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 Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 5:23 pm
 His slipper-clad feet making very little noise on the hard, cold floor, Triellyn slowly made his way toward the shrine of Antar, his head bowed low in respect. How well he remembered when he first set foot in this place, offering his soul and pledging his unwavering loyalty. He cherished the memory, and it beat inside of his heart like a fragile bird in a cage, for it seemed the closest thing to actual love that his stony heart had ever felt. He had sensed the god's acceptance that first time, but he yearned to stand out from the typical throng of followers and show that he was something worth hanging onto.
Since his departure he had composed a hymn for Antar, and when coupled with his seductive tones it made for quite a smooth and lulling sound in his ears. He was quite proud of it, but as he drew ever closer to where prayers (and more sinister offerings) were offered up, he felt that sensation of doubt and nervousness. What if Antar thought it was terrible? Would he think he was being made fun of and reduce him to a pair of ash-filled slippers? If it really was terrible, would his voice at least be able to salvage it?
His feet stopped when they finally had run out of space to move forward, and he carefully lowered himself down to his knees, clasping his delicate, crystal-hued hands together and closing his gently glowing eyes as he whispered an opening prayer. O Dark One, he began, you might not remember me from your countless other servants, but I your servant have come forward with a gift, that it may please you.
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Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 6:02 pm
 The temple was filled with more life now then it had in the past month. With Antarmur'ss demand for his lovers and children to take refuge in the Fortress, a small amount of his knights had come with them. Normally the Fortress was reserved just for the priests, harem, and youngest children. Now though...now there were more here. The large velvet curtains draped over the walls absorbed most of the sounds, though it provided a very faint background murmur to Triellyn's prayer. Silence lingered after Triel made his start of the prayer. Antarmur'ss was not too inclined to deal with the typical pandering an tics of his followers. He was not happy. He was upset. Angry. Frustrated. Vexed. He wanted to kill something. "I remember you Triellyn." Antarmur'ss hissed softly from the shadows. He materialized sitting on top of the alter in which Triellyn knelt before. His legs were crossed with one ankle over one knee.. He leaned back against the alter on one hand and glowered down at the pale pockettu.
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Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 6:16 pm
Triellyn not only heard the whisper of acknowledgement from his god as he appeared, but almost felt the being materializing in front of him. His head yearned to come up and his eyes pined for the face of his Lord, but he dared not until his offering was complete; otherwise it would just seem like he was trying to goad him into making an appearance, a foolish thing to do with any god, let alone his dark and unpredictable Lord. He did hear a note of decided hostility in the answer, and he concluded that his Lord was not in the best of moods. More than ever now he wished for his offering to please.
Taking a deep, quiet breath and filling his lungs with air, though the song was sung low and quiet, he began: (Sung more slowly to the first 2:00 of this song)
O great Lord of all that's dark
and shadows hear my plea,
Pierce my eyes just for a chance
to pledge my soul to thee.
For eyes see naught but what is bathed in light,
The strongest beam bows to the endless night.
Lord of darkness!
Lord of darkness!
Antarmur'ss!
Antarmur'ss!
Lord of darkness!
Lord of darkness!
Antarmur'ss!
Antarmur'ss!
Oh my Lord, please, shelter us
Cloak us with your soothing night
Let nothing stand up to your might!
Please, shelter us
Cloak us with your soothing night
Let nothing stand up to your might!
Lord of darkness!
Lord of darkness!
Antarmur'ss!
Antarmur'ss!
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Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 6:41 pm
Antarmur'ss did not interrupt Triellyn as he would offer his lyrical dedication to him. It was quite nice on the ears. Antarmur'ss was able to honestly note that he did not have many servants who focused on song and lyric. When Triellyn finished, Antarmur'ss pursed his lips together and looked down at the male.
His tail shifted then, it swept around Antar as it reached to curl around Triellyn. The tentacles lengthened to try and lash around the male's limbs before the god even attempted to jerk Triel up in the air before him.
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Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 7:55 pm
Triellyn let the last few notes trail away into the air, feeling a lot better now that his song was over and out into the world, as it were. Held inside it had only made him nervous, but as he had sung it, he had felt the stirrings of what it had made him feel composing it; devotion, passionate obsession and gratitude toward the one who had accepted him into his fold. He let the devotion show in the lyrics that praised him, the passionate obsession was heard in the trembling beauty of the notes he sang, and he hoped that these things would portray the obvious gratitude he felt to his Lord and master.
