, Shakuni could learn to deal with her. She nodded towards the Tabula, eyeing the key she was rewarded with in the meantime.
...Hopefully, this woman would not be too reckless.
"You have given the gods what they please, and therefore, you are free to leave. We may call upon you in the future, so do be prepared." The Tabula was now free to leave the temple. The god Tartarus had left his blessing with the manifestation. It was Shakuni's hope that Ophelia would not find a way to abuse such a blessing.
With a final bow, meant only for the now-absent god, Ophelia turned on her heel and left the temple, the key pressing its indent into her tightly curled palm. Ophelia gave that dreadful rictus-smile again, and hummed cheerfully as she departed.
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Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 1:45 pm
{ part 2 }
Ophelia was wandering.
She didn't have a reason, and with no responsibilities or people to have to report back to - friends, family, children, unnecessary hindrances to an individual's freedom - she went at her leisure. She enjoyed her solitude. When one was perfect, one needed no company. Perfection bloomed well enough on its own. Hitching up the hem of her black gown, she walked through the streets with a disdainful look marring her face as her eyes flicked over the loathsome commoners in her path. Her sword, her precious sword, was at her hip. If only she could use it....but she didn't want trouble. None, anyway, that she couldn't easily get out of. Not yet. She needed connections. Allies in high places. People she could depend on to help her for help's own sake, because they'd be aiding someone so, so much better than themselves...
"Pretty doll for you, madam?"
Ophelia halted and looked imperiously at the elderly woman brandishing what looked like a small child at her from a stall Ophi would have happily ignored.
"A what?" she said icily, tugging at the key strung around her neck reflexively.
"A doll, ladyship," the woman said, unperturbed by Ophelia's attitude. "China, yarn, velvet, pretty things for such a pretty girl."
Ophelia preened at the rightly deserved flattery and leaned in closer to inspect the 'dolls'. They were alright, she supposed. Nothing particularly special.
"I think not," she said mildly, turning away.
"Wait, ladyship!" the woman wheedled, skittering to the back of her stall and returning with a dusty, rather beaten box. Ophelia glared at her impatiently, fingers twitching on the hilt of her sword. It would be easy, she thought, to slice this troublesome woman in half and just be done with it.
"Look inside," the woman said coyly, pushing the box towards Ophelia. "Such a regal young lady must only have the best."
Ophelia attempted a polite smile to spectacular failure as she opened the box. She spared the contents a passing glance, wondering if she should just break whatever it was, when her breath caught in her throat and she looked again.
A china doll, painted and polished to utter perfection, sat in state in the box. Her hair curled into golden ringlets, matching the princess-like gown that she wore, bedecked with false glass jewels. Ophelia made a sound of longing, picking the little doll up. She was heavy, with jointed parts that moved fluidly in imitation of life.
"I want her," Ophi said, holding the doll to her chest. "Oh, she's so beautiful, she's perfect..."
The old woman leered, her monkeyish face crinkled in victory at the prospect of a sale.
"Well then, ladyship, why don't we discuss my price..."
---
Half an hour later, Ophelia walked calmly through the street, her new doll cradled in her arms like a beloved child. The troublesome old woman and her substandard wares - because Ophi had certainly rescued the best of the bunch - were half-forgotten in the unaccustomed pleasure she felt in her darling new companion. It had taken haggling, a great deal of patience to not part the woman's head from her shoulders, and a good deal more money than Ophelia would have liked to part with, but she'd gotten what she wanted.
"I don't need anyone else now," she told the doll mildly. "You're perfect. I only need you."
The doll, sensibly, made no reply.
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Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 4:18 pm
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