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Dark Prophecy (an "Of Sound Mind" Storyhour) - FINALE! 3/29/05
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<blockquote data-quote="SolidSnake" data-source="post: 1999651" data-attributes="member: 102"><p><strong>Chapter 9</strong></p><p></p><p>“Velea…what a beautiful name,” Yatsen droned.</p><p></p><p>“Yes, as marvelous as the stars of heaven,” Saburo blurted out; eager to outdo his friend.</p><p></p><p>Velea chuckled at the pair and for an instant glanced over at Akira. The man was staring straight at both men, his hands not far from his blades. The man said nothing.</p><p></p><p>“You are much more entertaining than previous guests,” Valdea finally pronounced. “They were not as handsome and as brave as you.”</p><p></p><p>“What is a woman such as you doing here,” Saburo asked with reverence in his voice. “You must be freezing and hungry.”</p><p></p><p>“A good question Saburo,” Akira muttered from the background.</p><p></p><p>Velea’s face was marred by a slight frown for only an instant before she responded.</p><p></p><p>“It is a sad story. One that I have not shared with anyone in quite sometime. I was a free woman once, able to come and go as I pleased until I stumbled upon this place. I was new to the region and did not know that it was ruled by a despicable tyrant…Doushi.”</p><p></p><p>Akira’s eyes went wide at the mention of the dragon. With a small grin, Velea continued.</p><p></p><p>“His minions captured me and brought me before him; whereupon he bound me with his vile magics. Since that day, I have been a slave; unable to leave the confines of this mountain…trapped alone in the dark. As long as Doushi lives, I will remain a prisoner of these mines.”</p><p></p><p>“Doushi is dead,” Akira exclaimed. “The <em>Kamigishu</em> destroyed him more than a century ago! You speak lies.”</p><p></p><p>“Then ask yourself something…Akira: why is it that I am still here,” Velea retorted.</p><p></p><p>“How dreadful,” Saburo whispered. “We must do something! I swear on my ancestors that I will not rest until you are freed from the grasp of Doushi. I pledge that I will fight for this until there is no longer breath in my body!”</p><p></p><p>Desire shone in Saburo’s eyes as he bowed deeply to Velea. Akira could only stand there dumbfounded as Yatsen repeated the same oath, bowing even deeper than Saburo.</p><p></p><p>“My champions, I bid you the Fortune’s grace,” Velea said as she leaned close to both men and kissed their foreheads. “For luck. Now go.”</p><p></p><p>Akira wasted no time in securing a grappling hook to the ascending ramp. It was quite an impressive sight as it spiraled upwards hundreds of feet, the waterfall cascading in between the coiled stone pathway. Saburo began to wonder if the mountainside might have been easier as he tired to find perch on the slope. Years of moisture had created a think sheen of moss on already worn granite, making the accent difficult.</p><p></p><p>“Rope yourselves together,” Akira yelled over the din of the waterfall as Yatsen scrambled onto the first step. “We move slowly and together. We must put distance between ourselves and your new friend.”</p><p></p><p>“What is the matter with you,” Saburo demanded. “She is a prisoner of Doushi’s evil magic. Trapped forever until he is defeated.”</p><p></p><p>“And you think you can defeat him,” Akira said in a grave tone.</p><p></p><p>“Nothing will stop me from saving Ren and Velea,” Saburo replied defiantly.</p><p></p><p>“From the looks of the freshly eaten tasloi bodies at the bottom of her lake, my guess is that she doesn’t need saving from anyone,” Akira countered.</p><p></p><p>The ranger continued on, ignoring the irate sake-maker. He moved only a few feet before he stopped suddenly and touched his hand to his face in horror. Saburo was about to ask the man what was wrong until a voice filled his mind.</p><p></p><p><em>I am alive again, you know. I can smell your mind, sense your thoughts. They taste delicious!</em></p><p></p><p>Saburo saw that he was not the only one as Yatsen too looked around in alarm. The voice continued.</p><p></p><p><em>You will fail, whatever you want. Will it not be wiser to turn back now? Unless you wish to see my glory, to work my mine? Then come! COME!</em></p><p></p><p>“It can’t be,” Akira whispered in horror. “He was killed. He is supposed to be dead!”</p><p></p><p>Whipping his head about, Akira’s eyes locked with Yatsen’s and Saburo’s.</p><p></p><p>“Don’t let him get inside your mind. Fight it! Don’t let him steal your will!”