Log View
| Source | Contents |
|---|---|
| Tepet Makara | The full moon shines above the many nations of the Hundred Kingdoms, as a small formation of scouts is lead by a winglord under House Cynis to watch over the trade route in case any merchants arrive at night to prevent them from being sacked by bandits. In the untamed woods near a river leading to Yanaze and a road leading to Greyfalls, they have set up camp and even lit a bonfire where they take turns watching their surroundings. "Winglord, can we just do this during daytime? Nocturnal monsters lurk here and possibly ghosts" One legionnaire says in a cowardly manner to the Tepet scion.
"By the Empress's red hair, why the hell did you even enlist in the legions if you act like that? You may be under House Cynis, but that doesn't mean you can partake in their decadent luxuries" The winglord sighs while looking at the moon's reflection in the river. However one legionnaire decides to make things less boring. "Well we can do night swimming in the river. I mean there are no river dragons around here at all right winglord?" Makara rolls his eyes at the suggestion "This is no time for leisure, besides I usually bathe or swim around privately" He says with annoyance but it only gave the bored legionnaire another idea.
"Hmm, maybe we could tell some stories we heard or encountered ourselves. Maybe you have stories you can share too right winglord" Makara looks away but is tempted by the offer. "sure, was getting bored myself" |
| Fudou the Mountain | As fate would have it, a unique set of eyes has been tracking the movements of the patrol group for some time now.. Dancing from one animal form to another and using the natural covers of the woodlands and the creatures within to hide its presence before finally alighting in a tree, a single simple large owl, to observe the happenings from a moderate distance away.
If the storytelling begins or not, the owl ultimately disappears..and after a short space of time..a truly massive and monstrously built man has taken its place and begun an approach towards the campsite. The man-behemoth, Fudou, approaches with the confidence of a bruiser of his stature and the surety of someone who is doing nothing wrong..just..sort of walking up. Sure he's..more then ten feet tall and six or more wide but he's got a friendly smile on his face and a smoke pipe in his mouth which plumes hazy smoke out behind him and from his nostrils like some sort of dragon come to Creation to go for a stroll. His garments swish about him as he moves but he is not particularly ornately dressed save for a massive column sized object wrapped up in a large tarp, slung over his shoulders nad contained by belts and peace bindings. "Greetings.." he rumbles as he approaches and plucks the smoke pipe from his mouth. "I saw your bonfire and thought I could use some company..." HIs gaze flickers towards Makara as he speaks. |
| Tepet Makara | "I'll probably go first since I actually know a story I have in mind" An older legionnaire begins speaking a tale from his own experience. "Before I was assigned to Greyfalls, my former post was in Fajad. I remember we were in a blizzard storm and we had to settle in a nearby village. I remember seeing a beautiful woman, but what's odd about her is that she was clad in the Northern lights herself, she was mesmerizing and unforgettable. I once told crossed paths with a shaman on what she might be, but he quickly hid me away from her for some rea-hey who is that?"
The old legionnaire was startled by the imposing presence that just appeared of nowhere and the other legionnaires are taken by surprise as well. Before they could even protect themselves with weapons, Makara signals them to halt and stand down. "Do not worry, it's just an exigent of strength I know from Great Forks. He won't bring trouble and I assure you all" The Tepet calmly explains even if it's a lie. Thankfully the legionnaires believed it and calmed down although they are still wary of this exigent. "And continue your story about this Northern woman" |
| Fudou the Mountain | IT is a good lie and one Fudou himself has told on occassion. Such that he often wonders what it would be like to actually encounter an exigent of strength. In his minds eye he sees it as a no contest situation. He'd win of course! But still..what a worthy contest.
"I am called Fudou. I am a former Champion Gladiator of these lands. Champion of Neshumai, Vir Sidus, Concordia and Diamond Vale. Perhaps you've heard of me or perhaps not but yes in recent days I have earned the favor of the gods in Great Forks but I have opted to journey home for a bit. To see some sights." Not a complete lie. He did spend some years as a Champion Gladiator after all. He sits down upon a large boulder and continues more pulls of his smoke pipe before turning his attention to the older soldier to wait for his story to finish. |
| Tepet Makara | Despite the older legionnaire being wary of this "exigent", he continues his tale from his time in the dreaded Northwest. "This shaman then warned me this woman was some sort of Anathema that enslaves minds to their will. I told him she might be some sort of Deceiver from Immaculate fables but the shaman turned down the theory for the anathema was supposedly the chosen of a great fallen god whose name I don't know. According to the shaman, they are exalted of adamant and northern lights that were corrupted after their patrons death. When the shaman learned of her presence in the village, he quickly told the village elder to evacuate his village while he hunts down the woman. I also learned the shaman was some sort of exigent of crystal called a Sovereign and I once peeked at their battle which eventually leads to this adamant anathema's death as her body turned to crystal bones. After the battle, he warned me to be wary of those anathema when I meet them even more so than that of the Moon and Sun"
After the legionnaire tells his tale, the others were unnerved especially as they never heard such tale of exalted clad in diamonds before. However some disbelieve it as mere misinterpretation. "Ha, that's probably just a ghost or fae! Really, an exalted of sky light that turns people into thralls? What a load of bullshit" One legionnaire dismisses it but Makara quickly scolds him. "Enough, I don't know if that's what he say, but his experience seems to be real." The Tepet scion then turns to Fudou and whispers to him. "Phew thank god they are gullible. Their job is to watch over the roads for any bandit scum that threatens travellers to Greyfalls"
As the story of the old soldier is over, the young legionnaire turns to his winglord. "Hey what about you Lord Tepet. You might know some stories as well especially since you wander the East and you've also been to the North" Although he doesn't have the energy to do so, Makara plays along. "Sure and probably a story about an old obscure historical figure I learned in the East" |
| Fudou the Mountain | "I have a story." interjects Fudou as he puffs on his pipe and looks absently at the moon.
