The Ancestor Cult

1. The Ancestor Cult

   #1

   Never-Ending Silence stood still, darkly magnificent and powerful. His hair was silver with a single black streak, his skin white like that of a newly dead corpse. His lips and the areas around his eyes were black and the irises of his eyes were a purple-red color that brought the only sort of color to him except for his sleeves of bright bloody-red silk. Over body wrappings and finely adorned clothing of black and grey silks, he wore glittering armor black as night, adorned with bleached bones. His cloak was woven from his own funeral wrappings. The cavern around him echoed with the sound of dripping water.
   Suddenly, a woman appeared, a simple form, elegantly empty in it's seductiveness, with only the barest of curves. The face was empty of emotion, eyes black like voids.
   The ghost-woman spoke, bowing low before Never-Ending Silence. "Oh, great Death-Knight, He Who Commands Death, Honor of His Mistress, I, Seven Murder's Daughter, beg your favor and the favor of your mistress..."
   Never-Ending Silence cut her off. "Shut up. I know you grovel before me. You would not have called for us otherwise. Now, my mistress appreciates brief-ness. Tell me of your proposal."
   The ghost nodded. "Apologies, oh greatest Master of the Dead. I represent the dead of the Plain of Steel Ash, who propose alliance between us and your mistress, that we might be rampart against his Dark Majesty, the First and Night-Crowned Wolf. Even now, he rests his fortress of Quietus upon the border of our home."
   Never-Ending Silence smirked, gazing down upon this small ghost. Before she died, she might have been, perhaps, eighteen, just barely a young woman. "What is it that you seek from us, spectre? We will not come to field against another of my mistress's kind."
   "We do not expect this from you, dark master. Nothing will stop the First and Night-Crowned Wolf from destroying our nation. Indeed, only your mistress and the others hold him from taking all of the Underworld. No, Death-Knight. What we ask is that you shield us from the storm through other means. Surely your mistress has access to the Living World?" said the ghost-woman, turning her emotionless face toward him.
   "Indeed." intoned Never-Ending Silence. "Fine. I see your aim, spirit." The Death-Knight turned, waving his hand to summon his demon servants. The servants, red-furred, ape-like erymanthoi, leapt from the shadows, snarling at the spectre. "Don't mistake the intentions of my mistress, ghost. We hold no allegiance to such low-born dead. We help you merely because we oppose the First and Night-Crowned Wolf. Beasts!," he called to the erymanthoi, "Take me from this Underworld into the Living Lands!"

2. The Ancestor Cult

   #2

   Mona woke up in a cold sweat. She'd been dreaming again. It was much the same thing. That frightening looking man, resembling nothing so much as a newly dead corpse, was a mainstay in her dreams. Had been since she was six. Sometimes there were other people in the dreams, like tonight. There had been an emotionless looking woman, and seemed to be asking a favor of the man. And then there were the beasts. The dreams frightened her, but she didn't dare tell anyone. She'd done that once, when the dreams had first started. It started a panic among the villagers, and attracted far, far too much attention from people who scared Mona almost as much as the dreams. She'd learned not to do that again.
   Now, her only confidant was Jericho.
   But she had learned that the dreams sometimes meant things. So, sometimes, she could predict things. That had earned her the grudging respect of her neighbors, and she frankly suspected that was why they put up with her, even though she was widely considered a reclusive eccentric.
   She could still remember the man's words at the end of the dream, what had woken her up. Take me from this Underworld into the Living Lands! The lean cat wandered over, purring. She stroked his fur absently.
   "I dreamed again. And... and I think that something is coming, Jericho. I don't know if it's good or bad. But something is coming."

3. The Ancestor Cult

   #3

   Jericho only purred as he sat up and streched his long limbs only to sit and stare at Mona allowing his clever eyes to peer into her own. He was tranfixed as if by looking in to her eyes he to could see the very dream that she to had wittnessed. As many would guess Jericho was no ordinary cat. He possesed a certain amout of intelect that reached further even than that of Mona's imagination. He need only to wait for the right time to make known his abilities...

