The Beginning of the End

Subject: The Beginning of the End Sun Jan 31, 2010 9:15 pm

It had been a year since the staff of time had been taken from him. The year itself felt like a millennia, but Zealox remembered everything as if it had been only yesterday when the tragedy struck. The Fox Lord Saiyn had let greed overcome his senses. He had been such a promising young man. He could have held great power but he had rushed things too quickly. He might not have succeeded if it hadn’t been for Naline. Her anger and sorrow had gotten the better side of her judgment in this disaster. Zealox could even hear the words that had been spoken and the scene was so vivid in his mind.

Zealox had been sitting on his dark throne under the sands of time. Only the light of the golden sands brightened the chamber. The Orb of Sight spun around before him displaying the outside world of mortals. He had seen Saiyn climbing up to his perch with only a handful of warriors, but Naline had been beside the lord. It was such an odd sight. Zealox would have expected to see her sister Lorain accompanying him, but not Naline herself. Maybe she had come to try and persuade him to give Saiyn the Staff of Time for only the task at hand. Zealox would have remained immovable of course.

Soon the mortal lord and his Goddess entered his abode as if they themselves owned this place. Zealox stood up from his seat and grasped the staff of Time tightly in his hand. His long cloak covered every inch of his body so he looked more like the harbinger of death. He descended his steps and stood before the two with an unreadable expression, and in truth, he had felt no anger or disgust facing the two.

“I have told you that I would not grant you the power you desire,” Zealox announced to Saiyn after he gave a nod of recognition to Naline.

“I know what you said before. I haven’t come to ask you politely this time,” came the reply.

Zealox hadn’t even had time to raise an eyebrow at the implied intention. Naline had pulled out the Chain of Time and whipped it around him. It constricted to his form and tightened its hold every time he resisted against it or tried to use his gifts. The Staff of Time fell to the floor with a clatter and rolled away from him. Zealox himself collapsed to his knees and tried to reach for the staff but it rolled right to Saiyn. The lord picked it up gingerly and examined it with a careful eye.

“Naline! What are you doing? Have you gone mad?” Zealox gapped and tried to pull back in his chains. The Goddess did not respond to him. Maybe she was pleased with the outcome. She had always had something against him ever since her mortal lover had passed to the Land of Souls. Zealox looked up at her with eyes full of grief. Was this how low a God could sink? “You are throwing away the order of things! He is just a mortal!” Why couldn’t she understand that she was about to throw the world into chaos?

“Silence!” Saiyn ordered and stood before Zealox as if he himself were the God and Zealox the pathetic mortal. Saiyn extended the staff towards Zealox and it began to glow with a bright blue hue. “I don’t want you getting in the way. How better to get rid of an immortal then have them bound by the one thing they stand for and watch the world go by?” he grinned. He tapped the staff three times on the ground before Zealox and a ring of fire engulfed him but did not burn. The bonds tightened around him stopping any movement in his body.

In the blink of an eye, Zealox was thrust against a vertical obsidian Prague clock. The chain wrapped around it and tied him against it tightly. Zealox tried to maneuver out of it or make some room to slip through but the chain would not budge. “You’ll throw your world into disaster! You can’t control Time!” Zealox tried once more without much success. Saiyn raised his eyebrow and looked at the staff that now rested in his hand.

“I think I can control it just fine. After all, you are the one trapped by its power.” Saiyn turned away from Zealox and walked out of the cave and into the forest that surrounded it with his prize. Naline hadn’t even looked back at the trapped God. Could jealousy really take hold of a Goddess’s mind in this way? How could she turn on her own kind?

Chaos was beginning to reign under Saiyn. Zealox could feel time slipping away from the lord’s grasp. Zealox’s home, and now prison, had deteriorated as if it had been standing for centuries. It had fallen apart all around him leaving him in a ruin. Some trees and animal life had stopped growing or reversed in their life. It wouldn’t be long before Time completely broke free from the staff and disrupted everything that lived a mortal life, and Zealox couldn’t do a single damned thing. Why hadn’t he been more on the defense when Saiyn had entered? He couldn’t even fathom how idiotic he had been. He would have never guessed Saiyn to pursue the staff as he did. Humans were greedy creatures. Zealox should have seen the danger and prevented it. Now he was useless to everyone.

“I failed my task…” he muttered and looked down at the world he was surrounded by. He was nothing now. He had let Saiyn walk away with the power to distort the sacred element of time as if it were nothing. He was supposed to protect it. He had acted as if it was nothing. The other Gods were probably laughing at him now. He had let a mortal get the best of him and he hadn’t even put up a fight. It was such a shame.

Subject: Re: The Beginning of the End Sun Jan 31, 2010 10:18 pm

Aden huffed a sigh of irritation, leaning against a tree. Normally, the forest she called her home had no problem yielding animals for the hunt, but lately there seemed to be absolutely nothing. She rarely even heard a squirrel chattering among the trees anymore. It was a pity. She disliked spending all of her money on food at the village, but it was beginning to look as if she would have to dig into her small savings just to get by for the next week.

It made her wonder, though. Everything was so strange with the world lately . . . and it was unfortunate her food supply had to suffer.

"Well, what do you think, Marik?" she asked her faithful dog, sitting by her feet. He perked his ears and looked over his shoulder, locking his gold eyes with his owner's. "Think we should pack it in for the day? It doesn't look like we're going to find anything and we've been out here for half of the day."

Marik snorted and stood up, trotting off to another park of the forest. Aden laughed a little and rolled her eyes, standing up off her tree and adjusting the longbow she had resting across her shoulder. "No, of course you don't want to go home. I'm tellin' ya, though, we're not going to find anything if we haven't yet already." She followed her dog off into the woods, amused.

After walking perhaps fifty more feet into the woods, Marik tensed up. He sniffed the air, then bolted off. Aden, surprised at her normally well-behaved dog's turn in behavior, tried to call him back. He ignored her and kept running, prompting Aden to run after him for fear of losing him.

When she caught up, he had stopped at the opening of a cave that Aden didn't recall ever seeing before. That, however, didn't concern her at the moment. She gave Marik a firm smack across the nose and a harsh "bad dog" for disobeying and not returning when she had called him. Then she looked to the cave. This was new, but she hadn't been this far into the forest before, either. Curious, she gestured for Marik to follow behind her, and slid her bow off her shoulder. She kept in arrow notched, just in case there was something less-than-friendly hiding in the cave.

Valden stared at the enormous tome, propped up on its own platform in the back of the room. This was a brief moment where he could pause; while the God of Death normally did not have many moments to stop his work, they had become ever more rare since Zealox's disappearance.

He sighed tiredly and rubbed his eyes. His brother disappeared a year ago, and there was still nothing being done. He ached to go look for him in the realm of mortals, but there was no way. He had enough trouble keeping up the record of deaths when he did have Zealox there to refer to; without him, Valden couldn't rarely afford to even look away from his records, let alone drop everything he was doing and go look.

