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Post by sauriancleric on Nov 29, 2011 21:01:38 GMT -5
Thrash gets up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. It isn't until he gets to the bathroom and tries to relieve himself that he doesn't have any body so to speak anymore. Astral projection is a skill that his family has had for generations, with primarily ritual applications. Thrash has never done such a thing with out guidance from his elders, and has no idea how. Doing it entirely by accident is new, Chances are, this is no coincidence. Thrash has a purpose to fulfil this night, and now he must find it.
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Post by Frederic Bourgault-Christie on Nov 29, 2011 21:34:49 GMT -5
Thrash is deeply confused for a moment, but starts to gather his senses. Remain calm. Do not let the trickery and illusions get to you. Retain your sense of self... Be calm and focused. Be present. Think without thinking.
What could have brought me here?
Yes... It's coming to me. Anthy. The Rose Bride. I have seen a new layer of reality, a new way that events work. I have seen signs of greater things happening at the school... It must be to guide me in these things.
Thrash looks about himself. Astral projection, if he recalls correctly, has two possible uses. One is to be just barely above our world into the astral plane, traveling invisibly throughout the world to see things. This could be it. Or it could be projection into the astral realm itself, into the spirit realms. If that is the case, then he will have to mentally raise his consciousness and seek higher realms, ascend as if flying straight up, step sideways.
Thrash begins by trying to zoom around, as fast as he can imagine, the area he is in, to see what may be happening that needs astral guidance.
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Post by sauriancleric on Nov 29, 2011 21:46:44 GMT -5
Thrash ascends through the roof and into the sky, the ground blurs beneath him, and as the light of the city and glimmer of the ocean blend into one tumultuous whirlpool. The gravity of it begins to pull him in. The spirit realm has certainly opened up, but to where? Thrash quickly remembers why he needs guidance for these kinds of things.
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Post by Frederic Bourgault-Christie on Nov 29, 2011 21:51:16 GMT -5
Thrash does of course wish he had guidance, but great heroes and shamans brave the realms (and even the hells) without fear and struggle their way through it. The most important thing is to not artificially limit one's horizons and deny the spirit of Monkey flowing through people by becoming choked by fear.
He quickly decides that the powerful nature of these effects must be coincidence, and that he is not meant to see something in the physical world. Instead of resisting the gravity of the whirlpool, he calms down and attempts to go with it, raising his consciousness so he may emerge on the other side somewhere in the spirit world.
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Post by sauriancleric on Nov 29, 2011 21:59:50 GMT -5
As Thrash begins to sink into the swirling torrent beneath him, He suddenly feels a hand grip his, stopping him from falling. He turns to see his Grand father's spirit there, holding him from falling.
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Post by Frederic Bourgault-Christie on Nov 29, 2011 22:01:04 GMT -5
Thrash looks up and says, "Thank you, grandfather. But... why are you here? Are you joining me in the projection?" Thrash suddenly has a sinking sensation, beyond his being pulled down. "It seems that the spirits are calling me".
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Post by sauriancleric on Nov 29, 2011 22:24:13 GMT -5
"They do that, as they have done to all of the greatest Shamans of our people. many souls have been lost in their prime, for going too deep too soon, and never returning." He explains as he lifts you to his level. "This is very promising my son, and some day I will show what lies in the depths of the astral realm, but you are not ready to go that deep yet." He tells you as the whirlpool fades away, and the living room of your house returns into sight.
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Post by Frederic Bourgault-Christie on Nov 29, 2011 22:27:51 GMT -5
Thrash says, "Grandfather, the events of Anthy have led me to see the Castle at the End of the World. There is a great unease happening, and I feel that I have been called to do something here, for good or for ill. I have to at least speak to a spirit for guidance". He begins to wonder. Is this an illusion? Is this someone attempting to mislead me?
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Post by sauriancleric on Dec 1, 2011 0:28:25 GMT -5
"Castle at the end of the world? Anthy?" Thrash's Grandfather considers these things carefully, something about this seems to really strike a thought cord in the old man's spirit, for he continues to mutter "castle at the end of the world..." under his breath, as if trying to solve a riddle on the tip of his tongue. He does not does not continue until a few ponderous moments later. "Yes that girl your mother told me that you brought home; tell me more about her." He asks.
