Into the Mist (Taun-Lok)

Taun-Lok had asked the Dwarves to land just before breaking through the mists, only yards from its inner edge so that the City's guard wouldn't see it and react to the obvious threat the flying contraption posed, and so the Magical Construct would lie outside its bounds, saving it from an army of religious zealots who would see it only as an abomination. His instructions to the dwarves were to burn torches on the vessel at all times, and that no one was allowed to use even the simplest magic once they left the Mist into the City. Thick jungle overgrowth filled with frogs, lizards, and insects surrounded them in all directions, hot humid air caused clothing to stick to its wearer and sweat to bead upon the Warmbloods' skin as they entered the domain of the Lizard People.

Leading the party of travelers Taun-Lok took them through the last few yards of fog, keeping Mirielle Merlon within his reach at all times. As the fog cleared around them, like passing through a door way, the air cleared suddenly and the city could be seen less than a quarter mile away. In the distance a massive pyramid stretched into the sky, at its peak a shining orb glowed like the sun, glittering off the golden surface of the massive pyramid and being cast across the entire city.

Around it, three smaller pyramids of stone, capped with brillant gold peaks stood, though one seemed overgrown with vines and unkempt while the other two smaller pyramids were pristine. The walls around the city were of granite, but the ramparts were lined with banners above the gate, gold tablets, colorful feathers, silken cloths billowed in the wind above the gates, its ramparts decorated with golden faces and jeweled eyes. The great gate was built just beyond a bridge where one of the main rivers flowed right in front of the City. Upon observation as they crossed the bridge the river was teeming with fish such as salmon and trout, as well as an extremely large blue-eyed Titanoboa curled around the bridge's supports, which eyed Mirielle and the other mages in the group.

A towering lizard warrior stood in the threshold of the open gate, wearing armor of gold and stone similar to Taun-Loks, though this creature stood twice the height of even a tall man, a stone club over his shoulder that was easily as tall as a man and probably weighed as much. The creature seemed surprised but not aggressive as it saw the lead pair, Taun-Lok and Mirielle. When the pair made to pass it, the warrior did not budge or acknowledge them further.

"Welcome." Taun-lok said, sweeping his arm before him at the city, its market district filled with large lizard beings standing at carts displaying freshly caught fish, fruits from the trees outside, eggs of sorts, silks, colorful feathers and stones, all of the bounty of the gods on display without venders, lizards simply taking what they wanted. Every stone building had some form of ornament upon it, of gold or uncut gemstones and semi-precious rocks, feathers of a rainbow of colors. Even the road itself was paved in golden bricks, though the others that branched off were not or not paved at all. Jungle animals such as frogs, snakes, even panthers and monkeys seemed to be domesticated by the race of lizard people.

Taun-Lok was quite obviously of average size, with several other large specimens like the one standing in the threshold walking throughout the market district, and pale skinned lizards standing a head taller than Taun-Lok. Even among the blue skinned and green skinned lizards he seemed on the tall side of average. Most of the Lizards wore little trinkets, but only those on the walls wore armor and carried weapons. It was curious that basically none of the Lizard-folk took notice of the newcomers, at least not her. Some pointed or nodded respectfully at Taun-Lok, but most continued about their day as if nothing had changed. 

Taun-Lok grunted, leading the way through the city adorned in gold, most of the other lizardfolk moving out of their way as they walked. Rather than speaking, he withdrew his parchment and charcoal scribbling a short message upon and passing the parchment to the princess.

I am the revered eldest warrior, and act as Priest-King of the city until the gods return.

Truthfully, visitors were so rare, few and far between, that the Crokodon rarely considered them as threats. Their sentries could see if their were powerful necromancers or dark mages who wore it brazenly, or at least see some forms of faint auras around mages that other than slaying those with the stench of undeath upon them, visitors were largely ignored unless they committed some form of sacrilege or theft. Because food, water, and shelter were all shared only personal items, such as those displayed on one's person, were truly considered to be 'owned'.

The Priest-King made way towards the Great Pyramid of Gold with the princess as quickly as possible, not stopping to greet or embrace even his brothers and sisters who had gathered along the path, wearing skull helms of their ancestors and armor similar to his own, following the pair at a respectful distance. He growled a simple command over his shoulder which caused two of them to peel off at a jog towards the pyramid.

I need to take you to see the Gods soon, before news spreads. You are safe with me, but you will soon draw the ire of some of my people.

