| Logs |
2009 May 25
| When The Bough Breaks |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: Bough Logs |
Aria d'Inanna, Second Stanza
Jareth finds himself standing behind Mikal. Around his waist is a decorated golden belt holding a long white loincloth, the edges embroidered in golden thread. Around his biceps and forearms are gold spirals. Sandals on his feet have laces that criss-cross all the way up to his knees. A wide golden neckpiece drapes over his chest and back and his hair is swept back and slicked into a smooth braid, leaving the boyish face bare.
The priest of Anu narrows his eyes, and carefully brandishes his bow. "No more for you the sacred harlots of the House of Heaven, O Uruk!" he calls out. "Glory and praise to the God of Gods, to he of the Most High, Lord of Constellations, He Who Sits In Judgement! Today we assert the primacy of the Lord of the Skies!"
Mikal stares in puzzlement at the priest for a few heartbeats... then she shakes her head and says simply, "Priests of Anu, help your sunstruck brother to lay down his arms as well, and aid him to enter with us into the House of the Queen of Heaven and Earth. We will see to his madness and help him heal."
The bard's blue eyes narrow slightly as he looks at the hulking priest, disturbed by the fact that he seems not to be maddened. He seems cold and calculated despite his apparent fervor... and he seems terribly familiar. Jareth wracks his brain, trying to figure out where he knows this man from. One hand moves to rest lightly between Mikal's shoulderblades.
Mikal blinks at the unexpected touch, and she turns her head slightly. Ah, she knows that qadesh -- no worries. She turns her storm-gray gaze back onto the apparently sun-stroke afflicted priest.
In contrast to the archpriest, the other priests do look a little maddened and 'sun-struck.' Some of the priests look a little unsure, looking askance at the arch-priest. Even so, the force of personality that the arch-priest is exuding seems palpable, and very much swaying them.
Jareth's jaw tightens and his voice is low as he says, "He's causing this, I think." He points with his chin to the priest in the lead. "I know him from somewhere... he's very familiar to me. I don't know where yet." A couple of deep breaths and he continues, "He doesn't care about those priests... or about the qadesha. And he doesn't expect to die. He's utterly willy to die for whatever it is that's got him needing revenge so badly."
Some of the priests who look unsure of themselves fidget a bit at Mikal's order, but the archpriest says sharply, "Do not listen to her, brothers. She is but a reed, through which empty air blows. This day our divine Lord Anu shall reign sole and supreme!"
Mikal nods slightly at the quiet words, and she frowns thoughtfully, wondering who or what has so damaged the poor man. She considers trying a Ward to protect him from supernatural influence -- then regretfully sets that aside. If the man is truly so mentally injured as the qadesh behind her says, then it is a sickness inside himself, not from an outside source. She says soothingly, "Brother, if you have been wronged then you deserve justice. This is not it. Come before the Queen of Heaven and present your case in peace and reverence -- and receive the justice you deserve." As she speaks she turns Heart Shaping upon the man, willing him to calm friendship once more.
Jareth can see this could far too easily get far, far out of control. He can tell some of the priests are wanting to break ranks and not be insane. If they're open to it already, he might be able to nudge them back to sanity.
The archpriest seems to almost be affected... but there is some sort of other force at work, something strengthening his resolve, and he shakes off the attempt at Shaping his feelings. He bares his teeth. "I will skin you like... like a rabbit!" The emphasis he puts on the word is extremely creepy.
Jareth's eyes narrow at the word "rabbit."
Mikal raises an eyebrow at that -- looks like she was wrong, and the poor man needs Ward instead.
Jareth has never been one to pray much, but he finds himself asking for this to work and he's not sure who he's asking. He steps up level with Mikal and, using all the charm he can muster, he speaks to the priests he can tell are wavering. "Brothers! I can see in your eyes that many of you know this is wrong. You know how that this is beyond wrong into blasphemy! You don't want to attack peaceful people who only wish to celebrate the beauty of She Who Walks Between the Stars! Lay down your arms! Help your brothers to lay down their arms! Join us! Celebrate love and life with us!"
The wavering ones seem to solidify their resolve. One of them says softly and firmly, "This is wrong, Khor, we should return to Anu's temple and pray for guidance--"
The archpriest, Khor, simply says softly and lethally, "Kill the ones who falter in their duty." A moment later the priests are fighting amongst themselves, sickle-swords flashing in the noonday sun as their shouts become battle cries and exclaimations of anger and surprise.
Mikal cries out in horror, then snaps at the priest, "What sickness ails you, that you would do this to your own people?!"
Khor smirks a bit, spreading his hands. "All shall bow before the One," he says simply, and nocks and arrow and lets it fly.
Khor's arrow slices through the air, wide of it's mark, skittering off a pillar.
Mikal throws one hand up, shouting, "In Her name, STOP!" She's not surprised the arrow misses, but she also doesn't hesitate -- she casts a Ward on the crazed priest and calls out, "Enough! This is a profanity before your deity as well as ours!"
Khor stumbles, looking sticken as the Ward blocks him from whatever was giving him the phenomenal power he had been channelling. At the same time, the priests who at his command had been laying into the other, wavering priests, give pause as well. Khor snarls. "You hellsworn bitch!" he growls. "I'm glad I can now see you with eyes unblinded, so I know what your accursed visage looks like and that of your boy!"