Perhaps he could appeal to the other gods? Valden glanced at his favorite writing quill, propped upright in a well of ink, then reached out a hand and fixed a slightly stray thread in the feather. If the gods hadn't looked by now, though, would they even try at all? Or perhaps they had tried to look and hadn't had any luck. He wouldn't know. He didn't have time to venture outside of his home to find out. Deaths were always occurring . . . always. If he didn't keep up with the records, he would fall behind. Everything would be out of order. Even if he could catch up, the damage would already be done. He would have been behind. It would have been out of order, if only for a short while. He couldn't accept that.

He stood and strode back over to the open book on the other side of the room, taking his quill with him. With all the loving care a parent would give a child, he wrote down a few more names of mortal deaths and their times in immaculate penmanship. He thought of the comparatively few deaths he had ever recorded of a non-mortal . . . and hated to think he may have to write his brother's.

Subject: Re: The Beginning of the End Mon Feb 01, 2010 3:58 pm

The throne room bore little interest to the lounging Usurper. Despite it's well-kept and magnificent architecture, it was only the same of his old room on a grander scale with a big chair in the middle of it. It was comfortable, sure, but more often than not the entertainment was worthless. Saiyn scowled at the ceiling, loathing the tapestries and dim gold curtains. There wasn't much to do. Ever since the Staff of Time broke, people have been complaining to him, using the opportunity to make commit useless revolts, and confusing many of what he wanted to do. It was misty around the castle, as always, and through it only a faint view of the city could be seen. He had direct control over all the major cities, but it was the smaller towns and rural villages that needed soldiers to carry out his orders. He tried to keep orderly control, but those that had loved Torren continued to defy his attempts to explain or act.

The robes were heavy and hot. High life was so uncomfortable, but one had to bear it in order to have power. Considerable power. Torren remains enslaved, and he had no problem keeping him that way until he died. Just more suffering from a now-paupered man. He took the time to reflect on him. He never got much done, he always seemed popular due only to his pulchritude and charisma, and for some reason, was very picky who and what people did. That wasn't a good leader. That was tyranny. He stood up, and shrugged off the purple cloth cape and robe, revealing more lighter and cooler clothes underneath. He ordered the shades to be opened, which they were, and he left the room.

The barracks were cold, damp, and gave Saiyn a warm welcome. He remembered being here, being one of them. He was loved by his men, a tactician that could not be broken even under terrible circumstances. Now, he was long gone, a distant memory just like the barracks were themselves. A half-armored knight walked up to the king. "My Lord?" He asked politely, as much as a hardened soldier could. "I want the best messengers available assembled in my throne room in half an hour." He stated. The soldier did not ask why, rather just saluted and watched him walk away with hard, but respectful eyes. The tactician king turned on the spot and walked out the barracks, leaving the faint scent of perfumes. The knight stayed at a salute for a full five minutes before relaxing and calmly returning to the armory where he came from.

Saiyn entered his chambers, a five minute walk from the barracks. It was funny. Though Zealox's damned staff broke, time has only started to begin failing at a noticeable level. Trees beginning to halt or reverse in time? That was hardly noticable. The ancient guardians of the forests have been there since the dawn of time- there was nothing to observe and notice. But now, there are more pressing matters to attend to. While his best men were searching for the pieces of the staff, which could take years due to the flux time itself was in. If years were still a reliable source of counting time.

The road was hard, worn, and ancient. Not like the man that walked along it. The dusty Qi Pao's black color has faded with age, as like the spare one in the travelers bag. No signs of civilization in sight, but with the help of a map and some advice, he knew of a village just up ahead where he could rest. That was just what he needed. stabbing the staff into the earth, he decided to use the sun to tell time. Hah. That was funny. He watched as the shadows moved irregularly from moment to moment, and gave up. His Hook Swords were the bulk of his weight- even with his light cargo he wouldn't make it to town in time before collapsing of exhaustion.

The forest would be a suitable place. The road itself was stripped of all food, not that he needed any. To wait, think, and fast was the most important thing if one wanted opportunity. The grass was mostly short, some yellow, some long and green. This gave Fong mixed feelings about camping out here. He continued to walk, making the most of his daylight. However, time was not on his side. It could turn dark any moment, and light again. He had to rest at some point. A heaved sigh, and a detour off the road into the forest. Brushing past the trees, the weary traveler began to set up camp. Yes, his name was Fong. The man from the east, traveling the world until Torren was thrown from power. Now here he was, looking for opportunity to strike against the Usurper. The soldiers, however, are almost too cautious. No revolt could make it past the first battle before falling into disarray.

Fong set stones around a campfire, with sticks, a piece of a large log, and kindling, in case day would suddenly turn into blistery night. He pulled out his gourd, and drank from it. Half full, he stowed it away and sat on a nearby stone, debating on his next move. With time so frayed, it was impossible to decide firmly on what to do next. Staring into the unlit fire place, he continued to debate on what to do.

§

Subject: Re: The Beginning of the End Mon Feb 01, 2010 8:30 pm

It had seemed like a long and arduous afternoon at the palace’s hospital ward. Since he began work in the morning, Simon had not eaten in what he thought was six hours—a good long work into the evening, in any case. But when he finally looked clearly out the windows of the medical wing, the sun was still hanging high in the sky, the day bright and warm. Those measly four hours after breakfast must have dragged out—in fact, Simon felt a little sluggish the whole time he worked. But Simon reminded himself that working as a doctor causes him to lose track of time. He thought of the moments when he skipped through the midday meal and supper to finish up a critical surgery on one unlucky guard caught by a bomb. But then again, Simon couldn’t recall a time when the day turned out to be earlier than expected. This would be a first.

Simon finished feeding his willow bark tea to one of his patients. Seeing the patient hadn’t spat out the bitter medicine, Simon breathed a sigh of relief. At least something here isn’t giving him any trouble. Simon stood up and bid the man well, turning to cross large, dorm-like room. There were five of these scattered throughout the hospital section of the castle; they used to be some sort of decorated hall or something, but were donated generously for his uses. The surgical and other intense medical treatment rooms are found between the dorms, and all the rooms are somehow connected to a central lobby. Simon was sure this wasn’t what the castle’s floor plans dictated and there were some wall-tearing involved. Another of Saiyn’s feats.

After burning is hands in the sterilizing hot-water bath, Simon left for a much-needed break, airing his reddened hands as he walked down a central corridor. He might want to stay in the lounge for the moment, and maybe find some food from the kitchen, too, if he was feeling adventurous. He hadn’t eaten for a long while, but it might as well be considered his midday meal; it wasn’t past noontime anyway.

The doors to the lounge were cool to the touch when Simon pushed them open. The lounge itself was even colder, like the God of Winter had decided to pay him a visit. It’s no wonder Simon never found any doctors taking their breaks there. He knew it wasn’t easy at all to get heat to the hospital’s rooms, but he had been assured quite confidently the week before that there would be heating from today on. Reminding himself to have a stern talk with one of the engineers, he slid the heavy coat off his shoulders and hung it carefully on the tiny hooks of the coat stand. The hooks themselves were as efficient as the ridges of the wood grain, so when the coat failed to stay on for the fourth time, Simon threw it on the couch instead.

He waved goodbye to the clerk at the lobby and strode out the double doors. He stopped by the kitchen, conversing with some chefs along the way, who acknowledged him and gave him a slice of pie. He ate it blankly as he departed, vaguely knowing that it was made of strawberries, a rare treat these days, but was thinking of other things. It was almost time for him to visit home, and he had not seen his sister for a while now. He really did miss her, but he wasn’t sure if it’s a good time to leave just yet. There were more important things to do at the hospital. What was more important? People or Sam?

