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Post by Queerly on Jul 1, 2018 12:30:13 GMT -6
Hello Starborn, and welcome to Aodh Plot 601: Dust and Echoes![[ image here ]](https://orig00.deviantart.net/cc00/f/2018/181/2/4/undyne_by_lemonyh-dcfx3c3.png) Team Leader: None Participants: Undyne, Bale, Castiel, Nikolas Date: April 15th, Noon 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: While most of Aodh’s attention has rightly been on the impending invasion and sure to be new conquest of Sedo, there have been disturbing reports...or lack of reports from the satellite city of Ashlar in Eithne. Shipments, letters, news--nothing seems to be coming back from the city and no one can get any confirmation that anything has arrived, either. Dutifully, Chevaliers were sent to investigate but none have returned yet and it is far past their time to report. One only person, a young horse, has made their way to Eithne, babbling stories about a silver kirin wreaking havoc on the town with an enormous dragon. In the wake of the destruction at Haven, Isador has dispatched the Flamens with a protective company of Chevaliers, hoping they can use their mystical, religious connection to the Starscape to reach beyond the years of myth to reason with Soleil who they believe this silver kirin to be. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2018 17:02:33 GMT -6
BALE
It was Bale’s third time leaving New Valore within a fairly short amount of time, and there was a heavy feeling weighing on his heart. Outside, he looked determined - it was a task given by the King, no less. He just hoped he had left the few equines he cared deeply for to safety, and would not have to come back to hear he wasn’t there to protect them.
The armor he wore was polished and shone in gold almost as brightly as his scales - fabric banners to his sides proudly displayed symbols of Ignacio. On his back was his rather gigantic relic, Lux, providing him with the only sense of calm he could truly grasp onto. Without him, he would have felt so much more alone.
The journey by train had gone in relative silence - Bale was entirely uncomfortable with his method of travel, but did his best to hide it under a steady, solemn surface. He was about to exchange a few words with the Chevalier detailing their plan for when they got there, when the train suddenly came to a screeching stop, forcing everyone to rebalance themselves.
Bale’s golden, slitted eyes looked for the cause immediately, and he quickly checked everyone was still upright and okay. It didn’t seem like they were continuing forward, so the small company was forced to step outside of the train, even if they were not yet in their destination. Bale grasped for Lux as he stepped down, the relic immediately lighting up in bright red.
What they saw as they got out, were the tracks ripped up and torn away, some beams scattered in the nearby ground like they were nothing. Whatever had bent the metal, must have been huge - that much was obvious from the very first glance. Bale stared for just a moment, then glanced at Nikolas, then around them and the sky, before cautiously approaching the sudden end of the tracks. Lux shone brighter, grasped tightly in his golden teke.
Word count: 336 | Post 1
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Post by PaganStars on Jul 1, 2018 23:07:53 GMT -6
Undyne Let's sway
While colour lights up your face
Sway through the crowd to an empty space
  
x | x When the letter arrived at the Enya Sanctum, Undyne had been thrilled at the idea of leaving Valore and reaching out towards those who did not have the privilege to journey to the sanctums. But then he had continued to read and slowly felt something grip his heart. It wasn’t fear, per say nor apprehension. Undyne couldn’t quite name the feeling, a mix between something good and bad that had butterflies dancing in his stomach. But he had nodded his head determinedly (for his own sake) and began to prepare for the journey.
And while he prepared Undyne thought back onto all that had changed in his life in the past 3 months. Laos’ retirement, his petition for the position of Flamen and eventually, becoming the Flamen of the Enya sanctum; something he had only ever thought of in glimpses at his own future. Three months seemed like almost no time at all, especially to learn the nuances and spirituality that was hidden within the rank itself.
But Undyne had taken his time, had made frequent trips to the other temples, to talk and befriend the other Flamens and learn their own stories, their own ways of doing things. Each brought something new and different to the table and for that Undyne had been thankful; he had never learned more than he did from his time spent within each grand sanctum.
And so Undyne had met with the others in the morning, astounding by the large train car that stood before them. Of course, he had travelled by train numerous times before as the walk from the rogue district could become quite old and tiresome. But never before had Undyne ridden a train outside of Valore. Not dwelling on the advances of his home, Undyne had boarded with the other two Flamens and Chevaliers and did his best to start some sort of light conversation with the others. Fidi had sat idly on his back the entire ride, chittering quietly as the scenery had zoomed by.
In all honesty, Undyne had intended to leave pygmy dragon behind, but she had given him that look and he just couldn’t refuse her. She was protective of her master, and more than one horse had received a bite to the ankle if they got to close to the Flamen.
The ride by train had been almost enjoyable even with the stiff quiet and bumpy ride… that was until they came to a shuddering and screeching halt. Looking around in shock to the others, Undyne had silently followed Bale from the compartment and into the noon sunshine, stunned by what lay before them.
“Oh my” he stated, lost for words and shocked by the destruction.
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Post by ThatDenver on Jul 2, 2018 13:53:18 GMT -6
NIKOLAS
The even, metallic sounds of the great engine pulling them along were strangely soothing. That was good, as absolutely nothing else about this whole situation was soothing in the slightest.
