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Post by gathera on Mar 13, 2018 15:52:11 GMT -5
A heavy thick mist hung in the air clinging to the ground like snaking tendrils. So strange the way the fog moved gliding over the ground. If you looked hard enough the tendrils even formed what could be thought of as shapes. Gliding slithering twisting undulating, it hurt my head to stare too long at them.
I didn’t feel right, not at all. My skin felt hot to the touch and I shivered, teeth chattering in the damp nights airs. Even the air wasn’t right. There was a heavy black scent mixed with the tang of blood. Something had happened here recently. I wrapped my thread-hear cloak tighter my body trembling. A soft buzzing was in my ears now and I felt light headed but still the night airs was sharp. That kind of crystal clear perfectly sharpness. I was lost, gods know where, Selune was the barest of slivers and yet this night the ground seems to shine as if she was in her full glory.
Ahead yes, the rolling fog had parted. There in the circle by that tree, three unmoving shapes. I paused for a moment, after all the woods held its perils. I could see the mists pool about the bodies like a shroud. I crept forward, for curiosity had bit me hard. Three goblins lay face up in a neat row as if one had begun to stack firewood. The black of their blood stained the ground. Each of the creature’s necks had been slit. The gapping gash was dotted by a sticky strand of moonlight black pearls. So strange, I wrapped my arms around myself gripping tightly clenching my teeth. Three drops of blood lay on each neck Yes, that was it, three black drops gleaming in the moons light. It was a fresh kill, the undergrowth still held signs of the struggle. Yet the flies present, even the worms had arrived. Strange for bodies to corrupt so quickly.
There was heavy odder in the air. Vile and choking. Bile rose in my throat and I threatened to retch. The roiling of my stomach slowly settled as the scent was changing, taking on a richer under-tone. A sweeter scent. A miasma that hung heavy cloying and rich. My head swam with the incense of decay in the air. I knelt before the dead goblins watching as the remains rustled. A large moon-pale grub burst forth. I stared watching the small worm wriggle then slip burrowing once more into the flesh. The slow pulsating of its form was so strange. No, not strange, hypnotic. I could see the bodies bloating now. Every so often a puff of sweet mist slipping out. So quick the way the rot has spread. My mind swirled as I watched the bodies flesh blacken and melt before my eyes. It was calming odd beauty to the process. All the new life that had sprung from the dead. From so much death gave so much life.
Trembling my hand reached out and plucked the three-black drops. Each bead of congealed blood staining my hand. I felt it now. A connection, a purpose, my purpose. Not yet but soon. One that hadn’t existed in me before. I still coughed, my skin flushed and mottled but it didn’t matter. I felt alive. More alive than I had ever. I could hear them now the mists They whisper to those than can hear. Strange terrible and wonderful words in their soft sibling hiss. The speak to me now at night and I listen. So many lessons to learn the wisdom of her ways. I come each night. They do not. Many great tasks lay before them. But still I watch and wait for my chance for that is the way. Her way.
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Post by gathera on Apr 14, 2018 15:10:16 GMT -5
I felt the creatures yellowed fetid fangs sink deep into my flesh. Sharp jagged edges of my armor pressed down as blood bubbled and seeped up from the wound. I slammed the edge of my shield against the creature’s head, ripping away its gnashing maw from my beleaguered arm. Off-balanced by the blow the creature scrambled frantically to recover its jaws snapping menacingly. Droplets of my blood splattered about like a fine red mist dotting both of us. Gritting my teeth, I slammed the iron-shod pole through the beast’s head finally silencing its guttural cackling. I trembled as battle-forged adrenaline faded away driven off by my wounds fiery ache. My fingers fumbled stiffly as I fought to uncork the healing balm that would both diminish my wounds pain and greatly accelerate the healing process. Greedily I gulped down the viscous mixture oblivious to the elixirs bitter medicinal taste.
All was not well. In spite of the potent alchemy my wounds throbbed relentlessly with a bone-numbing ache. Rivulets of red fire seemingly snaked up my arm radiating away from the bite. Where there is pain there is still life. I grunted foully and flexed my arm to test the limits of my ability. It was pure pain. Any motion set off a dull throbbing pain but agony can be endured.
