Albalonga, like as with many of the sub-worlds secluded between the the mirror realities, grew relatively free of outside influence for hundreds of years. Welcomed by the suspended light looming from the east, a pristine breeze skated across the clear lake waters. To those unfamiliar to the town would believe it to be a lovely paradise. The surprise of their recently killed leader be a powerful shocker. By the return from a failed assault on the rival township, the surviving troops informed the elders of the news. Few others heard the muddled whispers of the council throughout the day. To the people, the blow to their morale might cause panic to consume them, reaping a field of madness for the enemy to take advantage of.... No, silence was best.
Over the course of starlight to the breach of new dawn, the old gathered about to discuss the future. Thirty representatives sat along two rows with assistants at beck and call. The few aggressive speakers spoke highly of the upstarter they managed in his youth. Regarding the man highly of his leadership and experience in battle, it quickly scaled in favor of the meeting's agenda. One, leaning in the back wing, left as the grouchy men resumed their hollering in spite of protest.
---
Climbing to the second floor of the Inn, a women groaned as she unlocked the door to her room. As she entered the dark cell, she tossed her satchel onto the firm mattress, sealing the chamber. "Burdensome Homunculi, how they think there so mighty is beyond me."
The women, no, the huldra sat down on her bed. She all week had to arrange stories to compensate for her strangeness, as the truth would only boot her butt to Pax. "Or get myself killed," she muttered. "Windmill accident, Kathy, struck by a deranged bee to the face, stupid-stupid fibs."
Skathi, as she was raised to be known by her kind, had incurred numerous problems that refused to settle themselves short. Clipping the patch off, the pale left eye widened itself in the darkness, accommodating to the sensation of light once more. The huldra continued to deal with the late loss of limbs, two in fact. Bodily harm of such magnitude threatened most to the ward, but not of her kind, if she was still among st them that is. Left arm, right leg; transplants and grafts were in abundance at the capital. She herself capable of attaching nearly anything from there due to research stolen by a certain huldre.
Yet, she was in no laboratory, hospital, or home. The torn huldra resorted to faulty patch-work of twigs and sinew to hold a mere leg stable; complexity of an arm was not possible for Skathi for the time being. Combing back her hair, she breathed in deeply. In times like these, mediation proved most helpful for her, especially when in combination with prayer. Closing her eyes, allowing her mind to drift, she hoped to reach the Great Mother in the placid state.
((Had to redo it. I think a decent start I suppose.))
Decadent Days
Decadent Days
Last edited by Jent on Tue Nov 25, 2014 10:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Decadent Days
Dying had been a most disorienting experience, and HollowEyes had drifted through many-a realm with no idea of where he was or even where he was going. His body had been obliterated... somehow, and his memories had been taken away... somehow.
It was the loss of his memories that troubled the disembodied Parasitian the most: the knowledge and memories that he expected he'd taken a lifetime to accumulate were not as easily replaced as a functional assortment of flesh and bone. Perhaps, if he had a more 'zen' take on existence, he might have been happy to have his mind free of the many burdens that he felt certain had plagued him throughout his life. Instead, all he felt was emptiness, and a profound sense of dissatisfaction with his current situation.
He might not remember what he had lost, but he knew that it was important, and that he needed to get it back... somehow.
For a being who had once prided himself on planning for a wide variety of eventualities (well, that was the feeling that he got about himself) this was far from an ideal scenario, and yet he could not imagine anybody having done this to him other than himself. He still had a sense of his self and who he was: HollowEyes, a Parasitian and a spirit medium of sorts. He knew about spirits and the energy that flowed within them, as well as how to manipulate it to suit his needs. He knew how to communicate with them and forge agreements with them, so that they would lend him their power in exchange for something in return. He could even imbue their powers into objects, given the right tools. He did not know how he knew these things, or why he knew them, but he recognized this as very precious knowledge that could bestow tremendous power to it's owner, and so the only sensible conclusion was that he had been the cause of his selective memory loss.
... Not that this revelation was particularly helpful, for he did not know himself well enough to understand what he was meant to achieve in this state of self-imposed limbo. What was the point of destroying one's own body and hiding one's own memories?