Never one to refuse a command, especially one that took him outside New Valore – and could even give him some accolades, should he succeed – Nikolas had found himself an easy fit for this unconventional mission. While he was with a small company of ten or so chevaliers, only he had accompanied the Flamines into their car, standing lone guard.
They were a strange bunch, he thought. Nikolas had never been a deeply religious person, and found his free days were often spent in the company of a jug of ale, rather than at a holy ceremony. It wasn’t that he didn’t respect them, but, well. He could hardly think of people he would have less in common with.
Except maybe one of them. Nikolas had heard of the man, everyone had. A kirin, one who had been a slave, now a Flamine. The enormous weapon at their side spoke volumes about a man who was more than scripture, and despite having a company of Chevaliers, Nikolas found himself strangely comforted by the fact.
Suddenly, the train rocked as emergency brakes were pulled. There was shouting from the engine room, and the train skid to a halt surprisingly quick for such a large, heavy machine.
Nikolas accompanied the Flamines outside, his eyes scanning the surroundings. The broken, twisted rails were easy enough to spot, but there was no sign of what had accomplished such a feat.
What he could tell just by looking at it was that it was not the workings of bombs, or simple Vagabond machinery. This was something far scarier than that, and it made Nikolas uneasy.
The chevalier exchanged quick glances with Bale, and then returned his eyes to the surrounding woods, meadows and then the horizon.
By then all the other chevaliers had left the train, save a few who stayed to guard the stranded locomotive.
“Oh my indeed, your holiness”, Nikolas said dryly, looking again at the wrecked rail.
“The good news is that we are not far off from our destination”, he noted: “If we follow what is left of the train track, we should be in Ashlar soon enough. It is only 15 or so miles off from here.”
It was not exactly a leisurely little walk, but nothing that should take them too long.
From the company of chevaliers, five stayed behind at the train – they were hoping to be able to get it to a side track with the train crew, and turn it around for a return home. And so it was Nikolas and four chevaliers that were left to guard the three Flamine.
Not an ideal situation, but Nikolas felt that securing an escape route was just as important as getting to their destination.
Word count: 485
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2018 9:39:01 GMT -6
BALE
He almost smiled at the Chevalier’s dry remark, but it remained just a slight tug at the corners of his mouth. There was something oddly familiar in Nikolas, and it offered a little comfort - he seemed like a trustworthy enough guy. While the Chevaliers were there to protect them, Bale still felt a certain responsibility for them all. He was used to trusting his own judgement in dire situations, and the task of protection had been given to him by Ignacio, too. It didn’t help that he had seen Soleil step back into existence, and it hadn’t left him with any better impression than the torn-up train tracks did just now.
He nodded to Nikolas, and then eyed the other two Flamine, and the rest of the Chevaliers.
“Yes, I suppose we better keep moving then. I know I don’t have to tell you to keep an eye out, but if something happens… I should be the least of your worries”, he said sternly, and first stared at Nikolas square in the eyes, then the other chevaliers, and finally gave another meaningful glance at Undyne and Castiel. He was not convinced religious reasoning would help here, at least not the peaceful kind. But useful or not, he wanted all of them to return in one piece.
Bale knew he was probably the youngest out of them, but he was also definitely the most fireproof. And he had the biggest weapon too, he thought more smugly. He was worried the others would be blinded by their reverence for kirins, and not place protection exactly where it was needed the most. He would not have that.
Word count: 275 | Post #2
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Post by sansatine on Jul 4, 2018 10:36:25 GMT -6
Flamine Castiel | 1
The train was by no means a new experience for the seasoned flamine, but one this... quaintness was. Still, a train was a train, and the rhythmic thumping of the tracks was lulling the flamine to sleep, but every so often a cough would overcome the Flaimen and they would be awake again. While this cough, whatever it was, wasn't contagious , Castiel secluded themself away from the bulk of their company. When the flamine heard the sputtering of a silver kirin, their mind went straight to the relic locked away under the sanctum. The restoration of the statue was being put off for every reason the flamine could find,maybe that fed into Soliel's restless spirit. Whatever the kirin's reason for returning was, the truth was simple: Kirins are returning. The hippocampus looked to the slave-turned-flamen accompanying them on the train. Golden scales clung to the horse's body and antlers sprouted from his head. Castiel looked away and out the window. The ground became more and more torn until finally there was a screeching stop. The flamen took a few steps to steady themself before falling into a chevalier . A soft 'Oh my' fell out of the mouth of a fellow flamine. Words were exchanged and the party left the cabin. Tracks were strewn like hay in the wind, causing something deep in Castiel's stomach to flip. They swallowed hard and turned to the others to follow them. As hey walked, Castiel meditated on what course of action would be needed. A dragon could not be reasoned with, but maybe something sentient could be, and so Castiel prayed the perpetrator has a soul, but even then, what good would they do? Castiel was feeling unsure that their presence was really warranted, but maybe that was the Flamine's disdain for leaving the sanctum talking. Regardless of what Castiel felt or thought, they were marching to Ashlar and fully intended to return having quenched whatever flame was burning there. 330 |
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Post by ThatDenver on Jul 5, 2018 17:44:19 GMT -6
NIKOLAS
Nikolas returned to the train car to pick up his armor, and another chevalier helped him put it on. A neck guard and breastplate were better than nothing, and would at least make it easier for him to absorb a few hits if something went terribly, terribly wrong.
