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Post by DawnsComing on Jun 29, 2018 20:29:32 GMT -6
Hello Starborn, and welcome to Breim Plot 604: The Guardians Team Leader: Casius Participants: Judith, Beatrice, Gemstone, Camilla, Nichola Please keep the following in mind!- Posts must be a minimum of 175 words. There is no maximum!- No strict order is enforced, but there must be at least two posts between your own character's.- No god-moding or reading characters' minds (unless your pony is a literal telepath, anyway)
- Always get consent before harming another character!- Your team is precious. Try to interact with everyone. <3- Have fun! Even if your pony isn't. 8'DPrompt: As the caves begin to collapse, your first instinct is to find cover and the closest structure is Argus' Shrine. Surely your patron god will protect you from the danger that seeks to destroy your city. Yet as you huddle together against the calamity, the statues found buried beneath the shrine only months before begin to glow. Suddenly you are surrounded by two large beasts who erect a barrier around the shrine. As the earth settles again, you stare in awe and wonder. What are these creatures and why have they chosen to help you? Location: Nariah Time of Day: late morning Current Weather: cool, cave weather You do not have to wait for your leader to post!
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Post by GingerBlues on Jul 1, 2018 21:04:38 GMT -6
Beatrice
Umare l Magi
"I am unwritten, Can't read my mind, I'm undefined"
References l Playlist l Moodboard
It started as a low rumble, a vibration in the earth that traveled all the way up through Beatrice's still spindly legs. At first the filly thought it might just be sensory overload, as she and her mother rarely left Kaia's shrine, but it quickly became clear that something wasn't right. Before she even had time to react, a nearby building was toppled over as boulders fell from the walls and cieling, almost crushing her in the process. She yelped, crying out for her mother as she jumped out of the way, looking for Judith who seemingly had become separated from her as the chaos ensued. Feeling lost and utterly terrified, she darted towards the nearest safe place she could find - Argus's shrine. Bulling her weighted cloak over top of her head, she rocked back and forth, eyes shut tight and humming loudly as she attempted to drown out the screams of those still trying to escape the danger. As long as she stayed under her cloak, she was safe. As long as she didn't move, mama would find her. As long as she couldn't see what was going on, it was going to be ok... After what seemed like an eternity, the world stood still once more. Breathing shakily, Beatrice opened her eyes, working up the courage to peek out of her cloak only to see two massive creatures unlike any she'd ever seen standing before her. Terrified, she let out a shrill scream before retreating back into the safety of her cloak.
Word Count: 254
Post # 1
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Post by SkyOfNewMoon on Jul 2, 2018 3:30:39 GMT -6
CASIUS  Casius;Breim | Priest
Kindness trumps all, except when it doesn'tArgus' Priest woke up optimistic. Overall he was still settling into his new home and position, but he was getting there. He knew a majority of the friendly and troubled faces that walked through his shrine and could even place a decent amount of names. So the evening before and morning of, he told himself to rise mentally prepared for the day. If he ended one day and then started the next positive, that's how his day would work out, right? Wrong.
Not ten minutes into being up, Fi, his most clingy and recently acquired companion had knocked over several precious jars and a few important books all in order to gain attention for permission to run amuck the shrine. With a sigh, Casius mused that no end of new tactics would help him cease his days. Only pure hard work would get him through.
He took not one step onto Argus' grounds to greet the koi before his world began to rumble. "By Kaia's earth!" The Priest groaned outwardly. Had his Gods not tested his herd enough? Although he thought, his Gods will never stop testing them. For they must never grow too comfortable.
He bolted to the entranceway of his large shrine and peered out. Equines were running chaotically and were likely going to injure themselves that way. "Please! Come into the home of Argus! Your God will protect you even while they are testing you!" He called into the fray of his people. As he retreated back into the shrine an all to familiar scream pierced his ears. A ball of blanket was sitting huddled nearby accompanied by two large, yet seemingly familiar beasts. Casius gasped as he pieced the puzzle together. For the past few months, the strange statues had barely caused Casius to give them an inkling of a thought. But now they stood as alive as ever and by their posture ready to protect. Beside him, Sebastian hissed and arched his back while Fi was the calmest Casius had ever seen her. Almost as though she knew something he did not. Keeping a wary eye on the figures, Casius slowly walked towards the Kirin child and talked to her in a calm voice, "Bea, are you okay? Where's Judith? Oh, never mind. Would you like some tea?" He glanced about, hoping that his fellow Priestess was close behind. He didn't mind the child, but she had always seemed to mind him.
WC: 407 | Post #1 |
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Post by Prismaticlysm on Jul 2, 2018 9:15:36 GMT -6
G E M S T O N E
✦ Breim | Uncut ✦
 "A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials."
~Lucius Annaeus Seneca ✦
It was a normal thing for the girl to wander Nariah alone, well, as alone as she could be without her two Devil Bird companions whom never left her side.
She had decided to make one stop at Argus’ Shrine when it all started. She had barely made it to the Koi pond when Tama and Kei began to caw, a frantic, disturbing tone that the girl was forced to pause and try to hush them. The last thing she wanted was for her companions to make a scene, especially in the middle of Nariah AND Argus’ Shrine. They were never loud. They were always so quiet and gentle. But their talons were gripping her so tightly, she was sure her cloak was now ruined as she felt their nails digging into her fur and flesh. The rumble came next, sounded distant for a moment before it was upon her. She had no idea her birds were just trying to warn her.
The filly nearly lost her footing, a nearby building collapsing, and she could hear another young one screaming. Well, almost. She was too busy staring upwards.
Something like this had happened a few years ago when her parents were killed in a cave in. She was frozen in place, in horror. Was Nariah, no, the entirety of Breim being punished by Kaia? Did they do something wrong? Did SHE do something wrong by coming here, instead of paying respects to Kaia for once?
She could hear someone calling out, but couldn’t make out what he was saying. She was so focused on her inner thoughts. A whimper formed in the zonkey’s throat as she shrunk, remembered how she lost her parents in a similar way, and then snapped out of it.
Her grandmother! And Yoru? Was Yoru okay? Was SHE going to be okay? How could she protect Yoru if she wasn’t?
With her birds screaming in her ears, she jumped out of the way of a falling boulder, barely managing to keep her footing with her birds flapping like crazy on her back. She looked up to see a male and a small filly, both between two...strange, moving statues. Or something. She couldn’t make it out with her trembling vision. But she bolted forward, her ears pinned back, Tama and Kei clinging to her as she did so. The two seemed safe beneath these stone guardians, as that was all she could think of calling them. She skidded to a halt near the Priest and the filly, panting. Her birds had stopped screaming, both of their beaks parted as they attempted to catch their breath.
With her head hung low, the child whimpered. “What’s going on?”
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Post by hydrus101 on Jul 2, 2018 13:43:54 GMT -6
C A M I L L A
❅ Breim | Apprentice❅
 "When you open the door to the other side, you might find a new world of possibilities that you never knew existed. Or like, ghosts or some other spooky shit."
There will never a place where peace can reign for eternity. Peace is delicate and will crack and break and fall when touched by hands that seek to disturb it.
Peace is fragile.
And so is flesh.
When the ceiling of Argus’s cradle began to fall, Camilla was nowhere near home. She was out, shopping, no less, for a new staff as her old one had splintered after hitting the courtyard floor one too many times. This new one was quite expensive, “capped in the strongest steel the masters can make” according to the salesman. Camilla had bought from this stallion before and she even considered him a good friend, as he often gave her discounts and she in turn would give free paper supplies should he need them. It was a shame that the stallion and his shop would happen to fall prey to the collapse.