Mentally sighing to himself HollowEyes looked around, seeing if this realm offered anything that the others did not. He had yet to see an opportunity to break free of the existential prison he'd made for himself, however he now spotted something that struck him as unusual even in this place - a curious mind (in more ways than one), reaching out in search of something. Not having anything better to do with all of eternity, HollowEyes decided that he might as well be the thing that this mind finds. He focused his own mind, which was essentially all that was left of him, and reached out to intercept the stranger.
~Who are you? What are you doing here?~
EDIT: Spelling mistakes! :thereisnoangryemoteonpax:
It was the loss of his memories that troubled the disembodied Parasitian the most: the knowledge and memories that he expected he'd taken a lifetime to accumulate were not as easily replaced as a functional assortment of flesh and bone. Perhaps, if he had a more 'zen' take on existence, he might have been happy to have his mind free of the many burdens that he felt certain had plagued him throughout his life. Instead, all he felt was emptiness, and a profound sense of dissatisfaction with his current situation.
He might not remember what he had lost, but he knew that it was important, and that he needed to get it back... somehow.
For a being who had once prided himself on planning for a wide variety of eventualities (well, that was the feeling that he got about himself) this was far from an ideal scenario, and yet he could not imagine anybody having done this to him other than himself. He still had a sense of his self and who he was: HollowEyes, a Parasitian and a spirit medium of sorts. He knew about spirits and the energy that flowed within them, as well as how to manipulate it to suit his needs. He knew how to communicate with them and forge agreements with them, so that they would lend him their power in exchange for something in return. He could even imbue their powers into objects, given the right tools. He did not know how he knew these things, or why he knew them, but he recognized this as very precious knowledge that could bestow tremendous power to it's owner, and so the only sensible conclusion was that he had been the cause of his selective memory loss.
... Not that this revelation was particularly helpful, for he did not know himself well enough to understand what he was meant to achieve in this state of self-imposed limbo. What was the point of destroying one's own body and hiding one's own memories?
Mentally sighing to himself HollowEyes looked around, seeing if this realm offered anything that the others did not. He had yet to see an opportunity to break free of the existential prison he'd made for himself, however he now spotted something that struck him as unusual even in this place - a curious mind (in more ways than one), reaching out in search of something. Not having anything better to do with all of eternity, HollowEyes decided that he might as well be the thing that this mind finds. He focused his own mind, which was essentially all that was left of him, and reached out to intercept the stranger.
~Who are you? What are you doing here?~
EDIT: Spelling mistakes! :thereisnoangryemoteonpax:
Last edited by 3kul on Thu Nov 27, 2014 11:44 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Swix
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Decadent Days
Outside the bubble, in Pax's reality, a woman waited and watched, always listening intently. She was wearing general clothing, not her usual blue but far more practical browns for this trip.
Not that it mattered right now, as the assassin was invisible right now, waiting for a cart Swix had told her about so she could see the bubble world for herself and pass any new knowledge back to her colleague.
Fade was patient, she could wait.
Not that it mattered right now, as the assassin was invisible right now, waiting for a cart Swix had told her about so she could see the bubble world for herself and pass any new knowledge back to her colleague.
Fade was patient, she could wait.
Decadent Days
~Who are you? What are you doing here?~
The huldra gone baffled at the sudden response, twice-over by the fact this voice channeled in common and its inquiry of her. Skathi as sect of Wroth originally, rarely heard clear answers to her prayers. The warriors on regular occasions when in this sort of event, merely felt changes in mood, often escalated to frenzied levels as they prepared for combat. But, as she invested time to the other sects, found these messages to be gargled chants to her mind. A sentence or two primed in curiosity left a rare opportunity for comprehending the ancients in full, to the chagrin thousands of failed believers of the Huldrefolk.
That being said, Skathi still was skeptical of the voice belonging to either the Five Heralds or the Great Mother. A deranged spirit intending to possess her dwelt in the realm of possibility.
~I am a seeker of truth, do you bear it or falsehood?~
Archaic yarns of aspirant mortals channeling with the deceased burned dimly in her mind. Grimacing in the trance, Skathi knew keeping ones guard be most valuable, for the other being's desire laid past her current knowledge. Push come to shove, the huldra retained the Wyrd enchanted eye in case of assault.