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Post by Frederic Bourgault-Christie on Dec 1, 2011 0:34:29 GMT -5
Thrash explains, "At my first day of school, a boy charged a member of the Student Council and committed himself to a fight he could not win. He handed me a rose ring and his weapon and asked me to defeat the student council member, Sayonji. I felt no reason to turn down his request. I challenged Sayonji and won in a sword duel, winning ownership of the Rose Bride. Explaining that I wished not to own a human being, I was told that I was foolish for seeing Anthy, the Rose Bride, as anything but property. Disagreeing with this tack, I vowed to protect her". Thrash goes on to explain what he knows of the rules of the contest as well as what he saw of the castle, the courtyard, the steps, etc.
"Anthy herself is... well, it is hard to tell if she is truly human or something else. She does not seem to have any superhuman traits. I do not know if she was born to serve others or if abuse made her what she is. But it matters not. As Tiger said to Coyote, 'I am true to myself, no matter what you do'. So I have vowed to protect her from those who would abuse her. This is why, tomorrow, I will show Sayonji that turtles have bite.
In any case, grandfather, that is all I know. But I have begun to feel that the world is becoming dash [word for black, shade, evil], and that kolohit [word for unconscionable evil, bad medicine, or a person who practices either] is spreading".
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Post by sauriancleric on Dec 1, 2011 0:45:55 GMT -5
"Anthy sounds like a fractured person herself, incomplete as she is. This is a heavy responsibility you have taken on my son. From the very beginning, our people were protectors, it is no wonder that the spirits of our ancestors call to you." Thrash's Grandfather smiles proudly, before worry seeps back into his features. "But these recent events do not bode well... I know nothing of this Rose Bride, unless... What does her spirit look like in this state?" He asks. Thrash realizes that he did not see her, since he managed to walk all the way to the bathroom with out realizing that he was astral projecting.
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Post by Frederic Bourgault-Christie on Dec 1, 2011 0:48:18 GMT -5
Thrash has a brief chill down his spine. I was moving about without checking on Anthy! Then again... I doubt the spirits would rouse me to look at something a few feet away, and in any instance she was in no more danger having me look elsewhere than having me sleep. Unless astral projection makes it harder to awake. He replies, "I do not know. I also imagine it may change when she assumes her Rose Bride duties. Shall we look?" He begins to move down towards Anthy, both out of concern for her well-being and desire to solve the mystery.
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Post by sauriancleric on Dec 1, 2011 1:08:31 GMT -5
Both Thrash and his Father burst into the room. (quite silently since they didn't even have to open a door or take a step) The sight they see is puzzling, Anthy Himemya Lays there sleeping, but her aura stand far beyond her body, in a fashion different from any human spirit. Thrash doesn't need his Grandfather to explain to him the intense power he feels from this girl. "I never thought I would see this day..." Thrash's grandfather says. "It seems we will have to traverse the spirit world this night after all. But first! To the basement!!!" He declares as he sinks beneath the floor instantly. Thrash briefly struggle to leave his concept of floor, and gravity for a few moments before his Grand father sticks his head back up. "Oh that's right... let's just take the long way..."
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Post by Frederic Bourgault-Christie on Dec 1, 2011 1:22:42 GMT -5
Thrash sighs, almost kicking himself. Everything is transparent here. Everything can be walked through. "Amazing... she truly is something incredible". I must remember to appreciate her more, he remarked.
He followed his grandfather into the basement, hoping that he would find a way of entering the Spirit Realms tonight. He needed answers, and weapons.
