syxx
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October 2015
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Post by syxx on Oct 13, 2015 22:33:36 GMT
After leaving the Inn, Syxx followed the setting sun. The shadows of Etirath were twisting the enchanted kingdom into a new being. A city of contrast and duality. Golden hues, and bronze ambers, painted the sky and darkened alleys, and the crawl spaces, that peppered the city. Syxx walked passed it all like a clod of clay, in search for more natural beauty.
The rushing waters filled his senses with refreshment. His clothes lay in a pile, neatly folded and weighted by his beads, his sandals hid underneath the heap of linen. He himself was now concealed by the waters. His bare mess held no shame as the sacred life giver washed away the dust the grime from his travels. The monk waded to the waterfalls end. The churning white waters pounded against his tanned upper body, (the paleness of his buttocks was concealed with the torrent) as wet stones and sharp shells waged war on his feet, but Syxx remained at peace and persisted towards the falling rivers. His eyes closed as his breath was stolen, his face concealed. The water beat down on his gait, reddening his shoulders, breaking like the tide against his body. His muscles strained under the immense weight of the grand falls, yet the body is nothing without a stronger soul.
Hours passed like this. The extreme conditions were exactly what he needed. If he could find peace here, he could find peace anywhere. The monk remained a statue, awaiting Udel to contact him. The sun faded, the waters cooled, and the eyes of Udel came out to watch their devout servant.
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Post by Lev on Oct 13, 2015 22:53:32 GMT
Walking the path to the Sacred Temple had been a challenge since Arthur's death, a constant reminder of his absence from the serene atmosphere. The wind was less frequent, the birds hardly came to visit during their mourning, and the color weren't nearly as vibrant. Everything was still recovering, including Theolandra, but a job still had to be done. She still had to cleanse the waters and pray to the Divines for their ongoing blessings. With that in mind she wandered slowly down the dirt path until it turned to stone steps that crossed the churning water. If she hadn't glanced toward the waterfall she might've missed Syxx's sacrilegious intrusion altogether, but she did see him. Dumbfounded, she stood on the stones steps with a blank mind. Maybe if she blinked the sight would prove itself to be an illusion. The man wasn't familiar, and he was almost completely hidden by the waterfall.
Blink
He remained, prompting Theolandra out of her silence. "H-Hey! What is the meaning of this?!" A sudden anger overcame her. How could he just trudge through the waters of the holy place like it was some kind of bath? How had he even gotten in? Arthur should've- No. New anger bled into old, rising as she realized the stranger didn't even hear her.
There's no way he'd hear her under the crushing blasts of water unless she got closer, which meant she'd have to step into the water herself. The babbling current dared her when she looked down, tempting her to wade within but reminding her of the strict rule she'd have to break to do so. She exchanged looks between the water and the naked - she noticed - man ahead, weighing her options. The rule was more important than her temporary sin, so she descended into the water. Its chilliness made goosepimples rise up and tickle her lower back, and parted her lips with a whispy gasp.
"Y-y-you! Sir!" Waving her arms, she tried to get his attention again. When that failed, again, she got as close as she could without getting drenched. The spray of the falls clung to her hair and wet it slowly until it was drenched. "Hello! Sir!"
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syxx
Commoner
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October 2015
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Post by syxx on Oct 14, 2015 1:35:00 GMT
His eyes opened. A painted scene of the cosmos reflected their shine. The water distorted their image but their white glow was unmistakeable. They rapidly regained their earthy color and normal sheen. Syxx saw her. The unnamed maiden that haunted his most passionate dreams. The one Udel, and all of her infinite knowledge, would have seared into Syxx's third eye. No name. No knowledge. Just her face and flowing locks that stuck to her increasingly moist appearance.
For the first time ever, Syxx was clueless. Should he run? Should he stay? Should he speak? Udel never told him. Finally in a deciding resolve he took a far step towards the soaked maiden. The rocks and shells bothered the monk no more. Another step closer. He was well in front of the falls. Theolandra might have even noticed a slight decrease in wetness as the mans width shielded her from direct blasts of spray.
He gazed at her silently. The water reflected the night sky above them. Steam rolled from the water as it hit the warm night air. The vapors danced around the two people as they accended. With them, Syxx sent a silent prayer for courage.
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Post by Lev on Oct 14, 2015 19:09:31 GMT
The queen was taken aback when she saw the large man's white eyes staring back at her. Their initial emptiness was unsettling, like looking into a heavy reflection of uninvited truth. Looking into them made the queen stop in her tracks a few feet away, and she remained there as they returned to their natural shade. A seed of uncertainty, maybe fear, planted itself in Theolandra's resolve. She didn't know what or who she was dealing with like she thought.. So, for a few moments, they stood in silence under the cover of the fall's misty haze.