---
Patience paid generously to the secretive mutant. The hardly lavish wagon plodded over a faint patch of gravel in its daily survey rounds to Pax, its stretched canvas deterring the light breeze passes along by. Yawning, the driver scanned the surroundings with his binoculars. No doubt the man grew wearily of the routine, if not for major concerns to his well-being, he be still tucked under the covers in the tiny shack called home.
"Wretched elders, don't even bother telling me what to look out for. Figures."
Head swooping in defiance of the late hours, the trader lingered beyond the veil longer than before. Munching, his two mules acted lively as they trimmed the trail of grass beside them.
The huldra gone baffled at the sudden response, twice-over by the fact this voice channeled in common and its inquiry of her. Skathi as sect of Wroth originally, rarely heard clear answers to her prayers. The warriors on regular occasions when in this sort of event, merely felt changes in mood, often escalated to frenzied levels as they prepared for combat. But, as she invested time to the other sects, found these messages to be gargled chants to her mind. A sentence or two primed in curiosity left a rare opportunity for comprehending the ancients in full, to the chagrin thousands of failed believers of the Huldrefolk.
That being said, Skathi still was skeptical of the voice belonging to either the Five Heralds or the Great Mother. A deranged spirit intending to possess her dwelt in the realm of possibility.
~I am a seeker of truth, do you bear it or falsehood?~
Archaic yarns of aspirant mortals channeling with the deceased burned dimly in her mind. Grimacing in the trance, Skathi knew keeping ones guard be most valuable, for the other being's desire laid past her current knowledge. Push come to shove, the huldra retained the Wyrd enchanted eye in case of assault.
---
Patience paid generously to the secretive mutant. The hardly lavish wagon plodded over a faint patch of gravel in its daily survey rounds to Pax, its stretched canvas deterring the light breeze passes along by. Yawning, the driver scanned the surroundings with his binoculars. No doubt the man grew wearily of the routine, if not for major concerns to his well-being, he be still tucked under the covers in the tiny shack called home.
"Wretched elders, don't even bother telling me what to look out for. Figures."
Head swooping in defiance of the late hours, the trader lingered beyond the veil longer than before. Munching, his two mules acted lively as they trimmed the trail of grass beside them.
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Swix
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Decadent Days
Fade looked to the wagon as it plodded around, with the lively mules munching on the grass as they went.
The assassin needed no further prodding, the way the man was talking already confirmed that this is exactly what she was waiting for, so Fade headed towards the wagon on silent feet. The mutant climbed carefully onto the back of the transport, intending to simply wait once again until the lookout moved.
The assassin needed no further prodding, the way the man was talking already confirmed that this is exactly what she was waiting for, so Fade headed towards the wagon on silent feet. The mutant climbed carefully onto the back of the transport, intending to simply wait once again until the lookout moved.
Decadent Days
HollowEyes found this being's reply more interesting than he had anticipated. Faint memories of banter (both friendly and unfriendly), mind games and the like glimmered within his mind, though seemed nothing more than apparitions if he attempted to dwell upon them. Still, he got the feeling that this was something that he had once enjoyed quite a bit, though he also felt it was not something he'd admit to others.
~You do realize that in either case I would answer "yes", don't you?~ He replied, unable or unwilling to mask the tinge of his own sense of amusement from his thoughts. To be fair to this being, he felt that there were not many questions they could have replied with that he would not have found foolish. ~Still, it is as good a question to start with as any.~
He took a moment to ponder a more serious response. Just what sort of person was he in this regard? He got the distinct feeling that he had never really had simple motives, but couldn't really think of specific instances or even values that suggested he was devoutly truthful or forever telling lies - he felt that this was a morally grey area at best, and once again he found himself feeling great regret at the loss of his memories.
~I was once somebody who would share my knowledge with those who I deemed worthy, for whatever that is worth. I also saw the power in withholding information from, or providing misinformation to my enemies when I felt it necessary.~
HollowEyes sounded more confident in these thoughts than he really was. He wondered to himself if it was possible to live a life in any other way. These seemed like natural reactions to him, but what if they proved to be incomprehensibly alien or completely abhorrent to the being he was speaking with? It would not be so strange, and yet HollowEyes felt compelled to ensure that this being did not leave as suddenly as it had appeared. This still was, after all, his best chance of returning to the mortal coil once more.
