Wandering Argonians
20-12-2004, 02:40
OOC: A prequel story for an RP I plan to do in the nearest portion of the future. I ask that you refrain from tagging as it disrupts the flow of the fable & detracts from the mood. If your character was familiar with Whiptail, feel free to place yourself at the ceremony.
IC:
PART 1
The fires of the funeral pyre blazed like midnight suns against the night sky. Flames clawed at the dry wood like hungry animals, greedily devouring the flammable resin that coated them. The gathered masses where as quiet as the body laid apon the wooden platform.
It was hard for them to believe that he was dead...
An Argonian dressed in a motley collection of fur, feathers, and skulls stood behind the pyre, muttering incantations as the fire latched onto the tattered black cloak of the deceased. The flames lept into the air, reaching a towering height that lit the grounds around it for several hundred feet. The body had vanished. The short ceremony was over, and the shaman descended from the platform. The embers where left to smoulder & die like wounded animals as the crowds dispersed.
'Awaken.'
Whiptail's eyes remained shut, despite the echo of the voice within his skull...
'Awaken.'
He stirred, cracking his eyelids a fraction. They shot open at the sight of the being before him. Whiptail lay curled up on a cold stone floor, several feet away from a massive throne. The throne was made from obsidian rock, carved with intricate patterns inlaid with gold...
The figure seated apon it boomed with laughter at Whiptail's reaction, his voice echoing through the seemingly endless network of stone pillars...
'You are aware of my exsistance, exile. Do not act surprised...'
Whiptail slowly got to his feet, his golden eyes defiant...
'It is not the matter of nor exsistance, but whether or not I acknowledge it...'
More laughter, louder than the first...
'Do not hide behind your new faith... You cannot deny what you see with your own eyes.'
Whiptail's voice was considerably fainter than that of the creature seated on the throne...
'Thou shall not worship false gods...'
He was floored by a wave of pure force, unclear as to if it was an attack or simply the shockwave of the growl Makaal unleased in response to his statement...
'I am no false god... Your faith is flawed. Why else would you be here instead of with this Lord of yours?'
Whiptail hauled himself to his feet, then began again...
'Thou shall not know any other gods before me...'
Again, there was a fierce growl & the unleashing of a massive shockwave that sent him rolling across the hard stone floor...
'You are defiant, Longtail... I give you a second life, the means to destroy those who wronged you, yet you give your faith to another? Why can you not be as submissive as your mate?'
The darkness encircling the two receeded a bit to reveal Whiptail's long-dead mate, Tela Kalkesh...
'Tela? Why must you torment me? I no longer believe in your exsistance...'
Tela stood silent & still, next to Makaal's throne... She seemed to be a prisoner within her own body...
'Submit Whiptail, and I shall set her free. Do my bidding and you both shall lead happy after-lives within my realm. Renounce your faith, before her & myself...'
Whiptail stared at his mate longingly, remembering the three children she had borne him. His Christian conversion was one of re-invention, after his brutal murder of several innocent members of an Elder family he had though had wronged him. The tale was a popular folk story, known to many of the Argonian people. It taught the lesson of patience and certainty...
'Why should I submit to one who holds his people captive? Your benevolence is limited...'
Makaal narrowed his eyes, great orbs of steel grey. His scales glimmered a bright golden hue accented by the red cape & robes he wore. Unlike the Argonian people, Makaal had a pair of great horns jutting forth from his skull, curling back behind his head. A mace formed of ice & a flaming silver sword stood on either side of the throne...
Whiptail felt the force of Makaal's will bearing down on his own, grating at it like jagged gravel...
Finally, he gave in...
'Forgive me Lord...'
Makaal's laughter echoed again throughout the endless expanse...
'It is good you have seen the truth Whiptail... You are the greatest warrior your people have ever produced & I would hate to have to destroy you. You still have your uses...'
Makaal paused to let his words sink in...
'Do as you will, I am broken. Leave Tela out of this, set her free...'
Makaal shook his horned head...
'First you must prove your loyalty by burning one of these "Churches" you hold so dear...'
Whiptail's look dripped defiance...
'Never...'
With a wave of Makaal's hand, an intense burning crept into Whiptail's eyes. He feel to his knees, clutching at his face. His pride kept him silent throughout the process. As his hands dropped from his face, one could see that his eyes where solid gold in color, lacking any pupils whatsoever...
'Do not defy me again, or I will take something more painful & vital... Go forth & do my bidding, Longtail... Cross me & I will punish her in your stead...'
Whiptail's head & shoulders sagged... He was defeated...
'I will go... Leave her be. I am the defiant one...'
Makaal again waved his hand...
'Go.'
