Post by Venus on Dec 23, 2007 15:58:25 GMT -5
Shadows swirling...
Blackness stirring...
From beneath all the dust and darkness of once-deserted catacombs, a stunted creature stood in the middle of the great circle of caves, gaze intent from beneath a dirtied woolen hood.
It contemplated for a moment, tilting its head, before scurrying towards a nearby cave, ignoring the elaborate runes decorating the entrance.
Whichever pompous family of dragons it was that was entombed here didn't really matter to the thing. It was on a mission.
However, the family were obviously adverse to the visitor, for a strong howling wind suddenly ripped through the cave.
The creature was sent sprawling, but continued its fight into the cavern unhindered, finally collapsing against the back wall. It hit the cold surface with its palm, and hidden in the confines of the cloak, howling an inaudible string of syllables above the rising shriek of moving stone.
Its voice was thin and reedy, but so piercing that it seemed to shear into the very stones of the catacombs as they shifted under the command of nature.
With a groan, the unearthly wind stopped.
The creature straightened, and gazed down at the smooth steps of a staircase seemingly torn from the walls, pausing for a moment before beginning its descent.
Down, down, further down it went, moving faster and faster until it skidded to a halt in a large open area, lit only by a strange column of purple light somehow filtering in from above.
It seemed to straighten its back, and called out again. This time, its voice was reluctant and nervous.
"My Lord?"
Nothing.
Indecisive, it stepped forward towards the purple ray. The light crackled, and the thing jumped back. Wary again, it raised a hand.
A ball of green energy coalesced, and floated over to the column, hovering before merging with it.
The creature spoke again.
'Lord and master, hear my call
Come and greet your minions all
The feathered ravens flocking around
Await your rising, life again found.
Escape the cold embrace of time
From the murky black depths, climb
For your moment has now come
Your servant more faithful than some
Begs you to recall and rise
To view this new world's open skies!
The light fizzled out, and a terrible roar filled the darkness, making the creature shrink back, pressing itself against the onyx wall in fear.
From beneath the ground came a shaking, the sound of teeth grinding together, snapping and chomping.
Out of the darkness, a silhouette shrouded in a hooded cloak of black slid into existence.
The thing cried out in glee, throwing back its hood to reveal pitch black gleaming hair, pale skin and sharp purple pupil-less eyes.
"Master!"
The 'Master' fully materialized and looked up from beneath its hood, showing a purple-black snout and glowing coal black eyes. Reaching up with clawed hands, it carefully discarded the material.
A dragon stepped forward from the pool of cloak, stretching its neck joints and hearing them crack. Purple-black scales caught the little light still coming into the chamber from above, and in the gaps between flat scales and woven into the rents of battle scars, hundreds of raven feathers shone dully, swinging gently from side to side as the dragon took a deep, invigorating breath before spreading its wings.
The membranes stretched and locked, revealing yet more feathers dangling from the bony ridges supporting the framework of the wings.
Pure black horns spiraled from the top of its head, accompanied by a tough black ridge tumbling down the back of the dragon and ending in a lethal-looking spike at its tip.
Another deep breath, and the dragon locked eyes with its servant.
Scrambling to its knees, the creature spoke.
"Allow me to be the first to welcome you back to life, master Rafael!"
The dragon lifted its lip in a sneer, and a masculine voice rumbled from its throat, gravelly with misuse.
"About time one of you lowlife scum decided it was a good moment to revive me. And of course it would be you Devades. Now...inform me of the situation."
The servant spoke, and Rafael absorbed the information.
After its missive had been delivered, the dragon dismissed his servant. Lifting his head, Rafael roared to the sky, shaking the cavern with its volume.
Hrafn'motaelam was back.
Blackness stirring...
From beneath all the dust and darkness of once-deserted catacombs, a stunted creature stood in the middle of the great circle of caves, gaze intent from beneath a dirtied woolen hood.
It contemplated for a moment, tilting its head, before scurrying towards a nearby cave, ignoring the elaborate runes decorating the entrance.
Whichever pompous family of dragons it was that was entombed here didn't really matter to the thing. It was on a mission.
However, the family were obviously adverse to the visitor, for a strong howling wind suddenly ripped through the cave.
The creature was sent sprawling, but continued its fight into the cavern unhindered, finally collapsing against the back wall. It hit the cold surface with its palm, and hidden in the confines of the cloak, howling an inaudible string of syllables above the rising shriek of moving stone.
Its voice was thin and reedy, but so piercing that it seemed to shear into the very stones of the catacombs as they shifted under the command of nature.
With a groan, the unearthly wind stopped.
The creature straightened, and gazed down at the smooth steps of a staircase seemingly torn from the walls, pausing for a moment before beginning its descent.
Down, down, further down it went, moving faster and faster until it skidded to a halt in a large open area, lit only by a strange column of purple light somehow filtering in from above.
It seemed to straighten its back, and called out again. This time, its voice was reluctant and nervous.
"My Lord?"
Nothing.
Indecisive, it stepped forward towards the purple ray. The light crackled, and the thing jumped back. Wary again, it raised a hand.
A ball of green energy coalesced, and floated over to the column, hovering before merging with it.
The creature spoke again.
'Lord and master, hear my call
Come and greet your minions all
The feathered ravens flocking around
Await your rising, life again found.
Escape the cold embrace of time
From the murky black depths, climb
For your moment has now come
Your servant more faithful than some
Begs you to recall and rise
To view this new world's open skies!
The light fizzled out, and a terrible roar filled the darkness, making the creature shrink back, pressing itself against the onyx wall in fear.
From beneath the ground came a shaking, the sound of teeth grinding together, snapping and chomping.
Out of the darkness, a silhouette shrouded in a hooded cloak of black slid into existence.
The thing cried out in glee, throwing back its hood to reveal pitch black gleaming hair, pale skin and sharp purple pupil-less eyes.
"Master!"
The 'Master' fully materialized and looked up from beneath its hood, showing a purple-black snout and glowing coal black eyes. Reaching up with clawed hands, it carefully discarded the material.
A dragon stepped forward from the pool of cloak, stretching its neck joints and hearing them crack. Purple-black scales caught the little light still coming into the chamber from above, and in the gaps between flat scales and woven into the rents of battle scars, hundreds of raven feathers shone dully, swinging gently from side to side as the dragon took a deep, invigorating breath before spreading its wings.
The membranes stretched and locked, revealing yet more feathers dangling from the bony ridges supporting the framework of the wings.
Pure black horns spiraled from the top of its head, accompanied by a tough black ridge tumbling down the back of the dragon and ending in a lethal-looking spike at its tip.
Another deep breath, and the dragon locked eyes with its servant.
Scrambling to its knees, the creature spoke.
"Allow me to be the first to welcome you back to life, master Rafael!"
The dragon lifted its lip in a sneer, and a masculine voice rumbled from its throat, gravelly with misuse.
"About time one of you lowlife scum decided it was a good moment to revive me. And of course it would be you Devades. Now...inform me of the situation."
The servant spoke, and Rafael absorbed the information.
After its missive had been delivered, the dragon dismissed his servant. Lifting his head, Rafael roared to the sky, shaking the cavern with its volume.
Hrafn'motaelam was back.