</p><p></p><p>Saburo wasn’t sure if it was the temperature that was making him shiver anymore. <em>We must face Doushi himself? The legend? How can we do this thing? He shook the doubt from his mind as he ascended with his companions.</em> Everyone grimaced as they too battled the voice.</p><p>____________________________</p><p></p><p>Saburo gasped for breath has he leaned against the wall. They had been climbing for a long time with no rest. It was a painstaking process after Akira had slowed them down even further following a few close calls. Footing was hard to come by and it took all of Saburo’s strength to keep going, but the climb wasn’t the difficult part. Fighting the Voice that stirred in his thoughts took most of his strength. It had thankfully stopped about halfway. He wasn’t sure if that was good or bad. Saburo gazed at the illuminated room that began at the ramp’s end.</p><p></p><p>“We must keep moving,” Akira said panting as he began to undo the ropes binding the men together. “Think of Ren to give you strength.”</p><p></p><p>Saburo gritted his teeth and forced his body to move forwards. The climb had forced him to forget about the cold, but it came back to him now as he shifted. The pain lanced through him as he compelled his body towards the threshold. He glanced back to see Akira helping Yatsen when a feeling overcame him. The icy feeling he had felt before was gone and he instinctively licked his lips as he touched his clothes. <em>I am dry. Bone dry!</em> He looked up at his soaked companions as they stumbled into the room. Saburo watched as the water evaporated from their clothes and equipment.</p><p></p><p>“Amazing.”</p><p></p><p>The room had been ravaged by time. Dust and cobwebs covered all available surfaces. Debris lined the floor and a hallway led out through the north. Akira scouted ahead and ushered the men forth when he confirmed that the coast was clear. Saburo wondered in amazement as he walked down the corridor. It was lined with magnificent copper statues, so lifelike that the man wondered how it was possible for any creature to create such detail. They were mostly of soldiers and miners, each holding his chosen tool in hand, an expression of terror etched upon their faces. Akira held up his hand as the reached the end of the passageway. Saburo strained to hear and finally fixed onto what the ranger seemed concerned about. Voices. He could hear the unmistakable chattering of the tasloi filtering through the great stone complex. The hallway spilled into a colossal chamber. The reinforced ceiling towered over them, creating enough space for smaller building to fit inside. The building was only 10’ tall and had no windows or doors, but on the roof Saburo thought he might have seen a handle. <em>Odd.</em> The walls were covered with beautiful gold, copper, and glass mosaics of Doushi in various states of extravagance. In the far corner of the room was a small ramp that seemingly led directly into the wall. Akira led the group up its slope, giving the “house” a wide berth. As the men approached the wall, the image wavered revealing a translucent window.</p><p></p><p>From his vantage point 20 feet above the floor, Saburo watched as a small band of tasloi flocked around the carcass of a long dead dragon. The lair the Shadowspawn had claimed was easily hundreds of feet in length, lit with incremental braziers placed in strategic locations. The dragon’s maw had been wrenched open with spears to create a narrow crawl space down into its gullet. Sapphire light poured from within the corpse, creating an eerie effect for anyone who stood close by. <em>Could this be Doushi? I thought he was alive…</em>Directly in front of the dragon stood a tasloi dressed in coarse black robes. His head was at least two times the size of any other tasloi’s and atop his brow he wore a copper crown. Raising his hands aloft, he produced a rabid frenzy from the crowd of gathered tasloi. To his immediate right, another tasloi loomed over him. It was more beastial in nature than the rest of the gathered creatures. Its arms were the size of tree trunks and Saburo could see the hilt of some weapon protruding from its back. With a wave, the leader parted the gathered mass so as to create a circle around the mouth of the Dragon. Saburo’s breath caught as he saw both Ren and Kenichi bound and gagged, writhing on the floor in its center.</p><p></p><p>“Congratulations,” the swollen-headed tasloi hissed at Ren, using loud and slow Rokugani as if she and her brother were both idiots. “Today is your lucky day! Soon you’ll have power…or you’ll be dead. Either way, human, your life will be better.” The tasloi gave a glance to the hulking creature next to him and pulled a hammer and what looked like a piece of blue glass from his belt. A few of the gathered tasloi dragged Kenichi away, while the bigger tasloi moved to hold Ren down. Saburo watched in shock as the creature put its filthy claws on her, while the leader positioned the gem on her forehead and raised the mallet...