Post by Jhelks on Mar 27, 2019 15:55:55 GMT
In a great chasm miles to Slug Town's western fringes sat a lone temple. Massive in scale the temple was outwardly carved into a mural of demonic art. Demons, devils, and warriors of the Dark Clan had been immortalized into the etched stone. Each monster a servant, every face a vassal in the thrall of the Dark Father Lord Slug! Standing before the monolith Jhelks truly felt small in stature. In the end it didn't matter if the legends about Slug were true, all that mattered was that his legacy had shaped the Dark Clan down their path. Something no person, no hero, no force of nature had been able to deter.
His eyes lingering upon a particular violent, yet beautiful scene carved into the overwhelming stalagmite Jhelks could only marvel at the painstaking will it must have taken to create. The Demon Temple of Namek was a palace of worship, and a home to ceremonial rituals and magic. It was said if a Dark Namekian sought answers of the self, than the Demon Temple was where the answer could be found. Jhelks had never been a faithful man, religion wasn't something the PTO thrall camps had ever felt a need to educate upon. Yet standing here and now, in a miles wide chasm of shadow; staring at a mountain of worked stone. The young warrior felt a stirring deep within himself.
Striding ever closer to the towering legacy Jhelks soon found himself before the temples main entrance. A heavy set of whitish doors blocked the Namekian's path forward, their strange design beckoning to be touched. Curious at the odd material's appearance Jhelks reached out and gentle caressed the door with his fingertips. "Bone?" Jhelks voiced in surprise as his touch identified the white material as shaped bones. The warrior's shock came from the sheer scale of the twin doors, as they stood twice his own height, three times his width and appeared to weigh hundreds of pounds. Yet before Jhelks could question any more the doors slowly parted from his touch and opened with a strained squeal.
Passing through the barrier Jhelks learned the temple did not smell of musk or death as he would have expected. Yet neither was the air stale or damp. Instead the warrior was greeted by the faintest scent of sweet smoke, copper, and something oddly flowery. Within the temple was cast aglow in a battle between purple and orange fire light, for Jhelks found himself within a great chapel. Golden braziers burned at either side of the holy room, one half burning orange flames. The other burning a intense violet.
Within the chapel a red rug ran the length of the room with plush pillows to either side of the walkway. Statues depicting Lord Slug and other older Namekian gods, gurus, and elders were placed about the grand hall. Before each sat an alter, all baring different offers left by those burdened with faith. Several shadowy tunnels lay at ends of the chapel, their presence only hinting at the vast spaces unseen within the mighty temple. Throughout the room several of Jhelks dark brothers sat in meditation or pray, two even went through the motions of a ancient duel. Their movements slow and precise, as the practice was more ritual than true battle.
One Namekian of obviously advanced age took notice of Jhelks and shuffled to the young warriors side. "Hello my young brother. Have you come to pray?" he asked upon reaching him, his voice soft as silk. The elder was short for a Namekian, one of the first adults Jhelks had met shorter than himself. He was also thin enough for Jhelks to easily pick out his skeletal frame. Jhelks could only assume the elder to be long in his life and nearing to his time of death. "I... I have never prayed." Jhelks answered after a moment of thought.
"Unsurprising." the elder said with a quiet chuckle, his old bones shaking beneath his flesh as he did so. "Few of our clansmen seek comfort in the spiritual. Most seek only power." the elder added as he reached out to take Jhelks hand and began to guide the warrior down the red path. "As a clan we seek power. Such is the way of Slug's legacy, but most of our brothers only seek power of the body. Did you know lad, that Slug was more than just a warrior?" the elder asked as the pair walked through the holy hall. "No. I did not actually." Jhelks answered, finding it hard to not let the older Namekian speak.
"Yes, he was a great fighter. Yet he was also a brilliant strategist, as well as an accomplished magician. Slug mastered his body, his mind, and magic. Only with all three could he have achieved such power." the elder went on to lecture, and Jhelks found himself in rapture by the words. "It is said that within this very temple he achieved his mastery. Right before he spawned the first of his children." the elder explained as the pair came to a stop by one of the large pillows. "If only such mastery was easy to achieve." Jhelks muttered, a statement which made the elder laugh and wheeze in joy.