The first rumble hit as Camilla stepped out of the shop, followed by a resounding boom that sent Erico, her musk deer, to hide beneath her hooves. Swiftly tying the staff to hang by her side, Camilla perked her ears and listened again, her blood running cold, heartbeat pounding in her temples. Her gaze flitted skyward just in time to see a chunk of rock break free and fall, and in an agonizing moment of disbelief, slam into the block not far from where she was standing.
The buildings beneath crumpled like paper, and the dust it kicked up flooded down the street like a river, tousling her hair and throwing dirt in her eyes. Screams and cries began echoing up into the cavernous space above and all of Camilla’s
instincts screamed at her to run, save yourself, get to higher ground, but the body shivering underneath her stomach grounded her. She needed to get to her family.
Blowing through the streets like whirlwind, Camilla raced back to her neighborhood, fighting through the throngs of horses trying to escape the carnage. She would have made it to her house if she had been just a few seconds faster. The entrance to her street was blocked off, smashed by falling rubble. Utilizing her blessing, Camilla projected her soul out of her body and leapt over the rubble, appearing inside her house as time slowed to a crawl around her. As desperately as she looked, no one was there. No Nico, no Carter, no anyone.
Maybe it was a lapse of common sense or just the pure raw terror of it, but Camilla didn’t think to try and seek them out via her blessing. The only thought on her mind in that moment was that they had gotten somewhere safe and she needed to do the same. The closest place was Argus’s shrine. He may not have been her only patron, but she’d be damned if she was going to let herself die because of religious differences today. Veering around the corner with Erico right on her heels, Camilla bolted up the steps into the shrine and leapt into the front room, skidding to a halt in the foyer. As soon as she’d caught her breath, she raised her head, startled by the scene playing out in front of her. There were only a few horses in the shrine, a priest she vaguely recognized, and a few others, but that wasn’t what caught her attention.
Poised like giant guard dogs, two massive stone figures towered over her, moving and shifting as though they were alive. Their eyes glowed and Camilla could feel hot breath leaking out of their mouths and brushing her cheeks. The figures swiveled their heads slowly, observing the small gathering of horses beneath them, as if making sure they were all okay. The statues did not seem to be malevolent, if anything they seemed to be protectors, judging by the way a smaller version of the barrier had inexplicably sprung up around the building.
Scared out of his wits, Erico whined and buried his face in Camilla’s side, his fangs digging into her skin painfully, but she let him stay, his presence a welcome comfort. The flecked mare turned as one of the others spoke, a small zonkey who couldn’t have been more than thirteen, ears pinned flat against her head. “What’s going on?”
Running high on adrenaline and fear, Camilla shifted her weight and twitched her ears. “I want to know the same thing...” She murmured softly and trotted over the others, hoping to comfort the scared foals. “We’re safe here though, Argus will not let this shrine fall. Are all of you alright?”
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Post by Blubber-Bun on Jul 3, 2018 15:43:16 GMT -6
Nichola
A
little bit
Dramatic The child of Valore had awoken to an uncomfortable vibration. When it had become clear that it was not the snores of her neighbor but rather the building itself that was grumbling, she had kicked out from her sheets, rushed to her apartment window (hadn't even the time to brush her hair!) and watched with horror as Nariah collapsed in upon its denizens.
I want to go home.
In a haze of shock, Nichola bursted out the front door - saddlebags laden with a hasty assortment of textbooks and fountain pens, a scarf slung lopsided around her neck. She skidded to avoid being trampled by the fleeing masses; they pressed by in a howling, clawing river.
I want to go home.
The earth was writhing, wrecking carnage to itself. Buildings crumpled like card deck houses - what had stood for centuries, now leveled in seconds. Crescending screams rose and swelled. Somewhere, an infant cried. The dust clotted her throat.
Their home was becoming their tomb.
I want to go home.
She wanted her boyfriend. She wanted her mother. She wanted, so terribly, to not be alone in this chaos.
But alone, she would have to be. She would keep to her wits and she decided, very firmly, that she would not die so far from the sun.
Breath. Think. Methodically, she rationalized her odds of survival. To enter the mob would surely be suicide, especially for one of her small, stout stature. To enter the Labyrinth - where the caves were smaller and the tunnels tighter - would mean certain death as well. Nariah's canaverous cave would hold the longest; she simply needed to find shelter from the cracking fissures and ariel debri. Somewhere strong, sturdy. Ancient.
The Temple.
Autopilot was her navigator. As Nichola tapped up the stone steps to Argus's greatest temple, heart in sync with the violent, frantic ringing of bells, she prayed the arcane god would take pity on her soul. She slid into the shrine, past the priest, knees scraping the marble floor.
"I shall certainly have a word with the architects of this blasted city!"
And like that, it was silent.
Muffled - as though they were underwater. The terrible, earthen groans were but a distant rumble. Exchanging a breathless glance with her newfound company - the priest and children were strangers; Camilla, she recognized - the unicorn watched with awe as a translucent barrier crawled up the mosiac walls. With significant effort, she regained her bearings, brushing the dirt from her dainty hooves.
"Ignacio." Her voice was small, puncuated by an Aodhian accent at every lilting syllable. She cleared her throat, trying again. Her ears still rung. "They have... they have been imbued. The statues - imbued with Ignacio's force fields."
Nichola - Breim - Outsider
P 1 | WC 450 |
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Post by DawnsComing on Jul 3, 2018 18:02:56 GMT -6
Judith
It all happened so quickly and even looking back, Judith could not recall exactly what happened. The earth trembled beneath her hooves and for a moment, the priestess had reminded herself of the quakes that growled and hummed beneath Nariah the past few months. None had caused any real damage, not yet anyhow. Earthquakes, in fact, were quite commonplace in the depths of the Labyrinth and Breim had been used to them for centuries. Their homes were built to withstand Kaia's mild temper and all held a healthy respect for the goddess that surrounded their everyday lives. But this was different.
Bea had been right beside her in the market, humming her own little tune as Judith shopped for new supplies to restock the shrine. She had even promised the girl a treat when their errands were through, a small handful of dried fruits not too far from Argus' shrine. But then the sound of shattering glass rang in their ears and the low rumble of the earth became a vicious growl. The ground swayed as if Nariah was afloat on the sea and Judith braced her small frame against a fruit stand to stay upright. And then it happened, the ceiling above Nariah began to fall. Boulders plunged into the houses and shops, splintering wood and shredding paper as they crushed whatever was in their path. The screaming started then and frantically, the mare looked around for her daughter. Out of the corner of her blue eyes, she caught a glimpse of her, terrified and alone. Judith leaned in to grab the girls hood but was quickly carried away with the flow of the crowd. Equine screamed around her, panic gripping the herd as they moved frantically to find shelter. It took Judith several minutes to pull herself from the stampede's grip and stumble out into an alleyway.
The pony looked around, trying to regain her wits and shake the dizziness from her eyes. Where-- BEA! She had to find her daughter. Judith spun, heading back toward the street where she hurried along the edge of the building. She had always told Beatrice that if they were ever separated, to head to the closest shrine. Kirin were not a welcome sight in Nariah but the Priests all knew who her daughter was and would not let harm befall her.
