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Post by Zazu on Oct 30, 2006 3:08:25 GMT -5
This was an epic RP session in which nearly everyone cursed by the Starseekers over the last two weeks assembled to try and earn their absolution. It made for an exciting and dramatic end to a successful TP. Thanks to everyone who took part.
The Cast:
STARSEEKERS
Talmaleki, leader of the Starseekers, an ancient lion king in spectral form.
Gwandoya, lieutenant of Talmaleki, ghost of another ancient king.
Mwiba, lieutenant of Talmaleki, ghost of the former Mwenyezi king.
THE ACCURSED
Chioh, King of the Palandasya, cursed with a fearsome dark appearance.
Aso'Caed, King of the Mwenyezi, cursed with premature old age.
Yaro, Chieftain of the Min’Men meerkats, cursed with the loss of his fingers.
Kato, male meerkat of the Min’Men, cursed with blindness, visions, and paranoia.
Zagaa, male meerkat of the Min’Men, eventually cursed with feathers in place of fur.
Gwala, a male zebra cursed with an invisible bond to Theluthi.
Theluthi, a male wild dog, eventually cursed with a terrible stench.
Vunda, male hyena of the Graveyard, cursed with the loss of his sense of direction.
Tunu, lioness cub of Palandasya, cursed with the inability to say anything with ‘b’, ‘g’, ‘k’, ‘l’, or ‘r’ in it. 8)
Kiziah, lioness cub of Pride Rock, cursed with chronic sickness.
Kite, an adolescent male jackal, eventually cursed with painful steps.
OTHERS
Rafiki, male mandrill and shaman of Pride Rock.
Uzuri, lioness cub of the Palandasya, formerly cursed with long fur and a black mane.
Mazizi, female brown hyena of the Graveyard.
Sabiri, lioness of the Palandasya.
Various spoofed guards from Mwenyezi and Min'Men.
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When I walked along the living
I had many a misgiving.
My greatest skill and greatest blunder
Lay in tearing hearts asunder.
In my last days, I reviled
Everyone except my child.
It was she they did it through--
The greatest sin I ever knew
Was perpetrated unto me
Just to spite my infamy.
She and I deserted were;
I arose; not so for her.
Out where mortals seldom tread
Lies her scavenged, hidden head.
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In a central corner of the world,
Host to endless grains and deadly pall,
Hidden lies the remnant of a girl
That, to Talmaleki, meant it all.
Hollow are the sockets of her eyes
That once saw his gifts of strife and pain
Turned them into something great and wise
And so gave the gift right back again.
Go, if you would quell the Seeker's wrath
Find the relic planted in the dark.
Should you then cross Talmaleki's path
It will stem his rage and fan his spark.
Now, before the plot comes to its end
Excavate this monarch's only friend.
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Call it savage Talmaleki's bane;
Call it a reminder of his pain;
Covered up by countless glassy grain;
Empty of its once beloved brain.
This, the final object in a chain
That brought down the evil king's domain:
Fight for it, and search for it, and strain,
In a place untouched by cloud and rain.
Though the monstrous regent held long reign,
Decades past have left him not quite sane.
Though he rages, surely he would fain
Reunite with this lost bone again.
Thou shalt this receptacle regain
Six steps upward from the flooded plain
Where it has for timeless epochs lain.
People! It's not -that- hard to obtain!
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Pridelands - Valley of the Great Kings
Exits:
[East] to the Tree of Creation
[South] to the Zuberi River Crossing [West] to the Southern Trail
[North] to the Vast Savanna
[OOC] You say, "As the clock ticks to 7:30 (6:30 mytime), I call this finale into session! <BANG BANG>?"
[!] Your status has changed to 'TP'.
[!] Chioh has changed their status to 'TP'.
[!] Gwala has changed their status to 'TP'.
[!] Aso'Caed has changed their status to 'TP'.
[!] Tunu has changed their status to 'TP'.
[!] Yaro has changed their status to 'TP'.
[!] Aso'Caed has changed their status to 'TP'.
[!] Uzuri has changed their status to 'TP'.
[!] Vunda has changed their status to 'TP'.
[!] Theluthi has changed their status to 'TP'.
[!] Kato has changed their status to 'TP'.
It should be no surprise that grim black clouds have gathered...to pay their homage, perhaps? Or as a natural sign of the odious presence and the power that has been building here? In any case, they float silently, without rain, and unaccompanied by wind--just a little lower than it seems a cloud ought to hang.
[OOC] You say, "And with that--let the posing commence."
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Post by Zazu on Oct 30, 2006 3:13:08 GMT -5
Yaro looks from behind the trench Zagaa dug. This is a clear sign of danger. He found himself wishing he could have familiarized himself with the others who came here before this happened. He curses himself under his breath. He sighs and he puts a fingerless paw on the cub skull. What purpose does this artifact bely? "Kato, Zagaa, Eram. Look sharp." he says.
With his gaze randomly scanning the horizon, Chioh must have seen the clouds a couple times, each at different times. He never paid attention to them as he looks around at the other gathered here. He looks back up at the sky and finally takes notice of the clouds and he arches a black eyebrow. With the coming darkness, comes a red glow from Chioh's eyes.
In the baobab tree that interrupts the grassy valley's sea-like appearance, two yellow eyes peer out. The mandrill watches the sky, knowing that the right moon shines behind those black clouds. He clutches his staff tightly as he sits from his balcony position in the boughs of the tree. Below, the spotted cub afflicted with the strangest of speech impediments lies in the grass near her dark uncle. Tunu licks at her face-wound from earlier today as it slowly scabs over, watching the clouds and worrying.
The three Mwenyezi lions are still awake, it's a miracle Aso, the King of rogues is still alive though. Ears perk up at the wierd feeling he had a couple of moons ago. The same odd presence, the light air around him. The King growls at his guards, they quickly stand up and help the King stand up also. Slowly but surely, Aso stands up and looks around. His guards remains where they are. The King doesn't care for the others, he just wants Mwiba, his only purpose here is to ask Mwiba something and try to live past this night. His limbs shaking, his old body about to fall again, but he must keep strong. For the moment, the white maned lion's gaze remains on the sky, soft words are muttered, "Show thyself..."
Kato smirks as Yaro tells them to 'look' sharp. That was a little pointless to him, wasn't it? That small smirk remains on his face, a strange expression of... wry happiness int he middle of this terrible event. He no longer really cares for what the others see... he can tell just from the atmosphere this is going to get interesting. After all the horrible things he's seen happen to him, there was little else he can imagine that will be worse.
Delirious with a fever, Kiziah managed to remember what she had forgotten during the time when her mind was still clear. This is where she had been told to come, and it's here the cub arrives. Her steps are unstable and erratic, and Kiziah shows no signs of being aware of anybody or anything else other than the clouds above. Should she be afraid of them?
The valley has never seemed so deep. There is a conflict in the way it feels, which each individual may resolve in his or her own way. The nether areas of the valley seem more dangerous, in that they are nearer to the earth, the home of the Starseekers, a place they despise. At the same time, these deep places feel like refuge from the encroaching clouds. Does one tread high or low? What an assemblage of sad, sorry creatures this is! What could such a miserable crowd be waiting for? Is there any natural cause for such a scene as this?
This is probably the first time Vunda's walked in a straight line ever since his little encounter. This is attributed only to the fact that he's being practically dragged along by a bone in his mouth. He almost resembles a terra-bound, living hyena arrow. When he reaches the gathering, his head suddenly drops, followed by the rest of his body. There he lays, stunned. What a ride! He doesn't even seem aware that he's surrounded by leonine creatures.
Gwala really, really, doesn't want to be here. He really, really, doesn't want to force his mismatched companion, Theluthi, to come here. But they have to. Otherwise, neither of them may ever have their freedom again. Gwala knows that if he has this curse for the rest of his life, his life in question will be short. What will he do, if he is randomly attached to predators all the time? He's lucky that Theluthi is such a softie, and they had some pretty close encounters in their time together anyway. The small, striped animal steps softly as he makes his way down to the lowest point of the valley, as if his hooves may disturb some secret presence in this place. The dark clouds above do nothing to hearten him. He checks back to see that Theluthi is there, though it isn't necessary. It isn't as if the dog can up and leave.
Mazizi follows along behind Vunda nervously. "Don't you dare lose that bone," she growls cautiously. "That thing's my ticket to a less boring future. And it's MINE." Her ears flap back and forth several times.
The wild dog is indeed there, following along beside the zebra. He'd learned long ago that trying to walk away wasn't going to work, so he's resolved himself to this fate and has managed to make the best of it. It's uncertain how much his pack misses him, but he certainly misses them! He offers his companion a smile, though it's obvious that the ominous setting dampens even his bright spirits.
Chioh mutters to himself as he gets up to his feet, seeing the Mwenyezi rise as well. His black mane swaying slightly as he rises to his feet, he turns his demonic red gaze up to the sky. His claws unsheathe themselves out of his front paws out of annoyance and frustration before they sheathe themselves once more. "Show yourself, you phantom. I know you are here."
Yaro wishes to the gods he could arm himself, but losing one's fingers is pretty debilitating in that way. At least his arms didn't fall off, or they'd have to leave the supplies at home. "Come on, Talmaleki. You hurt my best sentrry, I'll show you what meerkats are made of." he says.
Aso'Caed hears the words from the other King and chuckles, walking to Chioh's direction. So far, it's him, or the... Or no one else. He wouldn't like spending time with meerkats or anything else. So, the three lions walk to the Palandasya's King direction, "It is not wise to hold the grudge, King." His gaze remains on the sky, but his words are meant to the their King, "Let time do its job."
The relative stillness is broken slowly, lovingly, like the shell of an egg before it drops into a mixing bowl. The clouds have voices--rumbles within which it is impossible to discern one moment from the next. But in the space of half a minute, these rumbles give way to a recognizable voice...the one everyone is hoping and perhaps dreading to hear. Talmaleki. "...as if you #ever# had worth! You act as if you were ever a decent ruler...understanding of what holds people #together#, rather than what keeps them in line. It's only natural your approach would differ from...ahh." He's aware that they have reached their destination.
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Post by Zazu on Oct 30, 2006 3:14:41 GMT -5
Vunda peels himself off of the ground and gives a glower to Mazizi. "Quit whinin'," he grunts. "I'm not hurtin' your stupid bone." The mentioned item has stopped spinning, now that it's reached its true destination. Vunda, meanwhile, spots the lions and immediately goes on the defensive, snarling and laying back his ears. Oh, /great/. The voice from the sky quickly wipes the hostility off his face, though.
"Eeh, Talmaleki," the mandrill whispers in his tree, "chomoza..." but then that familiar voice rips through the sky. Rafiki's eyes widen as he stares into the black, waiting for the apparition to appear visually as well. But the voice is enough for Tunu. She lets out a squeal and darts away from her sister, seeking refuge under Chioh.
Mazizi stands right beside Vunda, brown fur brushing against his, and exhales with a "phwoo." For once, she's got no retort or harsh words.
Uzuri follows her sister. Of all the things she wants, getting another mane is not gonna be one of them.
The next choice of noise is not nearly as gentle as the first. It is blasting, sharp, the lightning the creates the thunder. It is not a voice many are familiar with, but if he has half a chance, he will make sure none of them forget it after this night. "I spent my life holding my civilization together, *friend.* From what I understand, you spent a lifetime cultivating animosity and destroying the bonds that held things together... severing connections until you yourself had lost any way of keeping hold of yourself. Perhaps it is another curse that we are stuck on the same Earth, mighty *King,*" it exclaims with a bit of poison, before an invisible head twists to the gathering. "Hope. Or lack of it. When will they understand it does not change fate either way?"
Chioh looks over at Aso when he comes over and he says, "Sometimes, time is too slow." When Talmaleki speaks and the sky roars with his voice. The king growls and glares up at the sky, as if his gaze will rip the ghost from the sky. When Tunu and Uzuri flee to stand under him, Chioh widens his stand lightly, to be protective of his neices. At the second voice, it's new to him. He's silent to that once as well and he keeps his gaze on the sky, scanning it for anything that seems ghostly.
Kiziah squints. Is the sky talking? The cub is less frightened than she should be, for her stomach aches, and her nose is so clogged that it hurts. She just don't /feel/ like being all that scared. Nonetheless, some deep instinctual need for safety remains, and Kiziah freezes, crouching low and letting out a tiny mew which more resembles the sound of claws scrapping over dried mud. Bah.
Gwala stops dead in his tracks and trembles slightly at the sound of the voices, his ears laying back against his head and his eyes widening as he looks up to the looming back clouds and down into the valley, where he can see the gathering creatures - it looks like mostly lions. /I'll have to be careful/, he thinks. His eyes dart back to Theluthi for a second. /Oh, yeah. We'll have to be careful./ He gathers what little courage he has left and continues down the slope, 'til he is on level with most of the other gathered creatures. Then he proceeds to stay still and try not to be noticed, one ear cocked for any sound the spirits might make.
Time is slow? Aso has like 30 things to say against that, but he'll keep the nice act, "Patience is virtue, firend." He keeps looking above, amused by all this. Where is Mwiba, he's not leaving this place until he finds Mwiba, or until he feels young again, "It is a shame most of us lack of it..." He remains silent, just looking up. He even forgets about the cubs. A quick look at Chioh from the corner of his eye, and again he is looking at the strance and decieving sky.
Yaro blinks at the new voice. Gods! How many ghosts *are* there? The Alpha has no idea exactly what their motives are. He turns and waves to a sentry to lower the skull into the trench next to him. A couple of sentries comply, lowering the cub skull into the trench. Uzuri huddles close to Tunu, shivering.
The clouds are cleft. Into the night, hitherto lit only by a few stars on the outskirts of the clouds and a muffled half moon, a rift of bright yellow light suddenly explodes from between them. The sky is made of dark gray cut by a ragged network of yellow streaks, nothing more. For a second, the light is nearly blinding. The voice of Talmaleki calls out with authority: "Silence, Gwandoya!! You will have the chance to mine for 'hope', if that is what drives you. I have another purpose!
"You're one to talk!" a second voice--a falsetto hiss--joins the other two. "You held your civilization together with blood, lust, and murder!" A chill breeze flows over the plains in response to this exclamation. "Hope. Hope!" The voice trails off in a pealing cackle. Theluthi walks with more caution when he sees the other predators gathered around. If anything, he has to protect the foal. If Gwala dies, he'll be stuck to a corpse!
Kato remains where he is. The other three sentries, Eram included, have pulled back to stand by Yaro, with Kato standing a little ahead of them all, simply listening with that little, indifferent smirk on his face.
Tunu flicks her tail across Uzuri's back before she steps forward to stand between Chioh's paws, swallowing. Wind voices. "Hope," she says softly. A small smile curls onto her lips. She can say it. So she repeats herself, saying "hope," again a bit louder. Rafiki in his tree, however, frowns. "Such a great king," the mandrill muses in a voice loud enough to be heard across the valley, "w'o cannot even control 'is minions in deat'.. HA!"
Chioh growls as he closes his eyes at the flash of yellow light as he says, "My paitence has run out against these phantoms." When he hears Tunu chanting hope to herself before Rafiki's voice boomed out over the valley, he chuckles slightly as he says, "Hope. That is what we both need, Tunu. Be the beacon of hope for both of us." He looks back up at the sky and chuckles at what Rafiki yelled. The monkey has a point.
There's a low, grduging rumble from the clouds, a submission filled with pent up violence. "Purpose," it says with a spit. "It's a pointless search with vain vanity, the both of you! I'm surprised we even remember the word..." After that, a stillness from that region of the sky. There's a swish of wind in Rafiki's direction, but it's only a simple acknowledgement of the creature's presence. Hmm... don't recognize that one. Another shaman. He has a stick.
Still no sign of Mwiba. Aso growls at the voices in the sky, digging his claws to the dirt. Just more spirits, more ghosts he doesn't care about. Yet the spoken words catch his attention, old lazy ears go flat behind his head. Afraid, not really, just curious. So Mwiba wasn't the only one roaming the savannah, more have joined. The King holds his breath, the sight is getting. . . Lovely, the sky is like the one he dreams of, "Where there is hope, there is always despair." He whispers to himself. For some reason, he enjoys the chat he's having with the other King, "There are greater thing in life we will never understand. Feel . . .Proud maybe, feel honored to be here." Sure, words coming from a lion who got cursed and is about to die.
Vunda freezes to his spot at the explosion of light. A trembling begins in all of his legs; he looks like he's going to collapse from fright. Hopefully, this doesn't wind up with more trouble for him.
Mazizi remains stiff in front, but she sags down in back. She breaths in shay gulps, but she puts herself in front of Vunda...protecting him...or keeping him from accidentally wandering off.
Gwala squeezes his eyes shut as the light blasts, and his ears flick back and forth, attempting to block out the booming, bickering voices of the long-dead kings. He thinks he recognizes one of the voices - the high one. Cold and cruel, like the one that taunted him and spoke the words that cursed him. He opens his eyes, and they narrow. He steels himself for what is to come, whatever it may be.
The clouds churn about. They move slightly counter-clockwise, thinning the yellow gashes, and at the same time, the dissenting voices of the lesser ghost kings are drowned out. Now, in the diminished light, Talmaleki appears. He's been many, many things to different people over the last fortnight, but now, he appears as a male lion, no larger than life, mostly there in outline only, but flickering throughout. He is lit up in grays and greens that stand out from the darkness behind him. His mane is large but not outlandishly so; it waves despite the lack of wind. He comes to a still position directly over the valley by some twenty meters. "Welcome," he says. The word echoes for a few moments before he goes on. "Look at this. What cowardice. Eight cursees, and nine without any curse at all, brought...as #crutches#. How do you answer for this shameful act?"
Chioh chuckles slightly as he hears Aso's words. Maybe the Mwenyezi aren't so bad, but then again, Aso is a strange one. "If I feel anything, it would have to be fear. Fear for my family. But, along with that...I do feel honored. One of the select to be cursed." He looks back up at the sky, listening to the ghosts monologue amongst themselves. But finally, Talmaleki shows himself and Chioh isn't too glad to see the transparent charleton. Though a question is thrown, Chioh is silent once more to answer.
