View Full Version : Met Tet
It was at times in the form of a jungle garden, at others a deep forest grove, or it sometimes just flowed as swirling clouds of color. The 'Zul' it was called by some, the 'Nether' by others, still countless other names by beings far flung and completely unaware of each other.
And in this place something moved. Indeed a couple somethings moved. Together the 'somethings' moved to get a closer look at the window they had opened. The window on a place called Azeroth.
The 'something' that had among one of its countless names Bethekk spoke to the other, whom had among one of his names, Shirvallah.
"Brother, your child's path is unclear. Do you see the twists and turns set before her"?
The 'something' called Shirvallah did indeed see the blocked path of the little being they were observing. The troll huntress. Shirvallah enjoyed watching the hunters, warriors and rogues of that land the window opened up upon. They appealed to his inner sense of valour and pride. Yet this one child was being waylaid, of that he was certain.
And without words passing the two 'somethings' knew what blocked her path. Another 'something', called Ula-Tek. And where Ula-Tek cast his serpentine gaze, Dambala often followed.
"I will go to her, to help her clear the path," said the 'something' called Shirvallah.
"No, WE will go. She has valour, but she needs your wisdom also. The serpent's coils begin to tighten, and I forsee mistruths, betrayal, hidden plots and long forgotten secrets taking fruit. Our brother, Ula-Tek has taken notice of this one, and has not been idle."
"Then I shall open the window wider brother. We will visit this troll, where the emerald dragons dwell."
The little window to that place called Azeroth widened, and the 'somethings' decended. As they passed the window, one took on the appearance of a tiger, the other a panther...
****************************
Lupa made her way back to the Inn. She needed sleep badly. Her chance meeting just a little while ago with the Pilgrim, Grisch had provided her with information. That, and some well paid contacts from the Shattered hand.
The rogue's name was Barke. He was part of a clan called 'Rooks' , and had been romatically linked to the human Paladin, Lovely.
Lupa remembered Lovely from their single meeting under questionable circumstances, what seemed like ages ago. She had been the passenger on a ttransport Lupa's Corsair ship had raided. She slew the Captain Fhazou, but was able to be negotiated with by an alert Lupa. Lupa had then assumed command of the Corsair ship following that encounter.
Lupa owed a debt of gratitude to Lovely, who had made good on passing news of Lupa's situation to her clan and friends. Yet, she could not easily dismiss the image in her head of the silver haired human entwined with the lavender skinned Barke. As Lupa walked towards the Inn, she felt her blood starting to burn with that particular trollish adrenaline.
Shaking her head, she got rid of the image. "Bourbon, thats what I need," thought Lupa.
In the end, it took more than a single helping of Lupa's adopted vice to numb the images. It was a staggering Lupa that eventually found a clear spot under a tree in Orgrimmar and went to sleep.
The dream started almost immediately. Lupa was hunting, in what looked like Desolace. Brown, barren steppes with kodo and gazelle. A white kodo was in front of her, the prey. Lupa drew back her bowstring, then hesitated, as she caught a glimpse of a black feline shape leap on the kodo's neck.
In an instant the kodo was downed. The large panther (for thats what Lupa saw it to be), began to feed.
"She is quite the hunter, no?" It came from behind her. Lupa turned in her dream to see a large tiger gazing at her. "Be you talkin to me?" asked Lupa. "No, tigers don't be talkin."
"This one does, my child. And I have much to say that you would best be listening to."
The tiger made off towards the panther, who was dining voraciously. "Follow me child."
Lupa started walking alongside the tiger. As they walked the tiger continued to speak. "She is magnificent no?" Lupa knew he meant the panther. Lupa nodded. "Striking in appearance and deadly in ambush. She is stealthy and sleek. She shares many qualities with me, but alas, she is no tiger."
With that the tiger lept the last few feet to the kodo carcass and began to feed. The reaction by the panther was instantaneous and explosive. Teeth and claws flashed and the black beast launched herself at the interloping tiger. The tiger, taken aback roared his indignation at the panther, but in the end conceded the kill to its rightful mistress.
He made his way back to where Lupa watched on astonishment. "You see child, we share many things, the panther and I. But she is still a panther, and forever will be. I am a tiger, and forever will be. There is that part we cannot share with one another. It was so since the beginning. "
The panther finished off the kill and wandered off into a slowly dissolving landscape. The tiger also was slowly dispersing. "My child. Do not covet the panther's kill, when you are a tiger. Or a wolf if you prefer. " With that the tiger shifted form into that of a Hinterlands wolf, then leaving Lupa with that final image, he departed. Lupa turned to leave, there before her on the ground was a viper. The snake was grinning at her..
With a start Lupa woke up. The sun was already beating down into the little gully and the tree she had found in Orgrimmar. She shook her head to clear the effects of the bourbon, then the memories of her dream came back in a rush.
Lupa was no fool to dismiss the dream outright. After all, the daughter of a mystic grew up with spirits communing in the home all the time. But this was different, and frightening.
Lupa knew who she must speak with.
As in all things, when needing to talk about man problems, a daughter almost always ends up going back to mother.........
(( In case you were wondering just what IS a Met Tet...))
http://www.ezilikonnen.com/mettet.html
The light was already starting to fade as Lupa made her way along the familar beach. The turtles were out in full force, feeding on the kelp that washed ashore with the tides. Lupa thought back to simpler times as a young girl when she and her friend Sal would play games of daring with the volatile beasts. It seemed like a different life.
