The Last Holy-Scale: Book One: Part Six- The Darker Kind Of Light

• Posted by ChandlerBeach March 14, 2016 - 927 views

  The Last Holy-Scale: Book One: Part Six:

  The Darker Kind Of Light

  You all know what I told you last time...me losing my virginity...to Shavra...ahhh, good times. The two of us swore secrecy on the matter and it was well-kept for several weeks and counting. We had sex every other night...same time...same place. Yeah, we kept track of it, because we're weird like that. This story I'm bout to tell, will show you what we're made of.

        Me, Shavra, Rekuuk, Jumps, Delaki, and Stands, or the, "Inner Roots" of the Holy-Scales, are gathered under the Sun-Hist at Semkil's command. And I mean under it, the Sun-Hist's roots open up, shifting away the earth and making a little chamber just under the tree. Semkil said that he has a job specifically for us six. 
  

     Semkil: I have a job for you.

     Jumps: We know, you just told us that three times now.

     Semkil: Hush boy! (to everyone else) There's an ancient temple just due south of Helstrom, under the mud, like most ancient ruins in this province. I need you to delve into it and see what it has to offer.

     Stands: How did you find out about this temple?

     Semkil: When I was communing with the Sun-Hist, I felt its presence over there.

     Delaki: Do we have a name, a look, something to let us know what it is?

     Semkil: I cannot relay that information to you sadly, but my gut tells me you'd know it when you see it.

     Rekuuk: With all do respect Hist Master, that isn't enough information to go on, unless it's already known, or has a name...we cannot find it.

     Semkil: (puts hand on chin and hums) Then...ask around the area, locals, innkeepers, the King if you can. They should know about it.

     Rezmor: That can only get us so far Hist Master...and you're less informed than normal, is something wrong?

     Semkil: Nothing is wrong with me child...it's just...never mind.

     Rezmor: (grunts)

     Stands: (*whispers* to Rezmor) Something you wish to say?

     Rezmor: Nothing at all, (nudges Stands out of Semkil's sight) *silently* Talk to him.

     Stands: (nods)

     Semkil: Now if there are no more question and/or complaints, get a move on...we just might need this temple's secrets.

     Everyone else: (puts fists over hearts) XHU! (this means "yes" in Jel, pronounced "ksu")
  

     Semkil: Now get out of my sight. (everyone leaves)

     Stands: (stops at the doorway) May I have a word with you Semkil?

     Semkil: I suppose it can't hurt, what do you wish to say Stands?

     Stands: I wish to say what's on everyone's mind: we are all well aware of your frantic attitude and jumpiness lately...something is amiss on you and you refuse to tell anyone why.

     Semkil: You too huh *sighs*...fine...I'll talk. The Sun-Hist has been silent for more than three months now...the longest ever in her known history.

     Stands: Then why keep that a secret Semkil!? A Hist Master is forbid from withholding secrets from his/her brothers and sisters!!

      Semkil: I know that Histdammit!! Kaoc' ("fuck" in Jel) I don't know what to do...being blamed for my assumptions that the Sun-Hist is just sleeping, only now to figure out it's much worse than that!

     Stands: How's it worse? 

     Semkil: Bad enough for me not to tell my Inner Roots. In the ancient lore of the Sun-Hist, nay, the Holy-Scales in general, it was always said that one day, the Sun-Hist will be silenced, and her children will suffer for it.

     Stands: (puts his hands on Semkil's shoulders)...Listen to me Semkil...we will fight through this...like Gavarik once said, "We endure..we rise...we fight." Will you let those words mean nothing?

     Semkil: ...I...I...I don't know...my days are almost at an end.

     Stands: (hands come off his shoulders) *shocked* What?! H-how?! You-

     Semkil: I've said what I've said Stands...it was the last thing I heard from the Sun-Hist before she went silent, but-

     Stands: AND YOU DIDN'T TELL ANYONE!!! WHAT HAS GOTTEN INTO YOU?!?!

     Semkil: (slaps Stands in the face) WILL YOU LET ME FINISH MY SENTENCE DAMMIT! SHE TOLD ME ANOTHER THING!

     Stands: (hand on cheek, but now aware of Semkil's speech)...

     Semkil: She told me that the Azeez-Xeech would have to be performed.

        The Azeez-Xeech, or "bright-seed" in Jel, is a ritual where a chosen Argonian goes under the Sun-Hist, and climbs into her main sap storage. This is similar to the initiation new Holy-Scales take...but several times worse. The Argonian stays in for not a week, but three months with no escape. The end result is the Sun-Hist dead, and the Argonian inside of it is imbued with all of her power.

        The reborn Argonian is known, in lore, as The Sun-Seed, destined to replant the Sun-Hist in a new home. The only way for that to happen is for the Sun-Seed to sacrifice itself, when it does, it's corpse will turn into the new Sun-Hist. 

     

     Stands: By all that I hold Holy....are we really doom-stricken?

