It was barely past 2 in the morning when Tomas hobbled to the outskirts of the city. He had injured himself previously when acquiring the cloak and necklace. He made a left at his most frequented bar, The Sink and The Drain, walked until he came upon a decaying Great Basin bristlecone pine and walked counterclockwise around the trunk, “they said the entrance was around here”. He frantically searched for the gates that led to a passage, which was connected to the churches dormitories. As he felt around the tree base, he saw a small group of believers. They were dressed similarly, he sighed with relief and thanked himself for acquiring the up-to-date information.
“Do you believe it’s true? That the High Priestess is here today?” a petite woman with brightly reflective and silvery hair asked out loud. “We know as much as you Elaine, maybe less seeing as you after being highly favored by the Council” a young man with deeply piercing green eyes and a thin mustache snapped back. Another man standing behind Elaine harrumphed and leered at Vito, “I’ll be happy to remove that tongue of yours you insolent wretch”. Vito was visibly shaken after hearing Roderick threaten him. Roderick was a colossal and beautiful man whose face resembled that of a woman. Even with the self inflicted scar that ran from his tempo to his upper lip, Roderick was stunning. The scar actually added a hint of mystery to his beauty. Vito mistook him for a maiden when they first met.
“Now, Roddy I was only kidding. I didn’t have any breakfast before today’s ceremonies. I’m just a little cranky” Vito said laughing under his breath. “Keep laughing and I’ll make you eat it afterwards” Roderick was always one for threats and theatrics. “Enough, I was only asking” raising her voice and then lowering it as softly as a whisper. She lowered her voice not because she was nervous but because she heard something.
Tomas was searching for the entrance when Elaine tapped his shoulder. "Are you lost?" she asked worriedly. Tomas slowly turned his head and then spun around to meet her, he was surprised to see such a young woman with shining silver hair, large and reflective blue eyes, and lips as full as the moon was during the festivals of the old gods. He was swept away by her looks and drifted off in the wind because of her voice. "Are you deaf, she asked if you were lost," Roderick shouted at Tomas, who was thinking about who this woman was. And when he saw Roderick he knew that this giant of a being was a man with a similar fault, a pretty face. Not knowing what to say Tomas strenuously straightened his back and greeted the trio, "yes, I am quite lost. I've come from the old country and must have forgotten the directions to enter".
Without hesitation they gasped, "the old country" Elaine said with a radiating smile that mimicked the Great Ice. She has only read stories of the old country, a desolate wasteland because of the Great Vosha War. It used to be the center of humanity; it was still habitable but much of its economic power evaporated after the war settled. She had found memories of reading about it in the church's libraries, always finding it odd that it was never referred to by name. As Elaine was thinking about her time in the libraries across the empire, Vito stepped towards Tomas "what proof do you have"? Noticing the young man's hands radiating a earthy golden hue Tomas knew two very important things. This man before him was a geokinetic and was ready to kill him.
Reaching for his satchel Tomas pulled out parchment as he looked at Vito. The fire from Vito's torch reflected off of Tomas' eyes and he felt as if he had entered an inferno. "I bring documentation if that is what you require. I am Marco Juarez de Venia" Tomas said with honor and pride as he bowed before the befuddled group. Vito was ready to snatch the document out of his hand before Elaine snapped back to her senses and walked in front of him. She politely and slowly picked the parchment from Tomas' hands, looking into the raging flames of his eyes. Unfurling the parchment and cautiously reading every word, she would peek between it and Tomas who stood before her expressionless. "I really hope Fabio didn't mess up this time," Tomas thought to himself as he slowly pulled on the blade that rested over his wrist and forearm.
Seemingly satisfied with his identification and reasoning for being here Elaine once again smiled, "Marco, firstly welcome to the Methuselah Empire and secondly please forgive my men they are a bit voracious with strangers". Both Vito and Roderick quickly looked at Elaine with hatred for calling them her men, which didn't go unnoticed by Tomas. "I am Elaine Highwater, these two are Vito Altagracia and Roderick Arius. We are cenobites of the Void Church". Quickly pushing the blade back into its compartment, Tomas once again bowed "it is an honor to make your acquaintances". Elaine giggled, quite enjoying his display of proper etiquette, while Vito smirked. Roderick was still trying to figure out what the old country was.