Sam. Definitely Sam.

Simon headed to his bedchambers first; his medic case was still sitting in its little alcove by the bed. He began neglecting his medic case a few days ago, keeping it out of reach. He wanted to see how long he could last without it by his side anymore. He could see a few good effects that could come of this. First of all, his hands wouldn’t restricted by a case anymore, freeing him to carry more, and second, well, there wasn’t any other reason except that it’d be fun. Besides, if anything happened, the hospital’s stock of medicines and tools would replace whatever he had in the case.

Simon plopped down onto his bed. In just three more days, he wouldn’t have to wake up, worrying about the people that might be dying while he was asleep. He would have to do any more surgeries. He wouldn’t have to feed disgusting willow bark to people who just spit it back out. And most of all, he wouldn’t have to worry about avoiding Raiyne, who had suspiciously taken a liking to him. Simon always seemed to find him alone with her, and then she’d start advancing on him and talking funny. It’s not that he didn’t like her, but he doesn’t have time for a relationship right now.

Simon forced the thought out of his head and began packing his bags.

Subject: Re: The Beginning of the End Wed Feb 03, 2010 8:21 pm

Naline paced her heavenly room, distressed. It seemed like so long ago that she had aided in the imprisonment of Zealox. How had things gone so wrong? It had all been going well, at the beginning. She had gotten her revenge, and her human pet had gotten his country. But now. . . things were spinning rapidly out of control. Time was spinning rapidly out of control.

She shook her head. This was her fault, partially, but there was nothing she could do now to change it. There was nothing she wanted to do. She wouldn't free that pompous God even if she could; He didn't deserve it. But she had to find some way to help her little Saiyn. Time had to be corrected.

Naline paced her heavenly room, distressed. With a slight feeling of deja-vu, she began to contemplate her current situation.

Torren sat in his dark cell. His eyes were closed, although he would see basically the same thing if they were open. He leaned his head back against the cool, slimy stone wall. His stomach growled angrily at him, but he ignored it. When had his last meal been? It was hard to tell, anymore. With the lack of light, it was almost impossible to tell if time was even passing.

He had heard rumors, though. The guards would talk when they thought he was asleep. Something wasn't right in his country, but he couldn't do anything to help. That fact frustrated him more than anything. His thoughts were interrupted as the guards changed. That was one thing that seemed steady, although recently he would notice guards replacing themselves. He shook his head.

He kept telling himself that his day to regain the throne would come. He could only pray that it would come soon enough for him to save his people from the disaster named Saiyn.

Subject: Re: The Beginning of the End Fri Feb 05, 2010 10:41 pm

Lady Moon was out in the midnight position, the sun was no where in sight, and it unnerved the girl who had awoken. It wasn’t right, and she knew her body timing wasn’t off. She normally woke up after a certain amount of sleep. Now where most people would have fallen asleep waiting for the sun to rise she didn’t, wouldn’t... couldn’t time waited for no one, not even the God of Time himself…at least that’s what she told herself to get her chores done so she would be ready.

The sun came up a little faster than expected as well and the sheep moved faster than normal. Diana grew suspicious, as her father called to her during her morning practice with her pole arms she knew made a mental reminder to practice her bow and arrows and daggers. Bandits have been sighted lately and she would need the practice to defend her home. Her father surprised her saying she looked a little slower than normal, she had felt that she was moving faster, either way it was good made her muscles work more. He ushered her to the table where they quickly ate. Diana’s mother reprimanded her first little brother for how he was eating, it was different looking at her mother who wasn’t pregnant scold one of her elder sons, she usually didn’t have to, it made Diana laugh.
“Oh don’t you be laughing Diana, you and your sisters’ git to that hot springs and wash up! The festivals this afternoon and I did not make your dresses for them to be worn with you all dirty in ‘em!” The girls left soon after that, well all those in the festival that is.

Diana smiled and quickly went to her father and told the others that she would meet them at the hot springs.
“Pa!” she called out to him, her face growing serious, “Pa, somethin’ weird is goin’ on.”
“And what is that Diana,” he smiled.
“Time Father! I’ve told you before it’s time. Something isn’t right. Spring has come yet the days are extremely short or extremely long. Plants are blooming to fast or too slow, and some are just dying as soon as they sprout!”
“You’re just worrying too much Diana, nothings wrong, and if there was today’s festival will be our prayer for the village’s safety either way. No go get ready my little Lady Spring.” Diana smiled and too off to meet her sisters at the hot spring, the doubt still ringing in her mind.

If Diana thought her mother was bad, her elder sisters were worst, they scolded her for being a bit late, especially the one who was dancing as Naline for Naline and Lorrain, the twin goddesses. This would be the fourth of her four older sisters to dance Naline’s dance, her mother had danced it as well. Her sister though was extremely nervous because today would also be her wedding day and she wanted Naline’s blessing, and so did her family, they hoped the tribute would go over well and bless over their future.

All of them washed and got out sparkling and pink since they had to scrub from head to toe. Her sister’s dress was in hues of pinks, reds, whites, and gold; it also hid as much as it showed. When they finished her hair Diana smiled at the thought of how her sister’s fiancé’s mouth would drop.

Diana’s dress was done last as it was white, with hues of blue, green, yellow, and violet dancing across the dress and flowers were put around her neck and in her hair, since she was dancing for Lady Spring. Diana put her hand to her heart, maybe if I do this right, Lady Spring will stop this mayhem.

As it got closer and closer to her turn to dance she started to fidget, her mother and father danced first as the patron god and matron goddess, then others started as well, soon it would be her turn, then two others, and then her sister and the dancer for Lorrain, then it would be the god of Death’s dance and finally the God of Time’s signifying a full circle. Diana’s body started to move at the start of her song, she would dance first as it was Spring now. She twirled and moved like the ever changing and blooming spring. Summer came out and danced with her a bit then she danced to the side and moved, he danced with autumn and so on with the other two, as winter finished his dance all four came to the center and danced a bit, exchanging partners close to them, so she would dance with summer and winter only never autumn, but it worked since the two were opposites.

Diana ran out when her dance was done so she could get into her regular festival dress, the only time she ever really were a dress. She was able to get back to see her sister’s dance, which made her jaw drop. Never had any of the dances for the twin goddesses were so seductive as their two. They knew that the twin goddesses were known for being seductive, Lorrain especially, but that was legend and seeing this dance brought that part of the stories to life. Her mother was probably proud of her sister’s dance, her sister had, as the others who had done the twin goddesses dances, had made it her own. While Naline’s dance was passionate and flowing, Lady Wrath’s dance was sharper, edgy, and war-like.