What took mere minutes felt like hours as the Priestess dodged falling debris and terrified equine. Adrenaline filled hooves carried the mare and just as she flew up the steps of the shrine a barrier was erected around the structure. Before her, two large creatures stood with heads held high. Their chests pushed outward, the mains around their neck flowing like clouds. One could say they were lions while others may have compared them to dogs. Their fur was stiff as if carved from stone and that was when Judith remembered: the statues. The Priests had found them beneath Argus' shrine only then they were a fraction of the size. Totems, they had called them but now these creatures were full grown, living statues which stood taller than most stallions.
Looking down, Judith spotted Bea crumpled into a ball between the creatures; her special weighted cloak hiding her fragile form. Springing forward, the mare leaned in to breath in Bea's ear and nuzzle her daughter's forehead. "I'm here, Bea. You are safe within these walls."
WC: 560 | Post #1 |
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Post by GingerBlues on Jul 4, 2018 3:37:54 GMT -6
Beatrice
Umare l Magi
"I am unwritten, Can't read my mind, I'm undefined"
References l Playlist l Moodboard
"Bea, are you okay? Where's Judith? Oh, never mind. Would you like some tea?"
The somewhat familiar voice of the priest slowly coaxed the young magi out from under her cloak once more, if only briefly for her to nod her head before retreating to safety once more. Mention of her missing mother coupled with the numerous strangers that surrounded her along with the twin creatures towering above them all scared her. Only inside the dark confines of her cloak did she feel safe enough to try and process everything that was happening. That was the problem though...How could she even begin to process something that didn't make any sense? Flowers made sense, Kaia's shrine made sense... but this? This was so far beyond anything the young kirin had ever experienced, and it overwhelmed her in it's entirety. "I'm here, Bea. You are safe within these walls." Beatrice's thoughts were interrupted by her mother's familiar voice. Even as the filly shied away from the mare's sudden touch, she calmed slightly as her mother spoke soothingly, her presence an even greater promise of safety than her words. Still, it took the magi a moment to calm herself enough to peek out of the cloak once more. "What...What are those things?" She blurted out nervously. "Are they going to eat us?" She asked, her eyes wide as saucers as she stared up at the strange beings.
Word Count: 236
Post # 2
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Post by SkyOfNewMoon on Jul 6, 2018 19:17:46 GMT -6
Casius;Breim | Priest
Kindness trumps all, except when it doesn't Relief and grounding flooded to Casius as Judith appeared, surely the Priestess of the Earth mother could give some answers. Although the shaking had stopped and outside the roof was still crumbling, inside was still and Casius felt himself getting a grip on the situation. The small Kirin's request for tea gave Casius drive and he was off, giving frightened Magi orders so they may feel purpose rather than fear too. All inside his shrine would need the soothing powers of tea and the young equine's familiar's would be hungry.
Returning to those gathered, he finally had a good look over the group. Mostly children had gathered and Casius' paternal instincts grew, knowing he had to make the young ones feel safe. Then he noticed the outsider. Although Casius tried to be accepting of all those who came through his doors, he couldn't help but be wary of one who came from the place that burned them and the first words to come out of their mouth was judgement and then cursed words of the Fire God. "Be cautious of the words you use inside the shrine of Arcane." Casius warned, he refused to hear vulgar foreign words praising the God of Fire inside his home, his place of peace! Ignoring the Outsider, Casius looked over everyone to make sure no one was gravely hurt. From a shelf nearby he pulled out a salve walking around the people to apply to grazes and cuts.
As little Bea spoke, Casius finally gave mind to the large protectors. The forms were so strange, nothing their herd had ever witnessed before, but they were not malicious in any way. "I'm not entirely sure what they are, but no, child. They will not eat you. They are a gift and they are here to keep us safe." He replied, keeping a cautious eye on the beasts.
WC: 312 | Post #2 |
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Post by Prismaticlysm on Jul 6, 2018 19:48:01 GMT -6
G E M S T O N E
✦ Breim | Uncut ✦
"A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials."
~Lucius Annaeus Seneca ✦
Gemstone glanced at the smoky brown tobiano mare and her companion who had come up near her. Gemstone was already pretty well aware that Argus would protect them, though the strange statues were something that she wasn’t expecting of her God. Emerald green eyes lifted to the barrier that had been erected above them.
And then another appeared one with scorn in her voice and spoke words she would never have heard from any of her herd. Ignacio? But she didn’t even have time to focus on the other female when yet another mare came leaping over to the other child being tended to by the priest. Apparently, the mother of the other child.
And it was then that Gemstone really got a good look at the child...a kirin. Eyes went wide, and she glanced back to Nicola, then the statues with their barrier, and then back to Bea. She had never seen a Kirin before...at least not in the flesh. But how? Was she adopted? It would be far too rude to ask, and now certainly wasn’t the time to be mentioning such a thing, considering how terrified the other child was.
And it was then Bea spoke again, asking about the beasts that she, too, was intrigued by. It didn’t seem they would eat anyone, seeing as they seemed distracted enough to be holding up a barrier, but the idea wasn’t...too far fetched if they were actually blessed by Ignacio…
Gemstone had gotten a few nicks from the falling rocks, but nothing too serious. She slowly moved closer to the priest, priestess and the other child. She swallowed, terrified at the words she was about to speak.
“Is...Is Kaia angry at us? At Breim?” Gemstone had made it a habit to pray to Kaia daily, alongside Argus and Alya. She looked up at the ceiling, her eyes still wide.
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Post by Blubber-Bun on Jul 8, 2018 7:09:24 GMT -6
Nichola
A
little bit
Dramatic The panic was still fresh. The stark juxtaposition from the chaotic then to the quiet now was jarring - enough to send her reeling.
But not now. Not in front of these people. Biting her trembling lip, Nichola slipped off her saddlebags and gently propped them in a corner. Once, when she had been naive enough to assume prayer would win public favor, she had been a frequent attendee of the temple; the haze of inscented candles and the shape of spiraling columns were familiar comforts. Her tapping steps resounded in delicate, hollow echos as she approached her fellow stowaways, gathered and marveling at two large statues.
The priest chided her on her language; she felt a swell of indignation in her gut. “Yes, well, I just fled an earthquake of catastrophic proportions so sorry if I let something slip but I’m under a bit of stress, you see.”
The words came harsher than intended but apologies were the least of her concerns. She shuffled closer to Camilla, leaning into the taller mare’s shoulder in an attempt to reassure her friend and - perhaps - to comfort herself.
Actually, it was mostly to comfort herself.
It was the words of a small, striped child that drew Nichola from her self-pity. “No, this is not the work of Kaia. This is simply... an inevitability of our own doing. Like a cave-in at a mine, if you will.” Predicting her words would ring no immediate bells, she elaborated. “Mine too much - or rather, in the wrong spot - and the cave’s entire structure is disbalanced. It was only a matter of time before Nariah’s structure would be thrown off kilter by our expansion.”
It was nearly therapeutic, to puzzle and speculate. To put sense in an otherwise senseless situation. She swallowed her bile, releasing a shaky breath.
“Or... perhaps it’s something more tectonic - in which case someone certainly did disturb Kaia,” Nichola mused aloud, casting a vaguely suspicious look at her company - a motley mix of worshipers, both young and... well, even younger (and was that a Kirin?).
“Do you know of anyone who may have imbued these?” She questioned the priest of the temple, sticking stubbornly to her previous theory.
Now close enough to examine the chiseled beasts, she reached forth with a precise, tentative touch of lime teke, dusting off the totem’s face. It was set into a feral, stone-toothed snarl. An unflattering look, she decided with bitter amusement.