Whiptail fell through an opening in the floor, which Makaal had created... Slowly, he rose from the ashes of his mortal form. His tattered, enchanted cloak remained. Whiptail threw it around his shoulders. Apon further search, he located his trousers, also ragged & tattered... His weapons where nowhere to be seen...
IC:
PART 1
The fires of the funeral pyre blazed like midnight suns against the night sky. Flames clawed at the dry wood like hungry animals, greedily devouring the flammable resin that coated them. The gathered masses where as quiet as the body laid apon the wooden platform.
It was hard for them to believe that he was dead...
An Argonian dressed in a motley collection of fur, feathers, and skulls stood behind the pyre, muttering incantations as the fire latched onto the tattered black cloak of the deceased. The flames lept into the air, reaching a towering height that lit the grounds around it for several hundred feet. The body had vanished. The short ceremony was over, and the shaman descended from the platform. The embers where left to smoulder & die like wounded animals as the crowds dispersed.
'Awaken.'
Whiptail's eyes remained shut, despite the echo of the voice within his skull...
'Awaken.'
He stirred, cracking his eyelids a fraction. They shot open at the sight of the being before him. Whiptail lay curled up on a cold stone floor, several feet away from a massive throne. The throne was made from obsidian rock, carved with intricate patterns inlaid with gold...
The figure seated apon it boomed with laughter at Whiptail's reaction, his voice echoing through the seemingly endless network of stone pillars...
'You are aware of my exsistance, exile. Do not act surprised...'
Whiptail slowly got to his feet, his golden eyes defiant...
'It is not the matter of nor exsistance, but whether or not I acknowledge it...'
More laughter, louder than the first...
'Do not hide behind your new faith... You cannot deny what you see with your own eyes.'
Whiptail's voice was considerably fainter than that of the creature seated on the throne...
'Thou shall not worship false gods...'
He was floored by a wave of pure force, unclear as to if it was an attack or simply the shockwave of the growl Makaal unleased in response to his statement...
'I am no false god... Your faith is flawed. Why else would you be here instead of with this Lord of yours?'
Whiptail hauled himself to his feet, then began again...
'Thou shall not know any other gods before me...'
Again, there was a fierce growl & the unleashing of a massive shockwave that sent him rolling across the hard stone floor...
'You are defiant, Longtail... I give you a second life, the means to destroy those who wronged you, yet you give your faith to another? Why can you not be as submissive as your mate?'
The darkness encircling the two receeded a bit to reveal Whiptail's long-dead mate, Tela Kalkesh...
'Tela? Why must you torment me? I no longer believe in your exsistance...'
Tela stood silent & still, next to Makaal's throne... She seemed to be a prisoner within her own body...
'Submit Whiptail, and I shall set her free. Do my bidding and you both shall lead happy after-lives within my realm. Renounce your faith, before her & myself...'
Whiptail stared at his mate longingly, remembering the three children she had borne him. His Christian conversion was one of re-invention, after his brutal murder of several innocent members of an Elder family he had though had wronged him. The tale was a popular folk story, known to many of the Argonian people. It taught the lesson of patience and certainty...
'Why should I submit to one who holds his people captive? Your benevolence is limited...'
Makaal narrowed his eyes, great orbs of steel grey. His scales glimmered a bright golden hue accented by the red cape & robes he wore. Unlike the Argonian people, Makaal had a pair of great horns jutting forth from his skull, curling back behind his head. A mace formed of ice & a flaming silver sword stood on either side of the throne...
Whiptail felt the force of Makaal's will bearing down on his own, grating at it like jagged gravel...
Finally, he gave in...
'Forgive me Lord...'
Makaal's laughter echoed again throughout the endless expanse...
'It is good you have seen the truth Whiptail... You are the greatest warrior your people have ever produced & I would hate to have to destroy you. You still have your uses...'
Makaal paused to let his words sink in...
'Do as you will, I am broken. Leave Tela out of this, set her free...'
Makaal shook his horned head...
'First you must prove your loyalty by burning one of these "Churches" you hold so dear...'
Whiptail's look dripped defiance...
'Never...'
With a wave of Makaal's hand, an intense burning crept into Whiptail's eyes. He feel to his knees, clutching at his face. His pride kept him silent throughout the process. As his hands dropped from his face, one could see that his eyes where solid gold in color, lacking any pupils whatsoever...
'Do not defy me again, or I will take something more painful & vital... Go forth & do my bidding, Longtail... Cross me & I will punish her in your stead...'
Whiptail's head & shoulders sagged... He was defeated...
'I will go... Leave her be. I am the defiant one...'
Makaal again waved his hand...
'Go.'
Whiptail fell through an opening in the floor, which Makaal had created... Slowly, he rose from the ashes of his mortal form. His tattered, enchanted cloak remained. Whiptail threw it around his shoulders. Apon further search, he located his trousers, also ragged & tattered... His weapons where nowhere to be seen...