When he had finished, he ventured a glance upward, hoping that perhaps he would see his Lord with....not a smile; he wasn't expecting anything that special, but perhaps a nod of acceptance, much as he had been given on his arrival? But as he lifted his eyes up, they were met with the sight of a strong, powerful tail lashing out towards him, the writhing tentacles lengthening like nightcrawlers emerging from the earth to wrap themselves around his limbs. His eyes widened in momentary fright; had his song been displeasing? Was Antar about to rip him limb from limb in a fit of understandable rage? He felt himself lifted up off the ground, his slippers leaving the solid earth with barely a whisper as the tentacles tightened to support his weight. Well, Triellyn thought grimly to himself, never let it be said that he had not meant every word of his song. He really WOULD let his eyes be put out if it meant serving him, and if his Lord wanted to do something even worse to him, than so be it!
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Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 6:53 pm
Once Antarmur'ss had Triellyn in his tails grasp he turned away from the alter. His tail gripped Triel with a secure but not too tight grasp as to avoid leaving marks on his followers body. His attention had been pulled elsewhere. Away from Triel and the lyrical notes of his song. Had he been able to focus on his servant alone, then Antarmur'ss would have found a great deal of enjoyment in his dedication. Instead, he found himself carrying Triel along with him through the shadows. One moment they stood within the alter room, then in the next a velvety darkness wrapped itself around Triellyn. It was utterly devoid of any sort of light.This place between places where Antarmur'ss could pass simply due to his divinity. Triellyn would be given this brief glance, then find himself carried outside the Fortress itself. Antarmyr'ss crossed his arms as he stared at a portion of the outer wall. A mere five paces to the left the deep chasm that provided protection to the ebony fortress loomed. Antar paid no heed to the chasm though. He stared at the wall, and a moment later there came a soft click. A section of the wall swung outward, revealing a small secret passageway. As Antar lightly tapped his foot, he waited for his daughter Akor to step forth.
"Akor." He stated in a steely voice, then moved to gently set Triellyn down on the ground near to the doorway. "Triellyn. This is my daughter. My youngest baby. She is quite willful and will not listen to her father. I believe your lyrical skill will be put to great use here." Antarmur'ss tilted his head to peer at Triellyn. "I am charging you with her care and safety. Keep her here in the fortress. Ensure no enemy manages to make their way to her. You will take your meals with her. Sleep in her room. And follow her everywhere she goes." He turned a glowering eye upon Akor. "Even the bathroom for bathing. You are to be her shadow."
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Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 7:13 pm
 Finally! She was going to get herself out of this cage! She slithered through the door only to leap back with a guilty yelp at the sound of her name being said so harshly by a very familiar voice... Her eyes flashed up to her father, then to the .... she didn't know, couldn't really tell what sort of Pockettu it was, male, female... it was currently coiled in her father's tail... Giving a soft huff and blowing her blond bangs out of her face she'd look back up at her father and cross her arms... listening to what he was saying. His words causing a glower to appear on her face, she was NOT a baby anymore! Though she had an idea that the one with him was a male.... possibly one of father's lovers since he'd been brought along with him.... but then, she heard the rest of it, looking up at her father in shock, her mouth dropping open and her eyes wide and flickering with rage as her cheeks flushed red hot... "W...hat??!" she sputtered out... her hands flying to her sides, balling into fists that looked far too willing to pound the snot out of something.... "WHAT?!?" she'd give a shriek of fury... her tail, much like her father, matter of fact, she looked quiet a lot like her father, save for her skin tone and single horn... "you can NOT be SERIOUS!?!" hysterical fury rising quickly, actually shouting, though she was not one to usually talk back to her father, this was just too much! "I am not a baby anymore, I do not need or want a nursemaid! Nor do I need or want some...some..." her hands, motioning to Triellyn, "whatever he is to you following me about and seeing me bloody naked!!" She almost asked if he was out of his mind, but she bit sharply into her tongue, tasting the iron tang of blood fill her mouth and set her eyes alight with more fire...
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Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 8:02 pm
Triellyn almost felt as though he had left his stomach behind at the altar as Antar moved smoothly and soundlessly through the shadows, leaving the dimly-lit temple behind them and going....where exactly? He found himself enveloped in a cloud of complete darkness; he felt it pressing down upon his eyelids as he blinked, and even the small glow from his eyes failed to penetrate the blackness surrounding him. He let himself relax a little; he was not afraid of the darkness, for it was the home of his Lord, and he embraced it as though it were a familiar room rather than a bleak and empty void.
