Spirits of the Earth

Essyrn => Seraj Isa => Topic started by: visualspice on January 24, 2016, 11:01:40 AM

Title: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: visualspice on January 24, 2016, 11:01:40 AM
OOC: This thread is open by requests! If interested, please PM me! This thread involves one of my newer characters, Mirajah (http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=18830.msg239493#msg239493)
Not open by request anymore, got a taker :D




The deserts of Essyrn are a beast in themselves. Strong winds shape the changing sandy mountains, sculpting rock and people in it's path. Though the sacred and mysterious Seraj Isa appears to be another beast all together. Unphased by winds, her landscape barely changes, only on the outskirts where black sands mingle with white, causing a grey area of dunes that moves in and out above the glass surface like slow  moving ocean tides.

In this area, most avoid, believing phantoms roam and ghosts from unspeakable pasts. Others actually make a journey here to throw the bones of the dead, believing this is meant to be man's final resting place where the land of the Gods meet the land of men.

So bones are not uncommong as the grey sands rise and wane, but other strange things offer many juicy tales of the great times of the past. Some say an Oasis, and a river that bore the Niafi once snaked through here, feeding the former civilization before the Gods claimed and made teh sands into glass. It's anyone's guess what lay beneath the thick, glass surface, for all that can be seen is black. But anywho tried to adventure here had never returned.

It is for this very reason the shadows watched curiously as something... alive approached, moving past an old, rotting ship jutting out from the sands, and endless skulls and bones. The few desert animals that dwelled here were equally curious, as one such lizard let this strange creature get a bit too close before scurrying up a hill side.

The sun was setting, casting the world in a deep, wine colored glow. Shadows stretched limitlessly, painting and layering upon one another as a subtle northern breeze carried through. Though everything looked as the desert should, an odd figure seemed to jut out from the grey sands, much in the shape of a dune- but evidently something more, for the moment the setting sun crept deeper behind it, golden rose light glittered across the pointed top- of what appeared to be a half buried pyramid.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: Lion on March 02, 2016, 10:47:06 PM
It was to be his reprieve.  At least from the dust of horrid sands that cut and abraded his flesh wherever he went.  The Moraki desert was unforgiving, and so were the mercenary bands that hunted him down.  Atalier had made his way as far south as he could, projecting storms to cover his passing, and making the tracks beneath his footsteps vanish with every step.

He would follow the dust until the sand turned to glass beneath the soft soles of his shoes.  Cloth wrappings sealed the spaces between the ends of his trousers and his ankles to keep out the sand.  Wind rippled in the loosened ends of his clothes, and whipped his poncho back.  The hood was drawn up, and face cloth kept the dust from his mouth and nose.  Every step grew heavier and it was as if he would be drawn down into the very dunes themselves.

This storm was not his doing, and he wanted only to get out of it before it began its torrent.  Dregs of sand shifted down a dune as his feet carried up and over it, striding swiftly past the skulls that littered the surrounding area.  An ancient ship was buried here, and though every step carried him further and further into the inevitability of death, a part of him welcomed it.

Atalier could only hope for something to remove this curse – something to relieve him of his burden.  The calm before the storm that raged inside him never lasted long.

He trudged along, racing to get out of these dunes before night fell.  There something protruded from the dunes, too triangular to be one of them.  Atalier pulled the rag from his face just a few centimeters, viewing the structure and finding a fragment broken alongside the crumbling structure.  It was black the closer the walked to it, viewing the opening more closely upon approach.

There could be anything inside, but it could potentially provide a safe harbor, at least for the night.  Atalier dug his hands into the sand and parted them, piles of it billowing down as he crawled into the inlet, holding his breath and staying within the brief light of the setting sun.