I shivered in the crypts cold air and I spent several long moments in slow rhythmic breathing in an effort to recover and calm myself. After a time I was satisfied that I could proceed onwards. Cautiously I slowly turned scanning the chamber when a grunt of pain escaped my lips. I softly swore and tensing from the sudden flaring of pain. Shouldering my weapon, I moved to inspect the bite further. Already ugly red streaks mottled my skin snaking away from the bite. The poisonous marks twisted obscenely together merging as a scarlet blemish near the base of my wrist. Gingerly I raised up the damaged limb for a close inspection and gasped in amazement. As my arm moved so did the mottled fever-lines. Painting my skin. I cautiously experimented for a time, even going so far as to move in a slow circle. Each time as I changed my position so did the mottled crimson marks festering my skin, always beckoning me in one direction.
I don’t know how long I walked guided only by the angry welts radiating from the bite wound. My fever compass. The walls of the cavern changed slowly as the leagues slid by. While always rough to the touch the walls slowly took on a more finished appearance as if hewn by hand. Time to time I stumbled across small patrols of grey green scaly bipedal lizard like creatures. They gibbered amongst themselves with a sibilant hiss. They were well armed wielding well-crafted diminutive metal-forged weapons. I quickly cut down any I met. Thankfully my path only crossed a few of the creatures and always just one at a time. One on one they were no match for my armor, my weapons and my skill. If I were to cross a pack another matter. Thankfully I hadn’t.
I could sense now the walls growing ever further apart. Once my shoulders brushed each wall and now I could extend my arms and not come close to spanning the gap. A heavy musky scent hung in the air and ahead there was ominous the patter of many feet. A small cluster of the creature’s roamed about the chamber gibbering loudly and clearly looking for something or someone. Several of the old crates smashed barrels and scatted debris festooning the room seemed to be the focus of their search. I thought it odd that they were concentrating their efforts at the far end of the cavern. The group for the moment seemed oblivious to my presence. Clearly, I wasn’t what they sought.
It was now or never. So, I seized the moment, all four had their backs to me noisily preoccupied with searching around the moldering crates abandoned against the far wall. The closest figure sensed my rapid approach. My iron-shod club snaked out and with a reverberating crack sharply snapped the creatures head back. I had their full attention now. I spun the club in my hands and slammed a shuddering blow with another’s midriff. As I streaked past I could see the hapless creature slumped over retching violently. The remaining two cleverly separated circling warily about me. I pressed my attack, I didn’t have a choice. The winded one would recover far too soon for me to take my time with his comrades.
With two quick steps forward, I feigned a lunge making it seem as if my weapon would sweep out in a broad shallow arc. My opponents scampered back. So expected. Spinning on the balls of my feet I reversed the grip on my weapon and thrust the club back harshly, planting the weapon squarely in the chest of my over-eager foe. I yanked the weapon clear then violently jabbed the club through the surprised creatures eye. The beast gave a mewled yelp and collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut. My battle-joy was cut short by a sudden harsh flair of pain in the small of my back. The remaining opponent had struck home but the Crone be praised the force of his blow was largely shunted by my mails links. Snarling savagely, I spun my shield about clipping the beast and sending it sprawling. My club flashed down and with a satisfied grunt stove in his skull.
Dragging my club across the ground I made my way leisurely strolling towards the winded foe. Like nails on slate the club made a shrieking howl as I dragged it across the roughly hewn stone flor. The remaining creature trembled its face pale with fear its eyes wide as saucers as it gasped laboring desperately trying to force air into wheezing lungs. With a smile I ended it
From the crates came a sudden rustling as a slender figure rose from one of the crates. So, this was what the creatures had been so desperately looking for. A woman, some one not pretty but neither plain. She wore clothing once expensive but now closer to wretched rags. Ripped silks dripped with filth from the crates fetid former contents. She tried to be nonplussed about her circumstance but the lines of worry and the palpable tang of fear in the air belied any real attempt. To her credit she tossed back a long lock of honey-blonde hair and quick regained her composure.
“Kobolds” she spat with fleeting look of disgust. She brushed off the worst of the muck and stepped clear of the crate. “Well met, thank goodness you arrive I just had a panic earlier and meeting you is a godsend.” She flashed me a nervous smile staring at my handiwork scattered across the chambers floor.
I gave the woman a measured look. “Well well, I didn’t expect any one down here.” The woman seemed more composed with each passing moment now. “Meeting you is a godsend, Ah Allistrina here, * as she gave me a small reassuring small wave. “Then Allistrina, praise to Grandmother for it was she who sent me this day.” “Then I praise the grandmother as you say. I’m near exhausted I can hardly keep my eyes open I need to make haste for the nearest exit.” “I came by a way of a long tunnel It is a long journey back is there a way closer? If you know the way lead on.” Allistrina head bobbed “I saw a cave exit nearby that should lead to daylight.”
