Metropolis - The Weight of the World (and Found Wanting)

[Tonks]

[sblock=Azot]“There are knights, heroes, champions. Just not like people remember in the old days. I was one, well I guess I still am, so was Twitchy. There were many of us, we helped the city survive a while ago, though most of us are dead now, or mostly dead.

“Seemed that the city was dying, not through anyone’s direct fault, she was just polluted and old, there was no life in her left to give. Children were stillborn, the dead would not die, the city was choking on its own filth. She tried to save herself by reaching out for help, but the first man she trusted, Zimmerman, abused her and used her power for his own to attempt to escape the city. He did a great deal of harm, tore a hole in the fabric of reality, opened the city to the darkness beyond its walls.

“We stopped him, killed him, more than killed him I think…but the damage was done. I’ve been trying to fix it, heal it, but once the Void has a foothold in the city it uses it to tear the hole wider. It’s grasping through the city walls, feeding off the city, and often this form of power draws creatures of evil to assist it make the wound grow, allowing it to eventually suck everything into the all-consuming Void.”[/sblock]

[sblock=Phoenix]The feeling that he was once more on the edge of the great Void filled Azot and it was only through pure stubborn pride that he managed to fight the feeling off. Trying to make sense of all the threads that had became bare in front of him, Azot rubbed a grimy hand over his brow as he spoke.

"So this Zimmerman has turned the Leaguers to his cause and is using them to force the gap wider? Sebek only mentioned them when he told me to seek them out and stop them, but then your..Twitchy told me that I would have to leave the City to save it. Then you tell me me that if I go outside of the City and leave her protection, then I will be basically swallowed by the Darkness waiting beyond her walls."

Lowering his hand, Azot saw the halfling's reflection shift again and for a moment he seemed little more than a water drop's reflection of a person.

"So why bring me here? I am no hero, of this age or any past or future, none of Sebek's children are. We are what must be to keep the peace below. He has told us this in our dreams and spirit walks, it is because of this we are able to shed this false birth skin and wear our true skins."

The heart pulsed again and Azot felt his temple throb along with it, leaving behind an intense pain in its passing.

'I will have my answers...a hunter must always be prepared.'[/sblock]

 

[Phoenix]

[sblock=Phoenix]The feeling that he was once more on the edge of the great Void filled Azot and it was only through pure stubborn pride that he managed to fight the feeling off. Trying to make sense of all the threads that had became bare in front of him, Azot rubbed a grimy hand over his brow as he spoke.

"So this Zimmerman has turned the Leaguers to his cause and is using them to force the gap wider? Sebek only mentioned them when he told me to seek them out and stop them, but then your..Twitchy told me that I would have to leave the City to save it. Then you tell me me that if I go outside of the City and leave her protection, then I will be basically swallowed by the Darkness waiting beyond her walls."

Lowering his hand, Azot saw the halfling's reflection shift again and for a moment he seemed little more than a water drop's reflection of a person.

"So why bring me here? I am no hero, of this age or any past or future, none of Sebek's children are. We are what must be to keep the peace below. He has told us this in our dreams and spirit walks, it is because of this we are able to shed this false birth skin and wear our true skins."

The heart pulsed again and Azot felt his temple throb along with it, leaving behind an intense pain in its passing.

'I will have my answers...a hunter must always be prepared.'[/sblock]

[sblock=Azot]“Not even I can tell you the answers you seek, only another truth that will conflict with others’ truths. In the end it will be your decisions that define you, it will be your bravery that will save you. The City calls to us all at one point in our lives, for it is the people that define its existence. Listen to others, but find your own truth.

“Sebek suffers, like the rest of us, but though you are his child, you are also his guardian. The Zimmerman I know is dead, yet his legacy remains, tormenting your god, as well as the others. Sebek has chosen you because he sees great things in you, the ability to meet these challenges, he depends on you.

“If I knew how to fix what was happening, or exactly what was happening, I would be the first to tell you. This is no matter for vague prophecies, but remember that everyone has their own beliefs, everyone has their own perceptions. Find your own, save the city.” [/sblock]

 

[GlassEye]

"Yes, it's me, Ari." His voice was husky and deep, there was something about him that rung untrue, but on this special day nothing could be wrong. Jasmine's birth was quick and easy, the little girl was perfect. Everyone hailed her as a shining light of innocence, and Ymris has a lifetime of joy ahead of her.

Especially now Ari had returned...Ari...

"I have bought a present from afar for the little wonder, a gift so perfect that it is second only to darling little Jasmine herself. Here, it is no longer mine, but hers..."