Ahead the glow of campires illuminated the high cliff walls, marking the presence of Revantusk Village. Lupa's home.
As Lupa walked towards the village, she thought back to the letter she received just before leaving Orgrimmar. It was from the Elf warrior woman, Rhowen Wildblade. Lupa marvelled at how the woman had learned to write in the troll dialect, but that novelty was soon forgotten as the tone of the letter became clear. A swift response was written up and handed to the goblin courier Lupa paid to deliver the missive. She needed clarity on some of what Rhowen had hinted at.
"And if it DID happen," thought Lupa "That woman will regret the day I let her sail away with her pink skin intact.."
The sentries nodded at Lupa as she passed into the village. It was exactly as she had always remembered it. "Did you expect it to be levelled?" thought Lupa. "Revantusk never changes. "
She made her way directly to the hut her mother used to grow her herbs and brew her charms. Yayo'Jin was the chief Mystic of the Revantusk tribe. She was a busy woman most of the time, as there always had seemed to be a steady stream of people coming to see her for charms, hexes and such. Indeed, Lupa felt at times her work was more important than her daughter.
Climbing the stairs to the hut platform Lupa saw her mother busy as usual tending her herb pots. "Hello mother," said Lupa. "You are well I trust?"
Yayo paused in her work and turned to face her daughter. There was a look on her face that Lupa recognized; expectation. Somehow, as she seems at times to do, Yayo knew Lupa was coming.
"You are being pulled apart Lupa, in ways you do not fully understand." Yayo'Jin said in her gravelly voice.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/toxctii/yayo2.jpg
"Hmph. Good to see you too mother.." said Lupa.
"Don be messin with me chile! " Yayo retorted. "I can feel the moving of the Loa's, an not just one. I see the tongue of the Serpent, spreddin his dark tales and messin with peoples heads. He knows you Lupa, an he be havin his fun."
Lupa sighed. "Well, he found an open wound in me then Mother, an walked right in." Lupa told Yayo all about Barke, her night with him, her feelings about him and her concerns about the vast differences between them. She also told Yayo about her dreams.
Yayo'Jin listened patiently, nodding periodically at parts of the tale that obviously she knew, or suspected. As Lupa finished, Yayo sighed.
"Sit with me Chile.."
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/toxctii/yayo3.jpg
"The dream you had is comin from your Met Tet, your personal Loa. Shirvallah looks after the hunters and warriors. A mighty tiger is he, with honor and courage. But with the panther being there, I be worried. Bethekk, she is about majic and vodou. She looks after us mystics and witch doctors. If she is takin part in this, it means there is majic afoot."
"But mother, what should I do about him? Do I forget him and move on? What danger is there really, if we love one another?" asked Lupa.
"Chile, you not be listenin to me?" admonished Yayo. "Your Loa has given you a warnin, that this elf was put in your path on a purpose. Even if he loves you and you love him, it was meant to be a evil trick. A trick on you, him, and anyone else that gets caught up in these coils. Ula-Tek, the serpent thrives on sowin chaos and mistrust. I see the fangs of Dambala in this also, meanin there be bad feelins being spread. You both are being broken. Your spirits crushed. So they can be remade in Dambala's likin."
Lupa felt her temper rising. She hated when her mother spoke to her like that. It made her feel like a stumbling, clumsy little girl again.
"I really don't see why you would care Mother," spitted Lupa. "Where was the great Yayo'Jin when I was in a Corsair torture room being whipped repeatedly? Did I ever hear a "thank you Chile" after sending warning of a plot against this village? Your precious tribe you care for more than your own daughter!"
Lupa's blood was now seething. Pent up frustrations and emotions boiling over. Yayo'Jin stood there weathering her daughter's storm. "Its startin, don't you see that chile? You need to be careful, or you will end up like.. " Yayo trailed off what she was about to say, and returned to brewing elixers.
Lupa, stopped short in mid rant. "What? what were you going to say mother? Like who?.."
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/toxctii/yayo5.jpg
"Nothin, never you mind chile. " Yayo had her back to Lupa and contonued to work. Lupa put her hand on her mother's shoulder and forcibly turned her around face to face. Yayo had tears in her eyes.
"Mother? who were you speaking about?" Lupa asked firmly. Yayo'Jin sighed, and took a deep breath. "Like your father I was going to say. OK chile? If you aren't careful you will end up like him!"
"My father?" Lupa asked. "What about him? You have never spoken of him before, I gave up askin about him long ago. What do you know mother? Is he alive? Who is he?"
"Never you mind girl. He isnt what he once was, a great Darkspear seer. He's been corrupted and fallen into tha darkness. The serpent's got him. An if you arent careful, he get you too!"
"Mother.." Lupa asked in a stern, hollow voice. "Who is he..?"
Yayo'Jin looked pale, to Lupa's eyes she just aged 10 years in a matter of moments, her whole bearing deflated.
With a sigh and a look of defeat, Yayo'Jin, mystic of Revantusk Village, answered her daughter's question.
"Zalazane.. "
Garbhan
05-03-2006, 10:10 AM
((*Leaning forward in his seat, eyes intent and interested* 8O ))
Jobolg
05-03-2006, 10:48 AM
(( I likes it, most definitely! Real good stuff. C'mon, keep writing now! Don't make me use my Mind-Control Cap! I'll do it!))
Fallacy
05-03-2006, 11:02 AM
((Now, it seems strange that I've killed Lupa's father several times on my troll alts...))