The bent and torn train tracks didn’t exactly fuel hope in him.
With his armor on, he felt better, and assessed the situation once more. The kirin Flamen spoke, and Nikolas followed his gaze to the two other Flamine. They were a lot shorter than either the kirin or the chevalier, and where the kirin looked a warrior, they were every bit the picture Nikolas had in his head when he imagined what a Flamen might look like.
“Understood, your holiness”, he said, accepting the order as it was presented. Given the opportunity he would try and protect all of them, but he could easily admit that out of the three Flamines, the kirin looked the least in need of protecting.
“We shall head out then”, he announced calmly, and organized them so that he walked in front, while the other four chevaliers flanked the Flamines, only leaving their rear unwatched – but honestly that was the least likely direction for any danger.
With the small convoy organized, Nikolas headed forward, walking along close to the torn tracks. At places they were still laid out as they should, but random pieces of metal from the torn railroad scattered the scenery every now and then anyway, so keeping on track was not hard even when the railroad was not in place.
Word count: 267
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Post by PaganStars on Jul 6, 2018 10:23:22 GMT -6
Undyne Let's sway
While colour lights up your face
Sway through the crowd to an empty space
x | x Looking to Nikolas, Undyne had nodded his heads at the words of the Chevalier and stepping away from the train and its tracks. The flamen waited patiently as the rest of the chevaliers were assigned their duties, watching with keen eyes as Bale and Nikolas exchanged a few words. Yes, Undyne was aware that he wasn’t the most well protected, nor had he ever really had to fight (he’d fought with words yes but never actions) but understood where the precaution stemmed from. He took no offence to it, merely nodding his head and beginning to move ahead with the rest of their group.
The countryside was lovely this time of year, and though Undyne took great satisfaction in watching the birds flying and running his teke along the newly grown flowers, he always understood that they might not be coming back from this either. What were three flamens and a handful of guards compared to a whole train of trained soldiers?
But Undyne did his best to push this from his mind, only slightly comforted by the hard metal that covered down his spine and neck, his bracers and the dagger tucked squarely away under his collar.
And the rambunctious dragon that strode along his back.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2018 12:07:01 GMT -6
BALE
Bale found it slightly odd to just wait while someone else organized their company, and looked momentarily displeased not to be taking the lead. He understood very well why it wasn’t his place, but the natural instinct was strong regardless. Even after all his time as a slave.
It was a quiet company, that much was certain. Bale understood that, too. It wasn’t a joy ride, they had no idea what exactly they would be facing. At least they weren’t exactly a group of expendables, even if they now were treated as somewhat like pawns. It no longer felt as foreign as it once had, Bale noted.
From their view point the only thing truly out of order were the tracks, scattered and torn in places. A mile or two passed, before Bale took a few longer strides to reach Nikolas. It wasn’t really efficient talking, if one of them had to turn to face backwards all the time.
“Have you been to Ashlar before? You seemed to know quite well where we were. And is there anything specific we should be prepared for?” he asked.
His tone was much more of a man thinking about battle strategies, than someone afraid of what was to come.
Word count: 206 | Post 3
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Post by ThatDenver on Jul 7, 2018 20:42:23 GMT -6
NIKOLAS
They walked in silence. It suited Nikolas well, allowing him to keep his eyes on the surroundings. Every now and then the Chevaliers would exchange short messages with one another, noting something they had spotted, or something that was even slightly out of the ordinary.
Everyone was on edge, their minds keenly on the lost Chevalier patrol. Seeing the torn railroad, it was not terribly hard to imagine that they had come to a grizzly end, and that a similar fate might await them as well.
Nikolas did not dwell on it. He kept his mind on the task. Being a Chevalier was about accepting risks, mitigating the damage to the common people.
It was about following through with orders.
After some miles of walking, the kirin Flamen came to walk by his side. Nikolas smiled politely at them, and was slightly surprised by the matter-of-fact, almost soldiery tone of the questions. The Flamen sounded more like a captain asking for a report than a holy man, but who was he to judge, really?
“Yes, I’ve been to Ashlar plenty of times. Never for long – there isn’t much to see. Mostly I’ve accompanied trains, especially lately with the Vindicator activity”, Nikolas replied. Some walking patrols too, to scour out Vagabonds from the surrounding woods.
“Ashlar is a small town, a town of workers. The reason anyone goes there is the marble quarry – a big one it is too, far bigger than the town. Outside that, it’s a collection of small homes, one excellent brothel that rivals the Pearl in quality if not pretentiousness, and one store. It’s a simple place. Not exactly a strategic target; marble is valuable, of course, but it’s not a lifeline”, he went on to tell the Flamen, occasionally gazing back at the other two Flamines to see if they had any questions of their own.
Word count: 310
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Post by sansatine on Jul 10, 2018 10:40:42 GMT -6
Flamen Castiel | 2
As they walked, Castiel couldn't help but think about how overjoyed the sanctum attendants would be to find out that the old hermit had not only left the sanctum, but also walked outside. Castiel was devoted to their work to say the least, much to their attendant's dismay, so this outing was "doing them good" whatever that meant. In all honesty, the attendants leaped at the opportunity to get the flamen out before taking any time to see what the outing entailed. Nonetheless, they were here and they would do whatever they could do eliminate this menace.
