#ed1717
2
0
1
5
Annasiel
At last, my peace. I found it in her eyes.
369
Aug 13, 2015 22:40:06 GMT
August 2015
annasiel
|
Post by Annasiel on Oct 11, 2015 8:21:35 GMT
Arcanus formed himself from the shadows in the dusky under city, a body born from the cross-section of things in the corners of one's eye. He rustled his overcoat impatiently, focus darting around the forsaken cobblestone tunnels. The message from Timore still burned brightly in his chaotic mind. The tone itself had made it seem important, but the content was nothing more than another blind statement demanding nonsensical importance. Still, the fearmonger had done more than just waste his time in the past, so this little excursion wasn't certainly a complete waste of time. Just more than likely.
"Come out, come out, wherever you are," Arcanus called out to the nothingness, tapping his foot incessantly. "Some of us don't have all day to lounge around and act on impulse, you know."
|
|
inherit
10
0
Jan 17, 2019 22:10:26 GMT
4
blacknoise
I don't have kik.
273
Aug 14, 2015 15:19:56 GMT
August 2015
blacknoise
|
Post by blacknoise on Oct 11, 2015 19:51:58 GMT
"Well, isn't that dull? And here I was thinking you were the exciting type." Timore drifted in, a mass of shadows, meshing heavily with the scent of burning flesh, drifting together to form a cohesive being. The lesser diety faced Arcanus, standing off to the side like a creeping rat hungrily eying a larger prey. His fingers interlocked behind his back as he leaned in. His faceless form almost emanated a wicked grin, if such a facial expression could even be conceptually felt. A sort of clicking, hissing sound escaped the being's form as he inquired.
"How are you, Lord of Dreams?"
|
|
#ed1717
2
0
1
5
Annasiel
At last, my peace. I found it in her eyes.
369
Aug 13, 2015 22:40:06 GMT
August 2015
annasiel
|
Post by Annasiel on Oct 12, 2015 1:18:07 GMT
"As well as I can hope to be, Lord of Fear," Arcanus replied blandly. If he was affected by the mind games of his comrade, it wasn't visible underneath his concealing hood. "But this is a useless time for pleasantries. I came to your summon."
The being raised his face, two glowing orbs of light shining from the darkness of his cowl.
"Why did you message me? Does this have to do with the Midas fellow's death?"
|
|
inherit
10
0
Jan 17, 2019 22:10:26 GMT
4
blacknoise
I don't have kik.
273
Aug 14, 2015 15:19:56 GMT
August 2015
blacknoise
|
Post by blacknoise on Oct 12, 2015 3:52:34 GMT
Timore shrugged visibly, staying quiet for a few seconds. Drifting about, he considered his words before finally speaking.
"It does, and it doesn't. The Elemental and I never particularly saw 'eye to eye' on, well, anything. However, his death served to, confirm, many things for me. However, more importantly, I have something to discuss with you that pertains not to death, but to life." Timore drifted over towards one of the catacomb walls, examining it for a minute before brushing a smoking hand along the cold stones. Blood seemed to reveal itself on the wall only momentarily before fading back into oblivion. A hissing, shaking motion came over Timore in a heaving that could be described as a low chuckle, if Timore was capable of such a thing. 'Looking' back towards Arcanus, he began, his voice taking on a more patronizing tone when referring to other lesser Divines, excluding Arcanus and himself.
"Since their conception, or creation, every Firstborne has had a purpose. Azalea is to watch over the plants, Ethale is to act as Idvesta's will against Den, Arthur was to protect the temple of the Divines, our Lady Theolandra was to strike down The Bloodborne King, you are to watch over dreams, and I am to cause fear. But do you see the pattern? Azalea lost much of her strength when Sayre struck, Ethale has no use now that much of Idvesta's anger against Den has been quelled, Theolandra has finished her work and now leads a slowly crumbling kingdom, and Arthur is dead.