((Now, it seems strange that I've killed Lupa's father several times on my troll alts...))
((That can easily be explained. In fact Lupa has killed him as well, long ago. But he's a witch doctor, and close to Dambala. He gets resurrected over and over, to do his master's bidding.. at least thats the angle I'm running with. Works as good as any <shrug> ))
((P.S. I have to make an honorable mention to EnheilRas, who's Troll Lore sticky in the General Forum was the inspiration for the interactions of the Troll Loa Gods. That started me on some of my own research, as the WoW troll religion is modelled mostly off Haitian Vodou.))
Durotar. More exact, Sen'Jin village. Where it all began so long ago for the huntress Lupa.
Each step Lupa took into the village made the dust and gravel crunch underneath her feet. But in Lupa's mind, she was picturing something else crunching underfoot. Scarce had she landed in Orgrimmar when a goblin courier, the same from the day before, passed her a letter. It was a response from Rhowen Wildblade. The contents of that letter made Lupa's heart heavy as stone. Heavy, and hot. That heat soon spread through her troll blood, until Lupa found herself panting with the strain. It was all she could do to restrain her impulse to lash out at anything that moved around her.
Rhowen had pleaded on behalf of Barke, not that she needed to. Lupa knew where the true guilt lay, in four places. The bodies of two human sisters, and two gods, Ula-Tek and Dambala.
She would need to respond, she knew this. But first, Lupa had a reunion to attend.
There was the first she was looking for.. Master Gadrin, looking the same as she remembered him that long time ago. When he sent a young, innocent troll huntress out to slay his rebel student, the crazed Zalanane.
Of course, witch doctors do not stay dead for long, not without the will of the gods to help. But this witch doctor, Lupa now understood, actually HAD the aid of a god. Dambala watched over Zalazane, restoring and nurturing him, so that he could serve and worship.
Lupa wondered, did Master Gadrin know who Lupa was so long ago?
She had to ask, before she swam out to her doom..
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/toxctii/zala1.jpg
The Master was waiting for her. She wasn't surprised in the least. In fact, she half suspected mother had sent word by her special means ahead of her. Yayo'Jin was a confidant of Master Gadrin, after all.
"If yer goin to ask what I think yer goin to ask, the answer is yes Chile.. I knew who you be." the Master spoke to Lupa as she strode up to him.
"Why? Why did you not say something?" Lupa implored.
"Would that have served you better? Knowin yer Papa was a former pupil of mine, turned crazed with power from serving da serpent for too long..?"
"Your mother Lupa, she knew Zalazane before tha serpents took him. When he was tha one I chose ta be the next Darkspear loremaster. She did not see tha darkness, the serpents hide themselves well."
"I am going to see him you know." Lupa stated to Gadrin.
The master nodded, " I be expectin that. I cannot stop you, your mojo guides you now. Just be knowin that tha loa's have not left you. No matter how dark it be getting, a light will alway be nearby, even if you never saw it fully before."
With that he turned his back to Lupa, as a new wideeyed orc warrior had just arrived from the Den. "Howya doin Mon!" he welcomed the orc..
~~~
Lupa pulled herself out of the surf unto the island. It was ages ago that she was first here, on her mission to root out the rebel witch doctor Zalazane. noting had changed. Indeed, the rebels were still here, proof that some force watched over these trolls. Lupa made her way towards the main camp. The last time Lupa was in a dangerous situation doing this. It was a stronger, comfident Lupa that walked with impunity into Zalazane's camp this time.
There he was. Zalazane. Her father. She saw him now in a different light. Before she scarce took note of his features. This time, Lupa noted he had silver white hair. Lupa's own coloring. And his skin was the Darkspear bluish tint, closer to Lupa's tone that Yayo's green Forest troll hue.
His disciples attacked Lupa with a frenzy as soon as her presence was known. They died swiftly and deftly. Zalazane then approached Lupa himself.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/toxctii/zala2.jpg
"So, You finally be comin back. Yess, I be knowin who you be. Been watchin I have.. They be lettin me see you at times. They be watchin you fer some time now. You didn't know that did you? Daughter?"
His voice was sibbilant and hissed through his mask. Lupa couldn't find her voice. She tried to clear her throat, but it felt like a constrictor's coil was around it. Zalazane just continued. "Tall and strong you are now my girl. Well ready to join me here and work for the glory of Dambala and Ula-Tek. What say you? You ready? Power they offer. Power over death, over life. Power over your enemies. And..lovers?"
Lupa suddenly had a vision of Barke, but it was a dead Barke. dead, but undead. His rotting, dessicated face grinning in a lipless smile. No! Lupa would not let that happen. Loa's be damned! She forced herself to move, it felt like her arms were of lead, but she managed to pull out her polearm.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/toxctii/zala3.jpg
Zalazane laughed. "So, you tink you can outpower me? You tink your stronger that Dambala? Lets see.." With that he began incantations, and dark globes of power began to form arouhd his hands. Lupa struck with instinct and skill. The polearm sliced through the robes of Zalazane, and lodged in his breastbone. With a yank Lupa pulled the blade free. Zalazane sank to the ground, gurgling on his blood.
A part of Lupa knew that this was far easier than the last time she thought she slew Zalazane, but now she understood, he would be back.. it was inevitable.
