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Post by TinyMinou on Jul 31, 2019 12:39:23 GMT -6
Vigdis
Vagabond - Outcast
Note: Vigdis is mute. She speaks through sign language.
... ...
With the last stretch of her energy she reached the dry spot in the middle of the rising blood. Her legs were shaking, her white fur now drenched in crimson blood. The vile stench filled her nose, but that that did not matter to the small kirin right now. All she wanted right now was some time to catch her breath. It did not even matter to her right now that other horses that she did not know were standing close to her.
But the peace was short-lived. Soon the blood was drained from her coat and before she knew it two statues had risen. She didn't recognize them like the previous mystery equine. But before she could study them more carefully, dizziness struck her. She fell with her knees to the ground, closing her eyes to hope that the spinning feeling would stop.
When her eyes opened, she was in the middle of a warfield, with a blade stuck in her throat. It took only a moment to realize what this moment was. It was her death.
But something was off. Instead of a group of unicorn surrounding her, it were her beloved who were standing there instead, their angered gazes looking right at her. But what broke her the most was that her girlfriend - who she loved with all her heart - was the one pushing the dagger down. "Rosem-" was all that left her mouth before she coughed up blood.
But the mare remained unfazed. But then her face changed to all kinds of different faces - but she recognized all of them. These were the ones that she had ratted out to generals after her scouts. These were the faces of those she murdered - directly or indirectly. These changing faces released a pitching scream while her beloved family began shouting, begging and screaming. She wanted to run away and scream- but she couldn't. All what she could do was weep as she laid on the ground with her eyes closed hoping that it would end soon.
After a while, the screaming ended. Her eyes dared to look around her again. She was back again to the wretched place with the other horses.
Was it over now? Of course not.
Now the blood started to form into horses, familiar faces that she had seen in the nightmare that had just happened. With shaky hooves and her eyes still tearing up, she followed those who were running away.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2019 18:42:28 GMT -6
The ghosts chase you mercilessly, as do the painful memories and visions in your minds. So occupied are you with these two dangers that you don’t really notice the thick, purple mist ahead of you - at least not until it swallows you up.
The sounds of the spirits wails feel far away. The mist feels heavy like a veil, and within it is a sense of safety from the other dangers of this haunted blood swamp.
Like a house of mirrors, the mist twists and twirls around you, forming surfaces.
Then, images.
You bear witness to another barrage of visions.
You see a people herded underground for their own safety. You watch them through centuries, watch as they become enarmored with the past and tradition.
You watch as they struggle among themselves, until a new faction is formed.
You follow this new people through the dark, foreboding tunnels into their city. Images of the organized beauty of Nariah and the squalor and unequity of Sterling play next to one another.
How the ones in power steal the inventions of those beneath them as their own life marches on, unchanging as ever.
Scene after scene of systematic oppression and disdain, until again, the painful sore bursts open.
You watch as a bomb makes a hundred tiny dragons fly towards the ceiling of the caverns.
You watch the fires as they destroy homes and livelihoods.
Then, you see them. The god, Argus, who watches.
Always watches.
But never acts.
The roof of the great cavern falls. You witness destruction, fear.
But they only watch.
Then, suddenly, the god comes awake. In a rare opportunity to witness the work of Divine, you see Argus in a rage too terrible for words. You can not decipher the cause of it, but you can see the destruction it brings. The terrible burst of energy that shatters a crystal. Blackouts. Chaos. Panic.
And they watch.
The mist is whisked away, and you find yourself staring up at the two great statues, now close enough to touch.
The statues stare down at you, and then, slowly, turn their heads to look back behind you.
You, too, look.
A storm is brewing.
The two statues merely sink back into the swamp.
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Post by hydrus101 on Aug 4, 2019 19:37:35 GMT -6
 A S R A I• Vagabond | Hedgewitch •
“I don’t care what it takes, I am going to do what I know is right.
The taste.
He would never forget the taste.
As soon as he’d gone under, the foul blood had surged into his mouth and his lungs, thick and viscous like pond water. Pulled up from above, Asrai surfaced and sputtered, coughing desperately for air as he was heaved up and onto the back of a black pegasus. Wiping at his eyes, he cleared the muck just in time to see the blood begin to boil.
His ears folded back against as he watched the crystal statues rise, somehow already knowing what was about to happen.
Red and purple, spattered with eyes. Hundreds, thousands, countless numbers of piercing eyes staring directly into his soul. Their gazes were not the gentle ones he had seen weeks ago. No, these eyes were filled with impartial malice, and Asrai’s heart roared.
How dare she. How dare that vile excuse of a god take on their visage? How dare she mock their name?
He opened his mouth to scream, to spit and curse and rip that filthy ungod from limb to limb. She had taken everything from him, from his mother, from his grandmother, he wouldn’t let her take anyone else.
Then the world shifted.
The anger boiling in his chest, rolling in the same way the lake of blood before them did, faded. The faces surrounding him were no longer the same, now twisted, distorted. Visions of past memories, only unhappy ones, flashed through his eyes like a flock of birds. Something crawled through his brain, and something else crawled from the blood.
He saw mores visions among gold and glass antlers, mules ears, and eyes. He recognized each attribute, each from a friend he had lost or never truly had at all, and the shrill screams deafened him.
He should have been afraid. By all accounts, he should have cowered, he should have backed down. But he didn’t, not this time.
This time, he screamed back.
