Mistress of Bones - RPLOG
Participants
Date
27/4/477
Log
Few dare to venture this far north; even thieves and outlaws evading the long arm of the law know better than to venture very far from the mouth of Silvervein pass. Not that there ought to be any traffic - the border has been closed for the last two decades.
Deep beneath an old manor, in the embrace of the earth, a chamber lies, dusted and polished to perfection. Eight lanterns lie in an octagon about a sarcophagus draped with a white cloth that serves as a makeshift altar, and the air is deathly still. Footsteps resound from the corridor outside, and one by one, white-robed beings file into the chamber, taking turns to remove their shoes and place them on the racks by the entrance before forming semicircles about the altar.
There are no words - everything is carried out with practiced ease, slow, orderly, and perfect in every detail. There is no disorder. All that is, perhaps, is the breathing of each cultist as they take up positions.
Amaterasu stood in the semi-circle, she was trembling a little. Maybe everyone had merit when they said that this Queen of Bones was no joke... they werent lying. Only now, standing amongst the others, shaking silently did she truely understand the seriousness which she had gotten herself into. This place, it didnt make her afraid... It didnt drive her insane... But it filled her with so much -Dread- she found it took all her willpower to put one foot in front of the other. She was here because they promised she could be cured... She was here because they promised power... That was the only thing keeping her on her feet, beneath the pure white robes that she replaced with her red ones. By this point, bowing out was inconcieveable. She needed this, and she was in too deep to quit now. She did take the time to glance about the circle? Maybe someone she knew would be there, allow her to relax, knowing she wasnt doing this alone.
Sorum slowly makes his way into the chamber, following the others example and removing his footware. His walrus moustache in fine shape, and his appearance quite dapper, he silently examines the room, trying to fall in line with those who know what they are doing, even attempting to fall in line with any breathing patterns if the chance provides itself. His eyes fall upon the rather frightened form of Amaterasu, who seems a little out of their element. He would comfort them but does not wish to break the silence, this was a gracious chance and he would not mess it up.
At last, when everything is ready, a large black bear steps through the cultists, taking up position behind the makeshift altar. Imposing in stature and figure alike, he surveys the cultists like a general inspecting the troops, then finally nods with something approaching approval.
"Lord Taltos?" a nearby cultist asks.
The bear nods, disrobing to reveal his armour beneath his outfit and handing the neatly folded clothes to the cultist. "All is in order. Let us begin the Ritual of Invocation."
As one, the cultists begin humming, a low, sepulchral tone that rings in the air, even as one by one, those amongst their number who have offerings to give step forward to place them on the altar - gifts of ivory, polished bone, mother-of-pearl, shell. There are not many of them, but what can one expect?
Sorum spends 8000 Crown to: Magnificent Pearls
Amaterasu shivered lightly, She assumed now would be the time. Stepping forward up to the altar, she produced with a trembling hand a bone, the size of a male femer, cleaned to perfection and removed of the gore. Gingerly she placed it upon the alter, her hands refusing to remain still. That done, the trembling girl simply backed off, not with haste, no that would show chaos in thos perfect world, she slowly backed off, shouting down her want to just run, run until she couldnt run anymore. By that time, she was back in line with the others, waiting for whatever hell she was jumping into.
Sorum examines the bear with interest, noting his armor and demeanor before he eyes the procession of gifts. He had read somewhere of the gifts enjoyed by this being, and he had come prepared. He moves forward upon his turn and produces a few sets of magnificent pearls, expensive, but a lovely sight. He sets them down upon the altar, before he takes a few steps backwards calmly and returns to his spot. Hopefully the gift is appreciated, but if not, he tried. Now things should prove to be more interesting.
The humming grows louder, the noise seeming to echo in upon itself until it is deafening - not to the ears, but within one's skull, one's mind. Dust swirls, rises from the floor and coalesces into two enormous skeletal forms - vaguely reptilian and formed from the remnants of several creatures - bone dragons, if one has been to Drytongue before. The usually savage creatures make no move to harm anyone present despite their sudden appearance, docilely lowering their heads before Lord Taltos.
"Pyrrha, Queen of Bones, Mistress of Death," Lord Taltos intones. "We are yours. you are ours. Call to me, and I will come. When I call, you will come. We humbly request your presence and guidance, if it so pleases you, Mistress."
At the bear's words, the echoing grows louder, more discordant. One by one, the offerings on the altar begin to age rapidly, yellowing and disintegrating to little more than dust in a matter of seconds, a pinpoint of light growing in the space between both skeletal dragons. With the wet, sucking sound that heralds a spirit's arrival from whatever place they hail from, a rend appears in the air, ivory light spilling forth from it, and a single skeletal hand appears, no bigger than a being's, clawing for purchase as the rest of the Old One's material form begins to follow.
Amaterasu watched the event with a horrid fascination, as much as she wanted to avert her eyes, she found she couldnt. Staring upon the Bone Mistress with a sense of magnificent awe and unspeakable horror, by this point only her willpower remained. Her body, long given up on trying to resist. There was a calm peace, like staring down the moment of your death, but she knew, beyond that peace, she would never remember this moment. She would never be able to look upon the Bone Queen and see her as she saw her on this day. And by whatever means the creators had, she hoped to every single one she wouldnt ever have to remember this day. Her trembling slowed to a near halt, but, in her hourglass eyes alive with fear, it wouldnt be hard to see the emotions that lie within. Then came the bone dragons, beings she didnt even know existed... She had seen so much since she came to Firmament, was it really that little?
Sorum tries to take the noise in stride, attempting to convince himself it is plesant to have ones mind jarred by sound, but he soon forgets this notion as bone dragaons appear before the group. Slightly uneased at first, as the don't seem to be making any hostile attempts on anyones life he loosens up. Bone dragons are quite powerful creatures, the power of this spirit is beginning to leave him in awe. As the offerings depart and vanish he fights a chuckle, how absolutely humorous. As Taltos ushers in a strange sucking sound, the newt stares into the light expectantly. This looks promising indeed.