At least she could now take a look behind the mask. Gingerly Lupa knelt down and undid the bindings of the mask.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/toxctii/zala5.jpg
Pulling it free, Lupa saw the face of her father. At one time it might have been called a handsome troll face, but now it was a grinning rictus of malice. As lupa watched however, the face changed, it twisted and contorted. Lupa looked on in horror as she saw the face of Zalazane change to her own!
With a start, Lupa jumped to her feet and started running. She ran blindly and smacked hard into a rock surface and fell to her knees. Looking up, Lupa saw what in fact she had ran into. A snake idol.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/toxctii/zala6.jpg
Her mind then exploded in images of her recent past. The Blackfang Corsairs, with their cobra headed banner grinning at a prone Lupa being whipped repeatedly. Her eventual hope of salvation, at the hands of the undead Rogue Clys, of the Immortalis. Two headed snake with each head gazing at the other. Dambala and Ula-tek. Her one glorious moment with Barke, and now the utter chaos that resulted. Ula-Tek loved to twist the glorious and good into misery. Her visions, of the tiger, and the panther. Her loas, her Met Tet. Warning her, looking out for her. Or were they? maybe they were just another trick, by Dambala, or Ula-Tek. Lupa remembered the viper in that same vision, lying there the whole time, grinning at her.
In the end, Lupa collapsed in a heap in front of the snake idol, whether Ula-Tek or Dambala, she wasnt sure. It mattered not.
After a time, Lupa raised her head in resignation. She faced the stone idol and spoke. " Ok, then. I see how it is. You have been there a while now, makin things happen, twistin things. For what? Let me know now. If you be lookin for a new servant, think again. Lupa serves Lupa. No spirits are gonna be changin that. But if its a favor you be lookin for. I can do that, for a price.. You stop messin with Barke. OK? That is my price."
With that Lupa picked herself up, and walked towards the shore. She whistled once, and swift as the wind her beloved Tempest arrived.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/toxctii/zala7.jpg
Lupa knelt beside the great beast and scratched him behind the ear. "Tempest, you alone have always been there. You be surviving tha Malestrom and findin your way back to me. You are my true Met Tet. My guide and my companion." Lupa burried her face in the worg's soft neck fur. Tempest rumbled in contentment and comfort.
There were things that Lupa needed to do. She now understood the snakes were a part of her, as was the tiger, and the panther. She would serve them as the need arose, but no more. Yayo would be mortified, Lupa was certain. But Lupa didnt care.
((Edit. I have to say something here. It was really hard to avoid making this really campy, and going all " Lupa.. I am your father!" (heavy mask breathing..) , then "Join me in the dark side.."..
"Nooooooo! I will never join you!.." etc... ))
Laron
05-04-2006, 09:25 AM
((You don't know the POWER of the Dark side.))JK
Great job M'lady!
She had them buzzing, that was certain. The bridge into Stormwind was fairly crawling with Alliance, mostly younglings, but the odd seasoned veteran as well.
From her hidden vantage point Lupa could make out the commotion she had caused. Occasionally she shouted out the odd challenge, just to remind them she was still a threat. Of course they would not understand her dialect, but the gist of it should have been obvious.
"Lovely! We be needin to talk, you and I!"
But at length Lupa left the area, when it was clear the paladin was either not taking the bait, or was not around to answer the alarms that were raised.
Before setting out for the Alliance city, Lupa had drafted up a response to the letter she had received from Rhowen Wildblade. In it Lupa bared her soul, and included special instructions for the woman to pass on to her friend, Dear Barke.
The contents of that letter pained Lupa to write, but it was necessary. She could not risk the rogue being drawn deeper into the dark cloud of venom Lupa now sensed around her. Indeed, since her confrontation with Zalazane and her reluctant acceptance of that part of her that was influenced by the Serpent Loas, Lupa felt their coils deep inside her.
She now believed that much of the pain and chaos surrounding the last weeks events were directly a result of her presence among those people. All designed to lead Lupa to the unavoidable reality of her heritage.
Even now, as she turned to leave the Alliance lands, Lupa heard the hollow distant cackle of Zalazane insider her head, and a brief vision of the rearing snake idol.
What they had in miind for her was unclear, but Lupa also sensed that she was not being left to their devices without a struggle. Often unbidden the tiger would return to her thoughts, waking her from dispair when the darkeness grew too dense. Buoying her soul. The panther whispered to her with encouragement and counsel, no doubt at the request of her Mother, whom looked to the panther as inspiration.
Somehow, Lupa would need to reconcile these forces inside her, lest she be ovewhelmed.
But for now, the snakes held sway. And they wanted blood. Blood and revenge for a betrayal of trust.
Lovely
05-04-2006, 09:50 AM
((I'm gonna have to kick Rho's butt for telling Lupa....If in fact she is the one who told you. Such plot twists and drama! hehe. Excellent writing as always, Lupa....))
((I'm gonna have to kick Rho's butt for telling Lupa....If in fact she is the one who told you. Such plot twists and drama! hehe. Excellent writing as always, Lupa....))
((Likewise. I always enjoy your journals. In fact, in a way exploring my dark side was inspired by you, as you provided that door for me.))
((I can't wait to see where this plays out and how.. /hugs))
Fallacy
05-04-2006, 10:49 AM
((Sort of reminds me of my two troll alts, Felxashi and Shavyn Redfang. They both were servants of Ula-tek, under Venoxis, until he went insane because of Hakkar's influence. They were once Atal'ai, except they were abandoned not long after their birth due to the fact that the Hakkari priests said they were cursed. The Zandalar tribe found them, and raised them, and Venoxis took them as priests under him. Not that it matters, I just thought it interesting that I had characters who also served Ula-tek.))