The hippocampus looked to the others around him. They were almost all clad in armor, something Castiel failed to understand. Sure, to be protected was quite nice, but it was an act of assumed aggression. Surely a confused being would see armor and assume the worst, just as those around the flamen did in their journey here. Castiel took a deep swallow,attempting to pick up the pace to hear the conversation Bale and the chevalier were having. Ashlar, yes. Castiel had an uncle who lived there, surely no longer, but they had gone to visit him as a child. There truly was nothing in Ashlar, nothing for a child anyway. It was small and quaint and nothing like the grand cities of Valore.
A glance back gave the unclad flamen a window, "What exactly is our intention upon arrival? Surely you've all though of battle, but how will we make peace?" |
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Post by Queerly on Jul 12, 2018 23:46:46 GMT -6
Your surroundings are unnaturally still: even the forest is silent, hurriedly abandoned by its former inhabitants. As your progress down the tattered remains of the train tracks, the wind shifts, carrying the scent of ash and charred flesh. You realize the the foul smell is coming from the direction of your destination: Ashlar.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2018 0:25:06 GMT -6
BALE
Bale listened to Nikolas and nodded thoughtfully. It certainly did not sound like a big hub of activity, and certainly not something a Chevalier patrol should have spent overtime investigating.
“I see”, he said simply, clearly deep in thought as he walked along.
When Castiel spoke, Bale glanced back as well, raising his brows.
“Well. From what I gather, our connection to Ignacio is the one lifeline we are hoping that will help us. You must have figured what the broken connection to the town likely means. I would be rather cautious about any hopes of peace - I have met Soleil eye to eye and peaceful is not one of the things I would use to describe that one”, he said in a rather grim tone.
He would do what he could, for Aodh, but he could not deny he would have gladly taken Soleil’s head for trying to hurt Milan. He certainly was not blinded by the reverence for kirins, or some long dead except not-so-dead King.
He did not explain further because when the wind shifted, he was suddenly very aware of the quiet. It was an eerie quiet, and a bad feeling creeped down his spine. And right after he was hit by the smell - it reminded him of Magmire, only this was even worse. His lungs were not affected by the smoke, but the smell of charred flesh made him cough. It was obvious it came from the direction they were headed towards, and he looked from Nikolas and the other chevaliers to the two Flamine. It very, very obviously wasn’t safe, and a part of him wanted to tell Castiel and Undyne to wait in safety - but he didn’t have the power to order them around.
“That’s not good. We should hurry”, he said, clearly twitching to pick up the pace.
Might have been wise to hurry away, but they had to see this.
Word count: 320 | post 4
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Post by ThatDenver on Jul 17, 2018 16:47:45 GMT -6
NIKOLAS
He looked at Castiel almost quizzically. A team of chevaliers sent to investigate had already vanished, so they had reason to expect dangers. Kirins might be borderline holy creatures, but they were still equine – not devoid of malice. Of course the Flamines were there to seek a peaceful solution, but the Chevaliers had their own duty. That is, if things went south, they would die to protect their charges, hopefully allowing them the chance to escape.
He didn’t really think the two hippocampi Flamine understood this. They had, bless them, not seen combat. He doubted they had even set their noses outside during the riots.
He didn’t judge them for it, for it was not his place, nor was it an expectation for Flamines to be brave warriors.
Everyone had their part to play.
“Our plan, our duty, is simply to keep you safe. The peace talk would be up to you Flamines, I’m afraid. We aren’t trained for that”, he admitted. The kirin Flamen’s words of a previous meeting with who they presumed was in Ashlar were not exactly encouraging, but he had gathered as much.
If the Crown thought it’d be easy, they wouldn’t have sent Flamines and Chevaliers.
The silence around them deepened, and with the change in the wind, they were swallowed by a horrific smell. Nikolas knew it well enough, having attended enough burnings of criminals and scenes of housefires.
Burning flesh.
A pungent, most unpleasant smell. Nikolas coughed and his eyes stung, but he kept walking.
The kirin spoke again, and Nikolas gave him a grim look.
“By the smell of it, hurrying won’t change anything”, Nikolas replied, his tone deadly serious even as he increased pace.
They picked up speed, now moving at a jogging trot rather than a brisk walk – Nikolas didn’t really want to push their stamina to its limits before they even arrived. Even with the knowledge that they were likely too late and unlikely to find survivors, the ever strengthening stench of death and fire urged him onwards.
Word count: 339
Post #4
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Post by PaganStars on Jul 20, 2018 14:40:33 GMT -6
Undyne Let's sway
While colour lights up your face
Sway through the crowd to an empty space
x | x Castiel’s words made Undyne hum, his mind pondering. Based on reports from the city and the fact that an entire guard of trained and armoured chevaliers hadn’t returned, he had little hope for the situation. To be fair, the three Flamens were most likely walking towards their own demise, though Undyne would never say that aloud, no. But this was his first ‘official’ duty as a Flamen and though Undyne believed in himself, he had little hope of calming a raging Kirin.