Rafiki stiffens at the wind, and simply scowls, even as Talmaleki appears. "Do you mock dose w'o are loved enough for o'ders to care for dem in dere time of need, Talmaleki?" he shouts from the branches. Tunu's eyes widen, but she keeps repeating the word under her breath, leaning against Chioh's leg. "Hope, hope, hope..."
Yaro looks at Eram. "Bring the skull, we're getting closer." he says, and pushes himself out of the trench and starts walking toward the ghost. Oh how he hates that figure, the one that took his physical ability away from him. This skull, or whatever it represents...has to be important. "Hope is what brings us all here tonight, Talmaleki. Perhaps what you suffer from is a lack of said virtue." he says, showing no fear of the lions.
Crutch? Hey, now, Theluthi's not just some crutch. It's not like his journey here was entirely voluntary. He says nothing about this, though. The breeze picks up another chilly bite, and the faintest stench of decay is detectable. "Cowards," the high voice sneers. "Perhaps they are brought as sacrifices!" The dead king sounds quite pleased with this idea.
"My crutch is right here," Kato answers loudly to the apparition, waving his stick as he steps forward, following Yaro's voice. "They came because of loyalty, spirit. Isn't that what you were looking for in us? Or is there as little purpose to these curses as your vague, empty clanging with those powers of yours that can no longer *amaze* the ones who CAN'T SEE?!" he snaps, ending in an angry shout.
Aso'Caed smacks his lips, just for the joy of the words. Family, Aso knows nothing about family, he only has one brother now, a shame, Mus would've loved this, "I do not share the feeling, lets just leave it like that." He looks at the cub, licking the side of his muzzle. Females, ha! "Let us hope we live past this night, huh?" He smiles at the other King, again looking up, "We will invite you and your cubs breakfast once this is over." Aso is sure he won't wake up tomorrow, he can even feel that old heart's slow beating.
Kiziah's stare is numb. It's hard to see anything, but her hearing works just fine. "I'm not... not'a coward..." Despite this, the trepidation in her voice is probably much more clear than her actual words herself. Kiziah is alone in the spot she's in, but the cub is not even aware of this fact. She'd not even be here if she actually knew and thought about it.
Gwala is pretty much thinking along the same lines as Theluthi. What is he supposed to say, though? To a huge, transcendent lion? No thank you. The zebra lowers his head, not in shame for bringing a "crutch", but in submission and hope that the kings will not notice a poor, frightened colt among the lions and choose to pick on him. He is glad that others have decided to speak out in defense, so he doesn't have to.
"Somehow, I doubt that," says the ghost, looking upwards to the high-pitched voice--Mwiba. "I think the mandrill knows their behavior best." He looks straight into the baobab tree, even through the branches and leaves that sway in the way, and says: "They have no sense of decorum. But...but...well, we'll see whether love is really why they are here." A swirl of scent circles around Kato...the smell of old, rich, dead leaves, filled with insects. A cloud of yellow pollen explodes around Kiziah.
Gwandoya's voice is silent, allowing Talmaleki to deal with the chaos he stirred up. Just like in life... and yet they act as if they've come so far. Why not crush these pathetic beasts and be done with it? It's all that's left to them anymore, anyway.
Chioh grins a bit, "Breakfast, eh? I'll think on that. If we survive the night, we will come. If we don't, it was a real pleasure meeting you." If he doesn't survive, he wants to see Akase once more, but that looks like it's not happening anytime soon. At the leaning on his leg by Tunu, Chioh looks down and smiles slightly, "Hope." He glares back up at the sky and says, "Those who came with the cursed are loyal to them. Even though we may be cursed, we do have others that still care for us. Nothing can change that!"
"Is dis w'at you 'ope to learn, Talmaleki?" Rafiki's voice sounds again. "You *'ope* to see if de'living respond to 'urt wit' love? To destruc'ton wi' loyalty? To despair wi' 'ope?" The mandrill scoffs again. "All you need do is watc' to see dat in de'world, every day." Tunu lowers her head, wanting to look away from the ghost but being unable. Her voice becomes softer, even at the encouragement of her uncle. "Hope, hope..."
Vunda seems surprised at Mazizi's willingness to put herself between the phantom threat and him. Even if she's not really doing that and is keeping him from wandering off. Of course, it shouldn't surprise him. Vunda is the epitome of charm and wonderfulness. Mazizi's first priority /should/ be him. It does give him some confidence, and the trembling stops. He glowers up at the ghostly apparition. He's no coward!
Aso'Caed tilts hie head up. So there's the coward, "I do not think they can hear us... The gods just mock at the living." The King sits on his haunches, looking around, "It is pleasure indeed." His golden eye looking at the black King. What's the curse on the other one? The cubs can't stop following him? "Age and experience... The only way to become a good King. Now we are called cowards... What will come next?" He mutters to himself. His chest starts to ache, cursed cold wind.
Kiziah takes this as a sign that she should really have kept her mouth shut. The eruption of pollen stings the cub's nose, eyes, and throat. Her hyper-paranoid body immediately goes to work, sending coughing fits and sneezing, and just predictably making things much worse than they would've been. Kiziah clamps a paw over her maw, and flattens to the ground. And she doesn't even /dare/ to think about speaking again.
The various insults, challenges, and questions are ignored. A hazy white-yellow glow appears slowly around the heads of Rafiki, Theluthi, Uzuri, Mazizi, the unafflicted meerkat sentries, and Aso'Caed's two guards. Talmaleki's voice pierces through the night. Without seeming unduly loud, it commands attention. "You. I ask each of you...why are you here? Have you been exiled from your homes, along with those you have accompanied? Were you forced to take sides? Are you here out of #love#, as this tree-creature claims?! Speak, for you who are uncursed must each make a choice!" He turns in place, facing each and every one of those with the eerie halo. "You may leave this valley now, watching from the outside if you please. You may remain within the valley and promise to say nothing and do nothing to help those who I am testing. Or...you may remain here to help, and in turn accept curses of your own."
Uzuri hisses and bats at the strange light. "I came here 'cause I wanted to look after my little sister! I've already been cursed once!" she snarls.
The mandrill starts to whoop and holler, laughing madly at the voice. Bold, to be sure. "YOU invited me, Cursed-King! I s'all not leave, but nei'der s'all you put any afflic'ton on me." And with that, Rafiki folds his long arms across his chest, staff still gripped tightly. "Dis valley is my 'ome, dis Tree - de'Tree you were stricken from - my c'arge."
"Here, now!" Theluthi barks out finally, addressing the ghosts for the first time. "Some of us are not here voluntarily! I can't get away from Gwala!" He doesn't want to be cursed! But at the same time, he's not sure he wants the colt to go into this alone. He's grown a bit attached to the young zebra since they've been unable to get away from each other, and he's developed a sort of dutiful, protective mentality towards him.
Does the King of the rogues actually think that Chioh's fur color and eye color are natural? Chioh looks up at the sky and then below him at the eerie halo appearing over Uzuri's head. "Uzuri…" At her reason, he looks over at Tunu, who's gone very soft. He looks back up at the sky and growls. Nothing he can say can sway them either way.
Gwala suddenly feels an inexplicable hot anger burn in his chest. After all Theluthi has been through, sacrificed everything to be with Gwala and protect him from harm, even left his pack to graze with a bunch of herbivores, he has to take this from this arrogant king-spirit? Gwala raises his head as if to say something, but Theluthi is already yelling for him. Gwala suddenly feels himself lighter, happier even in the dark, heavy environment. He almost feels proud of the dog, for some strange reason...
Aso'Caed grunts a vile chuckle. The King stands up helped by his guards and looks at the speaking ghost, his old voice as loud as he can, it even hurts when he talks, "I had nothing better to do!" Honestly spoken, "If I am to die, at least I want to die knowing why!?" He keeps looking at the sky, scanning around with his good eye, blury shapes, "I accept my curse! Beacuse I wanted -" He stops there. A shame of King he is.
Mazizi yipes and squeals, falling back out of Vunda's way. Her brief moments of bravery are quite over. "I'll scoot, I'll scoot!" she shouts in terror, and makes as if to do so.
When the questions is posed, Vunda's about to snap back with one of his arrogant remarks, and then Mazizi goes tumbling away. Well. So much for her priorities! The arrogant hyena snaps at her and lets out a growl. "Yeah, you run, ya coward!" he shouts after her. "Who needs ya anyway?!" He lets out a grumbling, snuffling growl and plops down on his haunches sullenly. Sure. All alone.
The halos blink out--mostly out. They fade until they're nearly invisible, and then, in turn, each one brightens for a couple of seconds with a flare of color--persimmon, ochre, mauve, cerulean, and Talmaleki speaks to each as it lights up. On the Mwenyezi guards: "Leave this valley now. Your King is beyond your help now." To Uzuri: "If you aid the others, your fur will spurt anew." To Theluthi: "You will follow your burden in silence, or be accursed." To Mazizi: "You will leave this valley now." To Eram and the sentries: "If your pride keeps you from leaving, you will share the fate of your comrades." To Rafiki: A slow, brief cackle.
Eram and the others look about at each other, blinking slowly. Kato doesn't say anything. Yaro is the alpha here. "Sir?" Eram asks quietly. "Will you have us leave? We're meerkats... we are used to sacrificed. We will stand by you if that's your wish."
Yaro turns to Eram. "My only wish, Eram, is that you sentries know what's best. If you wish to leave, you have my blessing. If you *stay* you have my blessing. I will not order you either way. In cases such as this, best that a leader let his own subordinates decide." he says. Uzuri shakes her head. "Nuh-uh! I'm not leaving my little sister's side! I love her! I promised I'd look after her and Saffy! That's all that matters to me!" she yells.
A low, soft grunt rumbles from Theluthi, and he plops onto his haunches next to Gwala. He's not going anywhere, apparently, even if he was able to go. He shoots a withering glower at the phantom. Mwiba lets out a loud giggle, obviously quite amused by the answers of the others. "Younglings!" he howls. They amuse him most of all.
Gwala's happiness fades to a faint twinkle, then nothing. His ears lower once more, and he swings his head over to watch Theluthi with a mournful gaze. "I'm sorry, Theluthi. I'm sorry I ever let you try to help me, I'm sorry you got stuck with me."
Both guards, Nemsharr and Raknarr step closer to the lights, but they are stopped by Aso's paw, "He is right... If tonight's my night, I do not want anything bad happening to others... Leave." The King doesn't turn to them, "You both know what to do... Tell Kuta that... I do." The guards have second thoughts to leave, but they finally agree, "Farewell sir." One says and the other remains silent. Both guards leave the place, and the King stands as tall as he can, looking at the light, which are like fire to his old eye, "Hope..." He whispers.
Mazizi looks really sorry, believe it or not. She runs back to Vunda, looks confusedly this way and that way, and gives him a lick on the rump and back. "So long," she mumbles, and turns on her heels to run. "Good luck!" And she's headed out of the valley.
Tunu looks back at her sister and frowns, kicking at her with a foot. As much as she appreciates her sister's loyalty and remembers her mother's harsh lesson today, she can't bear to see Uzuri cursed. "Uzu, -.." The frown deepens. "...away!" Rafiki's expression returns to a stony scowl, the leaves around him rustling with a wind of their own. Gourds and skulls that hang from the branches clatter eerily together.
Eram and the others look about at each other. Kato finally speaks. "We're the ones with nothing to lose," he says quietly. "You should go before it's too late. But keep a weather eye on us so the others know what happened." With a silent nod, Eram leads the others away, slowly, reluctantly. They leave the skull Yaro had ordered brought with them.
Chioh looks down at Uzuri under him and he smiles. At least she's loyal to her sisters, right now that's what Tunu needs. He closes his red eyes and looks up at the sky. "Uzuri, I won't command you as your king, nor as your uncle. If you want to stay here, I won't stop you." His voice still that of a demon as he speaks, it echoes slightly in the valley, but he talks quietly so it doesn't go past the ears of Aso. He's unaware of Tunu kicking Uzuri.
Out from the ground and the sky alike, a wall of clouds begins to form beside the Tree of Creation in the east, blocking off the view from it to the valley. The material looks just like a sideways cloud, except for the occasional stripe of bright yellow that shows fro an instant and is enveloped again. It is thin for now, but will get thinker. The halos now disappear from those without curses, and appear around those with them. "Your lives have been changed. I do not know which of you have lives to return to; which of you have lives worth living if your curses remain. I do not know whether you have been exiled from your homelands, and while that matters, it is immaterial for the moment." A warm, sour wind blows around Aso'caed's mane. Uzuri's fur, especially that on the back of her neck, begins to tingle. A rift appears under Gwala's hooves, getting wider...better move fast, Gwala, or you'll be swallowed! It's at the bottom of the valley, where there's already a slight cliff wall in one direction, and a tall thorn tree next to it. The rift seems to be filling with more of the dark cloud-matter.
Kite has arrived.
Vunda glances behind him as Mazizi runs back, gives him a lick, and then rushes off again. That makes him feel a little better, but he's still quite sulky. Yeah. Who needs her help anyway?! She should've endured a curse for His Wonderfulness. Theluthi glances up to Gwala with a partial smile. "Don't fret," he chuckles softly. "It's not your fault." Then, the rift appears, and the dog leaps to his feet, letting out a nervous yelp. "Let's move!" he barks.
Yaro runs back over to the skull and rests his stubbed paw on it. Nope. Magic tricks, that's all this is. Uzuri shakes her head and starts to scratch at it. Yaro looks over at Kato. "I'm asking you this as a friend and not your Alpha. You trust me, right?" he asks.
Mazizi spares just one look back. She's pained...she's terrified...she's a coward. She hangs her head as she tops the rise and disappears from sight. Would've loved to help...but couldn't.
