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Post by Jenny on Aug 28, 2013 23:07:27 GMT -5
More than one Yitoki scout witnessed the human travelers’ progression. Even if the humans had skirted around the canyon, and thereby the village, they were by no means about to be trusted, not with what the council knew. Two Yitoki scouts carefully tracked their movements, only satisfied when it appeared that these humans had no intention at all to invade their village. Staying just within earshot, and downwind, their hearing far superior to that of the humans with a Yitoki’s characteristic overly large ears, the scouts determined that the humans were only interested in the ruins and rumors of riches, not to mingle with the desert’s native peoples.
The Yitoki scouts cautiously retreated and retraced their path back to the village in order to bring a report to Moraji and the council. Yiska’s mind would then come to rest, for he had been at his wit’s end knowing that human strangers were nearby. He found it necessary to meditate often, but with varying success. He would pace restlessly, tail flicking in annoyance, his hackles raised, glaring out across the sand as if his hatred could be felt and would somehow drive the humans away upon instinct.
The council still deemed it necessary to keep their eyes out in case the humans changed their mind, but for now the thought of danger was forced from their minds, for it was at the expense of ones sanity.
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Post by KD on Aug 29, 2013 3:00:03 GMT -5
The humans had noted the tribe nearby but- as was common for this particular brand of human -had dismissed them as unworthy of notice. In this case, that was actually a good thing.
Matthias cursed when the first golem appeared. One of his accomplices attacked before he could warn them and the golem reacted instantly, charging the group. The desert raiders scattered but a couple of the mages were stupid enough to fire off spells at the golem and look surprised when they simply bounced off. Matthias turned away from them, raising his hand. Now that they were actually on the ruins, he could feel the energy of the thing...no being, it was a being not a monster like people kept trying to make it out to be. He shuddered as he felt power surge through him and the ground shuddered as the connection was made. The golem paused as a rumble came through the ground around it, looking about in confusion. The ground seemed to surge away beneath their feet, drawing screams of surprise from the humans. It was like the ruins were forcing the sand away from them. Matthias felt a surge of elation. It was like he could control the ruins themselves! The golem's feet hit stone and Matthias felt his mind click with some sort of machinery. A grinding sound came and the floor opened up, dragging the golem down below.
The connection between Matthias and whatever was pulling his strings didn't have as much an immediate effect on the yitoki, at least not that they could feel unless they were shaman. The old shaman and Yiska would feel that ripple of somehow....sick energy...natural energy twisted in a way nature had never intended....brush against the barrier, extend its will forcibly into the earth further around the ruins. Worse, it was connected in some way to the spirit plane as well and any unfortunate spirits too close to the ruins were dragged in.
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Post by Jenny on Aug 29, 2013 21:15:43 GMT -5
As the old shaman saw that Yiska was far from at peace, he took him aside and asked what the matter was. Yiska did not trust the humans, did not like them to be in Yitoki territory, even if they had now passed the outskirts, and his intense hatred for their enemy was so palatable his mentor could taste the bitterness on the tip of his tongue. Yiska was visibly restless and upset and had been in such a foul mood he had even snapped at his mother and later apologized profusely. She had forgiven him immediately and had not taken offense, for she knew his thoughts.
So the shaman took Yiska aside for some guided meditation deep in the canyon, where its walls and floor reverberated with spirit presence. They sat cross legged, facing one another, eyes closed and focused. The old shaman sent out his own energy to help bring peace to Yiska’s heart.
They felt the change together. Yiska’s eyes snapped open in alarm, and the shaman let out a gasp, wide eyed and reeling at the loss of the spirits who fell prey to the entity’s maw. The two of them instinctively began to tremble, their eyes locked upon one another.
“The spirits…” The shaman could hardly believe it. “They are lost,” his rheumy eyes reflected his pain.
Yiska shook his head slowly, eyes wide, mouth agape. “How is this possible? What was it we just felt?”
“Something has awakened in those ruins. Something sinister and evil.” He narrowed his eyes and knit his brow in serious contemplation.
