Post by ~Mirette~ on Oct 23, 2015 3:32:29 GMT
Profile (work in progress)
Name:Ka'Zha
Age: 99
Gender: Female
Race: Naga?
Height: 6' 6"
Weight: 142lbs
Build: Slender
Basic Appearance:
Combat Credentials
Combat Style: How your character fights, if at all. Hand-to-hand, swordplay, elemental magics, bat-sh*t crazy.. That description would go here.
Abilities: Special tricks or techniques your character can perform.
Weapon(s): Sword, staff, etc.
Gear: Armour, robes, gloves, etc.
Background
Kahna Nareem, that was the name given to her at birth, a name she has long since shed many years ago. A native of the Sunderlands, Ka grew up in a nameless village some miles up the the Mense River from Shastiera. She knew the city fairly well, having visited many times as it was the best place to sell goods and pick up needed supplies. Life was simple but was far from easy, though the village had always managed to acquire what was needed to survive. Their primary source of income came from the sale of rare herbs and spices, many of which brought a premium price at market for those with the skills to find them. Like most of the children of her village, Ka was taught extensively about the many plants that grew across the Sunderlands. Where to find them, how to distinguish the useful from poisonous and potentially deadly varieties, it was important for ones personal survival as well as that of the entire village.
Boys were allowed to set out on their own to hunt by the age of 14, something Ka never found to be quite fair since she was far more knowledgeable than most. She had to wait 2 more full years before she was allowed to venture out alone to hunt. Needless to say that she was quite eager to begin upon her 16th birthday, dashing out along the banks of the Mense and beyond to demonstrate her superior skills to all the boys in the village. Try as she may, no one seemed impressed by her ability no matter how hard she tried. Frustrated, she thought on what to do that would prove once and for all that she was the best hunter in the village, perhaps the best ever! Of course there was another reason she wanted to prove herself. A certain young man by the name of Rauve Kasuul, eldest son of the village chief, was hailed as the best at the time. It was to him she wanted to prove her worth, the thought of which made her blush though she wouldn't admit to it. The dashing fellow had long caught her fancy, hers and about every other young maiden, so her determination was more so an attempt to set herself apart from the rest. She was not the most beautiful, her cooking was well.....edible, and to top it all off she had gained a reputation as being a bit of a klutz at times.
Through all the lands they crossed, there was one place that the elders had forbidden anyone to travel. To the west of the village was a long and winding valley that was known to her people as Zha'tet, commonly translated to Valley of Serpents. Village legend said that the valley was once home to a great civilization, possibly the most advanced ever to live amongst the Sunderlands. It was said that the people there used strange magics and worshiped a giant serpent as their God and protector of the valley. No one knows just what happened to the valleys inhabitants, the legends speak of a great calamity that fell across the valley and brought it to ruin. The elders said that the land was cursed, claiming the valley was guarded by spirits of the dead which inhabited bodies of the serpents they had once worshipped, that was enough to keep her people clear of Zha'tet.
Kahna had always been intrigued by the stories, wondering why no one ever ventured there. Legends and stories, it all seemed alot of superstitious nonsense to avoid the place for. Besides, one could only imagine what treasures may lie there if such a civilization had once existed. Rumor had it that they valley held one of the most rare and valuable herbs in all of the Sunderlands, Serpents Tongue, given its name for the delicate pink and purple blooms that forked upon the tips of each blossom. It was rare to find the herb, and what few that were tended to be sickly and of poor quality. Serpents Tongue was prized for its effectivness as an antidote against toxins and its ability to enhance the potency of other herbs and potions when mixed properly. To bring back a mature and healthy specimen would surely bring such recognition that any man would find her a prize, even Rauve would have to take notice. But what if the legends were true? There was only one way to be certain, besides she thought there would be no harm in just having a look for herself. If Zha'tet was as bad as the legends said, then she simply could leave it be once she had a look at the valley.
Kahna spoke of her intentions to no one as she planned her next trip carefully, packing everything she could think of for any unforseen encounters. The journey to the entrance of Zha'tet was a weeks travel across scorching sands to the west. Of course it was not uncommon for hunters to be gone for a week or more on a good hunt, but it would take more supplies than a weeks worth so she had been taking out extra supplies and hiding them out near the valley path during what looked like routine hunts to the others. It took a few months of careful organizing before she felt confident in her store of supplies before setting out to make history.
When the day of her departure for Zha'tet finally arrived, Kahna could barely contain her excitement as she dressed in her sandy white cloak and heaved her leather pack across her shoulders. Bidding her farewells to her family and friends, they in turn wished their blessings upon her hunt as with the others who were setting out on that day. Stars still dotted the sky as she set forth to the west, butterflies churning within her stomach as she tried to steady her breaths.....and then it happened. " May our ancestors bless our hunt, Kahna, and welcome us upon our safe return." Oh gods, she knew that voice well as she felt the tingle run along her spine and down her legs. It was Rauve! And he was speaking to her! She turned to reply, lips parting but where were the words?! Breath dammnit! Breath Kahna! she thought to herself as she gave an awkward smile before tripping over her own feet into a perfect face plant to the dusts below. Idiot! idiot! idiot! Ancestors take me, I'm too embarrassed to go on living! A fine time to remember to breath as well as she choked and gagged on a mouthful of dust and sand. Rauve quickly knelt down to help her up, " Are you alright, Kahna?". She looked at the handsome man, her face glowing like the coming dawn behind the dirt stuck upon her skin. "I'm," cough! gag! " Just....packed", wheeze...." heavy... tripped." Okay, so now she was the village idiot she thought, finally catching her breath. Rauve just smiled and chuckled softly, taking a rag in his hand to wipe some of the dust away. " I'm sorry, I should not laugh. Perhaps on the next hunt, you and I could travel together?" he said, still smiling as he helped Kahna to her feet. Kahna gazed with a slack jawed half smile, " O...o.Okay! yes we, I'd lov...yes...good hunting!" she sputtered. Rauve grinned and waved as he went on his own way, " Alright then, take care...." he bid as Kahna still stood dumbfounded. Since when had he taken any interest in her? Flustered, she almost thought to cancel her plans and wait for him to return. However, once he had walked out of sight, reality settled back in and she gathered her thoughts before continuing on her way. She had spent far too much effort and planning to turn back now.