An immeasurable look of relief washed over the woman’s face as the realization slowly donned on her that I by means mysterious truly represented her salvation. Allistrina curtly gestured to the chamber exit and I felt myself oddly compelled to comply. We wandered for a time in the tunnels pressing always onwards and always upwards. Goddess be praised we crossed paths with only a few Kobolds of what were obviously servants or slaves. These encounters were quick, somewhat quiet and we took with each corpse a few precious moments to drag them out of sight.
Tymora smiled on us both, I could smell the sweeter air of the wilds wafting in now. Ahead the cavern walls glistened with dawns fist light and the raucous chirping of birds added a cheerful melody to the somber cavern air. I was about to step free of the cave when a sudden silence sullen silence replaced the bird’s morning songs. I quickly dropped to a crouch gesturing for Allistrina to do the same. We both pressed tightly against the wall straining eyes to see what had interrupted the birds
Framed by the days dawning light a small band of the creatures were returning victorious from the hunt. I glanced over to Allistrina who had armed herself along the way with the broken remnants of an old staff. Snapped in twain it was at least something to brandish. Allistrina held the make-shift weapon before her with a nervous abet determined continence. Unarmored and likely unskilled I knew that I would have to count on Allistrina to keep one of the creatures busy while I dealt with the rest. Risky to her and ultimately to me as well, but what real choice did we have. Surprise would be the true ally this day.
I stepped into the blow, swinging my iron-shod club in a whistling arc driving the first of the creature spilling backwards in a tumble. Surprise, confusion and shock gripped the hunting band as death lurked in once safe shadows of home. Allistrina jabbed another of the Kobolds with her broken staff even managing to draw out a shrill yip as the jagged clubs end drew blood. I dropped my shoulder and with a low fanning arc connected a sold blow with another’s leg topping the Kobold. I let the club slide through my hands extending the swing to bring the iron capped end sharply down on another’s foot. One wounded, one dead and two hobbled, we might even walk away from this. Might
The remaining two Kobolds carried the days hunt with them, the skinned carcass of a small deer supported by a long pole toted by both. The lead Kobold let the pole drop charging frantically towards me while his comrade gibbered foully still propping up the meat unwilling to drop the precious cargo into the muck. I braced my feet and using my shield shunted the beasts blade aside exposing him to a rapid riposte. The Kobolds blade skittered harmlessly against the shield while my club struck true with a reverberating thud breaking ribs. Blood spewed from the mortally wounded creatures mouth as I stepped forward to engage his companion. I made as if to lunge forwards then deftly stepped back. The Kobold surged forwards with a vicious anger-stoked swing clumsily over extending in its mad attempt to kill me. I caught and parried the strike and swung my shield hard around crashing it into the creature’s side. Spent the Kobold collapsed on all fours and I ended the melee with a brutal kick to its head.
Sadly, I lacked the time to fully savor my wounded opponents, Cats do have the right about such small pleasures. I circled quickly about the wounded two. Darting in quickly and scampering out. Rapid motions that would aggravate tired and wounded limbs. I kept my distance, flicking out my club always seeking to wrong foot them. Two component warriors could move in tandem each covering the others back so to speak. With the two Kobolds there was no trust and skill. A ragged note of desperation in Allistrina voice reminded me that I had to bring this dance to its conclusion. I drew close to one of the Kobolds baiting him into trying to drive forward off his wounded leg. Brushing aside the enfeebled strike I snapped my club forward striking it hard into the creature’s midriff staggering him. Sliding my club across the creatures frame I drew close and slammed my mail fist into the side of the kobolds head with a satisfying crack. The creature spun like a top and collapsed into a twitching heap. My remaining opponent tossed aside its weapon and raised its arms as if to surrender.
