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RaiRai
12-01-2003, 04:28 PM
There was a light coming from the first stone arch. A traveller was coming. No one had dared to enter the monastery since the end of time. But this man was different.
Kieran assembled the monks in front of the portal and took his place at the front of the group. He held his sceptre and waited for their new arrival. The light flashed once and then was gone. A man stood, drenched in blood, dizzy from his journey and bowed his head to them. The monks bowed their heads and Kieran stepped forward to welcome the man.
“Welcome Lian.” He said bowing his majestic head. “Welcome to the stone palace of the oracles.”
The man stepped forward and handed him a parchment. He then fell to his knees and drifted to sleep. The first monk took him to the recovery temple and Kieran wandered to his chamber to examine the script.

‘I am Lian, keeper of dreams. I have journeyed from Juxana, a planet far beyond earth’s known stars. Please, take me into your care as I have no where else to be. I have information that may be of knowledge to you.’
“I know you do.” Kieran laughed, folding the parchment and placing into the chest where he kept the others.

“Lian of Juxana - keeper of dreams.” Kieran bowed to the recovering traveller. The traveller stood from his bed and bowed also.
“Kieran of the realms - master of the stone palace of the oracles.” He took Kieran’s hand and kissed it once. “I thank you for taking me into your care. I am glad you see me worthy of a place on your council.”
“You have earnt it my friend. Please, walk with me.”
Lian put on his jacket and walked alongside his master.
“I hope you realise now you have entered through the first portal, you may never return.” Kieran explained to Lian as they passed through the courtyard. The trees were green with splendour and the roses budded with a beauty Lian had never witnessed before.
“It was destined. I have no want to go back to Juxana.”
“Then the first task is over for you. Leaving home planets is the hardest thing to be done. Now it is time for your separation.”
Lian hung his head and stopped in his paces. Kieran turned back to his new disciple and sighed.
“I know it is hard, but the ties must be severed if you are to become a monk. You must not remember the people you love, you must learn to love again.”
Lian remained silent for a short while, taking in the soft air. Breathing the sweetened scent of the flowers. Reminiscing and remembering for just a short while.
“I did not love in Juxana. I loved at the crossroads of Romax.”
“Ah.” Kieran sat on the edge of the fountain and stared into the waters pure.
“Limbo. Between worlds. It seems you loved well.”
Lian sat beside his master and hung his head.
“I have not sinned. To love is not a sin. But yes, I loved her very much. She was headed for here.”
“Flik” Kieran smiled “ Earth’s keeper of nightmares. You stayed at Romax long?”
“Long enough to know what love was. Will I be refused my position? I am ready to die…”
“No need.” Kieran smiled. “She did not pass. She had more tests to run. She was sent back to earth.”
Lian smiled also and raised his head.
“Then I allow the council to perform the separation immediately, if that is your will.”
“It shall be done…”

---

The graveyard shone that night, with the light of the passing moons. The chamber door remained open and one solemn shadow crept past the ceremony.
The chants had become music to her immature ears and she couldn’t refuse a quick glance at what was taking place in the temple.
Sasha used her shirt to wipe away the dirt from the beautiful stained glass window and sat outside, watching the new initiation.
She could'nt see much from within, just peoples backs, all moving about in a circle and a man upon a stone alter, his wrists and feet bound by cord. She could see the inchanted candle being hung above his head, a rich smell and color coming from the wax.

Sasha was curious as to the rituals in palace. She had travelled through one of the lesser watched gates, the sixth stone gate, and managed to hide herself by creating a shadow about her frail form.
She looked about 17, with dark hair - a mixture of black and red, cut short and swept across her purple eyes. She licked her bottom lip as a single cherry was placed onto the man's lips, but he did not open them to eat it. She was really hungry, having not eaten since she crept into the Stone Palace. The world beyond the palace was protected by a mighty silver orb, much like a shield, over the lands, though everywhere about the palace were stone monuments and pillars, with energies flowing through them that prevented any passage through.
The only way out of the palace was through the stone gates, leading to different worlds. Since her arrival, she had learnt many things about the palace and it's 'secrets' and needed to pass a message onto a woman called 'Flik', although she knew nothing about this woman or about the travel involved in finding her. It was the last will of a maiden before she was turned to stone. She remembered the words well...
"Warn Flik...Earth...the stone...don't...don't let her try again. She won't succeed..."

Sasha rubbed her tired eyes as she heaved herself up onto the mighty stone windowsill and just leant her head back against the wall, listening to the sweet music. She would wait until the other 'Seekers' arrived before she made any plans to exit through one of the gates.

Demon with a Glass Hand
12-03-2003, 02:49 PM
"Sasha, what are you doing here?"

Sasha jumped up with a start.