Seven days was a long way to travel on foot through arid wastes and desert sands, the first three days was across a barren flats of cracked earth and stones thought to have been a lake bottom from ancient times. On the far side of the flats was where Kahna had stashed most of her extra supplies. There she had stacked three stones to mark their location, having dug a cavity out beneath the larger bottom stone to hide the goods. Food, water, medicine, she added what she could carry to her already heavy load. Still there was a fair share left in case she needed more on the trek home, she was carrying far more than she needed for any normal hunt. Kahna still had her skills and knowledge to rely upon, that alone was more valuable than many of the supplies. Still, she had no idea what lay before her within Zha'tet, it was better to arrive a little tired from the extra load than be ill prepared. Beyond the western border of the flats, the scorched earth gave way to shifting sands and blinding sun. Despite the harsh conditions, the desert actually held life that the flats did not. There was useful and unique plant life sparsely dotted along the landscape, not to mention the surprising amount of creatures that creeped and crawled about at night once the blistering sun settled and the air quickly chilled. After six days of travel, Kahna was starting to wonder if she would find the entrance to the valley. In fact, she was starting to wonder if it even existed at all, maybe the whole thing was someones amazing tales turned legend through generations of being retold.
Nearing the end of the seventh day of searching, Kahna was almost ready to give up her foolish quest for some fabled valley. Her eyes scanned across the seemingly endless sands, the heat rising from the surface making it difficult to see very far into the distance, such was the mother of mirages that often led wayward souls and foolish outsiders to false hopes and often and untimely demise. Still, in spite of her own fading hopes, Kahna felt a need to press on just a little farther. " If I don't find it by sundown, I'll make camp and start for home in the morning." She told herself, trudging along through the sand. At least her pack had gotten somewhat lighter, but that only meant she had gone through a fair amount of precious supplies to make it this far. Suddenly in the distance she saw something that seemed out of place, something that resembled a pair of columns rising above the sand and pointing toward the blue sky above. A grin curling acrossed slightly parched lips, she felt a renewed strength as she grew closer to the objects. At first they appeared rather small, like a pair of palm trunks, but with each passing step she began to realize just how massive the two stone pillars were. When she finally stood before the two artifacts, they must have been at least thirty feet around the base and a hundred yards tall. Each one was hewn out of dark grey stone streaked with onyx, both curved into the sky to points like a pair of giant fangs she dared think as she reached out to feel of the smooth surface. From bottom to top were strange markings etched into the surface, still clear though somewhat worn from the wear of time. As for what it meant was anyones guess, she certainly could not decipher any of the symbols thought it looked like some sort of text. Between the two fang spires she could see stones partially covered by the desert sands. Her doubts quickly fled now that the path lay before her very eyes, proof that there was at least some truth behind legends as she felt a chill run across her body which caused her to shudder.
Kahna stood in awe for a time, her mind was now racing as she tried to gather her courage and push her fears aside. It was creepy, that much she couldn't deny, but still.....snake guardians, curses and lost spirits? Surely not? Right? If there were some sort of ruins, they were probably just old and crumbly so they didn't want anyone to come here and get hurt or killed. Yeah, that was probably it. That made far better sense she reasoned as she took the first steps into the unknown. The sun was beginning to set over the horizon so she pressed on, hoping to get into the edge of the valley before nightfall. It quickly became evident that she was steadily turning downhill as the path continued straight ahead, the sands on either side of her began sloping inward toward the walkway until she could not see above the dunes on either side. Just how far down do I have to go? Am I'm headed straight for the abyss? Gah! quit thinking like that Kahna! She shook her head and stayed the course that was before her, noticing the sand was slowly giving way to large stones that broke the surface like teeth. The paving stones were now clearly laid out beneath her feet and the sky was now a much thinner line overhead as walls of stone began closing in from either side until there was little sand that remained. The path eventually began to level and widen, leading Kahna to stand before two more fang spires at the mouth of what looked like more of a chasm than a valley. as she looked back to the sky, it was still very much daylight overhead, but it was clear the sun was fading. It felt as though she were gazing out from withn the jagged mouth of some stone beast, quite unnerving to say the least but she had made it this far, so she set up camp for the night.
So far there had been no sign of any serpents or anything else for that matter. She felt alone, which perhaps was a good thing. Searching the area, she managed to scrounge up a few twisted branches and twigs from dead shrubs that were scattered about the stone walls, their roots latched into crevices within the stones with branches reaching straight upward as though they had been starved for the light of the sun. Setting aside her pack, she felt relief from the load as she rummaged around and took out a tightly wound ball of dried grass which she shredded beneath the branches. Using a piece of flint and the back edge of a dagger she drew from its sheath, she threw some well placed sparks and carefully tended the smoldering grass into a small flame. The fire wasn't much, but it brought enough comfort from the darkness and allowed her time to ponder the choices she now faced. The fire was calming as she focused on the flames, the crackling branches as they were slowly consumed, the smell of the smoke. After a good chew on a piece of dried fish and a deep drink of water, a yawn escaped her lips as she rest her back against one of the stone walls. Allowing her eyes to close a moment was all it took her tired body to drift asleep for some needed rest.
Eyes slowly cracking open, Kahna yawned and looked to the fire which was now little more than a pile of ashes and a faint waft of smoke. It was still dark? She thought, looking around and then back up to the sky above. No, it was morning judging by the light, though that didn't help much considering how far below she was. With a yawn she reached over to her pack and fumbled around until she pulled out a torched which had been crafted from an animal bone and tightly bound scraps of cloth soaked in a waxy substance. Leaning over upon her hands and knees, she blew across the remains of her fire seeking out the smallest of embers which she drops a small amount of dried grass upon to kindle a flame. Lighting the torch, she wedged it gently within a crevice while she hoisted her pack across her back and gazed upon the choice of the day. "Simple enough, forward or back. So what's it gonna be Kahna? Who am I doing this for? Rauve has already taken notice of you....Isn't that what you wanted all along?" She smile at the thought, though still swears she feels grit in her teeth from that day. Looking to her right, she sees the path into Zha'tet, and to her left the path back home. " I can always turn back after today! Lets go find that serpents tongue!" She told herself with a nod of confidence, taking the torch back in hand and pressing into the shadows.
At least there seemed no way she could get lost in this place, the path just continued one way and never seemed to change. The air felt heavy the farther she went into the chasm, small beads of sweat forming upon the tip of her nose as she observed her surroundings. She felt of the stone walls, feeling moisture upon their cool surface, clear sign that there was water to be found somewhere. Farther still, shrubs similar to those at the entrance were starting to appear, filled with life and tipped with frail green leaves. Suddenly she found herself feeling a little more relaxed as the path appeared to be gradually widening. The hours seemed to pass quickly as the sun rose overhead, peeking across the edges of the chasms great maw and bringing light to the floor below, allowing Kahna to see clearly without the aid of her torch. Half a days travel, searching behind stone and above, still no serpents tongue to be had. Still it had become quite beautiful as the light revealed splotches of green patterned like a natural mosaic across the walls, the place was absolutely teeming with life as she began to see insects scurrying about and heard the sound of birds singing over head as they darted and dove about so carefree. It was seeming more and more like some hidden paradise lost in time rather than some accursed valley of ghosts. The path twisted and turned, still only going one direction as she walked now light footed in her steps, at least until she turned one more corner into a startling surprise. "Eeeeeeeeep!" she shrieked, echoing through the cavern and stirring the birds above into a momentary frenzy. Before her was a giant mouth gaped open, sharp fangs of stone lining the top and bottom of the path. She had almost started to run before she realized that it was another carving, this time of a giant serpents head with fangs and mouth wide open. It was a gate, but whats more was what was on the other side.
