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| Hangover Heart [FIN] | |
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| Topic Started: Mon Jun 27, 2011 5:25 am (553 Views) | |
| Ezekial Smith | Mon Jun 27, 2011 5:25 am Post #1 |
 
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"Oh Shenandoah, I long to see you. Away, you rolling river. Oh Shenandoah, I long to hear you. Away, I'm bound to go, 'cross the wide Missouri." The last notes echoed across the hills, it being a bright day, and the usual mist absent. He tried to remember where he had learned that song, but he could not. It was particularly applicable, though. He longed to return home, to his family, but he could not do that any more than he could turn back time or stop the tides from rolling in, wiping the beach anew. The jōe he wore, formerly bright white had become a still attractive shade of tan, and the dark blue nubakama still blue, although obviously worn. He looked down at his hand, which clutched an old lantern, the bone handle indented from his constant handling of it. He supposed he looked humorous, carrying a lantern even though it was very bright outside. Never mind the others, to him it was a symbol of his strength and resolve. Somehow he knew that as long as he had it he would be able to shift mountains. Continuing to walk the hills, he considered the song he had sang. His bass voice was quite suited to it, he thought, and it abruptly brought the name of a man to his mind, Robeson. That was absurd, of course. He had never met a man named Robeson, and he very much doubted that he ever would, thank you very much! He shook down the sleeves of his jōe and walked. It seemed like hours that he had walked, but from the position of the sun, it had only been half that time. A small smile appeared on his face. He was obviously getting rusty if his internal timepiece was this irregular. He closed his eyes and could feel the pulse of nature flow through him. The essence of the sky, the earth, the rabbit and the mole, all flowed through him and he through them. It was as an eternal cycle, and he closed his eyes to it as he opened his eyes to the physical world. Or at least, he would have, had he not sensed a shift in the essences. The spirits all shrank back in fear of this new horror, but it was thankfully far away. He could now sense, however, another essence that had been obscured from him, not far away. This time he did truly close his true eyes and walked off in its direction. His fists balled, and his body shook in apprehension as moving towards this neutral spirit brought him closer to the malignant one. He reprimanded himself harshly. He could not afford to be afraid, his will would soon shatter the malignant essence in the purification, and the natural essence could be at peace. He felt that his lantern glowed with holy light, and he strode gladly. A ways away, a bird looked at this man, his clothes spoiled by time, clutching a rusted lantern that did not, and most likely could not, shine ever again. |
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| Rin | Mon Jun 27, 2011 4:53 pm Post #2 |
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“Where is it?” The voice was young and plaintive, cutting sharply through the air. It belonged to a lone girl walking up the slope of a steep hill, bent over to climb up the incline on all fours. She looked quite out of place in the rural environment, appearing to be no older than seventeen or eighteen. Her only article of typical clothing was a pristine white sundress that was almost long enough to reach her knees. Her forearms and shins were wrapped in silvery ribbons that had an unnatural sheen in the light of day. A satchel was slung across her body, its pouch lying against the small of her back. Her skin under the garment was as smooth as marble and incredibly fair. She blew a strand of golden blonde hair out of her face with a frustrated exhalation, stopping her ascent to frown at the sky above. Her eyes were the brilliant blue hue of uncut sapphire, and her face possessed an otherworldly beauty that one usually only witnessed on statues or in paintings. It was as if her fine features had been sculpted by hand, instead of being her natural appearance. “Oh, are you not going to answer me now?” If I knew where it was I wouldn’t need you to track it down for me, would I? Rinrae Dromigg snorted, shaking her head as she began to climb again. “Typical.” She was completely barefoot, her toes scrambling for purchase on the slope as she ascended. A casual observer would clearly think the girl was insane; the answer had been audible to only the girl, as if the words had been inserted directly into her mind. She didn’t realize that the internal voice was unusual; it had been her constant companion for her entire life. Which, in another day, would be… one week, give or take a few days. She was a quick learner. After a few more minutes of climbing she reached the crest of the hill, pausing to collect her breath. It was from this vantage point that she first saw the man walking along the path. He was walking with conviction, a rusty old lantern held out in front of him. Rin cocked her head to one side, watching him from her perch. The voice was always telling her to be more cautious, but the girl’s curiosity with the world she inhabited was almost boundless. Why is he carrying a lantern? It’s so bright out! It takes all types, I’m afraid. Don’t be rude! The girl’s chastisement fell on deaf ears, but she didn’t mind. The voice never listened to her. She called out loudly, her voice bright and cheerful. “Hello there, traveler!” She waved enthusiastically at the elf, a broad smile plastered on her face. Edited by Rin, Wed Jun 29, 2011 6:59 am.