~Perhaps we are the same, or perhaps you are different. Regardless, take some solace in the fact that, while you may leave this realm at any time, I am not so free.~
~You do realize that in either case I would answer "yes", don't you?~ He replied, unable or unwilling to mask the tinge of his own sense of amusement from his thoughts. To be fair to this being, he felt that there were not many questions they could have replied with that he would not have found foolish. ~Still, it is as good a question to start with as any.~
He took a moment to ponder a more serious response. Just what sort of person was he in this regard? He got the distinct feeling that he had never really had simple motives, but couldn't really think of specific instances or even values that suggested he was devoutly truthful or forever telling lies - he felt that this was a morally grey area at best, and once again he found himself feeling great regret at the loss of his memories.
~I was once somebody who would share my knowledge with those who I deemed worthy, for whatever that is worth. I also saw the power in withholding information from, or providing misinformation to my enemies when I felt it necessary.~
HollowEyes sounded more confident in these thoughts than he really was. He wondered to himself if it was possible to live a life in any other way. These seemed like natural reactions to him, but what if they proved to be incomprehensibly alien or completely abhorrent to the being he was speaking with? It would not be so strange, and yet HollowEyes felt compelled to ensure that this being did not leave as suddenly as it had appeared. This still was, after all, his best chance of returning to the mortal coil once more.
~Perhaps we are the same, or perhaps you are different. Regardless, take some solace in the fact that, while you may leave this realm at any time, I am not so free.~
Decadent Days
~You do realize that in either case I would answer "yes", don't you? ... Still, it is as good a question to start with as any.~
Skathi fought off the urge to bark at the entity. She noticed the faulty reasoning of her question, burning with self-loath, yet still continuing the mental link with Holloweyes. Oh, how her father would be ashamed at his daughter's fall from grace; the family's finance crashing and the 'jewel' gone split along the side. The huldra engrossed in the moment, carried her silence as the time went on.
~I was once somebody who would share my knowledge with those who I deemed worthy, for whatever that is worth. I also saw the power in withholding information from, or providing misinformation to my enemies when I felt it necessary.~
Just as in dealings with neighboring factions, she knew all too well of such trickery. Reducing opponents to quivering heaps, Skathi relished in their suffering during her rise through the ranks up to Grand Hunter. What a marvelous coronation is was. Even now, memories of the day still shone brightly in the gloomiest of nights, being a glimmer of hope for her as she endured her journey for completion.
~Perhaps we are the same, or perhaps you are different. Regardless, take some solace in the fact that, while you may leave this realm at any time, I am not so free.~
~Is that so?~ Skathi indeed felt relieved at the notion, she'd snatch any advantage now. ~You might be right, spirit. I would say our similarities out weigh any stark contrasts that I'm aware of. Though, it brings me to another question: why did you decide to converse with me in the first place?~
---
"Bah, I've been here long 'nough! Get a'long boys."
In manner to awaken both he and the beasts of burden, the rider thrashed the reins harshly. Annoyed grunts from the steeds bellowed in protest as the turned the wagon around. Fade herself might fumble at the sudden swerve. "Don't be laggin', I need to get some shut eye tonight," he roared.
Skathi fought off the urge to bark at the entity. She noticed the faulty reasoning of her question, burning with self-loath, yet still continuing the mental link with Holloweyes. Oh, how her father would be ashamed at his daughter's fall from grace; the family's finance crashing and the 'jewel' gone split along the side. The huldra engrossed in the moment, carried her silence as the time went on.
~I was once somebody who would share my knowledge with those who I deemed worthy, for whatever that is worth. I also saw the power in withholding information from, or providing misinformation to my enemies when I felt it necessary.~
Just as in dealings with neighboring factions, she knew all too well of such trickery. Reducing opponents to quivering heaps, Skathi relished in their suffering during her rise through the ranks up to Grand Hunter. What a marvelous coronation is was. Even now, memories of the day still shone brightly in the gloomiest of nights, being a glimmer of hope for her as she endured her journey for completion.