Just as quickly as it had come, the darkness was gone, and Triellyn found himself blinking as he found himself able to see again; compared with the eternal blackness that his Lord had taken him through, the shadow-drenched surroundings around the Fortress seemed as bright as day. He wondered why he had been taken out here, and he eyed the chasm warily; was he going to be hurled down it? He would at least pray for a quick and merciful end if it were so, after apologizing for the unwitting besmirching that he had apparently caused.
He was just getting ready to do just that when the click caused him to turn his head and look at the fortress wall, where a section had vanished and revealed a deep, yawning mouth of a hole. He felt himself being lowered and his slippers once more came in contact with solid ground; he just had enough time to adjust himself when he looked up at his Lord's summon and saw another coming through the mysterious hole. He could immediately see similarities between this one and Antar; the graceful horn on one side, the tail with smaller versions of the tentacles that had moments ago been holding him up off of the ground. He had almost already put two and two together before Antar said anything, and the confirmation, along with the announcement, caused a wellspring of feelings to assault his shriveled husk of a heart. Here was the result of someone who had been lucky enough to obtain the highest favor with his Lord, and he couldn't help but feel jealous. Obviously she was also a highly prized offspring, and the importance of the role he had just been given did not escape him. This could be the best opportunity he could ask for in showing his Lord that he was willing to do anything for him!
Of course, how the child herself felt was another matter entirely; he listened as she made it clear that she was less than thrilled at the prospect of having some stranger follow her around. The tantrum she was throwing did make the corners of his mouth twitch as he was reminded of several women he had made the acquaintance of and had been equally skilled with getting what they wanted in such a manner. Of course, this was one to be treated with the utmost respect, as befitting her station, and while he was certain that his gift would be of use both in soothing rankled nerves and keeping most foes at bay, he didn't foresee any need to get so close as to watch her actually bathing, unless of course there was an enemy out there both skilled enough to get in and stupid enough to materialize right there in the bathwater. In that case, perhaps he could entertain his new charge with a show of the idiot happily drowning himself with a little persuasion.
Allowing his gaze to linger pointedly over Akor, Triellyn turned back to his waiting Lord. "I will do as you command, my Lord. I will see myself in a hundred hacked pieces before I see any harm befall her."
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Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 8:57 pm
In answer to Akor's sputtered, then shouted exclamation questioning the seriousness of his decree. Antarmur'ss merely crossed his arms over his chest and peered down at his daughter. "Apparently you do, in fact, need a nursemaid." Antarmur'ss replied to his daughter in a clipped tone. He paused and turned his purple eyes to Triel then. "I am pleased at your acceptance of this task Triellyn. Akortyrr'ura is very precious to me. She is also very headstrong and far too reckless. I expect you to keep her safe while I deal with these false gods." He murmured to the gray skinned male.
As Antarmur'ss turned his attention back to his daughter, he swept his tail around to gently try and sweep Triellyn a little closer to his daughter. "You have had no training Akor. You have had no preparation for what is out there. I have already lost a son. One whom spent every day he had preparing for this war, to the Cursed. I will be damned if I let them have any of my daughters." Antarmur'ss paused for a moment, then he relaxed his arms from their crossed points over his chest. he reached one hand out in an attempt to stroke Akor's purple horn. "If you behave yourself. I shall allow you to go out into the city. Triellyn may escort you to the market, or the library. but only on short visits. I do not wish to risk a assassin trying to harm you."
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Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 10:15 pm
She had never been so livid in her life, her tail snapping back and forth behind her, fists balled with her perfect nails cutting into skin, her lips peeled back in a snarl of outrage as it just kept going and going. How Triellyn would so graciously accept the job of being her bloody nanny... and the first words out of her father's mouth nearly sent her over the edge.... tears of anger burning her eyes as she'd hiss up at him... "This is so, not...fair..." she may be headstrong, but she wasn't that reckless, Bhinor was the reckless one! He didn't care who or what the hell he did! She felt like a caged rat, a bird... kept purely for viewing pleasure... never to leave her cage and only touched by her master who was as well her father... She was about to resume her hysteria when he'd move Triel closer to her.... she had no training? Only because he was trying to force her to become a Priestess, and right now she wasn't interested in that. It was -his- fault she didn't have any training and she was about to tell him that when he'd go and bring up the fact that Alutar had gone and got himself cursed... it was like a douse of cold water, causing her to take a sharp breath.. She knew he was protective but did he really think... well, it was possible that she could very well get cursed at her current skill level... but she didn't think there was anything that this... Triellyn... could teach her... but...a plan started to formulate in the back of her mind... she loved her father but his over protective streak was becoming like a pair of shackles and chains, that he so casually handed over to Triellyn.
