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Death of a City.

An old man sits by the fire in the tavern, he wears a heavy cloak, his face completely concealed by the hood and the dim lights in the building. A young boy watches him curiously a few tables away. "Would you like to hear a story?" The man asks, his rough deep voice barely audible over the din in the place.

The boy nods eagerly, his eyes widening.

The man started talking, his voice still low, but as he spoke more and more people started to listen and soon the whole room was quiet and listening intently. "Once upon a time, there was a beautiful city. She was glorious, people all the world over came to see her and there were few who didn't know her name. She was blessed by all the gods, most especially Jupiter. Do you know of which city I speak?" He asked the boy, his first listener.

The child shook his head. A young woman at the bar answered hesitantly, "Rome?"

The hooded head nodded. "Indeed. I speak of Rome. Rome as she was when there were still caesars to rule her. Her spirit was strong then, powered by the masses who practically worshipped her-"

"Wait a minute, old man. You're talking like this place was alive and s**t. Cities aren't alive." A male voice spoke up from the back.

"Aren't they though? Have you travelled much? Visited many cities? Those of you who have know that each place is different. Each has its own secrets and feel. It has its own breath and rythem. Old London here, could anyone who'd spent any time here ever mistake it for Paris? No. Because they have different spirits." The gravely old voice explained patiently. "Or have you ever been to ruins? Like Pompeii? That place is haunted and empty and its not just because of the people that died there. There is something else, bigger and older that suffered there." A few faces in the crowd were nodding hestitantly, what the man said struck a cord somewhere deep inside them. "Ah, and for those of you who have not travelled, think of it this way; cities are not alive in the way that you and I are, but more like trees. Quiet standing sentinels, that grow and thrive for centuries."

The old man waited another moment before continuing. "Yes, Rome. Glorious Rome. Center of an empire, the greatest the world had ever seen. For long centuries she reigned, and for a time it seemed she would never fall. But alas, all things must have their endings.

The city was old and fat. No longer did she stand in shining glory the pinnacle of civilization. She had become a festering fettid place, rotting from the inside out. Death waited on the wings for her, everyone knew this fact, deep in their hearts. None could and still can't explain why. There are many theories; some say she ate herself to death, devouring and conquering everything within her reach until she poisoned herself with her feast. Others claim it was the new God, when Constantine turned his back on the old gods, they turned their backs on the city, even Jupiter, who held her as a shining star, spurned her then. Still others blame the economy and more the splitting of the empire itself in twain. Perhaps we will never know for sure what happened, all that in unarguable is that something was lost and could never be reclaimed.

The city never wanted to die, none who truly live do, and if there were ever a city that was truly alive it was she. She was vast, she was beautiful, she was power and wealth. She was Rome. But a city is nothing without the love of its people. It needs to be held in awe and worshipped to thrive and live, and no longer was her name whispered with awe by the barbarians she had conquered. All roads still led to Rome, but all they led were conquerors trying to what remained. Even her own people didn't care about her; their eyes had turned westward towards Constantinople, and its strange foreign treasures. Something ended the worship, the fascination. She was never sure what, and it made her bitter. In desperation she sought her gods, not the new self styled creator of the universe but the old true gods who had once flattered Rome with blessings. None would hear her plea. Until finally, hope all but gone, she turned to Jupiter. Using the last of her strength she sent her voice (all cities have voice as well, and it can be heard by true rulers or people meant to do great things with them) to beg and plead for him to help her, to save her from dying and resting in the horrible place she had become.

She was always his favorite. He could not give her life again, that was not in his power, but he managed to convince Pluto to take her spirit, as cities do not die as people die; their spirit spends eternity amongst its own ruins, mourning what it can never be again. This fate the spirit of Rome escaped, and now she tries to live again so that she might someday become what she lost.

Now if you go to Rome today, you'll find it a much different place than it was centuries ago. Its not just the passing of time that caused this either. That is why the Catholics found it so easy to consolidate there. After its spirit left it, the city was a hollow place. Nowhere that is empty like that remains standing very long. That is why there are ghost towns, people won't stay long in places like that, it unnerving to live in a place without a spirit." The silence at the end of the story stretched on for a few moments, then, as a whole, the room seemed to shake itself and conversation picked up again. Coins passed to old man for his story but he was otherwise ignored.

Except by the boy. He continued to stare at the man long after everyone had gone back to their drinks and their friends. "Is it true? Are cities really alive?" He asked quietly.

The old man sat silently for several moments, "yes. It is true. But fortunately for us, cities cannot come to be as alive as we are." And with that he rose and moved slowly out into the night.

The Guardian.

Name: Morgan Azurewing
Age: 200 (Looks about 30)
Eyes: Usually blue. When she feels strong emotion they'll change colors.
Hair: Black

Likes: Reading, swimming, nature, children,

Dislikes: Crowds, loud noises, strangers,

Personality: Morgan is a quiet woman, she came to gaia...

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