The God of Time’s, Zealox’s, dancer started to dance. The staff was an intricate part of the dance, and would be the staff for Zealox’s statue in the temple. Something shiny-ish, had caught her eye, it was strange and gave her the shivers, it didn’t belong, and was different from the rest of the staff. The dancer set the staff in the ground and reached out. Diana’s eyes widened as she was pulled from the audience and brought back into the dancing area.
“Joshua what are you doin’ idiot!” she hissed to her friend.
“Dancing with you, what does it look like?” he smirked.
“You’re supposed to be dancing as Zealox! Zealox wouldn’t dance with a mortal.”
“Who knows? Maybe one day he would. Besides no one will complain if Zealox would be dancing with the Goddess of Spring as it is that time of year.”
“You like my sister!” she hissed as he twirled her quickly then brought her back close. Every nerve on her back seemed to be brought a light as her back hit his chest. She pushed away and was brought into another part of the dance.

“Sadly she’s getting married, so I’ll have to make due,” she frowned at that, “besides who said two friends can’t dance?” he questioned her before putting her in a lift. She grabbed his hand and lifted her leg as a final dance move and she heard him say, “besides, your sister is playing Naline and Zealox and Naline aren’t exactly getting along right now.” After that she twirled away from him and grabbed the extended hand of the God of Death’s dancer. The end of the season, life. She walked away thinking, if Zealox did find a love then he with a human he would have to see her die from Naline’s tale, Naline most likely wouldn’t allow it, and it was he who didn’t allow Naline’s lover to become a demigod or god.

Diana looked at Zealox’s staff in the temple of gods, one temple for all the gods, something that made people come to her village besides trade. The village had made it and maintained it. The staff still had the sparkling shard in it. Once more time seemed to have slowed down, she didn’t trust it.
“BANDITS!” a man yelled. On festival day too, she swore. She ran grabbing a rope and her glaive. The bandits were finished with quickly and they made sure one of them got the message to their leader that if they tried to attack again, especially on a festival day, they would pay. The man gulped and nodded furiously, he probably wasn’t expecting that the women and children fought alongside with the men. Diana spat on the ground where he once laid, if he came back, she would deal with him personally. Looking back once more at the temple she shivered, and watched as a kid tripped and slowly fell to the ground. Something isn’t right!

Subject: Re: The Beginning of the End Sat Feb 06, 2010 11:30 am

Lorain tapped the edge of her seat with a sharp ruby red nail impatiently. Things had not gone well. She had expected Saiyn to come to her for help, not to her sister. By all the gods, she was the perfect candidate for this war. She could have given him the blessing of the fight! Why he ran to her sister made no sense. She was not the Goddess of battle so it was useless to bring her to Zealox’s temple. Albeit, she had no quarrel with Zealox unlike Naline but she would have blessed him anyway. Instead, Naline offered her hand and now Zealox was trapped and there was no blood spilt. It was sickening.

She stood from her golden throne and walked into her balcony and peered down upon the weak mortals. Her eyes scanned the world like a vulture until they landed on the one man she was looking for, Saiyn. This wasn’t over yet. Time had begun to wither under his control and now the staff had been shattered. Time was running amuck as if it was a demon and all life was beginning to change. She didn’t much care about that. She had other intentions for this precious lord. She knew he was looking for the shattered pieces of the staff and maybe if he had them all, he would be able to use time again. None of that mattered. What mattered to her however, was how much blood he spilt. She would have her fun and no man would deny her.

She turned her gaze away from Saiyn and started to comb the land for one of the shards like she had for days now, if you could call them that. For now, she had found none. The shards weren’t being used so it was almost impossible to detect. It was like finding a grain of salt in a pillar of sand. Someone else had to happen upon it before the small little grain could be uncovered. Just when she was about to give up, a sparkle caught her eye. She turned back and honed in on that small little glint. No sooner did she realize that it was one of the shards. A small smile played on her full lips. The shard was close. Just on the mountain in a small little village. Perfect.

She turned away from the balcony and her silken robes quickly manifested in a warrior’s attire. Her weapons at her side, and her excitement within her, she was ready for blood. As she walked out of her room, her precious little raven fluttered by her and landed on her shoulder.

“Hello my dearest. You smell blood in the air to,” she spoke. The raven cooed in answer and flapped its wings. With a snap of her fingers, Lorain vanished only to appear in the castle grounds. Men passed by her but none took notice. She had no wish to be seen by them. They were unworthy to her for now. Saiyn was in her sights. Her raven took flight and flew straight to Saiyn and cawed at him before landing on his shoulder. Lorain was soon to follow. She draped her arms around Saiyn’s shoulders and nuzzled his cheek.

“Hello milord,” she whispered in his ear and traced his jaw line. A devilish grin remained present on her face. This would defiantly gain her some favor from this lord. Maybe she could steal the glory from Naline. After all, Lorain deserved the favor from a warlord.

Subject: Re: The Beginning of the End Sat Feb 06, 2010 2:29 pm

As he walked away, he felt the knight saluting him as he passed. Fear? Or respect? Either way, he raised his hand in response. He worked hard, planning for days, praying to the gods and gaining favors. He worked far to hard to earn hostility, way to hard to lose it because the people hated him. However, with the people growing discontent due to the breakdown of time, military force was necessary, if unpopular.

Doing the right thing was different than doing what was the popular thing. Torren was weak because of that. Pacifism was not going to earn the approval of everyone, especially when he had refused the acceptance of his top doctor. Simon had skill, delicacy, heart... all the things necessary for a competent doctor. However, Torren just did not seem to like him, the old bastard.

He grew to depend on his doctor, and trusted and respected what he had to say. A bird of war landed on his shoulder, cawing. Saiyn took no notice to this, he was busy contemplating the former king's irrational decisions when a pair of hardened arms draped over his shoulders. "Hello milord." came the soft voice, right in his ear. He told himself to relax, forcibly. It was not proper and good for morale if a lord suddenly panicked. At first, Saiyn believed it was Naline. Only the goddess of love would do such things. However, when he turned and moved away from the embrace, (he had shivered slightly when a unknown finger traced his face) he saw the goddess of war.

Slowly, he looked her up and down. There was no doubt. His guards would have saw her, and reported something. He was deep within the castle grounds. No mortal could slip past his guards so easily, when most of them were on patrol almost all day. However, such behavior from the usually fierce goddess was unnerving. He could not help paling a little when he saw her.

"Lady Lorain." He whispered in respect. Being a tactician, a skilled warrior was always of the utmost importance to him in terms of war. "It is... too much to expect for yourself to come and visit me personally." He continued, kneeling before her, humbled by her presence. He could feel it now, the subtle waves of powerful strength emanating from a goddess that knows war front and back. He could almost feel her grin, and eyes on him. He almost knew what she was going to ask, but for fear of being presumptuous, he instead asked a question. "For what reason would you visit a mortal such as myself? Surely, it must be a matter of urgency."

The ready campfire ring was almost asking to be lit. The kindling did not move, waiting patiently for the first spark to touch the dry exterior and ignite it. Sighing, he complied. Two flint stones appeared in his hand, and he struck at them patiently. Something strange happened, however. As the first spark left the rocks, he saw the spark curve in an arc toward the kindling, then stopping just before touching and shooting back toward the rocks, which moved on impulse to meet it. Jerking back, Fong snatched the rocks and examined them. Squinting, he closed his eyes and smoothed the planes in his heart and mind. His conscious reached out, fully aware of all his surroundings. With no sight, but a plane above sight that one does not need eyes for.