"Well..I also have several stories. I 'heard' tell of a giant..a strongman..like myself I suppose..who fell in love with the moon above. She danced before him and flickered to his grasp only to slide away in a rain of silver and mercurial delight. He chased her, this giant hero, but was never able to reach up to grasp her and she taunted him..saying that 'if you love me..you will bring me to you and hold me if you dare.." He makes a few absent gestures, "So one day..he fashioned a lasso from strands woven by spirits who served the moon but sought to play a trick upon her. Taking it into his hands..and threw it skywards to lasso the Silver Chair.." Fudou holds his pipe in his mouth now, freeing his arms up and lifting them..A massive flex rolls through them, bulging his sinew to sizes some would find equally awesome as horrifying as he tenses to stress the power he is speaking off. His chest bulks up, pectorals rolling thickly and audibly like leather stretching. "And straining with all his might he pulled such that Creation buckled beneath his feet.." He pantomines this effort, pulling at nothing and gritting his pipe within his teeth tightly. "She fought and pulled back..but she was dragged down, down, down to his arms and his embrace.." He then abruptly stops and rumbles with a grin.. "Hmm...I rather forget how the story ends..." |
| Tepet Makara | As Makara and the legionnaires listens to the story, they are impressed by the "exigent"'s tale despite it's absurdity and even those that distrust exigents thanks to their Immaculate beliefs are awed by it. "And I thought stories about Pasiap's feat of strength were impressive, I guess even some chosen can match an Earth Aspect and even exceed them. Thank gods there are no monks around to hear this" A legionnaire comments on the story. "Lord Tepet is lucky he usually goes to vacation on Great Forks when he is on leave. I only heard about stories of chosen of the little gods from merchants but I don't have time or money to visit that little Yu-Shan. Must be great to see exigents of varying powers there" A young legionnaire is starstrucked by the tale, meanwhile he turns to Makara on what story he plans to contribute.
"So who is this figure do you plan to tell us about? A great hero such as the dragons of old" Strangely and this seems out of character for the dragon of "water", he says grimly with cold expressions in his eyes as if he is a different person. "Sadly no....but a villain and a scourge of the Shogunate" |
| Fudou the Mountain | "hMM.."
fudou falls silent but smiles slightly as he leans back. Mischief is in his eyes and he seems to have been satisfied by the reaction, having sowed some interest in Great Forks in the more impressionable..and so perhaps an opportunity to help wean them off o their traditional beliefs. "Pasiap..yes.." he muses as an after thought before he takes another pull from his smoke pipe and then turns his attention towards Makara to see if his tale will be of similar interest. |
| Tepet Makara | "In the bleak shadowlands known as the Field Of Endless Raitons here in the East. There was once a moon warlock drenched in dark wisdom of the Underworld known as Fafnirius, the Tyrant Of The Bitter Heart. A Lunar necromancer from the First Age so consumed by the death of his lover, that he drowned himself in insights of necromancy that did him more harm than good." He again says it with an icy tone regarding this figure.
"He was a threat to the Northeastern nations when the Shogunate was still standing as his undead army ravaged their cities. His actions and unholy knowledge of death was so reviled, that even other anathema of the moon distrusted him for his methods. Eventually, his hubris lead him into fighting against a Northern gentes alone with no help from others of his kind, save for his undead army yet they still fell. He fled deep into his haunted manse where a shikari of Mela waited and puts him out of his misery" He says with a cold sigh as it ends. "Interesting tale but where did you hear about it?" A legionnaire inquires about it |
| Fudou the Mountain | "When you are as travelled as he is..he could have heard it from anywhere!"
