< That's Plannin' Talk | Ex Pulplogs | The Enemy Of My Enemy ... >
ST A routine stop on their course to save the world from destruction at the scaly hands of the Ebon Coils Cult. The Ill Omen docked at the edge of a small port town on the mouth of the Indigo River and the Circle taking a day or so to gather supplies, food, other items and generally take a break. Soon they'll be in Gem, having dropped off Corve's daughter on Brume.
ST But for the moment, they can take at least a day to concentrate on enjoying themselves. Corve has gone off on his own to torment people for information while Xar is at the local temple trying to convince the priests to add him to their pantheon of important gods. Oteki disappeared the moment they touched ground, headed for the...less reputable parts of town.
ST So it was Carmine and Myrrh that were wandering the market, looking for food and supplies. They didnt often spend much time together alone, since Corve and Carmine were so close. But Corve had wanted to go question people on his own. And so everything was going fine. Until Myrrh notices that Snuffles was missing.
Myrrh "And anyway I don't think Xar was seri-..." Starts looking around. "Snuffles?"
ST Myrrh can't see his fungal pet anywhere, but he can dimly feel the plant-monster's unhappiness and anxiety coming from behind him and to the left, moving further away.
ST The bustle of people, almost all dressed in some shade of green, and the profusion of vines and exotic flowering plants that covers every possible surface of the city help obscure any possible sign of Snuffles.
Myrrh "...damnit!" he takes off in the direction of his link although not sure just how he's going to find the poor guy in all of this greenery!
Carmine "...Snuffles? What is wrong with snuffles?" She asks, looking up from the jewellery in amber and gold.
Myrrh "He's gone and he doesn't feel happy! Excuse me...pardon me..."
Carmine sighs and puts the jewellery down, following after Myrrh.
ST Carmine had been eyeballing an eyeball-sized teardrop of amber that contained a spectacularly preserved flower bud, but is forced to abandon the bauble to help search for a lost ball of fungus. Which, thanks to Myrrh's bond, they are able to follow out the market and into the dark back alleyways of the city.
Carmine "...Where is he leading us?"
Myrrh "Down this alleyway...I don't think he's enjoying himself though." Frowns and heads down into the dark backalley, he's already had one kidnapping resolved, does it have to be so soon?
Myrrh thinks for a moment and pauses, concentrating on his essence given link with Snuffles.
ST Myrrh makes an effort to broaden his connection to the poor, frightened Snuffles and finds himself experiencing the world through the senses of the fungus monster...which is an interesting experience. Apparently Snuffles doesn't actually have eyes. It would seem that the fungus-monster "sees" the world by sending out a cloud of invisible spores which he can communicate with.
ST Disturbances in his spore-cloud let Snuffles know when things are nearby and he can even sense the spores that are breathed in by close by creatures. At the moment the spore-cloud is telling Snuffles and Myrrh that they're being carried in a sack by a medium-sized mammal with very little care. Snuffles can also "see" that the mammal is heading for an opening in the ground not far ahead.
Myrrh frowns and hurries down the alleyway. "Come on, they're taking him underground!"
Carmine "Underground?" She asks as she starts to run after Myrrh
ST As Carmine and Myrrh round a corner they see a man-shapped figure ducking into a sewer grate with a struggling sack tossed over its back. Myrrh can tell even before he notices the smell that the struggling sack contains Snuffles. The figure is shrouded in heavy layers of burlap and dirty rags, covering every bit of it.
Myrrh "I can share my senses with Snuffles and that man just took him down into the sewers!" Charges towards the grate, nobody is going to take HIS fungus ball!
ST The grates slams down after the figure scurries away into the sewers.
Carmine sprints towards the gate, bends down and LIFTS the gate up easily, muscles rippling beneath her skin in the half-light of the shade
ST No one, of course, would dare tell Carmine that the grate could probably be opened by a 10 year old child. Nope.
ST The sewer grate emits an almost visible stench beyond any stench either Carmine or Myrrh has ever smelled before. In fact, it may just be the most stenchful stench ever to have existed. Their noses are considering bloody revolt at the assault on themselves.
Carmine "....Urrrgh!"
Myrrh coughs and gags. "Good gods!" He pinches his nose and tenatively heads down.
Carmine follows after him
ST "Heading down" into the sewer involves stepping into the hole left by lifting the grate and allowing oneself to drop down about ten feet into the darkness of the sewer tunnel. Carmine and Myrrh both land on their feet with a minimum of splash from the disgusting cesspool of effluvia that flows sludgily through the tunnels.
