[M:0]
Post by Nathan on Jun 28, 2009 23:48:31 GMT -6
Deep within the Hazel Woods, there is a large glade covered by trees and kept in perpetual twilight. Even though the Natopians have controlled the area for many years, few have entered this far into the Woods. The Woods were what separated the Hazel from early Natopian colonization, and even today they offer the Hazel peace and solitude within the global empire that Natopia expanded into. Truly the wise druid Rian Grass was farseeing when he peacefully brought his people into Natopia all those years ago, for the Hazel have been left alone by the imperial government unless they venture into the Eastern City, full of industry and commerce and poisonous things.
But here, in the Sacred Glade, the high druids and the people they lead live much as they did before Rian Grass' time. They lived with the earth, performing their magic to heal themselves and the world and protect them from the evil spirits of the Woods. The same evil spirits that drive out foreigners also plague the Hazel so they have mastered protective magics through the art of the Hazkisi power figures.
The High Prophet-Druid of the Hazel, Jaies Timberpine, was the leader of these people and the most experienced in the magic of the Woods and the most learned of its spirits. He held his court in the trunk of an ancient tree that opened up to the one open spot in the canopy, allowing the starlight in so it may speak to him and only him.
Tonight the stars were especially bright and Jaies was meditating to receive their guidance. Even the loud knock on the wall of his tree did not break his concentration. Again it came.
Finally, his acolye, Huieri Nightpine, entered the sanctum of Jaies' tree. "Master! Something has entered the Glade!"
Jaies did not respond for several seconds, slowly coming out of his star-trance. "Young Nightpine, a foolish immature joke you are playing. I took you on as my charge because of you impeccable character. What has come over you!"
Huieri turned visibly red, something few Hazel could still do due to their extremely pale skin living in perpetual twilight, "Master, I do realize how strange it mus sound, but honestly, something has entered the Glade. It made its way to the public square. It is a strange creature, four legged and massive, with horns and an unnatural consistency to its skin. The people believe it to be a demon! Please, come!"
Jaies saw the sincerity in the acolyte's eyes so he followed Huieri to the public square, where indeed, the strange creature was standing. This was certainly not a creature of the Woods. The magics of time had not adapted it to navigate forests with agility. Perhaps it was a demon... Suddenly the thing spoke.
"FOOLS!!!! I have chosen YOU to follow me! I require only complete love and sacrifice to appease me, or I WILL destroy you, for I am a GOD. I SPIT upon the spirits of your ancestors that you think protected you. I DEVOURED the evil spirits of this forest. THAT is how AWFUL I am. Now you must follow me or I will make sure the rest of the world knows that the Hazel Woods are no longer cursed. Follow me and I will make sure no one enters your precious Woods again and the people in the city to the east remain there, for they are fearful of the forest but TERRIFIED OF ME. For I am, THE BUTTER BULL, your new lord and god."
Jaies was filled with a dreadful combination of terror and loss. The peace and tranquility of the Glade had crashed to a halt. His people looked to him, and he felt their questions, 'did this creature really destroy the evil spirits?' 'does it deserve our worship?' 'can it really cause us harm?' Thankfully, as he was able to feel their questions, the ancestral spirits had not left the Hazel as they granted a limited degree of telepathy. They were indeed angry, the bull was correct in that it had dishonored the spirit when it came to the Glade.
If the spirits responded to the bull, then the being must be feared, for the spirits only respond to other spiritual beings. Jaies' heart sunk so deep in his chest he thought he had lost it. He looked to his people and to the Butter Bull. "O Butter Bull, we have no choice but to praise and worship you."
"BWAHAAHAA!!! FOOOLSSSS!!! Begin the blood sacrifices!"
And, for the first time since the first Hazel settled the Glade, a single leaf of the canopy fell to the ground.
But here, in the Sacred Glade, the high druids and the people they lead live much as they did before Rian Grass' time. They lived with the earth, performing their magic to heal themselves and the world and protect them from the evil spirits of the Woods. The same evil spirits that drive out foreigners also plague the Hazel so they have mastered protective magics through the art of the Hazkisi power figures.
The High Prophet-Druid of the Hazel, Jaies Timberpine, was the leader of these people and the most experienced in the magic of the Woods and the most learned of its spirits. He held his court in the trunk of an ancient tree that opened up to the one open spot in the canopy, allowing the starlight in so it may speak to him and only him.
Tonight the stars were especially bright and Jaies was meditating to receive their guidance. Even the loud knock on the wall of his tree did not break his concentration. Again it came.
Finally, his acolye, Huieri Nightpine, entered the sanctum of Jaies' tree. "Master! Something has entered the Glade!"
Jaies did not respond for several seconds, slowly coming out of his star-trance. "Young Nightpine, a foolish immature joke you are playing. I took you on as my charge because of you impeccable character. What has come over you!"
Huieri turned visibly red, something few Hazel could still do due to their extremely pale skin living in perpetual twilight, "Master, I do realize how strange it mus sound, but honestly, something has entered the Glade. It made its way to the public square. It is a strange creature, four legged and massive, with horns and an unnatural consistency to its skin. The people believe it to be a demon! Please, come!"
Jaies saw the sincerity in the acolyte's eyes so he followed Huieri to the public square, where indeed, the strange creature was standing. This was certainly not a creature of the Woods. The magics of time had not adapted it to navigate forests with agility. Perhaps it was a demon... Suddenly the thing spoke.
"FOOLS!!!! I have chosen YOU to follow me! I require only complete love and sacrifice to appease me, or I WILL destroy you, for I am a GOD. I SPIT upon the spirits of your ancestors that you think protected you. I DEVOURED the evil spirits of this forest. THAT is how AWFUL I am. Now you must follow me or I will make sure the rest of the world knows that the Hazel Woods are no longer cursed. Follow me and I will make sure no one enters your precious Woods again and the people in the city to the east remain there, for they are fearful of the forest but TERRIFIED OF ME. For I am, THE BUTTER BULL, your new lord and god."
Jaies was filled with a dreadful combination of terror and loss. The peace and tranquility of the Glade had crashed to a halt. His people looked to him, and he felt their questions, 'did this creature really destroy the evil spirits?' 'does it deserve our worship?' 'can it really cause us harm?' Thankfully, as he was able to feel their questions, the ancestral spirits had not left the Hazel as they granted a limited degree of telepathy. They were indeed angry, the bull was correct in that it had dishonored the spirit when it came to the Glade.
If the spirits responded to the bull, then the being must be feared, for the spirits only respond to other spiritual beings. Jaies' heart sunk so deep in his chest he thought he had lost it. He looked to his people and to the Butter Bull. "O Butter Bull, we have no choice but to praise and worship you."
"BWAHAAHAA!!! FOOOLSSSS!!! Begin the blood sacrifices!"
And, for the first time since the first Hazel settled the Glade, a single leaf of the canopy fell to the ground.