Fudou's deep voice chimes in with an affable rumble and a jovial tone in an attempt to misdirect and lighten the mood.. For he feels that the story might be a little close too home.. Perhaps too close. "Keepers of lore and old wives tales. Ancient legends and whispers of ghost stories.." He gesturs with some more animated movement. HIs vast figure creaking like soe sort of vast First AGe construct come to life as he attempts to beguile them with his rumbling voice, "Lost secrets and ancient wonders .. horrors like the Queen of Fangs and the Wolf of Roses. Are you all so surprised he'd know such a tale? |
| Tepet Makara | "well he's a dragonblood, so I guess he has studied of anathema before" A legionnaire speculates on how he knows, but Makara responds to him. "I know of it thanks to going to a library in Great Forks. Thank the dragons Fafnirius is dead, who knows what might happen if he is still alive to this day? I guess the lesson of his story is not to immerse yourself in questionable arts and this even applies to the Prince Of The Earth for some can be initiated to it's first circle." Makara then stands up and announces to the scouts. "I'll be near the river to take some fresh air and go on without me while you tell your tales"
Makara leaves the bonfire while his soldiers continue taking turns on telling stories. He heads to a private spot near a river while gesturing for the "exigent" of strength to follow. "Sorry if I have to tell that story, its mostly to keep up appearances as a "stereotypical dynast who goes murderous when he hears of anathema". Since they know you are acquainted with me, they'll assume you are actually an exigent so you are safe by association" |
| Tepet Makara | "Actually that was a lie. I never learned it from Great Fork's libraries for I headed to that shadowland. You see, months ago I was suffering some nightmares of memories that I should not have at all like wandering in the Underworld's depths while following a Solar. With the help of some exalted, I found out that those dreams are not dreams at all, but from a past life" He gazes at the river glowing with the moon's elegance.
"We tracked down the locations in my dreams in that shadowlands. While we scanned the battlefield, I saw his name in the banner and it clicked in my mind. Well about Fafnirius the necromancer. He maybe slain in this past but he is still alive in some way for he reincarnated. Unluckily, it's me" He says with sorrow and regret. |
| Fudou the Mountain | "That was -you-?" Fudou steps forward in sheer surprise now, "The glow in the shadowlands. The sunlight. It could be seen from nearly the edge of the city. I was investigating what happened and later I heard from Raullaur that several of you were there and attacked by the undead. I was going to go investigate it but I thought better of it..thinking that if it was Raullaur and Bright Journey and others I know that whatever was there was surely dalt with.."r
He grows more somber at seeing his mood change. And then he laughs, "Don't linger in the past of your old self or let it weigh you down. It was another life. Another you! You're here now..yes? To set right those wrongs. Listen.did you think I made up the tale of the man who pulled down the moon?" He grins a little bit and then says, "Well..there is -some- fabrication there of course..but once there was a Lunar named the FIst of Meru..and the things he did the curry the favor of Luna..are not all tales worth repeating.." |
| Tepet Makara | "Of course I know that was probably just a metaphor but impressive story nonetheless" Despite the weigh of his past life memories, the words of his fellow Lunar encouraged him. "You are right, although my past life has buried something deep in his manse that may fall in the hands with the wrong intentions such as those anathema among anathema from Thorns. I also learned I had a student who hates dragonblooded so much, that he wanted to targetted Amethyst during the fight and even insulted us for working with dragons even if they do not practice wyld hunts"
After looking at the moon's face in the water, he turns back to Fudou. "Although travel to that manse is dangerous, I will have to go on mostly to resolve my past to stop the nightmares. Even if I have some closure, I wonder if some of his memories, especially his necromantic knowledge awakens in my mind since I do not want to repeat his actions" |
| Fudou the Mountain | "You let it weigh heavily on you.. This is fair..but I think that the fact that it is a concern is already a sign that you are nothing like your past self. You want to do better." notes Fudou, somberly, "Consider that...you may have more then just that life to call upon. You may have had incarnations that were even more noble then you can imagine..and ones that are even worse. You can go crazy if you wonder about this. I can undrestand wanting closure though.."
He rubs his jaw and then says, "I will help you, if I can, on this expedition. It sounds like you may need it. Keep me in mind if I am around I will assist." And with that, he melts away into that of a hawk, shapeshifting in the darkness and taking wing over the waters. |
| Tepet Makara | He gives a nod as Fudou flies away in his hawk shape while turning his attention back to the camp. "hey winglord, what's taking you so long? I guess you were caught up talking to your exigent friend, but I guess they are not that bad as the Immaculate monks say" The young legionnaire arrives as he checks up on his winglord. "Oh just talking and saying farewells, that's all. Anything I missed?"
Makara asks the young legionnaire. "Mostly ghost stories about Sijan and near Thorns but we are done for now. Admittedly, we hope we can do something else" The young legionnaire says boredly but Makara then suggests something. "Fine, you can swim in the river. I'll allow you to drink some alcohol but not much that it will make you drunk. I might do so, but just don't mind my terrible battle scar in my back" |