Lupa woke up early the next morning. She had much to do. Not that she slept much really, her night was spent shivering and tossing. At times she jumped into wakefulness, grabbing for her axe and brandishing it at some unseen foes, only to drift back into semi-conciousness.
Everywhere in her dreams she saw serpents, slithering across the floor towards her hammock, climbing up the tether posts and entwining themselves around her limbs. At times however, the loud hissing filling the room would be cut as with a sharp blade by the nearby roar of a great cat. The snakes would flee at the sound, and all would be peacful again. But ever they returned, in ones and twos, resuming their steady approach.
Climbing out of her hammock, she look out onto the Orgrimmar morning. The valley was full of the smoke from the night watch fires, everywhere trade folk were getting their shops and stalls open for the day's business. A little goblin was making his way towards the inn. Lupa recognized him as a courier by his surcoat. Heaving a sigh Lupa knew it was looking for her. They always did these days it seemed.
Departing from the window, Lupa headed out to the street to meet the goblin.
"Hey dere Miss, are you Lupa? If so I got a letter here for ya."..
Lupa nodded after a short yawn, and accepted the bound letter.
She started to yawn again as she examined the script, then froze with her mouth half open. It was not from whom she had expected. As she read the letter her mouth closed, and her lips tightened. Her grip on the parchment clamped down so hard that it started to tear through.
Three times she re-read the letter, just to be sure of all that was said. She then folded it up and shoved it in her belt. Returning to the inn Lupa gathered up her belongings and made her way to the Zeppelin tower.
As she exited the main gates of Orgrimmar and turned towards the tower, Lupa cursed under her breath. The Zeppelin to Lordaeron was already docked! No time to mount, Lupa ran as fast as a cheetah to catch the airship before it left. She made the tower and quickly mounted the ramp, only to arrive at the docking platform to see the last rope cast away, and the propellers turning.
“Hey! Hold up!” Lupa shouted, but the goblins has a tight schedule to maintain and waited for no one. She closed the last few feet and gathered herself to leap the widening gap between her and the departing vessel. Then skidded to a stop as she realized the futility of it.
Heaving a sigh, Lupa sat down to wait for the next ride.
As she sat, he mind went back to the letter. A part of her understood the contents, even agreed with it. Indeed, Lupa recognized many of her own actions reflected in those words. She could see the sense of what was pleaded, even the possibility of some happy ending. That part of her wanted to respond to the letter with an open heart.
But there was this insistent, nagging part of her deep inside that whispered warnings to her. That the woman always found a way out of these things, that she always found her actions unaccountable to anyone else. More than this, she did them under the pretense of justice, and righteousness! Bah!
Lupa struggled internally with these opposed sensations, unsure of her response. As she mulled the myriad possible outcomes and responses, the zeppelin arrived for the next run to Lordaeron.
Lupa gathered herself up, reached into her purse and took out a silver piece. Looking at the silver Orgrimmar talent, she saw the face of Thrall embossed in the center, the reverse held the crest of the Horde. With a flick of her fingers the coin was tossed into the air. It landed on the docking platform with a clink and rolled for a bit until finally settling still. Lupa stooped to look at the coin. She saw the Horde crest facing up. With a nod to herself, she boarded the zeppelin.
The goblin taking up the mooring ropes quickly took a look around to see if anyone else noticed the coin laying there, and snatched it up in his hand just as the vessel pulled away from the tower..
Clys was counting on her fingers, brow furrowed in thought. She muttered to herself.
"Six? Seven? Bah, what is wrong with my memory lately?"
She sighed softly, letting her arms drop to her sides. Nothing seemed that important, lately. Progress on her flesh restoration was stalled, and she had been unable to increase the duration of the effect very much at all. Danlily was off being pregnant, and didn't seem to want to do anything but fish or cook or sleep. Clys found herself quite alone, in fact. Even her taste for blood had dimmed somewhat, and she found little pleasure in killing.
So she found herself acting silly, almost clownish at times, joking and engaging in what her one-time-master had called "coarse jesting." It exercised her wit, but achieved nothing really, other than the laughter of those she was with.
"I'm reduced to being a bad entertainer", she thought. "What happened to my goals? There are people counting on me, still, and I've lost momentum. "
She thought about Lupa, and Lovely, and Xaran. And what about Mirubea? Had she even taken time to talk to him? Then there was Jezze, who was still out there waiting...
Looking up at the night sky she whispered to the stars, "What good is my immortality if I can't pass it on? What good will it do me to live on, alone?"
Aendra
05-04-2006, 06:21 PM
((Fantastic! I'm enjoying this completely, you're really talented.))
"You cannot deny her birthright."
The 'Something' that is at times called Ula-Tek faced the entity known as Shirvallah. Their immortal minds encompassed the doings of myriad lesser beings, paticularly those that were known as 'trolls'. It was of one particular troll that a minute portion of their immense minds now discussed together.
"She is a hunter my brother, and as such her spirit is in my dominion. That is as it has always been." Shirvallah replied. He was a proud entity and held honor and valour in high esteem. He would not relinquish his authority so frivolously.
"The blood of her father runs hot within her Shirvallah, this you know. The father is mine, and now the daughter has accepted this heritage. You saw, you heard her proclamation. She debased herself in front of my aspect and accepted me in her spirit. Dambala is now with her, administering my counsel. You cannot shut him out, not anymore."