Good, that made matters easy. I slammed my club sharply into the surprised creatures face finishing it. One left Goddess be praised. Surprisingly Allistrina had held her own. Hers was a desperate ragged affair. Madly waving the broken staff about Allistrina had even managed to draw blood. Still there could be only one ending to this fight. Allistrina staff was dipping lower with each wild frantic swing while the kobold edged always closer. Best I put an end to the matter. Allistrina presence here was so incongruous that I simply could not let her perish. All the events smacked of another hand, another purpose. I circled behind the kobold and savagely slammed my club in a wide powerful downward arc. I could feel the numbing vibration shivering up the shaft as my club struck true. Allistrina with a gleeful snarl sank the broken shaft deep within the hapless beast
Wordlessly we sprinted away from the cave trying to place as much distance between us and them as we might. Allistrina set a good pace traveling oddly always south.
We were heading away from the village so I look quizzically at Allistrina but she was insistent on our direction. One that lead us further with each step from Great Gaunt. Once again, I felt that unyielding compulsion to follow her, so I simply did.
We traveled for some time without further incident at last arriving at a gated compound well-guarded by two stern -faced guards clan head to toe in a somber black. She said something, I don’t recall for on the air were small snatches of a song tinkling on the breeze. It was faint the song but sung with a strength I had not felt since the mists had spoken. Here in this place was something. Something I was meant to find. I glanced around but Allistrina was gone. Vanished into the bustling crowds. She must have been sent, must have been real. Maybe she was not even aware of the greater picture but placed so I would find her. A pawn sees ever a small section of the Savas board but it knows well the hand that moves it. I paused for a moment lost in the song melody.
It was like a slap to my face. A sudden burst of awareness. A chilling thought dawned upon me. It didn’t hurt, my arm. I was pain free. The angry red fever marks had fled. The weeping sore closed and now heal over. What remained was a nasty crescent shaped puckering scar. A smile, her smile.
Based on in-game logs and a special thanks to Silvenity as Allistrina Daystar for the fun. Somethings events just combine so well.
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Post by gathera on Apr 25, 2018 5:57:30 GMT -5
Breath
There was a tranquility here. A pre-natural stillness disturbed only by the incessant drone of the ever-present gnats. It was a quiet glade well sheltered from any wind. Gnarled black willows twisted about to form a nigh impenetrable barrier around the small glen. The sun’s rays seldom reached here and as a consequence a plethora of vividly hued fungi sprouted growing with riotous abandon. I knelt on the spongy damp soil squat, still and silent drawing in one long slow breath after another. It was serene to immerse myself into the slow rhythms all about me. Hidden away from the hubris of the village here the mists spoke to me in a way other places didn’t.
Breath is one of life’s essentials. At twilight sometimes, I could even see the damp fog of my breath tumbling out with each exhale. With each breath the raucous swirling mist held a pattern a message. It was a sign, one I could only manage to catch the briefest of glimpses of before the wet warmth of my breath faded into the chill air.
On those special nights in the glen I would just sit and breath, breath and watch. Feeling each breath take shape, feel each exhale mingle with the evenings air. Once for the merest of moments I had felt my very essence pulled along into the rambling tumbling swirling plume of my breath. For an instant I was my breath and my breath I. My very being was filled with a transcendent joyous rapture as I existed now freed from the constraints of mortal solid form. Merged, blended I was one with the countless breaths of the many.
Everything came to a crashing halt as my mind faltered, my concentration wavered and I was left in a mewling collapsed heap raggedly sprawled on the ground. My nose gushed in a fountain of blood as prostrate my face had slammed into gnarled willow- root. It was a rebuke for my failure. She would not tolerate a second. So now I mediate, honing my mind, my body and my craft. For her breath touches all.
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Post by gathera on May 16, 2018 3:49:34 GMT -5
Twilight had arrived and with its cat-creeping approach and a hush had descended upon the glade. Even the ever-present insect hum was missing. It was an eerie sensation, this absolute stillness. The slightest of my movements echoed as a jarring rasp against the glades pre-natural quietude. Something was here for in the marsh her choir ever sings loudly.
With the stifling quiet came the rise of an intense personal awareness. Sensations no matter how trivial became vastly magnified. Everything from the damp chill of the spongy ground to the fetid mists hanging heavy all clamored for my attention. A multitude of conspiring sensations that in concert began to overwhelm my tranquil state. Each single bead of sweat trickling down my face imparted its own distinctive track. Each crying out for my attention. The final straw was an annoying tickling sensation as if something was brushing against my calf. My meditative state collapsed, my concentration shattered. I squirmed about angrily twisting half-around to brush away this last egregious distraction. My hand flashed down with my annoyance and vigorously swept aside a tiny violet hued spider. The battered arachnid tumbled harmlessly away but not before the startled creature’s fangs had extracted a bit of vengeance back sinking deep into the tender flesh of my calf.