Beyond the gate of fangs the narrow chasm opened into what could indeed be described as a valley, but it was even more. Words could scarce describe such a paradise in the midst of the Sunderlands, hidden amidst desert and sand and protected from the outside world by sheer cliffs that seemed almost part of the sky as she found herself far deeper than she had at first imagined. There was an abundance of fresh water trickling from cracks in the stone walls and collecting in crafted pools along the outskirts and flowing in tiny streams along channels that appear to flow towards the heart of the valley. Green was everywhere, trees she had no name for and flowers in bloom. It was like she was gazing upon some unknown land, well actually she was when she thought about it. "Just imagine what I might find, what I might bring back with me. And when I prove its safe, we can all come back.....who knows, some of us might even live here!" She muttered to herself, trembling with excitement over her discovery. Her fears and doubts had all but fled after seeing such a marvel before her. Kahna tried to squeeze between the fangs that held her back from destiny, but to no avail. It was a gate afterall, so she began searching the walls and surroundings for any lever or the like that might open it.
To the right she noticed a gap in the stone floor where it looked like something use to be. Kneeling down she reached carefully inside and felt another square opening filled with dirt. "That has to be it!" she said, her eyes darting around to see if there was anything she could use. Finding nothing, she removed her pack and dug out her torch, hoping the bone handle would be enough. The bone was not enough to fill the hole, so she scraped around for small stones to wedge around it. When it felt secure enough, Kahna grabbed the head of the torch and began to pull with all her might. "Come on! You can do this Kahna!!!" she grunted, cheering herself on as she felt a faint click and then another. Her makeshift handle was a bit short but it seemed to be doing something if she didn't pop a vein first. Click! Click! Click! Click!......CLANG! The loud noise from the back side of the gate rattled the floor as the handle suddenly gave way to send Kahna firmly back upon her ass with a thud! "Owy! ouch ouch! That's gonna bruise! " she grumbled, scampering to her feet as she stood before the gate, waiting for it to open but nothing was happening. " Oh come on!" she huffed, kicking at one of the fangs. Punch, shake, it didn't matter it wasn't moving. Her hopes dashed by some broken relic, but it couldn't be helped. Still it didn't make her feel any better about the situation. Kahna sighed, slumping limp against one of the fangs and plopped her forehead against it. Click! Clang! Water suddenly began gushing from three small holes on the other side of the gate as the bottom fangs began to lower into the floor as hidden gears squeaked and ground against one another from ages of disuse and neglect. It was quite impressive that they had apparently developed a system to use the water for such things, just what else had they managed to craft she wondered. "All in due time!" Kahna grinned as she picked up her torch and tucked it away, strapping on her pack again. As she passed beyond the ancient gateway, she couldn't help but wonder how long it has been since another person had set foot within this forgotten world.
So again Kahna had to admit that there was plenty to back up the legends of the village elders, but at least there were no serpents around that she had seen; at least none beyond the stone carvings that seemed to be everywhere she looked. Whoever had lived here certainly had a thing for snakes and probably did worship them as gods, that much was obvious. Just to be on the safe side, Kahna found a small tree from which to fashion a suitable staff for snake bashing; as long as she didn't do anything foolish, she was sure she could handle a poisonous snake or three if the need arose. There was so much to see and explore, she could hardly decide where to begin. The streets weaved a spiders web across the expanse of the valley floor, creeping vines and untamed brush and branches reaching out on either side of the paths before her. As best she could tell, it seemed like she was within the remnants of a once vast marketplace; now only a shadow of its former glory, reclaimed by natures hand. Kahna cautiously examined some of the more unique specimens along the paths, taking a branch or leaf here and there to carry back home for study.
Though it was easy to get lost in the excitement, she still remained focused on her main goal; to find the Serpents Tongue and return home. But still, with ample fresh water and plenty of food, there was no longer a need to rush anything. As she meandered through the overgrowth, Kahna noticed the trickling flow of the water was all channeling towards the heart of the valley. Perhaps if she followed the flow it would lead her to what she sought, it was not as though she knew where she was going anyway. Following the path of the stream, the growth began to grow more dense the deeper she traveled within; saplings and brush giving way to deeply rooted trees with vines hanging thick like ropes off their branches. For a time it was becoming a chore to take more than two or three steps before having to untangle herself from a vines grasp, whats more the sun was starting to dip past the edge of the valley cliffs. Still, she pressed her way through the jungle, feeling she was nearing something grand ahead as she could see what appeared a break in the growth.
Picking and clawing her way through a final veil of heavy vines, Kahna heard the sound of rushing water as her eyes widened in amazement at what she saw. Before her stood a massive tree which overshadowed all around it. Its gnarled roots gripped like iron hooks, splitting the stone floors that could not withstand its ancient strength, holding it steadfast to hover above a giant pit within the ground below. All of the trickling streams of water she had been following, converged into a rushing stream that fell into the shadowed abyss. Stranger still were the carvings that surrounded the base of the ancient tree, some thirty or more statues of beings upon great thrones, many of which appeared more serpent than human; heads and or tails of snakes, human bodies with scales, all of them women as best she could tell. The images were quite disturbing, leaving Kahna with a rather unsettling feeling that made her skin crawl as she skirted quietly past the statues; it almost felt like they would suddenly spring to life were she to make too much noise. And maybe it was just her imagination starting to run wild in this creepy place, but now she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched at every turn.
Once she had made her way around the tree, she noticed a wide gap which had been cut back from its roots. Stairs were carved into the stone leading down to god knows where, as far as she was concerned the gods could keep that knowledge for themselves. " No way I'm getting any closer to that place...", she muttered beneath her breath and turned to head further into Zha'tet, wanting to distance herself from the tree and those statues before nightfall. The growth did not look so bad beyond the ancient tree, but light was quickly fading. Kahna searched until she found a small aclove along the cliff wall in which to camp, keeping her back set against the stone as she gazed out in near complete darkness; there would be no comforting fire this night, only the faint glimmer of stars and the passing moon would briefly shed light across the valley. Try as she may, sleep would not come as she listened to rustling amidst the untamed growth. Is there someone there? Or perhaps it was simply vermin scurrying about under the cover of darkness, scavenging for their next meal? Whatever the case, she remained silent with one palm resting against the leather wrappings of her daggers handle; eyes peering up into the sky, awaiting the first signs of the coming dawn.
