I never thought that I would be the one to blow the horn and summon Lunee. My fur is fairly tingling with excitement as the winged wolf appears in front of us. She speaks briefly to the powers and to us, and then looks out over the crowd.
"Sancta?" she says. A girl steps forward. Ecio stands up.
"Who is this?" he growls.
Lunee looks at him coolly. "Sancta Anima, a high-ranking member of the Nocturnal who has served me for the last few hundred years or so."
A hundred years. That's a long time, Kosomi thought. She had always suspected Sancta was older than she looked--she'd known her for several years and yet Sancta never seemed to age. A hundred years was a little older than Kosomi had been expecting though.
"Queen Kosomi of the Homo Aquarians," Lunee said next, beckoning for her to step forwards. Kosomi felt a strange sort of vertigo as she and Sancta stepped forwards.
"Thank you for finding me," Lunee said. Lunee's gaze lingered on Sancta and Kosomi felt as if those two were having a whole conversation with their eyes, a lasting one that was hours for them but minutes to an onlooker.
Ecio curled his tail uncomfortably. "Is it really this necessary to give them this much attention?" He seemed to regret his words a moment later when Lunee's head snapped up and her eyes bored into Ecio's soul.
"Kosomi and Sancta are two very loyal followers of mine--especially Sancta, who has been by my side for a hundred years and will do so for a hundred more," Lunee said, her voice strong and commanding. "But now is not the time for fighting. I sense a looming darkness in these woods."
"Caelani just flew by," Sylvia said. "He's under the control of Jaaws, but you and I could heal him."
"No, this darkness is much deeper," Lunee said. "This must be Jaaws herself. Undoubtedly she will expect us to follow after him. The safest thing to do is stay in the temple and keep her away."
"But--my son," Sylvia protested. Kosomi could see both Ayearth and Ecio tense as she said this. The other priests seemed confused. Likely they expected Lunee to be the best and most understanding of the group.
But Kosomi was beginning to understand that Lunee was not all at all kind and sweet like the Nocturnal believed. She now saw that Lunee was someone who did not care what had to be done and what had to be lost--so long as Light was triumphant in the end.
"A son?" Lunee barked, her fur bristled.
"He's not corrupt!" Sylvia protested. "He's not like Jaaws!"
"He is now," Lunee growled. "It is better to abandon him. Come, brothers and sisters. We protect ourselves."
As they went into the temple, Kosomi could feel an anger towards Lunee. The rage grew and eventually, Kosomi broke away, needing to be alone and clear her head.
She leaned against a stone wall and sighed, sinking down to the floor. Her people needed her, and here she was, serving a Power who she had never really liked and now hated. A feeling of helplessness grew in her. Kosomi wished there was something, anything she could do that would actually help the people of Kyngdom.
"Hey," A voice said from above. Kosomi looked up to see Hazel, and she smiled. "I saw Lunee walk by, how did it go?" Hazel asked.
"She's, um...a little overrated, to be honest," Kosomi said, standing. "Don't tell anyone here I said that, though!" Kosomi smiled at Hazel.
"So, I was wondering about books on Jaaws?" Hazel explained. "I mentioned something earlier, but I don't know if you were abl--"
"Oh, yeah, I can find some!" Kosomi said, thankful for the distraction. "Come on, I'll show you a few of my favorites."
~~~~
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submitted by Sybill, age ?, Ikea (November 22, 2020 - 9:03 am)
I linger in the courtyard after the Powers leave, aware of, but not really listening to, a conversation between Kosomi and Hazel Coryli(?). Is this what Lunee is like, then? I had thought--or perhaps simply hoped-- that she would be a kindhearted and friendly Power. And what was this about Sylvia's son? I hadn't noticed Ciaran missing.... and corrupt? He had seemed so sweet, at least what little I saw of him. I wish, for a moment, that I knew more about the Sideaffected Powers. Then a sentence of Hazel's sinks through my thoughts.
"I was wondering about books on Jaaws? I mentioned something earlier, but I don't know if you were abl--"
I blink, hardly believing what I'm hearing, as Kosomi interrupts.
"Yeah, I can find some! Come on, I'll show you a few of my favorites." I follow them as they walk away, trying not to seem like I'm stalking them. I'm really just interested in finding out more about the Sideaffected Powers.
~
If I made it seem like Seze didn't know something she's supposed to know..... oops.
Hearing that Lunee is overrated gives me shivers. Do we have a right to criticize the Powers that created us?
I change the subject quickly, reminding Kosomi about the books. In the back of my head, I wonder if I'll get to speak with Lunee about Jaaws. Would she let a human into her presence? Just watching her enter the temple gave me a good mind to keep my distance.
Kosomi is eager to show me her favorite books. She takes me down the halls, which are empty, and we head deeper into the temple.
I explain what I already know: "I've been studying Jaaws for a couple of months now. I've found that she originated--in modern times--in the Labyrinth Lands. Either she'd been lying low for centuries, or she was trapped in the labyrinth for all that time. Accounts differ. I know she can hypnotize people, corrupt them, turn invisible, and...breathe fire. But what I don't know is how she came from Claaws, when she came from Claaws, WHY she came from Claaws, or how to kill her."
Kosomi thinks on this. "I'm not sure if our books say anything about her origin. What I do know--based on the texts we have here--is that all of these texts speak of her as a monster, a nightmare, living evil, 'The Shadow Behind the King,' and plenty of other names that differ depending on the culture. She has had a fairly invisible role in history, and it's unclear if the Powers even knew she existed. Some of these books have been preserved from the days of the Powers' first reign, but none of them suggest that Jaaws had anything to do with the Powers, except that she sometimes resembled Dragon--who we know as Claaws."
I furrow my brows. This is new information, and it perplexes me. "That's...mysterious."