4. The Ancestor Cult

   #4

   OOC: Playing a cat! Audacious, my friend, audacious. Let's see how that works out!

5. The Ancestor Cult

   #5

   OOC: :wink: Meow!!!

6. hello

   #6

   It was raining and cheet had been standing in the gaurd towers for 8 hours now and the wet cow manure had just started to smell. Cheet was barly 15 and armor barely fit. he wanted more out of life than what he had now, to be like his dad that was his dream. if only he where still alive, cheet would also have been in the royal army butt his dreams where shatterd after the great war. now he lived alone. with no one to care for him.
   
   
   
   (OOC: note to all cheet died, my comp wasn't working and he was left behind)

7. The Ancestor Cult

   #7

   OOC: "Butt"? "Shatterd"? Please capitalize at the beginning of the sentence. Thank you.

8. The Ancestor Cult

   #8

   Shadow-Walker picked up the chicken bones and threw then again to the ground.
   "This simply cannot be happening, not yet, im still not ready". He went outside to check the stars and the evening sky confirmed what the bones had told him, the dead had decided to come to the living world. The shaman went inside and picked up a cloak and his staff and he went out to find several herbs which he had run out but never had the time to collect.
   He walked quickly into the forest, "had i known this earlier i would have been ready, strange this time there where no indications no signs, this is not a good omen, not at all."
   He touched the point of the staff and it became on fire, a small contained fire which was meant to provide him with light as he looked for the right herbs.
   "I would have sworn i had another year before the ghosts came to this lands, i knew there was a war ragging but i didnt expect it to become so big in such a short time. Anyway it was all a matter of getting the right alliance like i have done so many times before this one... all a matter of alliances....."

9. The Ancestor Cult

   #9

   Jericho nudged Mona's arm conforting her. He too had seen the dream in which Mona had herself witnessed. Sensing that Mona was still distraught; Jericho knew that the time now was most grave and that it was now that he must .......... comunicate with her..... he left her side and went to the edge of the bed from which they had still not stepped out of. With his back still facing her he spoke ,
   
   
   ......." Never should a person, any person, suffer as you have suffered Mona. "

10. The Ancestor Cult

    #10

    "Bothersome." Never-Ending Silence said irritably, scraping the claws of his gauntlet across the fine blackwood table.
    A spectre, draped in black silks, bowed low before him, sobbing piteously. "Greatest death-knight, had we known that the forest tribes had changed their allegiances, we would not have sent Mnatharcos as our messenger! Many apologies, death-knight! We had no way of knowing!" he sniveled, tears dribbling from his ethereal eyes.
    The death-knight stared silently across the table at the ghost, contemplating the ridiculous creature. All ghosts were this way, just like this, this, emotional, dramatic fool. Except for some, like the ghostly girl who had appeared to him on that one day.
    "Get out of my sight, you useless, sniveling wretch." Never-Ending Silence growled, chopping the air horizontally with his gauntleted hand. "Never have I seen such stupidity!"
    I am surrounded by idiots. he thought, watching the spirit crawl dumbly out of the chamber. Can nobody in this accursed living land do anything right?!

11. The Ancestor Cult

    #11

    Mona started as someone spoke. How could someone have gotten in without her knowing? For that matter, who would sneak in in the middle of the night? Then she suddenly realized that she hadn't heard the voice. Not really. No. Not possible. She stared long and hard at Jericho. It couldn't be. Those accursed nightmares must have finally driven her mad. Or she was hallucinating from lack of sleep again. But that didn't seem right. If she was mad, something like this would have occured long before now. And her hallucinations were always much, much worse. Why the hell not? And does it really matter either way? Finally she said, "Was that you, Jericho?"