Nichola - Breim - Outsider
P 2 | WC 411 |
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Post by GingerBlues on Jul 10, 2018 13:54:57 GMT -6
Beatrice
Umare l Magi
"I am unwritten, Can't read my mind, I'm undefined"
References l Playlist l Moodboard
"I'm not entirely sure what they are, but no, child. They will not eat you. They are a gift and they are here to keep us safe."Beatice wrinkled her nose skeptically at the statement. They were large, scary, and could snap her up in one bite. Whether Casius thought they would actually eat them or not was of little consequence to the young kirin, the fact was that they could, and she was still terrified of them. Keeping close to Judith, she ventured a gaze at the strangers, flicking her ears forward as the other young equine who seemed to be around her own age opened her mouth. “Is...Is Kaia angry at us? At Breim?” Beatrice tugged at Judith's mane, knowing her mother would have the right answer, only to hear the outsider respond to the uncut. “No, this is not the work of Kaia. This is simply... an inevitability of our own doing. Like a cave-in at a mine, if you will. Mine too much - or rather, in the wrong spot - and the cave’s entire structure is disbalanced. It was only a matter of time before Nariah’s structure would be thrown off kilter by our expansion. Or... perhaps it’s something more tectonic - in which case someone certainly did disturb Kaia,” Bea shook her head, indignantly, not understanding how anyone could even think Kaia, the goddess to whom she'd devoted her life, could ever wish to harm them. As her thoughts began to dwell on the goddess, her mind wandered to the shrine she called home, the realization that it too had likely been effected hitting her like a ton of brinks "Mama, what happened... What happened to our home? Are my flowers ok?" Her voice cracked as she spoke, fear and anxiety tightening in her chest, making her panic as she rocked and shifted her gaze back to the floor. They had to be ok. They were her flowers, and she loved them all. She had poured everything into them, and couldn't imagine a world where they weren't. She closed her eyes tightly, humming loudly once more to block out the thoughts bombarding her mind. As she rocked back and forth, looking for something else to focus on, she find her thoughts resting once more on the giant creatures. Casius had said they were here to help them, protect them... and if the creatures had protected one shrine, were there more to protect the others? Even if they did eat her, maybe they would keep her flowers safe. She opened her eyes to look at Judith and Casius briefly before turning her attention back to the 'statues'. "Are there... Are there more?" She asked, concern evident in her voice. Though Bea's thoughts and words in tandem with each other made perfect sense to the young kirin, she had never been a good communicator, and didn't realize that much of what she had said wouldn't necessarily be understood the way she'd intended it.
Word Count: 498
Post # 3
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Post by hydrus101 on Jul 14, 2018 0:12:21 GMT -6
C A M I L L A
❅ Breim | Apprentice❅
"When you open the door to the other side, you might find a new world of possibilities that you never knew existed. Or like, ghosts or some other spooky shit."
Feeling the pale unicorn shuffle up against her shoulder, Camilla repositioned her hooves to steady both her friend and her familiar, knowing both were probably scared out of their wits. Her heartbeat and mind were still racing, constantly bombarded with different thoughts and worries that sought to break her down. Her family her friends, her home. They were being ripped from her again. The ceiling would fall and leave them exposed to the sky...Alya’s sky.
Turning her thoughts back towards the gods, she engaged a low form of her blessing once again, shifting slightly into the astral plane. It was quiet there, less hectic, but she couldn’t escape completely, for fear of what might happen. With her focus withdrawn, everything around her simply became a soft muted blur. Shapes moving, voices mumbling, nothing really registered when she retreated further into the starry realm only to be snapped back as one of the statues growled at Nichola, causing her to step back. Without much thought, Camilla’s protective instincts kicked in and she gripped her staff, preparing to swing at the vaguely registered threat. The neurons suddenly began firing away in her brain again and she paused, stopping her movements before the staff has so much as dropped from her belt, suddenly aware of their situation once again.
Eyeing the statues with even more apprehension, the skittish mare kept her grip firm, ready to attack should the guardian go rogue.
The kirin child - Beatrice, if she remembered the rumors right- began to speak, a shaky voice in an equally shaky environment. Nichola replied, her steady voice a sharp contrast to the young kirin’s. The unicorn’s words were true, maybe the civilization had grown too large to stay safely below ground forever. Perhaps the gods had deemed it time for this geode to crack, so to speak.
Following Bea’s gaze back towards the statues, Camilla spoke up, her eyes fiercely fixed to them. “I wouldn’t doubt it. Whoever put them here, be it Argus,” her gaze flickered to the perlino mare, “or any of the other gods. They had a plan in mind. These things don’t just happen at the drop of a hat.”
Daring to move closer to the guardians, Camilla strode up to them, renewed curiosity in her heart and her familiar on her heels. The flecked mare blinked and stared the creature in the eyes. There was no hostility or anger in her gaze, only interest and the desire to trust.
“Maybe these things are springing up all around the city. It’d be strange to just have them in one location. It only helps a select few...” The mare bit her lip, tentatively voicing the worries plaguing her mind, against all better judgment. “Unless, maybe they’re here for something more? If they’re really guardians, could something even worse be coming?” Her gaze flicked from the eyes of each statue to her fellow refuges, suddenly very uncertain. Lowering her voice, Camilla breathed a terrifying question to herself, fear tugging at her mind as she realized that she might never know the answer. “Did they know that this would happen? Is this the god’s way of thinning out the herd?”
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Post by Prismaticlysm on Jul 14, 2018 10:50:10 GMT -6
G E M S T O N E
✦ Breim | Uncut ✦
"A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials."
~Lucius Annaeus Seneca ✦
The response came from Nicola, and it was one that stirred terrible emotions in the child.
A cave in...at a mine. No...
Gemstone had to look away to keep her tears hidden, the thoughts of her parents swelling up from within. What Nicola was explaining was essentially what had happened a couple of years ago to some miners, which included her parents. She couldn’t think about it again now. Not now… But this was Nariah, a place that had been here long before she was born, before even her grandmother was born. Why would it suddenly fall? It was terrifying. Gemstone didn’t realize how claustrophobic living underground was until now...when the very home she was always comfortable in tried to snuff her out. She shivered.
She quickly rubbed her eyes on her cloak, Tama and Kei having moved closer to offer her comfort. They cooed at her, their vocal tones gentle and their grip gentler. She finally raised her emerald eyes, glossy with unshed tears, distant tear trails lingering on her cheeks. She looked to Nicola again, her large, rounded ears lowered against her head. She didn’t want to believe Kaia would do this….
The question Nicola asked next did a fair job at pulling Gemstone from her thoughts for the time being. It was better to think on the present than the past...especially if the past was so unbearably painful.
It was the kirin child who spoke next but not to the group, anxiously speaking about flowers. The striped child thought it strange to be worrying about something like flowers at a time like this. But since the other child was a Kirin, it was likely she hardly ever stepped out in public, especially by the way she clung to her mother. Looking back up to the guardians and their shield, Gemstone shared Bea’s thought. Were there more? And if there were, how many did they save? Did they save Yoru and her Grandmother?
It seemed even Camilla thought the same. Why would the gods place only a couple of these statues in one area? Were only those near Argus’ temple worthy of living? No...the gods wouldn’t...
The words being spoken were just too much. Thinning out the herd? Her grandmother was out there, beyond the safety of the statues barrier in the temple. So was Yoru. And Nuriko. And wasn’t Yoru’s Guardian Doev? What about him? How many would be lost today?