I sort through every sliver of gossip and every rumor I've heard as a member of The Elites. I mull over everything the Resistance has told me and all the information FaFA has been willing to provide. The books here might tell me more about Jaaws's powers and her role in ancient history, but it seems that ultimately, Jaaws's secret has remained at its source: with the Powers.
"The oldest collection is this way," Kosomi says, indicating a right turn with one of her arms. Before the words have even died from her lips, she freezes, attention directed forward. I halt too, a shot of adrenaline coming out of my heart before I even know what's going on.
From down the hall, we hear a muted crash and a scream. Someone shouts, but I can't understand what they've said. It sounds like "Fear."
Behind us, I hear an exclamation of shock. I turn around to see a silvery-white wolf with her ears angled up and her fur on end. With her superior hearing, she's understood the shout. No doubt, she is hearing everything else, too--the roar, the crackle, the scramble around the blast site.
"Seze, what is it?"
"A fire!"
Simultaneously, the three of us dash down the corridor. We round the bend and see that the hallway ahead is lit by a bright, flickering, amber glow.
The heat hits us next. It's a dry, broiling wave that carries a sick, sulfuric stench. We don't need to run any farther to confirm the disaster, but we do so anyway. As we burst into a large chamber with a high ceiling supported by wooden beams, we see searing orange flames licking down from a big hole: The temple rooftop is ablaze.
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submitted by Hazel C. (November 22, 2020 - 4:52 pm)
For a moment, Caelani's mind was his own, and his hatred belonged to himself, and not to Jaaws. But the moment passed as the Brazen Goo once again took hold, and his eyes once again saw Jaaws as an ally.
Aware of his failure, Caelani took care to follow Jaaw's instructions precisely as they were given. He feared what would happen to him should he fail again. He shifted back into the form of a gryphon as he hid himself in the forest surrounding the Temple. He watched as Jaaws set fire to the temple, and as she flew above the chaos she had created. When she began to circle over one area, Caelani knew she had found the Powers.
He heard one of his sisters scream.
Sylvia~
Ayearth was the first to notice the flames. "Jaaws!" Lunee snarled, unfurling her wings.
"What are you going to do?" Ecio asked.
Lunee paused, then folded her wings back at her sides. "To attack her now would be foolish," she said.
CRAK!
The ceiling above them gave way. The debris crashed at the Powers' feet. Looking up, Sylvia could see Jaaws through the newly-created hole, flying menacingly above their heads. She knew they were in iminate danger, but all she could think of was her son.
"CAIRAN!" she screamed.
"No!" Lunee hissed. "You cannot give in to her! This is what she wants you to do!"
Sylvia paid no attention to her. "Where is my son? What have you done to him?"
Jaaws laughed. It was a cold, merciless sound that froze Sylvia's blood in her veins.
"Cairan? He isn't far," she taunted. "I'm sure you could get to him easily... but I doubt you'll ever get another chance..."
Sylvia didn't take her eyes off of Jaaws even as Ecio pushed her away from the hole in the ceiling and out of Jaaws's sight. She was clinging onto those words, forgetting the untrustworthy lips that had uttered them. Her son was close. She could still save him!
THUD. Something large landed on the roof above them, and the Powers could her it pacing right above them.
"Jaaws's reminder that she's still waiting for us," Lunee hissed. "We must go. Now."
"But we can't!" Ayearth said. "She has Caelani as well, and she's watching from the top of the Temple- any way we try to escape, one of them is sure to see us."
"But if Jaaws wanted to take us out herself, she could have easily done it just then," Ecio pointed out. "Whatever she's planning for us must have to do with Caelani. If we could find out where Caelani is without being seen, then avoid him as well as Jaaws when we leave, we could escape."
"And how do you propose we do that?" Lunee snapped.
"I... I don't know."
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submitted by Soren Infinity, age 27 eons, BeaconTown (November 23, 2020 - 3:03 pm)
I race after Hazel and Kosomi. "The fire is spreading, there could be people getting trapped!" I cry. "We have to help them!" I'm interrupted by a scream.
"CAIRAN!" I look towards the source: Sylvia, standing with the other Powers, now including Lunee, and looking up through the hole in the ceiling. Hazel and Kosomi are headed that way, so I don't wait to find out what they're looking at, and I run off in another direction to find anyone who needs help.
"Seze, wait!" Kosomi calls after me, but I ignore her and keep running through the temple. The fire is licking fastest along the roof, but it's also entering the corridors as well, and I narrowly avoid getting singed several times.
"Seze...." A hoarse whine comes from the entrance of a corridor I just passed. I scramble back to the place, and find a white-furred wolf, nearly buried under charred boards, some of them still burning slowly.
"Moonshadow!" I say, shocked. I dig him out with some effort, although not much since the boards crumble easily. He stands up, and almost immediately staggers against my side. "Are you hurt?" I ask him.
"Nothing other than a few bruises," he croaks. "It's mostly the smoke that's the problem." I can tell what he means. The thick smoke is starting to get to me as well.
"We need to hurry," I say. We travel back through the halls as fast as we can, Moonshadow still leaning heavily on my shoulder. However, I can tell that as the smoke gets thicker, I'm becoming less and less helpful as a prop.
"Oh, no...." Moonshadow says quietly. We stop, blocked by a roaring bonfire (total exaggeration) of collapsed material. I move away from Moonshadow and he sinks to the ground, gasping. I move from side to side, searching for a way around the fire, and even try to dig through it in one place, but I only succeed in burning all the fur off my front paws. I retreat back to Moonshadow and begin to howl and bark as loudly as I can, hoping someone can hear me and help us. Moonshadow joins in with a weak howl.