He felt something moving in the forest, very faint. Thin and compact. Most unlike any woodland creature. Then he broadened his view. He felt the irregularities of time, and could feel waves stutter and break from natural movement and momentum. It was frightening. Sometimes, an hour would pass in a second, but a second could take hours. He felt a larger presence. Much more subtle, almost as if it was hiding. He would leave it be. If one wished not to be seen, he would comply. It was nowhere near him anyways. He had no idea what it was. Possibly a hiding bear.

He awoke from his meditation, and struck at the flints again. The spark took almost too long to reach the kindling, but the fire ignited. Warm radiated out for a second, then shot back, then exploded out again. He watched both in slight fear and fascination. Time, the unbreakable, immovable, yet unstoppable force had finally reached a point where it had begun to degenerate. He looked toward the sky, hoping for an answer. He found none, as to be expected. For now, he settled in the comfort of the fire, what warm it gave him.

§

Subject: Re: The Beginning of the End Sun Mar 07, 2010 12:35 pm

Aden hesitated at the mouth of the cave again, looking back over her shoulder at the cave. The forest itself seemed to give off an eerie feel . . . The woods she called her home had, in the last year, become strange. The entire world had. She would watch enormous evergreen trees grow from seedlings in the span of hours, while others would wither away into seeds though they were dozens of years old. Patches of dying grass grew mixed with patches of new. Here, though, as she had gone deeper into the forest and closer to the cave, everything seemed to have gotten more confusing than that.

Aden had long ago sensed something was wrong with the world itself, but she didn't know what it was. Rumors in town flew, claiming that the gods themselves had intervened, were even warring. Having never taken a particular interest in studying the gods nor having any particular faith in them, she was doubtful of what the people said, but the thoughts would still linger in her mind.

She shook her head and turned back into the cave. Her curiosity was overwhelming.

As she slowly picked her way into the tunnels, she had to allow Marik to walk ahead of her. His sharper eyes could see farther than hers, and as the light dimmed she had to rely on him to lead the way. At her side she kept an arrow notched in her bow, half-expecting to stumble upon a bear. But then again, Marik wouldn't have taken such a drastic interest in a bear. He knew better than to run into their caves. There had to be something more exciting in this one.

She was quickly enveloped in blackness, and stopped to light a lantern from her pack before continuing. It seemed she was walking for hours, listening only to Marik's pawsteps and her leather boots against the rocky ground, each click reverberating off the wall. Then suddenly, it opened up. It looked like she had stumbled into ruins; half of the cave had deteriorated into half-formed walls, surrounding by forest life in all stages of its life cycles. Intrigued, she continued to explore, putting out her lantern again.

In the middle of it all was a large stone obelisk of some sort--a clock? She couldn't imagine it still worked. Marik darted ahead, barking madly, and Aden squinted to see what was there. It looked as though there was a person up against the obelisk, but it was hard to be sure from her distance. Hesitantly, she moved forward, subconsciously gripping her bow tighter.

Subject: Re: The Beginning of the End Mon Mar 08, 2010 10:54 pm

Zealox often dwelt on the past and now the chaotic events that would carry on into the future and relive his failure. He had nothing else to do in his cell but stare at his failure and have it stare back at him and gloat. He bet that his brother was having more of a hectic time to, dealing with all the disruption that time has wrought on the living. Did his brother laugh at him as well? They were one of the eldest of the Gods after all and it was abashing to know how easily a mortal man bested one of them.

His thoughts soon parted from his mind when two presences entered the cave. He looked up and starred down towards the opening that would soon lead the beings into his lair. At first, he thought it was Saiyn and some other personnel will him. He tensed in anticipation but even if it was that man he couldn't do anything about it. He was powerless and trapped. He waited and soon realized that it wasn't the man he loathed. He couldn't quite tell who it was but the closer it got, the more he realized it was a female human and an animal. Possibly a dog.

He saw the small light from her lamp flow into his cave but he continued to remain motionless. He couldn't detect any malice from the girl, but that could change easily with a little corruption. Why bring unwanted attention to himself when he knew not her intentions? What if she had been sent by Saiyn to see if he was still trapped here? He seemed to be distant from the woman's mind until her faithful dog started to bark up at him and run to him. The light from the lamp quickly came up to him and he barely moved his head towards the girl.

Should he say a word to her? Should he tell her who he was? It couldn't damage him anymore than he already was. He gave an inward sigh before he spoke in a loud voice, "Daughter of Earth, why have you come into this desolate cave? Have you come seeking answers of the turmoil of your home?"

"Ah, my dearest Saiyn, you flatter. I have come in attendance to war of course. I know you seek the shards from the Staff of Time. It is a shame that it has shattered but that cannot be undone unfortunately. Mortals cannot easily see objects of power when they do not wish to be seen so I doubt you alone can find them all and piece the staff back together," she informed and tapped a finger to her chin in playful thought. She never told anything straightforward. Let the mortals be infuriated and infatuated with her. They would always come calling for favors of blood.

Lorrain extended her hand and in a flurry of wings, her raven flew to her hand and rested on her arm. It cawed and she gently pet its head. "I have found one of these shards not so distant from here. You could send your men there and you'll have one step up against Master Time. You can't expect him to just sit around where you left him. You did use the staff to imprison him in the first place. That magic may weaken. Each shard in your grasp reinforced that bond," she continued and teased in the information.

"I may give you the location you so desire but of course, my favor comes with a price." At those words, her eyes sparkled with a flame. "I want blood. Your coup of time was bloodless and I am unsatisfied. This shard rests on top of Time Mountain in the small village that rests there. Send your men there and take over the village and take the shard from them. I don't expect any mercy," she finally finished. Normally she asked for sacrifices before she offered her help, but this village would be a waiver for that. One the village was destroyed, she'd stay employed with Saiyn and see what other wonders he would accomplish. "I might even help you destroy Zealox. Even Gods can die if in the right manner," she smiled

Subject: Re: The Beginning of the End Sat Mar 13, 2010 6:34 pm

Naline sighed. Whatever her feelings now, she couldn't change her actions. The current situation might not be ideal, but she could make it work. She could make anything work, with the right incentive. Movement in her looking-glass caught her eye, and she walked over to it with a frown. She looked past her beautiful reflection, to the magical images that could be seen behind it. She shook her head with a sigh. The reflection revealed her deceitful sister, trying once again to get her claws into Naline's head worshiper. With a growl of frustration, she waved her hand in the air, her form quickly disappearing from her room, and reappearing in Saiyn's chambers.

"My, my, my," she said with a fake smile on her face, "how nice it is to see you here, sister."

Torren groaned in his bonds, rocking his head back and forth in a futile attempt to work out some of the kinks. How had this happened? Where had he gone wrong? He often went over those last few years in his mind. Were there signs that he had overlooked? Perhaps some action that he could have done to prevent his underling's uprising. He sighed. The high lords had been chosen so carefully. He had been sure he could trust them. Sometimes he still couldn't believe what had happened.

Suddenly, his arms fell to the floor from the chains that had held them above his head for so long. He rubbed his sore wrists, slowly working the blood flow back into them as he looked at the chains above him with wonder. They looked old, as if they had been siting there for decades rather than a few months. They had been rusted through, until they simply crumbled. He shook his head, smiling happily. He still had to find a way out of the cage, but at least this was a start.