It had been a long and exhausting night, but at last the first streaks of fire beamed across the sky to shed a faint light over Zha'tet. With the rising sun, the rustling among the brush also faded into silence, soon giving way to the songs of birds as they soared off their perches to greet the day. Feeling somewhat more at ease, Kahna took advantage of the peace and allowed a brief nap, giving time for the sun to shed its warmth back across the valley. When her eyes at last cracked open once more, she noticed the noon day sun was beaming down upon her. Kahna cursed beneath her breath as she hurried to her feet, she had not intended to waste so much precious daylight, there was no more time for dawdling. Setting forth, she pressed through the valley with a sense of urgency to find what she had came for; if in fact there were any Serpents Tongue to be found at all.
Kahna soon found herself beyond the jungle like border, discovering yet another wondrous sight now lay before her eyes. The growth covered stone gave way to what could only be described as a courtyard which strecthed from wall to wall of the valley. Within the cliffs were openings, doorways marked by stone columns and steps that appeared to have suffered little in the passage of time. Beneath her feet were smooth paving stones of polished marble, each one engraved with more of the unfamiliar runes that seemed to be found on most all of the carvings she had found. In the middle of the courtyard were more great columns, inlaid with delicately crafted serpents of onyx and ivory; their bodies intertwined to the tops to where they branched out, one on either side to gaze down upon those who would walk beneath them. Beyond the columns she could see nothing but the cliffs, and at the far reaches stood a great tower spiraling toward the heavens to crest near the height of the great cliffs themselves. There was no doubt in Kahna's mind that she now stood within the heart of Zha'tet!
Beyond the stories from the elders, there was really nothing else that Kahna knew of Zha'tet or its people and the serpents that they worshiped. Since no one ever dared come to this ancient place, how did they know that any danger remained? Of course it was possible that others may have traveled to the ruins in the past. Seeing as there appeared only one way in or out of the valley and the thoughts of being trapped in such a foreboding and mysterious place was probably enough to deter many from venturing too far; frightened by the eerie carvings and statues or halted by the fangs of the gate she had managed to open. Still, despite her own better judgement, Kahna found herself driven forward through the labyrinth of columns and walls that lay before the ivory spire. As she at last reached her destination, she gazed in awe at the tower and thought of what time and skill it must have taken to create such a temple. It was the tallest man made structure Kahna had ever seen in her life, if in fact man created such a wonder. The entire thing was one immense serpent, it's body coiled with its tail jutting toward the heavens, its head resting with mouth gaped wide as though ready to strike and consume any who would dare stand before its majesty. Its eyes shone of giant rubies, the light refracting through the massive gems as though to be glowing, or was it the light? So taken by awe over the wondrous relic was Kahna that she hardly noticed the sun had already began its descent beyond the cliffs; her steps drawing closer to the visage of this ancient deity lost to the pages of history.
As she stood before the shrine, something caught Kahna's eyes that caused her to gasp, her gaze snapped to elegantly carved planters that lined the borders of the temple and beyond. " Serpents Tongue!", her voice squeaked with excitement as she ran towards the planters, sweet wafts of fragrance arose from the forked blossoms to greet her nostrils with an intoxicating scent like no other. With trembling hands, Kahna reached out to drag her fingertips across the lush green foilage and delicate blooms; absolutely perfect and flawless to a fault. As she observed the sheer art of the plants beauty, Kahna suddenly found herself jarred from her entrancement by a blood curdling "HISSSSSSSSSSS!!!". Jumping back from the flowers, she lost her footing and fell to the stone floor, scrambling for the staff she had so carelessly dropped aside. It was not as though it would help her, she had never heard such before from any snake. It was like the rasping of sands through a howling storm, even the ground beneath her seemed to quake in fear. The staff brought little comfort as she scurried back upon her feet, eyes darting to and fro across the expanse of the valley. In the distance she could see the great tree towering above the growth she had passed through to get here. Birds fled its branches to the safety of the sky above while the rest of the cavern fell into eerie silence.
Kahna's heart pounded in her chest like the beating of a drum, knowing that she was virtually trapped were there some great horror awakened in the distance. " Oh Gods, please let it be a storm....." she told herself in a nervous whisper, her feet backing her slowly backwards into the mouth of the serpents temple. No way in the hells would she set a single step forward now; if she were going to be eaten, it was going to have to come to her. Beyond the threshold of the gaping maw of the temple, the girl screamed as she felt something settle upon her shoulder. "aaaaaAAAAHHHH!!! Ancestors take me! I'm done for!" she shrieked, her legs buckling weakly as the last of her courage felt spent.
Clenching her eyes shut, she braced herself for the worst only to feel a mix of relief and utter stupidity and embarrassment as a voice spoke from behind. "My apologies child, I meant not to startle you."
Startle? she thought, more like frighten to death. Clasping her hands to her chest, she was surprised her heart had not shot clean out of her as it still pounded. Opening her eyes as she caught her breath, Kahna looked across her shoulder to see a tall and pale woman clad in a black silken robe trimmed in white. She was lean with an almost ashen skin, to the point her thin body appearered frail and malnourished; silver flowing hair almost grazing across her sandled feet. Just who was this woman, and what was she doing in this place? She certainly was no traveler, and it had only now sank in to Kahna's brain that this place was clean. Of course she had been foolish not to have noticed before that someone still lived here. Not so much as a leaf lay upon the stone courtyard, and the serpents tongue with the planters about the temple were so well cared for. The woman reached out a hand for Kahna, lithe digits grasping her own to help the young girl back to her feet. The touch of the womans fingers felt somewhat strange, almost cold and yet still quite strong despite their delicate appearance.
" My name is Samia. Please, follow me.... You must be exhausted after your journey. I will be happy to speak with you as I am sure you have many questions, but first a drink and perhaps some nourishment would do you well." The woman offered a smile and bid Kahna follow, disappearing behind long silken draperies into the inner sanctum of the shrine. Kahna hesitated briefly, it was only natural since she had not a clue who this woman was beyond her name. After weighing her options, Kahna elected to follow Samia into the temple. The offer of food and drink was far better than the alternative; besides, she was not quite ready to meet whatever made that horrible hiss only moments ago.
Beyond the silk veil, Kahna felt as though she had stepped back into an ancient past that was untouched by the passage of time. The sanctum was lit by golden oil lamps, illuminating a great mural than spanned across the wall along with more of the strange writing. Much of the mural she not sure what to make of, however she was certain that some of it at least was a depiction of the history of Zha'tet.