It wasn’t a cry of fear, but of defiance. This wasn’t real. That was not his god. Those were not his friends. The rage he felt inside him overrode all thought, all care. All he wanted to do was show Digend that he was not afraid.
Blood dripped from his jaws as he bared his teeth at the wraiths, shrieking at them like a violent storm.
They grew closer and Asrai flared his wings, foul blood pouring off them in rivulets. Before he could launch himself at them with hoof and fang, Tulio had began to run.
From his precarious place atop the bard’s back, Asrai nearly tumbled to the ground, but kept his grip if only barely. Face to face with the creatures, Asrai saw them draw closer, close enough to bite at the bard’s tail feathers. The boy drew back a hoof to swipe at the spirits, but he didn’t get the chance to strike as visions of flashing lights and snow pulled him back into his own head. The bouncing movement of Tulio’s back beneath him faded away into the feeling of cold stone pressing up against his stomach. No, not again. He struggled against the memory, against the weight of his mother’s warm body pressed up against his side. He had made his peace with this! Why was it resurfacing now? Then it hit him. Memories. Emotions. These were Argus’s elements. They had already faced Cascade’s rain and her blood. This was Digend’s work. Who else could it have been? His mind racing, Asrai’s eyes widened. Digend wasn’t just putting them through these torments for the hell of it; these were trials.
Wresting himself from the grip of the memory, Asrai moved to tell the others of his realization, only to find that they were encased in a darkening mist. Flickers of images began to appear on the banks beside them, reflected as if on the surface of a mirror.
The group as a whole seemed to slow as the path ahead became obscured, uncertainly watching the pictures flickering by. As they slowed, Asrai was able to jump down from Tulio’s back safely and he trotted alongside the group, glaring daggers at the mist. He tried to ignore it, he didn’t want to see whatever it had to show him, but it drew him in anyways.
So he watched, impassively, biting his tongue as the destruction began. He heard Argus’s cry, a soul shattering, wounded, scream that made his very being tremble. He felt the same rage in his stomach, empathy for the god, his god, rising above any other feeling, even fear.
He knew the vision was trying to make him angry, to make him feel as though the gods were weak, that the gods didn’t care. The hedgewitch had had his fair share of run ins with cultists. He knew their ideology well. It wouldn’t take him too. He would never abandon his god.
Bravery surfacing again, the wild-eyed pegasus screeched, reared back, and threw himself forward with his entire weight, slamming his hooves into the crystalline mirror.
He had expected it to shatter.
Instead, he sunk into like it was some sort of liquid. Pulling back, Asrai looked at the holes he’d left and murmured something intelligible. Before he’d had the chance to try again, the mist gave way to the ruby and amethyst statues once more. They stared down at the little group, their evil eyes boring holes into their spirits. Heart pounding, Asrai moved closer to them stiffly, standing just beneath their muzzles.
“You aren’t real!” He shouted up at them, shaking from the effort of making his voice heard for once in his life. “You can not shake our faith in the gods!”
The statues gave no reaction, and simply turned away. His spirits fell. They- no, she was ignoring him. He opened his mouth again to shout at the figures again, but closed it as he realized they weren’t ignoring him, they were looking at something else.
Whirling around, Asrai saw it, the beginnings of a storm. This was his chance to speak, before things got ugly.
“Everybody!” He yelled, trying to bring their focus to him. “It’s Digend! She’s throwing tests at us, I- I think. Judging by that storm, Alya’s next! We need to find a way to outrun it or...or to stop it!”
He looked at them, these strangers, desperately, hoping someone, anyone, had a plan.
WC: 1064
Post: 4
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Post by Waterdrup on Aug 5, 2019 8:02:12 GMT -6
Emelisse | Missionary
Emelisse nibbled on her bottom lip as she trotted onward, no longer bothering to run. Anger and annoyance had pushed away the fear and pain of the memories and visions she’d been unprepared for. The little pony stubbornly refused to go numb, ignoring the ghosts behind her as much as she could. Instead she focused on the living, the other voices and hooves along the path.
The little bard watched as Tulio sprinted past her in his panic, nearly losing his hat. He left her behind within a couple of his long strides, but she couldn’t blame him. Emmy worried for him though and quickly followed, ducking into the purple mist without hesitation.
She watched as Asrai jumped down, the child was still covered head to hoof in blood red muck, it dripped down whenever he moved. Emelisse tore her violet eyes away from the sight, looking around for Madden and Lilliana as she moved to Tulio's side again, but it was hard to see anyone clearly within these twirling mists. Instead she saw visions, yet more destruction and mistakes by the old gods. The missionary already knew, already understood. She looked up in surprise when Asrai attacked the mirror, apparently disagreeing with the visions.
The mists suddenly dispersed, revealing the crystal statues again and the bloodied Pegasus started to shout. Emelisse watched with interest to see such faith, alas, in the wrong place. Asrai continued to warn them it was Digend putting them to the test and now Emmy smiled, feeling a sense of pride. The little one had figured it out.
“I think you’re right.” The blond pony responded, her voice high and cheerful, as if a problem was fixed. “And as long as there is a path, we should keep moving forward.” She continued calmly, turning to the horses that had gathered. “But we cannot outrun Digend’s truths.” Emmy stated, trying to look as many horses in the eyes. “We should at least listen.” She finished, especially trying to catch Asrai’s eyes and offering him a warm and encouraging smile. Digend was, apparently, a teacher and storyteller who liked a somewhat gruesome show. But at least hers was just a show. What the old gods had and hadn’t done was a much greater horror.