When the fires began, there was really not much I could do. I felt helpless; hopeless, watching centuries' worth of tradition, history, and effort turn into dust under the golden touch of the flames. Then, a howl rose over the fiery roar. Instantly, I sprang into action.
"Seze! Kosomi! Moonshadow!" My cry rang over the falling embers. With eyes burning white, I released a gust of magic, blowing the dancing tongues of crimson ash away from around my feet. A flicker of movement caught my eye. A tear-stained face peeking away from a bloodied and soot-stained corpse. Running purely on adrenaline and rage, I burst towards it, disregarding the watchful presence nearby. Be it friend or foe, it would be a fool either way to face the wrath burning like the sanctorium inside me.
~
I keep reviving myself and I hate it but I just can't give up on Kyngdom no matter how hard I try. ;-;
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submitted by Night Whispers (December 8, 2020 - 4:53 am)
Jaaws, Caelani could tell, was growing impatient. So was he. The Temple was burning, Sylvia had been baited with Cairan, and yet the Powers had yet to emerge. Circle the temple, Caelani, Jaaws's voice commanded. I'm going to flush the Powers out.
As Caelani began to fly through the tree in the area surrounding the temple, he saw Jaaws crash through the crumbling roof. Soon his targets would emerge, and he would do well not to miss.
Sylvia~
Sylvia heard howling not that far away and spotted Moonshadow and the priestess Seze. "Moonshadow is trapped," she said. "We should help him."
"We don't have time," Lunee snarled. "We have to find a way out, now."
"Perhaps Moonshadow could help up with that," Ayearth pointed out. Sylvia needed no more convincing. She rushed to help the two. Ecio removed the collapsed wood planks from Moonshadow's back, and Sylvia healed his wounds and the burns on Seze's paws and Ecio's claws.
"Thank you," Moonshadow mumbled.
"You can show your appreciaton by helping us escape," Lunee replied. "Caelani-"
She was interrupted by the thundering, horrifying sound of Jaaws bursting through the ceiling.
"Run," Lunee whispered, and the group did so. They ran through the maze of the Temple and into a library that had yet to be touched by the flames. There they found a human girl and a homo aquarius, a pile of books near them and concern etched on their faces.
"Seze, what's going on?" the homo aquarius asked as the human looked at the Powers in awe.
"The Temple is burning," Lunee cut in. "And Jaaws has now entered. Our time is short."
"We have to get out," Ayearth said urgently. "Perhaps you could help us."
~~~~~So... I thought the Powers could escape if Caelani was distracted by some of the other characters exiting the Temple, but since he's determined not to mess up again, he would probably use the Brazen Goo the instant he saw a group exit the Temple, but that means the other characters would fall victim to that. Unless you think he would be more careful, and in the time it would take him to realize whoever he's seeing aren't the Powers, they would already have run into the woods.
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submitted by Soren Infinity, age 27 eons, BeaconTown (December 14, 2020 - 6:29 pm)
Now that Hazel kind of laid out what's going on here, I'm just gonna make a big long post cause we need to get this done XD
Sylvia~
Smoke crept into the library. Their time became shorter and shorter.
"No," Lunee decided. "There is no time to think. There is no time to waste. I am going after Jaaws."
Moonshadow's eyes wided. "Lunee, you mustn't!" Sylvia cried.
"I will go after her," Lunee continued as if she hadn't heard her sister, "And you will leave the Temple. All of you."
"What about Caelani?" Ecio asked.
"I trust you all can outsmart him," Lunee fumed. Sylvia watched her sister storm away and knew there was no stopping her. Lunee would use any means to destroy her greatest enemy.
Sylvia looked around at Seze, Moonshadow, Kosomi, and Hazel, and she suddenly felt guilty. They were all innocent; she had dragged them into her business when they had no reason to be in it.
"You have to get out of here," Sylvia whispered.
"I can't leave Lunee," Moonshadow replied stoutly but nervously.
"You wan't be much help to her now," Ayearth said.
"Go. Please," Sylvia begged. "We've robbed you of so much today. Please don't let us be responsible for your lives.
Some more uneasy than others, Seze, Moonshadow, Kosomi and Hazel ran to one of the library's exits. Sylvia made a beeline for an exit far from the one Seze and the others had taken. She had no idea where the door would take her, but Sylvia found that she didn't care very much. If Jaaws were to hyptonize Sylvia and taker her for herself, at least Sylvia would be with her son.
Their chosen path lead the Powers to a winding hallway, and after a series of turns through increasingly smoky halls, Sylvia saw light. There was a way out.
Sylvia didn't think. She simply ran. Away from the fire, from Jaaws, towads Ciaran- the forest was near-
"SYLVIA!" She heard Ayearth scream her name and felt fear claw at her stomach. Of course her brothers, still thinking about the threat Caelani posed, would hesitate- and their hesitation, Sylvia realized as she vanished into the woods, would be their downfall. When Sylvia glanced backwards, Ecio and Ayearth were there no more, but Caelani was.
She ran. She knew there was nothing else to do. She failed her son. She failed her brothers. Perhaps she failed Lunee as well. But perhaps if she ran and refused to fall into Jaaws's clutches, she would not fail herself.
What was left? Perhaps Lunee would find her. They would do well to stay together now. Sylvia could only hope that Ecio and Ayearth's instruments would not come to Jaaws, but those chances were slim. And then there was Ciaran. Of all the things that Sylvia felt guilt of, the loss of her son was something she feared she might never forgive herself for. How reckless would she become to save her son? Would she ever get the opportunity to take such a chance?
Sylvia collapsed on the forest floor, and with nothing else to do, she started to sob.