"Nothing worth having is gained easily. Blood, zeni, fame... these are fleet gains. True power of the self is next to unreachable to the masses. Help me sit." the elder replied, waving a stick thin arm towards the plush cushion. Jhelks helped the old time to sit in comfort before crossing his legs and taking a seat upon the stone beside him. "Tell me. What do the duel flames signify?" Jhelks asked as he watched the orange and violet fires dance mightily in their braziers.
"They mean many things. The orange is the 'flame of conquest.' It represents the power of the physical body, and the power of rule through strength." the elder said pointing towards the orange flame, before it's golden brazier sat and alter littered with hundreds of offerings. The elder than twisted in his cushion to point upon the violet fire. "That is the 'flame of unity.' It speaks to the power of Namekian magic, which is always stronger when used by a great many people all at once. The violet flame represents rule through connection and common cause." the elder finished while he settled into his pillow more comfortably.
Jhelks gazed passed between the two flames in thought, and only as he became lost in the old man's words did Jhelks notice something strange. Between the two braziers sat a third, unlit and discolored green with age. "And there? What is that?" Jhelks asked, his question drawing a sly gaze from the elder at his side. "That boy hasn't been lit in nearly fifty years. Even back than it was always the least worshiped shire to Slug's legacy." the elder stated, but a hard look from Jhelks clearly showcased the warrior's dissatisfaction with such an answer. "I like you boy. Your sharp." the elder said with a snarky grin. "That brazier used to hold the 'flame of divinity.' It symbolized the power of the mind and inner strength that could not be measured. The flame was to represent the rule over one's self." the elder finished as his gaze lingered upon the unlit brazier.
"I wish to see it lit." Jhelks stated, drawing another laugh from his elder. "Good luck. Each brazier burns with a special ingredient. The orange is fueled by Ajisa leaves bathed in blood. The violet burns with the aid of several plants and lizard scales easily found in the luminescent caves. The flame of mind was fueled by something which could only be found deep within the temples heart. None go to harvest it now." the elder said flatly.
A disappointed look crossed both Jhelks features and the elders as the pair momentarily sat in silence. "I wish to see it lit." Jhelks uttered as he pushed himself to his feet, the elder shooting him a strange look. "You said Lord Slug's strength came from mastering three powers. We are a sorry legacy if we fail to even acknowledge a third of his strength." Jhelks said before turning to walk down the nearest tunnel.
The elder watched as Jhelks disappeared into shadow, a faint glimmer in his eye reflected the hall's twin fires. "I really do like this boy." he muttered to no one in particular.
WC: 1,411
His eyes lingering upon a particular violent, yet beautiful scene carved into the overwhelming stalagmite Jhelks could only marvel at the painstaking will it must have taken to create. The Demon Temple of Namek was a palace of worship, and a home to ceremonial rituals and magic. It was said if a Dark Namekian sought answers of the self, than the Demon Temple was where the answer could be found. Jhelks had never been a faithful man, religion wasn't something the PTO thrall camps had ever felt a need to educate upon. Yet standing here and now, in a miles wide chasm of shadow; staring at a mountain of worked stone. The young warrior felt a stirring deep within himself.
Striding ever closer to the towering legacy Jhelks soon found himself before the temples main entrance. A heavy set of whitish doors blocked the Namekian's path forward, their strange design beckoning to be touched. Curious at the odd material's appearance Jhelks reached out and gentle caressed the door with his fingertips. "Bone?" Jhelks voiced in surprise as his touch identified the white material as shaped bones. The warrior's shock came from the sheer scale of the twin doors, as they stood twice his own height, three times his width and appeared to weigh hundreds of pounds. Yet before Jhelks could question any more the doors slowly parted from his touch and opened with a strained squeal.
Passing through the barrier Jhelks learned the temple did not smell of musk or death as he would have expected. Yet neither was the air stale or damp. Instead the warrior was greeted by the faintest scent of sweet smoke, copper, and something oddly flowery. Within the temple was cast aglow in a battle between purple and orange fire light, for Jhelks found himself within a great chapel. Golden braziers burned at either side of the holy room, one half burning orange flames. The other burning a intense violet.
Within the chapel a red rug ran the length of the room with plush pillows to either side of the walkway. Statues depicting Lord Slug and other older Namekian gods, gurus, and elders were placed about the grand hall. Before each sat an alter, all baring different offers left by those burdened with faith. Several shadowy tunnels lay at ends of the chapel, their presence only hinting at the vast spaces unseen within the mighty temple. Throughout the room several of Jhelks dark brothers sat in meditation or pray, two even went through the motions of a ancient duel. Their movements slow and precise, as the practice was more ritual than true battle.