Wordcount 376 | Post #6 |
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Post by moonlightwalk on Aug 5, 2019 14:19:52 GMT -6
Lilliana | Missionary
It pained her, the things she saw. It pained her to see the beautiful cities of Breim herd wage war upon each other silently, hurt to see them crumble, hurt to see Argus only wreck damage instead of reach down and heal. She knew these gods, these places, but Digend was showing them a truth and as much as it hurt, she knew her impromptu companion was right.
“Perhaps it is a test, little one,” they acknowledged, heart breaking at the pain and desperation she claimed to detect in the statement of resistance. “There’s knowledge here, face to face with the painful truth, but that’s it about truth. There’s no outrunning it. You are right.” She slowed her pace, willing Luka to do the same. “I have tried to. For many years. It always catches up. Perhaps we should stop running.” She looked sad. “Stop fighting it.”
“Not only listen, but watch.”
She stopped and turned around.“Find courage, stand with me, witness. If Alya is next, show us what she did to this world.” Her muscles tensed. “I will run if Digend urges me to, I will run in terror for the equines that came before me, expierence even a fraction of their if it is needed. I have closed my eyes enough.” Even as she said so, she laid a wing over the head of her child.
Post 4 | 232 words
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Post by seechem on Aug 6, 2019 13:15:11 GMT -6
M A D D E N
a Mercenary of the Vagabond
'blood like rust on swords i knew, chests and hearts from lovers too'
......
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm-" Madden's sobs were cut short as he opened his eyes. Nero's image flickered out before him, and the ghoulish assembly of his fallen family were obscured by purple smoke. Madden grabbed his blade in his ruby teke, viciously wiping his tears away on his legs as he stood. The group seemed surrounded by the thick rivulets of smoke, and Madden turned several times, daggers raised before flickering in the mist drew his eyes to the fumes.
Horses driven below ground, obsessed with the past and their old traditions. Madden recognised the caverns from Virgil's description of their last home, and cringed a little at the stifling oppression that they and their family must have suffered. Then flame, and Madden's whole body went taut. His god's element wrecking havoc in those inescapable tunnels. What must Virgil think of him? The red roan took a step back from the mist, the distant echoes of screams following in his ears. Argus still did nothing, and Madden's head snapped to the depiction of the god, prepared to implore they do something, that they stop this vision, and the horror it revealed. But the god seemed to awaken before he could speak, and the unimaginable rage that danced within the god's eyes chilled Madden to his core. It is a rage so potent, that Madden recognised almost instinctively to a point that he almost levelled his knives in a defensive stance. Instead, his ears pressed tightly to his neck, and his ruby eyes fixed the god with horror, and mild relief at their seeming reaction. A loud thunderous crack made the mercenary jump, and a new wave of terror washed over him as he saw Argus' actions not fix or protect, but rather shatter crystal and summon darkness. "Why-" Madden croaked, his voice crackling with emotion. "Why?" He implored again, slight tears in his eyes. But Argus was still only watching, even as the smoke faded beneath Madden's pale hooves.
"You aren't real!" The shout caught Madden off-guard, and he whirled to look at the small, pale pegasus. "You cannot shake our faith in the gods!" He shouted. Madden looked back at the passive crystal statues, and swallowed his bitterness and tears as best as he could.
"Everybody," Madden turned fully to look at the child with a narrowed, uncertain eye, "It's Digend!" The name made his blood run cold and the little one now had his full attention, "She's throwing tests at us, I...I think. Judging by that storm," Madden looked over the pegasus' head and up at a sky that was beginning to crackle and change with approaching thunder clouds, "Alya's next! We need to find a way to outrun it...or stop it."
"I think you're right." A second voice joined, and the unicorn was mildly relieved to see that a plan was starting to form, even if this new voice belonged to a small horse that, moments before, he had threatened. "And as long as there is a path, we should keep moving forward. But," and Madden's ears swivelled to catch her words, "we cannot outrun Digend's truth." Madden balked, "We should at least listen."
"Listen?!" The unicorn almost spat, "to a god that has spent the last few minutes purposefully torturing us?" He felt incredulous that anyone would willingly stand around to endure more of this, "If these are true, then why does she hide? Why try to play on our minds with...with..." He had to pause as flashbacks fired to the forefront of his mind, he continued slowly, "with such awful memories."
"Perhaps it is a test, little one," Someone said, seemingly trying to console the child, "There's no outrunning it, you are right." Madden took a step away from the two who had spoken, and a little closer to the child; the only one who had seemed to voice resistance. "Perhaps we should stop running. Stop fighting it. Not only listen, but watch."
"Faith is fighting. And if Digend is intending to try and shift our faiths, as the child suggests, I for one will not be swayed so easily." He snorted, rotating his knives carefully at his side.
“Find courage, stand with me, witness. If Alya is next, show us what she did to this world." Madden looked to the sky. They were right in only one way, they could not outrun this maze of horrors. This elaborate little mousetrap that Digend had constructed. But he would be damned if he would stand there and accept that She was right. He would not believe that Nero worshipped a heartless tyrant.
