The Gifts of Dead Gods 18DEC21
29
DEC/21
With rest, there task was clear to Oni. Lathander has given him a gift and he was going to acquire it. Other unkown gods have given their lives or connections for them and these gifts. This was their task. Mar’iya wanted revenge. Oni did want justice, but Lathander had given Oni the new path. It was hard to not fall into the ways of the five but he became strong after this near death. Oni looked around the tent. Explosions could be heard off in the distance.
Oni had watched this man Walder appear from nowhere. He and Mar’iya peered into him, trying to discover the truth of his tale. Could he really be from another world? He did possess these “ear buds” and they did have magical bards trapped within them. Oni thought he might be a soul steeler, placing bards within them. Oni and his former tribe were a part of the play list. David’s tattoo did move from his lifeless body and went upon this Walder. They needed help and they could watch him to see if it was him, even as he stripped David’s Body.
Arnia was distraught. She could find no way to move on. She moved about the tent like a cat looking for its next prey. Oni stopped her path, “I think you need to find your peace. Take the dawn and commune.” Oni could see now that the love he felt for Arnia was seeing Lathandar in her even before she could see it or feel it. Oni saw a god before he even knew that gods could exist. She was the embodiment of his love for the Morning Glory. Arnia went into a deep meditative state. A orange glow came over her body. She would find peace and watch over David and Ixen.
Mar’iya gathered heads. He was looking for a message. He wanted to find and kill the blacksmith and burn this place to the ground. Oni knew that justice had to be paid. That Sheik needed to be told of his foolishness. We agreed to gather our mounts. In this collapsing town, they were at risk. Arnia would not leave David’s and Ixen’s bodies. She would watch over them. Oni hoped for their safety, “May the light of day hide them from the chaos within this place.”
Walder agreed to help. Oni, Mar’iya and this new Walder headed into the chaos of the oasis. It was easy to move around. In every direction they went people were gathering supplies. They were trying to leave the safety of the town for the dessert. With the main guard and the slavers gone everything went to chaos. Oni looked out at fires and skirmishes. He looked down into the sand. This was his curse. Everyplace he would go would turn into chaos. He trusted in Lathandar but he made lives harder either through action or inaction. He looked up to the sun, still in its dawning arch, “Let this chaos give them a better life. Shine and guide oh great Morningfather.”
Oni went through their travels from the destruction of Trobridge, to the pyramid, to Raam, and now here. So far, the only orb of the future lived at the Pyramid, “Oh morning glory please guide Leo well and bring safety to those that make it to your promise land.” Oni should have known that the Agis had mislead them about the watersail. Oni could have and should have seen it. “We still need to bring dawns justice to him.” He should have known his own sister Selise had turned on him. Many died to get the pyramid safe, Rain, Sora, Soot, Naga, Nesy, Kobra, Yass, Joe Ajamu, Faststaff, Mother, and even Selise. “Let the Dawn of their sacrifice come true.” Now Oni saw these people being sacrificed for this promised future. Oni hoped he could at least help one of them. He looked down to his feet in the sand. His tranced toes were drawing patterns in the sand. He could see shadows form like blood within the patterns. A single drop of water fell from his eye, as Oni knew in that moment, he would never join the promise land. It was not a promise for him.
In the kennel most of the Pegasi were missing. Someone had taken many of them. Only three survived. They looked weak and wounded. Oni pulled in some healing miracle from Lathandar and helped them as he could. They looked better but still weak. They took flight to drop the heads of a gift upon the sheik and what was left of his court. Oni and Walder landed to investigate the tent. Oni went in and found the handless sheik’s body. He had been tortured and killed. Sending his guard after them, had sealed his own death. He knew even this fool deserved a prayer, “Great Dawnfather, I know this fool and his life have been separated, but please take him to a journey into the light.” Oni searched the rest of the tent. <may>
A huge crash smashed into a tent nearby. Oni ran outside to find Mar’iya flying above them, mountless. Walder looking up but not surprised smirked to Oni, “I told him the horse should land.” Mar’iya’s mount flew with it’s last bit of power. It passed out and crashed to its own death. Death was surrounding Oni again. What could he have done differently to avoid all this death. Oni looked over to Walder, seeing only the two mounts now. He made private thoughts, “fuck, now what.” The Dawns power came back to him. It was time to find this gift. His companions presumed he was insane, but he trusted in the Dawn.