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Post by Zazu on Oct 30, 2006 3:15:29 GMT -5
Aso'Caed remains on his feet. If it's dead, he'll just have to pray, "My life has been changed..." He whispers to himself as he simply shuts his eyes, feeling the wind blow around him. Not sure now, it feel soothing and relaxing, yet again, it's cold. Kato remains entirely still throughout the formation of the rift. He sighs. He knows something's going on, but he can't see it, and so can't really tell if this is all just another crazy dream brought on by his paranoia, which is strangely absent for now. He shakes his head as he takes a few steps foward, closer in to avoid whatever's happening. He turns back to look at Yaro. "Well I don't really have a choice," he says. "But yeah. I trust you. I don't trust you to hold onto that skull, though. Want me to handle that?" Gwala half-smiles at his friend, but he is soon distracted by numerous things. First, the unearthly glow forming above his head. His eyes roll up to attempt to inspect it, but he is distracted by Talmaleki's booming voice. He cannot pay much attention to the speech, unfortunately, due to the fast-growing rift beneath his very hooves. Gwala unconsciously obeys Theluthi's command by leaping to one side of the rift with the dog, and galloping alongside him towards the cliff and the thorn tree. Once they reach the plant, they come to a stop. Gwala is breathing hard, more out of fear than actual physical exertion. He and Theluthi will have to move as one now, if they hope to survive. The terrible lion king stretches his legs in midair. He looks grimly down at the remaining assemblage, now that some of the extra creatures have departed. "Go to the thorn tree at the bottom of the valley," he commands. "Stand to that side of the rift as it grows." His voice becomes louder and more important. "I wish to try you with three tasks. Three trials for the damaged beasts--if you pass them all, I may lift your curses and l...le...leave you all in peace." He glances upward with what seems, possibly, like guilt. "Assemble there now--your first trial is about to begin!!” Tunu looks back through Chioh's forelegs at the ghost, then up at the lights of her halo. "I.. I don't -.. I'm not happy at you," she says with a scowl, though her ears perk forward. At the command to move, she looks up at her uncle, not wanting to move away from him for once. Kiziah doesn't move her paw from her mouth, afraid to take anymore than the smallest breath from between her toes. But she does risk sitting up, eyes darting around. Through the fever-induced haze, she can still make out the growing chaos, and then the halo. Perhaps remaining home, and allowing the sickness to waste her away would have been better than this. Kiziah doesn't want to wait to see if any more is about to happen, to her in particular, and begins to back away. She can't recall which way she'd come, but behind is always the best bet. She pauses at the command, looking about in confusion, but doesn't immediately make any move. Tree? What tree? The thorn tree glows bright carnation pink. THIS TREE!! The scent of others around him brings the jackal to the valley. The muscles in his body go tense... somehow, he senses danger. However, he continues forward, if only for the sake of making sure everyone else is alright. His sense of justice move his paws. Vunda's not going to wait around for a second invitation. He takes off running for the rift . . . or what he /thought/ was the /direction/ of the rift. The hyena lets out a confused whoop, twisting around in a circle when he realizes that he's sadly quite lost, even though the area isn't far away. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear! Where's the bottom of the valley?! Thinking quickly, he turns around and locates his bone, which has begun to spin again. He grabs it between his teeth and is almost immediately surging forward towards the thorn tree and the rift. With a mighty powerful leap, he clears the obstacle and lands in a clutter on the other side. The bone skitters out of his reach. Yaro nots to Kato, leads him to the skull and puts his paws on it, then he says. "When you're ready, we have to go to that tree!" he says. Aso'Caed opens his eyes slowly, looking at the ghost and listening to his words. Go? He can barely stand and now they want him walk? Aso looks at Chioh for a moment. His face -Don't even think about helping-. Aso has his pride, and also arrogance. He looks at the tree, great, pink, "My favorite color..." He says loud enough for the other King to hear it and starts walking, slow and troubled steps. As the halo appears above his head, Chioh growls to himself as he glares up at the sky. He looks down at Tunu and steps backwards and looks down at the cubs. But he looks over at the other king with a dumbfounded expression, You can't be serious.... He looks back down at the cubs after shaking his head slightly."Climb on, Tunu. Uzuri. I'll look after both of you." He rises up slightly after Uzuri climbs on and he looks down at Tunu. He waits for her decision. If she wants to climb aboard, he will lower himself down and let her climb on and he will start to walk. If she doesn't' want to climb on, he will start to walk to the tree anyway. Tunu will walk, yes. She turns her gaze back across the valley to the pink tree and swallows. The cub steps to the side, then starts to walk alongside her uncle. Gwala and Theluthi, in their mad dash away from the rift, are already basically at the tree. And now it's glowing pink, leaving no doubt about exactly /which/ tree the spirit was talking of. Gwala takes a step or two towards the tall, thorny plant, just to be safe. Kite's ears perk at the eerie command. What is this voice? He looks up to see the lion king ghost, suddenly the hair on his back rising. His muscles seem to order him to runaway, but he keeps on moving. If there is something going on here, he would like to know. Call it curiosity. His feet cautiously step near the glowing pink tree, but not too close to it. Once most of the creatures are assembled near the thorn tree, the rift widens. It's as if parts of the valley's floor become taken up with the dark cloud matter. Its power is palpable, and it can't be good. Even if the solid valley is still there underneath, it surely doesn't matter...this is a rift that no one wants to fall into. And it's now fifteen feet across. Not far behind, obviously, is Theluthi. A zebra is faster than a wild dog, especially one that has only eaten sporadically throughout this entire ordeal, so Theluthi's a bit out of breath, but he's been keeping up rather well. He sits down beside Gwala again, tongue lolling. Kato begins dragging the skull behind him, following along behind Yaro. He doesn't hear the rift, or really notice anything. "Are we supposed to hurry, Yaro?" he asks a little too calmly. Yaro gets behind Kato and starts to push him hurriedly around the rift, taking care to make sure the skull doesn't fall in. It takes several minutes, but the two finally arrive at the Barbie(TM) tree. Oh, /that/ tree. Kiziah hesistantly lowers her paw, then begins her march toward the tree. Her expression now holds one of dull amusement. Heheh, pink tree. Who ever heard of such a thing? She also somehow manages to remain ignorant of the growing rift, as she's /still/ mostly ignorant to the presence of others. Aso'Caed stops once he's near the tree. He looks at quite surprised. Pink trees are one thing, but pink *gleaming* trees are a complete different thing. He doesn't say anything, he just. . . Pink. The dark rift stabilizes at last at sixteen feet across. It comes nearly up to the base of the thorn tree--it seems to be tickling at its roots. Halfway up the thorn tree are strung a number of sturdy vines, wrapped unnaturally around the branches. The gap seethes with darkness. It's half the distance across that a healthy, strong lion can jump with a running start. But how many of those are around, hm? "This is your first trial," booms Talmaleki, floating above watchfully. "Three of you must make it to the other side of the rift. You may not go around...you must go #over#." He laughs in a muted way, then stops. Kite's body begins to tingle. He hears a voice in his ears: Go no further unless you would aid these creatures in their tasks, and in so doing become one of them. [OOC] Tunu flings Yaro over. [OOC] Vunda XD [OOC] Yaro says, "AAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!" [OOC] Talmaleki XD [OOC] Tunu says, "How deep is it?" [OOC] You say, "You don't know. It's all dark and cloudy." [OOC] Aso'Caed cackles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [OOC] Tunu says, "I need food." [OOC] You say, "Trial number two involves food." [OOC] Aso'Caed needs healthy young legs... *L* [OOC] Vunda protects Gwala. [OOC] Yaro edges away from the predators. Chioh reaches the tree and looks up at the pink tree, then following the trnunk of it down to the rift spreading. He follows the edge of the rift with his eyes and he catches the sight of the meerakts. He arches an eyebrow. He shakes his head slightly and then looks back at the rift. Then he hears Talmaleki's trial and he shoots his gaze up at him. "There are cubs here! How can you exp..." He looks down at Tunu and lowers his head down to her. "Tunu, climb on. I can carry both you and Uzuri across." With Chioh being one of the more healthy lions here, he can make it...though carrying two cubs on his back will be a challenge. Gwala's eyes widen at the command. The first thought that occurs to him is: "We can't do this." He turns to Theluthi, shaking his head in disbelief. Kite's body seems to be pulling him down to the ground, the voice that had just spoke ringing in his ears. Shall he retreat? He feels a burning passion inside of him, and immediately forces himself up. His blue eyes shine with a sense of justice. He takes a bold step forward. So it will seem that he shall help them. Aso'Caed looks at Chioh shaking his head, "Let me go first." He chuckles and just... The King flexes his legs, leaping a little on his spot. He's young, he can make it, "Thou art not allowed to laugh." He cracks his neck to the sides, and just... As fast as he can, and trying really hard to do it. The King just runs to the edge and leaps. What will happen? Stay tuned to our next episode. Vunda blinks a bit, almost shocked that he managed to make it. But then again, he /is/ Vunda the Magnificent. The hyena draws himself onto his feet and gives his beautiful self a good shake to rid his pelt of the dust. He then quickly scrambles to his spinning bone and sits down by it. That's right. /His/ bone. When Talmaleki speaks, Vunda seems to deflate. He's gotta jump it /again/?! Theluthi, meanwhile, looks up at Gwala again, still smiling. He knows what the colt is thinking, and being ever the optimist, he rolls his shoulders. "We'll figure something out," he utters to his companion. "Maybe with a good enough head start." The jackal's feet immediately start burning with discomfort. His paw pads are itching...and it rapidly goes from itching to mild pain. Tunu blinks up at her uncle after surveying the rift as it clouds over. "-.. what if you can't? What if you fa-.. don't ma-.. can't? I dun wanna die.." she adds in a softer voice. Kiziah finally notices their 'hurdle', so to speak, and wobbles hazardously to the edge. She could never possibly jump /over/, but perhaps if she climbed down one side, and up the other? Kiziah pokes a foot over the edge, testingly, as if to test whether some monster is waiting to eat her at the bottom. Kato looks about rather pointlessly. "We gotta jump a rift?" he asks Yaro simply. "Well, who can do that? Can't lions? Or zebras? I think I heard one around here somewhere," he says this as if he's perfectly fine to go near the others in the first place. He's blind, anyway. He can't be scared of romething he never sees. Not after what he *has* seen. Chioh nuzzles his neice and says, "Trust in me, Tunu. I will get us over to that other side." He looks at Aso, and is about to tell him to stop when he sees the old lion leap. "Idiot," grumbles Chioh as he then looks down at Tunu, still low enough for her to climb on. You whisper, "Your foot feels very cold...and perhaps not entirely real anymore. Not a good feeling." to Kiziah. Yaro looks at Kato. "Simply put, meerkats are not built for leaping. We're staying put. I have a feeling our part is still to come." he says, keeping a paw on his young friend's shoulder. "And when our time comes, we work together, alright, we're in this to the end. If we die... well, I hope only *I* die if it comes down to it. I've made my mark. You're young. You're my best sentry, and like a little brother to me. Remember the Second Meerkat Law?" he says. [OOC] Talmaleki rolls 1d20 for Aso... Looking down at each paw, Kite begins to frown. What just happened? Each step he takes, it feels as though he is walking through a pile of coal. He lifts up one paw and examines it. It seems nothing is the matter... so why does it hurt ever so? Still, he walks over towards the others, though obviously in pain. He remembers what the voice said: jump through the rift. His eyes fall upon that rift, and he frowns. How? Gwala looks at the rift doubtfully. "Well, I guess we can try. Maybe if only one of us jumps far enough, we'll be able to pull the other along with us." As long as their "connection" doesn't give out mid-leap, this sounds credible enough. Of course, this is assuming they can make the jump at all. Gwala watches a large grey lion jump, without emotion. He feels strangely detached from the rest - it's just him and Theluthi, as far as he's concerned. When the haggard, prematurely aged lion gives the prospect his all, he surprises everyone by not falling tremendously short. His front paws manage to latch onto the land on the other side, but this may be hard for him to remember, because his whole lower body...submerged in the darkness...is feeling unreal, fake, hollow, like it's being eaten away, whisked to another world. Above all, very cold. Can he manage to keep struggling, despite this sensation? In the meantime, the cloud blocking out the Tree of Creation intensifies, although it's still possible to see through, and the leaves of the pink glowing thorn tree rustle. Talmaleki seems to be in conversation with the other ghosts again. The wild dog nods slowly, and gets to his feet. As he does so, however, he overhears the conversation of the meerkats. Well, he's stuck to one herbivore; why not help some insectivores. "Meerkats," he utters, padding towards them and stopping abruptly when he reaches the limits of the zebra's curse. "You can ride on my back, if you wish. I can make no promises as to our success, but it's better than staying here, isn't it?" His stubby tail wags slowly, and he's smiling still. The mandrill squints through the haze, frowning deeply and adding more lines to his face. Tunu watches the older lion jump, then turns her eyes to the meerkats and the zebra-dog pair. "... wind voice on-.. said three -.. have to jump." Kiziah staggers away from the edge, letting out a yelp, which is then followed by a series of harsh whimpers. She shakes her paw, not peeling either wide eye away from the appendage. Well, there goes that plan out the window. Maybe if she just stops trying, the blurs of voices that must be the other cursed ones will manage to do everything for her. Yaro looks at Kato. "If the old lion makes it, I'll do this alone. I don't want to needlessly endanger you when two more is all we need." he says, and walks over to Theluthi. "I will go. I pray you can make it, but if not, we did our best." he says and climbs onto the dog. Wow... a predator helping prey. EEE! Chioh looks at Aso, just barely reaching the other side, and he looks back down at Tunu. "You are right, Tunu. Only three had to jump, but they also had to make it to the other side." He lowers his back side down and makes Uzuri slide off of his back. "Tunu, watch after your sister," says Chioh as he backs up and flexes his legs. He presses off the spot, gaining as much speed as possible before reaching the edge and leaping to reach the other side. [OOC] Chioh says, "o/ I believe I can fly o/" Kato suddenly looks over at the direction of the dog's voice. "You're a wild dog?" he says, sniffing the air. "I think you are. I smelled your kind once before. When I was fighting one off from the colony." He hears Yaro get up and go off. "What are you doing?" he says. "Didn't you just say we're doing this together? No, Yaro, I'm coming with you. He steps forward, tapping forward with his stick until he thwacks it solidly against the dog's leg a few times. "There you are. Geddown, I'm coming up too. We'll do it in one swoop if the others fail." Vunda is quite unsure that he can make it. He takes a few uncertain steps, blinks, then shuffles his paws nervously. However, when Aso makes it--and he looks quite elderly--Vunda's got it into his head that he can make it, too! He snatches up his bone again and hurtles forward as fast as his thin hyena legs can carry him. When he reaches the edge, he bunches his hind legs beneath him, squeezes his eyes shut, and takes a blind leap of faith. /Please let me make it, please let me make it./ [OOC] Talmaleki rolls 1d20 for Chioh... [OOC] Yaro says, "But wait! Vunda's loss of direction makes him *TURN IN MID-AIR!*" [OOC] Chioh laughs! [OOC] Talmaleki rolls a 2. Uh-oh. [OOC] Vunda says, "Noooooo!" [OOC] Chioh says, "Crrap" [OOC] Chioh says, "Are you really rolling these?" [OOC] Talmaleki keeps a D20 beside his computer! Kite winces over towards the edge, his feet sore and stinging. He looks at the others around him. Some have a better chance, while others have it worse off than even he. However, he figures with the pain in his paws that he has little chance, if any. He is forced to lay down, no longer able to stand to be on his feet. "I am not going down *THAT* easy!" Growls Aso. Now, he is really afraid. His paws start pulling his body real fast. It's not muscular strength, it's something else. The wierd *dead* feeling that consumes his body and mind makes a desperate attempt to climb. He manages to be on his feet on the other edge, panting down at the void behind him, "S#!T." He mutters through his startled and tired breath. But at least he's alive. He shuts his eyes and says nothing, afraid? Never been more in his life. Obligingly, Theluthi lowers himself onto his belly, allowing Yaro and Kato to scramble up onto his back. They offer some extra weight, but he thinks he can make it. He give a nod to Gwala again, steeling himself. "On the count of three?" he inquires, scuffling the ground with his forepaws, as a racer preparing to sprint. Yaro says, "One." There is a low hissing sound that comes from the rift as it seethes higher. Aso'Caed's lower body is numb...he can't move it anymore, for now. But he's safe. Vunda leaps, twists wildly and randomly in mid-air, and lands right back on the ledge he jumped from. Kite's condition is getting slowly worse. Chioh slips on the edge and falls short...and tumbles straight into the rift, disappearing entirely from sight. Gwala nods, somewhat reluctantly. He wishes he could carry one of the kats and take part of the burden off of Theluthi, but they climbed on too fast for him to react, and there's no time to lose. He looks straight ahead, his eyes narrowed. "Two." You page, "You feel a vague sense of awareness, but you have no idea where you are, or even what's happened. Somehow, although you see nothing, it feels like your surroundings are blue and black." to Chioh. You know that feeling in time when you know you have done something stupid and time seems to freeze to let you contemplate your thought? Chioh just had that and he sighs. "Akase..." Then he plummets. Tunu watches with rapt attention, and rushes forward to the edge of the rift to peer down into the darkness when he falls. "CHIOH!" she screams out. Kato shrugs. He's ready for whatever happens. "Two and a half?" he says plaintively, thinking the dog should be the one to start it off since he'll be the one jumping. [!] Zagaa has changed their status to 'IC'. [OOC] You say, "Zagaa! You're here to save the day!" [OOC] Zagaa's cape flaps in the wind. [OOC] Yaro says, "We're engaging in death sports, wanna watch?" [OOC] Zagaa says, "Heck yes." [OOC] Zagaa says, "Zagaa never actually left... so what happened?" [OOC] Kiziah says, "A lot." [OOC] Zagaa says, "I guessed as much..." Aso'Caed quickly turns behind him. And realizes that his legs... "Chioh!" He growls to the nowhere, hoping to hear the other King's voice. He can't really move, even if he tries, "CHIOH! Talk to me!" No Chioh, just one step closer to victory? "Three!" Theluthi surges forth, running with all his might for the rift. "Hold on tight!" he cautions the meerkats as the lip of the tear quickly approaches. He prays they'll make it. Meanwhile, Vunda, afraid and confused, begins to wander in aimless circles, whimpering and looking very much afraid. This isn't the Vunda that one would have met many weeks ago. This poor hyena is terrified and simpering. He drops onto his belly and curls up in a ball, covering his head with his paws. He's going to die! Kite's eyes widen, but is somewhat relieved when he sees Vunda has landed back to the same edge he jumped from. He sees Chioh jump as well, and even he begins to shake. He is here to help, but what can he do? He looks over at the lioness cubs and the meerkats. "I... I can try." He says out loud, wondering who will hear and respond. Zagaa's fur is falling out rapidly...and his skin is itching! [OOC] Yaro says, "CANCER!" [OOC] Chioh snerks! [OOC] Zagaa says, "My beautiful maroon fur!" [OOC] Kite XD [OOC] Zagaa says, "XD I" [OOC] You say, "Oh, don't worry, girlfriend, you'll be #fab#ulous." [OOC] Zagaa says, "I'll bet Cael likes a bald meerkat." [OOC] Aso'Caed says, "CHIOH!?" [OOC] Yaro says, "Great Kings Valley--Room C3" [OOC] You say, "Chioh has been...taken care of. >  " [OOC] Tunu says, "EEE." [OOC] Aso'Caed >.> <.< Gwala resists the temptation to close his eyes as he rushes toward the edge of the crack. He can feel the tiny meerkat claws digging into his hide - they don't hurt, but they remind him of the life he is currently responsible for. He never thought he would suddenly become connected to so many strange beasts, but there's the Circle of Life for you. The zebra leaps, alongside Theluthi. If they don't make it, well...it isn't just they who are going to pay. The rest of the cursed will, too. [OOC] Talmaleki rolls... [Edit: I rolled a 20 and a 19 for Gwala and Theluthi.] [OOC] Zagaa says, "Thanks, Gwalala." [OOC] Vunda crosses fingers, toes, and eyes. [OOC] Yaro leaps off of Theluthi's back and flies to the other end. Bye bye, Kato! [OOC] Kato says, "I'll get you for this Yarooooooooo...." |
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Post by Zazu on Oct 30, 2006 3:18:22 GMT -5
Poom. Ground. Dirt. The familiar, the earth. The zebra. The wild dog. A burst of energy, of necessity, of kinship. A yellow light erupts briefly from the clouds.
The zebra and wild dog easily clear the rift, the meerkats safely atop them. "Now RUN," commands Talmakeli. "RUN! All of you, 'run' for your second trial, 'run' and put everything in order! Quickly! You have only ONE HOUR to complete your second task!!"
Chioh has left.
Zagaa is caught up in the moment. His adrenaline is pumping, his claws are digging into the zebra's back. And... his fur is flying out of his skin?
Run? Aso starts walking with his forepaws, dragging the rest of his body at a slow rate. There's nothing else he can do, just beg for his life now. No sign of Chioh, that can't be good, not at all.
Kato pats the dog beneath him as he feels them hit solid ground. "I liked dogs better than felines, anyway," he says, showing no signs of strain. "Better listen to what the ghost says, and you move faster than us."
[OOC] Tunu says, "TAM! I'm confused. ;_; Are we all running? And where are we running?"
[OOC] You say, "See you then! You'll just be lying there numb for that period."
[OOC] Vunda says, "I'm assuming we just type 'run'."
[OOC] Tunu says, "Tam=Tal. c.c"
Kite has left.
Yaro clings to Theluthi. His eyes tight. Scary scary scary scary! "Did we make it...or are we dead?" he asks in fear. Uzuri, nudges Tunu. "Race ya!" she says. She likes to run.
Yaro has left.
Kato has left.
Part of the valley swirls and metamorphoses. The rift slowly closes...ten feet...five feet...the cloudy material is squeezed upward into the sky. Its billow away, covering the ghost king as it goes.
Tunu's breathing comes hard again as she stares after Chioh. The command snaps her back, and she starts to run. Direction, purpose.. all of those questions blurred. Chioh is gone. ;_;
Tunu has left.
Gwala can barely believe it when he hits the ground, his hooves crumpling and his chest falling to make contact with the dirt. He can barely believe it when he manages to get on his front hooves again and raises his dusty head to see Theluthi alongside him, as always. (This really shouldn't surprise him, but hey). He hardly has time to ponder things, though. The only thing he can do next is obey the ghostly king's loud command. So he runs.
