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Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 4:33 pm
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((Previous plot fell through so screw it! =D I'll do it myself! Call it godmoding if you want. But frankly, pharaohs were considered gods and Muroki's already taken the most damage of all the DW who're RPing in the war so far. While he is fully mortal, belief is a powerful thing and while they've strayed, the vultures were once DWers too. So he alone gets to walked unscathed into the Temple and only for this little while. ))
The moon still reined over the western sky while the sun just touched the opposite horizon, a bloody orange sliver of the solar disk. It gilded the sand dunes and threatened the inky night sky with its light. It was reflected in the eyes of Muroki was he walked, liquid gold above his glossy black burden. He always woke up early to pray Jua. But today was a special day and the star Sopdet hung in the sky too, a companion to the sun. Today was the first dawn of the first season of ahket, the season in which the Chione flooded and her banks were made fertile, so that the prey may prosper, so that the Dawnwalkers might proser.
So it had always been. So it always would be.
And whether the vultures like it or not, today he'd take his prayers to the heart of their lands. The jewel in the gold setting of the desert. To the Temple, to the very shrine in the sacred lake. If they dared attack him today then the vultures had truly abandoned their ways, every last scrap of them, and he'd fight to the death. Muroki hoped however there was a shred of dignity in their hearts and if they'd forgotton everything else about their place in the system, they'd remember this:
He was a god-king.
Oh it rarely showed. Hell, Muroki was the first to admit he felt too passionately and he'd been know to trip into bushes during undignified games of tag. He was a mortal. But he was also king and within his heart there burned a tiny spark of the holy light of Jua, the Dawnwalker's manifestation of the sun. It was no less true than the lion god Radhi-Nuru, or the story of the pride that believed the sun was the collected souls of the dead, nor that it was a great buck racing across the sky. It was true and if the vultures remember that, on this holy day they wouldn't dare to touch him.
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Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 4:50 pm
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Baqir called harshly, his screech filled with bitter fury, when he first sighted the hated figure approaching in the distance. His mate, who perched next to him on one of the lion statues that lined the avenue to the entrance, echoed the cry and it was taken up by every vulture within the ancient compound. They all squarked again when minutes later, the lion reached the first figure in his own sweet time and laid his burden to rest on the sand with dignity. The broken body of an adult vulture. Prince Adil! His son. Sadaf, the female beside him, lifted her head with a lone cry of pain and launched herself to the morning sky, to fly away, filled with grief.
The vulture leader shifted, talons digging at the old stone and finding a good gripe at it's brow, his place on the stone lions head making it seem like he was trying to blind it. Claws to the eyes. How he wished he could claw out the eyes of the large lion who stood looking at him expectantly, great head held high and one heavy paw lifted to gesture at the body.
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Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:10 pm
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Court language. Usually he hated it and found it hard to speak. Kainda had more luck with it - until she started laughing. Court language, court language...must get it right. Must stand tall and proud.
"I come with the dawn. That is my name and that is my duty. It is also my duty to deliver the body of your son who fell in battle." He spoke loudly, steadily, turning his head to address the birds. Inwardly Muroki knew he should be scared. He should be more than scared, he should be running as fast as his legs would carry him, away from the danger. Here he was alone, with all the vultures of the desert staring at him from a hundred different places with murder in their beady eyes. Yet he felt calm and sure of himself, strong.
"...and I deliver him with more respect than with which you delivered the bodies of the cubs you murdered in cold blood. Maybe you'll learn by example what honor means." Now he let a growl creep into his voice, let his lips lift to show his fangs, his brow and nose wrinkled with a fury that matched Baqir.
"But then you've shadowed my steps so long Baqir I feel I know you. You have little honor left. Maybe you could redeem a little of that honor today by continuing as you are. Watch. Screech your rage. But do not touch me, or you shall be cursed by Jua himself for your insolence before him." The growl softened and Muroki felt his own sense peace and security within himself bloom. Around it, he imagined, around him, blazed the glory of Jua. Protection. Power. It made him grin his own crooked grin, before he resigned himself to his task and a dignified walk down the aisle of statues.
"I am the vessel of Jua this dawn."
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Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:26 pm
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A young vulture, just into it's adult feathers, took off from it's place and made to divebomb Muroki, furious. How dare he! The scum! The absolute scum! Coming here all airs and graces, with the body of their prince, all mangled from the filthy paws of the teal female...like he was untouchable. He dove at the lion almost straight on, expecting others to be taking wing behind him, talons and beaks ready to rip him apart.
He'd be a hero, the real leader of the charge that brought death to their most hated enemy, promoted beyond his wildest dreams with the flock. Goka the magnificent! Goka'jua! Goka, new prince of the vultures of the Temple!
WHAM.
Muroki's paw hit him like a ton of bricks, whacking him down, and as the lion settled onto four paws once more his teeth were there in a flash. Goka's neck was broken in an instant and he still had a look of foolish triumph on his face as it fell back on the sand.
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Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:32 pm
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Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:58 pm
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Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 1:33 pm
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Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 2:10 pm
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"You have no time! You are my creature. Now get back inside and get back to work or you'll be set upon in time."
"He is Jua's creature and a Dawnwalker for all your claims of ownership. But I won't risk him punishment." Muroki fixed the vulture with a glare. Foolish bird. Moving slowly so as not to startle the younger male, he moved forward to offer an embrace. Awkwardly, obviously wary of embracing his king, Takasika moved. Like brothers or like a father with his son, they rested their heads side by side on the others shoulder and raised a paw. This also meant Muroki's mouth was by Takasika's ear and vice versa.
"How long have you been here?" "All my life."
"How many slaves?" "Few - many have been moved to remote places or killed."
"How many birds?" "More - hundred, hundred and fifty roughly. Not as many as they'd have you believe."
"Hold on, we shall set you free. Working on a plan." "I know. We're kept in the heights or underground."
They broke apart and Taksika started to go inside. It hadn't taken long to exchange the information swiftly. Muroki started to walk away, back to the duty he'd came for, to walk to the shrine. But Takasika spoke aloud as he vanished inside, something that made Muroki turn to look round and raise an eyebrow.
"Tell Safiya...tell her she has a brother and I'll meet her one day." So that was why he'd seemed vaguely familar. But did Safiya even have siblings? He was younger, he'd been a slave a long time. Interesting and worrying. He didn't let his concern or surprise show. Just nodded and went on his way.
He had rituals to complete before the time was up, for this was a holy morning - and he had to get back to the safety of the Oasis before the vultures saw the spark of Jua leave him. Muroki went.
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