He could see very little, and used his hands to feel along cold stone.  It was smooth, like glass.  Perhaps it was glass.  He couldn't tell and pushed himself deeper into the corridor, feeling along until he could no longer feel the wind.  He breathed out soft breaths, reaching into his clothes and putting down a piece of flint.  He took brush that had blown into the opening and piled them together, striking the tinder and flint until a fire took.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: visualspice on March 05, 2016, 04:35:52 PM
The pyramid was as old as it was grand, a massive structure which was deep and housed a labyrinth of narrow halls. And it was cold, the only heat this new trespasser would feel was that from the licking flames. The air also grew more stale, damp even as he would continue inward, and if he made it in far enough, he'd come across a small chamber with a heavy, locked gold door. And across it were writings of some sort, probably a forgotten language, while the majority of the decore in the rest of the room were of the stars.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: Lion on March 08, 2016, 12:24:38 AM
There was a noise that caught his attention.  Was it the wind?  He couldn't be sure.  Atalier rolled up from where he laid and saw little more than shadows beyond the limits of his flames.  He had no desire to venture further into this tomb.  There were dregs of dead things that lingered here.

But curiosity was getting the better of him.  Something moved in the dark and he stood.  Grains of sand were pulled from the crevices of the walls and floor, drawn to him like a lodestone.  He wrapped the fire he'd made within a rotating orb of sand, keeping bands of it moving as the light flickered and soon remained steady.

Soon standing before the door, he pulled the bands of the sand orb wider, spreading the light of the fire and examing the locked door.  Atalier held his breath, listening to the noises behind him.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: visualspice on March 11, 2016, 12:57:21 PM
Although the sound was faint, it was certainly there. And she who made the sound approached with equal caution. Eyes lingered on the light, which burned like a small Sun. And quietly, she moved to step out from the shadows and towards the light, eyes glowing gold set within a body of translucent darkness that seemed to sparkle, even more so, in the torch light. But it wasn't just the light that drew her, but the magic sands that spiraled around it. And slowly, the strange woman reached out to touch it.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: Lion on March 11, 2016, 03:15:26 PM
Touching it spooked Atalier and he turned swiftly to the spectral hand that dared disturb his fire.  He saw the ghost and for the longest second it felt as if he couldn't breathe.  Atalier stepped back, feeling the sands grow wilder against his palm, threatening to put out the flame.  "What are you?" he breathed out when his lungs were starting to hurt.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: visualspice on March 11, 2016, 04:41:05 PM
At his words, the woman jerked her hand back and floated back a few paces into shadow, where her body blended in while her eyes still glowed.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: Lion on March 11, 2016, 07:16:35 PM
"No.  No, don't go," Atalier murmured and let out a slow steady breath, easing the sand orb and the fire fluxing within.  "Can you speak?  What is your name?"
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: visualspice on March 12, 2016, 06:57:38 AM
She didn't go. She didn't plan on going, but she did plan on studying this new creature in her home. Tilting her head to one side, she remained where she was and watched him.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: Lion on March 15, 2016, 05:01:20 PM
Atalier almost reached out for the spectre but stayed his hand.  He tuned back to the door, finding it changed a bit, dregs of sand pouring from holes in the face of each carving.  And then there was a click, the doors opening before him.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: visualspice on March 15, 2016, 08:10:39 PM
The woman said and moved nothing. In fact, she remained floating where she was, eyes bright and curious, but only eyes on him.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: Lion on March 15, 2016, 10:47:57 PM
Atalier didn't want to venture any deeper into this ruined temple than he had to.  He decided for now that the specter was harmless.  If it meant to kill him, it probably would have done so all ready.  Atalier stepped into the temple doors,  but kept to the wall, settling his ball of sand on the ground and sitting with his back to a wall.  He went about making one more fire, ceasing the orb, and bundling his poncho around him.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: visualspice on March 17, 2016, 11:03:11 AM
It was his magic that intrigued her at first, not the man. Sure, she had seen men enough, but this magic tickled her senses and quietly, she moved nearer to the orb and studied it.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: Lion on March 18, 2016, 11:46:24 PM
[8D The orb is no more]

Atalier relaxed against the ground until he noticed the ghostly shape drawing nearer.  He kept his hand pressed against the stone wall behind him, watching and waiting just as she was.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: visualspice on March 20, 2016, 06:40:44 AM
OOC: ohhh, must've misread then!




