রবিবার, ১১ নভেম্বর, ২০১২

Journey to Ascension

Her journey to ascension was just beginning, Raven thought. Though Akara was not aware that it was already upon her, Raven could easily recognize the first stages Akara was just entering into. The first sign was the shifting of one's aura. Each person's aura was made up of different colors and Akara's had begun to quickly flash from one set of colors to her current set of colors. Not many were able to read auras as easily as she could but it was a skill that was acquired through years of practice. Akara did not posess the skill to read auras because if she did she would have noticed the change in her own aura. The only other change that Raven had noticed was the way that her powers were a bit out of wack. They would grow rapidly and shrink just as rapidly. It was rather amusing to be able to watch the process to be able to watch the process this time around rather than being the unexpecting victim. Ascension was a complicated process. Her body, powers and soul were changing to fit her new form, whichever form had been chosen for her ascension. Raven had become a goddess of sorts. I minor goddess of sorts to be exact. Though her powers were not as physical as others would have hoped for the powers she had been given worked just fine for her.

Akara had a lot to take care of even though as unaware as she was about the ascension it progressed without her notice. The only thing she had noticed was the shifting of her power. That was one thing she was completely aware of. She wasn't too worried about it, she thought that it was being caused by the shifting of the seasons because her power also did shift with the seasons. She was busy making preparations when the first real sign of ascension had begun to take shape. She had been signing some documents that she had putting off this task for ages and she had finally made the time to do it. As she sat there staring down at the parchment the quill she had been using burst into flame from the touch of her hand. Instinctively she dropped the quill and grabbed a nearby clay pitcher of water and poured it on the small fire to put it out. She could also feel the clay beneath her hand beginning to warm from her touch and she put it down quickly before she started another fire.

Something was definately off. She knew though that it was not because of the changing of the seasons this was something different because it was rooted deeper within her. She was changing rapidly from her powers outward and for some reason she couldn't quite put her finger on what was causing it. That would just have to wait to be dealt with. For now she would just simply have to make sure to keep from touching anything. A sigh escaped her lips and she happened to be wondering at the time if things could get any worse because she didn't need this right now. She had enough to deal with and this was just a hindrance on what she already had begun preparations for. Leaving the tent she had been in taking care of documents for the imperial scribes again another side effect of her transformation. Her footsteps were silent but in their wake were scorch marks upon the earth beneath. She had not noticed but those that had seen the scorched footprints would whisper amongst themselves as to what they thought was happening with their Empress. Soon enough she had crossed he open path between the tent she had just left and her own tent.

A change in the wind brought a new scent to her nostrils. Her nose twitched and she stopped for a moment. Something was watching her. One of her guards stopped her to ask a question and she dismissed him before he had even the chance to ask. She entered her own tent a servant woman right on her heels with a platter and a pitcher of water. Most nobles that Akara had ever met in her travels insisted on drinking wine but she liked to keep herself closer to nature. She kept herself grounded and balanced in order to maintain the power she was gaining. Before returning to her tent she had been reading about the artifact she was in search of. It was a ceremonial knife that belonged to the high priestess of a small group that had be massacred long ago. As far as her information told her that the high priestess was buried with the knife.

They were in search of the graves of these strong, brave women. In order for her to locate them it took all her skills and knowledge in divination to locate the graves but she had finally acquired the information she sought and learned a lot about the women while they were alive. Chanting brought her from her reverie as the small group of priestesses were performing a spell. It smelt as if a strong potion was also required. She wrinkled her nose at the smell and remained silent so as not to break their concentration. Warding spells and runes had been woven into the canvas of her tent along the edges. If anyone she did not know tried to enter the tent unbidden an alarm in the sound of a high pitched scream would sound.

As soon as the priestesses were finishing they gave a cup of tea to their Empress & High Priestess. Akara accepted it thankfully realizing by the aroma of the cup that they had been performing a blessing ceremony for her. Leaving Akara with her tea, the rest of the priestesses left her to her thoughts and to get some rest.