Subject: Re: The Beginning of the End Fri May 07, 2010 8:42 pm

Diana woke up once more in the night. The moon was setting, but it was taking too long to set. It should be light already. As she herded the animals, carefully so she wouldn’t stink, the sun finally started to break and one of her younger sisters, sleepily, went out to feed the chickens.

“Diana!” her mother yelled a couple of hours later, “time to do the wash.” She looked up from her chores and ran to her mother.

Diana snapped the sheets before bringing it close to her to fold it. The sun beat down on her and everyone else in the village. Kids were playing and laughing, even her brothers and sisters. She saw some of her nieces and nephews as well. Her pregnant mother helped her fold the sheet before going into place it inside. It was calming, just living on the mountain. There was always business, hunting, and such but the fresh air, the wildlife, the nature was always welcomed. Though one thing, Diana thought, is always a bad thing, there’s always too much to do or nothing to do. Never a happy medium.

As Diana snapped another sheet and her mother came back out she heard a foot step but ignored it. Her mother greeted the person like family and it made Diana keep working.

“Aunt Diana, Aunty,” she looked down at her leg and smiled. Her four-year-old nephew Bryce was at her leg.

“What is it Bryce?” she smiled. Bryce began to tell her about a story other kids made up. A story that’s been told a million times before, she even heard it when she was his age. It was about a kid who fell into the well and got out and was bless by the gods for his perseverance to only be eaten by a bear later. It was made so kids would stay away from the well because it was said that the bear was jealous of the boy who was blessed and it would think anyone near the well who was the boy’s age would be eaten out of confusion.

“Don’t worry Bryce that old bear won’t get in ‘cause we got hunters like your pa and granpa, and we also got this wall protecting the village.”

“You sure?” he asked looking her in the eye. She smiled at him, “Of course. Now get, me and Ma have to finish laundry.” He smiled and started to run off.

“Thanks Aunt Diana!”

Her Ma smiled at her before they worked on folding once more. The monotonous folds between them were more routine then anything. Her Ma smiled and Diana blanked for a second, she felt herself yanked and all the air went out of her. When her feet touched the ground she felt someone’s arms underneath her hand.

“Geez Joshua you turd!” he laughed at her glaring at him. She stared at the laundry that was flung on the ground because of his little stunt, “You’re folding that.” It was stated as simple matter of fact. Joshua picked it up and folded it with ease before asking her mother if he could steal Diana a bit later. Her mother nodded before ushering her inside.

Her other pulled out a small box and opened it. Diana’s eyes widened as her mother pulled out a dress. It was a red and gold like flames a little blue at the bottom. Even standing still it was dancing flames. Her mother pushed her in it. Her whole back was exposed and it was tied around her neck, a large chunk of her right leg was exposed since the slit was so high up.

“Its finished, I just want to see if I need to let the hem out, doesn’t seem like it though.”

“What is this for?” Diana asked in awe.

“Your sisters have been teaching you the twin goddesses’ dances’ right?” Diana nodded, “well this is their dance, the dress. My best work. I prayed to both for me to give me the ability to make their dress. More seductive then all of your sisters’, more warlike, fitting, full of compassion, all will be jealous of you Diana.” She closed her eyes, “This ones Naline's, at your left knee and mid thigh there in the folds of the skirt is a tie. Untie it.” The dress fell and a large slit was now on both sides. A fighting style, the material on her lower legs that wasn’t attached to her hips, small of her back or upper thighs flowed around between her legs. Her mom told her to do a dancer’s twirl, a fast one too. It didn’t show anything too private. Her mother smiled and offered a pair of short breeches, really short; it was basically underwear, only a little bigger. Her mom called her dancer’s undergarments…underwear.

Joshua knocked on the door, which was surprising considering how he always walked in. Diana ran out in her normal tunic and breeches, promising to practice in the dress. Joshua seeing her ran after her and quickly over passed her.

“Where are we going?” she asked as he grabbed her hand and started to pull her. He smiled and just continued to pull her. They quickly were out of the gates and he finally let go and collapsed on the ground. She stood looking at him; he was smiling and breathing heavily.

“Idiot,” she said lightly kicking him in the side. He just laughed in response.

Diana sat down next to him. He looked up and smiled as she was looking around. “Remember this place,” he said pointing to the plains and woods around them. Diana looked around once more and laughed, “This is where I chased you down and pummeled you when you hurt my little brother. How we first met.”

He gave a cheeky smile, “Also where I first got my crush on your older sister.” Diana rolled her eyes at that and called him an idiot underneath her breath, “But alas, she got married just a day ago.” Diana rolled here eyes once more.

“Diana!” someone called, Diana looked and saw her sister Maura running towards her and heard Josh sigh. Once more she rolled her eyes.
If I keep rolling my eyes they’ll never stop, she thought smiling to herself.
“Hello Joshua, I have to steal my little sister for a bit, she needs to practice her dances,” she smiled. He looked at Diana surprised that she was practicing this early. Diana just smiled and shrugged, before being pulled away. She yelled a quick good bye, while grabbing her pack.

“Your leg has to go higher Diana!” Tiffany scolded quickly and efficiently, since being a mom she knew proper scolding now apparently. Diana did the move once more but as she was bringing her foot down, she couldn’t move. She forced herself to throw her foot down but nothing worked. What’s happening? She once more thought to push her foot to the ground. Too much, she thought as her whole body was lurching forward and she fell to the ground.

“Danny, Are you alright?” her sisters ran to her calling her the old nickname that only her family called her. Diana looked up at her sisters and pulled herself of the ground.

“I’m okay…I think.”

Subject: Re: The Beginning of the End Thu May 20, 2010 5:15 pm

You need a blank canvas to think, so says the Black Fox from his pitch black room. You need a place to splash your ideas onto something that can be wiped clean again. Free the mind from the distraction of having to process everything you heard, smell, taste, touch, see. Just think, plan, scheme. Draw your plans against those who dare do anything other than kiss your feet. Its something that has served well so far.

"M, my lord?" And now everything shatters.

"Make it quick!" the voice is stressing the need to carry on.

"Lady Ky-"

"Lady Ky can kindly shove it up her behind. I am occupied with more pressing matters."

"B, b, but Era said her first word, my lord." There was definite hope of escape in the messenger's voice. Mostly of what would happen if he didn't come back with what was in the pitch black room.

"And the word would be?"

"Woogle, my lord."

"That is not a word. It's gibberish."

"However, my lord, Lady Ky-"

"The hormonal women is becoming infuriating. Once it was that she'd lined her toys in hight order all by herself. Another was that she's drawn a happy face in the porridge she'd spilled."

"What shall I tell her, my Lord?"

"Tell her to use it in a sentence."

"Oh! If you were to say that then I was told to say back in response to you saying that and that exact sentence and-"

"Stop yammering."

"She said if you said that then I should say, from her, "Era just said 'Woogle'"."

"Fine. Tell her if she can find it in the dictionary, I will come and listen to the miracle I happen to be missing."

"Yes my lord."

Right. Where was I? Ah! You need a blank canvas to think, so says the Black Fox from his pitch black room. You need a place to splash your ideas onto something that can be wiped clean again...