</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="SolidSnake, post: 1999651, member: 102"] [b]Chapter 9[/b] “Velea…what a beautiful name,” Yatsen droned. “Yes, as marvelous as the stars of heaven,” Saburo blurted out; eager to outdo his friend. Velea chuckled at the pair and for an instant glanced over at Akira. The man was staring straight at both men, his hands not far from his blades. The man said nothing. “You are much more entertaining than previous guests,” Valdea finally pronounced. “They were not as handsome and as brave as you.” “What is a woman such as you doing here,” Saburo asked with reverence in his voice. “You must be freezing and hungry.” “A good question Saburo,” Akira muttered from the background. Velea’s face was marred by a slight frown for only an instant before she responded. “It is a sad story. One that I have not shared with anyone in quite sometime. I was a free woman once, able to come and go as I pleased until I stumbled upon this place. I was new to the region and did not know that it was ruled by a despicable tyrant…Doushi.” Akira’s eyes went wide at the mention of the dragon. With a small grin, Velea continued. “His minions captured me and brought me before him; whereupon he bound me with his vile magics. Since that day, I have been a slave; unable to leave the confines of this mountain…trapped alone in the dark. As long as Doushi lives, I will remain a prisoner of these mines.” “Doushi is dead,” Akira exclaimed. “The [I]Kamigishu[/I] destroyed him more than a century ago! You speak lies.” “Then ask yourself something…Akira: why is it that I am still here,” Velea retorted. “How dreadful,” Saburo whispered. “We must do something! I swear on my ancestors that I will not rest until you are freed from the grasp of Doushi. I pledge that I will fight for this until there is no longer breath in my body!” Desire shone in Saburo’s eyes as he bowed deeply to Velea. Akira could only stand there dumbfounded as Yatsen repeated the same oath, bowing even deeper than Saburo. “My champions, I bid you the Fortune’s grace,” Velea said as she leaned close to both men and kissed their foreheads. “For luck. Now go.” Akira wasted no time in securing a grappling hook to the ascending ramp. It was quite an impressive sight as it spiraled upwards hundreds of feet, the waterfall cascading in between the coiled stone pathway. Saburo began to wonder if the mountainside might have been easier as he tired to find perch on the slope. Years of moisture had created a think sheen of moss on already worn granite, making the accent difficult. “Rope yourselves together,” Akira yelled over the din of the waterfall as Yatsen scrambled onto the first step. “We move slowly and together. We must put distance between ourselves and your new friend.” “What is the matter with you,” Saburo demanded. “She is a prisoner of Doushi’s evil magic. Trapped forever until he is defeated.” “And you think you can defeat him,” Akira said in a grave tone. “Nothing will stop me from saving Ren and Velea,” Saburo replied defiantly. “From the looks of the freshly eaten tasloi bodies at the bottom of her lake, my guess is that she doesn’t need saving from anyone,” Akira countered. The ranger continued on, ignoring the irate sake-maker. He moved only a few feet before he stopped suddenly and touched his hand to his face in horror. Saburo was about to ask the man what was wrong until a voice filled his mind. [I]I am alive again, you know. I can smell your mind, sense your thoughts. They taste delicious![/I] Saburo saw that he was not the only one as Yatsen too looked around in alarm. The voice continued. [I]You will fail, whatever you want. Will it not be wiser to turn back now? Unless you wish to see my glory, to work my mine? Then come! COME![/I] “It can’t be,” Akira whispered in horror. “He was killed. He is supposed to be dead!” Whipping his head about, Akira’s eyes locked with Yatsen’s and Saburo’s. “Don’t let him get inside your mind. Fight it! Don’t let him steal your will!” Saburo wasn’t sure if it was the temperature that was making him shiver anymore. [I]We must face Doushi himself? The legend? How can we do this thing? He shook the doubt from his mind as he ascended with his companions.