Gwala has left.
[OOC] Aso'Caed says, "Where is everyone going?"
Vunda doesn't ask for a second invite. He runs blindly, following the crowd. Theluthi also runs alongside Gwala, his spirits soaring. They made it!
Zagaa has left.
[OOC] Vunda says, "Type 'run', Aso."
Aso'Caed has left.
[OOC] You say, "Kizzzzzy! Join them in Limbo!"
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Post by Zazu on Oct 30, 2006 3:19:41 GMT -5
-------------------------------------- Great Kings Valley--Room A1 You see nothing special. Exits: [Leave] the Orchard [South] to Room B1 [East] to Room A2 Present: [TP] Vunda [AFK] Aso'Caed [IC] Zagaa [TP] Gwala [TP] Tunu [TP] Kato [TP] Yaro [TP] Kite [TP] Chioh [WIZ] Zazu [WIZ] Timon Coconut Tree Kiziah has arrived. Yaro picks a coconut from the coconut tree. Chioh picks a coconut from the coconut tree. [OOC] Tunu says, "Silly!" Kato picks a coconut from the coconut tree. "Now GO! Hurry! This is the underside of what you know as the Valley of the Great Kings! See what is to be done...and DO IT! You have fifty-eight minutes!” Gwala picks a coconut from the coconut tree. [OOC] Kiziah has no idea where she is ICly anymore. XP Tunu picks a coconut from the coconut tree. [OOC] Chioh says, "I see nothing!" [OOC] Tunu says, "Um. Ok. Got a coconut. c.c" Zagaa screams as Gwala makes the landing. His claws dig in more, probably still not hurting, but it's completely out of habit. Zagaa is at a loss for words... and... fur... apparently. Chioh has left. Kite picks a coconut from the coconut tree. Great Kings Valley--Room C4 You smell nothing special. Exits: [North] to Room B4 [West] to Room C3 [South] to Room D4 Present: Passionfruit Tree Chioh has arrived. Chioh picks a passionfruit from the passionfruit tree. [OOC] Chioh says, "You are a very fast ghost..." Chioh has left. Chioh has arrived. [!]Zazu shouts, "Those in the hidden underside of the Great Kings' Valley...you are in darkness. All you see are each other, and the occasional object, lighted mysteriously. The ground under your feet is springy and strange. The stars are gone. There is nothing but an ominous half-moon in the sky." Chioh has left. Tunu has arrived. [OOC] Tunu isn't sure she's doing this right.. Tunu picks a passionfruit from the passionfruit tree. %%% Here in Limbo... where the passionfruit grows free! Try to unwind...don't lose you mind, or you'll never daylight see! %%% [OOC] Tunu kicks. I hate that song. Chioh has arrived. %%% Here in Limbo... where the passionfruit grows free! Try to unwind...don't lose your mind, or you'll nevermore be free! %%% [OOC] Tunu says, "Chioh!" [OOC] Tunu says, "Pose with me? <3" [OOC] Chioh says, "Sure...I forgot which room I fell in anyway" Tunu gets the passionfruit the same way she's been getting the others - climbing up the trunks and batting them down. Once the passionfruit falls, the cub jumps down and gathers it's stem, along with the other stems in her mouth to hold them. She looks at the coconut and bats at it with a paw, sending it rolling through the darkness. Kite has arrived. Kite picks a passionfruit from the passionfruit tree. Kite has left. [!]Zazu shouts, "It is eerily silent here. Tunu! You can no longer say the letter 'u'! Yaro--your toes are beginning to get weary and feel loose! Zagaa--your fur is all gone now! And your skin feels...a little too alive!" [OOC] Tunu shakes her fist at Zazu. [!]Chukizo drops Zazu into a bowl of alphabet soup. [!]Chisulo eats it, and becomes a Wiz-cannibal. Chioh walks through the darkness, his eyes open and the red arua glowing from them. In his mouth hangs a Banana, and a fig. Ahead, he sees a passionfruit tree and he bounds towards it, reaching up with his paw, he bats one down. He picks it up after it falls to the ground and he looks around. He spots Tunu in the darkness and he drops all fruit as he yells, "Tunu!" Tunu turns her head to look at Chioh, reaching out a paw to stop her coconut. A banana, fig, and passionfruit are held in her mouth. Her ears flick forward, but she doesn't call back to her uncle. Tears start to fall from her eyes. OMFG you're ALIVE! Yaro has arrived. Yaro picks a passionfruit from the passionfruit tree. Zagaa has arrived. Kato has arrived. Yaro looks around. He's confused. Bewildered. What can a meerkat do? Yaro has left. Chioh keeps his fruit with him, picking it up again, and he bounds over to Tunu. With a smile, he nuzzles his niece happily. His fur still feels the chill of the fall, and the darkness. Vunda has arrived. Kiziah has arrived. %%% Here in Limbo... where the passionfruit grows free! Try to unwind...don't lose your mind, or you'll nevermore be free! %%% A low, frightened whoop is heard in the darkness. Stumbling paws. Vunda's afraid. Kato is walking straight forward, stick in front of him. He can only walk, after all, they're all blind here, aren't they? Kato picks a passionfruit from the passionfruit tree. Zagaa is holding on to Kato's sholder, afraid to let go of him. Zagaa picks a passionfruit from the passionfruit tree. Zagaa has left. Kato has left. Vunda picks a passionfruit from the passionfruit tree. Vunda has left. Tunu's eyes shut as she lowers her head to nuzzle her uncle before she bats her coconut forward again. But before she rushes after it, she looks to make sure her uncle is following her. Gwala has arrived. Theluthi has arrived. Public> Yaro says, "I know a little something. The trees are growing the wrong fruit!" Chioh follows behind his niece, a smile on his face. But where is Uzuri? Public> Yaro says, "Look at the trees." [!]Zazu shouts, "Talmaleki shouts: ‘45 minutes remaining! I don't wanna see no fruits of a feather set side by side, yo!’" Public> Yaro says, "Never mind. I think it was a @desc error." Theluthi freezes, as though hearing something. An awful stench begins to emanate from him. Oh, yuck! Public> Gwala says, "BUT...the passionfruit tree is producing passionfruits." Tunu has left. Kiziah rolls a coconut around by her nose, and carries a banana in her mouth. She couldn't possibly carry anything more, so the cub simply gives up and falls asleep. Enough of this, she's too tired. Public> Shajiru says, "The coconut tree says it is producing passionfruits. XD A @desc error, I believe." And the ghost soars over the sleepy Kiziah, tickling her tail as he goes. Great Kings Valley--Room C4 You smell nothing special. Exits: [North] to Room B4 [West] to Room C3 [South] to Room D4 Present: [TP] Tunu [TP] Chioh [OOC] Theluthi [TP] Gwala [OOC] Kiziah Passionfruit Tree [OOC] Tunu says, "I figured it out, Tal " Tunu has left. Tunu has arrived. Tunu drops Tunu's coconut. Tunu has left. [!]Zazu shouts, "Zagaa--you're starting to grow feathers! All over your body! Scarlet, yellow, mango orange, blackberry! All colors! Yaro, one of your toes breaks off!" Theluthi picks a passionfruit from the passionfruit tree. Chioh drops Chioh's banana. Public> Yaro screams ICly and looks at his feet. Chioh has left. [!]Zazu shouts, "Gwala and Theluhti, the leash between you is getting gradually shorter! Talmaleki growls: ‘I want to wander this grid and see each fruit in its proper place. Can you do that, mortal fools?’" Great Kings Valley--Room B2 You see nothing special. Exits: [North] to Room A2 [West] to Room B1 [South] to Room C2 [East] to Room B3 Present: [TP] Gwala Vunda has arrived. [!]Zazu shouts, "Tunu's fruits are sitting all over the place! Don't you know people can slip on banana peels!? <whoops!>" Vunda drops Vunda's banana. Kite has arrived. Public> Lightning Strike Masiri says, "Every fruit in it's proper place, but before that you said to not have the same fruit side by side..." Public> Chewi-Chuki says, "So what is each fruit's proper place?" Public> Yaro says, "I'm still trying to figure that out. Obviously not with their own trees." Public> Lightning Strike Masiri says, "The tree where they were picked?" Public> Chewi-Chuki says, "Nope." Public> Gwala isn't exactly sure anymore.  Public> Chewi-Chuki says, "’I don't wanna see no fruits of a feather set side by side’" [!]Zazu shouts, "%%% I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts.... Here they are, no two in a row..." Public> Chewi-Chuki points. See? Great Kings Valley--Room B4 You see nohting special. Exits: [North] to Room A4 [West] to Room B3 [South] to Room C4 Present: Chioh's coconut Tunu's banana Public> Lightning Strike Masiri says, "Gah...so confusing" Public> Chewi-Chuki says, "Not really, dude." Public> Chewi-Chuki says, "I'll try to steer you ICly." [!]Zazu shouts, "Kato...is having flashbacks to his early childhood." Public> Lightning Strike Masiri says, "No fruit side by side, all in the right place. all the hints contradict each other. ;.;" Great Kings Valley--Room B3 You see nohting special. Exits: [North] to Room A3 [West] to Room B2 [South] to Room C3 [East] to Room B4 Present: [TP] Yaro [TP] Kato Zagaa's coconut [IC] Zagaa [OOC] Zagaa says, "take my coconut!" Yaro drops Kato's coconut. One of Yaro's joints cracks... [OOC] Zagaa says, "ow, dude" [OOC] Zagaa says, "Leper" Gwala has arrived. [OOC] Zagaa says, "No" Yaro yells. Not another one! [OOC] Zagaa says, "take the coconuts!" Public> Chewi-Chuki says, "No they don’t" [OOC] Gwala says, "Yes?" Talmaleki laughs! [OOC] Zagaa says, "No two in a row!" Kato is sitting silently on the ground, breathing heavily. He's stopped moving, his fruit scattered everywhere. His eyes are darting everywhere in his head. "Mom... please... come back..." he's whispering. [OOC] Zagaa says, "Ok" Public> Chewi-Chuki says, "If none of the same fruit is side by side, then what are they're proper places?" [OOC] Gwala says, "Like that?" [OOC] Zagaa says, "thank you" [OOC] Zagaa says, "Only one coconut in a room" Zagaa has left. Yaro has left. Kato has left. Public> Lightning Strike Masiri shakes his head. It makes no sense to me. Great Kings Valley--Room C4 You smell nothing special. Exits: [North] to Room B4 [West] to Room C3 [South] to Room D4 Present: [TP] Tunu [TP] Chioh Kiziah's banana Chioh's fig [TP] Kite Tunu's coconut [OOC] Kiziah Passionfruit Tree Tunu has left. Zagaa has arrived. [!]Zazu shouts, "Talmaleki's voice rolls through the dark mystery-world. ‘Half an hour remains, mortals! If you ever think you're done, let me know! But you won't be done until every room has exactly one type of fruit in it!’” Public> Yaro says, "I'm just putting non-matching fruits in every room." Zagaa has arrived. Zagaa picks a passionfruit from the passionfruit tree. Zagaa picks a passionfruit from the passionfruit tree. Zagaa picks a passionfruit from the passionfruit tree. Zagaa has left. You page, "DUDE." to Zagaa. Public> Chewi-Chuki so had it figured out before Tal gave it away. xD Yaro has arrived. Yaro picks a passionfruit from the passionfruit tree. Kato has arrived. Public> Shajiru says, "Can they sit diagonal to each other?" Public> Yaro says, " " Tunu has arrived. Public> Yaro says, "No same fruits in adjacent rooms?" [OOC] Tunu says, "This room is ok. " [OOC] Chioh says, "you are an evil ghostie" [!]Zazu shouts, "Vunda is now drawn like a magnet...to trees! Theluthi is REALLY REEKING. Zagaa's feathers are getting full-sized! Kiziah's eyes are watering!" Great Kings Valley--Room C1 You see nothing speical. Exits: [North] to Room B1 [South] to Room D1 [East] to Room C2 Present: [TP] Vunda Kato's banana Vunda's passionfruit [OOC] Theluthi Vunda's fig Yaro's coconut Fig Tree Vunda picks a fig from the fig tree. [OOC] You say, "Look at all this junk!" [OOC] Vunda litters like a bad hyena! Public> Yaro says, "One type of fruit per room...no same fruit next to another same fruit in an adjoining room... so...something NOT a banana in the banana tree's room, the banana would have to be placed diagonally..." Public> Yaro says, "or am I reading too much into his hints?" [!]Zazu shouts, "Sometimes even ghosts appreciate having their pinfos read!" Public> Yaro says, "SUDOKU!!!!" |
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Post by Zazu on Oct 30, 2006 3:20:07 GMT -5
Public> Chewi-Chuki says, "I don't think we need to worry about adjacent rooms, Yaro." Public> Kato says, "Of course..." Public> Gwala says, "OOOOOOH I don't get it." [OOC] Kiziah sneezes. :3 Public> Yaro says, "Each of the four fruit are a number...none in the same row..." Public> Lightning Strike Masiri says, "I was never good at Sudoku...." Public> Chewi-Chuki says, "Oh shit." [OOC] Talmaleki paws you a Kleenex. Public> Yaro says, "Who here knows Sudoku? I do!" Public> Kato says, "I know it! I'm just not that good at it." PLAYER X SPECIES STAT IDLE LOCATION ================================================================================ Timon M Kit Meerkat WIZ 18h Great Kings Valley--Room A1 Aso'Caed M Adult Barbary Lion AFK 2m Great Kings Valley--Room A1 Zazu M Juvenile Hornbill WIZ 1m Great Kings Valley--Room A1 Gwandoya M Ghost Lion 9m Great Kings Valley--Room A1 Gwala M Juvenile Zebra TP 34s Great Kings Valley--Room A3 Kiziah F Cub Lioness TP 29s Great Kings Valley--Room C1 Talmaleki M Ghost Lion TP 0s Great Kings Valley--Room C1 Theluthi M Adult Wild Dog OOC 4m Great Kings Valley--Room C1 Yaro M Adult Meerkat TP 13s Great Kings Valley--Room C2 Chioh M Adult Lion TP 59s Great Kings Valley--Room C4 Kite M Adolescent Golden Jackal TP 2m Great Kings Valley--Room C4 Kato M Adolescent Meerkat TP 3s Great Kings Valley--Room D1 Zagaa M Adult Meerkat IC 38s Great Kings Valley--Room D1 Vunda M Adult Spotted Hyena TP 1s Great Kings Valley--Room D2 Tunu F Cub Lioness TP 2m Great Kings Valley--Room D3 Public> Chewi-Chuki says, "I do too. Dammit," Public> Gwala says, "dammit. I shouldn't have to use math in a game. xD" Public> Lightning Strike Masiri says, "I've never done it!" Public> Chewi-Chuki says, "Ok, ok.. *gets out a pen and paper*" Kiziah picks a fig from the fig tree. Great Kings Valley--Room C2 You see nothing speical. Exits: [North] to Room B2 [West] to Room C1 [South] to Room D2 [East] to Room C3 Present: [TP] Yaro [OOC] Yaro says, "So this is a four by four grid...... Call Coconuts 1, Bananas 2, Passionfruit 3, and figs 4. Make sure none are in the same line as another of their type...and none of the same type in the same 4x4 square./" Public> Shajiru can't figure it out, and keeps on wasting paper to do so. BAH! Your left wrist is getting a little woozy... Great Kings Valley--Room C3 You smell nothing special. Exits: [North] to Room B3 [West] to Room C2 [South] to Room D3 [East] to Room C4 Present: Yaro's coconut Vunda's banana Gwala's passionfruit Tunu's fig Gwala has arrived. Public> Yaro says, "So this is a four by four grid...... Call Coconuts 1, Bananas 2, Passionfruit 3, and figs 4. Make sure none are in the same line as another of their type...and none of the same type in the same 4x4 square./" "This room is a disgraceful mess." Public> Yaro says, "Uh uh, now I'm about to lose an entire hand! <  " [!]Zazu shouts, "Even when there is nothing to see...there is." Public> Gwala says, "Um. That helps a lot." [!]Zazu shouts, "Nothing is always the same everything...unless it's nohting." Public> Yaro says, "The trees are the preset numbers." Public> Gwala says, "How can we collectively solve a Sudoku puzzle when we're all scattered like this?" Public> Yaro says, "Everybody come to room A1!" Great Kings Valley--Room A1 You see nothing special. Exits: [Leave] the Orchard [South] to Room B1 [East] to Room A2 Present: [TP] Chioh [TP] Yaro [TP] Kiziah Vunda's coconut Kato's banana Yaro's fig [] Gwandoya [AFK] Aso'Caed [WIZ] Zazu [WIZ] Timon Coconut Tree Gwala has arrived. Tunu has arrived. [OOC] Tunu says, "The numbers move from east to west" Kato has arrived. [OOC] Yaro says, "Okay, folks, here's how it goes." [OOC] Tunu says, "And the letter from north to south" Public> Obvious, Oblivious, Kesh dumps some A1 on Yaro and has a nice, nummy snack.. licklicklick [OOC] Tunu says, "Where is the fig?" [OOC] Chioh says, "C1" [!]Zazu shouts, "Pay attention to the room descriptions!" [OOC] Kato says, "Banana?" Public> Chewi-Chuki says, "yOu see nothing special? " Public> Lightning Strike Masiri says, "There are no room desctiptuins!" Public> Chewi-Chuki says, "Seriously, Zazu." Kite has arrived. [OOC] Yaro says, "Lets call this tree 1. Nothing directly north, east, west, or south of it, can contain a coconut, clear?" [OOC] Tunu says, "There is no north." [!]Zazu shouts, "You may see nothing special, but I see nothing speical." [OOC] Yaro says, "Well, you get the picture." [OOC] Tunu says, "And Soduko doesn't work diagonally" Public> Gwala says, "You SMELL nothing special." [OOC] Tunu says, "So just west and south." [OOC] Kato says, "Some of the words are spelled wrong in every room." [OOC] Yaro says, "East and south." Public> Chewi-Chuki says, "You spelled things wrong, Zazy." Public> Zazu woudl nevar do suhc a tihng. [OOC] Aso'Caed is back! "What did I miss?" [OOC] Chioh says, "Banana Tree A3" [OOC] Yaro says, "Nothing e,s,n,w of A3 can be a banana." Public> Gwala says, "But some of the rooms have /smell/ instead of /see/ what does that mean?" [OOC] Chioh says, "Passionfruit C4" Vunda has arrived. [OOC] Kite says, "Fig tree C1" [OOC] Aso'Caed says, "What did I miss? =(" [OOC] Yaro says, "Nothing e,s,n,w of C4 can be a passionfruit." [OOC] Vunda wonders why some of the room descriptions are misspelled? [OOC] Kato says, "I think I got it." [OOC] Yaro says, "Lemme see your map, Kato." [OOC] Kato says, "How?!" Public> Chewi-Chuki says, "We have no smell program." Public> Gwala says, "That is true. :/" Vunda has left. [OOC] Yaro says, "What do you have it on?" [OOC] Aso'Caed ... [OOC] Kato says, "Paper." [OOC] Tunu says, "Here is my question." [OOC] Tunu says, "Do we stack up fruit in one room, or spread it out?" [OOC] Yaro says, "Yes?" [OOC] Yaro says, "One fruit to one room." [OOC] Tunu says, "Because only one number goes in each box." [OOC] Tunu says, "Right." [OOC] Kato says, "Okay, I'll just say the numbers and fruits I got..." [OOC] Gwala says, "So, we must pick up all the extra fruit, then?" [!]Zazu shouts, "A room with a tree is already amply blessed...and doesn't need any more fruit in it!" [OOC] Kato says, "I believe so." Public> Yaro says, "See?" [OOC] Aso'Caed ... [OOC] Chioh says, "A2 can't have a coconut and a banana" [OOC] Tunu says, "Coconut is in A1, Banana in A3, Passion in C4, and fig in C1." [OOC] Yaro says, "Then we mustn't waste time. Spread out as far as possible, as fast as posibble." [!]Zazu shouts, "Don't worry about what you have in your inventory--it doesn't count toward the solution." [OOC] Kato says, "A2 I got has a passionfruit." [OOC] Tunu says, "No room can have more than one." Gwala has left. [OOC] Yaro says, "Thanks, Tunu, lemme draw my own map." Vunda has arrived. Gwala has arrived. Tunu has left. [OOC] Gwala says, "Which should be in B1, the fig or the coconut? Or something else?" [OOC] Kato says, "I think a banana goes in B1." [OOC] Kato says, "No, Passionfruit." [OOC] Chioh says, "Neither Fig nor Coconut" Gwala has left. [!]Zazu shouts, "Talmaleki's voice visits the frantically running creatures in Limbo again. 