His ears flicked forward as Bale spoke once more, nodding slowly at his words, his eyes shifting to their lead guard. Years spent among the eminence and nobles of Aodh left Undyne with an uncanny ability to read poker faces and the hippocampus saw how he regarded the less dressed Flamen’s. Undyne was no helpless babe, years spent on the sea aiding him. And though he was on land now, he was not helpless. Undyne had opened his mouth to talk, only to be disturbed by a scent more fowl.
The odour was foul and having attended Sola’s first official execution, he recognized it immediately. Even Fidi who rode upon his back and was used to shoving all sorts of strange smelling things into her maw chirped, rubbing at her nose. Looking ahead, Undyne nodded at the Chevalier as they picked up the pace, Trotting alongside them and keeping pace.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 22, 2018 20:12:05 GMT -6
BALE
Bale responded to Nikolas’ grim look with equally as grim one, knowing that he was probably right but unwilling to accept it. But there was no need to argue since the pace was still increased, and he trotted alongside the Chevalier, unwilling to fall back anymore. He knew, realistically, that any extra energy spent might not have been wise, but the sense of urgency drove him forward. He wanted to pick up a canter to get there faster, but respected the Chevalier enough to not do that.
The closer they got, the stronger the smell of burning flesh and ash was until it was the only thing he could think about. Soon enough the smoke was very evident as well, and the more it thickened, the brighter Bale’s tattoo and coat shone. It was not intentional, but not something he focused on trying to stop either.
When they finally reached Ashlar, it was a bleak sight; a desolated, charred town with the remains still smoldering. It was quiet, too. No frantic shouting, no one running. Just the smoke and ash before them in a display of destruction. Bale stilled, staring what was left as if survivors could have emerged out of him just willing them to.
Word count: 206 | post 5
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Post by ThatDenver on Jul 26, 2018 17:50:43 GMT -6
NIKOLAS
They made quick work of the remaining miles at their new pace. The smell only became stronger as they approached – until finally when the wind turned, it was still thick in the air. Stacks of smoke rose to the sky, evidence of a fire freshly burned, too big and dark to be from any simple pyre.
Nikolas felt like he knew what waited them, and he dreaded witnessing it even as he hardened his heart and mind. Chasing out thoughts of home to ward of the pain of possibly never seeing it again, Nikolas put his body to work while his mind went quiet.
By the time they arrived in what little was left of Ashlar, he was in a nearly meditative stage. The kirin shone next to him – a thing he might have considered more and perhaps even asked about under different circumstances.
They stopped, and stood there, alone, in front of utter destruction. There were no souls to be saved – they were all with Ignacio now. There was comfort in that, but despite their orders to make peace, a shimmering rage at the perpetrator grew within his heart.
“This is no scene for servants of Ignacio to witness”, he said grimly, almost as if saying sorry, nodding to the other chevaliers as they took a more defensive formation around the flamines.
“Be on your guard”, Nikolas said, his voice deeper and raspier from usual from the smoke and fear.
Word count: 241
Post #5
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Post by sansatine on Jul 26, 2018 23:44:46 GMT -6
Flamen Castiel | 3
The hippocampus listened to the responses of the party in regards to their mission. None satisfied the flamen. Castiel was never one to discount another's approach, but the others had colored their view of the situation, and an attempt to change their minds no doubt would take time. Luckily for Castiel, the walk in front of them was long. Though, Luckily for the others, a change in the wind ended any hopes of diplomatic training Castiel hoped to give. An all to familiar smell crept into the air. The smell was almost always accompanied by a feeling of sadness and loss- the smell of a funeral- but this time it brought dread. The others picked up on the scent of charred flesh and quickened their pace. Castiel was many things, but fit was not one of them. The Flamen had come to grow a little fat in recent times, and that did not prove useful in endeavors such as these. Castiel struggled to keep pace with the others, but did manage to do so. As they set eyes upon Ashlar, Castiel's heart dropped.It was no city, but instead a scar on Ethine, a piece of dead, black land, void of life. Smoke filled the lungs of those present and the scent of burned souls was thick in the air. Castiel coughed, wishing that they had come to a bustling city. Still at the city's edge, Castiel slowed to a stop. From the ashes, the Flamine's teke pulled a doll. it was neatly buried under stone with only a leg shown to the world. It was well loved, no doubt, but now it was an orphan. Words fell from Nikolas's mouth and chevaliers shielded the Flamines from the view of the city. Castiel returned the doll to it's bed of rock. "Do not patronize us. By the looks of it, we are no safer encased by you than we are alone." "Be on your guard." Nikolas's voice was raspy, but firm. The flamen respected the command, but it didn't need saying. Eyes scanned the worn land. Smoke came up from the ground like grass and a heavy smog covered the further reaches of view. The flamen scanned, looking for some sign of life- just one survivor. They were doubtful, but still they looked. 385 |
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Post by PaganStars on Jul 27, 2018 13:00:32 GMT -6
Undyne Let's sway
While colour lights up your face
Sway through the crowd to an empty space
x | x Undyne had expected ruin and fire when they arrived at Ashlar, but the city was so much more than that. Buildings lay toppled, streets carved and ripped. Fire littered everywhere, billowing in the soft wind and Undyne felt himself coughing quietly alongside the others as the smell of decay and burnt flesh drifted through the air. Coming here seemed like a death wish, what with the train of chevaliers practically gone within an instant.