His silence was unsettling. Perhaps he spoke a different language? If he didn't understand she would have no way of knowing, because his blank stare gave no clues. Then he stepped forward, the motion making Theolandra's back rigid. Another step made her step backward in turn. The queen prepared herself for the possibility of a fight with the large stranger. The silence was starting to fuel her bothered demeanor. The intrusion forced her to enter the water, her dressed was saturated up to the collar, and she looked like a downtrodden sod. After wiping the water off of her face she addressed him again.
"This is holy ground. What do you think you're doing in here?"
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syxx
Commoner
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October 2015
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Post by syxx on Oct 15, 2015 1:24:25 GMT
"Praying. Why else would I come here?" His voice was rigid but not unkind. He was, wary, but honest. She must care for these waters. She must pray as well. With this resolve he spoke once more.
"I recant, guardian of the falls. I meant not to trespass , only to meditate with Udel."
His gaze fell to the swirling waters around them. His posture lowered to show subservience. "My name is Syxx, the Monk of Veritas, under the eyes of Udel I've come here. My apologies."
He remained bowed, his weight bearing him into the sinking sand beneath his feet.
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Post by Lev on Oct 15, 2015 5:13:01 GMT
"Pray.. to Udel," she repeated, dissecting the words with a confused expression. It became obvious that Syxx had never been to Etirath, and never met or heard of Theolandra before. "I'm sorry, Syxx. These waters are of Sympati's Well, sacred and untainted," she paused, "until now."
The hint of fear was slowly evolving into curiosity about the monk's origins, but that would have to wait until they'd removed themselves from the grounds. She waved him forward, urging him to follow.
"Please. We shouldn't linger in here, come with me."
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syxx
Commoner
Posts: 28
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28
October 2015
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Post by syxx on Oct 15, 2015 14:37:42 GMT
"Let me gather my things." With an obedient nod, he waded aside her to the waters shore. The night air caused steam to roll around his flesh. The water beaded and rolled over his defined body. They dripped away leaving his skin cold and shining in the celestial light.
He gathered his things and properly redressed without so much as an attempt to hide himself. The monk was unaware of Shame. It was as foreign as the stranger that lead him.
He stared at her. It awaited silently for her to lead onward.
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Post by Lev on Oct 15, 2015 23:36:12 GMT
"Let me gather my things." The man's tone was surprisingly compliant, like a child obeying an adult simply because they were. The threat of an unwarranted attack from Syxx was slowly evaporating like the mist that hovered around their bodies. No sooner did she turn to see what 'things' he'd mentioned than she abruptly turned away.
The monk was completely nude, a fact gracefully hidden from Theolandra's eyes by the height of the water and its spray. Only as they distanced themselves from the falls did she notice. Her stomach twisted itself into knots, not knowing what to make of the situation. Should she be angrier about his informal meditation? Or was mortification a more appropriate response? Syxx didn't seem to care one way or the other, his stride never breaking as he pushed through the water to get his clothes. Knowing that, Theolandra could only trudge forward in an adjacent direction while keeping her eyes focused on anything else until the monk was dressed.
As he covered himself she tried to dry her own hair and clothes, pulling herself onto land with a shower of water in her wake. Her silver dress was soaked, especially from the hips down - with no cloak to shield herself from the wind that suddenly much colder.
"Syxx," she began, wringing the tail of her dress between her hands, "How did you come to be here?"
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syxx
Commoner
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October 2015
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Post by syxx on Oct 17, 2015 5:02:34 GMT
Her small hands struggled with the burdening linen. "Cut it." He said directly. His comment merely meant to be a solution to the soaked mess. After all, it was late and the palace was a good deal away. Even the queen must admit that stars do little to dry what's been wet. He briefly wondered why she didn't remove the cloth anchor before entering, but this notion wasn't important.
"I follow the stars. Udel has given task unto me. I came here seeking her, though you imply that my devotions are trespassers. I am not above paying for indulgence though I must say, Udel doesn't teach such greed in her sermons."
He finished adjusting his garments and drew a crude, bent knife, no longer than the queens ringer, and offered to relinquish the dead weight.
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Post by Lev on Oct 20, 2015 15:50:57 GMT
The flash of the knife under moonlight drew Theolandra's attention back to Syxx, a pang of nervousness putting her cold skin on edge. She gulped, releasing the cloth and letting it hit the ground with a damp splat.
"N-no. That won't be necessary," she told him, straightening her back. "My name is Theolandra. I am the queen of this kingdom that you're in, and the guardian.." She faltered, a flash of memory stealing her words. "I am the guardian of this sanctuary. Please understand my confusion.. the public is not normally permitted to be here," she said softly.
On that note the Lady hesitantly held her arm out toward the monk, careful not to touch him, but trying to start him walking back down the path toward the palace. While they walked she kept a decent distance between them, still unsure about the foreign man's words and his intentions. Followers of Udel were common; hearing her sermons and walking their path was a different story. This man would be the first she'd ever met who could claim such a thing, and she couldn't decide if that was a good or bad sign of things to come.