One Namekian of obviously advanced age took notice of Jhelks and shuffled to the young warriors side. "Hello my young brother. Have you come to pray?" he asked upon reaching him, his voice soft as silk. The elder was short for a Namekian, one of the first adults Jhelks had met shorter than himself. He was also thin enough for Jhelks to easily pick out his skeletal frame. Jhelks could only assume the elder to be long in his life and nearing to his time of death. "I... I have never prayed." Jhelks answered after a moment of thought.
"Unsurprising." the elder said with a quiet chuckle, his old bones shaking beneath his flesh as he did so. "Few of our clansmen seek comfort in the spiritual. Most seek only power." the elder added as he reached out to take Jhelks hand and began to guide the warrior down the red path. "As a clan we seek power. Such is the way of Slug's legacy, but most of our brothers only seek power of the body. Did you know lad, that Slug was more than just a warrior?" the elder asked as the pair walked through the holy hall. "No. I did not actually." Jhelks answered, finding it hard to not let the older Namekian speak.
"Yes, he was a great fighter. Yet he was also a brilliant strategist, as well as an accomplished magician. Slug mastered his body, his mind, and magic. Only with all three could he have achieved such power." the elder went on to lecture, and Jhelks found himself in rapture by the words. "It is said that within this very temple he achieved his mastery. Right before he spawned the first of his children." the elder explained as the pair came to a stop by one of the large pillows. "If only such mastery was easy to achieve." Jhelks muttered, a statement which made the elder laugh and wheeze in joy.
"Nothing worth having is gained easily. Blood, zeni, fame... these are fleet gains. True power of the self is next to unreachable to the masses. Help me sit." the elder replied, waving a stick thin arm towards the plush cushion. Jhelks helped the old time to sit in comfort before crossing his legs and taking a seat upon the stone beside him. "Tell me. What do the duel flames signify?" Jhelks asked as he watched the orange and violet fires dance mightily in their braziers.
"They mean many things. The orange is the 'flame of conquest.' It represents the power of the physical body, and the power of rule through strength." the elder said pointing towards the orange flame, before it's golden brazier sat and alter littered with hundreds of offerings. The elder than twisted in his cushion to point upon the violet fire. "That is the 'flame of unity.' It speaks to the power of Namekian magic, which is always stronger when used by a great many people all at once. The violet flame represents rule through connection and common cause." the elder finished while he settled into his pillow more comfortably.
Jhelks gazed passed between the two flames in thought, and only as he became lost in the old man's words did Jhelks notice something strange. Between the two braziers sat a third, unlit and discolored green with age. "And there? What is that?" Jhelks asked, his question drawing a sly gaze from the elder at his side. "That boy hasn't been lit in nearly fifty years. Even back than it was always the least worshiped shire to Slug's legacy." the elder stated, but a hard look from Jhelks clearly showcased the warrior's dissatisfaction with such an answer. "I like you boy. Your sharp." the elder said with a snarky grin. "That brazier used to hold the 'flame of divinity.' It symbolized the power of the mind and inner strength that could not be measured. The flame was to represent the rule over one's self." the elder finished as his gaze lingered upon the unlit brazier.
"I wish to see it lit." Jhelks stated, drawing another laugh from his elder. "Good luck. Each brazier burns with a special ingredient. The orange is fueled by Ajisa leaves bathed in blood. The violet burns with the aid of several plants and lizard scales easily found in the luminescent caves. The flame of mind was fueled by something which could only be found deep within the temples heart. None go to harvest it now." the elder said flatly.
A disappointed look crossed both Jhelks features and the elders as the pair momentarily sat in silence. "I wish to see it lit." Jhelks uttered as he pushed himself to his feet, the elder shooting him a strange look. "You said Lord Slug's strength came from mastering three powers. We are a sorry legacy if we fail to even acknowledge a third of his strength." Jhelks said before turning to walk down the nearest tunnel.
The elder watched as Jhelks disappeared into shadow, a faint glimmer in his eye reflected the hall's twin fires. "I really do like this boy." he muttered to no one in particular.
WC: 1,411