“They very same ruins Sinjun and her kin are investigating?” Yiska’s voice began to rise in alarm. He got to his feet quickly, breathing now quick and heavy, hands clenching and unclenching in anxiety. “She is in great danger!”
The shaman too rose to his feet slowly, bones creaking with age. “Young one, do not think to rashly. This is not the time for recklessness…” He put out his hands complacently.
“But I cannot stand here and do nothing.” Yiska shook his head fervently. “I must go to her. I will tell father, perhaps he will allow some warriors to join me-“
“No, Yiska.” The shaman’s wavering voice stabled with intensity. “We cannot lose you.”
“And I cannot lose Sinjun. You cannot convince me otherwise, my friend. I am going.”
Yiska turned tail and ran as fast he could, scaling the canyon wall in his haste, and bolting towards his father’s tent. He burst in and started talking too fast, his father had to slow him down. Yiska took a deep breath and told him what they had learned.
“Yiska,” his father frowned deeply. “Think of what you are saying…” “Father, I love her above anything else upon this earth. I have to go to her, I must protect her, I must do all I can to make sure she is safe.”
Moraji sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Very well, Yiska. You may take Hoti with you, he is the most experienced. He reached out a hand and placed it on Yiska’s shoulder. “Spirits speed you, my son. Be safe.”
“Thank you, father.” Yiska was so elated he threw open his arms around his father. He chuckled and gave his son a good squeeze. Yiska then took out his weapons, having been unused for some time, but supple for he still oiled and polished them to keep the bow supple and the knife edge sharp. He took a quiver as well, grabbed a water skin and bolted out of the tent as quickly as he had come to find Hoti so they could be on their way.
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Post by KD on Aug 30, 2013 2:07:07 GMT -5
None of the Anmares had a connection to the spirit world, certainly they didn't have the kind of connection anywhere close to what the yitoki did. If they had, they might have been more wary of the pulse of energy that came up. As it was, it merely told them Matthias and company had arrived. Against Klai's better judgement, Sapphira went up alone except a few golems and was the first human encounter Matthias came across. The others quelled at the sight of her but Matthias stepped forward confidently. Sapphira's single eye took him in as he started babbling at her about his power and how she couldn't resist him. Well, he was quite mad, wasn't he? she thought dispassionately. And apt to go even more mad before all this was over. The small army of lesser golems and Janus the iron golem moved forward as Matthias and his followers- the rest of them looking scared but even more scared to disobey -moved to challenge her. He was going to claim his ruins and his power no matter what.
Arrogance was the birthright of the Anmare clan. Klai and Sapphira were nowhere near as bad as most of them were but there were times it affected them, being as powerful as they were tended to help that along. So it was this time, causing Sapphira, backed by her sister's golems and her own power, to severely underestimate her opponent. Up until that point, Sapphira hadn't realized whatever being it was had actually woken fully by that point and how deep it had sunk its claws in Matthias. The first arcanist that attacked her died within an instant, which was Sapphira's first critical mistake. The blood that seeped in the sand made the entire ruins quake and the thing within it let out a low, buzzing keen of pleasure that couldn't be heard with human ears but it rippled throughout the elemental and spirit world, a promise it would corrupt everything it could get. Sapphira paused as she saw the body and the blood literally dissolve into a pool of gore and rot right before her eyes and get sucked into the sand. Before she could warn the golems, they'd already taken two more of the arcanists down and they were devoured instantly as their companion. She called out Janus' control word and ordered for him not to kill any of them and then Matthias was upon her. He was shrieking with glee, a high pitched whine of noise that was barely human. She whipped her weapon up, attacking viciously and while Matthias was no match for her in battle, her blows seemed to have little effect on him.