Relations:
Here you may list any relationships you have formed with other characters. Friends, family, lovers, enemies, etc.
(work in progress)
Name:Ka'Zha
Age: 99
Gender: Female
Race: Naga?
Height: 6' 6"
Weight: 142lbs
Build: Slender
Basic Appearance:
Combat Credentials
Combat Style: How your character fights, if at all. Hand-to-hand, swordplay, elemental magics, bat-sh*t crazy.. That description would go here.
Abilities: Special tricks or techniques your character can perform.
Weapon(s): Sword, staff, etc.
Gear: Armour, robes, gloves, etc.
Background
Kahna Nareem, that was the name given to her at birth, a name she has long since shed many years ago. A native of the Sunderlands, Ka grew up in a nameless village some miles up the the Mense River from Shastiera. She knew the city fairly well, having visited many times as it was the best place to sell goods and pick up needed supplies. Life was simple but was far from easy, though the village had always managed to acquire what was needed to survive. Their primary source of income came from the sale of rare herbs and spices, many of which brought a premium price at market for those with the skills to find them. Like most of the children of her village, Ka was taught extensively about the many plants that grew across the Sunderlands. Where to find them, how to distinguish the useful from poisonous and potentially deadly varieties, it was important for ones personal survival as well as that of the entire village.
Boys were allowed to set out on their own to hunt by the age of 14, something Ka never found to be quite fair since she was far more knowledgeable than most. She had to wait 2 more full years before she was allowed to venture out alone to hunt. Needless to say that she was quite eager to begin upon her 16th birthday, dashing out along the banks of the Mense and beyond to demonstrate her superior skills to all the boys in the village. Try as she may, no one seemed impressed by her ability no matter how hard she tried. Frustrated, she thought on what to do that would prove once and for all that she was the best hunter in the village, perhaps the best ever! Of course there was another reason she wanted to prove herself. A certain young man by the name of Rauve Kasuul, eldest son of the village chief, was hailed as the best at the time. It was to him she wanted to prove her worth, the thought of which made her blush though she wouldn't admit to it. The dashing fellow had long caught her fancy, hers and about every other young maiden, so her determination was more so an attempt to set herself apart from the rest. She was not the most beautiful, her cooking was well.....edible, and to top it all off she had gained a reputation as being a bit of a klutz at times.
Through all the lands they crossed, there was one place that the elders had forbidden anyone to travel. To the west of the village was a long and winding valley that was known to her people as Zha'tet, commonly translated to Valley of Serpents. Village legend said that the valley was once home to a great civilization, possibly the most advanced ever to live amongst the Sunderlands. It was said that the people there used strange magics and worshiped a giant serpent as their God and protector of the valley. No one knows just what happened to the valleys inhabitants, the legends speak of a great calamity that fell across the valley and brought it to ruin. The elders said that the land was cursed, claiming the valley was guarded by spirits of the dead which inhabited bodies of the serpents they had once worshipped, that was enough to keep her people clear of Zha'tet.
Kahna had always been intrigued by the stories, wondering why no one ever ventured there. Legends and stories, it all seemed alot of superstitious nonsense to avoid the place for. Besides, one could only imagine what treasures may lie there if such a civilization had once existed. Rumor had it that they valley held one of the most rare and valuable herbs in all of the Sunderlands, Serpents Tongue, given its name for the delicate pink and purple blooms that forked upon the tips of each blossom. It was rare to find the herb, and what few that were tended to be sickly and of poor quality. Serpents Tongue was prized for its effectivness as an antidote against toxins and its ability to enhance the potency of other herbs and potions when mixed properly. To bring back a mature and healthy specimen would surely bring such recognition that any man would find her a prize, even Rauve would have to take notice. But what if the legends were true? There was only one way to be certain, besides she thought there would be no harm in just having a look for herself. If Zha'tet was as bad as the legends said, then she simply could leave it be once she had a look at the valley.
Kahna spoke of her intentions to no one as she planned her next trip carefully, packing everything she could think of for any unforseen encounters. The journey to the entrance of Zha'tet was a weeks travel across scorching sands to the west. Of course it was not uncommon for hunters to be gone for a week or more on a good hunt, but it would take more supplies than a weeks worth so she had been taking out extra supplies and hiding them out near the valley path during what looked like routine hunts to the others. It took a few months of careful organizing before she felt confident in her store of supplies before setting out to make history.
When the day of her departure for Zha'tet finally arrived, Kahna could barely contain her excitement as she dressed in her sandy white cloak and heaved her leather pack across her shoulders. Bidding her farewells to her family and friends, they in turn wished their blessings upon her hunt as with the others who were setting out on that day. Stars still dotted the sky as she set forth to the west, butterflies churning within her stomach as she tried to steady her breaths.....and then it happened. " May our ancestors bless our hunt, Kahna, and welcome us upon our safe return." Oh gods, she knew that voice well as she felt the tingle run along her spine and down her legs. It was Rauve! And he was speaking to her! She turned to reply, lips parting but where were the words?! Breath dammnit! Breath Kahna! she thought to herself as she gave an awkward smile before tripping over her own feet into a perfect face plant to the dusts below. Idiot! idiot! idiot! Ancestors take me, I'm too embarrassed to go on living! A fine time to remember to breath as well as she choked and gagged on a mouthful of dust and sand. Rauve quickly knelt down to help her up, " Are you alright, Kahna?". She looked at the handsome man, her face glowing like the coming dawn behind the dirt stuck upon her skin. "I'm," cough! gag! " Just....packed", wheeze...." heavy... tripped." Okay, so now she was the village idiot she thought, finally catching her breath. Rauve just smiled and chuckled softly, taking a rag in his hand to wipe some of the dust away. " I'm sorry, I should not laugh. Perhaps on the next hunt, you and I could travel together?" he said, still smiling as he helped Kahna to her feet. Kahna gazed with a slack jawed half smile, " O...o.Okay! yes we, I'd lov...yes...good hunting!" she sputtered. Rauve grinned and waved as he went on his own way, " Alright then, take care...." he bid as Kahna still stood dumbfounded. Since when had he taken any interest in her? Flustered, she almost thought to cancel her plans and wait for him to return. However, once he had walked out of sight, reality settled back in and she gathered her thoughts before continuing on her way. She had spent far too much effort and planning to turn back now.
