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Athas
Mar 19, 2006 4:32:18 GMT -5
Post by Jingzu Lunaria on Mar 19, 2006 4:32:18 GMT -5
The city-state of Tyr lies before you, in all its muted glory. The multicolored ziggurat reaches for the stars, seven full bastions of stone built on seven layers of agony.
The structure was symbolic of all that was wrong with the world of Athas. It symbolized pain. It symbolized blood. It was the sign of tears, and the realm of nightmares both imagined and all too terribly real. The last great gambit of a power mad King who reigned as God in his city. That strange building, ringed with glyphs of power too ancient and terrible for any mere mortal to understand, seemed to pull at the sun’s weak light, reflecting it one last time before consuming it as its own.
Beyond Kalak’s final resting place stood the tower that served him in life, just as the ziggurat served him in death. That too rose high into the sky, a single talon cruelly placed on the pulse of the sky. It was slender, a brilliant golden structure with a black stone bridge connecting it to a smaller tower that was similar in design, though lacking in glory. It was massive, dwarfing all but the ziggurat itself, rising far above the strong Tyrian walls. Both rested in Kalak’s private city, where no other soul, save those Templar high enough, would dare to tread. Even today. His Golden City. It might as well have been a different world.
Those were the first things to catch the eye. Those were what drew gasps of awe from unwilling throats. The city itself somehow seemed secondary, as it Tyr was not important at all. As if the city was not the spirit of Tyr.
Tyr was a city whose streets had some vague patterns to them. The over all shape of the place was that of two circles joined together by a partial rectangle, swallowed by both circles respectively. Buildings rose and buildings fell. Some were massive, while others were more like leeches, small huts built onto much larger buildings. One portion of the city, a place that was unpaved and in extreme disrepair, had far less in the way of buildings.
The Urikites were approaching from the North, having swung round the city from the Eastern passage… taking the path that all roads led to. Today was not heavy in traffic, with only a few caravans making their slow progress into the city. A large and mighty thing that resembled an overgrown mix of beetle and ant, their large antennae waving lazily in the air, pulled each of those vessels of trade. The Tyr Templar, who still wore Kalak’s violet colors, stopped the merchants and checked their papers. Those familiar with their ways knew that the merchants punctuated their sentences with ceramic pieces.
The gates were open. The way was clear.
…They say that life does not truly begin until one enters Tyr.
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Athas
Mar 19, 2006 4:41:48 GMT -5
Post by Thanqol on Mar 19, 2006 4:41:48 GMT -5
I looked up at the ziggurat, hand on the hilt of my sword. It was a treasure which I often felt my hand straying to whenever I was uneasy. This entire place was a testament to a now dead rival god, one who had contested Lord Hamanu's supremacy over all of Athas. I didn't like it.
But, Hamanu wished to extend his realm over this place, to remake it in his image. I did not question Hamanu's instructions.
I glanced back at Ptelcar and Tory. I had walked ahead of the two, eager to get a glimpse of our destination. I didn't like the waste and would be eager to be out of it. I prefered an urban enviroment, where I knew my way around. There were nomads and tribesmen who would live their entire existainces out in the desert, who knew how to survive no matter what the sun's heat. I viewed the desert as more a place of transit between the city-states.
"Here we are, bless Hamanu." I said to Ptelcar. "With any luck there won't be any of those accursed undead in the city. It's disorienting facing something that I can't just brain-smoke." Ptelcar would contest that. He insisted on the proper names of my powers, so I always had to call a brain-smoker a "Mind Thrust" and so on. But I hadn't remembered and I didn't feel like contesting the point.
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Athas
Mar 19, 2006 5:17:54 GMT -5
Post by Ptelcar on Mar 19, 2006 5:17:54 GMT -5
Wrinkling his nose, Ptelcar sighed. Ptelcar loved visiting a city-state; meeting new people, races, and customs. But the smell. Between the unwashed masses and the refuse that would litter the streets... it made him cringe. And it was already strong, and they hadn't even entered yet.
Pre-occupied with the smell, Ptelcar almost missed the brain-smoker remark. Almost. "Now Aephero, I know you meant to say Mind Thrust, right?" Its not that he really cared about the correct phrasing, he just liked to rib Aephero every now and then. All the same, Ptelcar would be pleased if Aephero would pick up on a little of the psion training he showed him.
Ptalcar took his crossbow off the back of his pack and began inspecting it. Although he hoped he didn't have to use it, he wasn't naive enough to believe that people were as nice as he hoped they would be. After making sure it was ready with a bolt loaded he secured it again.
"I'm more worried about defilers then undead, much more crafty and dangerous," In response to the other part of Aephero's earlier statement. Looking up at Tory Ptelcar asks, "What do you think of Tyr? Certinly an imposing sight."
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Athas
Mar 19, 2006 5:19:35 GMT -5
Post by Nyu Bomber on Mar 19, 2006 5:19:35 GMT -5
*Tory trudged along at a steady march, keeping an ever vigilant eye out for bandits...or any situation that would call for the half-giant thrashing her thanak into someone. But, even with her dull intellect, Tory knew that no one would risk attacking them this close to the city. She rested the weapon across her shoulder and looked around. The tall buildings...those were bigger than her favorite arena back home! But...why where they the big ones, and the rest tiny? Tory was about to ask, but then Aephero had to go and mention the zombies.*
"Nothing I can't smash into the dirt. It'll take more than some bones and skin to scare me!"
*Tory tilted her head when Ptelcar addressed her. So this was Tyr. This was the first time Tory had been to this city. Would they make dolls of her here, too?*
"It's big!"