     Semkil: It would seem so my friend...and I have no knowledge of when that will be.

     Stands: This is...I have no words for this. Maybe we can stop this fate.

     Semkil: How so?

     Stands: You felt the temple's presence will communing right? That could've been a sign from her...maybe we can cancel the Azeez-Xeech.

     Semkil: If so...then quickly now...go...go join the others...go and learn what we can do with that temple.

     Stands: Xhu. (he leaves)

     Semkil: (begins to shake his head and talk to himself) What you do not know...is that I know the tomb...an ancient Holy-Scale Sanctuary...the First Holy-Scale Sanctuary. I'm too old to venture out on my own, and I am unworthy to step in its halls after what I have just done...lying to all of my brothers and sisters. Stands-In-Light...Rezmorziriik...Rekuuk...Jumps-Into-Battle...Delaki...Shavra...may The Roots guide you through the home of those that came before us.

        We all met near the Hiding Door, ready to go out and seek the temple. All of us, clad in our respective armors, awaited Stands to get back from the Undertree. As he walked up the steps, he looked worried...

     Shavra: You look like you've seen a ghost Stand-up.

     Stands: I'm in no mood for my nickname Shavra..I need to tell you all something.

     Jumps: What is it? 

     Stands: I'd much rather say it on the way to Helstrom.

     Rekuuk: Fine by me, let's go, (pulls the chain, opening the door) shall we?

     Rezmor:  (to Stands) Did you talk to him about...it?

     Stands: That's what I'll discuss with you while we're traveling.

     Rezmor: Fine, let's be on our way. (they all leave the Sanctuary)

        We traversed the swamps while Stands told us everything that Semkil had told him. Most of us were more shocked at Semkil's death theory than that of the Sun-Hist dying. Stands clarified that we were to see if there was a solution to stop the demise of the Holy-Scales in that temple. Rekuuk, Jumps, and I were fired up and ready to look for something, the others just nodded and understood what had to be done.

        We reached just a few miles south of Helstrom and we stopped for a bit to rest up and come up with a plan. Stands suggested that we split up into three two-man groups inside the temple, to cover more ground and to make sure none of us dies. It was me and Shavra, Rekuuk and Stands, and Delaki and Jumps. One mage and one warrior...kind of.

        After we got all of that settled, we started off again, it was a foggy night. Cold mist rolled on the ground and the humidity was like taking a sip of water every time you breathed. The earth was soft beneath our feet, but after no more than 30 minutes of walking, Shavra sees something in the distance... 

     

     Shavra: Look over there (points to an obscure structure on their left), that could be the temple.

     Stands: (looks at the structure) Perhaps...you and Rezmor scout the area...see if it is.

     Rezmor: I'll tell you what we find via. spell type. If you see Candlelight, unimportant...if you see a Magelight coming at you, we can't verify the structure and you must come look...if you see a Holy Dome appear, come quickly, this might be the temple, you got that?
  

     Stands: Yes, now go. (they leap into the trees and freerun to the building)

        We hopped over limbs to avoid ground detection and we arrived at the structure in no less than 13 seconds. The building was a Xanmeer (step pyramid), but upon closer inspection, at the top of it was a Hiding Door! We stepped away from it and walked to the base of the xanmeer, I cast a Holy Dome and the brilliance of its light pierced all the darkness that night. 
  

         Upon seeing the Dome, Stands and everyone else rushed in to see what we had found. When we told Stands about what we discovered, he ran up the steps and analyzed the door...

      Stands: (squatted, hand on the door) Amazing...this door is covered in far more runes than that of ours.

      Rezmor: What kind of magic does it accept?

      Stands: I'm one of the few people left that can read these runes...(reading the runes) hmm...I see...jeke...setha...waseek...Xalsax...ta. This door takes Alteration Magic.

     Rekuuk: Wait, what did you say? That was Jel I know...but I don't speak much of it

     Stands: I said: sting, floating, bright, Scared Root...home: it would seem this place has magic similar to the Sanctuary...we might find help here after all.
  

      Rezmor: Get it open then.

     Stands: Alright (starts to glow a pale-green)...stand back...I'll get this open easily.

        Stands then gets a swirling magic covering every aspect of his body. Most of it converts to his right hand and he presses it down on the door's dent. The energy Stands put in it then shot out at a greater magnitude...saying that this door hasn't been opened in a long, long time. It began to open...slower than ours, eventually it revealed a hole...

     Shavra: It's open!

     Delaki: You have to think...we might be standing on an ancient Holy-Scale Sanctuary.

     Stands: Absurd, every other Sanctuary before ours was said to be destroyed remember?

     Delaki: Can't hurt to wonder.

     Jumps: Maybe we can look for ourselves and not bicker on what this temple may or may not be. (jumps in the hole)

     Stands: (to Delaki) Now you have to go in there and make sure he doesn't die.