Moving with the others, Undyne flicked his ears at the lead guard and shook his head, looking at Castiel as he spoke. His words were true and Undyne turned his gaze back to their surroundings “No horse should ever witness such destruction and death like this, let alone a holy man,” Fidi shivered where she lay on his back, not from fear but from something else.
Pushing forward with the others, Undyne took stock of the remnants of the city. Its name has come to light, he thought. “So much chaos… caused by one horse if the accounts of the sole survivor are to be true” he wondered aloud, looking to Bale. Over anyone, he had the most experience with rogue Kirins.
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Post by Queerly on Jul 30, 2018 19:41:09 GMT -6
The King She digs her nails into her naked chest; miles of veins fan out like a road map
She pulls back the skin to show her ribs that twinkle like shooting stars
The town is a barren wasteland of dust and echoes: beneath the heavy silence you can almost hear a memory of the tragedy that happened here. As you pick through the ruins, the pale murk of ash swallows you whole. You can no longer see more than ten feet ahead, and every breath stings the back of your throat. It doesn't take you long to come across the remains of Ashlar's residents. Most of them are little more than haphazard piles of blackened bone. Some of their skulls are small, but you mustn't think of that. Not a single home remains standing. The few establishments are standing skeletons of charred wood. The quarry looms ahead, just visible through the smog, and so you make your way there. If anyone has survived and still hides within the town limits, it will be there. But you don't reach your destination. You are yards away from the entrance when a guttural roar rips through the sky. You look up, and the ashen clouds have begun to move, spiraling around your party as though you are locked in the eye of a hurrican. Faster, and faster still it spins - until abruptly it breaks, dispersed by the enormous wingspan of a wyvern. Your King's wyvern is large, but the creature descending upon your position is nearly twice her size. It lands upon the quarry's topmost ridge and screams, the sound reverberating through your bones. Fire dances in her gaping maw, but she doesn't spit the flame. From beneath her heavy frame a kirin emerges, regarding your companions with a gaze like molten gold. "Well." King Soleil speaks. She does not raise her voice but the quarry echoes the word. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2018 20:31:47 GMT -6
BALE
Bale didn’t even truly realize Nikolas referred to him, too, and simply brushed it off. He did, however, shoot Castiel an unappreciative glance for the comment towards Nikolas. He would have liked to see the Flamen make it out here and back safely, alone.
Bale didn’t need anyone to tell him to be on his guard, but he nodded at Nikolas just to make a point. His eyes moved to Undyne, and he wished he could have told the Flamen otherwise. His voice slightly hoarse, he simply said: “Yes. That’s likely the case.”
There was nothing but death in the ruins, and it was hard not to stop and stare the charred bones and skulls much smaller than one would have ever liked to see in such a place. He could feel the pain, but he chose to push it aside as if it couldn’t touch him; his face remained solemn and his feet steady. The thicker the ash surrounding them, the brighter Bale and his relic shone. The sparkles around him disappeared into the murky wall of ash, not able to pierce through.
His gait stilled as the clouds begun to spiral and swirl, and he could feel the ice-cold dread sink its teeth deep into his core as he saw the giant wyvern. Sola had seemed big until now, and air escaped his lungs as the wyvern screamed. Bale refused to back down, even if the sound seemed to reach all the way to his bones. No, instead he drew Lux better into his grip, holding him between himself and the wyvern as he stepped forward. For a moment he was certain they would be engulfed by flames, and he knew that only he could stand through it. It might have been a stupid, hopeless pursuit, but he still tried his best to shield the others with his body, moving in front of them without allowing the Chevaliers a chance to protest.
The flame remained in the wyvern’s maw. Instead, his eyes fixated on the kirin as soon as she stepped into view – Soleil wasn’t difficult to recognize. Bale had seen others bow before, and he had seen how little good it had done them. Instead he held his head up high, his mind voicing a soundless prayer towards Ignacio.
“Soleil”, he spoke. To him, this kirin was no king.
“Why have you done this?”
Word count: 397 | post 6
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Post by ThatDenver on Jul 31, 2018 15:57:52 GMT -6
NIKOLAS
Nikolas chose to ignore the protests from Flamen Castiel – he did not really care if they were warranted or not, he only cared about giving his best attempt to complete this suicide mission.
“A kirin and a wyvern, she said”, Nikolas replied curtly. Two monsters, more like. No one with a shred of humanity or kindness in them would have caused such destruction, completely unprovoked.
Nikolas understood violence. He understood its power as a tool – a tool of war, of coercion, of mercantile even. Violence had many uses.
What was the use of this?
Did the kirin want them to be afraid? Angry?
Did she merely revel in the destruction of things?
Nikolas certainly was angry. Angry and very afraid.
Still they walked on, through the smog and the smell of death. The kirin Flamen was the least affected – the chevaliers coughed and hacked, their approach hardly a clandestine one.
Then, she.
First she was only a roar that shook Nikolas down his spine.