Caelani~
Pride swelled in Caelani's chest as he watched Ayearth and Ecio dissolve into their instrument forms, but fear took its place as he glimpsed Sylvia running out of his sight. Just as he began to pursue her, Caelani heard Jaaws's voice in his head. Lunee is attacking. If Sylvia was as devoted to her son as Jaaws promised, she would be easier to control; a chance to hypnotize and perhaps kill Lunee was a rare one. Caelani took flight, seeking out Jaaws and Lunee to witness their battle and aid Jaaws in any way necessary.
He saw Jaaws rise from the burning Temple through the growing hole in the roof. He couldn't hear her words as Lunee spread her wings and rose to meet Jaaws, but Caelani saw very clearly when Jaaws threw Brazen Goo at Lunee's face- and he saw, with growing horror, how it dripped away from Lunee's snarled face.
"No," Caelani whispered- but there was no denying it. Lunee, Power of the Light, was immune to Jaaws's weapon of corruption.
He witnessed Jaaws's moment of weakness- her rage and confusion stunned her for a momet that Lunee wasted no time in taking advantage of. Caelani cried out as Lunee lunged and sunk her teeth into Jaaws's upper arm.
The pain that screamed throughout Jaaws's body echoed in Caelani's mind; this was weakness as Jaaws had always feared to know. This battle was lost. Caelani made no protest as Jaaws slithered into the shadows of the surrounding forest.
The next few minutes were blurred; a storm of rage and a fervent desire that Lunee would not pursue. Eventually, Whist and Ciaran appeared at Jaaws's side.
"What happened?" Whist roared. She glimpsed at the gash near Jaaws's shoulder.
"The Labrynth Lands," Jaaws panted eventually. "That is where we must go. I will hide the child there. Raise him. His powers will grow, and so will his hatred." A feeble smile ensnared Jaaws's lips. "He will learn how to take over Kyngdom beside m
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submitted by Soren Infinity, age 27 eons, BeaconTown (January 5, 2021 - 6:28 pm)
Seze, Moonshadow, and Hazel are all right behind me as we run through the woods. The Powers have gone completely missing--not a good sign. Sancta ran in a different direction-- I have no idea where she's gone.
"Wait, slow down," Seze says. "I think I see something through the bushes." I stop running, and I follow Seze as she apprehensively approaches a small clearing in the woods. The four of us pause behind a tree and survey the scene before us.
Two instruments lay in the dirt--a glass armonica and a stone xylophone.
"Oh no," Hazel says, clearly distraught.
"What's happened to Sylvia?" Seze asks the air. "More importantly, what about Lunee?" I can't help but roll my eyes.
"We don't have time to worry about that right now," I grumble. "Okay, I've got fins--I can summon Ayearth. But Seze and Moonshadow, you too are Howl, aren't you?"
They nod sadly.
"Fine, we'll figure out how to carry Ecio's instrument later." I step closer to Ayearth's armonica. It's pretty large, and complicated. I'm not sure how it works, so I hope some mysterious magic-stuff happens and I can use it properly.
I gently spin one of the plates and a noise comes from the instrument. Thankfully, the other glass plates spin and make music on their own. A gorgeous, deep melody reverberates throughout the woods. There's a brief flash of light, and suddenly, Ayearth is standing before us.
Ayearth stares me directly in the eye. "I didn't think half-humans could summon instruments."
Something snaps inside me and rage floods througout me. "THAT'S your first thought?!" I scream. "I saved your life, your siblings are dying, and your first thought is that humans shouldn't be able to interact with Powers?"
Ayearth looks shocked for a moment. Disgust creeps into his face and he opens his jaws to speak, but I'm not finished yet.
"You are the most disgusting, vile creature I've ever met. Humans aren't the evil creatures you think they are! So get over it."
Ayearth must see the burning fires in my eyes, as he stays silent.
"Now help us save your stupid siblings," I spit.
He lowers his head. "I'll search for Sylvia." Once he's gone, I turn to the wolves and Hazel, who look alarmed, at the very least.
"What?!" I snap. They quickly avert their gazes and Seze and Moonshadow go off to find Lunee.
Hazel kicks the ground with her foot timidly. "That was..."
"Stupid? Yeah, I know," I say.
"I was going to say impressive." I meet her gaze--it's not full of the anger and annoyance that Moonshadow and Seze likely felt.
Instead, it's understanding. Even a little thankful. It occurs to me this is probably because Hazel is human.
Soon, the others come back, Lunee and Sylvia with them. Sylvia looks heartbroken--I can hardly look at her, actually. Even a glance fills me with sorrow.
Lunee's eyes wash over all of us, pausing for a moment on Ecio. "We may have lost many today, but we have discovered something. Jaaws's Brazen Goo cannot control me. Even if we are missing Ecio, we still have the upper hand.
"It would be safest if we refrained from summoning Ecio, and rather kept him hidden," Lunee continues. Her gaze focuses on me. "Kosomi, I will be trusting Ecio with you. Seze, Moonshadow, Hazel--I want you to figure out how to defeat Jaaws for once and for all. There is a secret library, hidden deep beneath the temple where the Sword of Ravenmore was housed. It was built, long ago, by the Nocturnal. It should contain the knowledge we need."
Lunee continues to talk to the others about the underground library. Sylvia helps me weave a pack for Ecio's instrument from some vines.
"Kosomi, if you...if you ever..." Sylvia's tone sounds so defeated, so quiet. "If you ever see my son...promise me you'll try to save him."
"I promise," I say. And I mean it.
~~~
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submitted by Sybill, age ???, Ikea (January 24, 2021 - 2:05 pm)
Wow, the story's going good! Sorry I haven't posted on this thread in a while. It was mostly because I didn't see a proper reason to roleplay as Cairan while the whole fire thing and summoning Lunee thing was going on. But don't worry, I'm not dead! I'll probably rp more soon when I see a proper chance. I also may play other characters when an oppurtunity arises.