Seven days was a long way to travel on foot through arid wastes and desert sands, the first three days was across a barren flats of cracked earth and stones thought to have been a lake bottom from ancient times. On the far side of the flats was where Kahna had stashed most of her extra supplies. There she had stacked three stones to mark their location, having dug a cavity out beneath the larger bottom stone to hide the goods. Food, water, medicine, she added what she could carry to her already heavy load. Still there was a fair share left in case she needed more on the trek home, she was carrying far more than she needed for any normal hunt. Kahna still had her skills and knowledge to rely upon, that alone was more valuable than many of the supplies. Still, she had no idea what lay before her within Zha'tet, it was better to arrive a little tired from the extra load than be ill prepared. Beyond the western border of the flats, the scorched earth gave way to shifting sands and blinding sun. Despite the harsh conditions, the desert actually held life that the flats did not. There was useful and unique plant life sparsely dotted along the landscape, not to mention the surprising amount of creatures that creeped and crawled about at night once the blistering sun settled and the air quickly chilled. After six days of travel, Kahna was starting to wonder if she would find the entrance to the valley. In fact, she was starting to wonder if it even existed at all, maybe the whole thing was someones amazing tales turned legend through generations of being retold.
Nearing the end of the seventh day of searching, Kahna was almost ready to give up her foolish quest for some fabled valley. Her eyes scanned across the seemingly endless sands, the heat rising from the surface making it difficult to see very far into the distance, such was the mother of mirages that often led wayward souls and foolish outsiders to false hopes and often and untimely demise. Still, in spite of her own fading hopes, Kahna felt a need to press on just a little farther. " If I don't find it by sundown, I'll make camp and start for home in the morning." She told herself, trudging along through the sand. At least her pack had gotten somewhat lighter, but that only meant she had gone through a fair amount of precious supplies to make it this far. Suddenly in the distance she saw something that seemed out of place, something that resembled a pair of columns rising above the sand and pointing toward the blue sky above. A grin curling acrossed slightly parched lips, she felt a renewed strength as she grew closer to the objects. At first they appeared rather small, like a pair of palm trunks, but with each passing step she began to realize just how massive the two stone pillars were. When she finally stood before the two artifacts, they must have been at least thirty feet around the base and a hundred yards tall. Each one was hewn out of dark grey stone streaked with onyx, both curved into the sky to points like a pair of giant fangs she dared think as she reached out to feel of the smooth surface. From bottom to top were strange markings etched into the surface, still clear though somewhat worn from the wear of time. As for what it meant was anyones guess, she certainly could not decipher any of the symbols thought it looked like some sort of text. Between the two fang spires she could see stones partially covered by the desert sands. Her doubts quickly fled now that the path lay before her very eyes, proof that there was at least some truth behind legends as she felt a chill run across her body which caused her to shudder.
Kahna stood in awe for a time, her mind was now racing as she tried to gather her courage and push her fears aside. It was creepy, that much she couldn't deny, but still.....snake guardians, curses and lost spirits? Surely not? Right? If there were some sort of ruins, they were probably just old and crumbly so they didn't want anyone to come here and get hurt or killed. Yeah, that was probably it. That made far better sense she reasoned as she took the first steps into the unknown. The sun was beginning to set over the horizon so she pressed on, hoping to get into the edge of the valley before nightfall. It quickly became evident that she was steadily turning downhill as the path continued straight ahead, the sands on either side of her began sloping inward toward the walkway until she could not see above the dunes on either side. Just how far down do I have to go? Am I'm headed straight for the abyss? Gah! quit thinking like that Kahna! She shook her head and stayed the course that was before her, noticing the sand was slowly giving way to large stones that broke the surface like teeth. The paving stones were now clearly laid out beneath her feet and the sky was now a much thinner line overhead as walls of stone began closing in from either side until there was little sand that remained. The path eventually began to level and widen, leading Kahna to stand before two more fang spires at the mouth of what looked like more of a chasm than a valley. as she looked back to the sky, it was still very much daylight overhead, but it was clear the sun was fading. It felt as though she were gazing out from withn the jagged mouth of some stone beast, quite unnerving to say the least but she had made it this far, so she set up camp for the night.
So far there had been no sign of any serpents or anything else for that matter. She felt alone, which perhaps was a good thing. Searching the area, she managed to scrounge up a few twisted branches and twigs from dead shrubs that were scattered about the stone walls, their roots latched into crevices within the stones with branches reaching straight upward as though they had been starved for the light of the sun. Setting aside her pack, she felt relief from the load as she rummaged around and took out a tightly wound ball of dried grass which she shredded beneath the branches. Using a piece of flint and the back edge of a dagger she drew from its sheath, she threw some well placed sparks and carefully tended the smoldering grass into a small flame. The fire wasn't much, but it brought enough comfort from the darkness and allowed her time to ponder the choices she now faced. The fire was calming as she focused on the flames, the crackling branches as they were slowly consumed, the smell of the smoke. After a good chew on a piece of dried fish and a deep drink of water, a yawn escaped her lips as she rest her back against one of the stone walls. Allowing her eyes to close a moment was all it took her tired body to drift asleep for some needed rest.
Eyes slowly cracking open, Kahna yawned and looked to the fire which was now little more than a pile of ashes and a faint waft of smoke. It was still dark? She thought, looking around and then back up to the sky above. No, it was morning judging by the light, though that didn't help much considering how far below she was. With a yawn she reached over to her pack and fumbled around until she pulled out a torched which had been crafted from an animal bone and tightly bound scraps of cloth soaked in a waxy substance. Leaning over upon her hands and knees, she blew across the remains of her fire seeking out the smallest of embers which she drops a small amount of dried grass upon to kindle a flame. Lighting the torch, she wedged it gently within a crevice while she hoisted her pack across her back and gazed upon the choice of the day. "Simple enough, forward or back. So what's it gonna be Kahna? Who am I doing this for? Rauve has already taken notice of you....Isn't that what you wanted all along?" She smile at the thought, though still swears she feels grit in her teeth from that day. Looking to her right, she sees the path into Zha'tet, and to her left the path back home. " I can always turn back after today! Lets go find that serpents tongue!" She told herself with a nod of confidence, taking the torch back in hand and pressing into the shadows.
At least there seemed no way she could get lost in this place, the path just continued one way and never seemed to change. The air felt heavy the farther she went into the chasm, small beads of sweat forming upon the tip of her nose as she observed her surroundings. She felt of the stone walls, feeling moisture upon their cool surface, clear sign that there was water to be found somewhere. Farther still, shrubs similar to those at the entrance were starting to appear, filled with life and tipped with frail green leaves. Suddenly she found herself feeling a little more relaxed as the path appeared to be gradually widening. The hours seemed to pass quickly as the sun rose overhead, peeking across the edges of the chasms great maw and bringing light to the floor below, allowing Kahna to see clearly without the aid of her torch. Half a days travel, searching behind stone and above, still no serpents tongue to be had. Still it had become quite beautiful as the light revealed splotches of green patterned like a natural mosaic across the walls, the place was absolutely teeming with life as she began to see insects scurrying about and heard the sound of birds singing over head as they darted and dove about so carefree. It was seeming more and more like some hidden paradise lost in time rather than some accursed valley of ghosts. The path twisted and turned, still only going one direction as she walked now light footed in her steps, at least until she turned one more corner into a startling surprise. "Eeeeeeeeep!" she shrieked, echoing through the cavern and stirring the birds above into a momentary frenzy. Before her was a giant mouth gaped open, sharp fangs of stone lining the top and bottom of the path. She had almost started to run before she realized that it was another carving, this time of a giant serpents head with fangs and mouth wide open. It was a gate, but whats more was what was on the other side.