The air spun, and a wyvern pushed into view, breaking the smoke. She landed high above them, and stared, fire dancing at her terrible maw. Instinctively Nikolas stepped slightly forward, as if his body could shield anyone from the flame.
The King arrived.
But she was no King to him.
She was beautiful, like the paintings, her nature as a child of Ignacio immediately obvious.
But for all the legend and myth and pomp, Nikolas could now see only a murderer. His lips were tight, his posture guarded. He remained silent as Bale spoke up to the King of kirins, addressing her with a question he was certain they all had.
Indeed, why?
Word count: 277
Post #6
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Post by PaganStars on Aug 7, 2018 15:18:27 GMT -6
Undyne Let's sway
While colour lights up your face
Sway through the crowd to an empty space
x | x Continuing onward, Undyne couldn’t help but lightly grab at the blade hidden beneath his metal collar. He knew it would do little against a scaled Kirin, even less against a wyvern but it brought him some comfort, even if it was small. The quarry was nearing and Undyne loathed the idea of going inside, into the earth. He had been about to open his mouth and ask a question when the roar had cut him off, had cut them all off. Undyne squinted as he looked up towards the darkening sky.
Undyne had remembered what seeing the kings Wyvern for the first time had felt like; he had been stunned by her beauty at first, the glittering scales and jewel-like eyes. The very idea of opulence and nobility. The fear had slowly seeped in, but Undyne trusted in his new king and with only a little doubt had come to stand near the great beast. When she had opened her maw and spat fire, engulfing and eating her prey whole Undyne had been paralyzed, unable to look away. So much strength lay in that creature, so much raw power and beauty.
But seeing the creature that stretched before them now, Undyne felt nothing but fear weave through his legs and chest. He stood near Nikolas, only slightly behind Bale. As if they could do anything to stop that thing from tearing through them right here and now. Soleil stepped forward and for a moment Undye was lost to their ancient beauty. Undyne watched as Bale stepped forward, much braver than the hippocampus, and called out to the king. Honestly, he wouldn’t be surprised if she leapt forward and slashed their throats right then and there.
Post 5 | 307
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Post by sansatine on Aug 10, 2018 12:49:18 GMT -6
Castiel | 4
Soleil stepped from legend into reality, their wyvern just as fantastic as they were. The paintings and tomes did not even compare to the utter majesty Soleil conducted herself with. Castiel wanted to drop to their knees at the sheer sight of the wyvern, but did their best to stay standing. The flamine had seen glimpses of their king's wyvern, but only in passing. They always felt a certain dread around any beast, even the common pygmy dragon lead to unease in the flamen. W E L L The kirin's words reverberated through the quarry, resonating with Castiel's very core. The flamen felt sick as their bones vibrated, no amount of armor would thwart the rattle of Soleil's words. Her wyvern danced fire in it's mouth, not to maim, but to show that they could. A taunt of sorts, should the mortals try something. Soleil's command warranted a response, but Castiel didn't dare to speak, a precaution Bale did not take. While Castiel had butt heads with nearly everyone in their party, they could not help but respect Bale for his stupidity or boldness, whatever it was. Castiel turned eyes from kirin to kirin, waiting for the response.
Why?
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Post by Queerly on Aug 11, 2018 8:58:29 GMT -6
The King She digs her nails into her naked chest; miles of veins fan out like a road map
She pulls back the skin to show her ribs that twinkle like shooting stars
A unicorn. Two hippocampi. A horse gilded in a false facade, possessing the audacity to masquerade as her own. Soleil's gaze scraped across their faces like the edge of blade. She appraised their fear, and found it palatable. The fraudster stepped forward, unyielding and unmatched. He would know fear in time, she thought coolly. Impudence could not be indulged; the only solution was to rip out the root and scorch the stubborn earth. He asked his question. The King waited a moment longer, almost curious, but the others held their tongues, awaiting an answer. She did not offer one. " You are far from your gods." She told them instead. The wyvern raised its head, tempering the ever-present flame that leaked from its gaping maw. They could see now that its face was gauged bloody, gum and teeth visible through shredded meat. Even so, It did not quell the beast's intimidation. " They will not preserve you here." |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2018 9:59:05 GMT -6
BALE
There were no further questions from their side, and the silence stretched. Bale refused to back an inch, instead using the time to appraise the distance and the ridge of the quarry. Every fiber of his body was ready for action, ready to see that the false kirin king bled if it was the last thing he ever did. Alongside his will to have Soleil’s head, however, danced the question: Could he do anything to save the ones standing alongside him if this all went down in flames? Even Bale realized he could not do everything at once.
Bale’s gaze stopped at the wyvern’s bloody face as soon as the flame died down enough to see the damage. He felt the urge to act upon it, but he didn’t wish to encourage the beast to spit flames upon his comrades. It was like his whole world had narrowed to this point, balancing on a knife’s edge. Was it madness to wish to attack the giant creature? Likely.
Did it matter? No.
His golden eyes fixated on Soleil once more. The audacity to claim that his god, their god, could not help them here made the cool rage simmering within feel blistering hot. His thoughts tried grasping more intensely for the connection he knew was there, that he had called upon before.
“We are children of Ignacio, and we stand upon his land. The lives lost here were his, too.
I will repeat: Why have you done this?”