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submitted by Dusk S., age ????, ???? (March 10, 2021 - 1:59 pm)
SOREN OH MY GOSH I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE YOUUUU *Tackle Hugs back*
(September 21, 2020 - 3:08 pm)
Seze~
(November 21, 2020 - 7:01 pm)
Kosomi~~
A hundred years. That's a long time, Kosomi thought. She had always suspected Sancta was older than she looked--she'd known her for several years and yet Sancta never seemed to age. A hundred years was a little older than Kosomi had been expecting though.
"Queen Kosomi of the Homo Aquarians," Lunee said next, beckoning for her to step forwards. Kosomi felt a strange sort of vertigo as she and Sancta stepped forwards.
"Thank you for finding me," Lunee said. Lunee's gaze lingered on Sancta and Kosomi felt as if those two were having a whole conversation with their eyes, a lasting one that was hours for them but minutes to an onlooker.
Ecio curled his tail uncomfortably. "Is it really this necessary to give them this much attention?" He seemed to regret his words a moment later when Lunee's head snapped up and her eyes bored into Ecio's soul.
"Kosomi and Sancta are two very loyal followers of mine--especially Sancta, who has been by my side for a hundred years and will do so for a hundred more," Lunee said, her voice strong and commanding. "But now is not the time for fighting. I sense a looming darkness in these woods."
"Caelani just flew by," Sylvia said. "He's under the control of Jaaws, but you and I could heal him."
"No, this darkness is much deeper," Lunee said. "This must be Jaaws herself. Undoubtedly she will expect us to follow after him. The safest thing to do is stay in the temple and keep her away."
"But--my son," Sylvia protested. Kosomi could see both Ayearth and Ecio tense as she said this. The other priests seemed confused. Likely they expected Lunee to be the best and most understanding of the group.
But Kosomi was beginning to understand that Lunee was not all at all kind and sweet like the Nocturnal believed. She now saw that Lunee was someone who did not care what had to be done and what had to be lost--so long as Light was triumphant in the end.
"A son?" Lunee barked, her fur bristled.
"He's not corrupt!" Sylvia protested. "He's not like Jaaws!"
"He is now," Lunee growled. "It is better to abandon him. Come, brothers and sisters. We protect ourselves."
As they went into the temple, Kosomi could feel an anger towards Lunee. The rage grew and eventually, Kosomi broke away, needing to be alone and clear her head.
She leaned against a stone wall and sighed, sinking down to the floor. Her people needed her, and here she was, serving a Power who she had never really liked and now hated. A feeling of helplessness grew in her. Kosomi wished there was something, anything she could do that would actually help the people of Kyngdom.
"Hey," A voice said from above. Kosomi looked up to see Hazel, and she smiled. "I saw Lunee walk by, how did it go?" Hazel asked.
"She's, um...a little overrated, to be honest," Kosomi said, standing. "Don't tell anyone here I said that, though!" Kosomi smiled at Hazel.
"So, I was wondering about books on Jaaws?" Hazel explained. "I mentioned something earlier, but I don't know if you were abl--"
"Oh, yeah, I can find some!" Kosomi said, thankful for the distraction. "Come on, I'll show you a few of my favorites."
~~~~
(November 22, 2020 - 9:03 am)
Seze~
I linger in the courtyard after the Powers leave, aware of, but not really listening to, a conversation between Kosomi and Hazel Coryli(?). Is this what Lunee is like, then? I had thought--or perhaps simply hoped-- that she would be a kindhearted and friendly Power. And what was this about Sylvia's son? I hadn't noticed Ciaran missing.... and corrupt? He had seemed so sweet, at least what little I saw of him. I wish, for a moment, that I knew more about the Sideaffected Powers. Then a sentence of Hazel's sinks through my thoughts.
"I was wondering about books on Jaaws? I mentioned something earlier, but I don't know if you were abl--"
I blink, hardly believing what I'm hearing, as Kosomi interrupts.
"Yeah, I can find some! Come on, I'll show you a few of my favorites." I follow them as they walk away, trying not to seem like I'm stalking them. I'm really just interested in finding out more about the Sideaffected Powers.
~
If I made it seem like Seze didn't know something she's supposed to know..... oops.
(November 22, 2020 - 2:21 pm)
Hazel~
Hearing that Lunee is overrated gives me shivers. Do we have a right to criticize the Powers that created us?
I change the subject quickly, reminding Kosomi about the books. In the back of my head, I wonder if I'll get to speak with Lunee about Jaaws. Would she let a human into her presence? Just watching her enter the temple gave me a good mind to keep my distance.
Kosomi is eager to show me her favorite books. She takes me down the halls, which are empty, and we head deeper into the temple.
I explain what I already know: "I've been studying Jaaws for a couple of months now. I've found that she originated--in modern times--in the Labyrinth Lands. Either she'd been lying low for centuries, or she was trapped in the labyrinth for all that time. Accounts differ. I know she can hypnotize people, corrupt them, turn invisible, and...breathe fire. But what I don't know is how she came from Claaws, when she came from Claaws, WHY she came from Claaws, or how to kill her."
Kosomi thinks on this. "I'm not sure if our books say anything about her origin. What I do know--based on the texts we have here--is that all of these texts speak of her as a monster, a nightmare, living evil, 'The Shadow Behind the King,' and plenty of other names that differ depending on the culture. She has had a fairly invisible role in history, and it's unclear if the Powers even knew she existed. Some of these books have been preserved from the days of the Powers' first reign, but none of them suggest that Jaaws had anything to do with the Powers, except that she sometimes resembled Dragon--who we know as Claaws."
I furrow my brows. This is new information, and it perplexes me. "That's...mysterious."