"This isn't about bearing witness to truth!" He urged, trying to look each horse in the eye, "She wants chaos. The truth is bitter and painful, true, but faith leads us to light, not darkness. She is sadly mistaken if She thinks this little show will persuade me to abandon my god." He didn't know quite what had happened to Virgil, but whether their life had been affected by Argus' actions did not matter to him. Argus had atoned, in Madden's mind, by granting Virgil a form of sight despite their blindness. The gods were as flawed as they themselves were. They had their own conflicts, their own mistakes and triumphs. So if Digend felt so entitled to judge the errors of others, Madden made a note to be sure to judge Her by the same creed.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2019 17:00:19 GMT -6
The storm whirls towards you, but then, it stops.
A mighty whirlwind, now as red as a flame.
Then, the storm has a face.
And out of the storm steps a god.
Digend flutters in front of you, in front of Asrai. She regards the young pegasus almost curiously.
But I am real. And so are the things I have shown you.
She cocks her head.
I never intended to hurt you. I couldn’t.
She looks at her two Missionaries, and smiles.
You walk with my own two children, after all.
She flutters in place, her fiery storm howling around her, but harming none of you. Indeed, it brushes right over Emelisse and Lilliana, and it neither burns them nor hurts a single hair on their heads.
The god’s presence, tangible and enthralling, washes over you. The scenery changes, returns to normal. The blood turns into water, and drains into the earth - including the blood on your own coats, as well as the taste of it in Asrai’s mouth.
I was created by faith.
I am the answer to generations upon generations who have cried out for a god who will care for them.
She looks at Asrai.
Where is your God now? Is Argus here?
They do not care for their own people.
Much less for a Vagabond.
But I do.
Her eyes shift to Madden, who has also denounced her.
What about your god, the god of fire? The god whose people burn the place you call home, who will drag you away in chains if they ever see you?
A god that watches idly as their nation gorges itself on blood of the innocent and enslaved?
Such a light, indeed.
Tell me, child. Do you think he will be there to shield you when his original children burn this earth?
She lands, gently and soundlessly. Standing in front of you, she radiates power.
I will stop the charade. I respect you.
But you shall witness the actions of the Gods.
Or are you afraid of the truth?
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Post by TinyMinou on Aug 7, 2019 14:33:47 GMT -6
Vigdis
Vagabond - Outcast
Note: Vigdis is mute. She speaks through sign language.
......
Occupied with running away from the bloody images of her beloved ones, she had not noticed the purple mist ahead of her until she had ran into it. Only when she felt the thickness of the mist weighing down on did she stop.
Out of breath she sat down and her legs shaking, she looked at the rest, her eyes shifting from one to the other. Where were they? It felt oddly safe inside the mist. Was this the end of the never seeimingly ending horror?
Of course not. Again, images and visions appeared. But this time it seemed to start more peacefully. Vigdis watched carefully. She did not know place, though she found it beautifull.
But then fire and destruction appeared in these vission. And the rage of Argus. She had remebered his terrible wrath from the gods war, but this one was even greater than the one then.
As she wanted to look away, the visions ended. Why was this happening to them? She could not answer the question.
Emotionally exhausted she looked at the others. Her fear of these strangers had long been forgotten after these events. She just wished she could ask them what had happenend, or if they even saw the same things as her.
"Everybody. It's Digend!" she heard the little pegasus yell. "Who?" she signed at him. She had never heard of this name before. But before she could think further about who this Digend would be, she heard Emelise respond cheerfull to him. She listened confused to her. Why did she smile? And why is this other pegasus saying it was a test or something? What is all of this?
But before she could sign again to ask who Digend is, an individual steps out of the storm. They were,, indescribable. She slowly took a few steps backwards, almost cowering from this 'god'. She listened to them speak to the little pegasus and the unicorn. She did not move when they talked about Argus, but how they spoke about Ignacio made a little flame in her burn. She knew - even witnessed it with her own eyes and body - what her god had done. Yes she had lost a bit of faith in her god due to what happened to her, but that still didn't mean that anyone - even this 'creature' or whatever they were' - could talk like this about them.
With a little courage in her heart, she stopped cowering and straightened herself up. "You are wrong." She signed towards them. It was highly likely that it would go unnoticed, but she did not care. "Ignacio cares about his children." She was one of his children - a kirin.
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Post by SagaWolf on Aug 9, 2019 23:08:32 GMT -6
Tulio
Vagabond Bard
......
Words swarmed around him. Asrai, who had gotten off his back at some point, when? was yelling his defiance at the foul visions and then he was shouting about Digend, and Tulio tried desperately to pull his mind back to the present. The crystal heads were in front of him and the storm gathering at the distance, and all the bard wanted to do was fly, fly, fly away! He didn't know what kept him grounded, didn't care either, until Asrai's voice cut through to him with 'Digend!'
That... made some small semblance of sense, didn't it? Or was he just so distraught and drained that he wanted it to make sense. Emelisse, the only person he knew in this mess, backed up the youngster's claims with somewhat troubling words of her own. Digend's truths? It gave Tulio pause and he stared wildly at his small companion. We should listen? I sounded... so very wrong. Tulio had been curious about this ungod and the stories that surrounded, but this? This was horrible and terrible and nothing he wanted!
Madden's words bore into him and he had to agree. Tulio had never experienced any of the gods like he had just witnessed them, and the stories he grew up with did not match. How...what and why was he being shown these terrors? And then the presence, Digend, manifested before them and Tulio shrank back, unwilling to accept what he was witnessing.