"As I said earlier, I seem to have forgotten the instructions for getting inside. Can I follow you three"? Before they could discuss it among themselves, Elaine grabbed Tomas' hand and interlocked her fingers with his. Tomas was confused by the affection, so were the two men who have known her for over a decade. "Of course handsome," Elaine seemed smitten with Tomas. Because she was adept at semiotics Elaine knew Tomas lied about the old country. His robe had the golden dragon on its right sleeve meaning he should be from the East. She gently squeezed his hands feeling for any sign of his source, she could better tell if he was truthful because people from the old country didn't have sources.
Source is what the Void Church called magic. They didn't want to do away with every practice or belief, only those that they couldn't manipulate for their gain. Not feeling any source radiation from Tomas' right hand, Elaine was relieved. Tomas found Elaine's behavior oddly pleasant but he noticed her attempt at reading his source. It was something only advanced kineticists could accomplish. Thankfully, Tomas was well informed on the topic of magic. He was already worried when the group found him. But with a geokinetic and an advanced kineticist together he worried about Roderick's affinity and skill level.
Skipping merrily through a path between the decaying tree and a statue of the Void deity, which was carved into the earth, Elaine asked Tomas about his life. She wasn't making conversation, she was probing him. Tomas knew this and continued to respond with sincerity and perceived honesty. Elaine knew enough about the old country to inquire about specifics and she found Tomas' answers to be above satisfactory. Vito and Roderick walked behind them perplexed and vigilant, "if he makes any unnecessary movement I will reap his life" Roderick stated with gusto. Beside him, Vito partially focused his consciousness on the earth beneath Tomas ready to crush him at any moment.
Noticing the density of the earth fluctuate, Tomas began to breathe deeply keeping his heart rate steady. As they walked towards the statue, Tomas noticed the intricate details of the Void deity "they seriously believe this is the master deity?" he asked. As they walked closer to the monument, Tomas began to lose awareness of his senses. Noticing his discomfort Elaine slightly leaned close to his face and said "the first time is always like this". As his sight was fading Tomas heard the monument move and felt the ground shake.
“Do you believe it’s true? That the High Priestess is here today?” a petite woman with brightly reflective and silvery hair asked out loud. “We know as much as you Elaine, maybe less seeing as you after being highly favored by the Council” a young man with deeply piercing green eyes and a thin mustache snapped back. Another man standing behind Elaine harrumphed and leered at Vito, “I’ll be happy to remove that tongue of yours you insolent wretch”. Vito was visibly shaken after hearing Roderick threaten him. Roderick was a colossal and beautiful man whose face resembled that of a woman. Even with the self inflicted scar that ran from his tempo to his upper lip, Roderick was stunning. The scar actually added a hint of mystery to his beauty. Vito mistook him for a maiden when they first met.
“Now, Roddy I was only kidding. I didn’t have any breakfast before today’s ceremonies. I’m just a little cranky” Vito said laughing under his breath. “Keep laughing and I’ll make you eat it afterwards” Roderick was always one for threats and theatrics. “Enough, I was only asking” raising her voice and then lowering it as softly as a whisper. She lowered her voice not because she was nervous but because she heard something.
Tomas was searching for the entrance when Elaine tapped his shoulder. "Are you lost?" she asked worriedly. Tomas slowly turned his head and then spun around to meet her, he was surprised to see such a young woman with shining silver hair, large and reflective blue eyes, and lips as full as the moon was during the festivals of the old gods. He was swept away by her looks and drifted off in the wind because of her voice. "Are you deaf, she asked if you were lost," Roderick shouted at Tomas, who was thinking about who this woman was. And when he saw Roderick he knew that this giant of a being was a man with a similar fault, a pretty face. Not knowing what to say Tomas strenuously straightened his back and greeted the trio, "yes, I am quite lost. I've come from the old country and must have forgotten the directions to enter".