I sort through every sliver of gossip and every rumor I've heard as a member of The Elites. I mull over everything the Resistance has told me and all the information FaFA has been willing to provide. The books here might tell me more about Jaaws's powers and her role in ancient history, but it seems that ultimately, Jaaws's secret has remained at its source: with the Powers.
"The oldest collection is this way," Kosomi says, indicating a right turn with one of her arms. Before the words have even died from her lips, she freezes, attention directed forward. I halt too, a shot of adrenaline coming out of my heart before I even know what's going on.
From down the hall, we hear a muted crash and a scream. Someone shouts, but I can't understand what they've said. It sounds like "Fear."
Behind us, I hear an exclamation of shock. I turn around to see a silvery-white wolf with her ears angled up and her fur on end. With her superior hearing, she's understood the shout. No doubt, she is hearing everything else, too--the roar, the crackle, the scramble around the blast site.
"Seze, what is it?"
"A fire!"
Simultaneously, the three of us dash down the corridor. We round the bend and see that the hallway ahead is lit by a bright, flickering, amber glow.
The heat hits us next. It's a dry, broiling wave that carries a sick, sulfuric stench. We don't need to run any farther to confirm the disaster, but we do so anyway. As we burst into a large chamber with a high ceiling supported by wooden beams, we see searing orange flames licking down from a big hole: The temple rooftop is ablaze.
(November 22, 2020 - 4:52 pm)
Caelani~
For a moment, Caelani's mind was his own, and his hatred belonged to himself, and not to Jaaws. But the moment passed as the Brazen Goo once again took hold, and his eyes once again saw Jaaws as an ally.
Aware of his failure, Caelani took care to follow Jaaw's instructions precisely as they were given. He feared what would happen to him should he fail again. He shifted back into the form of a gryphon as he hid himself in the forest surrounding the Temple. He watched as Jaaws set fire to the temple, and as she flew above the chaos she had created. When she began to circle over one area, Caelani knew she had found the Powers.
He heard one of his sisters scream.
Sylvia~
Ayearth was the first to notice the flames. "Jaaws!" Lunee snarled, unfurling her wings.
"What are you going to do?" Ecio asked.
Lunee paused, then folded her wings back at her sides. "To attack her now would be foolish," she said.
CRAK!
The ceiling above them gave way. The debris crashed at the Powers' feet. Looking up, Sylvia could see Jaaws through the newly-created hole, flying menacingly above their heads. She knew they were in iminate danger, but all she could think of was her son.
"CAIRAN!" she screamed.
"No!" Lunee hissed. "You cannot give in to her! This is what she wants you to do!"
Sylvia paid no attention to her. "Where is my son? What have you done to him?"
Jaaws laughed. It was a cold, merciless sound that froze Sylvia's blood in her veins.
"Cairan? He isn't far," she taunted. "I'm sure you could get to him easily... but I doubt you'll ever get another chance..."
Sylvia didn't take her eyes off of Jaaws even as Ecio pushed her away from the hole in the ceiling and out of Jaaws's sight. She was clinging onto those words, forgetting the untrustworthy lips that had uttered them. Her son was close. She could still save him!
THUD. Something large landed on the roof above them, and the Powers could her it pacing right above them.
"Jaaws's reminder that she's still waiting for us," Lunee hissed. "We must go. Now."
"But we can't!" Ayearth said. "She has Caelani as well, and she's watching from the top of the Temple- any way we try to escape, one of them is sure to see us."
"But if Jaaws wanted to take us out herself, she could have easily done it just then," Ecio pointed out. "Whatever she's planning for us must have to do with Caelani. If we could find out where Caelani is without being seen, then avoid him as well as Jaaws when we leave, we could escape."
"And how do you propose we do that?" Lunee snapped.
"I... I don't know."
(November 23, 2020 - 3:03 pm)
Seze~
I race after Hazel and Kosomi. "The fire is spreading, there could be people getting trapped!" I cry. "We have to help them!" I'm interrupted by a scream.
"CAIRAN!" I look towards the source: Sylvia, standing with the other Powers, now including Lunee, and looking up through the hole in the ceiling. Hazel and Kosomi are headed that way, so I don't wait to find out what they're looking at, and I run off in another direction to find anyone who needs help.
"Seze, wait!" Kosomi calls after me, but I ignore her and keep running through the temple. The fire is licking fastest along the roof, but it's also entering the corridors as well, and I narrowly avoid getting singed several times.
"Seze...." A hoarse whine comes from the entrance of a corridor I just passed. I scramble back to the place, and find a white-furred wolf, nearly buried under charred boards, some of them still burning slowly.
"Moonshadow!" I say, shocked. I dig him out with some effort, although not much since the boards crumble easily. He stands up, and almost immediately staggers against my side. "Are you hurt?" I ask him.
"Nothing other than a few bruises," he croaks. "It's mostly the smoke that's the problem." I can tell what he means. The thick smoke is starting to get to me as well.
"We need to hurry," I say. We travel back through the halls as fast as we can, Moonshadow still leaning heavily on my shoulder. However, I can tell that as the smoke gets thicker, I'm becoming less and less helpful as a prop.
"Oh, no...." Moonshadow says quietly. We stop, blocked by a roaring bonfire (total exaggeration) of collapsed material. I move away from Moonshadow and he sinks to the ground, gasping. I move from side to side, searching for a way around the fire, and even try to dig through it in one place, but I only succeed in burning all the fur off my front paws. I retreat back to Moonshadow and begin to howl and bark as loudly as I can, hoping someone can hear me and help us. Moonshadow joins in with a weak howl.
(November 25, 2020 - 10:55 am)
Sancta~
When the fires began, there was really not much I could do. I felt helpless; hopeless, watching centuries' worth of tradition, history, and effort turn into dust under the golden touch of the flames. Then, a howl rose over the fiery roar. Instantly, I sprang into action.