'Fifteen minutes remain...now we see how well those under adversity's pall can pull together! MUahahaaAHAAA!'" Vunda has left. Public> Gwala says, "north" Public> Gwala says, "Oops." Public> Fujo says, "Git garn', horsie!" Public> Chewi-Chuki says, "ONE FRUIT PER ROOM" [!]Zazu shouts, "And remember--bananas are worth 5000 points!" [!]Zazu shouts, "Wait, never mind, that's Ms. Pac-Man." Great Kings Valley--Room D3 You smell nothing special. Exits: [North] to Room C3 [West] to Room D2 [East] to Room D4 Present: Vunda's banana Public> Lightning Strike Masiri says, "-.- Who thought of this trial" [!]Chisulo shakes her omnipotent, double-bladed Amazon-Axe in a threatening manner from up in the skyclouds. You're all crazy.  Public> Gwala says, "Wait...don't tell me this is only the second task...." Public> Lightning Strike Masiri says, "This is only the 2nd" Public> Gwala explodes. [!]Chukizo shouts, "Guys. I don't want to help too much. But it's one fruit per room. o.o" Public> Fujo says, "Don't ask me, I'm in the dark." [!]Zazu shouts, "Talmaleki sits quietly on the ground, contemplating a banana. Which is lined up with a banana tree. And thinks, . o O (So long as no one takes this banana from me, they cannot succeed.)" [!]Zazu shouts, "Kato's vision become idyllic...quiet...pleasant memories...Kiziah's sinuses become numb...Chioh's voice goes hoarse and frightening." Public> Lightning Strike Masiri says, "Somehow I knew if I came close to them...I would get cursed" Public> Chewi-Chuki says, "I'm about to give up. People keep moving the fruit I put down and getting more. o.o" Public> Gwala says, "It's not me. :/" Public> Gwala says, "I'm mainly just gathering all the fruit we don't need." [!]Zazu shouts, "Talmaleki laughs at all the fruit-hoarding gluttons! Five minutes left!" Public> Gwala says, "Guys, just keep the extra fruit in your own inventory." Public> Gwala says, "I think." Public> Chewi-Chuki says, "Zaz, we will need more time." Public> Zazu says, "Then you will have it...but there will be A PRICE." Public> Zazu dun dun DUNNNNN Public> Yaro says, "a1 is solved, b1 needs a banana, c1 needs a fig, d4 needs a passionfruit!" Public> Yaro says, "in b4 we need a coconut, in c4 we need a Passionfruit, and in d4 we need a banana." Public> Yaro says, "In a2 we need a passionfruit, in a3 we need a banana, in a4 we need a fig." Public> Kato says, "We need a coconut in D2" Public> Yaro says, "b2 needs a fig!!!!" Public> Kato says, "There's now a passionfruit in B3." Public> Chewi-Chuki says, "What about C3?" Public> Yaro says, "I have the solution completed! Let me call it!" Public> Shajiru says, "There is a fig in B2." Public> Shajiru says, "Had to grab Vunda's banana" [!]Zazu shouts, "Tick, tock..." Public> Yaro says, "a1=coconut, a2=passionfruit, a3=banana, a4=fig." Public> Clumsy Chisulo says, "...*dirty thoughts* *shot*" Public> Fujo SNORT Public> Fujo says, "You're supposed to be setting a good example to the mucklings, Chisu!" Public> Chewi-Chuki says, "C3omfg. WHAT" Public> Clumsy Chisulo says, "...Shaadduup." Public> Yaro says, "b1=banana, b2=fig, a3=Passionfruit, a4=coconut." Public> Chewi-Chuki says, "You mean b." Public> Kato says, "I think you meant to replace the a's with b's." Public> Chewi-Chuki says, "B3=Passion. B4-Coconut." Public> Gwala says, "Um..what about c3?" Public> Chewi-Chuki says, "tHat's what I've been asking," Public> Yaro says, "c1=fig, c2=Banana, c3=coconut, c4=Passionfruit." Public> Yaro says, "d1=passionfruit, c2=coconut, c3=Fig, c4=Banana." Public> Yaro says, "a1=coconut, a2=passionfruit, a3=banana, a4=fig." Public> Yaro says, "b1=banana, b2=fig, b3=Passionfruit, b4=coconut." Public> Yaro says, "c1=passionfruit, c2=coconut, c3=Fig, c4=Banana." Public> Yaro says, "d1=passionfruit, c2=coconut, c3=Fig, c4=Banana." [!]Zazu shouts, "The sky grows darker, something that you wouldn't have thought possible. The lit half moon turns around and around...and disappears. Talmaleki's voice booms in a low roar. 'Your time is done. Continue solving the task...but there will be a price to pay for your sloth, mortals.' And the high-pitched laughter of Mwiba accompanies him." Public> Kato says, "We're out of time." Public> Yaro says, "a1=coconut, a2=passionfruit, a3=banana, a4=fig." Public> Kato says, "We need a fig here in D31" Public> Yaro says, "b1=banana, b2=fig, b3=Passionfruit, b4=coconut." Public> Kato says, "D3" Public> Fujo says, "But where there's a will~ there's always gonna be a waaaay~ *sings along to NMA*" Public> Yaro says, "c1=passionfruit, c2=coconut, c3=Fig, c4=Banana." Public> Yaro says, "a1=coconut, a2=passionfruit, a3=banana, a4=fig." Public> Clumsy Chisulo needs...needs...chocolate milk. Public> Yaro says, "b1=banana, b2=fig, a3=Passionfruit, a4=coconut." Public> Yaro says, "c1=fig, c2=Banana, c3=coconut, c4=Passionfruit." Public> Gwala says, "Someone pick up the coconut in c3, please! I can't get it." Public> Yaro says, "d1=passionfruit, c2=coconut, c3=Fig, c4=Banana." Public> Yaro says, "Sorry about my mixup!" Public> Shajiru says, "Someone put a fig in c3! I am all out!" Public> Yaro says, "Too bad we ran out of time! < " [!]Zazu shouts, "Yaro has apparently been cursed with inability to cut and paste properly. " Public> Fujo says, "XD" Public> Chewi-Chuki says, "Yari" Public> Shajiru says, "YARO!" Public> Yaro cries. Public> Chewi-Chuki says, "Can you read the 2s for me?" Public> Talmaleki says, "You can if you want!" Public> Lightning Strike Masiri says, "I think the time kinda knocked that out" Public> Yaro says, "The 2s are?" Public> Kato says, "There's a banana in D2 that shouldn't be there!" Public> Kato says, "I'm all full." Public> Talmaleki says, "NoOO! My BANANA!!" Public> Chewi-Chuki says, "READ ME THE 2s" Public> Yaro says, "in a2 we need passionfruit, in b2 we need a fig, in c2 we need coconuts, and in d2 we need a banana" [OOC] Gwala says, "Bwahaha." [OOC] Gwala says, "Wait...huh?" Public> Chewi-Chuki sayys, "There is a banana in d4" Public> Chewi-Chuki says, "so there cannot be a banana in D2." Public> Gwala says, "A banana in D2? But I thought..." Great Kings Valley--Room D4 You smell nothing special. Exits: [North] to Room C4 [West] to Room D3 Present: [TP] Kite [TP] Kato Public> Gwala says, "There's already a coconut. It's good." Vunda has arrived. Vunda drops Vunda's banana. Public> Yaro says, "banana, in d2 we need a coconut. Kill me,." Public> Shajiru says, "There isn't a coconut in d4" Talmaleki watches you all with a steely, unforgiving gaze. Public> Yaro says, "D4 needs a banana." Public> Kato says, "D4 is a Banana." Public> Gwala says, "Scratch that. I'm confused over d2 and d4 " Public> Yaro says, "D2 needs a banana. needs a coconut!" Public> Fujo says, "YOU'RE a coconut." Public> Gwala says, "Can you make a little more sense, please? XPPPP" Public> Talmaleki says, "You. Are. All. COCONUTZ!" Public> Fujo says, "Don't you start talking, ghostonut." Public> Kato says, "D2 Needs a *coconut* There's already a banana in D4." Public> Chewi-Chuki says, "c2=banana. d2=coconut" [!]Zazu is just laughing a lot now. [OOC] Vunda says, "I think it's all put together properly." Public> Gwala says, "OMG I think we're making this harder than it actually is." Public> Yaro says, "Can someone shoot me for muisreading my own map?" Public> Kato shoots Yaro! Public> Chewi-Chuki says, "Ok. Yaro? Get everyone in a1, and then YOU go inspect." Public> Fujo shoots Yaro, too! Public> Kato says, "I think... everyone should gather in A1, and then check the list." Public> Gwala says, "There's a coconut in d2. Calm down, guys." [!]Zazu shouts, "The sky lightens...the strange limbo disappears." [!]Zazu shouts, "Everyone! OUT OF THE ORCHARD!" Public> Fujo says, "It's gonna blow!" |
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Post by Zazu on Oct 30, 2006 3:22:09 GMT -5
Pridelands - Valley of the Great Kings You see nothing special. Exits: [East] to the Tree of Creation [South] to the Zuberi River Crossing [West] to the Southern Trail [North] to the Vast Savanna "And so it goes." [OOC] Chioh runs into a tree...over and over and over and over. [OOC] Zagaa says, "Caw..." [OOC] Theluthi says, "That was fun, once it was figured out that it was a Sudoku puzzle. XD" [OOC] Kato DIES. Just an extra ten minutes woulda gotten us it. [OOC] Tunu says, "I'm about to tear my hair out." [OOC] Gwala wants some organization skills for Christmas.  As quickly as the strange, spooky, not wholly realistic adventure began...it it over. Everyone is back in the valley...in the cold of the night. Talmaleki appears again, this time on the ground, before you all. [OOC] Kite says, "What do I do with all the extra fruit on me?" [!]Zazu shouts, "Don't worry, folks! All the fruit will disappear at noon on Halloween!" [OOC] Kato says, "We can drop all our fruit here as testament to our ordeal." Tunu slides down to her belly, panting. She never wants to see another piece of fruit again in her life. But at least Chioh is ok. Cursed... but ok. Gwala emerges from the darkness, shaking his head and blinking. He's thoroughly confused, stunned, and past the point of thinking about anything around him, even Theluthi, who really stinks. He can only stare at Talmaleki, blinking mutely. The taste of fig skin is still clear in his mouth. He thought the first ordeal was hard, but...that was a nightmare. Theluthi smells. Really, really, /really/ bad. He looks quite ashamed of himself, even though he can't help the stench. He sits as far away from Gwala as he can get, but that's really not saying much. Vunda, meanwhile, collapses in relief, hugging the beautiful dirt. No more fruit! Zagaa hides behind the leg of some zebra. He notices now that his fur has been replaced with *feathers* of rainbow colors. Fabulous.... Chioh comes up next to Tunu, panting as well. Right now, he hates a few things. One, ghosts. Two, fruit. Three, trees. He glares up at the ghost and fights the urge to roar in his face. Kato drops down to the ground, exhausted. His leaf bandages are slipped slightly off his eyes. The combination of running around laden with fruit listening to echoing directions and the simultaneously terrifying and comforting visions has exhausted him. Yaro stumbles out from the dark place, bewildered, bruised...toeless, and scared. What else is gonna fall off? His leg? Aso'Caed is just blinking, confused, worried... And FRUITS! Kite collapses onto the ground, his feet hurting the worst they ever had. In fact, it is the worst pain he has felt yet. He whines... owie... The ghost, now on land like the rest of them, and for once perfectly aligned with the ground, stands on a hill of the valley. He faces the assembled crowd with a harsh expression. "You have completed your second trial," he announces, holding his tail high behind him. "But you did it ten minutes too slowly. For that, there is a punishment." Public> Kato says, "I think that was pretty fun... once we started working together after figuring it out. XD" Public> Yaro apologizes for misreading his map, but he *really* hopes he helped!  Zagaa cringes. Great, now his feathers are going to catch fire or something... Kiziah stumbles out in a drunken manner, sneezing as she goes along. When she deems in suitable, the cub comes to a stop and sits, paws firmly rooted to the ground. She doesn't plan to go anywhere else today, and thus pays the ghost no mind. /She/ didn't do anything wrong. Public> Shajiru luffs on Yaro. What's next? His voice going to sound like a T-rex or something? Chioh grumbles under his breathe as he glares at the ghost. His red eyes glowing in the darkness. Punishment, oh Great! Aso looks down, feeling somehow. . . Still confused. He doesn't say anything, he takes a look around. Oh, so there's Chioh, good. The faintest glimpse of a leonine face is seen behind Talmaleki. Mwiba lets out a grating giggle. Oooh, Punishment! Kato stands up slowly to face the ghost, or at least where he thinks the ghost is. He tears off his leaf bandages, figuring right now they're fairly useless. [OOC] Yaro says, "Taken out of context...that's *really* bad." Tunu's brows furrow as she glares at the ghost. She, for one, never really felt sorry for how her curse came about. This dead king was just as evil as evil could be, and there was nothing to be sorry or repentant for, in her mind. So now, she glares. "Assho'..." she mutters. Talmaleki looks behind himself. His neck ripples with substance and color. He is silent for a few seconds, and then addresses the other spirits. "Mwiba. Gwandoya. Do you have a punishment in mind?" Yaro checks to see if the skull is intact and okay, and sees that it is, he sighs with relief. "I think Talmaleki is gonna have one of us trying tolay an egg by the end of this. Enough, you disembodied puss!" he yells at Talm. Kite just sighs. He tried his best, but being that he isn't the brightest animal out there, felt useless... Chioh looks over at the Meerkat and growls. His voice now more deeper and frightening, "How is a skull going to help us?!" Vunda isn't afraid of any further punishment. He's just happy to be out of that hell. Theluthi seems resigned. He really looks like a dog under a rolled up newspaper. Mwiba lets out another gleeful squeal of mirth and the air ripples around Talmaleki. A leonine skull wavers in and out of view. "Let them kill each other!" he hisses giddily. "Oh let's! I want to see blood!" As he speaks the last word, the king fades into full view, only he's missing his skill. Writhing, shining muscles ripple. Gwandoya appears to settle down next to Talmaleki. He rubs a paw under his chin. "That last task was completed far too slowly. They did not work together too well... perhaps we should remove some of their burden. If they do not want to work together, they should not... *be* together." He flexes his claws meaningfully. "Or now that they have learned to live through two trials with their afflictions, why not force a lifetime of it upon them?" Kato looks up at Chioh and back to Yaro. "Sir?" he says in between gasps. "I would like to know that myself..." Gwala shudders and closes his eyes. He likes Theluthi and the dog has been good to him, but he can't live being randomly attached to places and things his whole life. He murmurs to himself, as if in quiet prayer, "No. No, please..." Aso'Caed steps closer to Chioh and looks at the meerkats. He has a lot of funny ideas about the skull, most of them... Guess what!? Death! He looks at Chioh and chuckles, completely forgetting everything else, "I thought you were gone." Kite whines some more. How can he travel if his paws sting everytime he moves? His spirit seems to grow weak, but he tries not to look dispaired. He must be brave right now. Zagaa speedwalks to Yaro. He doesn't say anything, nor does he expect ANYONE to talk about his little...complextion problem. The moment didn't call for it. Zagaa sees everyone looking or sounding or acting rather lame. But Zagaa certainly was the most vibrant of the collection of mortals. He whispers to Yaro "What are you doing? Why do you still have that skull?". Talmaleki grins slowly, turning first toward one of his advisors, then the other. He glances sharply at Yaro, but fails to notice the skull, or to pay any heed to his insult. "I think that the two of you have offered excellent counsel," he answers. "And now I know the perfect third trial. I had something gentler in mind...but no. Hear me, creatures." Talmaleki walks slowly forward, down the hill, and his stature grows slightly, or seems to. He's very #there#. "Here is your third trial. I shall lift the curses that I have placed upon you...if you can decide amongst yourselves...on one of you who will remain cursed. #Forever#." A warm wind blows over the valley, and the pink light of the thorn tree is extinguished. Yaro looks at Kato. "I don't know. But I know it's important." is all he says, then starts berating Talm again. "You keep questioning our loyalty, our ability to work together. It doesn't matter if we made that time! We pulled through. You must have lived in pain and exile all your life! No wonder you were cast down from the stars! Evil ghost! Uncurse us, and leave us. I refuse to be a toy in your sadistic game, *CAT!*" he yells, then adds in a horribly nasty and somewhat taboo curse in Suricati, the meerkat language. Chioh looks back at Aso, his chest heaving, the cling of the darkenss that he fell thorugh still chilling him. "D@nm that was cold...I thought I was a goner as well," says Chioh with a low tone of voice. He doesn't take notice of Talmal's third trial listing. He looks over at the meerkat. What the hell is a skull going to do?! Tunu cringes at the horrid sight of Mwiba, ears folding back against her skull. But Talmaleki steals her attention away once more as he gives the third command. When Yaro speaks up, she hisses at him. "I vote fo-.. yo-.. HIM." Well, Vunda's certainly not going to volunteer. No way. When Tunu speaks her piece, he's quick to jump in: "Why not /you/, little brat?" he snarls, being none too fond of lions. "Pickin' on little creatures, huh? Maybe you deserve your curse!" Theluthi, for the moment, remains silent. Could he live with being so smelly? He has a pack to think about. They would probably cast him out. Kiziah peers around, watching the reactions without so much as speaking. She doesn't know anybody here, and if any of them remained cursed, it wouldn't mean anything to her. As long as she isn't sick anymore, it hardly matters. Gwala mouth falls open, but he snaps it shut quickly. All these creatures, when it all comes down to it, he owes something to them. And maybe they owe something back. The meerkats he carried across the rift, but they used their intellect figure out the riddle of the fruit. Gwala looks to Theluthi. "I won't let you stay cursed," he proclaims fiercely. That much he is sure of. "After all you've done for me, I mean." Zagaa's eyes slam shut as the third trial. Zagaa tries to imagine himself with bright, colorful feathers for the rest of his life. His tounge sticks out. Kite's soul seems heavy. An idea just popped into his head: sacrafice yourself. Do it, so they may live. You'll live with your curse, if only moving slowly for the rest of your life. His eyes close tightly. What shall he do? Aso'Caed keeps looking at Chioh. Well, the third trail isn't going to . . . Be good! The King looks around, no one wants to remain cursed for sure. He looks at Talma and shakes his head, "Good one." He whispers and looks at Chioh again, speechless. Kato looks back at Yaro. "Their rage is great, Yaro, further anger won't solve this," he says. He steps forward, tapping the ground with his stick. "I've gotten used to be being blind. If that skull is important, shouldn't we tell him about it, at least? The ghost I mean." Yaro looks at Zagaa and Kato. "Nobody from my colony is remaining cursed, especially not Kato." he says. "I want us to come home to our families whole." he says. Tunu turns her blazing glare to the hyena, then scoots around to hide under Chioh again. Don't let them pick me! To Vunda, she keeps hissing, claws extending and fur bristling. But then Yaro speaks up again. "Snac-!" she shouts at him. Zagaa opens his eyes wide as he gets an idea. He barely smiles as he whispers into Yaro's ear "Yar, hear, me