Shirvallah would not be moved. "The mother is of Bethekk. Does she lay claim to the woman also? No. It is not her mandate, and she follows the order of things. Would disrupt that order, as you always seem to try? Would you be another Hakkar? Taking up the mantle the Soulflayer left behind?"
The 'something' called Ula-Tek drew up his presence, until the realm they called 'home' filled with his Loa, "Do not mock me Shirvallah! You know that is not my role. The woman accepted me, and that is all." With that he closed that minute portion of 'Him' that was in commune with Shirvallah, and moved on to other beings, other threads of lives he touched.
Shirvallah tried to reopen that contact, but was met with silence.
Fallacy
05-05-2006, 11:59 AM
((I'm going to add a bit of something, if you don't mind.))
The vial of blood sloshed back and forth between Felxashi's fingers. He watched the sides of the glass become stained red after a long period of resting undisturbed. At last, he couldn't hold himself back any longer, and popped the cork off the top of the vial. He stuck out his tongue, and poured the contents down along it, licking his lips to savor the taste after it was downed.
"It's been fa' too long since Ah've 'ad a taste o' da stuff." The troll flipped the vial in the air before catching it and slipping it under the sash around his waist. "Nevah enough around ta get a good sample."
A parrot cawed in the branches of the tree he sat under, and he looked up to discern its position. It took a while, but he was able to make out its green feathers moving among the leaves.
"'Ey, watchoo lookin' at, brudda?" Felxashi almost jumped up in surprise. Shavyn had emerged from the brush, and been watching him studying the tree.
"Ah, nothin'. Jus' a bird up der." Felxashi rose to meet his brother, unconciously placing a hand on the hilt of his dagger. "Any luck?"
The other troll shook his head, and Felxashi sighed in response. "I dought da conconction would work, but it seems dat we'll be outta touch with him for longa dan I dought." Shavyn had ventured outside of the Gurubashi capital, using a scrying potion to try to discover the position of their master, but had returned unsuccessful.
"Dere's some sorta curse blockin' me from seein' too much. Da only way ta see now is ta go in ourselves." Shavyn leaned forward on his staff. "Do ya think we could do it, brudda?"
Felxashi tilted his head to the side, pondering what they could do, but sighed again, revealing his doubt. "We're lost widout Ula-Tek. Venoxis is most likely dead by now, and da Atal'ai would tear us apart before we could take two steps in. Until, 'e chooses anoda high priest, we're done."
Shavyn stared at him for a moment, before turning around towards the direction he had come from. "So, we jus' wait?"
Felxashi looked down to his arm. A snake tatoo covered it, from the tail curled around his shoulder, to the gaping mouth and pointed fangs at his wrist. "We wait. It won't take long, I'm sure o' dat."
(( Of course, consider this an open RP, so long as its relevant.. nice writing Fallacy. So those are your alts? Hmm.." Lupa. High Priestess of Ula-Tek?" Sounds like it might be a tad too ambitious for little ole' me. But thats not to say thats what Ula-Tek could have in mind. Shirvallah can then be the only thing holding the completion of the transformation at bay. That way it won't look like God Moding, something that is a danger with a story like this..))
Fallacy
05-05-2006, 01:13 PM
((I didn't really mean it that way. I wanted to reveal their connection to Ula-Tek as well, not to make you change your story to reflect theirs, just to open the possibility of a little interaction.))
((Ah, OK, got it. <phew!> that was going to be a heavy responsibility.. sure thing, we can get some interaction together.. let me know any ideas you have.))
Lupa was just leaving the Nether Council meeting when the package caught up to her. Taking the package from the patiently waiting goblin Lupa opened the seals and undid the wrapping. Inside was a letter, and an obsidian pendant in the form of a leaf. There was some writing on the pendant. Elvish script engraved into both sides. The letter was from Barke!
In horror she realized that although he guessed as she did, that the relationship was not to be, he had obvioulsy not yet had the chance to speak of these things with the lady Rhowen. Lupa had made sure to include her full explanation for Barke's ears in that missive, hoping that her words would come better received from a trusted friend.
That was not to be, and Lupa now realized she owed him her own words.
Reading the letter, Lupa felt a wellspring of tears begin to build in her eyes, but then the voice inside her brought her up straight and she sucked back her sorrow.
She read Barke's description of the elvish script on the pendant, His family heirloom pendant he had sent to Lupa as a gift of rememberance. It was his name, "Barke" engraved on one side of the dark carved leaf, his family name " Daertha" carved on the other. It was hanging from a silver chain. Lupa placed her head through the chain and let the weight of the simple, but elegant pendant sit in the cleft of her bosom.
After a time savoring the feel of the obsidian against her skin, a clearing of the goblin's throat brought Lupa back from her revelrie.
"Hm, yes. Follow me an I be givin you somthing to send back to Alliance lands. "
"The one who sent that paid me triple you know..." the goblin looked at his feet idly.
"Did he now? Well, seein as I have been fortunate in funds lately, I be doin the same. Now follow.."
A short while later the goblin left Orgrimmar destined for Ratchet. In his arms was a new small bundle, bearing a letter and a troll charm necklace..
"Bah! Those blasted Night Elves and their hidden forest paths! Why can't they just make proper roads and walkways like everyone else?"
It had been a long time since Lupa had stumbled upon the remote hidden elven glade in the center of Duskwood. It was purely by chance that she had found the obscure winding path up the slopes of the encircling hills that time and now she couldn't quite recall where exactly the path was located. Given time Lupa was certain she would find it again, but there were people waiting on her. She redoubled the urgency of her search, forgoing secrecy and openly scoured the hillside.