Mikal shakes her head and brings up the bow, aiming and firing in one swift, smooth action. "Be at peace, madman. Let Her touch bring cool comfort to the disease burning you from within." The arrow she fires is to knock him out, not damage him.
Raphael darts forward suddenly along one wall, then dives into the morass of struggling, cursing, confused priests. His actions are careful and deliberate, as he knocks down as many of the attacking priests as he can, in order to deflect further conflict.
Mikal calls quietly, "Brother wolf, the priest."
Raphael turns and leaps.
The oversized raptor-wolf hits the priest in the middle of the back, riding the staggered man down to thump crushingly into the ground. Amazingly, the crazed man is still struggling -- but after one powerful blow from Raphael, the priest finally goes limp. Mikal sighs in relief, striding forward to stand by the downed priest and bark out sharply, "That's enough! Weapons down, NOW!"
With the fall of Khor, the other priests are looking at each other blearily, and are slowly dropping their weapons as if waking from a dream.
Mikal doesn't look away from the cursed priests as she calls behind herself, "Qadishim of Inanna, come aid your cursed brethren into the temple for Inanna's mercy." To Raphael she says quietly, "Pull the sickle and the bow away from him, and give them to me, please."
Raphael does as he is instructed -- he looks more like a lion now than a wolf, for some reason -- and the priestesses of Inanna -- not cowering but, weaponless, not on the front lines facing the priests -- move to take the archpriest of Anu into the House of Heaven. The priests have begun wailing their sin, pleading forgiveness from the gods and the priestesses. The priestesses also usher the priests of Anu to the House as well.
Mikal takes the weapons cautiously, wondering if they're cursed as well, then runs an affectionate hand along the lion's mane, murmuring happily to him, "Well done, big brother!" She heads in with the priestesses carrying in the unconscious former archpriest -- she knows a transgression of this magnitude will cost him dearly. He will be fortunate if he keeps his life; his former job -- hmm. She looks around, then beckons to the priest who tried to tell Khor to stop.
That priest comes forward, looking downtrodden and forlorn. "O Ninshubur, this day is evil indeed. I know not how Khor did convince us to take arms against you, for our sects have been long-allied since the day She came to Uruk from far Aratta."
Mikal says in stern regret, "It is good you recognize the blasphemy for what it is. Do you believe you can lead your tattered fellow priests to suitable penance, so the Popess Enheduanna's father-king does not eliminate your temple entirely? I will gladly speak for mercy, if so."
"Yes, Ninshubur, I can. This troubles me greatly. I know not what it was that Khor was attempting. He has not seemed in complete control of himself these past two days. And then this morning, when we heard to bells and sounds of your procession...
Mikal looks relieved, patting the taller man's arm reassuringly, "This I am exceedingly glad to hear -- as you say, we have long been allies." She's silent a moment, thinking, then adds worriedly, "What is your name, please? And what happened two days ago to the poor man? Is he so ill that a merciful death would be kindest?" She frowns, adding quietly, "I pray not..."
"I am Ilku, Ninshubur. Two days ago, Khor began to act different from how he normally acts. He was... far more zealous in his prayers than usual, and would not speak prayers to other gods but Anu.""
Mikal nods gravely, murmuring, "Inanna's blessings on you, Ilku; may you lead your poor brethren with wisdom and mercy. Go on, please?"
Ilku bows to Ninshubur -- Mikal, and continues: When we asked him of his behavior, he would not speak of it, saying only he had been inspired by the god. We took it as a passing thing, then, and that when satiated, Anu would turn his attention elsewhere. But yesterday we found Khor in the archives, going through the tablets like a madman, seeking something we are not sure what."
Mikal frowns thoughtfully, nodding to the priestesses who carry the unconscious Khor off for healing. She warns them carefully: "He is possessed by demons, sisters -- ward him well, and do not allow him to spread his madness to innocents."
Mikal glances at Ilku, adding quietly, "Continue, please," as she more slowly follows Khor's attendants.
Ilku sighs, "We insisted he rest yesterday, but then this morning he spoke quietly to a number of priests. It was as if his words were like bonds, and we could not resist what he was saying or telling us to do. That is all there is, Ninshubur.
Mikal holds up the bow and sickle, "These were his usual tools of office?"
"Yes, they were."
Mikal nods thoughtfully, then pauses, stopping a young girl dashing by, "Apprentice-priestess, please tell the Popess Enheduanna I would speak with her on the subject of this foul attack this morning, at her convenience. Also, tell her as soon as possible this madness may not be confined to our city -- she should warn all the temples of our Lady to beware demonic possession by the priests of Anu, such that the leader in their madness speaks irresistibly sweet falsehoods, like poisoned honey."
Mikal looks up at Ilku after the breathless girl has dashed off; the small woman's expression is grave, "This is tragic news, good Ilku. I fear the king may wish to confiscate much of the stone archives in search of this demon-possessed object, as well. Though this is a dreadful sickness, if you wish I will do what I can to aid you and yours."
Ilku nods enthusiastically, "Yes, Ninshubur, any help you may provide will be grateful and much welcome!"
[Previous Log] [Index] [Next Log]