"Seze! Kosomi! Moonshadow!" My cry rang over the falling embers. With eyes burning white, I released a gust of magic, blowing the dancing tongues of crimson ash away from around my feet. A flicker of movement caught my eye. A tear-stained face peeking away from a bloodied and soot-stained corpse. Running purely on adrenaline and rage, I burst towards it, disregarding the watchful presence nearby. Be it friend or foe, it would be a fool either way to face the wrath burning like the sanctorium inside me.
~
I keep reviving myself and I hate it but I just can't give up on Kyngdom no matter how hard I try. ;-;
(December 8, 2020 - 4:53 am)
Let it be known that I'm going to start writing a part...
(December 13, 2020 - 3:24 pm)
Caelani~
Jaaws, Caelani could tell, was growing impatient. So was he. The Temple was burning, Sylvia had been baited with Cairan, and yet the Powers had yet to emerge. Circle the temple, Caelani, Jaaws's voice commanded. I'm going to flush the Powers out.
As Caelani began to fly through the tree in the area surrounding the temple, he saw Jaaws crash through the crumbling roof. Soon his targets would emerge, and he would do well not to miss.
Sylvia~
Sylvia heard howling not that far away and spotted Moonshadow and the priestess Seze. "Moonshadow is trapped," she said. "We should help him."
"We don't have time," Lunee snarled. "We have to find a way out, now."
"Perhaps Moonshadow could help up with that," Ayearth pointed out. Sylvia needed no more convincing. She rushed to help the two. Ecio removed the collapsed wood planks from Moonshadow's back, and Sylvia healed his wounds and the burns on Seze's paws and Ecio's claws.
"Thank you," Moonshadow mumbled.
"You can show your appreciaton by helping us escape," Lunee replied. "Caelani-"
She was interrupted by the thundering, horrifying sound of Jaaws bursting through the ceiling.
"Run," Lunee whispered, and the group did so. They ran through the maze of the Temple and into a library that had yet to be touched by the flames. There they found a human girl and a homo aquarius, a pile of books near them and concern etched on their faces.
"Seze, what's going on?" the homo aquarius asked as the human looked at the Powers in awe.
"The Temple is burning," Lunee cut in. "And Jaaws has now entered. Our time is short."
"We have to get out," Ayearth said urgently. "Perhaps you could help us."
~~~~~So... I thought the Powers could escape if Caelani was distracted by some of the other characters exiting the Temple, but since he's determined not to mess up again, he would probably use the Brazen Goo the instant he saw a group exit the Temple, but that means the other characters would fall victim to that. Unless you think he would be more careful, and in the time it would take him to realize whoever he's seeing aren't the Powers, they would already have run into the woods.
(December 14, 2020 - 6:29 pm)
Now that Hazel kind of laid out what's going on here, I'm just gonna make a big long post cause we need to get this done XD
Sylvia~
Smoke crept into the library. Their time became shorter and shorter.
"No," Lunee decided. "There is no time to think. There is no time to waste. I am going after Jaaws."
Moonshadow's eyes wided. "Lunee, you mustn't!" Sylvia cried.
"I will go after her," Lunee continued as if she hadn't heard her sister, "And you will leave the Temple. All of you."
"What about Caelani?" Ecio asked.
"I trust you all can outsmart him," Lunee fumed. Sylvia watched her sister storm away and knew there was no stopping her. Lunee would use any means to destroy her greatest enemy.
Sylvia looked around at Seze, Moonshadow, Kosomi, and Hazel, and she suddenly felt guilty. They were all innocent; she had dragged them into her business when they had no reason to be in it.
"You have to get out of here," Sylvia whispered.
"I can't leave Lunee," Moonshadow replied stoutly but nervously.
"You wan't be much help to her now," Ayearth said.
"Go. Please," Sylvia begged. "We've robbed you of so much today. Please don't let us be responsible for your lives.
Some more uneasy than others, Seze, Moonshadow, Kosomi and Hazel ran to one of the library's exits. Sylvia made a beeline for an exit far from the one Seze and the others had taken. She had no idea where the door would take her, but Sylvia found that she didn't care very much. If Jaaws were to hyptonize Sylvia and taker her for herself, at least Sylvia would be with her son.
Their chosen path lead the Powers to a winding hallway, and after a series of turns through increasingly smoky halls, Sylvia saw light. There was a way out.
Sylvia didn't think. She simply ran. Away from the fire, from Jaaws, towads Ciaran- the forest was near-
"SYLVIA!" She heard Ayearth scream her name and felt fear claw at her stomach. Of course her brothers, still thinking about the threat Caelani posed, would hesitate- and their hesitation, Sylvia realized as she vanished into the woods, would be their downfall. When Sylvia glanced backwards, Ecio and Ayearth were there no more, but Caelani was.
She ran. She knew there was nothing else to do. She failed her son. She failed her brothers. Perhaps she failed Lunee as well. But perhaps if she ran and refused to fall into Jaaws's clutches, she would not fail herself.
What was left? Perhaps Lunee would find her. They would do well to stay together now. Sylvia could only hope that Ecio and Ayearth's instruments would not come to Jaaws, but those chances were slim. And then there was Ciaran. Of all the things that Sylvia felt guilt of, the loss of her son was something she feared she might never forgive herself for. How reckless would she become to save her son? Would she ever get the opportunity to take such a chance?
Sylvia collapsed on the forest floor, and with nothing else to do, she started to sob.
Caelani~
Pride swelled in Caelani's chest as he watched Ayearth and Ecio dissolve into their instrument forms, but fear took its place as he glimpsed Sylvia running out of his sight. Just as he began to pursue her, Caelani heard Jaaws's voice in his head. Lunee is attacking. If Sylvia was as devoted to her son as Jaaws promised, she would be easier to control; a chance to hypnotize and perhaps kill Lunee was a rare one. Caelani took flight, seeking out Jaaws and Lunee to witness their battle and aid Jaaws in any way necessary.