And without being able to contain herself any longer, the emotions rushed forth in full fledged tears spilling down her pale face. It was too much for her young mind to bear. She cried out and slumped to her belly, forcing her birds to hop off her back as she literally curled up in a cloaked ball on the ground. It was really hard to look to Argus, or even his priest, for guidance right now. Not even Tama and Kei could console her with their presence.
“I d-don’t want anyone to die...grandma...Y-Yoru…Argus please...” She moaned pathetically. What would she do if she lost the two people she cared so much about? She wanted badly to call out to her own mother, but the dead couldn’t be brought back.
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Post by GingerBlues on Jul 17, 2018 16:04:44 GMT -6
Beatrice
Umare l Magi
"I am unwritten, Can't read my mind, I'm undefined"
References l Playlist l Moodboard
“Unless, maybe they’re here for something more? If they’re really guardians, could something even worse be coming? Did they know that this would happen? Is this the god’s way of thinning out the herd?”Beatrice froze as Camilla spoke, listening to each word in abject horror. Why would the gods do this? Why would they want to kill those their children? She shook her head, standing to her feet to back away from the others. "My flowers...." She choked out, tears welling up in her bright green eyes as her attention moved from each of the equines within the shrine to the massive creatures who seemed to be keeping the shrine itself standing. If the gods truly intended to destroy the city, to kill off the very people that gave them everything they had, there was absolutely no way her flowers would be safe. She couldn't let them be killed, not now, not ever. Plucking what courage she had, the little kirin made a break for it, darting towards the giant creatures in an attempt to make it past them and through the shrine's entrance. She had to get back home, she had to protect that which was most important to her no matter what...
Word Count: 204
Post # 4
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Post by DawnsComing on Jul 18, 2018 8:04:11 GMT -6
Judith
A heavy anxiety rested over the small group, the crackling of the barrier above them the only noise for a few brief moments. Judith bent down, leg and neck encircling her daughter with minimal contact. She too wondered what would become of their shrine. Had it survived the quake at all or simply been damaged. Donagi was also nowhere to be seen and worry pricked the pony's heart.
"Kaia would not do this to us...this is not of her doing." The words were spoken mostly to herself but surely the others heard it as well. Kaia had always sent the Priestess challenges, obstacles that required faith to overcome but this; this was far from the doing of their beloved gods. Perhaps the outsider was right and nature has simply taken form over years of carving away Nariah's walls. It was not Kaia that caused the walls of mines to cave but mortals who challenged the power of the earth.
From beneath her, Bea suddenly bolted, her scrawny legs making haste toward was used to be the entrance of the shrine. Judith knew her daughter wanted to go home, to return to the place they both loved, and to be honest the mare felt the same way. But the pale form of the barrier cracked against the ground and try as she might the filly couldn't push through it. With a heavy sigh, Judith made her way over to Bea hushing her quiet sobs with a gentle stroke.
Ears back, Judith stole a glance at the large stone creatures; their heads held high as they gazed up at their own creation. A twing of recognition sparked the mare's memory but for the life of her, she could not recall from where. "These creatures...," she started, mind churning as blue eye's returned to the group. " We found totems buried beneath the shrine only months ago. To say if there are more or not is certainly uncertain. But someone must have put them there."
"Casius," realization had struck her and Judith knew these creatures had been seen before, by her many years ago as a Magi. "There is a book in your library. It is old, a testament and journal of one of the first Priests of Nariah. My mentor and Priestess showed it to me a long time ago. I believe it will reveal exactly what these things are."
WC: 400 | Post #2 |
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Post by SkyOfNewMoon on Jul 19, 2018 20:09:23 GMT -6
Casius;Breim | Priest
Kindness trumps all, except when it doesn't Casius pondered the Outsider's words carefully. Had they, in fact, pushed the city's limits too far? They tried to be respectful of Kaia's earth, by limiting their numbers and praying for her protection but sometimes even the Gods don't have control.
"These guardians were found as simple statuettes merely months ago. If they were imbued, it was likely to have been years before our time." He pondered to her out loud. Then listening to the young mare speak her fears for losing more family made Casius rest his muzzle on her neck, "Be brave young one, have faith in your God that they will be okay." Although internally he also feared the many who were likely to be lost to this chaos. Just as he mentioned so the little Kirin with a distressing amount of speed took off in hopes she wouldn't lose her home. Casius' heart ached as the Guardians kept her put with in the temple and Judith went to comfort her.
His ears pricked up as Judith began to remember important details. Nodding he made his way over to the vast shelving of books and began his search. After a few minutes of feeling overwhelmed by the choices, Casius summoned a spirit who was attached to Argus' temple to help him in this quest. The spirit of a Magi guided him along, up high and to the right until at last they smiled as he found what he seeked. Using his teke he drew the book down and opened up the dusty cover. However, inside was still crisp and fresh as though the book was made only days before. He smiled as the faint sound of bells flowed past his ears and the smell of smoky incense wafted through his nostrils.
He returned to the group and knelt down placing the book on the floor letting its pages fall open for all to see and magically it landed on an exact sketch of the guardians that lay before them. "Fascinating." He breathily spoke out loud.
WC: 338 | Post #3 |
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Post by Blubber-Bun on Jul 20, 2018 6:20:54 GMT -6
Nichola
A
little bit
Dramatic Nichola did not think she would ever recover from (and much less process) the terrible events of that day. It made her previous University struggles look paltry by comparison. Innocents were dying out there - crushed by the wood of their homes, speared by the stone of their sky, split and lost from their loved ones - and yet here they stood, the Chosen few as she fancied, and they spoke of a book as though that should be their main concern.
The statuette beasts wouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon - she suspected even she could outrun them, if she really wanted to. She'd have called bullshit on their entire suggestion if not for the prospect of applicable knowledge. "If we know what they are... or, well, how to utilize them, we can save more people."
Plus, she just really wanted to get her hooves on an ancient Breimian text - an original. What a privledge that would be.
While the preist shambled off to his library, the Aodhian returned her attention to the children and the mare to whom she was still plastered. The striped girl had been tipped over the verge and into tears; the young kirin was being ushered back by her mother. "Oh Camilla, you're scaring them," she chided her elder friend with a touch of the sardonic, the scolding accompanied by a gentle lime-green swat on the shoulder. Horrifying though it might be, Nichola was inclined to agree with the mocha mare's theory.
She leaned down to the children (which wasn't hard - she was scarcely taller than a foal herself) and smiled a small, comforting smile, pert but perhaps forced. They asked many questions. Too many questions.
"What my friend the red-caper meant to say is that this catastrophe is a predisposed and highly purposeful population-check in which the earthquake and subsequent abandonment of Nariah are simple cogs in a grander scheme by a god or other powerful entity whom have deemed a select few worthy of shelter by use of these guardian statues." She paused for a breath, a quick inhale and another smile. It didn't reach her eyes. "... which means we're all safe for the time being but anything and anyone outside these walls have likely been condemned to a violent end. Capeesh?"
Violent end. Even as she spoke it, she felt a coldness turn to ice in her veins. Her boyfriend was capable, surely well versed in navigating danger, with a surplus of training and confidence under his belt.
But that still did little to dispel her worry.
Perhaps it was for the best that the preist returned when he did; straightening up and smoothing down the frazzled, tossed coils of her bushy mane, Nichola peered curiously at the open book.
Nichola - Breim - Outsider
P 3 | WC 456 hi my name is nichola and welcome to my powerpoint |
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Post by Prismaticlysm on Jul 21, 2018 11:20:39 GMT -6
G E M S T O N E
✦ Breim | Uncut | Umare ✦
"A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials."