ST Designed to help mitigate floods and for easy repair, the tunnels are nearly two yards wide and a bit more then that tall. Carved from the bedrock that the city sits upon, they are quite an impressive feat of engineering that probably dates at least back to the Shogunate. There are even a few flickering, half-dead glowstones set into the tunnels that offer (unfortunate) illumination.
Myrrh "Guh."
ST As impressive as the sewers are, the splashes from up ahead indicate that Snuffles' kidnapper is getting away. The stench would be mentioned, but at this point it is such a severe stench that Myrrh is wishing for a chunk of burning sulfur to stuff up his nose.
Myrrh gives chase and hopes to avoid getting TOO dirty...
Carmine "Which way did h-..." She takes off after him.
Myrrh "This way, if the echos aren't playing with me...ugh."
ST The horribly smelly chase through the sewers takes longer then either Carmine or Myrrh had assumed it would. Myrrh at least becomes fairly sure they should have run out of sewer a good while ago...and the smell is getting less and less unbearable. There might even be fresh air coming from up ahead.
Myrrh "...where in the hell is this guy going?!"
Carmine "...I don't know!" corve will be worrying
Myrrh "Well atleast we're leaving the...odor behind."
ST There's somewhat of a surprise when Carmine and Myrrh see the light at the end of the tunnel and follow the fleeing figure into it and out into a valley. They don't remember any valleys near the city...how strange..even stranger, the valley is full of buildings that have long ago crumbled to ruins. Shining ruins made from golden, white-veined marble and considerable amounts of what appears to be gold.
ST The ruins are set out in a circle with rays spreading from the center to connect with the outer edge. The center of the circle is a large temple that, even from their position on the edge of the valley, can be seen to host a giant statue of the Unconquered Sun in all his glory.
ST The four-armed god glitters in his golden glory from the center of the ruined city. And that's where the fleeing figure is fleeing to.
Carmine "... A temple? But to which god?"
Myrrh stands there stunned for a moment...
Myrrh "It's a temple to Sol Invictus I think..."
Myrrh "How do the townsfolk not know this is here?!"
Myrrh shakes his head. "We'll worry about this later. Snuffles is in trouble!" Gives chase into the forboding ruins!
Carmine runs after him, wondering who sol invictus is...
ST Chasing the fleeing figure through the valley toward the ruins gives both Solars an eyefull of the local ecology. Bright golden birds watch them from their perches in the gnarled, fluffy-topped trees as they feed on yellow flowers that smell of honey. Huge sunflowers with blossoms as big as Carmine and stalks taller then an elephant turn their faces to the Sun. Bright beetles with golden shells scuttle over the ground.
ST Almost every creature they see is yellow, bronze, golden, orange or white. The most interesting is a vast bird about Carmine's size with thick, glowing white plumage accented with brilliant golden feathers that form a crest on its head and trim its wings. The beak, long and elegant, is pointed and glitters like Orichalcum.
Carmine gazes at the creatures around her with wonder as she runs.
ST The huge birds eye the Solars with their yellow gaze, preening. They are without doubt the most beautiful birds Carmine has ever seen.
ST The fleeing figure is tiring, having run for so long. It stumbles across a root just a few feet away..
Carmine leaps forward, aiming to catch him in the small of the back and bowl him over.
ST With a yelp, the fleeing figure is tripped up and pinned under Carmine as the golden and white birds watch with disdain. They are, after all, much too pretty to get involved.
Myrrh "Ah hah! Now we've got you you thief!"
Myrrh slows next to Carmine, a bit out of breath
ST The kidnapper struggles under Carmine, but to no avail!
ST And this man is not strictly a normal human.
Carmine starts to try and peel back some of his bandages, to get a look at the fungus thief. Alone of the three, apparently, she isn't winded in the slightest.
ST The thief struggles to prevent being unmasked, but is unable to do so. The face revealed is bronze-skinned and golden-eyed with a thick mane of blond hair and a dusting of blond stubble across a heavy jaw. If it weren't for Carmine's extensive knowledge of human bodies she would ignore the heaviness of the jaw, the thickness of the face and the pronounced brow ridge of his skull. But she has extensive knowledge of human bodies.
Carmine "...What are you?! Why did you try and take snuffles?!"
Myrrh "What is he? He looks normal to me...for a thief!"