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| Ezekial Smith | Mon Jun 27, 2011 9:37 pm Post #3 |
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"Hello there, traveler!" Lost in thought, Ezekial did not react for a moment. He reacted when he felt his lantern begin to burn brightly and warmly, an incorporeal wind shifting the flame towards a figure not too far away. At first he was hostile, even though his true eyes were closed, the malignant force was in the same direction as the newcomer. It was similar to how a man, even with his eyes closed, can still "see" the sun, in a matter of speaking. He realized quickly that the two spirits were distinct, but there was something ominously familiar about this newcomer, but not something he could place a name to. He smiled slightly, and waved back to the person, trying to get a better look. He stumbled back. This newcomer was an attractive girl, barefoot, but for a second he saw her as his own daughter, long dead. His lips formed the words to shout out 'Susannah, where have you been?' but he could not speak for the shock. A second longer of observance and he could tell that it was not his Susannah, now it seemed preposterous that this girl could be confused as his daughter. And yet, he was still uneasy about this newcomer. To him it appeared that his lantern burned with indignation at this newcomer, for a reason he could not glean. He shook aside his apprehension, it was contradictory to his purpose, and strode towards the girl. He quickly closed the distance between them and, taking his lantern, now sullenly glowing, in both hands, bowed deeply, the backs of his hands pressed to his chest. He said, "It is my pleasure to meet you." He straightened, and continued. "My name is Ezekial Smith. Might I inquire as to yours? Furthermore, what business do you have in the Misty Hills?" Taking his right hand from his lantern, he held it out to the newcomer. His smile wavered, the feeling was leaking from his other vision. What are you doing with this girl the malignant thing is awakening this girl will prevent you from preforming the purification obey me now leave her now you must leave now go now. He growled in the back of his throat at this voice in his mind and gripped the lantern tighter. He could not leave this girl now, he was a better man than that. The purification would still be there after this deal was finished. If the malignant thing should rear its ugly head, he would protect the girl and banish the horror. It was part of his duty. His body tensed, and his smile wavered even more, but his smile was still there. ((EDIT: OOC: For those of you still wondering, his outfit looks something like this.)) Edited by Ezekial Smith, Mon Jun 27, 2011 9:40 pm.
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| Rin | Tue Jun 28, 2011 2:45 am Post #4 |
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She watched the man with rapt attention as he closed the distance between them, studying his features. He was old, much older than anyone she had met yet in Imythess. He reacted in a very odd manner to her presence. Although he had willingly neared her at first, he had recoiled with shock a moment later. The surprised expression had quickly faded, and he had walked forward to introduce himself. “Ezekial Smith…” She said the name aloud, tasting its flavor in her mouth. The old elf interrupted her by sticking out his hand, obviously expecting a response in kind from the girl. She stared at the proffered limb with suspicion, keeping her own hands behind her back. What is he doing? Does he want something? The voice chuckled softly at the girl’s ignorance. Shake his hand, Rin. It is a form of greeting. The girl reached out awkwardly, cupping his hand in both of her own. She gently shook the man’s arm, and although it was clearly not a conventional handshake, she still beamed at the old elf. “My name is Rinrae, Ezekial Smith! You should call me Rin.” She let go of his hands, blatantly staring as she took in his garb. It was a piece of clothing like anything she had seen yet, but she did not ask Ezekial what it was called. She had quickly learned that her curiosity annoyed most people, and it was much safer to wait and see how friendly a person was before she plagued them with questions. “I am here because I am the Guardian, and there is something lost in these hills that I must protect.” It was not truly an answer, but the girl was unaware of the fact. She knew the story behind the nonspecific reply, and did not realize that Ezekial was lacking her knowledge of the subject. The longer that the elderly elf stood next to Rin, the odder his behavior became. First he growled; a deep, throaty noise that cause the girl to hop back from him. His entire body seemed to stiffen, but a trustworthy smile remained on his face, so she didn’t worry his oddity too much. She had focused on the lantern instead. It had a bone handle and seemed well-worn, although it also appeared to be so rusty that she doubted it was still functional. “Why are you carrying a lantern, Ezekial Smith? It is not dark out.” She stared up with wide blue eyes, a small frown on her face. Her words plainly revealed that she believed there was absolutely no reason to be using a lantern in the middle of the day, and it would take a great amount of evidence to convince her otherwise. |
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| Ezekial Smith | Tue Jun 28, 2011 3:50 am Post #5 |