~Lucius Annaeus Seneca ✦
Ah yes, Camilla had indeed triggered the little zonkey, and she struggled to regain her composure.
Gemstone peered out from behind her messy forelock, tears dripping down her cheeks to see the little Kirin darting for the barrier nearby where she lay. Again with the flowers. Gemstone couldn’t understand the obsession unless Bea really didn’t have any other family. Or friends for that matter. Judith had gone after Bea, who had been stopped by the barrier, which proved they were, for all intents and purposes, trapped within the shrine.
Tama and Kei were nuzzling her neck, making low noises that were directed only at their companion. Even Kei tried to be his humorous self by hopping in place. He proved a good distraction for a moment, allowing Gemstone to smile slightly and nudge her male Devil Bird. But her ears perked at Judith’s words, a realization that she had seen these statues before. Although eyes were still filled with tears, and she still shook from beneath her purple cloak, the child looked back up to the menacing sculptures. She started at the touch from Casius, who she hadn’t noticed got close, but she immediately relaxed. She needed someone to remind her about Argus. Her mind was too scattered for her to remember herself. She took in a shaky break and nodded.
“Yes, sir.” She closed emerald eyes and breathed, focusing. Argus wouldn’t allow her family to be taken. She was too devout, as was her Grandmother. And she could only hope the well-built homes of the nobility would protect her precious Yoru. During this time when her thoughts moved inward in prayer, the Priest had gone off to look for that which Judith had indicated. And when his hoofsteps clacked against the broken ground again did the child open her eyes, allowing the tear-soaked orbs to be seen once more. While Casius lowered the book and it magically fell onto the pages they were looking for, the outsider spoke up.
What she said made sense. Now that they had this book, perhaps it did have knowledge on how to get them to move or search for those trapped under the debris. Gemstone thought about how much braver she would have been if she were with Yoru, she knew she would have been dead set on keeping him safe, which she felt was her destiny. Though that was just a fantasy, and she was living a reality, currently, within Argus’ shrine. Eyes slightly glazed over, fighting the two voices that mimicked her own in her head; one telling her to be brave and the other telling her to face the facts. She had to choose the latter.
Her eyes went back to Nichola, who had gone and verbally, and somewhat physically, scolded the brown mare. Her ears folded back slightly when the unicorn had come up to her and Bea, who was still with her mother. And what unfurled from the mare's mouth next was extremely confusing. The words were some she had never heard before, but she caught the gist of it. She wasn’t sure if she was being teased or if the mare was indeed trying to actually get them to face the facts, which Gemstone really did not want to do. Her family as okay. Her grandmother and Yoru both.
It was the mention of a violent end that had Gemstone shaking again. No...No no no…
And she felt guilty. Guilty because she had others to fear for when the kirin child had flowers. Did she really not have any friends or other family? In a fit of fear and a desperation to get away from what Nichola had said, as if staying near the mare would cause those fears to come to fruition, Gemstone scrambled to her hooved and darted over to where Judith and Bea were. Naturally, Tama and Kei took flight to follow. Although she hardly knew the mare or her filly, she felt the need to be near a motherly character that didn’t vocalize such horrifying ideas. Sorry Nichola, your Powerpoint was too scary! Taking in a gulp of air, Gemstone spoke, voice trembling.
She felt so guilty with how she perceived Bea. It was time to remedy that fact, even if Bea had no idea what was going on within Gemstones head.
“I-I’m sure Kaia won’t let anything happen to your f-flowers...especially if they are so precious to you...J-Just like Argus won’t hurt my grandma o-or my friend Yoru…” She kept her gaze averted, tradition preceding her. “M-Maybe when we get out of here...and I know my grandma and Yoru are safe...m-maybe I can come help with your flowers...if you want me to…”
If Beatrice had more friends, maybe she wouldn’t be so scared, and maybe she wouldn’t focus too much on the flowers. Gemstone hated to think how the other girl would feel if those flowers were gone...if they were her family, it would be soul crushing.
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Post by GingerBlues on Jul 23, 2018 12:13:50 GMT -6
Beatrice
Umare l Magi
"I am unwritten, Can't read my mind, I'm undefined"
References l Playlist l Moodboard
The tiny kirin yelped, more in surprise than pain, as she crashed into the barrier, unable to pass through it. A cry of anguish passed through her lips as she envisioned her flowers being crushed beneath the falling rocks and rubble. Screaming, she reared up, slamming her forehooves against the barrier repeatedly, before crumpling to the ground sobbing. It didn't take long for Judith to appear at her side, whispering gentle words of comfort to sooth her, applying gentle, steady pressure to her head reassuringly. Tears still streaming down her face, and unable to focus, Bea hummed quietly, shifting her weight from one foreleg to the other as she tapped her hooves against the hard surface in an attempt to soothe herself. Eyes glued to the floor, she clung to Judith's side as the mare spoke to Casius about a book. She didn't know what they were talking about, and she couldn't focus well enough to understand. Even when the priest returned with the book in question, Beatrice's focus was still on her flowers and her home. After a few moments of muttered talk from among the others, the other child ran over to stand near Judith and Bea. Startled, the kirin stumbled back a few steps, unsure of what to make of the striped equine and her birds, as she hadn't seen many of either in her short time in the world. Pulling her cloak tighter around herself, She glanced at the stranger briefly as she began to speak. “I-I’m sure Kaia won’t let anything happen to your f-flowers...especially if they are so precious to you...J-Just like Argus won’t hurt my grandma o-or my friend Yoru… M-Maybe when we get out of here...and I know my grandma and Yoru are safe...m-maybe I can come help with your flowers...if you want me to…”
Beatrice thought about what the filly had said for a moment, not knowing what to say or how to respond, as she hadn't really interacted with many equines. Not knowing what to say or do really, she simply nodded in agreement. While she didn't like the idea of another equine handling her flowers, her mama had mentioned Bea needing friends other than her flowers, and maybe this was a start. Besides, the other filly didn't need to touch anything to be a friend, right? Her attention was forced back to the current situation as the book Casius had obtained was dropped on the ground with a loud thud, opening to a page that had drawings of the strange creatures keeping them trapped within the shrine's walls. She could only hope the secret to their escape was from the creatures was also written within the book's pages.
Word Count: 457
Post # 5
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Post by DawnsComing on Jul 26, 2018 17:30:22 GMT -6
Judith
As the book fell to the ground, pages spread wide in earnest, Judith knelt closer. The words were familiar yet unremembered, like a name that caught on the tip of her tongue. She had seen this book before, definitely; during her time as a magi. Her former Priestess had encouraged her love of learning and thus took her to the largest collection of old text at Argus' shrine. There, Judith had spent countless hours paging through the old pages, despite not understanding the vast knowledge of the old scholars.
Blue eyes fell across the sketch of the beast that now towered over them, its broad brush strokes and organic form mimicking the image of Argus and the starscape that swirled around their neck. Its face was that of a lian and a dragon rolled into one, powerful yet also reassuring. Thick legs held the beast upright, supporting a ridged back and flowing, cloud-like tail.
"Foo-dog...," the mare read the words scribbled beneath the drawing. "Guardian. Protector. Origin...The city of Kin." Her brow furrowed a bit as she read on, finding little substantial information as to what these creatures were. But as she turned the page, she began to read what seemed to be a journal entry.
'It has been many years since we moved the herd beneath the earth, yet Jin assures us it is for the best. I can do nothing more than trust him, the one chosen by Argus, but still I long for our old home. The city that is now made of ash and fire. I am getting old now, and fear many are beginning to forget our heritage and the place Argus made for us. So I must write down all that I remember before it is forgotten to time.