~Perhaps we are the same, or perhaps you are different. Regardless, take some solace in the fact that, while you may leave this realm at any time, I am not so free.~
~Is that so?~ Skathi indeed felt relieved at the notion, she'd snatch any advantage now. ~You might be right, spirit. I would say our similarities out weigh any stark contrasts that I'm aware of. Though, it brings me to another question: why did you decide to converse with me in the first place?~
---
"Bah, I've been here long 'nough! Get a'long boys."
In manner to awaken both he and the beasts of burden, the rider thrashed the reins harshly. Annoyed grunts from the steeds bellowed in protest as the turned the wagon around. Fade herself might fumble at the sudden swerve. "Don't be laggin', I need to get some shut eye tonight," he roared.
Last edited by Jent on Mon Dec 01, 2014 9:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Decadent Days
Fade steadied herself when she heard the lookout complain he'd been here for long enough, knowing that a start was coming. Apparently she slightly underestimated his enthusiasm as she stumbled slightly at the sudden swerve, just enough for it to sharpen her own senses a little more but not enough to make her fall, especially with the warning. Fade braced herself where she was hidden in the back, just in case there were any more surprises.
Decadent Days
~Your appearance here presented me with an opportunity that I have not had before, and given that such an opportunity may never arise again for all of eternity I felt it unwise to allow you to leave without a response.~ HollowEyes replied. Justifying himself was not particularly pleasing or interesting, and he needed to turn the line of questioning back onto his 'guest' in order to make progress.
Of course, an essential part of this plan was to ensure that he gave the impression of being more than he was. Many-a being gave all that they could and then some to be in the service of an immortal spirit, but there weren't many who'd waste time lending a hand to the piteous ghost of some dead guy. Well, he wasn't quite that pathetic, but if this being came hoping to speak with a god and they found out exactly what he was they'd no doubt feel dissatisfied enough to leave.
~No doubt you realize that being here as you are is no simple task. Through our brief interactions it is easy to see that you are an intelligent and capable individual who strikes a sensible balance between inquisitiveness and caution. These are all qualities that I value highly. They have surely helped you to achieve much in your own life...~
At this point HollowEyes decided to project himself as something a little more visible to his guest (of sorts). He'd not reformed his spiritual aura before, but he had enough experience with manipulating spirit energy to have a decent idea of how to do it. The end result was a little more abstract than what he had tried for, but perhaps being abstract was a good thing. From a singular point, a slow whorl of smoke expanded to form four shadowy arms - which were meant to represent the arms he'd had when he was alive but looked a bit more like a sinister windmill - with three eyes at the centre of it. Two of these eyes opened horizontally, and one vertically.
~... but I suspect that your presence here means that you wish to achieve more. This too is something that I can strongly sympathize with.~
Of course, an essential part of this plan was to ensure that he gave the impression of being more than he was. Many-a being gave all that they could and then some to be in the service of an immortal spirit, but there weren't many who'd waste time lending a hand to the piteous ghost of some dead guy. Well, he wasn't quite that pathetic, but if this being came hoping to speak with a god and they found out exactly what he was they'd no doubt feel dissatisfied enough to leave.
~No doubt you realize that being here as you are is no simple task. Through our brief interactions it is easy to see that you are an intelligent and capable individual who strikes a sensible balance between inquisitiveness and caution. These are all qualities that I value highly. They have surely helped you to achieve much in your own life...~
At this point HollowEyes decided to project himself as something a little more visible to his guest (of sorts). He'd not reformed his spiritual aura before, but he had enough experience with manipulating spirit energy to have a decent idea of how to do it. The end result was a little more abstract than what he had tried for, but perhaps being abstract was a good thing. From a singular point, a slow whorl of smoke expanded to form four shadowy arms - which were meant to represent the arms he'd had when he was alive but looked a bit more like a sinister windmill - with three eyes at the centre of it. Two of these eyes opened horizontally, and one vertically.
~... but I suspect that your presence here means that you wish to achieve more. This too is something that I can strongly sympathize with.~