Ironically it was the very one she had come here to meet that gave Lupa the clue to the path's whereabouts. Her hunter's senses picked up the spoor of the Paladin called Lovely, who approached from the east along the road from Darkshire, then entered the hills at a place just over from Lupa's position. Lupa rode over to follow her trail and found the path without difficulty.
Cresting the slope of the hills, Lupa rode down into the little glade, at the far end of which were those ancient stairs, leading towards a great tree and a portal. There on the top of the stairs were the people she had come here to meet. The paladin Lovely, Lupa's old friend Clys Nex'Cruor and that druid she often uses as a translator, Kittsu.
"There she is. Within easy bow range. One well Aimed shot with a Thorium tip would be devastating from here. You know you want to do it child.." the voice inside her said.
Lupa dismouted and walked the rest of the way towards the waiting delegation. Halfway up the stairs she stopped, knelt towards Tempest and asked the great worg to stay and guard the steps. Lupa did not want any unexpected surprises coming up behind her, like an uninvited little sister..
She welcomed Clys warmly, it was she after all who had set up this meeting. The undead leader of the Immortalis had past connections with the paladin and some unfathomable interest in her. Indeed it was that connection that had enabled Lupa in the past to regain contact with her clan during her servitude with the Blackfang Corsairs.
Lovely smiled at Lupa, with an expression Lupa couldn't decide was more out of warmth or nervousness. "Punch her in that smiling mouth, knock a few of those pretty white teeth back into her throat," the voice prompted. Scaly coils shifted inside Lupa. But Lupa also felt another noble presence starting to grow and overshadow the coils, warming her spirit and calming her emotions. "Remember why you are here girl'," Lupa reminded herself. She tentatively smiled back at Lovely.
Through Clys and Kittsu, Lupa and Lovely were able to converse about their shared love for the night elf rogue, Barke. Lupa was quite plain. She let Lovely know how it had upset her to learn of the debauchery in Redridge a short while ago. Told her about her anger and frustration. But she also let Lovely know about that she was not about to hurt Barke any longer. Although Lupa was certain she loved the man, she knew it would not be a possible relationship. At least with Lovely he had a chance at happiness.
But there was a way for Lupa to share in that happiness. Lupa took out a dagger and knicked the flesh if her inner palm. She passed the knife over to Lovely, and asked Clys to pass on her instructions. Lupa waited as Clys told Kittsu, who relayed to Lovely to knick her hand also.
Comprehension came over Lovely’s face as Lupa knelt on the ground, bleeding hand outstretched. She mirrored the trolls actions. “Now with my blood mingling with yours, you be carrying a part of me always. That way, a part of me will be with him.” As Kittsu translated, Lupa grabbed Lovely’s outstretched hand.
The instant their flesh met and blood mingled, the voice inside Lupa let out a howl of indignation “No! This is not right! The ‘Light’ hurts…!” Lupa felt the serpentine coils writhing within her. She held the grip for as long as she could stand the sensation, then with a gasp released the Paladin’s hand.
“We are now bound together to this man. Please, take care of him as I would. If you fail in this, know I will hunt you down and take back my blood..” Clys looked for a moment at Lupa, then spoke to Kittsu who passed on a string of common tongue to Lovely. Lovely looked at Lupa, then nodded. Lupa approached Lovely and gave her a kiss. Lovely returned the kiss. She could only hope the message was passed on properly, and the paladin was fully aware of what Lupa had just vowed.
“Now, the matter of your sister..” Lupa said. When the translation was passed, Lovely retorted with a string of common that Lupa knew had a tone of urgency with it.
“What of her?” Clys translated to Lupa. “She is blameless in this. It was all my fault not hers. Where do you get your information from? The woman Rhowen? She has her own agenda.”
Lupa responded through Clys and Kittsu, “never you mind where, that is not important. She is not blameless, indeed she has wronged me more than you have. You at least had a reason to do as you did, a reason of love. She had no such thing.” Lupa took a breath as the translations were passed, then continued. “You tell her, she should do well not to cross my path. And I will leave her to you to deal with, If you do not I will..” Lovely nodded in understanding.
With that Lupa called Tempest to come to her. The great worg picked himself up and approached the party. Whispering a few words to him, Lupa watched as the beast paced around Lovely, taking in her scent. “Tempest has your scent now Lovely. If I need to find you again he will lead me to you.”
Lupa turned to leave after bowing deeply to Clys and Kittsu for their help. With a last kiss to Lovely, she decended the stairs. That’s when she heard his voice. Coming from the shadows. With a start Lupa launched a flare into the night sky. With the ground illuminated she was able to make out his shape, there beside the staircase. She had forgotten how handsome he was, and her heart almost gave out then and there. “Take him then,” the voice said. “ He’s yours by rights.”
Lupa approached Barke, and for a short time they looked into each others eyes. Then after a final few intimate moments she kissed him and left the glade.
She fingered the dark obsidian pendant all the way to Grom'Gol
Lovely
05-07-2006, 10:39 AM
((Wow.....Lupa, you are awesome....I love your writing....
/hug))
Clys was a bit bored, wandering around the Lakeshire area, harassing the locals. She killed and killed without mercy or even much thought. Sime nights were like that. Just kill them, just let their blood soak the soil.