Mar’iya turned a little dark, “now for that blacksmith.” Oni shock his head. He started to speak in this new annoying preacher like tone, “we have one more task before we bring justice to him.” Mar’iya now mocking Oni, “oh yeah, what is that.” Oni smiled as he headed off to the great tree, “we have a gift to find.”
They sculked through the oasis towards great white palm. Its glow was amazing. Some townsfolk had come here to gather dates. Oni ate one. It seemed to have an energizing effect. They gave one to each of the two remaining mounts. Walder looked almost annoyed, “Where is this gift?” Oni looked at him and could almost see the tattoos move about his body. He watched as new scenes formed, shifted, and changed into other scenes. It was like his body was forming stories within them. Oni had to shake himself back to the moment, “we must dig.”
They dug. Villagers started to see them but presumed they must be crazy. Soon no villagers lingered around the crazed diggers. They dug down beneath the great palm. Its roots did not grow out. They curved out and back into a mass beneath the tree. They were growing out of a big chest. Mar’iya was shocked to see the chest, “by the fives curse, I do not believe it is there.” Oni preached again, “I said it would be here.” They worked together to open it without damaging the tree or especially its roots. It took them most of the day. Once open, Oni found three disks and a ring with a sun etched into it. They decided to rest the night here to connect to these objects. Oni wished David was here to tell them what these things could do.
That morning as Oni looked up into the Dawn, he knew the ring could regenerate damage and the disk held the word of god. They held a power from a now long dead god, but that powered lingered. This lingering power was just enough to bring back the willing. Oni found his two companions looking up at the great tree. He was about to tell them about the objects, but he saw the concern upon their faces, what’s wrong?” Walder peered at him, “can you not see the tree?” Oni looked up to see a wounded tree. All of its palms had drooped, and the glow seemed to be gone. Oni looked down into the hole, but the roots looked fine.
Mar’iya: “Do you know what the objects do?
Oni: “Yes, the ring heals over time… And these disks can bring the willing back to life.”
Mar’iya: “That is amazing.”
Walder: “huuuuu
Mar’iya: “What’s wrong W..walder”
Mar’iya was still trying to place Walders name into his personal lexicon. He wanted to call him David but forced the correct name out of his mouth.
Walder: “well maybe that ring is what keeps the try alive.”
Oni and Mar’iya scanned the tree. The three men looked at each other. They all knew they held as amazing magical item. This could save them over and over. They still had a lot of hard fights ahead of them. This could be the choice that saves or kills them. Oni could see Mar’iya looking out over the town. Walder was looking down to the roots. They were all thinking it, but no one wanted to say, they needed to give up the ring. As they regrouped, the wind seemed drier than it was the day before. Oni looked down as he did not want to give this ring up, “This would be a great ring for Arnia. It would fit here perfectly.” Mar’iya looked down into the hole, “yeah that would be a good ring from Arnia.” Walder seemed to read his two new companions, “I think we should put the ring back on the tree.”
All three kicked sand between them. Oni pulled the ring from his own finger. Mar’iya pulled the little leather bag out and the ring was placed within. Oni jumped into the hole to place the ring back where they found it. None of them spoke as the covered the roots and put the tree back into its old state. It was as if words would break them. Words alone would have stopped them from doing the righteous thing. Oni could feel the fate of the gods in this decision. Once finished Oni gave one late silent prayer, “This was a Righteous Fate”.
They moved back into the town again. Oni saw Sanaa, the morningfather guard. He was with his wife and two children Zia, and Fana. Sanaa was in a panic looking through some fallen cart. He saw Oni and ran over. Oni tapped his head in the same old signal to make sure Mar’iya would open up a mental channel. Oni hugged this man, trying to give reassurance that this chaos will end. He was talking to Mar’iya, “I think we should give him the mounts. They are of little use to us now.” Mar’iya did not respond but physically nodded.