12. The Ancestor Cult

    #12

    The sun was almost up when Shadow Walker returned to his house with the right herbs. He immediatly started a brew which was forbidden by his tribe. It was only to be used at the worst times for it caused terrible side effects. It was used to raise the ghost masters of the dead lands to make the visible so that he could talk to them, but of course it was never an exact science what they would do when they became material in this world, the last time he used it half his town had been wiped out by flames and the other half suffered a plague which killed almost every person. But then it was different he had never used that potion before this time he knew and he would be more careful this time history would not reapeat itself.
    He threw the last ingredient into the pot and the brew turned a blueish colour just like it was supposed to, just like it had happened that time, he got his staff in one hand his sword in the other and he prepared for the worse....

13. The Ancestor Cult

    #13

    Jericho turned about and looked deeply in Mona's evey purring fiercly. He began to lick one of his paws, pausing momentarily to look up at her, he stated ".... And if it was would you believe yourself mad? "

14. The Ancestor Cult

    #14

    OOC: Kkkkkkk.....This is your GM speaking...We're experiencing some gameplay halting at the moment, but once we have the players under control, we'll be back on track.....Have a nice roleplay.

15. The Ancestor Cult

    #15

    OOC: :what: I'm sorry I don't follow what do you mean get some of the players under control? I haven't done something wrong have I? Or is this more of your randomness?

16. The Ancestor Cult

    #16

    OOC: I mean START POSTING!!!

17. The Ancestor Cult

    #17

    ((OOC: I'm sorry. I been busy. :P ))
    
    Mona looked at the cat for a long time. Finally, she said, "No. This isn't bad enough to be madness." She got out of bed. Trying to go back to sleep was pointless, she knew. It wasn't quite dawn yet. She looked out of the window. Her house was off by itself, and that suited her. Sometimes she screamed in her sleep, and she wasn't anxious for anyone to know that. But she could see most of the houses in the village. At the other end, in another secluded house, she could just make out a dim blue glow. She didn't know the fellow who lived there, but she was aware of the fact that he was considered almost as crazy as she was. But the glow bothered her. "Jericho... the fellow who lives at the other end of town is doing something odd and I don't think it's good." She picked the cat up and brought him over to the window so he could see.

18. The Ancestor Cult

    #18

    OOC: Yeah me to just started second Job!
    
    Jericho stared at the strange glow; his cat like abilities sensed that something was out of place here. "We must go and investigate Mona, Something isn't right!"

19. The Ancestor Cult

    #19

    Golden Tears Mistress was irritated. Very irritated. Who has such audacity to summon me? she thought to herself, slowly gathering dust and matter around her to become visible in the Mortal World. Before her stood a sorceror of some sort, by appearance a barbarian. Golden Tears Mistress sighed, holding up a ghostly iron mirror to check her makeup and smooth the folds of her iridescent black silk kimono and then instantly becoming visible to the eyes of the shaman. "Who dares to summon the consort of First and Night-Crowned Wolf, He Who Is A Thousandfold, the Lord and Master of the Underworld?" she said, sounding insulted, imperious, and scornful.

20. The Ancestor Cult

    #20

    Mona picked up Jericho and settled him on her shoulder where he liked to ride. She slipped out into the grey pre-dawn and made her way across the village to the fellow's house. He'd apparently finished what he was up to. As Mona cautiously approached, she caught a glimpse of a lady. She gasped. "Jericho..." she whispered. "I've seen that lady in the nightmares I have."

21. The Ancestor Cult

    #21

    OOC: Have we lost Karad'as?

22. The Ancestor Cult

    #22

    ((OOC: If we have, we could say that his character was killed or otherwise incapacitated by the summoning. You're driving this plot, aren't you?))

23. The Ancestor Cult

    #23

    OOC: Yeah, I guess. That works. Better than in "Abandon Hope", because Kassil was driving that.
    
    Through the window, Mona could see the woman and a strange robed man, seemingly arguing over a pot of bubbling blue liquid. The then reached her hand through the man's body, tearing out a bloody object barely recognizable as a heart.
    --------------------
    Golden Tears Mistress smiled, casting the heart to the ground with a sickening splat. "Foolish living one." she said, slowly turning to the window to look upon the Living Lands again. But who was that?

24. The Ancestor Cult

    #24

    ((OOC: Well, that works. Even if it was a little more severe than I had in mind. If he wants back in, well, half the characters are dead, aren't they?))
    