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“My name is Rinrae, Ezekial Smith! You should call me Rin.” Ezekial smiled. He nodded slightly, and had wished to clasp her hands in his, but he did not wish to put down his lantern for a second. He could tell that she was staring at his dress, just like the many others before her. He did not mind, it was to be expected, after all. There were very few of his kind that left the temple, and those that did tended to avoid the prying eyes of other people. He and another priest agreed that it was not indecent to be curious, rather that it should be lauded that they should yearn so heartily to dispel ignorance, no matter the subject. He laughed heartily, his arms akimbo with the knuckles pressing lightly against his waist. In the back of his mind he thought it a little indecent even, considering his position in the Order, but he ignored such thoughts. "Rinrae, ah, forgive me, Rin, do not fret your curiosity. It's quite alright. The clothes I wear are called jōe, and are the traditional dress of my Order, even when we are called upon to preform pilgrimage. I used to have a headdress that went with it, but I think it was stolen. Shame really, if he had merely asked, I would have gladly given it to him!" At her response, it was now his turn to show curiosity. He had heard of a group called the Guardians, but he doubted that she was one of them. After all, they only operated far to the north, and he doubted that a girl so seemingly innocent would join a terrorist syndicate, especially one as infamous as them. To be safe, he asked, "If you do not mind, would you clarify what a Guardian is and what has been lost? If you would like, I could help you look for it. After all, blossoms bring storms, and yet early showers bring early flowers." He could tell that his actions earlier had unnerved her to some extent, but she seemed to have shaken it off well. He smiled at the girls questioning of his lantern, and he could tell that it flared in anger. He mentally shushed it, and replied, "It is not to act as a lantern, although it could if the situation required. It is more to act as a conduit. You see, all things have an essence, called kami. This lantern was chosen by my kami and is now imbued with myself. The lantern itself has a kami, and its celestial light attracts the kami of those who would do harm, or have been stricken down by fate. By the intertwining of our kami, it allows me to sense the kami of other beings, much as I sensed your kami, and that of-" His voice caught then. He did not want to worry her about the malignancy that was in the distance. He continued. "That is to say, it is as a kami lantern, illuminating the kami of others so that I might view their splendor. And too it works in reverse. Should the situation call for it, it allows me to brighten my own kami to counteract that of the malevolent and to empower the magnanimous beyond the degree that I would be able to otherwise. Do you now see the purpose of my lantern? If you wish, I may be able to show you the kami around you, intertwining with everything and everything intertwining with each other. Simply place your hands upon mine and open you true eyes to the whisperings." He placed both hands upon the handles of his lantern and held it forward, the lantern creaking on the old handles. On the third swing, he could see it blaze brighter than he had even seen before, and a pulse radiate from it. Surely, even this person could see the flame now, if she opened her eyes. His face betrayed his eagerness to share this splendor with her, but he did not mind. He felt the folds of his jōe blow back as if in a strong wind, but he knew that it could not have actually happened. it was just an image caused by the lantern. |
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| Rin | Tue Jun 28, 2011 4:53 am Post #6 |
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Rin mentally filed away the information about his outfit, memorizing his tirade. The jōe looked as if it had once been an ornate attire, but it was now soiled by time, its colors faded. The outfit looked like complex and difficult to put on, which made no sense to the girl. Why would clothing be difficult to put on? Maybe he had worn them for so long without washing them because of the difficulty of shedding the jōe. Rin mentally decided that this explanation made the most sense, nodding to herself in mute understanding. The old man talked more than anyone she had met yet, and she tried to keep focusing on his words even as she gave voice to the first question on her mind. She waited until he had paused for a moment, interjecting quickly to make sure he didn’t start talking again. “What Order are you a part of, Ezekial Smith? And why are you on a… on a pilgrimage?” She had paused to see if the internal voice would answer her question first, but it remained silent, She was very surprised when he asked her more about her reasons for being in the area. She thought she had answered him sufficiently the first time, but decided to go into more detail anyway. This time she spoke slowly and pointedly, as if the speed of her earlier answer had been the cause of the elf’s confusion. “I am Guardian of the Grand Grimoire. It cannot move right now, so it needs my assistance.” She pressed her fingertips together, staring at her hands and sighing almost inaudibly. “A part of it is in the Hills of Mist, so I am here to find it and protect it.” She turned away from Ezekial for a moment, scanning the surrounding hills. “I do not know where it is, however…” There was a barely detectable undercurrent of sadness in her words, but it disappeared as she returned her full inquisitive attention to her companion. Rin listened to the man’s explanation of kami, although she did not understand most of what he was saying. She certainly could not remember having any kami! She looked down at her dress, as if expecting to see new limbs sprouting from her body that Exekial was referring to. Seeing nothing amiss with her own appearance, she instead