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Post by Taun-Lok on Mar 5, 2017 7:13:55 GMT
City of the Lost Following the sacking and burning of Vaundsburg Taun-lok was declared a Demigod by his supporters, having seen his feathered wings and ability to wield Totutl's magic. The now living Icon had dispatched every scout he could muster across the lake country for signs of Mirielle or the Dragon that had stolen her. Every day a few dozen brunette young women were dragged before him from Kavelia, Vaundsburg, Arlek, and just the villages that dotted the lake country. Ghanzrabah had reportedly sunk several ships in the lakes and the Riverscales fed everyone who didn't match the description to the turtle. Hetan denied giving such an order, but the elder warrior knew his rival well. It was possible Hetan was holding Mirielle captive somewhere to spite the king. A scouting party stood before an enraged Priest-King with a half dozen women with dark hair, all avoiding eye contact. "< These are not her. FIND HER!>" The lizard king roared from the stone throne and dais he sat upon in the main hall. These prisoners would be released in time, once the defenses of the underwater temple were shored up and the patrols resumed; couldn't have them telling the other nearby kingdoms of the staging point's location and accurate numbers of the reptilian army just yet. After a moment the scouts shuffled off, leaving their king to growl angrily alone in the great hall, the sound of water dripping of rocks and the echoes of others the only distractions from the Priest-King's internal rage. His oaths and promises to the woman had been forfeit and broken because of his zealotry and now she was missing, likely dead. What could he do for Ashdell to make reparations? Could he even attempt such a thing with the Army of the Gods still filled with Hetan's strongest supporters? All these things and the weight of his own inevitable demise hung heavy on his brow. A single kronotoan entered the great chamber, almost slithering across the floor on all fours. When he reached the foot of the dais, the feathered lizard held up a piece of wood with a note scratched upon it. Found her west near the sea, held captive by men. Many days travel as the Hawk flies.
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Post by Taun-Lok on Mar 5, 2017 7:24:18 GMT
"< Is this confirmed?>" The priest-king spoke again, for it had been determined it was an honor to hear his divine voice rather than an insult, for did the Gods not speak to the People? Taun-Lok still preferred writing, but his anger at Mirielle's loss had stolen his tact and grace for the time being, his subordinates would simply have to deal with these minor disrespects for now. The kronotoan scribbled on a parchment, continuing to avoid eye contact as best as physically possible. His clawed hands shook nervously as though he could feel the Priest-King's blue eyes glaring at him, peering into his soul. Never before had the subjects of the king feared him, not truly. Yes he had been known as a powerful warrior and deadly hunter, but he had never seemed unbound or uncontrolled. Since Mirielle's disappearance the King had been swift to strike those that failed or delivered especially foul news, much to Hetan's delight. Its is Divine One. Ghathrak's hawkbrother say her and looked upon her with the Mage-Sight. He is certain. "< Then ready my guard immediately. We will travel for the City of Gold tonight.>" The Priest-King stood from the dais, making his way down the steps at a slow jog. The Kronotoan had to roll to avoid being bulled over by the larger lizard, only nodding his head in response rather than pausing to write more. The sound of roars echoed down the chambers and the clattering of clawed feet on stone answered shortly after as groups of Sunbloods rushed from their rest and meals to follow their venerable eldest out of the city.
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Post by Taun-Lok on Mar 5, 2017 7:36:29 GMT
Lake Country
Taun-Lok and the Sunbloods left quickly, diving into the water and swimming out into the open lake. The massive form of Ghanzrabah could be seen drifting on the surface, almost a moving island of muscle, bone, and rock-like shell as the Dragon Turtle watched over them, either like a monstrous shield or a lurking predator, Taun-lok could not tell. The beast did share a bond with his vicious and feral political rival, Hetan was only mildly above sending his monster after the king, and only then because he would never be able to maintain control over the Army of the Gods as an assassin.
The Sunbloods made the surface with relative ease and Taun-Loks wings spread open, great white, brown, and tan eagle pinions that stretched wider than Taun-Lok was tall when he spread them to the sky. The moon hung over him and the water on his wings glistened. A faint glow of yellow sunlight surrounded the Priest-Kings head in the darkness as the great pinions beat against gravity, raising the King ever skyward. The twenty or so guards watched, taking off on the ground at a healthy pace while their King circled above in the clouds. For Totutl ruled the Sky.