Subject: Re: The Beginning of the End Mon May 31, 2010 1:27 am

Aden made a small "eep" noise and gripped her bow tighter, subconsciously raising the arrow to aiming level. She hadn't expected that the silhouette would have been a man after all, and certainly not one who was living chained to the obelisk. If anything, she had expected a skeleton with robes on it.

After he spoke, she hesitated. He talked strangely. "Daughter of the Earth?" Why not just call her a young woman like everyone else did? Then again, he was chained to a clock in the middle of a cave in a forest. He was strange as it was.

"I'm, ah, not sure what yer on about," she said slowly, hesitantly daring to move closer to see her speaker. She let her eyes travel across him and the thing he was chained to. "Everythin's been a little weird lately but that's not why I'm here. I was just following my dog." She glanced at Marik, who was still growling lowly in his throat, and didn't bother to silence him. Then she looked back to the man. "Apparently he was onto somethin' here. What are you doing here and why are you all chained up like that? Need, ah, any help getting down . . . ?" It seemed a foolish question to ask, but for all she knew, he wanted to be here. It was an odd sight to see in any situation.

Subject: Re: The Beginning of the End Mon May 31, 2010 10:28 am

Zealox gave a small smile in the direction of the girl but he doubted she could see it from so far away. He could use this girl. If she freed him, he could go about setting things right again. The magic from the staff had weakened but he knew not why. He only assumed that Saiyn had lost control of the staff, not that it had shattered into pieces. This could work in his favor. Maybe there was hope for the world yet. Just the thought of being able to get down was an eager notion. What a lucky day.

"Yes, I do need help getting down. These binds restrict me and I cannot move to unbind myself. I would much appreciate your help if you can," he answered her. "If you let me down, I can help put things in their place again. Time will start to mend and flow the correct way again. It is my promise to you. All this was my fault and I plan on undoing my mistake and ignorance." He was eager to be down. He had to remind himself that the girl might not be able to let him down. It all depended on how the magic flowed around the binding. He hoped she could though.

Lorrai turned, startled by the new voice. Her eyes quickly narrowed on her sister. What was she doing here? She was going to go and ruin her plans now! It was true that Saiyn was Naline's worshiper, but that didn't matter to her. Saiyn was a ruler and a warrior. His first attributes had to go to the Goddess of war to ensure his kingdom and win battles of favor. Naline had no business in that! Sure, Naline had started the war, but this wasn't her trade! She was stealing away her rights.

"Hello Naline. It is a welcome surprise to see you. I haven't seen you in ages," she answered with a fake smile of her own. She sat beside Naline and laid a hand on her shoulder. "What brings you here? Don't worry, Sayin and I were having a nice chat about a shard that he needs. As his Goddess, I thought it was your duty to help him find them. I guess not. Don't trouble yourself over it. He already knows where to find the first one." Then she turned to Saryin and smiled. "Send your troupes."

Subject: Re: The Beginning of the End Fri Jun 11, 2010 6:15 pm

xxxxxxxSimon

After packing his belongings, in what seems like a very long while, he finally finished cramming the last of his clothes into the baggage. Whatever clothes, suits, shirts, and even one of his medics’ cloaks he found, he folded and pressed into the small satchel. His medical kit was kept separate; after a long internal debate, he had decided to bring it along. It might felt like bringing work along to a vacation, but he had its needs. Part of the reason was that he figured he could always lend a hand in case anything bad happened, and the other part was he didn’t feel safe without it. It was like his right arm. He had carried it for so long.

He was ready now, and he couldn’t wait to finally see his sister for the first time in a year. It has been an extensive stay at the palace, having missed out on all the opportunities for home visits. But now, he has made up his mind and was adamantly sure that he would not stay in the palace for any longer than a year without seeing his sister—lest his mind go insane and his heart be bruised permanently from yearning. Every night, he would dream of her, of how much she would have changed from the time he left. He left his village when he was twenty-three, about the time when his majesty Saiyn usurped power, and he still remembers Sam as his ten-year-old kid sister. She’s eleven now; would she remember him? Would she want him? And most importantly, would she still love him?

Ah. With all this thinking and self-reflection, he had absentmindedly tried to stuff his shoes into the baggage. He was going to wear them to the village. But before he left, he has something to do.

Saiyn was in his room when he got there. He was deep within castle grounds, and he doesn’t usually go any closer to the center because of his job. The hospital was on the east side of the castle, almost its own wing. It was close to the gates, which allowed ease of access from newly arriving patients—very far from Saiyn’s chambers. When there are no special occasions, he always stayed in the medical ward or in his own room, an easy walk from where he worked. As Saiyn’s personal doctor, he was supposed to attend to Saiyn’s every medical needs. But for the last two years, the Fox never seemed to get hurt or sick much.

A knight pointed the way. He had apparently seen Saiyn move towards his bedchambers. He was half-dressed in silver armor, a sign of mid-ranking, and probably going on very important fighting missions. Simon didn’t really care, because he knew that he was important too—a piece of the whole, if he may say. They can’t do without him. Just as the golden-armored knights are at the top of their chain, he was too. But that knight is a good kid; very respectful, he was.

Knocking was good thing to do when it comes to respect, even when the King is alone, so he did. He waited, but after a short pause, he called out, “Milord? I’m just stopping by to inform you of my temporary leave of absence. May I enter?”

-+-+-+-+-+-

xxxxxxxSumter

Sumter was a little worried about the mortal realm. A year ago, about the time when she started her six-month reign of the humans, she had heard some strange gossip from the other gods around her. Of course, she immediately asked them what they had meant, but of course, they all dismissed her because of her age. In truth, all gods are ageless, and she was a god just like any other, but being born recently (if recently can be counted as a few hundred thousand years) meant that she was, according to them, somewhat immature. And she knows they’re right.

But one thing they don’t know, is that though she may be immature, she still is smart. She was able to piece all the information together—Naline’s disappearance, the mortal Saiyn’s usurping, and Lady Lorrain’s seeming jealousy. From what it looks like, Naline has taken Lorrain’s choice of mortal or something, helped him take power, and now she’s mad at her. Of course, if Zealox was here, he might be able to resolve all these family problems, but Sumter never see him around anymore. He was always locked away in his room or something, just like Valden is. It wasn’t like Zealox has anything important to do anyway, at least not in the magnitude of Death’s paperwork. She knows because Valden showed her.

But if Zealox is doing something important, then it’s best not to interrupt.

Right now, time seems to be a little shifty. Maybe he’s doing something really intensive and it’s making little ripples. Like he’s mass-changing the format of how people perceive time. Is there such a thing?

She shared these thoughts with her brother, and he agreed on most of the points, except for the Zealox one. He said that they couldn’t really know if Zealox is actually up there right now. Valden was always nice and lets them watch him work as long as they don’t distract him too much, but with the God of Time not showing, there’s literally no proof of his existence other than the faint distortions of time. Sumter agreed.