Inside the temple, Sinjun was becoming more and more afraid the more they pushed inside. Klai had called Magnus the mithril golem and Titus the adamantite golem in with them and even with two such powerful golems on their side, it failed to calm her. She wasn't anywhere near as attuned to the spirits and elementals as the yitoki were, that wasn't where her magic came from, but she had spent enough time around Yiska and the shaman to know when something was seriously off and this place was seriously off. She didn't think Yiska or the shaman would be able to find an elemental spirit or a spirit of any kind in this place, or if they could, it would be hopelessly twisted. Klai was determined to destroy this place before Matthias got any further but the deeper they went, the more that sense of...wrongness...permeated the air and the more and more terrified she became. There was one thought that pushed her on despite the terror, making her suck it in and press on. They'd started destroying the crystals that dotted the area, which seemed to be the right thing to do because it was enraging the thing. Every time they came near one a wave of beetles and scorpions would attack but they were getting fewer in number. Since they were getting closer and closer to the entity that was laying like a rotted, beating heart at the center of the ruins, that was little comfort to Sinjun. However, the only thing that frightened her more was what would happen to the yitoki if Matthias let that thing loose. What would happen to Yiska if he let that thing loose. Yiska and the shaman both were too connected to the spirit world and that thing obviously corrupted everything to the last level. It might kill the yitoki, but she felt quite certain such a fate would be preferable to what it would do to Yiska. Maybe even corrupt him the way it had Matthias, break him down until he was everything in the world that he hated and fought against.
Never. Sinjun wrapped her fingers around Yiska's falcon pendant as she watched her aunt pressed her hands to another crystal, ignoring the shock of power coursing through her as it started to crack beneath her hands. Fierce, protective anger and love swirling through Sinjun. Never, never, never. Not as long as she had a breath in her body.
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Post by Jenny on Aug 30, 2013 2:23:58 GMT -5
Hoti had bonded with Sinjun and her family enough to run abreast with Yiska in his haste to reach the temple. It took time, but the closer the two Yikoti got to the temple, the more deeply Yiska felt the entity’s pull. He felt deep within his heart it’s evil intent, to consume and grow. The entity seemed unquenchable, and it likely would be until it consumed everything that was good in this world. It must have slept beneath the sands for a very long time, an ancient spirit far more powerful than anything Yiska had dealt with, warrior or shaman. He ran until he was breathless and then ran further, intending to find Sinjun as soon as possible. He felt the ruins before he saw them, but the unease that prickled in his belly did not slow him. Yiska would not stop before he was beside Sinjun, and Hoti was all too willing to keep pace.
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Post by KD on Aug 30, 2013 2:36:58 GMT -5
The sounds of battle were apparent somewhere ahead but that was drowned out mostly by the rumbles that shook the ground constantly and got worse as they got closer. The ground lurched suddenly and broken spires and walls suddenly rose from the sand.
The temple was rising up again.
Sapphira was thrown off balance and Matthias let out an eerie howling sound, lashing out suddenly. She gasped as she felt something like invisible claws tear into her side, even through her armor.
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Post by Jenny on Aug 30, 2013 2:49:14 GMT -5
Yiska and Hoti halted as the sand rumbled violently beneath them, spires of rock jutting through the dunes. Yiska was ever determined and surged forward as quickly as the sand was solid enough to run over, heading for its crown. They reached the ruins and Yiska darted in the gaping maw recklessly, so anxious was he to find Sinjun. Hoti paused for a moment, unsheathing an arrow to fit on his bow, and then followed his young charge inside. They both slowed carefully down the stable path deeper into the ruins, which trembled from time to time beneath their feet. It wanted blood, Yiska realized, and the battle between Sinjun’s kin and the enemy was giving it what it wanted. Yiska slowed to a halt in mid-stride, and Hoti had to skid to a stop to avoid from running into him. The weeks Yiska had been apart from Sinjun had caused him to put his heart into learning shamanism, and his skills did not fail him now. The shy spirits within this place that had not been consumed responded to his summons, flashing and darting about as they were called into action. They surged forward to aid Sinjun and her kin and keep the darkness away for a time, as shield and protector.