He saw Jaaws rise from the burning Temple through the growing hole in the roof. He couldn't hear her words as Lunee spread her wings and rose to meet Jaaws, but Caelani saw very clearly when Jaaws threw Brazen Goo at Lunee's face- and he saw, with growing horror, how it dripped away from Lunee's snarled face.
"No," Caelani whispered- but there was no denying it. Lunee, Power of the Light, was immune to Jaaws's weapon of corruption.
He witnessed Jaaws's moment of weakness- her rage and confusion stunned her for a momet that Lunee wasted no time in taking advantage of. Caelani cried out as Lunee lunged and sunk her teeth into Jaaws's upper arm.
The pain that screamed throughout Jaaws's body echoed in Caelani's mind; this was weakness as Jaaws had always feared to know. This battle was lost. Caelani made no protest as Jaaws slithered into the shadows of the surrounding forest.
The next few minutes were blurred; a storm of rage and a fervent desire that Lunee would not pursue. Eventually, Whist and Ciaran appeared at Jaaws's side.
"What happened?" Whist roared. She glimpsed at the gash near Jaaws's shoulder.
"The Labrynth Lands," Jaaws panted eventually. "That is where we must go. I will hide the child there. Raise him. His powers will grow, and so will his hatred." A feeble smile ensnared Jaaws's lips. "He will learn how to take over Kyngdom beside m
(January 5, 2021 - 6:28 pm)
Kosomi~~
Seze, Moonshadow, and Hazel are all right behind me as we run through the woods. The Powers have gone completely missing--not a good sign. Sancta ran in a different direction-- I have no idea where she's gone.
"Wait, slow down," Seze says. "I think I see something through the bushes." I stop running, and I follow Seze as she apprehensively approaches a small clearing in the woods. The four of us pause behind a tree and survey the scene before us.
Two instruments lay in the dirt--a glass armonica and a stone xylophone.
"Oh no," Hazel says, clearly distraught.
"What's happened to Sylvia?" Seze asks the air. "More importantly, what about Lunee?" I can't help but roll my eyes.
"We don't have time to worry about that right now," I grumble. "Okay, I've got fins--I can summon Ayearth. But Seze and Moonshadow, you too are Howl, aren't you?"
They nod sadly.
"Fine, we'll figure out how to carry Ecio's instrument later." I step closer to Ayearth's armonica. It's pretty large, and complicated. I'm not sure how it works, so I hope some mysterious magic-stuff happens and I can use it properly.
I gently spin one of the plates and a noise comes from the instrument. Thankfully, the other glass plates spin and make music on their own. A gorgeous, deep melody reverberates throughout the woods. There's a brief flash of light, and suddenly, Ayearth is standing before us.
Ayearth stares me directly in the eye. "I didn't think half-humans could summon instruments."
Something snaps inside me and rage floods througout me. "THAT'S your first thought?!" I scream. "I saved your life, your siblings are dying, and your first thought is that humans shouldn't be able to interact with Powers?"
Ayearth looks shocked for a moment. Disgust creeps into his face and he opens his jaws to speak, but I'm not finished yet.
"You are the most disgusting, vile creature I've ever met. Humans aren't the evil creatures you think they are! So get over it."
Ayearth must see the burning fires in my eyes, as he stays silent.
"Now help us save your stupid siblings," I spit.
He lowers his head. "I'll search for Sylvia." Once he's gone, I turn to the wolves and Hazel, who look alarmed, at the very least.
"What?!" I snap. They quickly avert their gazes and Seze and Moonshadow go off to find Lunee.
Hazel kicks the ground with her foot timidly. "That was..."
"Stupid? Yeah, I know," I say.
"I was going to say impressive." I meet her gaze--it's not full of the anger and annoyance that Moonshadow and Seze likely felt.
Instead, it's understanding. Even a little thankful. It occurs to me this is probably because Hazel is human.
Soon, the others come back, Lunee and Sylvia with them. Sylvia looks heartbroken--I can hardly look at her, actually. Even a glance fills me with sorrow.
Lunee's eyes wash over all of us, pausing for a moment on Ecio. "We may have lost many today, but we have discovered something. Jaaws's Brazen Goo cannot control me. Even if we are missing Ecio, we still have the upper hand.
"It would be safest if we refrained from summoning Ecio, and rather kept him hidden," Lunee continues. Her gaze focuses on me. "Kosomi, I will be trusting Ecio with you. Seze, Moonshadow, Hazel--I want you to figure out how to defeat Jaaws for once and for all. There is a secret library, hidden deep beneath the temple where the Sword of Ravenmore was housed. It was built, long ago, by the Nocturnal. It should contain the knowledge we need."
Lunee continues to talk to the others about the underground library. Sylvia helps me weave a pack for Ecio's instrument from some vines.
"Kosomi, if you...if you ever..." Sylvia's tone sounds so defeated, so quiet. "If you ever see my son...promise me you'll try to save him."
"I promise," I say. And I mean it.
~~~
(January 24, 2021 - 2:05 pm)
Wow, the story's going good! Sorry I haven't posted on this thread in a while. It was mostly because I didn't see a proper reason to roleplay as Cairan while the whole fire thing and summoning Lunee thing was going on. But don't worry, I'm not dead! I'll probably rp more soon when I see a proper chance. I also may play other characters when an oppurtunity arises.
(March 10, 2021 - 1:59 pm)
Welcome back, Dusk! I think we've mostly finished this roleplay. We could probably keep rping as the Powers here, though.
(March 11, 2021 - 7:35 am)