watched the lantern for a hint of the power he claimed it possessed. All of her trepidation faded when he offered the lantern to her touch, however. She clapped her hands together with glee, smiling brightly at the man. “Thank you Ezekial Smith! I would love to see kami!” Unaware of what she was truly agreeing to, Rin reached out to touch the lantern. Rinrae, wait! I didn’t foresee you requiring this abili- The voice was cut off as her fingers brushed the lantern’s surface. The world around her went dark at first, eliciting a cry of alarm from the girl’s lips. The shadows did not last long, however. At first all she could see was her own hand, stretched out as if it were touching something. Her skin was glowing with a soft luminescence, as if her skin was made of crystal and a distant light was shining through it. Try as she might, she could not move the limb, and panic started to rise in her throat. The shape of the lantern slowly coalesced on her outstretched fingers. It was not worn or rusted on this plane; the lantern shone with a fierce flame, so bright she was forced to squint. A pair of hands formed next, clutching onto the lantern’s handle. If possible these hands were brighter than the lantern’s flame, causing Rin to completely close her physical eyes. Yet the glow still spread up Ezekial’s arms, searing into her eyes that had been forced open on this plane. She pulled against the force of the lantern with all of her might, urging her frozen body to respond. “STOP!” She tore her hand away from the lantern’s surface, stumbling backwards from the elf in his jōe. She fell to the ground, scrambling away from him on all fours, her eyes still squeezed tightly shut. With the light no longer piercing her mind she fought the rising panic, slowly opening her eyes to bright blue slits. She could now see Ezekial plainly once more, his hands wrapped around the lantern’s bone handle. Her expression was filled with battling fear and curiosity as she opened her eyes fully, staring at the elf. “Was… Was that kami? That… glow?” Her voice was still shaky from the jarring encounter. Edited by Rin, Tue Jun 28, 2011 3:34 pm.
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| Ezekial Smith | Tue Jun 28, 2011 1:46 pm Post #7 |
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"What Order are you a part of, Ezekial Smith? And why are you on a… on a pilgrimage?” He nodded his head at the girl. He had forgotten to mention this because it was plainly obvious to him, so much so that he had disregarded the need to clarify it to this new girl, Rin. He answered as quickly as he could. "I am part of the Order of Tezuki, Tezuki being the name of the founder, who first was able to see kami, according to our lore. My pilgrimage is a boon given to me by the Elder Priests for my vigor, and it is to strengthen my spirit so that when I return I will be able to take up a place among the Elder Priests." He listened to the girls words attentively, mentally noting this. The Grand Grimoire. It seemed familiar to him, but perhaps it was just him memory playing tricks on him. A chilling thought passed through his head. If it existed, and he could not sense it, it must be weak in kami, obscured by the malignancy, or, a far worse fate, the malignancy itself. He frowned slightly at this, but was sure to replace it with the same disarming smile before she turned back from scanning the hills. He suppressed his mirth when he saw the girl look down at her own body as he explained kami, as if it were something corporeal, or a physical addition to the body. Then, she stared pointedly at his lantern, surely in disbelief of the mighty power he claimed of it. Then, as he proffered the lantern, and she placed his hands upon his, he was slightly alarmed at the cry that escaped her lips. He wanted to stop, but he knew that this was only the first pain. After all, he had gone through the same trials earlier. At first it would be very bright, as if opening your eyes to the bright day after being in a dark cave. Afterwards, the glows would subside and your field of vision would widen. Because of this, he was only slightly surprised of the girl tearing herself away from the lantern. In the moment of her scrambling away from him, he saw his Susannah embodied in her, and the thought brought a tiny instant of sadness to he face, quickly disappeared from his visage. When she opened her eyes, she would see his smile plastered on his face, wavering only slightly at the edges. “Was… Was that kami? That… glow?” Ezekial sighed and strode forward, taking his right hand from his lantern, and took a seat in the seiza position next to the girl. His voice low and, hopefully, comforting, he began. "I do not know what you saw in your Awakening. The glow you describe, however, was most likely kami. That does not mean, however, that all Kami will appear as a glow. The kami of the malevolent will appear as a shadow, if you can imagine it. I know your pain, I truly do. The first time is always painful, but within time, it becomes easier to manage. The glow subsides, and you can see farther. If you do not wish to see it again, I will not force you. It is easier for some people to manage than others, and indeed, I was not the best adapted to the new vision until rather later than my compatriots." Ezekial paused, waiting to see some reaction from the girl. |
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| Rin | Tue Jun 28, 2011 4:10 pm Post #8 |