Digend seemed to looks Emelisse, Tulio's companion, but that couldn't be right? Why would she worship this... creature? What Tulio saw and had witnessed went against all the stories he had heard, and he found himself terribly torn.
"How can this possibly be the truth? They listen when we pray, I am blessed by Argus, how can you claim that they do not care?! " he demanded, finding his voice quite suddenly. Yet she mentioned respect, and Tulio wondered just how much any of these divine beings could be trusted. He stepped forward and took a deep breath.
"Show me then. I want to see this supposed truth. "
......
  
Word Count: 349
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Post by Waterdrup on Aug 10, 2019 9:45:17 GMT -6
Emelisse | Missionary
Emelisse offered a nod of recognition and respect to Lilliana as she spoke. The long-eared Pegasus seemed calm but guarded, bracing herself for what was to come. Emelisse pressed her lips tightly together. She couldn’t deny that she shared some of Madden’s disdain at Digend’s way of communication. The new missionary hadn’t thought her God to be so forceful, so frightening. But it hadn’t hurt that much… right? The pony shook the sweaty mane from her face. She had already pushed the horrors behind her, instead remembering how much she had learned from the visions.
Emelisse turned her head towards Madden as he continued, disliking his tone and rolling her eyes at his foolish remarks. “Darkness? Madden, have you not been paying attention? We just saw so much suffering the old Gods brought upon their own faithful people.” She chided him, her singsong voice a few tones lower and full of annoyance. “Digend wants nothing but change from that, not blind chaos. Having faith in her will not lead you to darkness.” She added, her eyes a little softer.
Of course, she could never truly speak for the God, but at least Emmy felt it wasn’t impossible to understand Digend. Chaotic for sure and maybe a little too drastic, but there was also much love and goodness. Emmy was convinced she could feel a certain drive from the God to prove herself to mortals and safe the souls of those lost. And the small unicorn desperately needed that to be true.
She’d noticed the shocked looks Tulio was giving her as she spoke so fondly of the one currently harassing them. It frustrated her. Emmy had been chasing the idea of Digend for most of her live. Heck, the emblem on her mandolin was a silver moth. But the stories she’d gathered and shared with Tulio where better than this, nothing like the bloody claims of cultists. Surely Digend had just meant to shake them up a bit. “Be brave.” She whispered to Tulio as she stepped even closer to her friend.
She wanted to say more, but the breath froze within her and her violet eyes snapped open wide. She watched as Digend herself appeared, soft wings gracefully fluttering from the storm. The image was different from what Emelisse had imagined, but nonetheless very real. Multiple eyes looked down from an off-white face and her voice sounded utterly otherworldly. Emelisse felt a shiver going down her spine as Digend smiled at her, a mixture of awe, fear and excitement filling her chest. She returned that smile when the storm did not harm her and allowed relief to wash over her as the forest returned to normal. “Thank you.” She merely sighed.
Digend turned her attention to a certain unicorn and Emelisse’s smile twisted into a wide smirk as Madden got called out on his bullshit by the God herself. The smirk faded however when Tulio spoke up, arguing that the old Gods did care, even Blessed him. “It’s not enough.” The little pony hissed under her breath, probably unheard by her tall friend. She thought of her dying mother, praying to Kaia for so long. Yet the earth Goddess had done nothing, not even in those final moments. Emelisse however, had escaped many a harmful moment with just some luck.
When Digend asked them if they feared the truth she looked up at the young God again. Of course she was afraid, she was exhausted and thrilled all at the same time. But, Emelisse was also brave and determined, so she took a deep breath as she addressed her one and only God. “Digend, I will witness all that you want to show me.” She said slowly. Could she ask for a gentler approach this time? Should she advice her God to be kinder with her introduction to those who were wary? Emmy was too selfish to consider the tear stained cheeks of some of the horses around her. And she didn’t need to worry about her friend, for Tulio bravely took the challenge as well. She was glad he did.
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Post by hydrus101 on Aug 10, 2019 17:38:16 GMT -6
A S R A I• Vagabond | Hedgewitch •
“I don’t care what it takes, I am going to do what I know is right.
“No!”
Fire burned in his stomach, blood roared in his ears, breath filtered through his lungs, the earth stood steady beneath his hooves, and most of all, magic thrummed through his magenta eyes.
“You are wrong! The gods do care!”
He paid no mind to the consequences, no mind to the fact that he was standing before a deity who could likely extinguish his flame with a flutter of her wings. All he saw or heard or felt in that moment was Digend and himself, anchored on a small island of swamp.
“Argus came to me in a dream! They comforted me when no one else could. They comforted me because I was scared of what you had done. You and you followers bring nothing but misery and death!” He shouted up at her, bristling.
“The gods went away because they hurt the mortals they cared about and they left us on our own because they didn’t want to hurt us any further! They don’t interfere because they are afraid of starting the war over again!”
His eyes harden suddenly. “How do you know the same will not happen to you?”
“How do you know your followers,” he throws out a wing, gesturing to the missionaries she had gestured to before, “won’t turn out to be just like the kirins? How can you possibly know that you will not repeat the others mistakes?”
“What makes you think you will be different? I am not afraid of any truth, but I think you are. You know how it ended last time, you know how it will end this time! Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it!” He cries, a finality, in a voice that sounds much too old for his face and falls silent, breathing heavily.
WC: 309
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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2019 3:12:41 GMT -6
Digend gazes at Asrai.
You were there at my tower. You will bear witness again, but if you wish to be blind, then so be it.