out what I’m the one to remained cursed, then when we get back to the colony...we just... sorta... you know... pull out the feathers.... fur grows back, right?". "Yeah, hide under yer papa!" Vunda snarls at Tunu, baring his teeth, his mane bristling. "That's right! It's all tough kitty until somethin' bigger'n you comes along!" Theluthi looks up at Gwala, smiling. "You shouldn't be cursed to be stuck to a smelly old dog like me," he chuckles quietly. Then, louder, he declares: "I'll be cursed." Talmaleki stands there stoically, listening to all the chatter. The clouds around the Tree of Creation remain firmly in place, and now there is no seeing through them. But above, the clouds are slowly clearing...rising...becoming lighter in texture. The ancient king breaths steadily, something the dead shouldn't have to do. When the meerkat yells at him again, he steps closer. "If you do not wish to volunteer, then I suggest you..." He blinks, seeing the skull with the meerkats for the first time. He shakes his head and takes another step. "Your loyalty is no longer in question," he says. "Am I obliged to share all my results with every living thing? I have learned much...about myself, above all other things. I watch the world outside of me, and learn about myself in so doing. You...your name is...Yaro. Am I right?" Talmaleki hears the wild dog's announcement and looks at him sharply, but says nothing. Kato pokes Yaro with his stick. "Show him the-..." Oh. He's coming down to speak now. He looks about and stares in the general direction of the ghost. Hmm... maybe now the claw was on the other paw. Yaro is about to ring out his own voice over the madness until he's singled out by Talmaleki. Uh oh. "Yeah, that's me. And I think I speak for all of us when I say you're.... interference, was not welcome. What do you want? Make it quick, so you can lift their curses and let them live their lives peacefully." he says. Chioh turns his demonic red glare onto Vunda and growls deeply. "Stay away from my neice, you mutt," growls Chioh, using his new found voice to the fullest extent. His black muzzle parted to show the whites of his teeth. "No!" Gwala cries, nudging his companion softly. "Wait." He watches the meerkats intently, noticing the little skull for the first time. What? Did they have that while they were on Theluthi's back, even? "Shut your yap DOG!" Aso roar/growls at Vunda. No one talks to lions like that, even if it's as annoying as Tunu. The King of Mwenyezi stands next to Chioh and the cub, snraling at the hyena, "Mind thy words, or I shall make you eat them!" From underneath her uncle, Tunu sniffs and lifts her head haughtily. So THERE you smelly hyena. She even sticks her tongue out for the full effect. Kite looks over at Chioh, Aso, Tunu, and Vunda. He frowns slightly and shakes his head. Is this a time to fight? Gwandoya blinks slowly as Talmaleki seems distracted by something. Why is he singling this meerkat out? "Chieftain!" he says in a harsh rumble, but little else. Surely they would not be swayed from their torment *now* of all times, at the point of the most painful test? Maybe a smart hyena wouldn't cause so much problems if he was by himself, but Vunda's never been bright. At least not when it comes to his own pride. No way is he going to show that he's terrified, especially of that demonic looking lion. Opening his big fat mouth, he retorts to Aso's threat: "Yeah? Yer too old to even stand on yer own feet, ya smelly buzzard!" Oh, he's gonna regret those words. A soft giggle erupts from the flayed image of the dead Mwiba. Bloodshed! That's what he wants. Under Talmaleki's glower, Theluthi falls silent. Kite rolls his eyes at Vunda. Well, it is his funeral. Chioh growls once more as he steps in front of Aso, glaring down at the hyena, "Mind your words. You are nothing then a /snack/ to me. Shut your muzzle, and be quiet!" His voice rising in volume, till he shouts that last part. Talmaleki stands firm in his conversation with this much smaller interlocutor. His mane ripples yellow-green. "I know that my interference was no welcome. I would have guessed that even if you haven't taken the time to inform me on several occasions. That is not the point. The point is that I want more from you. If not you, then one of the others. Some of these creatures...some of them may continue to life more or less as they did, with great inconvenience. They still have families. But you two." He grimaces at the sorry-looking meerkats. "A chief meerkat who cannot do what meerkats do best: dig. And a sentry who cannot see. Surely you would not be welcomed were you to return home as you are. Naturally, you demand that I restore you." He is about to continue, but looks back at the other kings with a troubled expression. "Yes, Gwandoya?" Aso'Caed lifts a paw and demands to the hyena to come closer with his paw, "Come on then... Just try it dog." Just below a whisper. Zagaa's legs quake as Talmaleki speaks. "Y-Yar..." He whispers, not having anything more to say than that. What else can he say? He stands his ground next to Yaro. Yaro points at Talm. "Wrong! All I want is for my subordinates to be free from you. I don't care what happens to me. It's a sacrifice. It's what leaders do." he says. "I have a family as well. But they would understand what I would be willing to do for my colony." Kiziah lays her ears back. Way too much conflict, and at the most /breath takingly inconvient time/. The cub frowns, lets out a cough in place of a growl, and flops to her belly. "I d'know what /I/ did, but I c'n--" Snifflecough. "See why 'e cursed the lot of you." She just wants to go home and be normal and well again. All this delay is clearly everybody else's fault. Sabiri has connected. Tunu's head snaps to look at the sniffling cub, and her eyes narrow. "I didn't do n-.. w-.. -.. I j-..." But rather than take the time or effort to try and explain herself, Tunu races forward with claws and teeth toward Kiziah. RAWR! Vunda lets out a low growl at Chioh, but his bravado is quickly waning. He's painfully aware that he doesn't have a clan to back him up, and there're two very large, very capable lions to face off with. He just says nothing. Kato looks back at Yaro sharply. "Yaro," he says quietly. He doesn't see Talmaleki, and is no longer intimidated by him. After all his visions and whatnot. "Sir," he says again. "Please. Don't do this. Leaders don't do that to themselves... we need a leader, not a martyr!" He looks back at Talmaleki. "You've learned all the loyalty you can from us, you said so yourself! Well here's the final lesson... a subordinate who knows his place is willing to keep his afflictions for the sake of his betters! We're all used to sacrifice! We're *meerkats*! If anyone remains cursed, let it be the one who can be replaced!" Chioh bares his teeth at the hyena once more, firmly stating not to talk. When he turns around, Tunu is gone... Chioh headfalls and then looks around, spotting Tunu running towards Kiziah. "Tunu..." mutters Chioh as he starts to get over to his neice. she needs to calm down... Finally returning from her hunting trip to attain her cubs' evening meal, Sabiri returns to the fray with an impala dangling by its throat from her jaws. So she went hunting in another prides' territory. BIG DEAL <.< .. what she sees upon her return, however, makes her stop dead in her tracks and flick her ears upward, left only to stare. Where /are/ her daughters in all this?! And.. what.. The confusion is enough to make her just pause and determine what's going on. Aso'Caed tilts his head up, just a sign of arrogance as the hyena *backs off*, "Good boy... Now doggie, go on and run away with thy tail between your legs." He keeps looking at the hyena, grinning and briefly licking his teeth. Dogs... Yaro looks at Kato. "You're not expendable. You're my best sentry! If you were an adult...you'd have become an officer. Stay silent. " he says. Gwandoya growls low at all these distractions. "Chieftain," he says again, stepping forward. "The test... of the others! What are we *waiting* for?!" He looks balefully behind him at the squabbling creatures. "Hmm... well, actually... it seems letting them tear each other apart and curing the last one standing would be best." |
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Post by Zazu on Oct 30, 2006 3:24:13 GMT -5
Zagaa looks at Kato in awe. How can he and Yaro speak up when Zagaa can't? Wait... the one that can be replaced? Z doesn't have a job at the colony! Does that mean Z is to be cursed for ever? ... That could be for the best, Zagaa could always pluck off his feathers and pray for his fur to grow back... and if new rainbow feathers showed up instantly after that... Zagaa could live with that. He could live with being bald too; he would just prefer his fur, is all. When Chioh moves off, Vunda gains a little more confidence. He can outrun the elderly Aso very easily. So he sneers at the large lion and snaps out: "Yeah? Betcha couldn't catch me, could ya, geezer?" Yeah, take /that/. Talmaleki doesn't seem to understand the logic behind Yaro's declaration. He tenses up. He shifts his foot. Well, Gwandoya's question leaves him more in his element. "They don't seem to be exhibiting all the hallmarks of compassion and loyalty that one might hope for a group under duress, with a common enemy, to exhibit," he remarks. "That may be best. But what test are you referring to? I am simply waiting for these half-willed martyrs to agree on who will be cursed...my time here is nearly done." He now looks back to the meerkats, as everyone else seems to be occupied with each other. "Leaders...are not meant to sacrifice," he says baldly. "If they were, they would not last long." Kiziah makes a snarly face, trying to ignore how uncomfortable that feels. "Ya stupid /idiot/!" She doesn't finish what she meant to say, before ducking to the ground for defensive purposes. Whether Tunu reaches her with those claws or not, Kiziah doesn't look like she's about to fight back. Kite just lays his head down and patiently waits for something to happen, ignoring whatever fights may be going on. The ghost DOES have a point about them not getting along whatsoever. He just sighs. Catch him... Maybe not, "I *betcha* would not dare lay a paw on me." Aso sits down. Maybe he's just being stupid more than he's just being proud. Tunu gets past her uncle and slams into the prone Kiziah, claws flailing at her stomach and sides and teeth biting at whatever she is able to get a hold of. What was once a snarky, spotted cub has become a snarling, spitting, torando of fury. Yaro decides maybe it's high time to let Talmaleki in on his little secret. "Oh, but you see. I think even *you* don't believe that Talmaleki. Kato, Zagaa, bring forth the cub's skull." he says calmly. "I get the feeling you knew this creature?" Chioh bounds after his neice and says, "Tunu!" like an uncle would, trying to get his little girl off of another. "Stop fighting!" Kato blinks at Yaro and coughs a bit. "The skull?" he asks quietly. He doesn't even know where it *is*, all that running around in the maze before. "Sure, I'll... get right on that." He starts moving about, tapping his stick every which way. "Z? Little help here." "TUNU!" Sabiri snaps with a snarl upon finally noticing her daughter going to town on some unknown cub, inadvertently dropping the meal at her forepaws. She clenches and bares her fangs, her brow lowering instantly as but one step is taken forward, attempting to make her voice heard over the rest of the insanity. She doesn't motion to interrupt Chioh's attempt at removing one cub from the other, but she /did/ depart with a warning. "You better get your fuzzy little fourth point of contact over here /right/ /now/!" She orders through her clenched fangs. [OOC] Tunu says, "Fourth point of contact?" [OOC] Sabiri says, "Your butt :3" [OOC] Tunu says, "Haha." [OOC] Tunu has four paws. [OOC] Sabiri says, "Fifth point, then. XD" [OOC] Tunu says, "Right." Talmaleki glances at the skull with wide eyes. He instantly suspects...and forgets to walk as he moves closer, accidentally floating off the hill into the air, then down. He looks at the object more closely. His neck...throbs. He swallows; his claws come out, and go back in. The muscles of his back arch for a split second. And he sees...what it is. "Where did you get this," he asks quietly. He ignores the tumult, the fighting, the posturing...and floats to the skull. His face is now only inches from it. Gwala cranes his neck forward ever so slightly, his ears poking forward in an attempt to hear Talmaleki and Yaro's conversation. It's not /really/ eavesdropping. If it's to do with the designation of the eternal curse it does concern him. After a while he gives up on hearing the details and just settles down to wait. He feels strangely calm. "You don't think so, huh?" Vunda snarls. He's tempted to attack Aso, he really is. But just then, his ears catch the sound of Talmaleki and the meerkats, and he looks in that direction. What's that? Do the meerkats have some leverage over the ghost? Theluthi is interested in this, too, and he peers over at them attentively. Mwiba, seeing Talmaleki's reaction to the skull, lets out an uneasy growl. Zagaa nods and turns away from the ghost. He's still freaked about that thing. "Yes, Kato, I got it." He says as he *carefully* picks it up and hands it over to Yaro. The ghost is reacting to it... Zagaa has absolutely no clue what is happening anymore. He calls over Kato to come "Kato, over here.". Gwandoya continues to watch the others with disgust in his eyes. "Never mind, chieftain," he says in a low voice. He turns back to see Talmaleki floating off! "Chieftain!" he says again, with some alarm in his voice. Their fearless leader was letting everything fall apart for a bit of bone, no more or less the rocks they've spun about for years! His eyes dart to Mwiba, as if expecting an answer from the mad cat that he's rather come to loathe these millenia. Yaro walks over to the skull. "You see. I think you made a sacrifice, too." he says, and rests a paw on the skull. "Perhaps, this sacrifice was something more than you wanted. I found it buried in the sands of the desert my colony resides in. Who was this? A child of yours? A sibling? A cubhood friend? It doesn't matter. The fact you respond so already speaks volumes to me. We at the colony have also lost one just like this." he says. Aso'Caed was about to leap to attack the hyena. But seeing the hyena suddenly goes distracted by something else, Aso also looks at the meerkats. His ears perk up and he listens to the meerkat. Confused? He starts walking to the meerkat group, slow steps as he just keeps looking at the skull. "Two, actually," comes Kato's voice as he steps next to Zagaa, very calm despite the chaos around the small group with the skull. "Both... to the same violence." It's all Kiziah can do to keep from being torn apart by the beserk cub. "G'off!" The shout sort of merges into a coughing fit, aimed at Tunu's face. And hopefully, the adults success in their efforts. Kiziah doesn't really want to be ripped to shreds all that much. Talmaleki's jaws work in shock. White light is visible within, untempered. His whole stomach and throat seems to be nothing but pure white. He touches the skull, but his paw passes into it. He swings at Yaro, with the same result, aside from a slight chill on the meerkat's part if he gets hit. At last, he roars, "A LEADER SHOULD NOT SACRIFICE!!" He whips back to Gwandoya and shakes his head, wanting clemency, or guidance. "A leader must never sacrifice...or look what happens," he pleads. Tunu is pulled away by Chioh's tugs on her scruff, but not before she leaves some pretty good scratches and bites on Kiziah's neck, ears, and side. At her mother's voice, Tunu stops flailing wildly, but keeps her icy glare. "Kill them," Mwiba growls low in his throat, his flayed appearance wasting away to become semi-skeletal. "Take the skull. That will show them sacrifice!" An icy breeze wafts around the meerkats, carrying with it the stench of decay. Chioh slides Tunu across the grass a very short distance before picking up the cub by her scruff in his teeth. While the curse negotiations are going on, Chioh's playing babysitter. Sabiri leaves the meal to approach Chioh and her daughter, a glare locking upon the cub which speaks volumes of unwanted attention for her when this is over, her tail lashing from agitation. She says nothing further to the enraged cub, keeping those eyes targeted until fully beside her king whereupon she shifts her attention to the others with increasing intrigue. Yaro doesn't flinch, doesn't show fear. He doesn't even take time to shiver. "You see, Talmaleki. Every species in this world shares the same grotesqueries. They murder their own young, they start wars, they destroy others, and the lead selfish lives. But, also shared by every species in this world, are the same virtues. Hope. Loyalty. Love. The very things you tried to stress and break. But you see. Murderers are nothing more than murderers. Meerkat law dictates that as soon as a murderer is found, they are to be executed by the victim's family. I can see the creature who lived in this skull...was your entire world. Did you murder her. Did you descend into blackness the same way as the ones who killed those close to me?" he says. Aso'Caed murdered his own brother for the safety of his pride. The sacrifice was made, it was meant to be. The King looks at Talma and dares to speak, "Thou art wrong... As a leader, as a King... I have made sacrifices, and yes, I do regret my actions. But they have solved other things, peace has been brought to my lands." The lion moves between the meerkats, if they are not scared at the ghost, they shouldn't be scared of some old lion. Aso looks at the skull, "I am sorry your highness... But sometimes, sacrifice is the right call..." He looks up at Talma again, ignoring everything else, "A leader *must* sacrifice." His last words, just a whisper. "Everyone must sacrifice, including leaders. I was chased out... by my mother, a leader. However, it brought stability back into her small family and pack..." Kite lifted his head up. "Even at the cost of myself..." Tunu scowls back at her mother. She'll have plenty of time to give her apologetic and sorrowful looks later. But when Sabiri's eyes shift to the scene with the ghosts, the cub looks back too. Talmaleki gapes. He looks at Mwiba...and looks...and looks. And he prances forward and takes Mwiba by the spine, just under the head, and thrashes him once up and down. "We cannot sacrifice our #world#!" he shouts. Talmaleki now jumps around, looking defensively between the other two kings, and the benighted creatures waiting to be freed, for someone to take the burden onto themselves. He makes a moaning sound. The clouds have mostly dispersed overhead, letting starshine through. He listens to Yaro, to Aso'Caed...and walks forward, this time using his legs, on trembling paws. "Tuleru," he lets out softly. "My Tuleru...my sweet child." The ghost lifts his head and declares: "I DID NOT MURDER HER!" But then he pauses, his front legs raised...and is caught by a terrible thought. Zagaa watches in with wonder and disbelief. Did Yaro have this all planned out from the get-go? "Hush, you mortal *fools!