     Delaki: (walking to the hole) It would seem that I have to. (falls in the hole)

     Rezmor: Our turn, (picks up Shavra in the Lover's Craddle)

      Shavra: (quick scream) You coulda told me you were gonna do (they jump in the hole) thaaaaaaat!
  

     Rekuuk: (latches onto Stands' shoulder) It's our turn Head Priest.

     Stands: Rekuuk I can get down that hole-

     Rekuuk: Too late (jumps down hole with Stands over his right shoulder) 

     Stands: ON MY OOWN!!

        Turns out the hole was actually an intricate slide that led down to an impressively large chamber. It was dark, obviously old, but it had a sense of peace and safety to it. We had to feel around for each other, when we were all gathered...

     Jumps: Can somebody please turn on a light!

     Rezmor: Calm down hatchling! (he, Stands, and Delaki shoot Magelights at the ceiling, illuminating the whole camber)

     Jumps: Thank you.

    Shavra: What...is...this?

     Jumps: Doesn't matter, (starts to walk to a nearby room, but Rezmor grabs his collar and pulls him to the group) Hey! Don't pull my collar. Why did you do that anyw-

     Rezmor: (subtly points to the center of the chamber)
  

     Jumps: ...are...you pointing at something? (looks at Rezmor's finger and follows its direction, then his jaw drops along with Shavra and Rekuuk's)

     Stands: How can it be? It's...impossible.

        

        What all of us were in awe of looking at was a massive tree that sat in the center of the chamber. This wasn't any ordinary tree though...it resembled something we knew all too well...this was another Sun-Hist!

     

     Rekuuk: I thought all other Sun-Hist from before us were dead!

     Stands: They were supposed to be...*subtly to himself* Semkil you bastard.

     Rezmor: What does this mean? Is this another Holy-Scale Sanctuary?

     Stands: *angrily* It is...our Sanctuaries are the only places a Sun-Hist can be.

     Shavra: Why are you so angry Head Priest? (When Shavra calls someone by their name, or in this case their title, she is very worried for them or herself...)

     Stands: *angrily* This is beyond looking for something to help the Holy-Scales...this is me worrying about mutiny!

     Shavra: *surprised* Mutiny?! From who?

     Stands: SEMKIL!!! (Shavra, Jumps, and Rekuuk gasp) That's right...he kept so many secrets from us...so I wonder if he sent us here to die! (starts to shine with a blood-red energy) I would kill him if I had the chance! (the energy starts to give off a sense of extreme bloodlust)

     Delaki: This magic is...vile...how does Stands have this kind of power!? (the enraged Stands is now emitting wind with the magic) *frantically* Ok, now he's getting angry! Rezmor!

     Rezmor: Right! 

        Delaki and I stand at opposite ends of Stands, he's ready to outrage and possibly bring down the Sanctuary. "You need to calm down Stands! You'll destroy the Sanctuary!" I screamed. Stands only darted his head to me and said, "THAT IS MY INTENTION!"

        Delaki readied a binding spell and so did I. Stands was only focussed on destroying the place, so we had no problem getting the incantation down. When we were set, I said to Shavra, "You have an adept understanding of magic cancelation! Help us get him sedated!"

        She replied with a silent slash of her air dagger (oh you thought "air dagger" was a fake thing in the last story, no no no, it's one of her actual daggers, made of pure magic, designed to null the effects of other magic users, but installing no pain at all) The magic from Stands was already failing, then Delaki and I said at once, "PAKSEECH! HAJ!"

        This means, "patriarch! hide!" in Jel, we use this to sedate Stands' wild power when he goes berserk. The spell seals his power for about an hour, enough time for him to calm down. When the aura Stands had dimmed down, me and Delaki were very relieved that it did.

     Stands: *apologetically* I-I'm sorry...I don't know what got over me...I didn't intend for it to get that bad.

     Shavra: It's a blessing enough that you didn't kill us...try to keep it that way please.

     Stands: I'll try.

     Rezmor: Good...we should focus on looking for a way to unlock the secrets of this Sanctuary.

     Rekuuk: Thank you...someone who speaks sense. (to everyone else) Get in the teams we set up and scan the area...we'll report back here in one hour to discuss what we found.

      Jumps: Xhu. (to Delaki) Now let's see what that upper level has to offer.

      Delaki: Indeed (they leap on a root ladder east of the Sun-Hist and climb to the upper level)

     Shavra: *seductively* Rezmor, we can take that dark hallway over there on the left.

     Rezmor: I'm surprised how you can keep this a secret with you being so damn seductive all the time. (they walk into the hallway)

     Rekuuk: What secret? I wanna know.

     Stands: Leave that to yourself...but I've had enough of secrets for one day...just...let's go under and see what secrets, gods, I hate the word now, but let's see what we can find. (they go to a staircase leading to a lower level)

     Rekuuk: I feel as if this place is very different from any other Sanctuary...we should be careful Stands. (they walk down a set of stairs behind the Sun-Hist)

  To Be Continued...