Carmine rolls her eyes What, he wanted an biology lesson now? Couldn't it wait?
ST The thief looks back and forth at Myrrh and Carmine, clearly not understanding their words. He clutches tightly at the sack which contains the valiantly struggling Snuffles.
Myrrh gives the man a curious look. "I don't think he understands us."
Carmine "Maybe he will understand this?" She asks Myrrh in old realm
ST The man's expression changes, indicating he understood that last bit. He is still struggling. Myrrh catches a glimpse of something on the man's forehead as his struggles brush his thick hair away from it. And another something on his shoulders as Carmine's grip loosens some of his many layers of rags.
Carmine "Why did you steal snuffles?!" she demands
ST "Thou hast no claim upon the creatures of this place! Twas no thievery to reclaim what is ours!" His accent is very, very thick and extremely...snooty. Somewhat at odds with his heavy face and unkempt appearance.
Myrrh tries asking in old realm, examining the..something. "Snuffles? But he's not from here! He was from the hidden city inside the sunken isle."
ST "Lies! He is from here, taken from us! No where else do such as he thrive!"
Myrrh "Listen I can take you to the sunken city...are creatures like Snuffles common here?"
ST "They are a gift unto us from the Lord Chvar."
Carmine "Lord ... Chvar?"
ST Myrrh recognizes "Lord Chvar" as one of the many names of the Unconquered Sun, one fairly common here in the coastal South. But not particularly common anymore. Or at all, since the Usurption.
Myrrh "Lord Chvar? You mean Sol?"
ST frowns, an expression that emphasizes his heavy jaw and thick forehead making him look particularly angry and brutish despite his sophisticated-sounding accent. "I mean Lord Chvar, bringer of Light and Glory."
Myrrh "He has many names...that one hasn't been used in centuries though."
Carmine looks confused
Myrrh gives Carmine a confused look. "You don't know who Sol Invictus is? He's the Celestial Incarna of the sun and the ruler of the rest. That's his statue over there." Points to the statue they passed. "We get our power from the sparks of his divinity."
Carmine "...Oh."
ST ignores everything but the very last bit. "Thou claim to be Chosen of Chvar? Liars!"
Myrrh "We are! Look." He channels his essence to show his caste mark.
ST The golden eyes grow so wide that Myrrh is afraid they might pop out of the man's head. The man goes limp in Carmine's grip and starts praying to Lord Chvar for forgiveness.
ST As Myrrh lights his Castemark he can feel the ambient Essence of this valley surge in response and realizes that the valley contains a potent Demesne of Solar power. The temple may once have capped it, but no longer. Now the Solar Essence around here is uncontrolled. That may well explain the coloration of the animals and their thieving friend. Carmine can feel the Solar Essence around as well, but doesn't figure out the rest.
Myrrh "...this place is an uncapped Demense."
Carmine "...De...mense?"
Myrrh "It's a magical place where essence dragon lines flow and connect. It's what you make a Manse from."
ST The thief is still praying quietly under Carmine. He is apparently very sorry for having offended a Chosen of Chvar
Carmine "... ... Oh."
Myrrh "It's ok...are you alone here?"
Myrrh tries to let Snuffles out of his bag.
ST The thief doesn't struggle at all as Snuffles is released and retreats onto Myrrh's shoulder, making terrified noises and snuggling relentlessly into Myrrh's neck for comfort. The poor fungus monster is trembling with fright and anger at being stolen from his beloved master.
ST "There are others here, my Lord." The man does not meet Myrrh's eyes anymore. He is trying hard to stare at the ground. Difficult, with Carmine holding him.
Myrrh pats poor snuffles on his head area. "It's alright, you're safe now. And it looks like we've made some new friends!"
ST "Why hast thou come here, Lord?"
Myrrh "Well...to get Snuffles back. But now that we're here I think we'll inspect the grounds and meet with your people."
Carmine releases him, picking herself up
Thief looks at Carmine "Art thou Chosen by Chvar as well, Lady?"
Cerin "Yes." She says and gestures, the orichalcum on her wrists gleaming, willing essence to her forehead
Thief "Might I ask what thy name is, my Lady?"
Cerin "Glorious Carmine Elegance."
Thief looks both confused and somewhat disappointed. "My lady...is that thy real name? It does sound...strange to my ears."
Cerin "It is the only name I know."
Thief "That is a most strange way of replying, my Lady."
Myrrh "We're all a little strange. What's your name?"