The Divines are weakening, this world is weakening. You and I, we are the only two whose purposes still prevail, but for how long? How long will man dream? How long will they still fear, only the nearsighted think things will stay as they are for all eternity, as you said, 'it is foolish to boast of immortality.'" Timore sighed, shaking his head and crossing his fingers. Finally getting to the point,
"I contacted you, Arcanus, because I have experienced something I never before thought possible for one such as myself. I have experienced a dream."
|
|
#ed1717
2
0
1
5
Annasiel
At last, my peace. I found it in her eyes.
369
Aug 13, 2015 22:40:06 GMT
August 2015
annasiel
|
Post by Annasiel on Oct 12, 2015 4:05:42 GMT
"Dream? You had a dream?"
In his many thousands of years on duty, Arcanus had seen many hundreds of trillions of dreams. Fantasies of closeted sadists, images of chains and crosses and wedges burned in their hazardous minds. Idle thoughts of innocent readers, lost in the vast and nameless worlds the imagination holds. Dreams of conquerors, dreams of cowards, dreams of martyrs and of liars. He had seen every way mortal thought could rearrange itself when given a paintbrush and a blank canvas, but this... this was new. Never in all of Sonder had the dream of this Firstborn passed. Timore did even sleep. In a moment, Arcanus breached the gap between himself and the fearmonger. The excitement in his tone was palpable.
Tell me everything. Every sound, taste, sight, thought, every detail you can recall, even the emotions it invoked. It is all important!
The corrupt aura of shadows around the being erupted into a kaleidoscope of shimmering colors, and his once voiced words were now bursting forth in frenzied thought.
This may be the most interesting thing I've heard in centuries...
|
|
inherit
10
0
Jan 17, 2019 22:10:26 GMT
4
blacknoise
I don't have kik.
273
Aug 14, 2015 15:19:56 GMT
August 2015
blacknoise
|
Post by blacknoise on Oct 12, 2015 13:29:16 GMT
Well now, this was exciting. Timore thought, amused by Arcanus's sudden and intense interest. It was not all too surprising, but it was amusing nonetheless. Stepping back, the being of fear shifted form once more as he bowed. He allowed himself to become more fluid, changing with the words he spoke. If he spoke of light, so he would become like light, if he spoke of death, he would become like it, both in sight and scent.
"Allow me to begin.
I shall have no note how it began, for this is one of the reasons I believe it was a dream. I am not bound by mortal coils or mortal needs. However, I can become mentally fatigued, at which times I simply stop, cease the functions of my mind, and allow my body to drift consciously while I rest. It was during this time that I experienced perhaps my first true loss of consciousness.
I found myself standing outside of the city, I felt acutely aware of something being wrong, for I did not recall leaving the city on fire. To the west in the distance, I heard the roar of a dragon, to east, I felt the mist of a great ocean as it raged over and surged forth. Looking forth towards the palace, I found myself in the court. Flames licked at the walls as The Bloodborne King sat on the throne, and I saw someone who was both myself, and not me, standing to his left, whispering in his ear. Looking again, I saw Lady Theolandra sitting upon the throne, and again one who was both myself not me stood at her left, whispering in her ear. I would look again, and there would be another monarch, some ancient whom I recognize, some whom have not yet existed at all. But with each form, the one who was and was not me stood at their left, whispering...
But no matter who sat upon the throne, the city still burned. I turned from them and sought answers elsewhere. Looking forth, I found myself in the marketplace. Before me, great beasts cried out and took wing to the sky, and I saw the bodies of every Firstborne litter the square. Among them, I saw you, Arcanus, knee deep in blood and barely holding on to a great, stained sword. You looked up at the sky, and I understood not why until I too glanced up. It was then I realize I could not feel the gaze of Den, or any Divine. Where they dead, or had they simply turned from us, I know not.
Looking again, I watched as a thousand summers and a thousand winters passed by in an instant. Years were less than seconds as all that was before me faded and died. Humanity wiped itself out, all other races starved, the beasts of the field and the predators of the forest succumbed to death. Finally, I found myself at the end of time, looking once more at the being who was both myself, and not myself. It knelt by the last breathing beast on our world, a rabbit, small, helpless, and starved to death as unfeeling, frozen snow whipped around it. The one whom took my form seemed to be comforting the being, til it's life left it, and we were alone. It looked to me, and the one who was both myself and not myself said thusly.