Then she and Lupa got into a conversation through the stone, and the topic turned to Lovely and Barke and that whole situation, which Clys found secretly amusing. She knew Lovely quite well, and there was something about Lovely's constant shenanigans that just tickled Clys no end. Too bad they were on opposite sides, she thought. Life with Lovely around was never boring. Weird, but not boring.
After a bit of talking Lupa asked if Clys had seen Lovely, which set off a little chain reaction. Clys sent Kittsu to find Lovely, and they all agreed to meet in Darkshire.
Clys found the conversation between Lovely and Lupa quite interesting, even though it was only about a man. It was more the interaction of the two women that she enjoyed, these two very different women who had both earned a degree of respect from Clys.
Afterwards, Clys and Lovely stood off a ways and let Barke and Lupa talk. Clys grinned at Lovely. That armor! What a skank! She giggled a bit, then sighed, looked back and forth between her friends.
Perhaps, in time, they would all emerge in some way victors.
http://computer-man.us/fr/immortalis/33.jpg
http://computer-man.us/fr/immortalis/34.jpg
http://computer-man.us/fr/immortalis/35.jpg
http://computer-man.us/fr/immortalis/36.jpg
(( Excellent shots Clys, Thank you for the help..
I'm sorry Lovely, I just can't look at you in that armour and reading that guild name without giggling...)) :twisted:
((I should have followed Lupa and Lovely down there :[ I was patroling the road at the same time that was happening :3))
"You can't be sure she will follow through you know," the 'voice' told her.
Lupa took another swig of strong bourbon. She found herself doing that more often lately. She found it made the whispers in her mind fade for a time.
The pain in her side where that blue bearded dwarf from Refuge Point had shot her was subsiding as well; another fortunate side effect of the alcohol.
But she could not shake the feeling the 'voice' had a point. Could she be sure Lovely would address the issue of her little sister, what was her name again? Celuna, yes that was it. Lupa had some measure of understanding with the paladin, she carried Lupa's blood now in her veins. To the Revantusk, that meant some part of Lupa was now on loan to Lovely, that her actions would have to mirror what the blood's owner would have wanted. By accepting that blood, Lovely had agreed to the arrangement. Whether the human understood that custom or not was another matter..
"I need a spy," Lupa mused. "One not known to either, nor to my beloved Barke."
As she pondered the problem the door to the guild hall opened. In walked that new recruit, the orc rogue Oonagi. Lupa watched from her reclined position on the couch as the woman stalked over to the firepit to dry off her cloak and sort through her evenings "aquisitions". The woman had shoulders that would make some male trolls envious, yet carried herself with the ease of a stalking panther.
"Hmm," thought Lupa.
"Recruit. How would you like to earn some REAL money?.."
To say Lupa was confused would be understating it.
More like emotional turmoil. She could not stop thinking about that dwarf hunter they punished the last night on the Nether Council patrol. The audacity! A hunter of his obvious calibre preying on those young, unseasoned Horde with wanton abandon! The patrol had been swift and sure in their judgement and execution.
But the "voice" would not let the matter rest. This was the hissing, whispering 'voice' not the firm, noble one. That one had expressed pride last night in Lupa's part in stopping the slaughter. "That hunter stalks without honor" it had said.
The hissing voice had other ideas. "And why should he not hunt his chosen prey?" it whispered to Lupa. "He, like you has the gift of the hunt, is strong and skilled. He should be allowed to hunt whatever prey he fancies. To sssink his fangsss into their flesh, and drink of their fear."
"NO!", Lupa blurted out loud. Her guildmates paused in their actions to stare at her quizzically. She had forgotten she was in Citadel Hall. She nodded to them and took herself outside to get some air. Her head still throbbed from the bourbon she drank after returning from the patrol.
Lupa thought back on the last few letters she had received from Lovely. The offer the Paladin had suggested in that last one was very tempting. A little time to herself was maybe what Lupa needed. Someplace out of the way and quiet, where the 'voices' would not find her. Where she could bask in sun and surf and gentle warm airs.. "and with Barke there at her side", the thought came unbidden. An picture of the little sandy islet they shared what seemed like ages ago came flashed across her vision.
"No! Stop it!" Lupa ordered herself. She couldn't let herself dwell on what could never be.
Lupa forced herself back to thinking of Lovely's suggestion. That there was some issue between the paladin and the warrior Rhowen was clear to Lupa. Both has as much as told Lupa that plain in their letters. Rhowen had not written in some time, and Lupa briefly entertained the idea of writing again, to see how things were with her, Barke..the thought came again... This time Lupa reacted in reflex and slammed her mailed fist into her own head. Her vision burst in stars and she staggered, a slight trickle of blood ran down her cheek from her scalp.
"Its the elves you know, they are the onesss doing this to your mind.." the 'voice' hissed. " They all deserve to be hunted, just as the dwarf hunted your own kind ."
Anger started swelling in Lupa. Her blood heated to boiling. She could not contain the wave of fury she felt growing, and she feared it. Some part of her knew this was not of her design, but another part revelled in the sense of power the anger gave her. She had a brief vision of a tiger roaring defiance in her mind at a large, looming snake. But the snake's shadow overpowered the tiger and drowned out the sound. Soon all was the snake. Dark head rearing, fangs dripping.
With a shout of rage Lupa ran to the stables and rode off in the direction of Ashenvale..
Lovely
05-16-2006, 11:41 AM
((I love your writing....Very nice....and scary! hehe))
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.1.12 Copyright © 2012 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.