Beyond the gate of fangs the narrow chasm opened into what could indeed be described as a valley, but it was even more. Words could scarce describe such a paradise in the midst of the Sunderlands, hidden amidst desert and sand and protected from the outside world by sheer cliffs that seemed almost part of the sky as she found herself far deeper than she had at first imagined. There was an abundance of fresh water trickling from cracks in the stone walls and collecting in crafted pools along the outskirts and flowing in tiny streams along channels that appear to flow towards the heart of the valley. Green was everywhere, trees she had no name for and flowers in bloom. It was like she was gazing upon some unknown land, well actually she was when she thought about it. "Just imagine what I might find, what I might bring back with me. And when I prove its safe, we can all come back.....who knows, some of us might even live here!" She muttered to herself, trembling with excitement over her discovery. Her fears and doubts had all but fled after seeing such a marvel before her. Kahna tried to squeeze between the fangs that held her back from destiny, but to no avail. It was a gate afterall, so she began searching the walls and surroundings for any lever or the like that might open it.
To the right she noticed a gap in the stone floor where it looked like something use to be. Kneeling down she reached carefully inside and felt another square opening filled with dirt. "That has to be it!" she said, her eyes darting around to see if there was anything she could use. Finding nothing, she removed her pack and dug out her torch, hoping the bone handle would be enough. The bone was not enough to fill the hole, so she scraped around for small stones to wedge around it. When it felt secure enough, Kahna grabbed the head of the torch and began to pull with all her might. "Come on! You can do this Kahna!!!" she grunted, cheering herself on as she felt a faint click and then another. Her makeshift handle was a bit short but it seemed to be doing something if she didn't pop a vein first. Click! Click! Click! Click!......CLANG! The loud noise from the back side of the gate rattled the floor as the handle suddenly gave way to send Kahna firmly back upon her ass with a thud! "Owy! ouch ouch! That's gonna bruise! " she grumbled, scampering to her feet as she stood before the gate, waiting for it to open but nothing was happening. " Oh come on!" she huffed, kicking at one of the fangs. Punch, shake, it didn't matter it wasn't moving. Her hopes dashed by some broken relic, but it couldn't be helped. Still it didn't make her feel any better about the situation. Kahna sighed, slumping limp against one of the fangs and plopped her forehead against it. Click! Clang! Water suddenly began gushing from three small holes on the other side of the gate as the bottom fangs began to lower into the floor as hidden gears squeaked and ground against one another from ages of disuse and neglect. It was quite impressive that they had apparently developed a system to use the water for such things, just what else had they managed to craft she wondered. "All in due time!" Kahna grinned as she picked up her torch and tucked it away, strapping on her pack again. As she passed beyond the ancient gateway, she couldn't help but wonder how long it has been since another person had set foot within this forgotten world.
So again Kahna had to admit that there was plenty to back up the legends of the village elders, but at least there were no serpents around that she had seen; at least none beyond the stone carvings that seemed to be everywhere she looked. Whoever had lived here certainly had a thing for snakes and probably did worship them as gods, that much was obvious. Just to be on the safe side, Kahna found a small tree from which to fashion a suitable staff for snake bashing; as long as she didn't do anything foolish, she was sure she could handle a poisonous snake or three if the need arose. There was so much to see and explore, she could hardly decide where to begin. The streets weaved a spiders web across the expanse of the valley floor, creeping vines and untamed brush and branches reaching out on either side of the paths before her. As best she could tell, it seemed like she was within the remnants of a once vast marketplace; now only a shadow of its former glory, reclaimed by natures hand. Kahna cautiously examined some of the more unique specimens along the paths, taking a branch or leaf here and there to carry back home for study.
Though it was easy to get lost in the excitement, she still remained focused on her main goal; to find the Serpents Tongue and return home. But still, with ample fresh water and plenty of food, there was no longer a need to rush anything. As she meandered through the overgrowth, Kahna noticed the trickling flow of the water was all channeling towards the heart of the valley. Perhaps if she followed the flow it would lead her to what she sought, it was not as though she knew where she was going anyway. Following the path of the stream, the growth began to grow more dense the deeper she traveled within; saplings and brush giving way to deeply rooted trees with vines hanging thick like ropes off their branches. For a time it was becoming a chore to take more than two or three steps before having to untangle herself from a vines grasp, whats more the sun was starting to dip past the edge of the valley cliffs. Still, she pressed her way through the jungle, feeling she was nearing something grand ahead as she could see what appeared a break in the growth.
Picking and clawing her way through a final veil of heavy vines, Kahna heard the sound of rushing water as her eyes widened in amazement at what she saw. Before her stood a massive tree which overshadowed all around it. Its gnarled roots gripped like iron hooks, splitting the stone floors that could not withstand its ancient strength, holding it steadfast to hover above a giant pit within the ground below. All of the trickling streams of water she had been following, converged into a rushing stream that fell into the shadowed abyss. Stranger still were the carvings that surrounded the base of the ancient tree, some thirty or more statues of beings upon great thrones, many of which appeared more serpent than human; heads and or tails of snakes, human bodies with scales, all of them women as best she could tell. The images were quite disturbing, leaving Kahna with a rather unsettling feeling that made her skin crawl as she skirted quietly past the statues; it almost felt like they would suddenly spring to life were she to make too much noise. And maybe it was just her imagination starting to run wild in this creepy place, but now she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched at every turn.
Once she had made her way around the tree, she noticed a wide gap which had been cut back from its roots. Stairs were carved into the stone leading down to god knows where, as far as she was concerned the gods could keep that knowledge for themselves. " No way I'm getting any closer to that place...", she muttered beneath her breath and turned to head further into Zha'tet, wanting to distance herself from the tree and those statues before nightfall. The growth did not look so bad beyond the ancient tree, but light was quickly fading. Kahna searched until she found a small aclove along the cliff wall in which to camp, keeping her back set against the stone as she gazed out in near complete darkness; there would be no comforting fire this night, only the faint glimmer of stars and the passing moon would briefly shed light across the valley. Try as she may, sleep would not come as she listened to rustling amidst the untamed growth. Is there someone there? Or perhaps it was simply vermin scurrying about under the cover of darkness, scavenging for their next meal? Whatever the case, she remained silent with one palm resting against the leather wrappings of her daggers handle; eyes peering up into the sky, awaiting the first signs of the coming dawn.