But she was bored right now, so she leaned over the edge and stared down at the mortals. With a little shift of her eye and a cocked angle of her head, she focused on her favorite village of all, in the Land of the Leopard. She first noticed it a few years ago, and was quite surprised at their customs; they would hold these elaborate dances and banquets or something and in those dances, there would be people dressed up as gods and whatnot. Of course, the only disappointment she has for them was their representation of her and her brother. Even their laughable belief of a God of Spring and Autumn wasn’t enough to achieve the status of annoyance. The point is, she looked nothing like how they portrayed her, and her brother is most definitely NOT a stiff icicle.

But more importantly is her interest in a few of the inhabitants. One of them go by the name of Jacob, and he seemed to be caught in a little conundrum of love. He obviously loves the wedding girl (Naline told her when she asked), but he seems to be a little flirty with the other interesting mortal, Diana, who she thinks is the most interesting. She could never tire of watching her go about all day, especially when she was fighting. It’s amazing to see how humans fight with only their physical abilities. A strange obsession it was, but a healthy one. Her brother, of course, didn’t like her at all and would rather watch other things than fighting.

She once asked him if he liked to watch grass grow, and he actually said yes. It made sense because all he wanted to do was grow plants, not kill them in Winter.

She laid down and watched Diana go about her day. Maybe she could talk to her. One of the best things about her is that she didn’t believe in Gods. In fact, she despises them. Maybe a little chat would be fun. You know, shake things up a little.

But not now, of course.

Subject: Re: The Beginning of the End Mon Jul 12, 2010 9:23 am

Naline clenched her fists at her sister's poorly hidden taunts. She had been neglecting her duties; that may be true. She did not however, need her sister to point out these flaws. Besides, it should not be her problem to locate the shards of that accursed staff; the fool mortal should not have let it shatter in the first place.

"Very well, sister, I see you have things well in hand. After all, fear and death have always been your companions, not mine. Let me say this, however," she stated, turning slightly towards her once-devout worshiper, "A hammer may mend broken steel, but it will only damage glass. Be careful that you do not destroy what I have been so kind as to give you."

With that, she vanished, from mortal eyes, at least. She stayed, partially translucent, to watch and see if this mortal truly still deserved her divine help.

Torren worked quickly, knowing that his time was short. If the guards discovered that he was no longer chained, they would simply move him to a different cell, and he would be no better off than before. He massaged his shoulders, trying to work the blood back into his arms before holding them up once more. In the dim lighting, it would likely look as if they were still chained to the wall. Now, it was just a matter of waiting.

For what, he did not know. He contemplated many situations, none of them ending pleasantly in his mind. He could try to rush the guards when they brought him his evening meal. Even when he was in his best condition though, rather than months - or was it years? - of captivity, he would have been lucky to overpower two armed guards. And even if he managed, through sheer dumb luck, to overwhelm them, how would he leave the dungeon? He could not simply walk out; his face was well known and would be instantly recognized.

The most he could do, for now, was to wait for some unknown situation. Some slip up, some random act of time, that would allow him to escape.

Subject: Re: The Beginning of the End Fri Aug 13, 2010 5:05 pm

“Diana your movements as Naline must be sexier!” her elder sister Maura yelled. She closed her eyes and continued the dance.

“You’re concentrating too much, it shows on your face,” Tiffany said. She started the slower section of the dance. She felt herself going fast though. She tried to slow down but couldn’t. As she watched it seemed as if the waterfall had sped up and a snail was moving as if it was a worm (faster than normal that is). She slowed herself down but it still seemed to fast. She looked at her sisters in fear

“Diana now you’re going to slow,” one scolded. She looked at her hand, it was barely moving, “Diana first you go to fast and then you go to slow. Can’t you find a happy medium?” So she wasn’t the only one that noticed these strange happenings, the others just ignored them.

Diana continued her dance well into the day and further into the night.

“Enough!” Her eldest sister said with finality, “that is enough for tonight, you’ve done well for just beginning to learn the dance.” Diana gave a small bow to her sister, she didn’t know why but it seemed appropriate, “Get some rest.”

I’ll have to practice tomorrow as well, she thought, her sisters wouldn’t be able to help her tomorrow because of the holidays and helping their mother with the food, it was assumed that Diana would practice on her own.

The next morning Diana grabbed her glaive and put her dress in a knapsack and took off to practice. As she practiced one of her dances she noticed a person watching her.

“It is supposed to be bad luck you know, for watching a maiden with out her knowledge,” she said not even looking at the man.
“Ah, but you did notice,” Joshua said, “so we stand at an impasse. You looked like a celestial maiden dancing just now I hope you know.”

“Don’t flirt with me when you love another,” she whispered. She shook her head, “Let me change first and then we’ll talk.” She ran to the woods where he wouldn’t see her. Diana slapped her check a couple times, why was she blushing, even if it was only a small pink? She folded the dress carefully into the bag still feeling the heat in her cheeks.

The two sat there for a while not even talking. They just enjoyed each others company, they had been best friends for a while now. Except for that infernal heat that had crept to her face not that long ago. She shouldn’t even like him, she reminded herself, he loved another, her sister. I don’t even like him, she denied in her head, why am I even thinking I do, he’s just a friend!

As she shook her head he looked at her and smiled at her, she was a strange one. She didn’t look at him when she opened her eyes. Instead she looked at the road and saw people coming up the pass. It’s not trade season! She thought, that wasn’t to happen till next month! The men had banners that marked them from the capital. What do they want?

“Josh look!” she whispered as she pointed them out. He stood up and grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the village.
“What do you think is going on?” she asked as they ran.
“Nothing good, that’s Saiyn the Usurper’s flags,” he said his eyes strangely serious.
“How do you know anything about that,” she asked her eyes widening, who was this new serious person, “Josh!” He just looked at her sadly before taking off again.

As they reached the village, the inside gates had been busted down. The soldiers had started to march in. A man on a white stallion looked down on them as if they were nothing but worms.

“Where is the staff?” he asked imposingly. Diana glared at the man as did everyone else in the village, “Well!” The man scoffed at them

“This is the land of the Leopard, the Fox does not control here!” the village head said with authority in his voice.

“My lord Saiyn is now the High King, he controls all!” the man yelled.

“Long live King Torren!” a man yelled out, and it was met with a bunch of agreeing yells.

The man scoffed, “Find the staff and kill anyone who gets in your way.”

Hatchling Posts : 28 Join date : 2010-08-26 Age : 32

Ira tapped his fingers together as he watched the happenings of the world from his throne constructed from the withering souls of the worst of those who did ill to the name of his craft. His throne room was a long room dark and foreboding shadows clung to every orifice to represent the uncertainties of each battle… a grant carpet down the center was woven from the hides of the trophies sacrificed in his honor the hides that proved the prowls of his disciples. Fountains of blood roared spilling the blood of those who died in all wars… including that of survival against nature. His spectral guards stood everywhere the army of the gods in which he commanded alone. His banners hung tattered exposing the fisted hand balled into a fist a cloth held tightly fell down from each end of its fist blood seeping between its fingers… the banners were everywhere.

He stood up and with a flourish of his cape he had appeared nearby his sister of Wrath he stormed towards her his cloak leaving a bloody streak behind him. “How dare you… leave me out of deciding a war… I find this insulting sister… and if you continue to undercut my equal half of the authority of war… then I will not be able to prevent your death when I’ve finally had enough…” He said calmly… not a threat but simply a telling of the consequences of her actions.