A dream has reminded me of this creature, a familiar we once knew as Argus' pets. We called it the foo-dog, a gift from our great god meant to protect all within Kin. To obtain one was considered an honour, as the equine would be required to carve the creatures totem and present it to Argus' themselves. The god's own foo-dogs present, they would deem if the equine was of pure heart and bless the totem giving the beast life.
In the many years since we have left Kin, foo-dogs have not been seen. All were destroyed in the Kirin attack, protecting the citizens as they escaped. Again and again equine have tried to create totems and have them blessed by the god but not once has the totem come into existence. I, myself, have carved two to no avail and buried them deep beneath this shrine hoping it will at least bring the land good fortune. I fear we may never again see these creatures.'
WC:460 | Post #3 |
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Post by Prismaticlysm on Jul 26, 2018 19:23:05 GMT -6
G E M S T O N E
✦ Breim | Uncut ✦
"A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials."
~Lucius Annaeus Seneca ✦
The nod was the best she was going to get. She had hoped the other filly would speak, but perhaps it was far too soon to expect anything else. She mustered a smile, but it faded quickly. Her eyes moved past the Kirin child and to her mother, Judith, who was reading from the book. As the mare read the words from the page, the little filly moved alongside the priestess so she could look at the book. Low and behold, sketches of the beasts that had protected them. The page turned, and Gemstones eyes moved up to the statues.
Slowly, the girl turned from the group and moved over to where the statues were. She stood beneath them, her head lifted to look up towards their leonin faces. They looked scary, but if they were Argus’ chosen, she was glad that they were on their side. It was sort of relieving to believe that her god really was protecting them through these creations.
“So...it’s safe to say that these were made by the one who wrote that journal entry right? Doesn’t that mean that the other totems made by others would have come to life too? I don’t think just these would be the only ones.” Her heart lifted. Argus was with them. He was. She somehow knew her grandmother and Yoru were safe. They had to be. She turned to look back to Bea.
“Bea, if someone left these totems here, I am sure someone left Totems near your home. Your flowers are probably safe underneath another statue just like this one.” At least, she could only hope for Bea’s sake.
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Post by hydrus101 on Jul 28, 2018 13:16:43 GMT -6
C A M I L L A
❅ Breim | Apprentice❅
"When you open the door to the other side, you might find a new world of possibilities that you never knew existed. Or like, ghosts or some other spooky shit."
As soon as the words left her lips, Camilla knew she’d screwed up. Her foreboding words struck a nerve in the others and the air suddenly became tense. There were children here. They weren’t the adults she was accustomed to. They weren’t toughened and resigned like her brother. They still had some hope for life... and Camilla had started to shatter it. Realizing her mistake, she grasped for a recovery to allay the children’s building tears but could think of nothing better to say.
As if the weight of the cavern ceiling had suddenly fallen onto her small shoulders, Gemstone crumpled to the floor in a heap, her sobs piercing Camilla’s heart. Before any other treacherous words could come from the flecked mare’s throat, the little kirin trembled, cried out, and bolted for the exit with the resigned priestess in tow. A hollow feeling settled in her chest and at that moment Camilla wanted nothing more than to copy the zonkey and retreat into her cloak. Nichola’s swat brought her back and she muttered a quiet “sorry...” shuffling away from the group. She’d done enough damage to the little ones already.
The sound of a book falling to the ground hit a reflex and Camilla’s ears swiveled towards it, ready to pick it up and return it to a non-existent display in the shop. Hesitantly following the group as they shuffled close to the spread pages, her attention was drawn to the sketch that clearly matched the stone creatures towering over them. Judith began reading, fractured sentences and bits of words that glanced off Camilla’s mind and only vaguely registered in her consciousness. Finally, the priestess settled on what seemed to be a journal entry of a former resident and read the passage aloud for the whole group to hear.
Once Judith was done, the entire flow of information took a minute to settle in. Gemstone, who had somewhat recovered from Camilla’s revelation, spoke up confirming what the mare had been thinking. “So...it’s safe to say that these were made by the one who wrote that journal entry right? Doesn’t that mean that the other totems made by others would have come to life too? I don’t think just these would be the only ones.”
“I think so too...” Camilla started, closing her eyes slightly, still processing and running all the steps through in her head. “If it’s true, then these totems were made and left here by the author of the book... and they were only activated today...by Argus? So it’s like a...like a safety protocol. A backup plan in case the caverns ever did fall.”
Lifting her head to look up at the statues once more, Camilla knit her eyebrows in thought. “So, then that means it can’t be a culling. The caves falling in must be an accident or something, right? If the gods wanted to limit our numbers they could’ve just done it without all this drama. But...”
Feeling a headache coming on, the mare cut herself off, massaging her temples in an attempt to alleviate the pain. “Gods, this is all so confusing.”
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Post by SkyOfNewMoon on Jul 29, 2018 4:53:17 GMT -6
Casius;Breim | Priest
Kindness trumps all, except when it doesn't "Foo-dogs..." Casius let the name rest on his tongue. They certainly sounded as powerful as they looked. As Judith read the passage, Casius savoured the history as it soared through his ears. Thinking of better times more in touch with their God. When it came to pass that the Foo-dogs were in fact blessed by Argus, Casius couldn't help but glance sideways at the Outsider, glad that her horrid fire god theories were dispelled.
The Priest began to wonder about his own integrity as they learnt about being pure of heart and worthy of such a divine creatures presence. How incredibly powerful those meetings must have felt, heart racing as you waited to find out whether Argus and their companions deemed you worthy. Casius got shivers just thinking about it.
He looked beyond the creatures into the chaos beyond and pondered whether Argus was very much near to them during this chaos. He thought about what Camilla said, everything taking on a brighter tone as they learnt more and felt his spirits rise and he knew for sure that Argus was protecting them. They would never abandon their children. "Argus would never abandon us." He said out loud, with rising confidence. He was sure of it now and he knew it was his job to expel that to those around him.
WC: 223 | Post #4 |
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Post by Prismaticlysm on Jul 29, 2018 7:59:29 GMT -6
G E M S T O N E
✦ Breim | Uncut ✦
"A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials."
~Lucius Annaeus Seneca ✦
Gemstones eyes went back to Camilla when the mare agreed with her, and continued to watch her as she spoke further. Now that Gemstone wanted to agree with. She knew well the horrors that could surround a cave in. However, a cave in in one tunnel was nothing compared to the catastrophe that had occured within the entirety of Breim today. With the size of the tremor, no one in Breim would have escaped unscathed. Not Nariah, not the Point, not Sterling. But there was now an overwhelming hope that there were more Guardians that had risen from the depths of the city to protect Argus’ chosen.
Camilla went back to the word “culling”, which Gemstone visibly winced at, but the mare was speaking much more along the lines that the filly would rather want to hear. But there was a quake. A quake of such a magnitude could only have been caused by Kaia. Unless someone else was behind it. Gemstone never wanted to believe Kaia would do such a thing, the girl had too much respect for the unicorn god. She had prayed to her nearly as much as Argus, though in the comfort of her own home.
“It is confusing…” Gemstone agreed aloud in response to Camilla, before she looked over to Argus’ Priest as he concluded that Argus would never abandon them. If there was one thing a Priest could do, it was to inspire, and Casius fit the part well to bring such inspiration and hope with the tone of his trained voice. The girl straightened herself up, her birds hopping up onto her back.