I swore darkly at the aftermath of my careless anger. The sight of a ruby droplet of blood welling up from the bite only fueled my disgust at my over-reaction. I felt on edge, unbalanced by the unsettling silence of the glen.
What had transpired, the strangeness it all had the same feel of an approaching storm. Standing there watching the rollicking distant black clouds lit by distant rumbling flashes of lightening. Immersed in that brief moment when only a few dusty drops of rain manage to fall. That all-knowing apprehension that you will be unable to do anything to prevent the storms wroth.
I knew with alarming crystal clarity I was perched on the same precipice. For the spider’s bite this was that moment just before the venoms storm would arrive. Even now I could sense the creeping progression from a dimly felt tingling sensation to something far more tangible. Like a gentle breath on a fire ember my beating heart breathed white hot fire into the wound. Grimly I sought to ride out the torment, grunting and swearing my way through each pulse of the torment. My small defiant grunts soon gave way to a whimpered mewling cry as the pain spiraled its way through me. The nights air began to take on an increasing ominous cloying clammy claustrophobia tone squeezing the very breath from my lungs. My skin glisten with an unclean fever-sweat. Shivering tremors wracked my body, as I lay prostrate on the fetid cold damp earth. Strange terrible visions wracked my mind. I thought I could feel my flesh blacken curling away from the burning red ember of the bite. My skin crawled as thin tendrils of vivid violet snaked coursing through my body.
It would be easy to let go. Surrender to the pain, my heart fail, the torment end as my life ebbing away. Part of me longed for it. Craving for a release to sink down into the cold black mud of the glen. “NO”, the violent utterance of the word sprayed spittle out of my mouth. Not like this, not here and not like this. I would snarl my defiance at my killer. Look one last time at my doom. It was a fool’s notion in hindsight. It made no sense, save at that very moment it made perfect sense. It mattered as nothing else ever had.
I don’t know how long it took, a moment a day forever? I clawed in desperation at the mud rolling myself over with an agonizing slowness. Only one thought filled my mind. I would look on the wound that was killing me. It became an obsession, my mantra. I wept freely howled to the skies. Nothing else mattered. I would look one last time and shout my defiance to the heavens at this thing that would end me.
I hovered feebly swaying over the wound. I could see the mottled bruising the blackening flesh of my calf embracing tightly a putrescent hollow. I stared in part fascination in part horror. Slowly one of my tears trickled slowly down. I marveled at the suns dying light lit up the tear in a twinkling sparkling cheerful golden amber drop slipping gently down. With a deafening reverberation the tear splashed over the bite.
Like a stone tossed into a pond a rippling wave of relief coursed through me. A joyous amber balm spreading throughout my body. I was laughing crying hugging myself rocking back and forth in a mad delirium of bliss. My tears fell as rain each landing drop splashing me with a pleasure. With each gleaming trickling tear the putrid foulness of the wound abated, washed away on amber waves of golden bliss. With each drop the bite began to transform taking on the healing cast of an angry coral pink scar. A scar to my mind that even had the shape of a teardrop. I settled back, spent exhausted and let myself sink into the cool black loam letting the chill earth leach away my weariness.
I stared up at the night time sky. The choir was back. The glen positively hummed with a myriad of welcomed insect thrums. She was pleased, I felt this keenly. I had changed, I had been welcomed into the fold.
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Post by gathera on Jul 28, 2018 5:52:17 GMT -5
Such a simple thing, breathing. The action of just drawing air into your lungs and exhaling. Seldom do we ever notice this until we no longer can. The breath is all around us; encompassing, enveloping, embracing, her breath.
I go places now just to watch this, just to study my breath. The rollicking tumble of vapor as it spills out from my mouth when I exhale. Witness the patterns in the mist as it swirls about, dancing, tumbling then finally merging with her breath.
Sometimes when I kill I can even see this. See the breath of others, so different, so distinct. If I am lucky enough there is a brief moment to watch, a moment to truly see. Observe that frothy pink foam decorating lips as they gasp struggling to take those last few remaining breaths. Life is like those frothy red bubbles, delicate, ephemeral, fleeting. Death is always the stronger of the two. Death is all there is in the end. A grand struggle but only one outcome . What did that one fellow say to me once, oh yes.
“Death comes for us all”.
It does.
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