Without hesitation they gasped, "the old country" Elaine said with a radiating smile that mimicked the Great Ice. She has only read stories of the old country, a desolate wasteland because of the Great Vosha War. It used to be the center of humanity; it was still habitable but much of its economic power evaporated after the war settled. She had found memories of reading about it in the church's libraries, always finding it odd that it was never referred to by name. As Elaine was thinking about her time in the libraries across the empire, Vito stepped towards Tomas "what proof do you have"? Noticing the young man's hands radiating a earthy golden hue Tomas knew two very important things. This man before him was a geokinetic and was ready to kill him.
Reaching for his satchel Tomas pulled out parchment as he looked at Vito. The fire from Vito's torch reflected off of Tomas' eyes and he felt as if he had entered an inferno. "I bring documentation if that is what you require. I am Marco Juarez de Venia" Tomas said with honor and pride as he bowed before the befuddled group. Vito was ready to snatch the document out of his hand before Elaine snapped back to her senses and walked in front of him. She politely and slowly picked the parchment from Tomas' hands, looking into the raging flames of his eyes. Unfurling the parchment and cautiously reading every word, she would peek between it and Tomas who stood before her expressionless. "I really hope Fabio didn't mess up this time," Tomas thought to himself as he slowly pulled on the blade that rested over his wrist and forearm.
Seemingly satisfied with his identification and reasoning for being here Elaine once again smiled, "Marco, firstly welcome to the Methuselah Empire and secondly please forgive my men they are a bit voracious with strangers". Both Vito and Roderick quickly looked at Elaine with hatred for calling them her men, which didn't go unnoticed by Tomas. "I am Elaine Highwater, these two are Vito Altagracia and Roderick Arius. We are cenobites of the Void Church". Quickly pushing the blade back into its compartment, Tomas once again bowed "it is an honor to make your acquaintances". Elaine giggled, quite enjoying his display of proper etiquette, while Vito smirked. Roderick was still trying to figure out what the old country was.
"As I said earlier, I seem to have forgotten the instructions for getting inside. Can I follow you three"? Before they could discuss it among themselves, Elaine grabbed Tomas' hand and interlocked her fingers with his. Tomas was confused by the affection, so were the two men who have known her for over a decade. "Of course handsome," Elaine seemed smitten with Tomas. Because she was adept at semiotics Elaine knew Tomas lied about the old country. His robe had the golden dragon on its right sleeve meaning he should be from the East. She gently squeezed his hands feeling for any sign of his source, she could better tell if he was truthful because people from the old country didn't have sources.
Source is what the Void Church called magic. They didn't want to do away with every practice or belief, only those that they couldn't manipulate for their gain. Not feeling any source radiation from Tomas' right hand, Elaine was relieved. Tomas found Elaine's behavior oddly pleasant but he noticed her attempt at reading his source. It was something only advanced kineticists could accomplish. Thankfully, Tomas was well informed on the topic of magic. He was already worried when the group found him. But with a geokinetic and an advanced kineticist together he worried about Roderick's affinity and skill level.
Skipping merrily through a path between the decaying tree and a statue of the Void deity, which was carved into the earth, Elaine asked Tomas about his life. She wasn't making conversation, she was probing him. Tomas knew this and continued to respond with sincerity and perceived honesty. Elaine knew enough about the old country to inquire about specifics and she found Tomas' answers to be above satisfactory. Vito and Roderick walked behind them perplexed and vigilant, "if he makes any unnecessary movement I will reap his life" Roderick stated with gusto. Beside him, Vito partially focused his consciousness on the earth beneath Tomas ready to crush him at any moment.
Noticing the density of the earth fluctuate, Tomas began to breathe deeply keeping his heart rate steady. As they walked towards the statue, Tomas noticed the intricate details of the Void deity "they seriously believe this is the master deity?" he asked. As they walked closer to the monument, Tomas began to lose awareness of his senses. Noticing his discomfort Elaine slightly leaned close to his face and said "the first time is always like this". As his sight was fading Tomas heard the monument move and felt the ground shake.