Ymris is only half-listening to Ari as she gazes at little Jasmine. The girl is so beautiful she hardly has eyes for anything else. She feels a pang of...jealously, perhaps, brought on by the sound of his voice. Whatever the feeling, the discomfort grows as Ari steps closer. Her Ari, whose presence made her want to sing. Ari, with his ready smile; stealing kisses behind Haeler's little shop, pulling her close to his strong, wiry body.

Holding Jasmine close Ymris looks up at the robust man. Her brow furrows in concentration and a little confusion. She remembers blue eyes and a shock of black hair that gave him a rakish air. And the aroma of his wares, mingled and clinging to his skin. She continues to look at the man and when Jasmine wiggles she coos some calming nonsense. Ari seemed different. Ymris takes a deep breath trying to catch the mingled scent of her memory...

 

[Tonks]

[sblock=Azot]“Not even I can tell you the answers you seek, only another truth that will conflict with others’ truths. In the end it will be your decisions that define you, it will be your bravery that will save you. The City calls to us all at one point in our lives, for it is the people that define its existence. Listen to others, but find your own truth.

“Sebek suffers, like the rest of us, but though you are his child, you are also his guardian. The Zimmerman I know is dead, yet his legacy remains, tormenting your god, as well as the others. Sebek has chosen you because he sees great things in you, the ability to meet these challenges, he depends on you.

“If I knew how to fix what was happening, or exactly what was happening, I would be the first to tell you. This is no matter for vague prophecies, but remember that everyone has their own beliefs, everyone has their own perceptions. Find your own, save the city.” [/sblock]

[sblock=Phoenix]"Where do I begin my search? If you are the Heart's companion, surely you can tell me that much. I can accept that I have to make my own decisions, and I will die trying to save both the City and Sebek, but I have already seen more of the city in two days than I have in all of my prior days."[/sblock]

 

[Phoenix]

"Then my brothers, let us face that which we are destined to face, forthright and openly, without hesitation or reservation. Who among us does not have weaknesses, for are we not flesh? Yet it is through our flesh that Metropolis shall be healed. But only because we are pure of heart, so long as our hearts our pure evil cannot assail them. Remember always that it was She who chose us, and I for one trust in her judgement to have united me with my brothers. Now let us face our nameless foe without fear, but with a keen eye. Dragon, Boar what advice do you have? It is my guess that we will need to find the source of this evil, and only then will we know how to combat it, if even we can"

"I think that this evil is unlike anything that we may have encountered before, my knowledge is based on the mundane creatures, rather than foes of the spirit." Boar thought for a moment, "I have few enchantments to empower us as a group, but should we stay relatively close to one another I should be able to assist with an occassional spell should it be required."

Dragon shook his head, "Alas I wish my faith was stronger, for the prayers I know are weak sompare to the evil that threatens to consume us, I have but paltry enchantments. All I can suggest is that Boar and myself take secondary roles in the battle, we shall swing our swords, but I fear that should one of us fall our very souls may be in danger..."

Whale hefted his hammer, "Stag, we be with you on this one, it's your call."

 

[Phoenix]

Ymris is only half-listening to Ari as she gazes at little Jasmine. The girl is so beautiful she hardly has eyes for anything else. She feels a pang of...jealously, perhaps, brought on by the sound of his voice. Whatever the feeling, the discomfort grows as Ari steps closer. Her Ari, whose presence made her want to sing. Ari, with his ready smile; stealing kisses behind Haeler's little shop, pulling her close to his strong, wiry body.

Holding Jasmine close Ymris looks up at the robust man. Her brow furrows in concentration and a little confusion. She remembers blue eyes and a shock of black hair that gave him a rakish air. And the aroma of his wares, mingled and clinging to his skin. She continues to look at the man and when Jasmine wiggles she coos some calming nonsense. Ari seemed different. Ymris takes a deep breath trying to catch the mingled scent of her memory...

Was it her eyes that fooled her, or her mind? Had Ari changed, or was something playing tricks on her? Ari's girth was larger all of a sudden, like it always had been. His face was larger, his fingers fatter, his face leered and hungered.

Was it Ari? Was her memory wrong? She had seen the face before, nestling children in his arms or on his lap. He was familiar to her. Looking at him caused her heart to sicken a little, it felt like old lamp oil settled in her stomach. Something was wrong, but no-one else could see it...

 

[Phoenix]

[sblock=Phoenix]"Where do I begin my search? If you are the Heart's companion, surely you can tell me that much. I can accept that I have to make my own decisions, and I will die trying to save both the City and Sebek, but I have already seen more of the city in two days than I have in all of my prior days."[/sblock]

[sblock=Azot]Taran grinned, perhaps a little evilly. "You are about to see a hell of a lot more..."