Bale’s voice was strong and clear, the smoke unable to stop the function of his lungs. The anger, however, seeped through the words like poison.
Word count: 272 | post 7
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Post by ThatDenver on Aug 11, 2018 11:08:09 GMT -6
NIKOLAS
Nikolas gazed back at the two hippocampi Flamen – just a quick, worried side-eye. Why had they not said anything? For the talk of peace, Castiel was now quiet, leaving only the one Flamen who had already expressed distaste for peace talk.
He couldn’t say he blamed them for being scared, for he was scared too… So very scared. At this point it was only an obstinate sense of duty and his chevalier training holding him in place.
As the silence stretched, his unease grew. Nikolas shifted his weight, ready to react into any direction, even if he knew perfectly well that the chances of him fighting of the King and her wyvern were not exactly great.
He wished he carried even a sliver of the conviction the kirin Flamen seemed to have. Nikolas, for his part, was not so sure at all about them being protected by the flaming god – if Ignacio was to intervene, surely he would have?
But Bale seemed so certain, so comfortable in his conviction and his anger.
Nikolas wasn’t sure if that made the Flamen mad, or simply devoted.
Perhaps he was both. Fool he certainly was.
They all were, for coming here in the first place. What were their lives to this madwoman after all the lives she had already taken like they meant nothing at all?
It was not his place to speak those thoughts aloud, and that was for the better. Nikolas had never been a diplomat, or someone to unfurl tension in a situation. Instead he just moved a bit closer to Bale, not so much as a show of support, but as an effort to at least be able to grab the man and shove them back behind him if they tried to engage the wyvern.
Word count: 296
Post #7
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Post by PaganStars on Aug 11, 2018 15:16:46 GMT -6
Undyne Let's sway
While colour lights up your face
Sway through the crowd to an empty space
x | x Soleil’s cool gaze drifted over them and Undyne felt a shiver race along his spine, sparking into legs and fins. He held the urge to ruffle his tail out fully, as if he could somehow make himself look bigger and not feel so damned tiny in the eyes of the ancient king. Undyne looked to Bale as the kirin spoke, wondering if his bravado had been gifted along with his scales and antlers. He could hear the anger in Bale’s words, so calm and collected by lying underneath like a snake ready to strike. If the king so sought it, would she fight them? Surely the mighty beast beside her could end them in a moment's notice but would the king herself charge after them?
Undyne was near petrified,but he would not let Bale deal with this alone. The king had sent the three of them to work together and to try and find what had caused this destruction and in turn stop it from happening again. And so he inhaled once to steady himself, taking a half step forward.
“You say we are far from our gods but are you not a child of Ignacio, one of his purest creations? You’ve done nothing but slaughter those who lived and served under him, but again we must ask why” he glanced to bale, echoing the Kirin’s words.
Post 5 | 252
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Post by Queerly on Aug 11, 2018 20:46:35 GMT -6
The King She digs her nails into her naked chest; miles of veins fan out like a road map
She pulls back the skin to show her ribs that twinkle like shooting stars
The laugh that bubbled in her throat surprised even her. In all these months, she had known little of humor, save for the worthless invocations of heretics - they who screamed, and wept, and begged for her god's salvation, as if he would hear them. " Your gods have abandoned you as you abandon them. Mine shall not preserve you." She told them, and briefly her lip raised in a subtle sneer. " Look upon us, your resurrected retribution and ask yourself: is this not his divine intention?"She let the words settle. " Go now. Run to your King." Her gaze scraped between the two who had found the courage to speak. " Tell him that heretics will no longer crawl across this land with impunity. The perversions you have wrought on my lord god's domain shall not pass without judgement. Your degeneracy and hubris will cost you everything." Her lashes lowered over gilded eyes. " You have but one chance to heed this warning. Your people will flee this land, or they will burn." Go now. Tell him." She said. The flame within the wyvern's throat had begun to build, glowing red like the fires of purgatory itself. |
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Post by ThatDenver on Aug 11, 2018 21:17:36 GMT -6
NIKOLAS
The way the kirin spoke shook Nikolas to his core. Has Ignacio abandoned them? Looking at the destruction surrounding them, it was not hard to think that he, indeed, had. Even with three Flamine there the fire god had not intervened, and although Nikolas knew that it was not the habit of gods to intervene, this…
Surely Ignacio would have seen it?
His blessing seemed to fizzle in his chest. An effect of the kirin king’s blessing, but Nikolas did not know that. To him, it only fed his suspicion, and his fear.
He was genuinely surprised when the kirin told them to go, and the dancing flames at the wyvern’s mouth did not exactly encourage further discussion from any of them.
“Let’s go. Go”, the chevalier said, less than gently punting Bale backwards, and indicating to the other Flamine that they were leaving, right now. It felt like running away, and he wasn’t proud of it, but it was not as if they were equipped to fight a wyvern – the kirin king they perhaps could have taken, but not her beast.
He knew there would be no heeding this warning. Aodh would prepare for war against the kirin.
This might have been her land a thousand years ago, but they were here now, millions of them.
Only a madwoman would think it possible to uproot it all.
But he kept quiet and ushered the Flamines away from their destruction. Behind them, the city burned.
Word count: 245
Post #8
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