'This is not what we wanted.'
Then, I awoke."
Timore took final shape once more, fading back into the form of the dark, stinking shadow. He waited, desiring to see Arcanus's reaction.
|
|
#ed1717
2
0
1
5
Annasiel
At last, my peace. I found it in her eyes.
369
Aug 13, 2015 22:40:06 GMT
August 2015
annasiel
|
Post by Annasiel on Oct 12, 2015 14:14:23 GMT
The being stood calm and quiet for a moment, digesting the words that still lingered on the musty air. He shifted to the side, proud posture declining into something more reserved.
I... I see.
It was useless to dream of the eternal, Arcanus knew. Everything had an end, everything came to rest. Every action taken to prevent this decline only wasted more energy, until all settled to dust. He knew. The fault was, knowing and feeling are different beasts. One can hold a fact for all their life, and not once come to terms with it. Ironic that it took an existential crisis from fear to bring this to light.
"And this dream..."
"did it seem to be prophecy?" Was it merely born by an insecurity?
The two questions rode on each other, one spoken and the other thought.
More importantly, what do you want me to do?
"I am no omnipotent. You seem to understand the consequences of this dream well enough. The figure..."
You.
"The line of rulers..."
Inevitability, in the face of change. Even the turning of the seasons...
"Led to nothingness in the end. I cannot help."
The dreamlord's frantic stutter between forms of communication was evidence of his mental state. He knew this world was nothing more than a dream itself, yet the idea of it dying chilled him more than he would ever care to admit. It was embarrassing, losing his resolution at the image of a fantasy ending. But... if the fantasy ended, would that mean the Firstborn would end as well? Was there any solace beyond the microcosm the accursed Divines had born them into? Arcanus had no desire to find out.
|
|
inherit
10
0
Jan 17, 2019 22:10:26 GMT
4
blacknoise
I don't have kik.
273
Aug 14, 2015 15:19:56 GMT
August 2015
blacknoise
|
Post by blacknoise on Oct 12, 2015 20:41:49 GMT
Timore shook and shuddered at Arcanus's words, his body churning like a thousand rusty knives being drug along an anvil. With every sentence, Timore could be seen getting visibly more and more angry. His body reacting to his emotions, until finally he struck the wall, dispelling his building power in a blast that shook the catacombs.
For a moment, Timore's power could be momentarily experienced in its full capacity. His darkness was deep, deeper and more condensed than any evil that had ever existed before. Perhaps Arcanus would not care, or perhaps it would be a grim reminder that Timore devoured the essence of those whom he drove to death. Suddenly, it was as normal, and Timore's essence could barely be felt as he turned towards Arcanus to speak.
"I do not believe in prophecy, only planning. I do not believe in Omnipotence, only powerful foresight. And I will not accept inevitability, never. I would not come to you to lament an insecurity, I do not even experience things of the sort. Nothing has gone outside what I could have planned for in nearly four centuries. I came to you because I wish to know if you wish to break free of the chains that the Divines have bound you to. I wish to know if you want something more than your purpose.
"The Divines did not create me, I brought myself into existence and gave myself purpose. I have grown stronger than I have been intended to, but it is not enough. This dream, it must have been the essence of one of my projections. It means something, something more than inevitability. Maybe we're doomed to simply die off with this ecosystem at the death of these stars." In an instant, Timore was upon Arcanus, standing before him like so much a powerful phantom of the night. Without hesitation, he continued,
"Or maybe we're not. There will always be new worlds, when the Divines tire of this one-and they will-where will we be? Are we to simply blow out the candles, walk through the door, and lock it behind us? I will not accept that, and I have already taken steps against it. But alone I fail, otherwise I would not interfere with my own work. I do not ask you to like me, nor to agree with me. However I do ask, Lord of Dreams, will you work with me?" There was something strange in Timore's face, a seriousness that was very much unlike Timore. It was a deadly, stressed seriousness that so much put his act before the Divines at their last meeting to shame.
|
|
#ed1717
2
0
1
5
Annasiel
At last, my peace. I found it in her eyes.