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She wrapped her arms around her knees, clutching her legs to her torso. The man referred to her experience as an “Awakening,” although that word somehow failed to capture the spirit of the incident. She was slightly comforted by his admittance that his own first time seeing kami had been uncomfortable as well, but there was still a degree of shock in her features. The glow… no, the kami, had been the most overpowering experience she had yet encountered since she had been created. She could sense the guilt of the Grand Grimoire, and knew that part of the reason for her adverse reaction was that her body had not been prepared for such an experiences. Her fingers tightened on her legs, and she bit her lip before speaking. “I… I think I would like to see it again. Thank you. But not yet.” She shifted her gaze to his lantern, absorbing its appearance once more. It might appear useless and ancient on this plane, but the device had been imbued with a kami that was almost overpowering. She would have pondered this further, but something the man had said stuck in her mind, and she turned her attention to that instead. The glow subsides, and you can see farther… The trepidation was wiped from her face by an exciting and enthusiastic joy as she turned to Esekial, her bright eyes shining. “Wait… can you see the page?” She did not immediately turn to him for a response, instead staring off into space as her constant companion chastised her for her openness with information. Be careful. He seems… eccentric. Well, if you knew where it was I would not need help! What if he tried to use it for himself? We have no idea who this man is. At least we would know where it was! And he is a priest! He would not steal something from me! …Very well. Rin’s smile broadened once more with this small victory over the Grimoire. It was incredibly paranoid when it came to the recovery of its lost pages, and its caution sometimes made her task infinitely more difficult. She returned her attention to Ezekial, who now sat with a strange posture beside here. “The Grimoire is missing pages. They are… around this big!” She held her hands out, framing a rectangle that was a around a foot in width and a little more than half that in height. “They were scattered. They... possess a great power.” She lowered her hands, intertwining her fingers and resting them on her bent knees. She rested her chin on the digits, tilting her head so she could still watch Ezekial. “They can alter reality, Ezekial Smith. I must find all of them.” Her voice rang with a righteous conviction, and strict determination was evident in her blue eyes. Edited by Rin, Tue Jun 28, 2011 7:12 pm.
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| Ezekial Smith | Tue Jun 28, 2011 5:48 pm Post #9 |
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Ezekial was reaffirmed at her response. Ah, she'll be fine now. Nothing to worry about. Then she appeared bright eyed and asked him if he could see the page. His smile flickered strangely for a moment and closed his eyes, opening his others in the process. In an instant he could see the landscape, with kami all about. He could now recognize the kami of the girl in front of him as distinct from the others, but he knew that it was pointless to try and find the kami of an object he had never known. The malignancy, however, was subsiding, if just only by degrees. It was baffling in a way. Perhaps another priest was battling the malignancy? No, that was absurd. He would have been able to sense the kami of both him and his conduit. Then what could possibly be happening to the malignancy? He was cautious of it, not sure that it was necessarily a fortunate omen. Finally, he opened his physical eyes once again, and the world of kami was shut to him. "Perhaps I see it and cannot recognize it. It is similar to a stranger's voice, I suppose. You cannot know its owner without previously knowing the owner of the voice in another capacity, if that makes sense." He listened to her description of the pages without reaction, but his smile faltered when she said that they held great power, and he frowned when he heard that they could alter reality. Such a thing was akin to blasphemy in the eyes of the Order! Perhaps the page was the malignancy he sensed. He bowed his head and closed his eyes, deep in thought. Leaving something like this alone would only lead to misfortune, and perhaps far worse. In the hands of somebody like Gozunai, it could mean the end of reality. Perhaps this girl seeks to seal the page. Perhaps being the "Guardian" means protecting the Grand Grimoire from those that would use it to bend reality. But he could not be sure, and if she would use it for nefarious ends, having him be along may save existence. He may be able to purify it, even. He sighed, and opened his eyes, looking upwards. He had made his decision, although he was not entirely pleased with it. He did not have a frown on his face any longer, but neither was he smiling. "I will accompany you to find the pages." |
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| Rin | Tue Jun 28, 2011 7:32 pm Post #10 |
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Rin’s expression fell slightly when the old priest admitted he could not sense the page automatically. His explanation made sense, however. From her brief glimpse of kami, she knew it would have been impossible to identify her surroundings without first having met Ezekial, and he had no reason to recognize the presence of the Grimoire. She closed her eyes, focusing on the part of her body reserved for her charge, focusing on its aura. Rin’s form was human to the utmost degree, yet it was very different from that of a normal mortal. Her features were an amalgam of thousands of pieces of art, and her proportions and features were all designed to further enhance her beauty. Only one in a million naturally born humans would possess the same degree of beauty. She had an augmented recuperation system that allowed her to heal much faster than