    Mona recoiled in horror as the lady killed the man. Then she realized that the lady was looking straight at her. Mona took two steps back involuntarily. Part of her wondered if it was a hallucination or a waking nightmare. Another part of her was thinking that she needed to go straight back to her own house and lock herself in. All she knew for sure was that she couldn't tell anyone. They'd dismiss her as mad straight out. Caught between hoping it was only another nightmare and wondering if she should be running, Mona just froze.

25. The Ancestor Cult

    #25

    ((OOC: Yeah, it works out.))
    
    Golden Tears Mistress stared coldly at the girl. I know this one. She is the one my Master has told me about, the one with the link to our world. First and Forsaken Wolf has talked about her. He wants her. She could be useful. But wait, what if...No. No. First and Night-Crowned Wolf would never have a mortal over me. She drifted through the wall of the cottage, floating towards Mona.

26. The Ancestor Cult

    #26

    Mona began backing away from the ghost as she approached. This can't be a good thing... Finally, she couldn't stand there any longer. She turned and ran back to her own house, holding the cat. It probably looked silly, but she didn't care. She locked the door and sat down heavily. "Jericho, this is getting out of hand."

27. The Ancestor Cult

    #27

    As the girl ran away, Golden Tears Mistress had caught a glance at the cat. That cat, with the eyes. The ghost's eyes. That was no ordinary cat. Some sort of protector spirit. No wonder we could only sense the girl's link, and not her location. thought the spectre, turning and drifting slowly into the twilight shadows of the hill.
    "So. The First and Night-Crowned Wolf has agents even in the Mortal World. My mistress will be pleased to know as much." said Never-Ending Silence, the death-knight. "Just so you know, you will not have the girl. Even now, my agents are approaching her home."
    Golden Tears Mistress haughtily observed Never-Ending Silence. "Your agents? You mean your demons, you whore of the Inferno? Only you among we the Dead would traffick with those denizens."
    Meanwhile, six red erymanthoi, their long, black, filthy claws stained with blood, crept silently up the hill towards Mona's cottage.

28. The Ancestor Cult

    #28

    Mona sat in her chair, close to panic. Like last time, only worse. So much worse this time. Jericho jumped into her lap and butted her with his head.
    "It's not safe here anymore, Mona."
    "I know. Just give me a minute..."
    "I don't think we have it."
    Mona got up and peered through the window. She paled. "You're right." Maybe it was fortunate that Mona was paranoid. She was always prepared to run if she had to. She pulled a well-worn knapsack from under the bed. It was already packed. She slipped out through the back way, cutting through the woods. She caught sight of some creatures through the trees, and the sight made her hurry. She recognized those too. A vague idea formed in her mind. The church. I might be safe in the church. She passed one of the local farmer's boys. He stared at her and got quickly out of her way. She caught him making a warding symbol as she passed. She didn't blame him. She must really look a sight. Clothes all rumpled, dark circles under her eyes that never quite went away, and the faint streak of premature grey in her tangled mass of brown hair. The very image of a madwoman. Sometimes she thought life would be easier if she was. But that didn't matter. Getting away mattered. Jericho ran ahead of her, pausing occasionally to let her catch up. The sun would be up soon, but Mona felt that it didn't matter.

29. The Ancestor Cult

    #29

    OOC: Hope some other user comes along soon with a character to help Mona.
    
    "Grakkk-charak tzeerk yragkarr!" snarled the head erymanthoi: There is the mortal that the master sent us for!
    The hideous bloated ape-things smashed out of the bushes, no longer having need for stealth. The farmer's boy, gaping on the side of the road, scarcely moved as one of the demons ripped his arms from his body and devoured them, all the while loping after it's roaring fellows.
    "Mirgook znark-tzaaaahgh!" one of the erymanthoi roared, and released a loud whoop like that of a frightened ape: It is a spirit guardian!
    Before them on the road stood Jericho, eyes flashing.

30. The Ancestor Cult

    #30

    OOC: Hey, Adel, sorry about controlling you, but it's needed.