“Shouldn’t we get out of here? We know what these are now, but no one else does. We need to help everyone and see if there are more Foo Dogs.” Without an invitation, the striped child turned towards the nearest statue. “Please let us out.” The girl didn’t bother waiting for the others to make a decision. They had been in there for far too long as it were. “Please Foo Dogs, we need to spread the word of your Lord Argus and help our herd.”
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Post by Blubber-Bun on Aug 3, 2018 16:26:47 GMT -6
Nichola
A
little bit
Dramatic If the brief mention of the Kirin and the 'atrocities' they had commited caused her any discomfort, she showed it with only the slightest flag of her tail. Lime eyes shifted to the Priest's child - gauging for a similar reaction. For a breed hated by this city, the girl seemed untouched by prejudice; Nichola suspected it had something to do with her tender youth and her mother's ranking.
Two things Nichola lacked.
She listened intently to the words being read aloud, hanging on each syllable with a desperate craving for pen and paper.
Foo-dog.
Kin.
Above.
The pieces, albeit tentatively, fell into place. This wasn't a whim of fate. This was a pattern, a repeating incident; for when (no, where?) had these carved beasts last walked Hireath?
"This is no culling, and sorry but I doubt it was the purity of our hearts that summoned them. Perhaps your - " she coughed, reflexively correcting herself, " - our god means to bring us back to the surface. To where Kin was, to where these foo-dogs lived." Her attention didn't stray from the foo-dogs, examining them as if to speculate how much fabric she would need to fit a collar. Maybe a bow, if she was lucky.
"They aren't guards. They're escorts."
Nichola - Breim - Outsider
P 4 | WC 207 |
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Post by GingerBlues on Aug 5, 2018 0:05:25 GMT -6
Beatrice
Umare l Magi
"I am unwritten, Can't read my mind, I'm undefined"
References l Playlist l Moodboard
“Bea, if someone left these totems here, I am sure someone left Totems near your home. Your flowers are probably safe underneath another statue just like this one.”
Beatrice glanced up briefly as the foal spoke again, hoping she was right. She looked to her mother for reassurance, but was still left feeling uneasy about it all. As the gathered equines continued to discuss the creatures, their purpose, and the gods' plans, Bea wandered away from the group once more. Though still terrified of the massive statuesque beasts, she wanted to get out and get home. Wandering around their giant forms, she tried to find a way out, a gap that had been missed. If these were truly the guardians of Argus's herd, they wouldn't hold them prisoner, right? After a short time, the strange foal joined her near the statue's side, speaking up for the others to hear. “Shouldn’t we get out of here? We know what these are now, but no one else does. We need to help everyone and see if there are more Foo Dogs. Please let us out. Please Foo Dogs, we need to spread the word of your Lord Argus and help our herd.”Still unsure of what to make of the striped stranger, Bea side stepped, giving herself some space between them. Still, she couldn't help but appreciate the fact that someone else wanted out too.
Word Count: 234
Post # 6
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Post by SkyOfNewMoon on Aug 11, 2018 1:03:59 GMT -6
Casius;Breim | Priest
Kindness trumps all, except when it doesn't Casius' heart felt warm as he watched the children interact. It was nice to see Bea getting along with someone, particularly someone close to her age. It wasn't easy being a baby Kirin in the caves. She was quite likely the only Kirin Casius would sympathise. At least, he hoped so. The rest of them could rot for all the destruction they brought on their herd. Going back in time with the contents of the book only proved that.
Blinking his eyes, Casius drawn back to the creatures once more. He considered going to talk to a Master once all of this chaos slowed down. If the Masters were still around that was. A shudder passed over him as he thought of all the new spirits he might encounter on his way through town now. Just that thought alone made Casius never want to leave Argus' careful protection again.
A sad smile came over Casius' face as little Gemstone pleaded to the guardians to let them out. "I feel as though we should wait for some word from outside these walls before we go meandering through Nariah once more. We don't know whether we'll encounter another shake or not. I'm sure the Watch are already out and helping and we'll join them as soon as we know it's safe." He truly did ache to rush out and help those in need. However, he knew that he was most helpful to the group that surrounded him in his shrine here and now.
WC: 251 | Post #5 |
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Post by Prismaticlysm on Aug 11, 2018 11:26:09 GMT -6
G E M S T O N E
✦ Breim | Uncut ✦
"A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials."
~Lucius Annaeus Seneca ✦
Nichola caught Gemstones attention again. The emerald eyes of the child moved over to the mare and listened. She didn’t catch the mare’s slip, mostly because she didn’t really know Nichola was an outsider. Gemstone was more accepting than most Bremians anyway… Gemstone instinctively looked up. Back to the surface? Was it possible? She wouldn’t mind that of course, she always loved the idea of seeing the sky on a regular basis. While she didn’t agree that the Foo Dogs weren’t guards, as they were proving themselves to be now, she did agree with the idea that they might be escorts of some kind. Don’t people who escort others act as some kind of guards?
Gemstone barely registered Bea giving them space, her focus on the face of the foo dog. She did, however, hear Casius speak, and turned her head to peer at him. Long and rounded ears slowly folded against her head. Like Bea, she was just about done being trapped in his bubble. Regardless of the Watch, she was still a Bremian, and it was her job to help protect the herd, wasn’t it? Just because the Watch did these important things, she didn’t particularly feel like waiting and watching others do stuff. Looking back to the foo dog, she pleaded silently this time.
But still, nothing happened. Drat...
Sighing, she looked over her shoulder to her Demon Birds. Both creatures were much more at ease than they had initially, their trio of eyes focused on her and Kei looking at her from a humorous angle. They had warned her moments before the quake hit in the form of screaming in her ears. Well...if they were going to be stuck in here, they would make good alarms, right?
“Tama and Kei…” She looked back over to the adults. “My birds, they started cawing before the quake started. So...they will let us know if there is another one coming.” So, they were stuck it seemed. At least until the Foo Dogs or Argus himself felt it was good enough to be let go.
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Post by hydrus101 on Aug 11, 2018 20:43:42 GMT -6
C A M I L L A
❅ Breim | Apprentice❅
"When you open the door to the other side, you might find a new world of possibilities that you never knew existed. Or like, ghosts or some other spooky shit."
The idea of going topside sent a chill through Camilla. Sure, she had begged Alya for a blessing that would allow her to see the sky a few months before, but this was flat out ridiculous. Regardless, Nichola had a point. Maybe this was the first swat on the ass to get them moving.
The priest‘s gentle words sparked an idea in her mind and she flicked an ear in thought. “Well, that’s true, but the Watch might not even know we’re here. It could take days for them to find us.” She took a few steps forward, courage building in her chest. ”Even if the guardians won’t let us physically leave, I could still go out and contact some of the Watch to get more info. My grandfather should be out there somewhere, he’s bound to know something.”
Not expecting any resistance and not receiving any, Camilla knelt down and Erico pressed to her side, steadying her as she settled. Twisting around to face Gemstone, she gave the filly a small smile. “Have Erico wake me if the birds start calling, alright?”
With that, the flecked mare bent her head down and the world around her shifted, fading out into lines of warm stardust as she sent her soul bursting fourth towards the barrier. A single spark of electricity snaked down her spine as she passed through, almost as if the barrier was reluctant to let her leave. Unshaken and determined, Camilla pushed on as the cobblestones blurred under her hooves as she galloped through the ruined streets. Her eyes roved over collapsed businesses as she searched for her grandfather, or any member of the Watch for that matter.
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