She'd allow him to touch her horn... leaning into it a bit and closing her eyes... comforting, like when she was a child... Listening to promises that she wasn't sure that he'd keep, but still, it did give her hope. She just had to get out of here, even if it was just to the library or the market... That would be good enough for her for now.... "Okay Daddy...." she'd whisper... softly under her breath. Opening up her eyes she'd look up at him, reaching to take his large hand that had stroked her horn in both of her own hands, giving it a squeeze... "I'm... sorry for yelling at you...." she'd look away, a blush tinging her cheeks as she'd lower her eyes... still holding his hand she'd take a deep breath... "I'll.. behave myself...." or at least, she would try too... "but please, don't be serious about him going into the bathroom with me... that's... just too much... okay?" she'd ask in a soft voice, before looking at Triellyn now, really looking at him. He was very good looking and obviously they'd been up to something before being distracted by her.... maybe... just maybe... "You may call me Akor... if you like..." dropping her father's hand finally, and giving Triellyn a little nod of the head, acknowledging him finally, who knew, maybe the could get along if she thought of him as a bodyguard... "I'm sure you will make me a fine bodyguard, and keep me safe since Daddy has confidence in you." bowing to her father, then rushing forward to throw her arms about his waist, it had been the first time she'd been angry at him and while she had good reason, she had not liked the look on his face or the way that she'd hated him a little there. "I'm going to go to my room.... I promise, no tricks... " she meant it, plus she knew that if she messed things up now all thoughts of getting out of the temple would be dashed to bits. "I think... I may have disturbed you... so I'll allow you to continue what it was you were doing... and I'll just wait until you bring him to my room.... I need to straighten up anyway..." giving her father a half smile and then looking to Triellyn... "I wish our first meeting could have gone differently, who knows, maybe we'll be very good friends..." she'd back away from the pair, giving a wave she'd vanish back into the hidden door and head back the way she'd come... very good friends indeed... perhaps if she liked him enough, her father would do something that would free her from all of this... because even with his promises... it was just a slightly larger cage with a few more birds thrown in for company...
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Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 12:35 am
Triellyn had to admit, this whole family business did seem a bit awkward. Since it was his Lord and his child to boot, it almost made him feel as though he were intruding on something very intimate and private, something a mere servant of his Lordship should not be privileged to bear witness to. But on the other hand, his Lord DID pluck him from the altar and entrust him with this most sacred task, which stirred the faint hope within him that he was finally on his way to becoming one of Antar's cherished. He nodded gravely; he was all too familiar with the ongoing war, having felt the sting of a few defeats himself, and he was quite grateful that his Lord seemed to at least on the surface disregard his failures on the field of battle.
He let himself be swept closer to Akor, hearing his Lord's words and feeling a slight stir of anguish. To have lost one of his most precious children to the throes of being cursed; it was unthinkable! He felt his fists clench, his fingernails boring little crescent marks into his palm; he would let himself be Cursed before the taint would touch this child! He felt a pang of fear at the thought that he would no longer be able to serve his Lord, but at least he would be well remembered.....he hoped.
Pushing such thoughts from his mind, Triellyn returned his focus to Akor, who now seemed more contemplative than angry. That actually concerned him more; all too familiar with feminine wiles, he knew that his usual solution was not to be used here, and it made him slightly edgy, as though he were in a fight with his favorite weapon broken in front of him and finding himself having to improvise. But at least there would be no such reservations if any should choose to try and lay a hand on this one. He felt his eyes glow a bit brighter at the thought of using song to enrapture a would-be assassin and then delivering the fool to Antar for punishment. So much more satisfying than the games he used to play! It was like his dream coming true; his Lord showing him new and more satisfying ways to use his talent then leaving a string of broken hearts (and bodies) trailing behind him.
He saw Akor address him and offered a courtly bow. "I am honored, Miss Akor. I am at your disposal, and I too hope that we may get to know each other better." He watched Akor leave, and a germ of a thought that had been planted at the mention of Antar's lost son blossomed in his head like a predatory mushroom. So she was confined mostly to the fortress, where the best measure of protection was; what better place to strategize and find the girl's strengths to hone for any given situation? Surely his Lord would not object to his child learning how to handle herself; if anything, it would also give her something to do and make her less prone to disobeying and getting into trouble. And in the relative safety of the fortress, there would be plenty of precautions taken to ensure that no lessons got out of hand. He thought about Antar's entreating remark about the library; did she already have an interest that might prove useful? He must endeavor to know more about his charge, as soon as possible.
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