Cyrus "I am Cyrus, my Lord."
Cyrus "I will take you to the Temple, if that is your wish."
Carmine "Yes, please"
Myrrh "Please." He nods
Cyrus guides the Chosen of Chvar through the jungles and the ruins of the sheltered valley. As Myrrh looks around he becomes more and more certain that this place was once a Manse of vast power that has long since fallen into disrepair and ruin. Though he doesn't see any signs of struggle or battle on the ruins. It looks as if they have just been overcome by time and lack of attention.
Cyrus Until, that is, Cyrus brings them to the Temple of Lord Chvar, Bringer of Light and Glory. The four-armed statue is different from most monuments to Sol Invictus that Myrrh has seen. The god is distinctly masculine instead of slightly androgynous. His golden armor is made from leather and silk instead of metal plates. And instead of the olive branch, shield and other normal symbols in his palms...
Cyrus Each hand holds an oversized sword in the curved Southern style. The turban wrapped around Sol's brow is new too.
Cyrus Except for the statue, everything about the temple is smashed to bits. The columns lay on the ground in piles of rubble, the altar is broken in half, the great hall that once contained everything is little more then stubs of buttresses and half-broken onion domes. It looks as if a giant simply picked the entire temple up and threw it against the ground.
Cyrus From the ruins, figures like Cyrus emerge dressed in plain white robes and golden turbans. Their faces are veiled by golden silk and only their slightly luminous yellow eyes gaze out at the two Solars.
Myrrh gives a small wave.
Myrrh "Greetings! A wonderful place you have here."
Myrrh "Who's in charge around here?"
Cyrus "Lord Chvar."
Myrrh "Ah...well I meant more in the domestic sense.
Cyrus "We await her return." Cyrus turns and points at a fragment of wall across from the statue of Chvar
Myrrh quirks a brow and looks at the wall.
Cyrus A much-faded and broken mural on the wall shows a female Solar wearing silken armor in the same style as the statue of Chvar, holding aloft a glowing golden sword. Her anima blazes around her...but her face is missing, destroyed by a crack in the wall.
Myrrh frowns and looks at the cracked mural. "Such a shame...Carmine can you help me lift it? I think I might be able to fix it."
Carmine attempts to heft the statue
Cyrus Myrrh starts carefully putting bits of stone back together on the wall, digging through the dust at its base and patting it into place over the stones. His hands glow with golden light as he works and the robed figures gaze on in awe as Myrrh restores the ancient mural to its former glory. The paints glow with vibrant color and the woman's face is revealed.
Cyrus Sharp featured and steel-eyed she gazes out at the world, totally unrecognized by anyone present. And, strangely, despite Myrrh's best efforts, she has no Castemark. The anima swirling around her and the glowing Orichalcum blade in her hand surely make her a Solar...but no Castemark.
Cyrus "You have restored the Face of our Queen, my Lord!"
Cyrus falls to his knees before Myrrh and the mural, as do the others. They touch their heads to the ground and start praying to Lord Chvar.
Myrrh "Oh it was no problem...I hate the idea of this place being in such disrepair...where did she go?"
Myrrh "Odd. She doesn't seem to have a mark."
Cyrus "She was taken from us long ago, in the Age of Glory. We have long awaited her return. It is said she will come back to us some day, forgetful of her nature and knowing little of this world. But we will know her by her sunlit blade."
Carmine ... that could almost be describing me. What a coincidence.
Cyrus apparently thinks so too, since he is looking at Carmine with a sort of hopeful expression on his heavy face.
Myrrh looks from the mural to Carmine.
Myrrh "Well maybe she was your past incarnation?"
Carmine "...my what?"
Myrrh "Well you see the power that we have is passed on through the ages. When she died it passed onto you. Normaly you would have memories of her past life but I think whatever happened to your memory effected those as well."
Cyrus looks at Carmine with awe. "Dost thou have a sword of Sunlight, my Lady?"
Carmine "... Yes." She says, very uncertain now.
Cyrus "Wilst thou show the sword to us?"
Carmine calls the sunlit blade
Cyrus As the sunlight blade Eminence appears in her hand, Cyrus and the others bow to her, on their knees, their heads pressed to the ground. They start chanting in Old Realm. "She returns. She returns. All hail the Lady of Chvar's Graces. She returns to us."
Carmine "...Myrrh..."
Myrrh "Uh oh."
Myrrh "I think we've just stepped into a big pile of Prophecy. With a capital P."
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