"Shh. Quiet. It's me. Bradbury." The young boy with long brown hair, and muddy brown eyes, looked up at her holding something out in his hand. "Here. I found some bread ... want some."

Found. Right. He found the bread. He climbed up onto the windowsill and sat next to her, chewing on the week old bread. "What are you doing here?"

RaiRai
01-11-2004, 05:42 PM
"Hush." Sasha sneered and then continued her gaze through the dirty window. "They're trying to lure another into their ranks. So far, he's not tempted by the distractions they place upon him. But I fear it's because of their wicked spells and enchanted scents that this is so..."

Jumping down from the sill, she took the bread from the boys hand and took a large bite, chewing only a few times before swallowing. Bland and dry, but it would suffice. She had little other choice. Surviving within the area had been hard. A constant chase between the monks and the 'Seekers'. Those who had managed to escaped from the tortures of the monastary had banded together so that they may survive to see their freedom.

"If I am correct...once his initiation is complete, they'll take him to the Stone Gates. That will be our next chance..."

Demon with a Glass Hand
01-12-2004, 12:02 AM
Bradbury jumped down from the ledge, following after her. He ran up beside her and, puffing out his chest, smiled.

"Well, I'm more than ready! Just tell me what needs to be done, and I'm your man!"

He wasn't a handsome boy. Anything but handsome. His legs were long and akward, his knuckles almost dragged on the ground. His face was very close to being just a skull with flesh tightly pulled across it. If it wasn't for his large nose, his face would have very little feature to it.

But Sasha didn't seem to mind having him around. And, insecure as he was, he questioned it to himself as to why exactly that was. But, he reasoned, at least she knew why, and that should be good enough for him.

"You're welcome." He whispered, very quietly. Not that he wasn't dissapointed that she didn't say 'thank you' but happy that she actually accepted the bread in the first place.

There were very few beautiful things left in the world. Very few things that seemed precious enough to keep beside you, so you could keep it safe. Sasha was his beauty. And he would do anything to keep her close.

The smile on his face stayed there for a long time after they left the window.

batgirl
01-12-2004, 01:01 AM
"Sasha, Bradbury sorry I'm...oops" Kia mentally cursed herself for being a little less quiet than she should have been. She bent down and half-walked half-crawled over to the others; no easy feat for her 6"8 frame. "Have they started yet?"

Because of her height Kia was always looked upon as intimidating and dark. Her hair being jet black and her eyes a piercing green didn't help in changing people's minds about her. Contrary to her looks, she was anything but dark and intimidating, but she didn't let that on to her enemies.

RaiRai
01-19-2004, 03:55 PM
"It is almost complete." Sasha said, raising her dark hood over her face so the shadows hung there and her green eyes peirced through the blackness. It saddened her that the monks had changed so many good people. Turned them into nothing more than slaves. Puppets. And their ranks were strengthening. Each and every person who came to the Stone Palace had a certain power or strength that the monks wanted. But those who escaped were either turned to stone or fled into the forest, awaiting a chance to use the portal again to return home.

Sasha rubbed her forehead, walking up and down, her pace quickening with the sound of the chants. "I can't take much more of this..."

Demon with a Glass Hand
01-26-2004, 06:12 AM
"Oh ... hey, Kia. Sasha and I were just-" Bradbury turned around and watched Sasha pace back and forth.

"We were ... just ..." Seemingly lost, the words, the chanting were almost hypnotic. The resonated inside of him. Bounced off everything around him and came back to hit him in the chest.

He was queasy. It churned inside his bowels. Made him feverish. Beads of sweat dotting his forehead.

The chanting was driving him mad. The sickness it caused him was unbearable. The pain in his stomach reached excrutiating heights. He felt like he was being torn apart.

"I can't stand it." He managed through clenched teeth, his arms wrapped around his stomach.

"Please go away ..." He said to no one in particular. Perhaps the world. He just wanted it all to fall away so that the chanting might stop. If the world was ash, nothing could live, and there would be no chanting to drive him mad.

Droplets of sweat ...

Delirium ...

A inky black spot in the back of his head snapping. Once. Twice. Three times and teh world could fall away ...

He was delirious ...

****

Grand Inquistitor Davenport rolled his fingers from pinky to forefinger, listening to the soft clanking of his gauntlet. The precedings bored him. They always bored him. He was a soldier, not a monk.

Only Monks would find this 'Spiritually Gratifying' ...

He listened to the chanting. The clicking of his gauntlet. Watched the candles melt. Watched as they gave their body so that their soul, the dancing, happy flame, could live. Until the sould eventually killed the body. That was spiritual to Davenport. That was what he was in constant reminder of during the ceremonies. To the Grand Inquisitor, the thought itself, was a grand, truthful thing.

The candle, a mundane, ordinary thing, gave it's life so that the flame, regal, noble and brilliant, could survive.

It was the way of all things.