Taun-Lok's wings were an extension of his divine magic, able to be summoned at will and dispelled by his enemies, however they provided the Demigod of the Sky with a unique symbol. He was the first winged Crokodon since the rewriting of history, and thus he was able to use it to his purposes of training his fellow Sunbloods the divine magic Totutl had personally taught him, slowly altering the course of history and banishing the portents of doom the future held. With every passing day they pulled the river of time just a drop off course. Hopefully it would all be enough.
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Post by Taun-Lok on Mar 5, 2017 8:02:56 GMT
The moonlight glistened upon Taun-Lok's wings while he flew just above the trees, circling the twenty lizard warriors on the ground who sprinted along on all fours through the underbrush. The City of Gold was a ways travel, and then by the river the place where the scouts had spotted Mirielle was many more days of travelling, even by wing. Taun-Lok needed a force to go with him and given that she had been travelling west near the sea, perhaps a sea turtle was needed for this rescue mission.
Perhaps one of the other Dragon Turtles and several mosasaurs could spearhead the group of aquatic crokodon. Just making landing near her would draw out the guards and armies and possibly reduce the number of people guarding the woman, then the King could land near her and snatch her off himself. However even if there were only a few he would be outnumbered and be risking a great deal just to save her, risking the future of his people. If he died, Hetan would assume command and turn the honorable people into mass sacrificing monsters that raided the warmbloods and treated them like cattle. Which would Mirielle prefer? That her rescue be difficult and cost many Crokodon lives or that Taun-lok perish and many warmbloods be put to the knife to appease Hetan's bloodlust? Perhaps if Taun-Lok had properly bonded with Mirielle he could have sensed what she wanted, sensed where she was, and blessed her with the Gifts of the Gods, but Taun-Lok had not. She had been alone and traumatized for much of their time together and the Priest-King had not wanted to influence her anymore than he already had.
When he found her next, if they both survived, he would be sure to attempt such a bonding of minds. If for no other reason that so he could have a friend that he could speak to about his troubles, the lies he told his people, the deceit he had sown in an attempt to undo centuries of indoctrination and false belief.
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Post by Taun-Lok on Mar 5, 2017 8:28:42 GMT
The City of Gold
Through the Mists, the Divine Fog, the small group went. There were no horns or blaring trumpets, only the sound of birds and work continuing as normal. The Army of the Gods was still on the march, still in central Ardell around the City of the Lost and the City of Gold was almost half empty compared to how it normally sat.
Many of the City's artifacts, Two Hands of the Gods were still gone plus the one Taun-Lok wore of Totutl, the Sunstone, the Icon of the Gods, and then again so too was the Jet Dagger Taun-Lok had sacrificed so much to give Mirielle before she had been taken.
When the king arrived, no one waited for him to land, no one rushed over to see what he needed of his subjects. That was not their way. The servants of the Gods did not carry themselves as serfs to a king, but as younger siblings to an eldest brother. When ordered they would respond and carry out their duty, but carried on with their lives otherwise.
The Priest-King, Demigod of the Sun and Sky, bellowed at the top of his lungs as his clawed feet hit the gold path of the Gods. Every eye in the city turned its head in his direction, turning to see what the call to arms was for as the Priest-King continued to roar, his call echoing across the city far louder than any natural voice could be carried, amplified by Totutl's magic in his veins.
"BRING ME HOKHAN, KING OF THE SEA!" The king roared and the saurian warriors that could hear him roared with anticipation. Where Ghanzrabah was by far the most aggressive of the Dragon Turtles, he was not the eldest or largest of that spawn. Where Ghanzrabah was roughly the size of a galleon and willing to sink ships, devour fishing villages, and hunted with all the ferocity of the snapping turtle he resembled, Hokhan was the calm older brother. Hokhan was a being that had long outlived the Crokodon he had bonded with, having survived countless years of slumber and lived as little more than a guard at the river leading to the ocean ensuring that ships sailing towards the City of Gold did not follow the tributary through the mists.
For all the turtle lacked in aggression, it made up for in size and wisdom. Many kings had sought its opinions before acting, and many times the turtle had provided as much wisdom as the Gods. As such, and as the largest and oldest of the four Dragon Turtles, he bore the moniker King of the Sea.
The island that sat at the mouth of the tributary shuddered and stood, ancient eyes staring into the sky once more.
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