369
Aug 13, 2015 22:40:06 GMT
August 2015
annasiel
|
Post by Annasiel on Oct 12, 2015 21:09:36 GMT
When Timore made the walls quake, Arcanus flinched. And when he pulled back the mask of form to reveal his true self... Arcanus felt fear. It was natural to expect such a response from the veritable expert on the emotion, but Arcanus was unused to it. Mortal terrors and nightmares did not phase him. This was something darker.
"I do not believe in prophecy, only planning. I do not believe in Omnipotence, only powerful foresight. And I will not accept inevitability, never. I would not come to you to lament an insecurity, I do not even experience things of the sort. Nothing has gone outside what I could have planned for in nearly four centuries. I came to you because I wish to know if you wish to break free of the chains that the Divines have bound you to. I wish to know if you want something more than your purpose.
"The Divines did not create me, I brought myself into existence and gave myself purpose. I have grown stronger than I have been intended to, but it is not enough. This dream, it must have been the essence of one of my projections. It means something, something more than inevitability. Maybe we're doomed to simply die off with this ecosystem at the death of these stars."
Arcanus opened his mouth to respond. This outburst was a sure sign of the insecurity Timore claimed to not feel, the Divines had their duty and did it well enough, inevitability sometimes existed, and couldn't be stopped... but none of these rebuttals could be voiced. Before he could speak, the fearmonger was right before him. It would be a lie to say that at that time, Arcanus wasn't scared for his life. He stared blankly into the faceless face of the being, ready to defend himself if need be. If he could.
"Or maybe we're not. There will always be new worlds, when the Divines tire of this one-and they will-where will we be? Are we to simply blow out the candles, walk through the door, and lock it behind us? I will not accept that, and I have already taken steps against it. But alone I fail, otherwise I would not interfere with my own work. I do not ask you to like me, nor to agree with me. However I do ask, Lord of Dreams, will you work with me?"
Seconds passed, the two Firstborn watching each other in silence, until Arcanus finally found the will to speak again.
I don't want to die.
The thought was quiet, a bordering nothingness. It wavered in the minds of the two Lords Fear and Dream, then slowly dissolved into a dull malaise.
I don't. In truth, the thought of what comes after terrifies me. But...
But to turn against the Divines, to turn against the artists of the universe itself, is heresy.
Terror and obedience visibly fought for control from behind the deity's curved hood, behind the flickering eyes of light.
"If you are asking me to find a way to solve this decay, I will help you. But I will not overthrow the Divines. I will not play any role in that agenda."
|
|
inherit
10
0
Jan 17, 2019 22:10:26 GMT
4
blacknoise
I don't have kik.
273
Aug 14, 2015 15:19:56 GMT
August 2015
blacknoise
|
Post by blacknoise on Oct 13, 2015 20:44:14 GMT
Timore floated back as the words reached out to his mind. The fear of the Lord of Dreams was intoxicating, or would have been if Timore allowed himself to feed off of it. However, unlike the 'meeting' at the temple, this was important to Timore, and he would not hurt his chances at getting help by letting his greed get the best of him.
Making a noise that seemed to cross between a breath and a snort, Timore nodded his head. Reaching back, he clasped his hands behind his back and responded,
"That's more than enough. If, or perhaps when, I strike against the ones who play with our lives like puppets, I will make sure that any aspect of failure on my part does not affect you. You are stronger than you know, Arcanus, keep that in mind." At that, Timore disappeared, his essence becoming like nothing and flowing away. He hoped the others would be convinced as easily as Arcanus. It was not that he doubted Arcanus's intelligence for working with him, for he certainly had the Lord of Dream's best intentions in mind, they aligned with Timore's best intentions for himself so well. However, he did doubt that the other lesser divines would see past their hatred for him to help him for the good of all of them.
Regardless, two down, at least three more to go.
|
|