In the Far North, Under the mountains known as The Polvons
A human in a thick brown cloak sought shelter from the harsh winter storms outside on his journey from the port city of Kuth towards. . . well, he didn't really know. Many moons had passed since Serran had felt he knew what he was doing. Somehow, he felt closer now, closer to his destiny. Serran summoned a small ball of light to light the cave as he moved further inwards, hoping to spend the night here after warming the chilled, damp air.
At first, Serran didn't question the cave, geology was not his speciality but something about this was not right. He had gone in through three rooms, and now, in this the fourth room, all the stalactites and stalagmites were much smaller, they seemed somehow managed. There was a small winding path, leading down deeper into the ground. Serran desperately fought against the desire to explore, and set out his things for the night.
There wasn't much, a bed roll, several blankets, and a bit of basic cooking equipment. Serran boiled some snow water he collected, purifying it for the continuation of he journey tomorrow. Serran drank the last of today's water sighing sadly. He knew he was here, in this part of the world for some reason. The gods had so clearly directed him here, but for what purpose. Serran sat, pondering the mysteries, and completely missing the sounds coming from behind him.
((To be continued.))
And now, the conclusion to today's story,Behind Serran crept to magically concealed Priestesses. Nodding to one another the both lept at him at one time, easily subduing him. "A worthy tribute." said one. The other just stared, her brown eyes piercing through the younger Priestess. They dragged him down, further into the cave bound and gagged.
Serran silently watched as the cave seemed to illuminate itself with a bizarre silvery light. At the bottom, Serran saw something he could scarcely believe. Several hundred acolytes, priestesses and other supplicants gathered around. The two priestesses who had captured Serran stood in reverence at the back of this... chapel he assumed. After a few, very long minutes, a young woman with silver hair reaching halfway down her back and piercing gray eyes went to the podium to address the assembly. All of the women gathered became as silent as the dead, waiting to hear whatever this. . . he would say Bishop from his current understanding, was going to say.
"My sisters, long have we waited for a return of our Goddess. Long have we stood, and watched this world fall to ruin apart from her influence. Under Sareesa's influence, this world was united against demonic invaders. Under Sareesa's influence, all the demons were scoured from this world and she ascended to the heavens. Unlike the rest of the Pantheon, Sareesa was not content to rest easy, in her divinity she sought to secure this world from further harm. In the very depths of the Nether she built a fortress. A pure and holy fortress in the very heart of corruption. Sareesa built, Mercy's Keep. And from there she fought the demons on their own ground, greatly slowing the flow of demons into this world and safeguarding generations that she would know only through their prayers. But for Sareesa, all would have been lost."
The crowd responds as one, "Lost and broken, but mercy prevailed." Serran looked around, everyone's attention was on the figure in the front, if he did this right, he might be able to escape, to make it to a town and warn of this coven of heretics.
"In her wisdom, Sareesa tasked several heroes to gather the Great Crystals, Crystals that Sareesa would have used to destroy the Demon Gate forever, and then she would have returned to us, and lead us to paradise everlasting. However, her former lover, and the greatest of her disciples envied her power, and together they struck her down. In one dark moment, all hope for this world was destroyed. Her lover took Sareesa's soul into his own body and vowed to battle her for eternity, all to keep our Goddess from us. But for the hero Frelock, and his spreading of the Great Crystals to the world's magical centers, there by sating the crystals and weakening the gate, all would have been lost." she speaks.
As Serran's eyes adjust to the silvery light he notices a great crescent blade strapped to her back. She is wearing some kind of light battle armor, dyed muted hues of purple and green. Her skin is pale, as though she only rarely saw the light of the sun. Serran looked to the two Priestesses holding him, both were looking towards the pale-skinned Bishop, but they both still held a tight grip on his shoulders. Looking closer he saw that these priestess were carrying smaller crescent blades as well.
"Today, is the day we put an end to the silence of the one, true Goddess. Today, we who are gathered here, free our Goddess from her prison, and then, from among us, she will choose her new host, and she will take her vengeance against this world that she sacrificed so much to protect. And finally, our Goddess will once again speak to us."
A desiccated corpse was brought into the center of the room. Even from here, Serran and his limited abilities could detect the great and terrible power contained in the corpse. The body was put on the floor in the center of the room. Then, all the priestess in the room began chanting. Magic filled the air so thick a light blue fog began to envelop the room. The chanting became louder. Finally the ritual was complete and a silvery light rained from the ceiling onto the corpse utterly destroying. Then Serran was forced to kneel, his head to the ground as all the other priestesses did the same. Serran desperately tried to think of some way out of this, but for now there was nothing. At last, after half an hour of kneeling something happened.
The Bishop stood up. "Sareesa has chosen. All rise, and greet our glorious Goddess's return." she said moving off to the side.
A small, timid human took the stage. She moved with a confidence that her frame couldn't adequately represent. Her blonde hair covered the right side of her face, while the other side seemed timid, smiling... happy. The young girl coughed lightly. "My dearest Priestesses, never did I expect to see the light of this world again, never did I expect to see the shining wonderful faces of mortals. And yet, this joy comes with a tinge of sadness. So far, this world has fallen from my ideal, from paradise. There is only one cure, one solution for this world now. We must purge the unbelieving, and bring this world back to the holiness I envisioned." She says. As she finishes there is a soft applause. Sareesa moves off the stage and begins to move towards Serran. "And he will be our herald." Several of the Priestesses nearby grin wickedly. Serran swallows hard, nervous about what exactly his future will be now that Sareesa has selected him to be her 'herald'.
Author
Topic: Zealots and Demons, The Fall of a God, Turn 122: A Standoff (Read 136521 times)