Seeing that the magic had since left, she peered up towards the man against the wall. She gave a curious tilt of her head, before floating closer to him. And after a moment of looking at him, she touched the ground, her body becoming solid as she boldly stepped until she was just inches away and examining at an intimately close proximity.

Her hair was floating around as if it were beneath the sea, her skin sparkling like the night time skies, and as she studied this man she was so close those drifting, floating hairs of her would tickle against his skin every so often. Yet her own hands and body had yet to touch him.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: Lion on March 20, 2016, 10:53:42 AM
His heart was beating faster than he'd realized.  Atalier sucked in a deep breath and he felt his skin hardening to sand in case this ghostly woman meant him harm.  He didn't say anything, his form becoming denser and soon he was the one that reached out to touch her cheek.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: visualspice on March 20, 2016, 05:41:13 PM
At his touch, her body's twilight blossomed. But she did not lean away nor into it, just blinked as she watched him, before she extended a hand to do the same.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: Lion on March 20, 2016, 05:42:42 PM
And when she touched him, her hand would sink into his face like sand.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: visualspice on March 20, 2016, 05:46:16 PM
Her eyes lit up like stars, and suddenly, the woman was touching him all over. Poking his face, his chest, his arms- just about everywhere with such fervent curiosity. It was obvious this woman, this thing, had no sense of boundaries.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: Lion on March 20, 2016, 06:45:32 PM
Atalier was flush to the wall, feeling her hands push through him.  "Hey!  Why are you touching me?"
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: visualspice on March 20, 2016, 06:47:10 PM
At his words, she jerked back suddenly and shrank into the shadows, becoming translucent again.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: Lion on March 20, 2016, 06:50:27 PM
Atalier's form solidified back to flesh and he shrank back.  What had he seen?  What was this place?

He didn't plan on staying longer than the night.  His tiredness soon dragged his eyelids down.  And sleep overcame him.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: visualspice on April 10, 2016, 09:46:13 AM
Come the morning, the strange spirit would be gone, but any indication that the temple was locked up seemed to vanish, for there were glimpses to a deeper part of the interior, only visible now as it seemed the torches, unlit when he had entered, were now thriving with life and light.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: Lion on April 11, 2016, 12:09:49 AM
Atalier was roused from sleep by a draft of wind.  He'd bundled himself up in his poncho to little avail as he got up from the ground.  His fire had gone out long ago and the flickering of torches burning beside him only made him jerk to attention.

"What?  Whoa..."  He gazed up at the interior of the temple beyond the doors proper, viewing up at the scaling stairs and weaving passages.  He didn't even know where to begin.  Maybe it was better that he didn't.  He hesitated, and considered turning back.

The desert wouldn't provide any more shelter than the inside of this place.  Sure it was spooky, but it was better than meandering out in the blazing sun.  Atalier threw the front end off his poncho over his shoulder and took one of the torches off the wall holder.  Holding it above his head, he ventured within.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: visualspice on April 24, 2016, 12:42:54 PM
And the further in he went he might feel as if he were being watched. Or being followed...
For he was, as the strange star-cast bodied woman from before was following him, floating lightly in the shadows of his wake.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: Lion on July 04, 2016, 11:15:47 PM
He did feel as if he were being followed, however he did not acknowledge the presence behind him.  Instead he kept going forward, onward as he stepped down a spiral staircase, no guardrail present, sand billowing out beneath him with each step.