It had been a long and exhausting night, but at last the first streaks of fire beamed across the sky to shed a faint light over Zha'tet. With the rising sun, the rustling among the brush also faded into silence, soon giving way to the songs of birds as they soared off their perches to greet the day. Feeling somewhat more at ease, Kahna took advantage of the peace and allowed a brief nap, giving time for the sun to shed its warmth back across the valley. When her eyes at last cracked open once more, she noticed the noon day sun was beaming down upon her. Kahna cursed beneath her breath as she hurried to her feet, she had not intended to waste so much precious daylight, there was no more time for dawdling. Setting forth, she pressed through the valley with a sense of urgency to find what she had came for; if in fact there were any Serpents Tongue to be found at all.
Kahna soon found herself beyond the jungle like border, discovering yet another wondrous sight now lay before her eyes. The growth covered stone gave way to what could only be described as a courtyard which strecthed from wall to wall of the valley. Within the cliffs were openings, doorways marked by stone columns and steps that appeared to have suffered little in the passage of time. Beneath her feet were smooth paving stones of polished marble, each one engraved with more of the unfamiliar runes that seemed to be found on most all of the carvings she had found. In the middle of the courtyard were more great columns, inlaid with delicately crafted serpents of onyx and ivory; their bodies intertwined to the tops to where they branched out, one on either side to gaze down upon those who would walk beneath them. Beyond the columns she could see nothing but the cliffs, and at the far reaches stood a great tower spiraling toward the heavens to crest near the height of the great cliffs themselves. There was no doubt in Kahna's mind that she now stood within the heart of Zha'tet!
Beyond the stories from the elders, there was really nothing else that Kahna knew of Zha'tet or its people and the serpents that they worshiped. Since no one ever dared come to this ancient place, how did they know that any danger remained? Of course it was possible that others may have traveled to the ruins in the past. Seeing as there appeared only one way in or out of the valley and the thoughts of being trapped in such a foreboding and mysterious place was probably enough to deter many from venturing too far; frightened by the eerie carvings and statues or halted by the fangs of the gate she had managed to open. Still, despite her own better judgement, Kahna found herself driven forward through the labyrinth of columns and walls that lay before the ivory spire. As she at last reached her destination, she gazed in awe at the tower and thought of what time and skill it must have taken to create such a temple. It was the tallest man made structure Kahna had ever seen in her life, if in fact man created such a wonder. The entire thing was one immense serpent, it's body coiled with its tail jutting toward the heavens, its head resting with mouth gaped wide as though ready to strike and consume any who would dare stand before its majesty. Its eyes shone of giant rubies, the light refracting through the massive gems as though to be glowing, or was it the light? So taken by awe over the wondrous relic was Kahna that she hardly noticed the sun had already began its descent beyond the cliffs; her steps drawing closer to the visage of this ancient deity lost to the pages of history.
As she stood before the shrine, something caught Kahna's eyes that caused her to gasp, her gaze snapped to elegantly carved planters that lined the borders of the temple and beyond. " Serpents Tongue!", her voice squeaked with excitement as she ran towards the planters, sweet wafts of fragrance arose from the forked blossoms to greet her nostrils with an intoxicating scent like no other. With trembling hands, Kahna reached out to drag her fingertips across the lush green foilage and delicate blooms; absolutely perfect and flawless to a fault. As she observed the sheer art of the plants beauty, Kahna suddenly found herself jarred from her entrancement by a blood curdling "HISSSSSSSSSSS!!!". Jumping back from the flowers, she lost her footing and fell to the stone floor, scrambling for the staff she had so carelessly dropped aside. It was not as though it would help her, she had never heard such before from any snake. It was like the rasping of sands through a howling storm, even the ground beneath her seemed to quake in fear. The staff brought little comfort as she scurried back upon her feet, eyes darting to and fro across the expanse of the valley. In the distance she could see the great tree towering above the growth she had passed through to get here. Birds fled its branches to the safety of the sky above while the rest of the cavern fell into eerie silence.
Kahna's heart pounded in her chest like the beating of a drum, knowing that she was virtually trapped were there some great horror awakened in the distance. " Oh Gods, please let it be a storm....." she told herself in a nervous whisper, her feet backing her slowly backwards into the mouth of the serpents temple. No way in the hells would she set a single step forward now; if she were going to be eaten, it was going to have to come to her. Beyond the threshold of the gaping maw of the temple, the girl screamed as she felt something settle upon her shoulder. "aaaaaAAAAHHHH!!! Ancestors take me! I'm done for!" she shrieked, her legs buckling weakly as the last of her courage felt spent.
Clenching her eyes shut, she braced herself for the worst only to feel a mix of relief and utter stupidity and embarrassment as a voice spoke from behind. "My apologies child, I meant not to startle you."
Startle? she thought, more like frighten to death. Clasping her hands to her chest, she was surprised her heart had not shot clean out of her as it still pounded. Opening her eyes as she caught her breath, Kahna looked across her shoulder to see a tall and pale woman clad in a black silken robe trimmed in white. She was lean with an almost ashen skin, to the point her thin body appearered frail and malnourished; silver flowing hair almost grazing across her sandled feet. Just who was this woman, and what was she doing in this place? She certainly was no traveler, and it had only now sank in to Kahna's brain that this place was clean. Of course she had been foolish not to have noticed before that someone still lived here. Not so much as a leaf lay upon the stone courtyard, and the serpents tongue with the planters about the temple were so well cared for. The woman reached out a hand for Kahna, lithe digits grasping her own to help the young girl back to her feet. The touch of the womans fingers felt somewhat strange, almost cold and yet still quite strong despite their delicate appearance.
" My name is Samia. Please, follow me.... You must be exhausted after your journey. I will be happy to speak with you as I am sure you have many questions, but first a drink and perhaps some nourishment would do you well." The woman offered a smile and bid Kahna follow, disappearing behind long silken draperies into the inner sanctum of the shrine. Kahna hesitated briefly, it was only natural since she had not a clue who this woman was beyond her name. After weighing her options, Kahna elected to follow Samia into the temple. The offer of food and drink was far better than the alternative; besides, she was not quite ready to meet whatever made that horrible hiss only moments ago.
Beyond the silk veil, Kahna felt as though she had stepped back into an ancient past that was untouched by the passage of time. The sanctum was lit by golden oil lamps, illuminating a great mural than spanned across the wall along with more of the strange writing. Much of the mural she not sure what to make of, however she was certain that some of it at least was a depiction of the history of Zha'tet.
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