Many in the city would not appreciate the notion that the Gods could choose an outsider for a divine purpose. Some would even call it heresy. Even before he had left of his year long sojourn through Ardell, there had been a vocal minority that claimed he was too lenient and civilized to be Voice of the Gods. This act, the act of allowing an outsider, a non-believer to SEE the Gods mortal bodies would cause an uproar in the city. For now he had the element of surprise, that no one would assume he was taking her to them as anything other than a sacrifice.

Mirielle Merlon

It was entirely possible that Gold was rare in the world because of the City's creation. Its construction, where the materials had been brought from, and how the pyramids had been built was a secret long since forgotten by the lizard folk. As far as they were concerned very little of the gold in the city would ever be removed and they had rabidly defended the single road and pyramid from looters over the centuries. Taun-Lok scribbled another note to the princess as they walked through the city.



As the pair and the small entourage of skull helmed warriors approached the base of the pyramid, several beings stood waiting at the base of the long stairs. The two warriors that had went ahead of them, clutching the chains which lead to a man who seemed to look like he had been beaten some weeks ago. Beside them stood two feathered lizardmen in primitive silk and feather robes, carrying ornate staves.

The two warriors handed the chain over to Taun-Lok as he approached, and the man gave Mirielle Merlon a sympathetic look, like he knew what was happening and had seen it done before. Likely he had even though his imprisonment had been short, he had seen some of the elders drag other prisoners up the golden pyramid with the lizards returning covered in blood. The man whispered to her quietly, "Hey. I'm Dareth from Perona. What did these lizards grab you for?"

The two feathered lizards passed Taun-Lok a note in their native written language with a respectful bow. It was a long letter, actually more of an update of the state of the city since the Priest-King had been absent for almost a year. Taun-Lok took the time to respond to them with a short note to them before writing Mirielle another short message.

Taun-Lok nodded, kneeling so she could climb onto his back rather than be carried like some kind of child, hoping to preserve some of her dignity in her own eyes.

She was correct that it was only his conviction that had gotten her to the City, but it was also his word that he wouldn't kill her unless she willingly sacrificed herself, which he knew was a rare thing in human civilization. They would sacrifice their possessions and their happiness, but not their lives.

Mirielle Merlon had convictions of her own, the protection of her people seemed to drive her forward. Taun-Lok could respect that considering it was his entire purpose in life, the sole reason he had been created and allowed to rule the City of Gold. They had mutual enemies and goals for their kingdoms that had caused him to feel develop a level of empathy for the Princess of Ashdell. Allies were hard to come by.

Four Hundred Twenty Five golden stairs, each one foot tall and one foot wide before they would come to the doors that lead into the inner sanctum. The sacrifice, Dareth, seemed untroubled by Mirielle ignoring him and had been fine and complacent for most of the stairs. In the end he was being bodily dragged by the Lizard warrior up the stairs, groaning as he was pulled up each step.

Taun-Lok passed a note to Mirielle, as a final word before entering the Holy of Holies. Allowing her a last moment of preparation.

The Gods lie inside these doors. When we get inside, I will fill a basin with blood and remove the heart then I will pour some of the life blood onto each god, and the both of us. You and I will share the heart. Once the gods appear, you may ask your questions to them first.

Do not be afraid. The Gods are kind and benevolent. They will not harm us and they do not make demands of us, only offering us guidance and wisdom.

Are you ready?

Taun-Lok nodded, and Dareth's eyes seemed to grow wide with understanding, that she was in league with the Lizard people that were preparing to kill him as a sacrificial offering to their possibly imaginary gods. The man seemed beyond protesting though. The Lizard knew that it wasn't going to be an easy thing for the woman, that she was not accustomed to such things and that she likely had not seen much killing, much less had to watch someone die and eat their heart. He resolved to make it quick and not make her suffer through much. "Brave." His tone was an attempt to show admiration at the fact she was willing to suffer through such a sacrifice yet again for the protection of her people.

The Lizard Warrior pushed open a door revealing the inner sanctum to the pair. The inner sanctum was lit by a mean of sun light emitted by the pinnacle gemstone that traveled through a hollow opening, being bounced off mirrors to light the room brightly. Inside, there were five thrones arrayed in a curve.

Sitting in each throne was a mummified corpse wearing armor and ornaments. In the center throne Mirielle Merlon might recognize the crown and feathers of Totutl's spirit worn on the mummified lizard. Directly beside him sat a large body with granite armor and a body wearing a sea turtle shell. On the ends a massive body, twice the size of a human sat, and a feathered lizard mummy. Each of the mummies had a single jeweled eye and a single empty socket. Several of them were missing a single claw, or a missing tooth.