*" Gwandoya shouts at Aso and Yaro. "What do you all know of *sacrifice*?! Do you know our pain?! Do you know the suffering we have endured?" He expands greatly, his eyes glowing a pale yellow as mist flows about him. "Spend a millenia trapped in *rock*, dreaming vagaries of dreams that have no promise! Blackness, fool???" he roars at Yaro. "Try the eternal blackness of our hearts!" He hurls a blast of foul wind at Yaro, gale force that would knock kany creature down. "Chieftain! They muddle your mind with cheap rhetoric! Do not listen to their childish wisdom!" Being thrashed about, even if he is dead, throttles Mwiba like nothing before. When he's released, he collapses into a heap, his "body" disentigrates, and then blows away like dust. However, he remains hovering about, out of sight to all save his fellow kings. Kato listens to all the shouting and braces himself against the wind, but ends up falling over on his tail and rolling a couple feet away. With a small grunt, he calmly picks himself up again, not saying anything. Anything he does now would be pointless. It seems this was all going to be wrapped up somehow anyway, sooner or later. Kiziah musters a final glare at Tunu, before sniffling again, but this time not because of the usual reason. A few tears dribble out, but meld with the discharge already visible. All the same, Kiziah plants her head on the ground, and hides her face under a paw. The words exchanged above are getting harder to ignore, and serve to make the cub all the more upset. Aso'Caed steps even closer to Talma, ignoring the other ghost, let him talk, "Your highness... It may be bold to say. But *we* are not the ones cursed... Not the only ones. You too endure pain, a loss far beyond our knowledge. You are haunted by thy child's soul, if there is a way for this pain to end..." he looks at the skull, a grin crosses his muzzle. Slowly, he lifts the skull with his paw and bows, offering the skull to the ghost, "Perhaps *mortals can help thee... There must be something that our flesh can do, something you lack of..." He waits there, head lowered, heart beating rapidly, and paw shaking in the air, trying to hold the skull. Yaro puts his other paw on the skull, trying to keep himself on the skull... but alas, no fingers. He falls back and hits the ground. But that doesn't stup him. He just watches Talmaleki. "An accident then? Or perhaps someone else murdered poor Tuleru. You blamed yourself, swore revenge, and feel into a depth of despair and hatred. Evil consumed you, and believe me, I understand that hatred all to well. If only you could feel what I feel every night at my own loss. My family, murdered. My life, gone before my eyes. And now I've lost 9 more from my own colony. A sandstorm. A murderer, who killed two kits! The day I lost my family was the day my own pain began to consume me, and hatred would start to rage. Do not think that you are special, Talmaleki. You performed magic tricks and consumed yourself in hatred for the living. But know that many have also felt your pain. And I'd sooner go to hell than see you hurt another one of these souls. Meerkat, Lion, Hyena, whatever! I have the skull, and I can break it. Uncurse us, or the last remnants of your lost cub will be turned to oblivion!" he says. [OOC] Aso'Caed ... [OOC] Sabiri says, "Go Yaro o.o" [OOC] Chioh says, "Woot Woot" [OOC] Yaro is in soliloquy mode. [OOC] Aso'Caed says, "Where's the skull? Oo" [OOC] Yaro says, "Not far from me." Gwala senses that something is very different in the atmosphere - it's changing constantly, though. It seems that Talmaleki is very agitated, as well as confused. The threat of Yaro suddenly reaches his ears, though, and he realizes. He holds his breath unconsciously, his eyes wide and his ears forward. He barely notices that he hasn't moved at all, is completely still next to Theluthi. Is this the turning point? Kite frowns softly. He came here to try to be something to everyone... but alas, his voice goes unheard. The only thing he feels is the sting of his paws and regret. Deep, dark regret. He lays his head back down. Aso'Caed quickly adds that he listens to the meerkat and... Wow! Great minds think alike... Just one false movement, and the skull goes between the ground and Aso's paw. And here we sit, on the edge of resolution. One brave mortal offering to break the skull and end Talmaleki's tribulations, and another threatening to do the same, and plunge him into endless despair. Which is the true effect? Whose suggestion is well-founded, and what would really happen were hte skull to be destroyed? He answers Gwandoya with the appearance of calmness, though he trembles and his voice catches. "You forget, my friend. Their rhetoric is the payoff. It is everything. It is what all of this was done for." Now the lion sits still on the ground. He looks at Aso, balancing the skull...at Yaro, prone on the ground. At Zagaa and Kato, at Chioh...at everyone. Now there is just one thing left to do. "It was not her murder that made me the king I was," he explains softly. "Her death was the end of me. When my enemies murdered her, I...did not last. I...I did." He realized the truth of the matter. "I sacrificed her, and I murdered her. I did both. I did not know that was what I did...but I did." The warm wind has returned, this time smelling not sour, but heady. "Kill them!" Mwiba's voice again howls, rising to a shrill pitch. "Listen to how they threaten you! Will you allow that, Talmaleki? What sort of leader ARE YOU?!" The wind whips up again, and the stench of decay increases in power. Zagaa steps over to Kato he touches him, offering a hand up "Here, champ.". Zagaa wants Kato to see--wait, nevermind. At least Kato can accept the help up. As Zagaa is about to help him, the unnatural wind picks up /again/ and he is knocked down to his rump. It took two gusts of winds to knock someone with that much "lower body mass" down. [OOC] Chioh says, "Fff...fluffy" [OOC] Yaro says, "Fluffy!" [OOC] You say, "You should be gliding by now, Zagaa!" [OOC] Kato says, "Floofy?" [OOC] Sabiri says, "Big boned." [OOC] Zagaa says, "Oh, right. I get it. Feathers, fat, wind. You're funny." Aso'Caed growls at Mwiba, that fiend, "A wise leader who listens!" His gaze is focused on the ghost who haunted him, "Thine own greed blinds thee Mwiba... Let him made the choice. I *is* his child, not yours..." He again looks at Talma, waiting. [OOC] Chioh says, "Husky." [OOC] Zagaa says, "XD" [OOC] Gwala says, "Traditionally built. :3" [OOC] Zagaa tackles. [OOC] Chioh says, "Aso can speak good. " [OOC] Vunda XD Aso'Caed pages, "I know... He's waiting for the opportune momnt. XD" to you. The other king is seething now. Seeing his leader disgraced by these... mortals! He bows his head in shame, uttering a continuous growl. "Our past is our past," he snarls viciously. "What fool mortal can change that?! Why do you let them tear at you so with their threats?! Our time is short for our day of power! Choose, if you will let yourself be talked down to by those who cannot even fathom our natures!" He clams up, shaking and distorting his image. Say the word, Talmaleki, and these puny, body locked wretches will trouble you no longer! Yaro looks at the other king. "What, you think you're special simply because you're dead? Guess what! I'm dead. I lost the same thinks you all have. We've all lost something dear. That special creature, that home, that family. Mates, children. If anything, Talmaleki. You are all...*lesser* beings for your sins. Why are you not in the stars?" he asks. The mandrill in his tree has been listening, even though the clouds have blinded his sight for so long. Ghosts should know that shamans see with far more than just their eyes. At the meerkat's question, another whooping laugh comes from Rafiki. "'e was erased from de'Tree!" he calls out through the clouds. "Somebody did not like de'way dis King ruled de'Rock!" comes a more sing-songy cry. Is the shaman taunting the ghost? Perhaps. But then the voice gets much more grave. "If not allowed to fade from de'bark nat'rully, den not allowed to go up into de'stars, but forced to wander in de'world between worlds..." Aso'Caed growls at the other ghost. He is not liking this, not ghosts! "This are not threats..." He looks again at Talma, his neck is even hurting from all the turning and turning, "Do not listen to them Talmaleki... And do not attempt to test my paitence..." At least he's warning them, "Now... Have thine own mind, and focus on thy thoughts... What will happen now. Greed will haunt thee forever? Shall we atone for sins we did not commit? Is thy pride bigger than that?" [OOC] Aso'Caed has Liam Nesson's voice... Or Ralph Finnies for the ladies. XD Say goodbye to the last of the dark clouds. The rift is long gone, the wall has dispersed from the Tree of Creation...and the feeling of chill itself is nearly gone from this Valley of Great Kings past. Talmaleki turns back and looks up the hill at Mwiba and Gwandoya, his lieutenants. His comrades. Two of those he gathered to himself over the long ages, for what they had in common and how they could help each other. He takes a deep breath. It expands his body far larger than a living one could ever grow...and all his bones find new places for that moment for the breath is let out. And with it...Confusion? Hope? Perhaps something that can never be described. "I am the only one of us qualified to be leader," he says. He is very calm now, and it is genuine. "My lessons are learned. Listen, comrades. I am like these lion kings, and like this meerkat chieftain, except that..." He turns around and grants the whole crowd a look of respect. "I did not know how to sacrifice. I thought that it was never right to care about anyone but myself...until the end of my life...and Tuleru. And she died, thanks to the enemies I made." The ancient spirit bows his head for three seconds in respect. He listens patiently to Rafiki and to Aso'Caed, but he gives them no answers. "Gwandoya. Mwiba. Kill yourselves. If you cannot kill yourselves utterly, then disperse completely. Disperse yourselves so thin around the perimeter of the world that you are left with no force. It will be the best death you can enjoy." He takes another breath. "I lived an evil life, something that I have suspected for many a century now. I needed this...experiment...in order to confirm my suspicions. I am sorry that I did not tell you the true nature of what I intended to learn...but it is done now. And I have determined what is best for us all. Once the two of you are gone, I will destroy myself as well." [OOC] Yaro falls over. [OOC] Sabiri says, "Holy crap!@" [OOC] Chioh says, "I've seen bigger.  " [OOC] Sabiri says, "So have I, but not in a long time o.O" [OOC] Talmaleki cheers! A sixteen-liner! Personal all-time record!! [OOC] Aso'Caed has too... On Taps... X.X [OOC] Gwala gapes at huge pose. [OOC] Tunu says, "OK. SO no OOC so I can READ i." [OOC] Zagaa says, "I did a huge one for a musical number once..." |
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Post by Zazu on Oct 30, 2006 3:25:32 GMT -5
Yaro walks to Talmaleki. "Before you do. What do wou wish for me to do with the skull?" he asks. Yaro is not without honor. This ghost has suffered. Gwala watches, still silent, still unmoving. He listens, and he closes his eyes and inhales. This valley is clean, now. Gone is the scent of evil that has hung over it and him for so long. His eyes open and he looks down to a jackal (Kite) who sits depressed with his paws folded, and kind of smiles. Then he raises his head to gaze off into the distance and says dreamily to no one in particular, "It's all right. The worst is over now." Chioh just watches all of this, his expression calm as he watches the ghosts. The dead Mwenyezi king stares in disbelief at what he's just been told to do. What if he doesn't /wish/ to die? What if he wishes to continue wreaking havoc and seeking revenge on the living--the living who have tormented him in death and in life? Mwiba's image wavers and twists into view of the mortals once again, and his face is contorted into a terrible snarl. "No," he husks. Plain and simple. Zagaa still doesn't have a clue what's happening. Kato steps forward to stand next to Yaro, simply looking blindly about at the others. He looks up at Yaro with a newfound respect in his, er, eyes. Wherever his Alpha got this skull, he'd like to know where he could dig up another *next* year! Aso'Caed remains silent. The words of the ghost haunt Aso's steps... Evil King, Sacrifice... The King lowers his head, for a moment he feels just dead, lost, gone to run through his own mind, searching for an answer. Will he end up like the ghost King? Will be just a fiend to haunt others? Will he. . . Have to endure the same suffering? Aso looks at the meerkat, then at the King. He puts the skull down carefully and takes a respectful bow, one worthy of recognition, a bow that not only hurts his body, and then. He remains there, just listening. His ears catch the voice of Mwiba... No? "For this trial, anyway." Kite responds to the zebra, looking up. "However, I still have many more to face... most of which are my fault." Sabiri, on the other paw, changes her attention slowly toward Tunu. After hearing the ghost king's words, she's suddenly feeling fortunate. Lucky that the life she had led was let go of before the coming of her daughters, else she may be sharing the same fate as he. The past incident with the unfamiliar cub dismissed for now, she doesn't resist the urge to lean her head down and offer the back of Tunu's head a soft, loving nuzzle. "Listen to you *leader*, jana," Rafiki's voice sounds again, directed at Mwiba. "Or I s'all exercise you myself." Could he? Tunu's face softens at her mother's touch and the story told by the dead king...but she still hates him. "Listen to you *leader*, jana," Rafiki's voice sounds again, directed at Mwiba. "Or I s'all exorcise you myself." Could he? Tunu's face softens at her mother's touch and the story told by the dead king...but she still hates him. "You can get help. Don't you see? This showed us that we can trust each other, that against a common enemy or for a common goal..." Gwala seems gentle now, so easily serene after the terrifying ordeals. "Well, I don't know about you. But I know /I/ learned something." A feeling of caring and distant loss comes into Talmaleki's eyes. He peers at the skull and the meerkat beyond it. Could he be imagining this bone as it was in life, with a beautiful face and a kind pair of eyes? A mind and soul that he cared about more than any havoc he ever caused? When the king is done watching, he turns about calmly to the east. He lets loose a roar loud enough for the mandrill to hear. "I will do my best," he calls out. "But I am not that much stronger than Mwiba or Gwandoya...I shall need whatever help you can offer." He now gives Aso a nod and answers Yaro. "I shall reenter the skull. It is the only place fitting for me. Its eyes...they will be as the quartz in the silver vein beneath Pride Rock...I shall reside forever in that skull, and imagine the eyes are still there, as they once were...and that they are stars in the night sky. Or perhaps I will disappear. In any case, once I have gone to the skull, I want one of you to take it as far as possible away from here...and leave it where it will never again be found so long as the world turns." Now he looks toward Mwiba. "I will now do my utmost to destroy you," he declares. Kiziah's nose and ears clear up...and her sinuses soon after. It isn't long before she feels entirely well. Vunda's mind swirls a little, with the sensation of a cool wind...and he regains his sense of direction. Gwandoya lets out a long, low, rumbling growl that makes even the very rocks beneath him tremble. "Death...?" he repeats, his voice full of anguish, and frustration... and rage. "What do you call this?!" he roars. "Chieftain! *Brother!* You sought after something more obvious to your minions than yourself! How has this experiment helped anyone? You manipulated us all to your own ends! You have severed the cords that bound us just as you did in life! Now you go peacefully after one last great attempt to emulate your life's work!" He shudders and shakes his head. "Why do we linger if our pain will never even be *shared*... and now... now we diminish... to *nothing.*" He hears the grim sentencing for Mwiba and turns away, feeling betrayed and useless. His anger, his rage, his wrath, his pain! It all came to naught now. Fool that Mwiba was. He would linger long enough to see done to him what Gwandoya always longed to do. "Perhaps the only thing I wanted to do was be helpful... that is why I came here..." Kite rests his head back down, his eyes still on the ghosts and stuff. Kite's paws feel as though they were dipped in some soothing plant resin...and the smooth feeling gives way to peace and health. Kiziah lifts her paw from her face, head tilting to stare upward. The story is beyond her; she doesn't understand why a ghost would go all crazy over a lost daughter. She forgets all about her ailment. Or... is it even still there? Kiziah doesn't seem to notice it's absence at first, with all her attention on the sky. Yaro nods. "I swear it will be done, Talmaleki. And with all due respect. I'm grateful I never had to meet you in life. You sound like you were quite the formidable lion. His honor bringing in newfound feelings of respect for the poor lion before him. "Let us hope we never meet again. I'll see to it that you and your followers finally get your rest. A shame you cannot join the stars." he says. "Now... free the living. Lift your curses so that both living and dead can find peace." he says. Kato's internal pain is becalmed...and soon the moorings of the feelings of paranoia vanish. In a few seconds more, his vision begins to return. Gwala tilts his head at Kite, all but ignoring the again-arguing kings. "You can be helpful. Everyone needs help. I needed help, and Theluthi helped me, he even sacrificed his freedom for me." He looks over to the wild dog, offering him up as living, breathing proof to the jackal. Obviously all he really wants to do is relax, now. It will all be over soon, he is sure of that. A cold, cruel sneer appears on Mwiba's sketchy face. His thin shoulders roll, and the muscles in his hind legs bunch. "I will /not/ obey this /pathetic fool/!" he snarls. "He is no leader! He is a weakling; full of nothing but cowardice! I will kill him, and then I will achieve my place among the stars." The thin king's body trembles with rage. He's not going down so easily. Not now. Vunda, feeling the dizzy spinning behind his eyes vanish, blinks a few times and then turns in a circle. Hey! The graveyard's that way! With a joyful whoop, he does a happyhyena dance there in the middle of the grasses and shoots off for home! Now Tunu finds that it is as if a cord were untied from around her tongue...and her powers of speech are restored an in instant. Kite widens his eyes, and suddenly gets to his feet. They feel a lot better. A smile begins to form on his face. Somehow... his spirit is cheered up. "I have learned something. I always do... if you ever need help, do let me know. Even if I am predator and you are prey, I will do all I can." He looks up at Gwala and wags his tail a bit. Aso'Caed sighs feeling better now. Still his whole body hurts like hell, but he'll see one last morning sunrise for sure. He remains there, on his bow, looking at the meerkats in front of him, not smiling, "Clever little diggers..." He whisper to the meerkats. He listens to the meerkat chieftain. And wow, meerkats can talk, talk like lions of course. When he sees the ghost King leaving, he stands slowly, looking at the shapes and the now nost cloudy sky, "So.. What happens now." Zagaa's feathers! They're falling off! Zagaa smiles with delite! Though he is naked... Nevertheless: How many other meerkats can say that they've molted? "Kato! I--" He stops himself, realizing Kato didn't even see Zagaa with vibrant feathers. That's all right. Not all the feathers have fallen. The ones on Zagaa's tail aren't going anywhere.  [OOC] Chioh laughs! [OOC] Aso'Caed dies. Gwala grins widely. "Of course," is all he replies with, but is genuine and sincere. So, he helped this Kite by cheering him up, but Kite promised to help him, and so he was helping him by letting him help him...and Theluthi...but now his head hurts, and he needs to relax and he wants his mom. Okay, words of wisdom and peace are all very well but he wants his freedom again. The horrid smell that has probably been putting everyone on edge fades and fades until it no longer exists. Now Theluthi smells as he always did. Elsewhere in the world, Isoba and Nikashi are cured of their ailments as well. Yaro feels as his fingers and the two lost toes start sprouting from where they used to stand. After a few seconds, the Alpha is restored, and he grabs the skull in his paws. "Zagaa, Kato. We have a promise to keep. A king to commit to the furthest reaches, away from here. And then lets go home. I have my fingers back and I know *just* how I'm going to use them." he says, thinking about Zuri with a cackle. Tunu watches as the curses of everyone around her melt away. But many of those were outwardly apparent. She opens her mouth, brows knitting somewhat, but she doesn't try to speak. Not yet. The mandrill too remains silent, simply watching. [OOC] Gwala says, "You dirty, dirty little 'kat. >(" [OOC] Yaro cackles. "Hey, for all you know? I'm talking about a backscratch! Dirty minded... [OOC] Chioh says, "Right" Once the stench of himself fades, Theluthi gives himself a good shake and grins. Hey! He smells like a good ol' dog again! Then, thinking that perhaps Gwala's curse is lifted too, he begins to walk away from the zebra colt . . . and lo and behold, he is free! He throws back his head and lets out a joyful howl. Talmaleki listens to everything his cohorts have to say. His ears flick, but he has no words for them. He expands in size, rises into the air, and becomes less defined. His shape is falling apart. No more a lion, but a generic animal, malformed and sizzling with green-yellow energy, he moves toward Mwiba. He is going to envelop this one, and if that is not possible, he will blow him away. Aso'Caed cracks his neck to the sides. He doesn't feel any younger! Oh well, his cursed took a week to grow, surely it will take time to fade, "Meerkat... Where do you intend to hide the bone." At least his bones aren't aching like before, that's a good sign, "Perhaps I can help thee... You have earned it." Gwala is suddenly runnning, bolting as if sprinting desperately away from a predator. But he releases a joyful bray and comes circling back towards Theluthi to let him know that it's all right, everything's back to normal. He comes a few steps closer, and lowers his head to nudge Theluthi's playfully. "Thank you." And that's all that really needs to be said between the two. The rasp fades from Chioh's voicebox; the redness fades from his eyes... Zagaa hugs Kato. Nakedness!!! The mood was appearently back to a lighter tone as some of the others around were starting to disperse, and appearently the "little" people were getting ready to leave. Yaro did have to do something important that involves a skull... a lion... something... Zagaa still doesn't know what's going on, but he wouldn't mind staying like that... Misinformed, that is. Not naked. Chioh clears his throat, thankful for the rasp to be gone. Though he doesn't know about the eyes yet. He needs to look into something reflective about that. He looks at his paws and sees that they are still black. Kite walks up to Yaro as well. "I can also offer my help, if need be." He grins. He might as well offer, and now, he doesn't want to stop walking! Just as Talmaleki shifts in size, Mwiba does the same. He leaps at the mass of green-yellow energy, his form twisting into a startlingly pale-blue blob. It's not nearly as large as Talmaleki. The fight is very short, very anti-climactic. Mwiba is engulfed by his opponent, and with a final shriek of rage and agony, the Mwenyezi ruler fades into nothingness, only a faint puff of stench to announce his passing. Theluthi grins and even gives Gwala a gentle lick on the face. "You're welcome," he responds. And then, he turns himself towards his pack. He has to go home. He's missed them all dearly. Yaro pulls the skull closer. "A good remote place. Far from all. The poor cub was found in the desert. How far can you go, lion, that you can hide this skull in the manner that Talmaleki wishes? I'm thinking buried in a high cave." he says. Kato doesn't react to Zagaa's hug. He simply stands there, being embraced by a fluf... well, now he no longer has fluff, that other word is all that's left. He can't stop touching his eyes, pawing them endlessly, blinking to make sure he really, really can see again. Sight... oh, beloved sight, how he's missed it! If sight were a lady kat right now, he'd... well, that was best left to his own thoughts. He's just standing there with a foolish grin on his face, ready to move if Yaro calls for him. Gwala turns to go in his respective direction - to search for his mom. With only one glance back at the retreating Theluthi, he takes off - galloping, delightfully frenzied, /free/. Down the valley, out of sight - and one might imagine, as he climbs the steep sides of the ravine, that he never slows his pace. It's so good to have his hooves back in his control once more. Sabiri's attention had been shifting from the ghosts to Tunu and back. Everyone else's ailments seem to have vanished, yet when Tunu opens her mouth, nothing comes out. "Tunu?" She asks and raises her brows, lowering her muzzle to nose the cub's ear gently. "How do you feel?" [OOC] Zagaa says, "Yaro has his fingers... Kato can see again... and Zagaa is naked.... Why do they all sound inappropriate? XD" [OOC] Chioh facepalms. Aso'Caed looks at Yaro, then at the skull. Where? "We could bury it... A lake perhaps." He looks at the horizon and walks to where the ghost left, "There is one thing I have yet to do..." He says to the meerkats and keep walking. He stops a couple of yards away from the group. His throat vibrates, as a roar comes out from his muzzle. It must be the loudest roar anyone else has heard in their entire life, it even hurt Aso's throat. Just respect, just to honor the ghost King. He remains there, looking away, "We shall meet again..." Chioh blinks at the roar. But he knows why he did it. The Palandasya king, not to be out done, lets a roar loose to rival Aso's. But, it's just a bit less loud then the King of the Rouge's roar. Chioh says nothing after the roar, except for a small cough. "Throw it off the edge of the world," echoes the strangely, vaguely animalistic blod, now tinged with blue in addition to green, yellow and gray. "Or destroy it if you must, but do it evenly...melt it or grind it into specks so small that no part of me will wallow in misery." The shape contorts again, and starts slowly moving toward Gwandoya. "I am sorry that I cannot fully cure you," it says. "Fat meerkat...your feathers will fall out when your fur comes back in again. As for those of you who touched the cloudmass...I have no power to aid you. It was an invention of all the Starseekers together. We let it ferment for years and years...it is toxic and bears traces of our most wretched elements. Lioness cub: You are young and may recover. Yet I would not be surprised if you did not, and your paw were to remain a little lame forever...King of the Palandasya: You, too, are strong. You will survive. Your fur may return to its normal color, but there may be a trace of black left so long as you live...King of the Mwenyezi: I am sorry, but your body is not as strong as the others. Your health will perhaps return...but I doubt...I doubt you are long for this world. I hope there is a way from where you stand...to the sky. Once again...I apologize." Kite frowns once again. His spirit once again is weakened, his ears folding behind his head. Okay, fine. Don't take his offer, then. He sighs and just sits down. Tunu stays silent through the roars and the speech from the wind-voice, staring blankly. "I..," she says softly, only for her mother's ears. "I'm ok. I'm Ok." K! [OOC] Kiziah sobs because her paw's going to end up lame anyways, so it doesn't matter. ;.; [OOC] Sabiri points at Aso. See? It's written in the stars. Kuta's gon' kill j00. D: [OOC] Zagaa says, "So is this basically the end?" [OOC] Zagaa says, "I'm going night night" [OOC] Aso'Caed XD [OOC] You say, "Good night, Zagaa!" |
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Post by Zazu on Oct 30, 2006 3:25:59 GMT -5
Gwandoya watches Mwiba go emotionlessly. Chittering, nattering fool. "Talmaleki," he says, adressing the king by his name directly. Formalities be damned, his eternity of nothingess awaited. Not much else matters. "What of Olumide? Shall I destroy him? He will only plague the world further..." He hates Talmaleki now... but he cannot destroy that spectral bond between them. He will follow the orders of his chieftain. With hate, as with everything else. Chioh's fur had alraedy started to lightning, starting from his paws. Teh black fur was giving away to the lighter amber colored fur. But his mane and tail tuft were retaining their pitch blackness. Look, Sabiri. Chioh still has black. "I thank you for your offer, Gwandoya," says Talmaleki, now without limbs or tail or head, simply a mass in the sky that is held together--loosely--by spurts of color. "I trust you to complete this task. I know that you, despite your basal nature, are loyal." The blob contorts around in an oval, coming back to rest as it was, more or less. "But It is not necessary. Olumide and Ezenachi are dead. I destroyed them myself before coming to this valley, because, no matter what I learned here tonight...they were no longer needed, and could no longer be controlled." A spark of yellow-white light is visible within the spinning mass in the sky. "Now come and meet your fate, my friend." Yaro pushes the skull toward Aso'caed. "Lion. Take this skull. Travel with the jackal. We need to make sure Talmaleki gets his wish, lest he writhe in torment forever. I trust you in that you can do what you can. End Talmaleki's suffering." he says. Then he turns to Kato, Eram and Zagaa. "We must now go home. We have families. And I get my best and favorite sentry back." he says, and starts walking, picking up his supply bag on the way. Tunu's response causes a smile to form on Sabiri's muzzle and again she nuzzles her daughter with a relief she doesn't show. A massive weight has been lifted off her shoulders and no trace of punishment appears to await the cub when they get home. Sabiri straightens up with a twitch of her tailtuft and it's upon her king whom she looks next. You sexy thing, you. Wordless, she waits for his word on when to return home. [OOC] You say, "By the way, Tunu is still unable to say anything containing an ampersand!" [OOC] Sabiri says, "A who? o.O" [OOC] You say, "A &!" [OOC] Tunu says, "Oh, snap!" [OOC] Sabiri says, "So THAT'S what that thing is called " Gwandoya sighs heavily. He looks back at the others. So happy. So peaceful. So free of the hate that has rotted his heart for a millenia. At least he no longer needs to worry. He begins to dissolve himself, allowing himself to float up, and up, losing a bit of himself and his features with every passing inch. "Fate. It was always to end this way, then..." he says, then is silent, dissipating, his rage torn to pieces and scattered to the wind until, at last, it wreak no harm on the world. A sliver of his essence remains, and then shoots towards Talmaleki to find its final calm. Chioh turns to Tunu and Sabiri and smiles. An extremely releived smile that is. With great comfort, and without a raspy voice, he says, "Let's go home. I bet Adhama and the others are worried sick about us." With a small chuckle, god it was great to hear his own voice again. He looks over at Sabiri and grins slyly at her as he starts to head towards his home. Tunu stands slowly, and moves to first rub up against her mother's legs, then her uncles. But her expected glee is muted. No, Tunu will be much more careful with her words from now on. Kiziah listens to everything with detached interest. Over all, she's now worried on the matter of getting home. She's never been out this far, and has no idea how she got here, having been fevered at the time. And with no one to share the good fortune of her lifted curse, Kiziah sits alone, looking around with growing fright as the dispersing begins. Aso'Caed chuckles faintly, so this is it, "The beggining of my end..." He shakes his head, he can't even think about it. The King turns to the meerkats and picks the skull real gently with his muzzle. He doesn't say anything, he just glares at the jackal and shakes his head. No following, for the jackal's own safety. He walks to the other King and lets the skull down, "I owe you breakfast..." He smiles at him and looks down at the skull, "Yet I am afraid that will have to wait. If--- If things happen the way Talmaleki said... I think this is farewell. So long, until we meet again. Remember, Mwenyezi has a place for you..." In case he wants to visit him before he dies of course. He picks up the skull and leaves. Kato looks back at the others for one final time, absorbing their faces, their voices... for one evening, they were all united. Too bad tehy all had to hurry off again. He looks back to Kite. "Hey," he says quietly. "For what it's worth... thanks for being here. I don't know who you are or where you come from, but... it's good to see your face. I'll remember yours." He gives a small, respectful bow, and then turns away to the follow the others home. Sabiri falls in line to accompany her king and her daughter until the moment she spots Uzuri where she'd fallen asleep and she blinks, flicking her ears toward Tunu's unconscious sister. It's when she averts her path to collect the other cub that she notices the stranger cub that Tunu had earlier attacked and reads the expression on the girl's face. Eyes are cast back toward Tunu and Chioh.. and then she sighs defeatedly. Her heart's been growing steadily warmer lately and she's got no idea why. "Chioh," she says with a brief upturn of her muzzle toward her king. "Take Tunu with you. I'll be along when Uzu wakes up." With a flick of her tail, she averts her path toward the unfamiliar cub. "Hey, there. Nobody came to the party with you, huh?" Kite looked hopeful. He can help? Then he gets Aso's glance and his spirit, once again, deflates. Sometimes he wishes he wasn't a jackal... such a useless creature, he is. He walks the other way, his tail drooping towards the ground. Useless, useless. Just like mother said. His glance falls upon Kato, and he cracks a kind smile towards him. At least some people thought his being here was worthwhile. Perhaps that is all that matters. "Thanks..." He responds, and continues on walking. Talmaleki peacefully billows...letting the last shreds of essence from what Gwandoya once was find their place within him. His form throbs and reshapes...and without a noise, the last of Gwandoya is assimilated to his own spectral body. Such an existence these kings have known. Tiny pink things before entering the world...they who received living bodies, ascended to rulership and tyranny, and then expanded still further, to where they had great power, but no ability to use it to aid themselves. Now, after so much growth and so much wrongdoing, so many endless ages of wondering, waiting, and yearning...they are gone...or going. Talmaleki flows downward, as if through a funnel, toward the skull of the lioness cub, his daughter, Tuleru. It enters through the ears, through the teeth, through the neck...everywhere but the eyes. The eyes are left free. The smoky mist grows dense within the skull and rapidly leaves the sky. At last, when the last wisp of ectoplasm is gone from the Valley of the Great Kings, the feeling of chill is lifted, and the warm wind disappears. Now as is as normal, except for the last remnants within the skull, which swiftly are fading into the bone. Chioh looks over towards Aso and chuckles a bit as he says, "Then let me treat you to breakfast in my lands. Since, it wouldn't be nice to let offers to unpaid when it is your farwell." He looks back over at Sabiri and Tunu, and he nods slightly. "Alright, I'll take Tunu back home. Just get back to the Kopje as soon as possible." He looks down at the cub and says, "Would you like to walk, or rest on my back. It's a long walk, Tunu." Aso'Caed keeps walking, just waving a paw to the other King as he grunts. Meaning no, he wants to go home and kill himself or something, but first, the witched skull. "I'll ride," Tunu says, a small smile curling on her lips as she says the word. She moves to climb on Chioh's back when he lowers himself for her. In his tree, Rafiki nods to himself, and disappears into the branches - to draw. No, not to replace the image of those who were stricken from the bark, but to record these events for all time. Chioh chuckles as he lowers himself down, and when Tunu gets on his back, he heads for home. Not before turning around and saying to Sabiri, "Make it home safe." With that, he turns and heads for the border. One last sentence comes from the haunted skull before the last of the yellow, green, blue, and gray material is absorbed by it. "Thank you all...for being everything that you are." The voice echoes...and echoes still after its sound dies away...and then lives only in imagined vibrations of the earth, bearing this last message...and then, it too--like Talmaleki--is gone. Kiziah paws at the ground at her feet, and then curls up. It's all left her so drained that the cub cannot hope to make it back tonight. Tomorrow will be time to find her way. For now, she'll just sleep. |
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