31. The Ancestor Cult

    #31

    ((OOC: I'll introduce another character. We can always kill him off later if necessary.))
    
    Mona broke into a run. Jericho had stopped somewhere behind; she desperately hoped he would be all right. But she had reached the church. She could see a lamplight in the back; someone was there. It didn't matter. Whoever it was couldn't be worse than what was behind.
    
    ------------------------------------------------
    
    Peter had been in the church by himself, getting ready for the day. Not that it was likely to make a difference. No one in this town seemed to attend services. Not unless the odd lady who lived at the end of town started talking to people. Then they came in droves.
    It was odd that he was thinking of that right then, because the odd lady herself dashed in and shut the door behind her, breathing hard and crying. He took one look at her and knew something was very wrong. She usually avoided him like she was scared of him. He could find out why later. It wasn't important right now. "What's the matter, my dear?"
    
    --------------------------------------------------
    
    Mona looked up as he spoke. It was the priest, or whatever he was. She had never spoken to him before, avoided him in fact. But she couldn't do that right now. "They're... like from my dreams. Following me."
    That didn't seem to make much sense to him, so she tried again. "I don't know what they are, but they're coming..." Then she slid down to the floor and buried her face in her arms. "It's like before only worse," she whispered.
    
    -------------------------------------------------
    
    Peter was surprised and confused. But he could also see that she was bordering on hysteria. They could straighten things out later. He heard something crashing through the underbrush, so evidently something was chasing her. Suddenly a black and white cat jumped through the open window and ran over to the woman. She held on to it like it was a rock in a storm. Without thinking, Peter shut the window. The others were already closed. He caught a glimpse of something in the woods. Oh. Lovely. Just lovely. I had hoped I wouldn't have to deal with those damn things again.
    
    ((OOC: How's that?))

32. The Ancestor Cult

    #32

    Jericho knew the creatures would come for them the catacombs that lay directly beneath the church led out of the city that is where they must go. once out of the city they could formulate a plan.
    
    Jericho quicky told Mona of what they must do he knew the young priest must accompany them for if he didn't the creatures would surely rip him limb for limb. This jericdho believed was there best option...

33. The Ancestor Cult

    #33

    ((OOC: Works for me.))
    
    The erymanthoi, one with a face scarred with a glowing cat scratch, burst into the town proper, smashing apart barrels and carts in the twilight. A travelling merchant, caught unaware turning a corner, had his head squeezed until it smashed like rotten fruit. A frightened housewife was dashed against a tree, falling to the ground, dazed. Ahead of them, the blood-apes could see a church of sorts. "Bugkaka-ukchu! Urraggh! Tzeeyrak-yrazzk!" growled the leader, loping forwards: The prey is inside with the guardian spirit! We will destroy the shrine-place!
    "Stop right there, foul demons! You will not lay your filthy claws upon this church!" cried a devout man, unleashing his large, snarling dog. "Destroy the unholy ones, Gatch!"
    The dog snarled, barked, drooled. Enemies/red hairy monkeys/glowing eyes/Master says kill/Gatch will bite them thought the dog, hurling it's huge, stupid bulk at the erymanthoi, raving with canine fury.
    As the demons stepped over it's master's broken body, the dog thought: Pain in Gatch/red red blood/Gatch bad dog.

34. Back in black

    #34

    A lass named Marion who was nothing more than a petty pickpocket dozed high up in a pine tree behind the church. Marion lived in the trees and could move very rapidly through their twisted canopy, this ability had come in very handy when pilfering provisions from unwary citizens.
    
    She had been hoping to steal a roll but had not found more than crumbs. She could here a pounding noise off in the distance but she thought nothing of and closed his eyes once more.