It seemed within the confines of this temple was an even larger one underneath it, with chambers spiraling and criscrossing each other.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: visualspice on July 24, 2016, 08:27:19 AM
Curious thing this one was. She decided she liked the way the sands moved around him, as if they were one in the same. After a moment of studying him as he reached the landing, her body slipped past his in a breeze, and she moved to sail across the darkened ground around here- but he'd be able to see just the sparkling accent of her silhouette against a broken pedestal near what sounded like the trickle of running water.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: Lion on July 24, 2016, 05:29:54 PM
Water...the very sound of it made Atalier gasp audibly.  He could feel his parched throat then and he didn't hesitate to follow the spirit, rushing after it as the sound grew louder and louder.  The pedestal came closer to him as he neared, and he watched the specter in her glittering mystery.

He didn't speak to it as he'd done before.  She seemed incapable of verbal communication as far as he knew.  Instead he leaned forward and saw that in front of the pedestal water burst from the carved stone.  He steadied the sand ball of light and leaned down across from the small landing, where  it dropped down sharply beneath, and leaned across the cup the fresh water with one hand and he drank in small slurps.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: visualspice on April 24, 2017, 02:57:54 AM
The sounds he made were crude as he drank. What a curious creature. She leaned forward to examine him more,closely and used a hand to lightly touch a tuft of his hair. She made an extraordinary face at the feeling and,moved to touch another tuft as the man continued to drink.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: Lion on April 24, 2017, 09:29:45 AM
The tousling of his tufts made Atalier bristle. A pleasant shiver coursed down his back, but he forced it down and he turned around slowly to see the specter behind him. He held his breath, taking another deeply cupped sip of water from the fountain.

"Can you speak?" he whispered gently. "My name is Atalier."
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: visualspice on April 25, 2017, 07:10:55 PM
His voice made her retract, and once again, she was hoovering in her translucent darkness. But her eyes remained wide and glowing in contrast as she peered back at him- remaining just an arm's reach away.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: Lion on April 29, 2017, 08:33:41 PM
But as Atalier reached out to touch her, he lost his footing on the ledge and abruptly fell. He screamed, falling fast into the dark chasm below.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: visualspice on April 29, 2017, 09:57:31 PM
Only he might realize he hadn't fallen, or at least not that far, for the woman was solid now, floating and holding him bridal style in her arms.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: Lion on April 29, 2017, 10:29:19 PM
Atalier had closed his eyes until he felt something solid holding him up and he shivered, feeling the cold embrace, but he didn't move, knowing better than to startle her into dropping him. He blinked and looked up at the spectral woman that cradled him.  Atalier's words were trapped on the tip of his tongue.

"Who are you?" he breathed softly.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: visualspice on April 30, 2017, 05:55:01 AM
A sound replied, echoing softly like a chime throughout the air, a sound barely over a breath; yet the creature's lips did not move.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: Lion on April 30, 2017, 09:59:56 AM
Atalier held his breath as he floated there until he was returned to solid ground, feet reaffirming himself on the perch and he reached forward to grasp the water fountain, sitting rather than standing.

"H-Hour," he murmured instead. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Are you alone here?"
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: visualspice on April 30, 2017, 02:28:08 PM
She simply looked at the man, not saying a thing, but this time, she hoovered a little closer. After having caught him and having had him so close.. there was something strange about him-
and as she drew near to him, it was apparently she was sniffing at his neck.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: Lion on April 30, 2017, 11:58:36 PM
It was Atalier's turn to shift away, although there wasn't a whole lot of wiggle room. The Sand Mage carefully climbed to his feet, shifting enough so that he was balancing beside the fountain and soon pressed himself against the ledge wall.

He didn't bother asking what she was doing. For that much was very clear.

He shook himself. And brought up the carefully balled up sand orb of light closer to the ground, the moving sand shifting and making a soft noise that echoed mesmerizingly about the temple.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: visualspice on May 03, 2017, 11:14:16 AM
Now her attentions were on his magic, as fingers moved to run lightly through the falling sands.
Title: Re: The Shadows Have Eyes
Post by: Lion on May 03, 2017, 11:49:37 AM
Noticing her fascination, Atalier expanded the orb, opening up the sands into moving rings and keeping the fire in place.