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Post by KD on Aug 30, 2013 2:59:40 GMT -5
Sapphira was battling with a wild looking man on what was now the steps of the temple. Sapphira was clearly wounded and both of them were having trouble keeping their balance as the temple rose and rose, its towers stretching for a sun it hadn't seen in centuries. Matthias tumbled down the steps, then suddenly hopped up. Sick energy pulsed from him and he threw a hand toward Sapphira. Invisible claws tore through her, a hideous blow that ripped her shoulder and upper chest clear open and threw her bodily down the stairs, where she landed in a heap near Yiska and Hoti. The man had already disappeared into the temple, which opened hidden doors lined with metal teeth like the ones Hoti had seen earlier to welcome him before closing them behind him.
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Post by Jenny on Aug 30, 2013 3:08:23 GMT -5
Hoti and Yiska came to a stop before the familiar figure that was Sapphira. Yiska reached into his satchel for a healing salve that Sinjun had made and began to administer first aid. Hoti assisted by patching up her wounds so carefully that she could begin to breathe easier. When Sapphira began to gain consciousness she would see Hoti’s face hovering worried before her.
As she recovered, Yiska was already through the tunnel, yelling Sinjun’s name.
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Post by KD on Aug 30, 2013 3:25:32 GMT -5
"Well...." Sapphira sat up slowly. "That was embarrassing..."
Sunlight now streaming across gleaming metal and shining crystal gave the risen temple a deceptively glorious and bright appearance, cathedral-like. It was at odds with the roar that shook the stone rafters.
Scorpions came to greet Yiska but Janus the iron golem was already moving back into the temple at Sapphira's order and he came stomping forward to defend Yiska, throwing the creatures left and right.
The roar came from the newest mechanical creation to awaken. It was a dragon...of sorts. Its body was built to block a doorway, golden scales gleaming as it rose above their heads, metal teeth bared in a golden maw.
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Post by Jenny on Aug 30, 2013 3:30:08 GMT -5
The golems came forth to greet the dragon, and provided a worthy distraction as Yiska found Sinjun at last. He threw his arm around her, both in elation and protection. His hackles had bristled in response to the threat that was so close. "Sinjun... Sinjun, I am here."
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Post by KD on Aug 30, 2013 3:34:38 GMT -5
Sinjun felt him coming even before he appeared. Klai had barely thrown her out of the way in time as the dragon thing rose, taking them both by surprise. They'd retreated out of range of its jaws and the acidic bile it seemed to be able to spew endlessly.
Sinjun turned as Yiska appeared, crying out his name both in joy and fear. She couldn't stop herself from wrapping hear arms around him in return and burying her face against his shoulder, breathing in the scent of his fur. "Yiska...." she whispered his name. "Yiska, you shouldn't have come, this thing...this monster in the temple...it'll focus on you, it'll want you more than any of us...." Her voice shook with fear for him.
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Post by Jenny on Aug 30, 2013 3:36:17 GMT -5
"I don't care what happens to me," he said while he buried his face in her neck. "I only want you to be safe."
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Post by KD on Aug 30, 2013 3:46:44 GMT -5
Klai would normally be impatient with them but at that particular moment, despite the rumblings of the temple and the presence of the beast within it, she stared at her niece and Yiska. Maybe it was the light coming through the temple for the first time in centuries but there seemed to be a nimbus of light around the two of them.
The creature within the temple sensed Yiska and, as Sinjun had thought, felt a greedy hunger and need to devour him fill it. Even through that, though, the emotions echoing from that spot puzzled it. At that moment, it was looking at two creatures willing without a hint of hesitancy to die for one another. In its long life, this was not something it had come across before, not with the kinds of people it drew to it. It knew fear, but this fear...not fear of it, not truly. Not fear of something, but fear for each other. Love wasn't something it truly understood. It shrank back a bit in its lair, its displeasure rippling through the spirit world, sensing that coil of song and light- a harmonious mixture of his power and hers -that swirled around Yiska and Sinjun and hating it.
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Post by Jenny on Aug 30, 2013 4:04:49 GMT -5
The light that radiated from them grew in strength, for Yiska's spirit had been strengthened by his shamanistic teaching. It was far to strong and pure to fade from the presence of a malignant spirit. If it grew close, it would surely be burned. And thus it was. Yiska drew his head back, raised his palm and sent forward such a powerful and pure light that it would singe its very presence to halt and retreat.
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