Sanaa, stepped back and spoke so fast that he could hardly form words, “I.. we.. how do we.” Oni grabbed the man’s hand, “shhhhhh. Remember how long the dawn takes.” Sanaa’s shoulders dropped a little as the slight prayer reached into him and a mild calm came over him, “what are we going to do Oni.” Oni smiled to him, then his family, and finally to his two companions, “you are going to take these two mounts and head to Raam.” Sanaa’s eyes welled up. Walder walked over to give his family a handful of the dates that he had collected. Mar’iya pulled a few of the priceless swords out, “and take these with you, they are worth a lot of money.” Oni smirked seeing the still mornings sun bounce off his friend, “yes. These mounts need food and a day’s rest. Search for supplies and Head to Raam. Save most of these swords for trade, and train with two of them. You might need that.” Sanaa could not understand the graciousness of the gift. He stood ready to say it was too much. Oni calmed him again with a grip, “When you get to Raam find a man by the name of Leo. Tell him you know us, and he will help you.” Sanaa started to take up the mounts and walk them off to an empty tent. Oni had one more thing left to say, “spread the dawn.”
Walder was shaking his head. It was unclear to him why they gave most of their wealth to this family that was likely two days from their own death, “what now”. Oni and Mar’iya looked back to him and then each other. Walder looked back to them, “Do we go after this blacksmith.” Almost in unison Oni and Mar’iya both spoke, “no, back to the tent.” Oni shifted towards where Arnia was watching over David and Ixen, “if I am right, we can bring back our friends. This might be the greatest dawn since the two dawns.” Walder looked confused and asked more than stated, “two dawns”. Mar’iya started to move faster, “long story.”
Now off to find Corga
Oni reached the tent first. He moved through the flap as the wind blew it open. He entered the space just like sand rolling in on the wind. Arnia did not move or shift. She was in a deep trance. Oni thought he could touch her and his hand would pass through her. Oni’s thoughts went to the god realm and thought she might have been there and not here. Oni passed a few thoughts to Herman, who dove into his sleeve and went into the nexus world of his kind. Oni hoped he could check on her and make sure she was safe within the god trance.
Oni moved over to Ixen. His body was still. All of his blood had clotted to make him rigger in stiffness. Oni eyed what was left of his eyes. The last couple of days had turned them cloudy and gray. Part of his scaly flesh came off into his fingers. The smell took over his senses. Mar’iya and Walder followed him in. Oni kneeled over Ixen. He looked into his eyes, trying to connect with his death soul. He whispered into the space over him. He placed one of the disks on his still chest. “Ixen, if you want to return to us, find the path this disk has left for you.” Ixen’s eyes started to clear. Life entered them. Fear entered them as the life seemed short lived as it took a lifetime before his chest started to move. Chunks of black blood were coughed from his mouth as life poured back into his body. Another eye looked at Oni. The five could see him here and now. He was seen.
Walder seemed panicked as he came into the tent. His face had a confused look as he could not tell his own future in this place of hell. Were the gods working their own paths for him. He took up a space at the tent flap. He watched for the new danger that must be coming any second.
Mar’iya went to stand over David. He stood guard over David and Arnia. He most have seen the same thing Oni saw as he moved his hand over to Arnia. It stopped when it reached her body. He looked almost confused as he and Oni expected it to pass through her. Once Ixen sat up, he moved over to David. He did not move his eyes knowing that must have been as gray as Ixen. He placed the disk on his still rigger’ed chest and whispered the same words, “if you want to return to us, find the path this disk has left for you.” David took in a few breaths and sat up. Both spit out chunks for several minutes as color returned to them. Oni felt a second eye upon his flesh. She was coming.
Walder walked back over to David. He seemed to be looking into his own soul. He reached to David. The two men’s hand grasped. Their fingered twisted together becoming almost one hand. The tattoos started to move. As they did, they told stories upon the body of Walder that would never be told on David. They moved over to David and became their own, no, his own story. Whole sections that had details of the different men changed and a new story was present. Their hands separated. Walder was about to speak, but no words came out. A look that looked like confusion mixed with relief came over his face and body. He could not speak. His body became engulfed is blue and green light. It covered him in seconds and when it when away, he was gone.