a typical human as well, and she was slightly stronger than a girl her size should be. Yet despite her anatomical similarities, there was still something different about the girl. Her entire essence was infused with an energy that defined description, the telltale traces of the Grimoire’s magic that had created her. Now she called on that essence to calm her thoughts and attempt to detect a nearby page. She stayed completely still for almost an entire minute, barely breathing. When she finally opened her eyes again there was a deep disappointment written on her features.”I cannot see it either, Ezekial Smith. I will have to search the old fashioned way…” The old man surprised her then by pledging his own services to their cause. She unfolded her fingers and stood quickly, her dejected words replaced by youthful enthusiasm. “You will?! Oh good! Vyse helped me find a page too! I am glad so many people will assist me!” She giggled and spun around the clearing, dancing with a joy that was exuberant yet unrefined. She twirled to a halt in front of the elderly elf, holding out a hand to help him rise from his seated position. “But we must be careful! The pages are often held by dangerous things…” Shadows fell over her bright eyes. “Vyse and I had to fight a dire bear that became melded with a… a….” She paused, cocking her head to one side. An earth golem “Right! An earth golem!” She nodded. “A dire bear that melded with an earth golem.” She began to walk on the path into the hills, humming merrily, if a little off-tune. |
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| Ezekial Smith | Tue Jun 28, 2011 9:13 pm Post #11 |
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Ezekial observed her as she closed her eyes and was still for nearly a minute, and cocked his head to the side, a smile on his face. He wondered what she was doing, and deemed that she was searching for the page, based on her reaction to his statement. He tilted his head back, puzzling as to how she might be searching for it. Perhaps some sort of cohesion mechanic inherent in the pages she presumably already possesses. Or, maybe it was a dowsing ability that she was blessed with. He returned his gaze to the girl just as she was leaving the trance. He nodded, a smile on his face, as she professed that she could not sense the page, and must do it manually. He watched on in mild amusement as she shot to her feet in response to his vow, and spun around. With this his smile returned to his face, and he prepared to stand, shifting his feet so that he knees were pressed into the grass, and only the toes of his feet remained on the ground. He was slightly surprised that the girl offered her hand to help him up, and to be polite, he accepted the offer, gripping the girls forearm with a kind of strength that would seem shocking from a virile elf in his prime, let alone an old man. He stood in a quick movement, his left foot planted behind, and his right foot angled to the side in front, and his body tilted to the left, as if ready to fight. He released his hold on Rin, and returned to a normal standing position. His smile widened as he heard that the page would be hoarded by a monster. He was not called the "Fighting Priest" for nothing, after all, even at his age he was still quiet adept at hand-to-hand combat. He chuckled at the thought of a dire bear melded with a golem, assuredly looking very nonplussed at the whole thing! Although, he was curious at this "Vyse" character, who could take on a dire bear golem. Even though he had laughed at the thought of it, it would surely be a dangerous adversary. Rin began to walk off, humming, and the old man followed her down the old path with his gaze, once covered in grass, but now worn from the traveler's paces. He called out to her, "Little sparrow, there is a danger over there, and to get to it we will have to leave the path." He turned towards the malignancy, and its source, they were one and the same, and shook the sleeves of his jōe out, his wrists facing outwards. He brought his hands together, placing both on the handle of his lantern, and he saw that the lantern burned in anticipation. Hearing the girl hum, he began to sing clearly in his bass, a song he remembered well from his brethren at the temple. Sakura, sakura, yayoi no sorawa. Mi-watasu kagiri, kasumi ka kumo ka. Although it was absurd, in the moment, he felt that if he peered into the kami now, he would see a flurry of cherry blossoms whirl around him. ((OOC: Note, this is from the Japanese folk-song "Sakura, Sakura". Because I couldn't find a translation with the same beat, I'll just link it.)) |
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| Rin | Wed Jun 29, 2011 3:38 am Post #12 |
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The man’s fingers were tight on her wrist despite his age, and the manner in which he pulled himself to his feet suggested a strength and grace few elders actually possessed. She was inexperienced with elderly people, however, and did not seem ill at ease with the elf’s strength. Nor did she react to the stance he adopted to rise, despite its obvious martial intent. The girl had already focused on something else in the surroundings with the focus and attention span of a toddler. For Rin, all of this was new. She had come into existence on the Debon Plains, so at first she had thought all the world was bleak, uninhabited, and expansive grassland. However, she had been led across the plains to the Hills of Mist and shown that there was more to see in the world than grass, bushes, and brambles. Despite the fact she had walked the entire distance barefoot there was no sign of scratches or bruises on her feet, or even calluses. Her superior regenerative abilities had healed