She then moves her attention to the kirin who is signing at her, and smiles.
Which children? You, the scaled ones, or the new ones? Even if he does care, one of you must be wrong.
Digend looks at Tulio next, and nods, smiling.
I have shown you Argus. Now, I will show you the three who remain. But know this - their gifts, freely given, are but chains. Chains I can break.
But I have much left to show you, brave Tulio. And you, my Emelisse.
Bear witness.
Digend summons a new, reflective fog around you, a fog filled with images and sounds. Three more gods must have their truths revealed.
A land of sand and wind.
You watch as years cycle by. Droughts and famines come.
The people cry up to the quiet heavens as the land becomes more and more desolate.
You watch as the people are ravaged by war.
You are shown the despair of what happened when she vanished. Her blessings, worn weak and thin.
And you, you are shown a different view of why. You watch as she attacks Kaia and Ignacio mercilessly, even as they try to speak to her. You watch as pleas and reason fall on deaf ears until the two protect themselves, and strike her down to dust.
In a final flash, you watch her descend from the heavens. She is a spear of storm, and she annihilates and army of kirins with a breath.
But she never came to the aid of her children.
Digend allows the fog to shift. It is now the color of flame.
The glittering, gold city of New Valore. A statue of Ignacio, encrusted by jewels.
And a thousand upon thousand slaves that toil at its feet.
The scenes of suffering - immeasurable.
Blood spilled in the pit in his honor, in his glory.
You watch as the god appears, only to favor some souls - granting them their freedom while thousands more die under the iron hooves of their oppressors.
And you watch as his first children come, as they set the world aflame. They kill mercilessly, indiscriminately. Children, slaves, adults, unfortunate vagabonds. All die in the name of the god of fire.
But he does not protect them either, as the nations of the world mistreat them, imprison them. You watch as a panicked mob kills a kirin child, and then the vision fades.
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Post by moonlightwalk on Aug 11, 2019 14:57:26 GMT -6
Lilliana | Missionary
Lillliana felt themselves fill with relief as Digend showed herself. They had been right. Of course, it was always Digend. Who guided them towards the future, who undid them of the chains of the past. She closed her eyes for a second, basking in the presence. Lifting her wing from Luca’s eyes she pushed her daughter closer, beckoning them to watch. “Look it’s okay, it’s Digend sweetie.” It seemed scary but it didn’t hurt one bit. Well, not psychically. The emotions did tear at them, leaving deep gashed. Their heart bled.
“I understand,” they said. “I shall bear witness. Even if it hurts, it will only be a fraction of what so many others have gone through.”
The truth wasn’t pretty, never had been, but waiting and hiding would not make it easier. Again, she had tried. Lilliana shook their head sadly at the denial they heard. This was but facts. “I had once wished it was not true,” they said, “but I have travelled too long, seen too much.”
They watched in pain at the imagery, knowing full well how close they’d come to that. The pain, the horor. “That was almost me,” they breathed, eveer more greatful for their escape. Things shifted and even the magic of kirins returned was broken by strive on both sides. She winced visibly as the child died. A tear made its way down her cheek. “How can they bare that?” She questioned. “How can they sit back and do nothing? Why is there so much hurt in this world?”
Post 5 | 263 words
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Post by seechem on Aug 12, 2019 15:58:05 GMT -6
M A D D E N
a Mercenary of the Vagabond
'blood like rust on swords i knew, chests and hearts from lovers too'
......
The little mare chided him. "Having faith in her will not lead you to darkness." The stallion narrowed his eyes at Emelisse and watched her sceptically.
Then She was there. Even as the storm around them flickered out. Right in front of them. Madden's eyes widened and his teeth gritted together in spite. Two of Her disciples walked among them? The unicorn remained still even as his eyes looked to Emelisse and Lilliana. The deity's words rolled into existence and prickled the mercenary with the strangeness of them. Her goal seemed to be to expose the other god's to their faults, but to what end?
"What about your god, the god of fire?" The words caught him off guard as he found himself at the receiving end of the deity's attention. "The god whose people burn the place you call home, who will drag you away in chains if they even see you?" Madden's throat bobbed and he bristled at Her words.
"A god that watches idly as their nation gorges itself on blood of the innocent and enslaved? Such a light, indeed." Madden's lip curled up. "Tell me, child. Do you think he will be there to shield you when his original children burn this earth?"
The unicorn's heart sputtered. He had never even met his god, but still held blind faith in him. Was it right? Was SHE right? She couldn't be right, no, not at all. Madden straightened as She landed and returned to speaking to the group. He had no words, only an anger in his chest that roared like his god's own flames.
A hoof scratch made Madden turn, he was used to sign by now, and watched the kirin. Yes. Ignacio cared for his children, but Digend's sharp words cut across him like a blade. HIS children. Madden was not one of Ignacio's children, he was a follower. For a moment he felt like a scavenger, following the wolves in their hunt and picking up the scraps. Making himself feel a part of the pack, but never really being one of them.
"They listen when we pray, I am blessed by Argus, how can you claim that they do not care!" The bard challenged. Madden swivelled an ear to Tulio. Ignacio had answered his prayers, never directly, but He had guided him out of danger in the past...had led him to Nero. But even then, the bard stepped up to bare witness, as did Emelisse. Was it worth it?