Oni looked at his companions, I think she likely knows we are here and why we are here. Selise might be coming for us.” Arnia never left her trance. David looked at the spot where Walder once stood, “who was that?” Mar’iya looked at him and with a silent laugh, “long story.” David knew this story would come during some fireside chat, so he did not push the point, “how long was I out…..dead.” Mar’iya looked at him amazed at the now living David, he had never heard of this before, “a few days.” Oni stepped in, “before we start talking about what’s next and killing this blacksmith, it is either time to run, or find Corga.” Mar’iya glared at Oni, “well, this is likely our only chance to get that green gem. And. We need to find that crown. It has our crystal on it.” Oni did a quick nod and nod response with David, Ixen and Mar’iya, “okay let’s find Corga.” Leaving Arnia again, they went to the warehouse.
It took most of our rope to climb down into underground area beneath the warehouse. It seemed still within the underground temple. The air had not moved from some time. The worshipers were either hiding or not present. Oni hoped it was the later. David was back and moved up to a door at the end of the passage. Oni wished he would be more patient now. David and Mar’iya started to test and search the door. Finally, David said “Open in the name of the great one.” He opened the door and stepped into the room. Each person followed behind him.
A large undead creature stood guard just on the other side of the door. As the group moved by it did not move an inch. David’s command had given us passage. We moved quickly. A room off to the right had another couple of zombie like undead in it. None of these creatures seemed to take much interest in our presence. The room to the south had three stream like channels. Each had a separate color of liquid flowing through them. The entire room had a pleasant smell. The color of the liquids from north to south were green, red, and clear.
At first Mar’iya and David moved past the streams without entering them. They scanned the door within the new room. It started to take a little longer than the Zombie guard was comfortable with, and it started to shift our direction. David moved back to the pools and stepped through them. He headed over to the door and said, “Seti, Minion, Nolanka”, and stepped through the door. It comforted the creature again. We all followed David through the door again, into another great temple to Set.
On the one end of the temple a huge statue of Set stood in front another red pulsing pit. Oni moved south from the pit with the rest of the party. Everyone wanted to avoid the pit in hopes no demon creature would come out. On the south end of the temple there was a room off to the west and hall off to the east. All of this still seemed too empty. David used the word “Jakal” too open the western room. It was mostly empty, but Mar’iya and David found a map and a piece of paper that had the same text as the statue several days ago.
“here did I, Martek archmage of the land, seal up a prince of the djinn, that in the days ahead that I do foresee. when the evil one is loosed, the powers of good might be put to the test against the evil.
The path and the way have I entrusted to the pharaohs and their wives, that each might hold a part of the key and together know when to unlock the power of this goodly djinni.
The time is yet unknown, but the place is this place of Set under the protecting phoenix.”
The eastern hallway had four doors. Somehow just being in this evil hallway was harmful. Set trickled life directly from them as they checked the doors. Sandini was found near dead chained within one of the room. A dead companion came to life and attacked the group. Oni thought they should leave Sandini within the room to his current fate. Oni was not prepared to kill him, but nothing within is new morning glow suggested he had to save that beast. Within the last door of the hall was a small statue. David used it to open a passage to the old temple, the party had found days earlier. David kept the statue as a good luck charm.
Once freed Sandini tried to convince the group and specifically Oni he was a changed man. Oni healed him. He was about to leave. Remembering the betrayal of the bugbear Oni was not going to let him leave. He tried to convince him that he was changed and that he always treated the slaves with great care. Oni was thrown into a rage and reminded him and the entire group that this beast enslaved children. All discussion about his kindness to slaves stopped. Oni told him his redemption can from helping them. He would fight at their sides. He begged for weapons, but the bugbear situation was still too close in Oni’s mind, “You will find redemption through fighting with your fingers and limbs.” Knowing he had no choice he joined the group.
The group moved back up through the temple into a chamber off to the east. Within this room there were three large pots of liquid. Sandini still seeking his redemption and freedom drank the liquid from one of the pots. He passed out. Mar’iya and David moved north through a secret door into a hallway. Ixen took up a guard position on the north wall. Oni walked over to check on Sandini. He was dead. Oni had hoped he could have found his redemption and he gave a quick prayer to Lathandar, “Just his path in the light of the day, great Dawnfather. Please guide him to the light if you find him bright.”
Mar’iya and David started to investigate the doors throughout the small hallway. At some point David set off a trap in the floor. Only David and Mar’iya could have survived the sodden opening. Oni and Ixen were able to jump the gap and rest upon the floor just north of the hole. The group stood in from a new door to open….