35. The Ancestor Cult

    #35

    Mona could hear things outside. Terrible things. She quickly got to her feet and glanced from Jericho to the priest. She hadn't had very good luck with that sort of person before, but this was different. "Are there catacombs under this church?"
    "What?" He seemed a little dazed. "Yes, there are."
    "Where? Can we get to them from here?"
    He snapped out of it. "Yes."
    "Then we'd better hurry. I think they're after me, but they wouldn't hesitate to kill you."
    A wry, humorless smile crossed his face. "I think they'd rather enjoy it, actually." He led her to the concealed door that opened into the catacombs. They were huge. He hadn't quite explored them all yet. Something occured to him. "Just a tick."
    Mona didn't like the sounds that were growing louder outside. "Hurry!" she urged, somewhat unneccessarily.
    ________________________________________________________
    
    Peter was glad that this particular church had the priest's quarters within its sturdy walls. If he went out, he'd most certainly be killed. He went to his tiny room, hidden within the murky depths of the church. Fortunately, he was something more than an ordinary village priest. He grabbed a lantern, his cloak, and a large, cloth-wrapped bundle. It was about the right size to be a sword. He didn't waste any time. Having grabbed what he needed he hurried back to the entrance to the catacombs. The lady was waiting there anxiously, her cat twining aroud her ankles. As soon as he appeared, they both started into the catacombs. Peter followed but paused inside the entrance. He had a few tricks up his sleeve after all. He whispered the words to the warding spell and effectively sealed the entrance to the marauding demons. He wasn't a moment too soon, for the door was starting to splinter. As soon as the wards were set Peter followed the lady into the dark tunnels under the church.
    
    ((OOC: If it makes a difference, Peter is a paladin with experience fighting demons. Prolly including the monstrosities currently on the rampage, assuming that's okay.))

36. The Ancestor Cult

    #36

    ((OOC: That's just fine. By the way, priate, having your character just sit there won't help any.))
    
    The erymanthoi bashed and howled and ranted at the door of the church, scratching it with their bloody claws and pounding it with their fists. "Traaaaaaaaaaaagkh! Tzeentchee-tchugu! Kragraaalar!" roared the leader, leaping twenty feet into the air and scrabbling for the church roof: We come in through the roof! Bad symbols won't get in the way!
    The demons began to leap and climb also, pulling apart ancient carvings and smashing stonework. Roofing tiles rained to the ground, as the demons began to lope upon the roof, seeking a way in. One of them, seeing the thief, Marion, in the tree, snatched her up and called to his fellows. "Yruukaaargh! Graakhraagh-raaakh!": Here is a mortal! We will feast!
    
    ((OOC: The erymanthoi are easily distracted. That's why he suddenly snatched up Marion.))

37. The Ancestor Cult

    #37

    Marion was scared out of her mind she screamed for aid and thrashed ferociously around. She scratched and kicked and the foul thing until she managed to unsheathe her dagger and stab at the demon.
    
    (OCC: Capt. just so you know i am not saying that she succcessfily stabed the demon just that she is trying to, just so you know i'm not trying to cotrol anything)

38. The Ancestor Cult

    #38

    ((OOC: Why ask me? Just stab it.))
    
    The erymanthoi snarled and bared it's teeth, tearing the knife from it's arm. As the demons advanced on Marion, a great crack sounded in the air and the roof fell beneath them. The demons fell slowly, aided by demonic magic, but Marion plummeted towards the floor.

39. The Ancestor Cult

    #39

    Peter was a kind man. As such, even with his life in danger, he couldn't leave the unfortunate woman to the demons. But it was still dumb luck that he happened to be in the right place to catch her. Her fall took them both to the floor, but she was still alive and didn't seem unduly hurt. He got up, pulling her with him. The demons hadn't quite reached the floor yet, so he still had a moment. He shoved the woman into the catacombs after the other lady. Then he ripped the cloth off of the bundle revealing that it was indeed a sword. A very large sword that had spilled demon blood in the past. Peter stood in front of the entrance to the catacombs with his sword at the ready. It seemed like Peter de Glasse, slayer of demons, was going to be forced to start his old work again.

40. The Ancestor Cult

    #40

    Marion now sat in a clammy tunnel. Although she was very thankful to be away from those foul things, yet she felt alienated, this was very different from the treetops in which she lived. Marion turned to the lady next to her and asked for her name.

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