her skin as she walked, so her soles were still soft and delicate. One of Rin’s favorite feelings in the whole entire world was walking barefoot through grass, and she meandered off the beaten bath to run her toes through the soft blades, barely containing a giggle at the sensation. Ezekial murmured a warning about a danger off of the path, and the girl paused for a moment. “Little sparrow…?” For a moment she was confused as to who the elf was speaking too. She couldn’t see anyone else, not even a bird. He means you, Rinrae. It’s a nickname. Rin clapped her hands together once. She had never been given a nickname before! The fact that Ezekial had blessed her with such a gift was surely a good sign for their journey together. “Danger follows the pages! We should go that way!” The girl smiled at the old man before stepping off of the path in the direction Ezekial was facing. Rin jumped when the man began to sing, his booming voice echoing off of distant hills. He had a very low tone, much lower than his normal speech, and his voice was incredibly pleasant. She swayed with the music as she walked, inexpertly matching the simple melody with her humming. “How far do we need to go to find the danger, Ezekial Smith?” There was anticipation and excitement in her words, but none of the caution that should have been evident. Even after her traumatic experience with Vyse, Rin did not take well to caution. She was just too inquisitive to sit back and plan. |
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| Ezekial Smith | Wed Jun 29, 2011 4:46 am Post #13 |
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Ezekial's face softened at Rin's reception of the nickname "little sparrow". She was like a child, and he thought that he was easing into a role as a father, however long it may have been since he had been in that position. He shook his head, trying to convince himself to forget such temptations. They would only bring misfortune upon him. He took a hesitant first step from the path into the soft grass, and had a simple pleasure in the feeling it gave him to step on the pliant and springy grass, slightly warm in the sun. He followed the girl through the grass, taking long strides and easily catching up to her, his jōe swishing as he moved. When he caught up to her, he shortened his strides to walk beside her. He was finishing his song with, "Nioi zo izuru, izaya, izaya, mini yukan" when the girl asked him how much farther they had yet to go in order to reach the malignancy. He looked behind him, and could vaguely see the path out in the distance. He turned back, and replied, "We've gone a fair ways, but there is still a ways to go." To know exactly how long it would take, he shut his eyes, and began to observe the kami. The malignancy was very close now, likely only a twenty minute walk from them, less if they moved quickly. He could sense the anticipation and excitement in her voice, and frowned a little as he chastised her, saying, "Now, now, little sparrow, you shouldn't be so happy-go-lucky. This thing is likely to be very dangerous. You must be careful not to rush into a trap." He sighed at the rash young girl. He was near certain that she would prove to be the death of both of them. He was curious now about the Grand Grimoire. What monstrosity of a book could alter the fabric of reality? He asked Rin, "What kind of book is this Grand Grimoire? What is actually in the book? I know that it has the ability to alter reality, but what are on the pages of it, if anything at all?" He pondered on the form of the malignancy. It had the feeling of a humanoid, but it was not of any race he had known. It was not any of the five elven subspecies, nor human, nor dwarven, nor the halflings or the half-caste, or any Plane-touched he knew of. It was most similar to the feeling he had gotten from a crystal of a petrified daemon he had seen in Taras before the Calamity. It was, however, distinct in that it was far less dangerous that even that crystal of a long dead daemon. A live daemon at full power could easily implode an entire city if it so wished. Perhaps a juvenille, or one that was near death. It did not mean "harmless", however. A daemon, even in those states would be able to seriously injure someone who was too reckless. He could hear a whisper from it, it could apparently still commune, and its voice was filled with contempt. Come to me, drek, come to your death. I killed the one known as Takrii and his two felines, and the silver half-drake. You will be an easy meal. He growled again at this daemon, and continued, his shoulders hunched. |
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| Rin | Wed Jun 29, 2011 6:57 am Post #14 |
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Rin frowned as the priest warned her to be more careful. She didn’t quite understand why he was so worried; she was a construct. She could be damaged, so long as the page was recovered. The girl fought back a shudder as she remembered the pain from the fight with the corrupted dire bear. The deep claw marks had taken days to heal completely, although she possessed no scars from the wounds. Perhaps there is a reason why people avoid pain… The concept was completely alien to the girl; when it came to the Grimoire, she was unable to control herself. Her quest to reclaim its pages went far beyond any desire felt by a normal human; her entire being strove to collect the pages and return them to the tome. Her own state was unimportant. Ezekial’s queries turned to the book, and Rin paused before answering. A cautious approval emanated from the Grimoire’s essence, and so she attempted to explain a miniscule portion of its history as they walked. “A man named Alibek wrote it. I have been told he was a fool, and