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Athas
Mar 19, 2006 5:27:26 GMT -5
Post by Thanqol on Mar 19, 2006 5:27:26 GMT -5
Yes, there it was. Right on cue. A correction about his psicraft by Ptelcar and a 'bash' comment by Tory. "Yes, yes," I sighed "I've been trying." Admittedly, half heartedly. It seemed to make no difference to the rate which I gained power if I tried or not - my mind just flowed and expanded, rather then being trained and taught. "Anyway, we haven't seen a defiler since that nutcase Tyr Templar. I just hope that the ones in here haven't followed that path." My hand strummed the hilt of my sword. If they had, then I'd damned well be ready for them though.
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Athas
Mar 19, 2006 5:30:38 GMT -5
Post by Jingzu Lunaria on Mar 19, 2006 5:30:38 GMT -5
There were no people immediately near them, none who would glance at the Half-giant for her statement and none to comment on the Templar's choice of Sorcerer-King. They still had some 60 feet or so before they would reach the gates, far out of earshot in the driving winds and sands. Their conversation was, at this point, absolutely private.
Another merchant passed through the gate. The sounds of a caravan approaching from the southeast hinted that another was hoping to take the next spot in line. The three still had ample time, however.
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Athas
Mar 19, 2006 5:52:58 GMT -5
Post by Nyu Bomber on Mar 19, 2006 5:52:58 GMT -5
*Tory returned to staring at the pretty, large buildings in the distance. They were really pretty....maybe Aephero would know...*
"Aephero...what are those two big places in the city for?"
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Athas
Mar 19, 2006 5:59:00 GMT -5
Post by Thanqol on Mar 19, 2006 5:59:00 GMT -5
"I believe the tower was the home and the ziggurat is the grave of the Heretic Sorcerer-King who once ruled here. But he is dead now, and this place is an empty vessal awaiting Hamanu's coming." I said, not looking at the city, but rather looking around for any living creature. "Well, let us seek out the Templar in this place." Without futher conversation, I hefted my pack and walked towards the city.
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Athas
Mar 19, 2006 12:43:54 GMT -5
Post by Jingzu Lunaria on Mar 19, 2006 12:43:54 GMT -5
They reach the line with little trouble, finding themselves behind three kank driven wagons. It would be some time before they reached the gates themselves, and the Templar were not doing things in twos. The caravan master in front of them sighed, rolling his eyes and cursed in Draji. The caravan master looked up and watched as a man in a dark brown cloak walks straight past him and towards the group, his face covered in thin gauze to keep the sun out, with a hood drawn over his head. Accompanying him was an Elven woman.
The man paused not three feet from the Urikites and nods. "This is them. This will do.
Hello, travelers. I'm a Draqoman, and I can serve you well as your guide. If you have business in Tyr, then it will be my business to make sure you succeed, for a small fee."
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Athas
Mar 19, 2006 13:05:52 GMT -5
Post by Eludî Uineru on Mar 19, 2006 13:05:52 GMT -5
The woman stands taller than either of the Urikite men, tall and thin at a good bit over six foot- a clear giveaway of her race. Otherwise her features are well disguised by the desert cloak she wears over her shoulders. She wears brown gloves and even her ankles, under the long cloak, show no skin, being wrapped in leather or cloth straps.
Her face and hair are likewise wrapped in a cheap shawl. Even her left eye is covered. Only her right eye shows, peering at the travellers from between the wrappings, but whatever expression the face might be wearing is well hidden. She glances up at the Half-Giant, then down at the two men, and lets out a short, mirthless laugh.
"Poor as we are: yet three things always in over-abundance."
Then she addresses the travellers, her eye apparently on the men.
"A long way from the city of Hamanu for sore feet, blisters and burns. A healer might lighten these strains."
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Athas
Mar 19, 2006 14:31:47 GMT -5
Post by Nyu Bomber on Mar 19, 2006 14:31:47 GMT -5
*Now that Tory thought about it....her feet were sore. Madam Red would have probably had Tory sent to those massaging guys already. Maybe Madam Red sent ahead and this...woman?...was it?*
"Excuse me...are you the foot massage-person sent by Madam Red?"
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Athas
Mar 19, 2006 14:49:19 GMT -5
Post by Eludî Uineru on Mar 19, 2006 14:49:19 GMT -5
The eye flashes up towards the Half-Giant.
"Do your feet hurt?"
The woman speaks a little fast, laying only a short stress on every word. For those familiar with it, the accent is clearly Elven.
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Athas
Mar 19, 2006 15:03:23 GMT -5
Post by Nyu Bomber on Mar 19, 2006 15:03:23 GMT -5
*Tory wasn't familiar with the accent. All she knew is that it would take her a second longer to think through what was said.*
"...Yes?"
*Tory delivers the response with a confused look to her blue eyes, as if her mind hadn't completely finished compreheding the question.*
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Athas
Mar 19, 2006 15:10:42 GMT -5
Post by Eludî Uineru on Mar 19, 2006 15:10:42 GMT -5
The Elf nods once. She carries a pack on her shoulder, which she shifts a little. The movement makes the cloak fall a little open at the knee, to reveal that underneath she is wearing a long skirt of erdlu feathers. The skirt rustles, but only a little.
"Ten a care, fifteen a long, twenty a chant, thirty a strong."
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Athas
Mar 19, 2006 15:23:11 GMT -5
Post by Nyu Bomber on Mar 19, 2006 15:23:11 GMT -5
*And now for Tory's spot-on interpretation of whatever "Dumb Blonde" jokes permeated the area. Her head goes to full tilt, golden braids falling off her back and perpindicular to the ground, one-by-one. Her eyes glaze over, and she resembles a big, confused child now.*
"...Huh?"
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