He raised his hands and his form shimmered and splashed to the ground like the emptying of foul water from a bucket. Some of the drops of the odourous water hovered in the air for a moment before collecting into a small ball.

The ball grew, like a bubble. A thin layer of water was its surface, within it was empty, but only for a short time. Buildings began to rise on the inside of its surface, streets appeared, tiny people walked the wilderness that grew. Swiftly the land that was being created was overrun by villages, then towns, then cities, until finally all of the inside of the bubble's surface was one enourmous city, which began to expand into the sky.

The city grew until its very streets were choked by the homeless the weary, and the dying. It was Metropolis, Azot looked into the world like a god watching its children. The bubble was fascinating, especially so when Azot saw a small flash of light from one side of it as a small ethereal bridge seemed to pass through the bubble wall effortlessly, gracefully, reaching out, as if it sought others to share its civilization.

Later, elsewhere in the city, there was a geyser that spewed forth from a strange neighbourhood that centred around an enourmous black spyre (a cathedral?), its touch slowly killed everyone that remained. The geyser was invisible to all it seemed, though it drew from the surface of the bubble, the very water that protected the city from what lay outside.

Whatever started it did not survive to stop it, and a small hole appeared in the surface of the bubble. The city was exposed to what lay outside, the death it brought killed thousands.
[/sblock]

 

[Tonks]

[sblock=Azot]Taran grinned, perhaps a little evilly. "You are about to see a hell of a lot more..."

He raised his hands and his form shimmered and splashed to the ground like the emptying of foul water from a bucket. Some of the drops of the odourous water hovered in the air for a moment before collecting into a small ball.

The ball grew, like a bubble. A thin layer of water was its surface, within it was empty, but only for a short time. Buildings began to rise on the inside of its surface, streets appeared, tiny people walked the wilderness that grew. Swiftly the land that was being created was overrun by villages, then towns, then cities, until finally all of the inside of the bubble's surface was one enourmous city, which began to expand into the sky.

The city grew until its very streets were choked by the homeless the weary, and the dying. It was Metropolis, Azot looked into the world like a god watching its children. The bubble was fascinating, especially so when Azot saw a small flash of light from one side of it as a small ethereal bridge seemed to pass through the bubble wall effortlessly, gracefully, reaching out, as if it sought others to share its civilization.

Later, elsewhere in the city, there was a geyser that spewed forth from a strange neighbourhood that centred around an enourmous black spyre (a cathedral?), its touch slowly killed everyone that remained. The geyser was invisible to all it seemed, though it drew from the surface of the bubble, the very water that protected the city from what lay outside.

Whatever started it did not survive to stop it, and a small hole appeared in the surface of the bubble. The city was exposed to what lay outside, the death it brought killed thousands.
[/sblock]

[sblock=Phoenix]Azot's eyes grew wide and he grasped his club, cursing as he took an involuntary step backwards from what was once Taran.

'What manner of creature has the Heart turned him into?'

As creation merged with history, Azot's eyes watched it pass and his mind struggled to comprehend what it was seeing. Historians searched for the secrets of the city's past for lifetimes and never discovered a tenth of what was on display for him.

'The arrival of the gods...the expansion..the darkness...'

As he saw the Void drawing the life energy of the city to destroy it, Azot knew that his wish for direction had been granted. His fate was now merged with stopping the Dark Tower and all those who aligned themselves with it.

'Zimmerman...wildlings...Leaguers...all doing their part to destroy the city.'

Seeing Twitchy watching him through those golden eyes, Azot approached the bubble carefully with his hand still wrapped around his club.

"You have showed me much Taran, more than I have any right to know. If this Dark Tower is what is killing the city, then I will find a way to bring it down. Even if it means leaving the city to do so..."[/sblock]

 

[Bront]

The spirits wailed and moaned with more intensity, and as Jen stood in the centre of the storm she could see down into the depths of the well. If there was a bottom, it was lost in the blue haze that seemed to clamber up the well towards her. There we hundreds, if not thousands, of spirits that seemed to be drawn to her. It seemed not only the living coveted the sceptre…

She tried to force her will upon the spirits as well as the sceptre, but she knew barely what I was for, what it could do. No magic seemed to spring forth, no powers leaped to her aid, no light of hope appeared.

She sighed and moved back to Jazeck carefully. Simply trying to put it out of her mind till she got accross.

 

[Scotley]

Jazick

Once Jen is safely away from the well. Jazick casts a protective arm about her shoulders. "I can think of no reason to stay inside this place a moment longer."