"Few can ever claim what you have. Why has the Divine Dreamer sent you here?"
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syxx
Commoner
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October 2015
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Post by syxx on Oct 20, 2015 16:15:33 GMT
The Monk wasn't ignorant to empathy. He indulged the queen's urgings, sheathed his less than elegant blade, and began walking the path back to the city lights.
The queen stepped a distance behind him. Wary, no doubt, of the intruder. Slowly he realized that he was that intruder. As she probed him with questions of purpose, Syxx decided to reinvent his first impression. Turning on heel he kneeled in a patch of grass that had the fortitude to grow amongst the trodden soil. His knee immediately felt the cold dew of night soak through his plain tan robes. His head fell to the foliage.
"Forgive me for my trespassings. I acted in wisdom. I knew you would find me. I knew this place forbidden. It was the only way... Lady Theolandra, I have been sent by Udel. My forehead bears her insignia. I am the Sixth, and final Monk, born under Veritas, though this doesn't mean I have every answer to your questions. Only Udel brings light, and knowledge, my mind's eye is as dark as yours in her absence. I do not know or fully understand the role I will play here, in Etirath, but I swear on oath that my intentions are Udel's wishes."
The monk stayed kneeling. The ground thoroughly soaked his garments. He mentally noted how much more chilling this wetness felt when compared to the waterfalls pressure.
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Post by Lev on Oct 21, 2015 18:29:02 GMT
Theolandra almost back-stepped when Syxx turned on his heel to face her, her shoulders recoiling for a moment. The monk's approach to conversation was so forward it left her on edge. One moment he was changing direction and the next he was on the floor, kneeling like it was his profession. This had to be one of the strangest encounters she'd had in a long time. It became stranger still when he admitted to planning the entire meeting, knowingly defiling the sacred waters. The only way, he said. An immediate response of annoyance was warranted - as a guardian and a woman. There was no need to drench herself, but Udel had sent him here and he obediently followed her word.
"I see," was all Theolandra managed at the moment. Her pinched face frowned at his bald head for a moment before letting the irritation evaporate, mostly. In her position she could understand the compulsion to follow Divine word, but in some ways she also couldn't.. "I forgive you for the trespass over Sympati's waters, but I cannot speak for her personal judgment. Please stand," she asked softly. "I prefer your face over the top of your head."
When he stood she started to walk again. Another moment of silence passed, then she continued.
"Now that you're here - and clothed - how can I help you?"
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syxx
Commoner
Posts: 28
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October 2015
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Post by syxx on Oct 22, 2015 15:41:34 GMT
Syxx rose to full stature. A pose of broad shoulders and strong core. He reflected Theolandra's gaze. His face told nothing. In this she could see what his next words confirmed.
"I don't know..."
The monk stared blankly at the queen. Her silhouette was cast against a canvas of celestial bodies, though, somehow, she eclipsed them. The stars never looked so dim to the dream walker before. It was puzzling. A mystery for another time, Syxx, resolved.
"The destiny of the soul is always a mystery. I'm unable to predict my own future, therefore, I fear that my destiny will be realized, here, in Etirath."
For the first time ever, the monk felt an anger towards his own fate. A fleeting animosity towards the divine stipulations that came with his role. But the emotion was but for a moment. Nothing was more impacting than the visage of beauty that stood against the night sky.
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Post by Lev on Oct 22, 2015 16:44:28 GMT
"I don't know," he said. Theolandra hadn't honestly expected a long-winded answer about his objectives, or a quest log with clues; but something..
The queen mimicked the monks stoic stare, sorting things out in her own mind as she suspected he was. Speaking with Syxx was like following directions in a different language, wondering if your next turn was the right one or the one that would leave you forever lost. "I'm unable to predict my own future," he'd told her. That statement seemed fairly obvious until Theolandra remembered what surrogate Alterno had taught her. Servants of Udel could see the future of those around them. Suddenly the god-child felt uneasy under Syxx's gaze.
"Well," she began quietly, "Etirath will help you in any way it can." She started walking again. "You're not the only one struggling with destiny. Perhaps helping others here will help you meet yours, Syxx." The innocent suggestion was made as they passed under the branches of a sturdy tree, its coverage providing shade even from moonlight.
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syxx
Commoner
Posts: 28
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syxx
28
October 2015
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Post by syxx on Oct 22, 2015 17:10:06 GMT
"That is what I fear." He muttered under his breath. The leaves offered their rustling to cover up his confession. The old tree was sturdy indeed. It's gnarled trunk and branches offered a prime location to rest. Enticing any traveller that walked the path with inviting shade and brief sit. The moonlight danced between the deep scarlets and ambers. The foliage's shadows hid the frown that spread across the Monk's face. He pondered the truth in the words Theolandra had said.
He continued his pace along the trail. The architectural jungle neared closer with palace lights looming in the distance.
"What shall I do, my queen?"
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