Akara had been quietly sipping on her tea when a servant entered. "M'lady everything is ready to proceed to the graves." Bowing and as quietly as the servant had come they were gone. She smiled and downed the rest of her tea. On her way out of the tent she picked up her horned mask (as seen in signature) and placed it upon her head. Once outside the tent she mounted the horse they had prepared for her and once the party was ready she followed them out to the location she had sought.

The scenery here was different from that of the Ravenlock Empire on Sharvani. She enjoyed the travel though and still found beauty in her surroundings here much like she thought the priestesses whose graves they were searching for must have seen here in their lands. As they continued on their way toward the grave site, or what they believed to be the grave site, Akara was not aware that someone had been watching her and had gotten a better look at her tent. As they continued on their way, Akara took in her surroundings. She was in the center of the group and as she let the horse follow the others she tuned herself in with the nature of this world. She grounded herself and as soon as she was done she felt more comfortable there being in tune with her surroundings.

Soon enough they came upon a clearing with what looked to her from this distance to be rocks but as they drew closer she saw that they were grave markers. Wild flowers had been planted around the gravestones and had spread halfway through the clearing. It was a beautiful sight. Once they were close enough she dismounted her horse and knelt down by one of the stones. She brushed away some rose vines and read the name engraved there. It was one of the names she remembered from her visions. Indeed they had found what she was looking for.

As Akara began brushing moss and weeds from the names on the tombstones her priestesses took up positions behind them. There was one priestess behind each stone forming an outer circle around the circle the tombstones had already created. It was odd to see graves set up the way they were but Akara knew why they were set up that way thanks to her visions. It had been a complicated ordeal trying to figure out just where these graves were and so far from her own home. Having finished revealing the names on the stones she moved to the center of the circle facing the High Priestess' grave. The name on the stone was Kahlan and the Empress bowed in reverence to the departed.

The priestesses were scattering offerings of rose seeds in hopes that some might grow here, of garlands that had been woven for these graves specifically to drape over the stones and of scented oils that smelt of lilies to appease Kahlan because Akara had noticed in her vision that Kahlan always smelt of lilies. The Priestesses joined hands outside the circle and began to dance and chant a chant of power that their Empress had also gotten from her visions and had seen these priestesses use so many times to raise power. "Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Inanna" they chanted and Akara joined in much quieter than the others.

As they danced and chanted a golden light seemed to form around them. Looking through that light was like seeing the air wavy as if a fire had been ignited and you were looking through their very flames. With each refrain of their chant the light grew becoming somewhat tangible as if a shield. What happened next was expected, Akara knew that Kahlan wouldn't make it easy to acquire what she had come here for. Kahlan's spirit appeared before Akara bowing her head in reverence. ""So it's you, I should have known Akara." Smiling Akara bowed in turn to the spirit.

"Then you know why I am here." Kahlan nodded and holding her hand over her own grave the dirt began to shift and moments later an amulet rose from the grave and floated into Kahlan's hand. "Indeed I do and I would not rust anyone else with this amulet. I know what you are working toward and you deserve it sister." They weren't actually sisters but in the sense that all priestesses of their faith were sisters in each other's eyes. The spirit held out her hand offering the amulet to Akara and with the most warming smile any had ever seen come from the Empress she accepted it thanking her friend once more. "I only wish we had lived in the same time, I know we would have been great friends." A nod answered her and the spirit began to shimmer. "You've honored me and my sisters today, thank you." and with that the spirit vanished as well as the light shield that had been raised.

Turning to the others "Our work is finished here." Placing the amulet around her neck Akara moved to her horse and so did the others in her company. With a final bow of her head toward the graves they turned and headed back toward their camp. Having more time to enjoy the scenery on their way back she let her thoughts wander. The journey to their camp was short and once they had arrived after dismounting her horse one of her guards began to tend to the stallion while she headed for her tent. Once inside she noticed a fresh pitcher of cool water and some slices of apples. She picked up a slice and devoured it in two bites and with the other hand she poured herself a glass of water. She drank it down in 4 large gulps. Satisfied for the moment she moved to her bed and fell onto it instantly relaxing closing her eyes and taking a deep breath.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/_w4EfH-CQOA/viewtopic.php

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