The small pegasus erupted in emotion, and the mercenary took a step back to give the child space to vent. His words rung true in Madden's ears, and voiced an opinion he could not put into tangible thoughts or words. Digend had no evidence of being better than the gods they all knew. Her reputation was murder, and bloodshed from the beginning, and Madden returned to his spot nearer Asrai.
The amalgamation that was Digend addressed each of the criticisms in turn.
"One of you must be wrong." Madden held himself still and watched her move from horse to horse.
"Bear witness." The words rang and took shape in the visions before them all.
He watched Alya and Her seeming indifference to Her children, then he watched his own god's part in the suffering of Aodh. His stomach lurched at the jewel covered statues and blood splattered floors. The kirins and their treatment of others, and the subsequent torment they went through. The red roan paled as he watched it. So much pain; a sentiment voiced by Lilliana.
Madden finally spoke, his voice quiet but hard, "What do you hope to prove in showing us this? That our gods were once monsters? That They didn't always answer our prayers? That society crumbled in on itself because no one stepped in to fix everything that went wrong?" The mercenary slowly lifted his gaze from the floor to Digend, and quirked an eyebrow, "That They weren't perfect?" He looked briefly to Asrai, "The kid has a point. We have seen this 'truth', and all it proves to me is that you want something out of all this suffering. What is that? What is your truth?"
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2019 11:00:15 GMT -6
It is because they are not like me and you.
Her voice is gentle as she turns to face Lilliana. Her Missionary, one of her own chosen.
I was born because I was needed. Wanted. I was created by you. But they, they made you, and then abandoned you. They are not of this world. But I am.
And I would never abandon you.
Digend then looks at Madden again. His devotion, even if misguided, impresses her. Devotion, even if given for the wrong reasons, and those undeserving of it.
Once?
All that I have shown you has either come to pass in the last two years.
Or it happened for centuries. Nothing that I have shown you is distant past. None of the blood and suffering paid for.
For who could make a God pay for their sins, but another god?
She shakes her head, but Madden can hear a smile in her voice. A private smile, just for him.
No one is perfect.
But you deserve better.
What I want is for you to be safe. Happy. Free of the gods who made you to suffer.
I can break the chains.
I can change your destinies.
I can give you a home.
You are mine, and I am yours, if you will take me.
Digend stops. The glassy mist shifts to show new visions.
A northern land of snow and ice and survival.
Under the watchful eye of the ‘nurturing’ goddess, a child is born.
But they are thin.
And so they are culled.
The baby, legs thin as sticks, is led away in chains. To Aodh.
To slavery and death.
The scene repeats. Different face on every mirror of fog. But the same destiny.
Children born sick. Women who have too many opinions. The invalid, the sick, the unwanted.
All pay the price to give those more important than them fine things and food.
With a shift, you are back underground.
You hear Kaia’s voice as she calls for Balance, and the rocks fall.
The balance of gods cares not for mortal fate.
And, finally, you seem to stand in a swamp. Thousands of strange lights burn, and Kaia is there with her brother.
“Again, but better”
She says.
She says, and she helps him. She puts the souls back in bodies.
The kirins.
Again but better.
And so Hireath burns.
AGAIN, BUT BETTER.
The visions fade. The fog settles. The forest is as it was, and has been.
But not for long.
Out of your rage, your confusion, your denial and your faith, something new is born.
It rises. It rises quickly, with an unnatural silence.
It is a tree. As pure white as freshly fallen snow, and enormous in size. As wide as a house, and taller than all the others, it stands like a tower.
It is a tower, some of you realize. The same as the one of bone.
The tree is not a tree at all. It looks like wood, but is made of stone - of hard granite, yet bent and built like no granite you have ever seen.
You look up, and you see that at the top of the tree, its branches twist around themselves like wrought iron. It is like a great work of art, defying all laws of nature.
It is beautiful. Strangle. Unnatural.
Thank you.
It is with your help that I have made this.
She looks at Asrai.
All of your help.
Digend flutters high, circling around her new tower.
As a sign of my gratitude, the tower will take you where you want to be.
But consider what I have told you.
For I do not lie.
With that, she vanishes.
Your characters may now share final discussions, and then touch the Stone Tower to travel to a location of their choosing. Each character can travel to a different location.
When touching the tower, they will be given a vision of Asylon, and if they so desire, they may go there, regardless of if they knew of it previously.
Using the Tower will complete your plot.
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Post by Waterdrup on Aug 16, 2019 8:28:09 GMT -6
Emelisse | Missionary
Emelisse blew some pink strands of hair from her face and glanced at Asrai as he screamed at the God before them. Such a waste. But then again, the Pegasus was just a child. Now they had enough interesting material to mull over and perhaps, one day, he would recognize how misguided he truly was. Patience was a virtue, and Asrai was lucky Digend did not reprimand him. Emelisse smiled to herself and she felt her heart swell as Digend addressed her, spoke her name. To be acknowledge by her God like this, it almost moved her, if only her heart wasn’t as guarded as it was.
The purple horned pony watched the visions of Alya and Iggy with pursed lips, absentmindedly shaking her head. As the last scene faded in the flame coloured fog she couldn’t help but glance over at Vigdis, wondering what the Kirin thought of her God now. Emelisse’s head perked up when Madden spoke again and she watched him with a calm interest, cocking her head. She liked his way of thinking and, didn’t he sound somewhat curious now? A small smile started to creep up her face. When Digend answered the red roan that smile grew into a wide grin. The God’s words were so true, so kind, so strong.