[/I] Everyone grimaced as they too battled the voice. ____________________________ Saburo gasped for breath has he leaned against the wall. They had been climbing for a long time with no rest. It was a painstaking process after Akira had slowed them down even further following a few close calls. Footing was hard to come by and it took all of Saburo’s strength to keep going, but the climb wasn’t the difficult part. Fighting the Voice that stirred in his thoughts took most of his strength. It had thankfully stopped about halfway. He wasn’t sure if that was good or bad. Saburo gazed at the illuminated room that began at the ramp’s end. “We must keep moving,” Akira said panting as he began to undo the ropes binding the men together. “Think of Ren to give you strength.” Saburo gritted his teeth and forced his body to move forwards. The climb had forced him to forget about the cold, but it came back to him now as he shifted. The pain lanced through him as he compelled his body towards the threshold. He glanced back to see Akira helping Yatsen when a feeling overcame him. The icy feeling he had felt before was gone and he instinctively licked his lips as he touched his clothes. [I]I am dry. Bone dry![/I] He looked up at his soaked companions as they stumbled into the room. Saburo watched as the water evaporated from their clothes and equipment. “Amazing.” The room had been ravaged by time. Dust and cobwebs covered all available surfaces. Debris lined the floor and a hallway led out through the north. Akira scouted ahead and ushered the men forth when he confirmed that the coast was clear. Saburo wondered in amazement as he walked down the corridor. It was lined with magnificent copper statues, so lifelike that the man wondered how it was possible for any creature to create such detail. They were mostly of soldiers and miners, each holding his chosen tool in hand, an expression of terror etched upon their faces. Akira held up his hand as the reached the end of the passageway. Saburo strained to hear and finally fixed onto what the ranger seemed concerned about. Voices. He could hear the unmistakable chattering of the tasloi filtering through the great stone complex. The hallway spilled into a colossal chamber. The reinforced ceiling towered over them, creating enough space for smaller building to fit inside. The building was only 10’ tall and had no windows or doors, but on the roof Saburo thought he might have seen a handle. [I]Odd.[/I] The walls were covered with beautiful gold, copper, and glass mosaics of Doushi in various states of extravagance. In the far corner of the room was a small ramp that seemingly led directly into the wall. Akira led the group up its slope, giving the “house” a wide berth. As the men approached the wall, the image wavered revealing a translucent window. From his vantage point 20 feet above the floor, Saburo watched as a small band of tasloi flocked around the carcass of a long dead dragon. The lair the Shadowspawn had claimed was easily hundreds of feet in length, lit with incremental braziers placed in strategic locations. The dragon’s maw had been wrenched open with spears to create a narrow crawl space down into its gullet. Sapphire light poured from within the corpse, creating an eerie effect for anyone who stood close by. [I]Could this be Doushi? I thought he was alive…[/I]Directly in front of the dragon stood a tasloi dressed in coarse black robes. His head was at least two times the size of any other tasloi’s and atop his brow he wore a copper crown. Raising his hands aloft, he produced a rabid frenzy from the crowd of gathered tasloi. To his immediate right, another tasloi loomed over him. It was more beastial in nature than the rest of the gathered creatures. Its arms were the size of tree trunks and Saburo could see the hilt of some weapon protruding from its back. With a wave, the leader parted the gathered mass so as to create a circle around the mouth of the Dragon. Saburo’s breath caught as he saw both Ren and Kenichi bound and gagged, writhing on the floor in its center. “Congratulations,” the swollen-headed tasloi hissed at Ren, using loud and slow Rokugani as if she and her brother were both idiots. “Today is your lucky day! Soon you’ll have power…or you’ll be dead. Either way, human, your life will be better.” The tasloi gave a glance to the hulking creature next to him and pulled a hammer and what looked like a piece of blue glass from his belt. A few of the gathered tasloi dragged Kenichi away, while the bigger tasloi moved to hold Ren down. Saburo watched in shock as the creature put its filthy claws on her, while the leader positioned the gem on her forehead and raised the mallet... [/QUOTE]
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