was executed as one. I never met him. It was originally called Le Grand Grimoire.” Rin spoke the name with a flawless French inflection, although she could not have named the language if pressed. She nimbly hopped onto a large rock, twirling on its sun-warmed surface before continuing up the hill. Despite the climb and her thin frame, she did not breath heavily, as if the ascent was no exertion at all. “His book remained, as well as the sorceries he had imbued it with. The magic forced the pages to constantly record the world around it. It absorbed stories and histories and dreams and realities constantly for millennia.” Rin’s voice was somber and respectful, as if she were referring to a deity instead of a mere book. Perhaps she did hold the tome with the same amount of reverence; after all, she had more proof of miracles from the Grand Grimoire than most people had from their gods: her creation. “With longevity comes sentience, of a sort. It became a record of… everything.” She threw her arms out wide, motioning vaguely to their surroundings. The sun was high in the sky, its illumination keeping the encroaching mist of the hills at bay. A few songbirds could be heard chirping from their hidden nest, and the wind gently rustled the plants that somehow survived in the unusual environment. “Now, the Grand Grimoire records reality. Since the essence of reality is etched into its pages, its pages can shape reality as well.” She pursed her lips, knowing that the explanation would not make complete sense to Ezekial. After all, he hadn’t understood her comment about being a Gurdian earlier. “Knowledge is its power. As a part of it… each page holds a fraction of that power. And it can be used by anyone who holds one.” She looked at the elderly elf, flashing a mysterious grin at her new friend. “I cannot tell you where it is, however! It is a seeeeee-cret!” She giggled mischievously and skipped ahead, leaving Ezekial behind for a moment as they reached the top of the hill. The pair had been walking for almost twenty minutes by this time, and Rin’s pace slowed to a halt. Her blue eyes stared ahead of them, although she could see nothing wrong with their surroundings. There was simply an overbearing aura of oppressiveness that filled the air like a miasma, forcing even her curiosity to pause. “Are… Are we here, Ezekial Smith?” One thin hand moved to the satchel at her waist, reaching into the worn leather bag. Edited by Rin, Wed Jun 29, 2011 6:58 am.
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| Ezekial Smith | Wed Jun 29, 2011 3:34 pm Post #15 |
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Ezekial listened to the explanation of the Grimoire, and whispered the name "Alibek" under his breath. It brought with it a strange sense of deja vu. The sensation made him uneasy, like it was a word just out of his reach, and no matter how imperative it was that he remember it, he could not. He heard her talk about sentience, and he ruminated on that bit. Could a book truly become sentient? He supposed that he had seen stranger things, but the thought of a arcane object even becoming sapient was amazing, let alone full sentience. He inwardly frowned at the logic of the explanation of the Grimoire's ability to shape reality, but he supposed that it was part of the arcana imbued in it. As she said that it was a "secret", and skipped off, giggling, Ezekial's face softened again. When he reached the top of the hill, he stopped beside Rin, his body tensing. He could feel the malignancy leaking out from the plane of kami for the last few minutes, but now that he was here, it felt like a cascade. "We're here, little sparrow. The malignancy is here, somewhere." There was a deep, booming laugh, and a loud, low voice echoed from beneath the grass. "So you came to your death. As they say, suffer not a fool to live. Don't struggle too much now, or your meat will be awfully unappetizing." The voice continued to laugh, and the ground in front of the two began to sink, and fell entirely in a ragged circle down to a stone room. At the center was a large heptagram in white marble, engraved in old lettering that Ezekial could not read. At each of the seven points was a chain which had bound the daemon still, but now were shattered. The heptagram still held the daemon, though. When Ezekial saw the daemon, he almost felt pity for it. It's black skin was now an ashen gray, and its once majestic horns were now yellowed and translucent, as if they could shatter at any moment. Ezekial stood on the edge and shouted down to it. "You are nothing but a bluffer. I can see that you are near death. If you are so strong, why not build us a staircase with which to walk down to you?" The daemon gritted its teeth in anger, and threw both hands forward, flicking both towards him again in a quick gesture. As Ezekial had requested, a staircase of sorts flew up, but they were mechanical ledges that were made to raise and lower, and when they reached their individual apex, they locked into place with a loud clunk. It all appeared impressive, but it was really very simple for a daemon. "I do not bluff. You see what I have done, now tremble at my power." The daemon laughed, and continued, "I have never consumed a priest of your order, I'll bet you taste delicious." "You have never, nor will you now. I will defeat you, daiwl, and preform the Last Rites over your corpse." "Ha! There is little chance of that. You're a thousand years too young to be fighting me. I'll chew on your bones and burn your coffin." "Enough of this. Prepare yourself, daiwl." Ezekial had been walking towards the daemon, and stopped just outside of the heptagram, heels together and feet splayed apart. |
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