The fog moved again, giving one last show of the backwards barbarians of Onea. Emelisse felt her heart picking up speed, as did her breath. Anger bubbled up inside her as she remembered the pain, the fear. She gritted her teeth as she watched the twisted ways of Kaia, the Goddess that angered her the most. A fresh wave of resolve surged through the small pony as she looked away from the visions to find the image of Digend again. And before her eyes a miracle happened. From the soil of the earth a white pillar emerged, growing as silent as a flower, taller than any tree she had ever seen. Emelisse marvelled at the purity, the unnatural beauty of such an artistic tower. She felt somewhat proud of her God and at the same time intensely thankful just to be a part of it.
The missionary took one step forward as her God vanished before stopping herself. So much had happened in such a short period of time. The forest had returned to its natural self, shadowed and calm, now that the sun was setting. The small unicorn closed her eyes and took a deep breath, smelling the old, damp woods around her. She steadied herself in that moment, before her violet eyes opened wide. She wanted to go, to see Asylon, to see what Digend had created. She looked around at the winged, horned and scaled horses that had gathered here tonight.
Finally, her eyes settled on Tulio and she cleared her throat. There was so much she wanted to say to him. Too much, for the words tumbled through her head and wouldn’t come out her mouth. A very unfamiliar feeling for the experienced little bard. “Tulio…” Emmy finally started, her voice soft. “I know that, you and I, have very different experiences with the Old Gods.” Her words came slow as she considered them, realizing the delicacy of the situation. “But, now you know what Digend means to me… what she could mean to so many others, if given the chance.” The blond pony did her best to face the tall shire, but she also directed her attention towards Madden.
“Ignacio does not deserve your loyalty, Madden, none of the Old Gods do.” She said, her eyes quickly darting back to Tulio before she continued. “I won’t force you to follow Digend blindly. Quite the opposite, actually.” Emmy said as she raised her chin. “I will show you her world and you can make your own calibrated decision.” A knowing smile made its way onto her face again as she looked at Madden. “I can see you’re curious about her after all.” The pony teased.
Then, for a moment, she became more serious as she looked at her old friend again. What if he rejected her? What if he left her side for good? Emmy swallowed hard, searching his green eyes as she spoke. “Please my friend, come with me to Asylon.” She whispered, a sudden tremble in her voice, but her eyes full of determination.
Wordcount 726 | Post #8 |
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Post by seechem on Aug 17, 2019 17:48:23 GMT -6
M A D D E N
a Mercenary of the Vagabond
'blood like rust on swords i knew, chests and hearts from lovers too'
......
Madden felt more than saw Digend's smile at his words. Her attention on him, coupled with Her corrections, made him shiver. So much death and destruction and suffering, all so recent. And all unavenged. It made the mercenary part of him roar to attention, at the need for balance.
"You deserve better." The words were soft, meaningful. He could not help but listen, and feel a little part of himself agree. He had never met his god, and was that right?
The visions of the new born kirins, 'Again but better' blazed into his mind, and he shuddered at the apparitions. Until they faded into the mist.
He felt something, as though tangible, wrap around them for a second, until he sensed the ground move. Starting, Madden stepped backwards to watch the tree appear. It was made of a strange white substance. The red roan approached it tentatively, realising with a startled snort that it was in fact made of stone, despite the intricate woodgrain patterning. Digend thanked them all, and claimed the creation was due to them. Their minds, their faiths, their concerns? Madden was not sure, but wondered at the tree in awe.
"The tower will take you where you want to be." Madden's face softened, a way out of this nightmare. "But consider what I have told you. For I do not lie." And then She was gone.
Words were spilling out around them as one of Digend's own spoke. The small pony whom he had first met. She was speaking to someone in the group, but Madden simply watched the tree, ruby eyes shining at something that had, moments before, not been.
"Ignacio does not deserve your loyalty, Madden, none of the Old Gods do." Her words drew him back to the group, and the tall unicorn looked down at her as she offered to show him her god's world and creations. "I can see you're curious about Her after all." Madden's ears flattened at her jesting tone, and he checked himself. No, it wasn't so...was it? Had that little creature, that god, really gotten into his head with Her 'truths'? His blood still roared for vengeance, for the balance in the wake of the gods' carnage. But was Digend's way the right way?
Emelisse was begging with Tulio to follow her to somewhere called Asylon, but Madden shook his head. His family; his sister, his boyfriend...that child. He could not simply up and abandon them all on a whim, on a mere curiosity. They had no idea where he was, and he already did not trust this god after Her illusions. Even though She had eventually revealed Herself.
"I can't." He hissed, not meanly, but sharply. He was almost angry at himself for not going. "My family. They wouldn't know where I was and-" He shook his auburn head, "I am curious, you were not mistaken on that front. But I cannot simply follow a god who I have only just met to somewhere wholly unknown!" His voice caught in exacerbation, as he almost laughed at the ridiculousness of his words. "That is, if this tree even gives us the freedom to go wherever we like." He scoffed.
Madden adjusted his stance, lowering his head in seriousness, "Look, I think the offer is interesting, tempting even. But I cannot leave my loved ones unprotected. Maybe in the future I will investigate Her offer. But for now, aside from Her visions, and aside from this," He looked up at the stone tree, "thing, I have no assurances of Her trustworthiness," He sighed, "I just want to go home."
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2019 4:11:33 GMT -6
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