Taun-Lok pointed to each body, starting on the ends "Jag-Gar," the largest mummy, "Hexuatl," the feathered one. Beside them, the rock armored being, "Grom-Taq," and the turtle shell wearing body, "Tehaun." Finally he gestured at the center throne. "Totutl." The ancient beings had lain there for ages, offering what guidance they could to the people that could commune with them.

The door closed with a groan.

Sitting right in the center of the floor was a basin bowl and an obsidian knife. Dareth seemed to know what came next, or at least he could put the obvious together. He struggled with Taun-Lok some as the Lizard warrior pushed the man down over the basin by the back of his head.

With the knife, the lizard cut a small opening in the man's back just below his ribs as he pressed the man's head against the bottom of the bowl. Then the knife quickly slid across the man's throat. Unable to scream, the only noise was a rasping gurgle until there was silence when Taun-Lok pulled the man's heart from his back and blood filled the basin bowl.

"Kneel."

Mirielle Merlon

Heart ripped from the body, blood filling the basin bowl slowly. Empty eyes stared blankly off in the distance once the heart was out. Taun-Lok, dropped the warm organ into Mirielle's hands so she could begin eating it. He knew it would take her some time to stomach such an act, much less to chew into it and devour the fleshy object. She would be lucky to take more than one or two bites and keep it down. The lizard warrior made a mental note to see to her as soon as the ritual for the act was complete, to ensure she did not become too traumatized.

He took the basin and poured a small amount of blood on each mummified corpse, and as he did so, the bones of fingers would twitch, and the room would become less still. Echoes of whispers haunted the corners of the sun lit room as he completed the rituals. Fingers, toes, and tails twitched with life anew as he poured the contents onto the mummies, starting with the two on the ends, then the two beside the center, and finally, the center being.

The blood seemed to soak into them, drawn into the bones and withered flesh of the beings, the life blood of another calling the spirits of the ancient dead from limbo back to their mortal coils. Such was the sacrifice of the Gods. In order for them to be given a moment of new life, another must be snuffed out.

Taun-Lok poured half of the remaining contents over himself, splattering against his head and scales, dripping off his brows down his face, and then he tipped the last remnant over Mirielle Merlon 's head, dumping the warm viscous liquid onto the crown of her head. The Basin now empty it was returned to its place and Taun-Lok took his place kneeling beside the Princess, waiting for her to hand her what was left of the heart from what she could finish. Once she had taken and swallowed a bite or so, she would be able to see the blue spirits now formed over the bones of the gods, wearing the mummified corpses like they were skeletons and the spirits were flesh.

The warrior took the heart from her, placing a comforting clawed hand on her back as if to say it would all be okay, even though he knew she would likely dream about this act for a significant portion of her life. Death of one's fellows was never an easy thing to watch, something he knew all too well. After a time, a sane being would become numb to it, but it always had some reaction from them.

He swallowed the flesh easily and looked upon the God's once again. A year since he had seen them last, since they had told him he would watch the Second Cataclysm ravage his people and they would pass from this earth to the next.

Tehaun, Goddess of the Sea smiled at him, she had always shown Taun-Lok some measure of favor the others did not, one of the reasons the sea and rivers and their creatures loved him as well. "<I have brought the warmblood to commune with you. I ask that you answer her questions about the Fog and show her the path to save her people.>"

Hexuatl, God of Time spoke next "She heralds from the north. Third child of a ruler." It was the God of Times way, to know the past of those who entered the sanctum. The other Gods looked among each other, seemingly communicating inaudibly among themselves for a moment before Totutl seemed to direct them back to the young woman kneeling before them.

Totutl waved a hand and at the others to end their silent conversation. "I need to get home. My father is a king and the unquiet undead are pressing in on our borders. I need to help him find a way to keep our kingdom safe. Who can bottle mist? Can a creeping fog have substance? What Light can spring forth from the heart of a cloud?" Totutl spoke, quoting himself and Mirielle.

At the mention of undead, Grom-Taq, God of the Earth, and Jag-Gar, Goddess of Beasts snarled and growled to themselves before Hexuatl could speak again. "Knowledge of the Ancients past, kept forever in the halls of the wrongfully damned, mine own hand written what would come to pass. Seek you not the words of the living, but of whispers left by the City's dead."

Grom-Taq and Jag-gar then spoke together, "Only strength of body and mind and heart will save the living from the dead for long."

And finally Tehaun, "Nothing lasts forever. Not safety, not fear." They spoke it in such away that it seemed like the same prophecy, as though because she could not see or hear the others in that cursed fortress, she could not hear the other Gods words.

Mirielle Merlon