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Post by sauriancleric on Dec 2, 2011 5:41:17 GMT -5
Thrash goes down to the basement. There is a door there that he has seen many times in his life, but never had reason to pass through. He walks into the room to find a small shrine, and primitive pictures on the walls. The pictures seem to tell a story and look like they have been kept up and repainted many times over the years. "Once every generation, we have a shaman that holds the secret of our people, and tends to this room. It is clear to me, that you must now take the burden." Thrash's Grandfather tells him before beginning his story. "Our people once traversed these oceans, drifting from island to island, fishing and gathering, living our lives. But it did not stay this way, for a great evil, in the form of a monstrous captain of a rotting ship, crewed by tortured souls came to our seas, and terrorized our waterways." Thrash already knows this part of the story. The glyphs on the walls show the tale clearly. Thrash listens as his Grandfather explains the parts he didn't know. "Our goddess, lead us in battle against this fetid creature, and cast a storm upon his ship so as to finally sink it for good. But the next day, a land mass arose from where the ship had sank. It was clear that this power could not be killed. Our goddess lead us to this place and gave the last of her orders. She told us to guard the powers hidden in this place, so that no one could use it for evil again. She told us to watch this land to make sure that the evil never escaped. And then she told us that she was leaving, and all that would be left of her were two young girls, that we were to be taken off the island in boats traveling in opposite directions. She used all of her power, binding the evil in a impenetrable castle in the sky. She lost all of her power, memories, and sense of self from that, and split what remained of her immortal body into two. She knew that because the castle had been created by her power, it could only be destroyed by her power. So as she ordered us, we took the two halves that remained and sailed them to opposite ends of the earth. It seems, that ones of those halves has found her way back, and into your hands. You must protect Anthy Himemya! She is one half of the goddess of our people! You must protect her for your ancestors, and perhaps the entire world!" Thrash knew a lot of this, but had never heard the part about the exiled goddess, her sacrifice, or even her continued existence.
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Post by Frederic Bourgault-Christie on Dec 2, 2011 16:30:31 GMT -5
Thrash had prior been operating under the assumption that Anthy and the Castle were new and distinct from his tribe's mission. But now... he saw that he had been thrust into an immense responsibility. But it was his responsibility. This was actually good news. He knew what the evil was. He knew that there weren't two evils appearing at the same time; at least, not yet.
Thrash says, "Does that mean that the castle should not be opened? Or maybe it should be, to slay or seal the creature finally? To free our goddess forever? And if this Bride is here, where is the other one? Here as well?"
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Post by sauriancleric on Dec 6, 2011 23:40:12 GMT -5
"It seems that the two halves of the goddess have been finding their way back. I leads us to an eventuality we must face that our people have avoided for generations. When the goddess gave our people her last orders, they were ready to fight to the last person. They would have traveled to the ends of the earth, and some of them did. But as time goes on, families change, and cultures die. Our once plentiful land has been reduced to a plot of land in the back of one house. Our once proud race, has been reduced to a footnote in the tides of history. Our once brave and powerful people have been reduced to herb salesmen and entertainers. No matter what we wish to beleive, we are but transient guest upon this world, and like all things, we must end. And when, not if, we go, what will happen to the great evil that we have defended for so long? Will they have spent their lives of training and vigilence for nothing?" Thrashes Grand father pauses to let the words sink in. "We've watchec while our powers dwindle, and I assure you that the evil is just a strong as the day it was trapped. I have seen inside the castle at the end of the world, it does not sleep, it only waits, and watches... Our goddess gave her life to stop that evil. And we've followed her orders for generations. If that evil were to be released... Her sacrifice, our sacrifice, would be for naught." The old man gazes over the room, the shrine, and all it represents before turning to his grandson. "We are running out of time Thrash. We may have to destroy the evil once and for all, and we may have to reunite the goddess, but if it comes to that, we will need help, you will need help."
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Post by Frederic Bourgault-Christie on Dec 6, 2011 23:42:54 GMT -5
Thrash nods. "I understand. I too have come to realize that the fight to protect Anthy indefinitely cannot be sustained. I must find a way of destroying that evil, or find a way of returning it to the proper nature of things. I need something that consumes all but transforms it into something new in that moment of cleansing... A spirit of flame, or a vajra's pure lightning". Thrash believes he is getting an idea. "I must become a full shaman. I need the powers of our people".
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Post by sauriancleric on Dec 6, 2011 23:55:48 GMT -5
"And for that, you will have to ask them yourself." He says as he smiles and takes your hand. The room melts around you, and the swriling vortex of the spiritplane shines beneath you. "I wish we'd had time to prapre, there was a time when every one in the village could traverse the spirit planes with ease, but with out the goiddess here, our powers grow weak. But we have no choise, and are out of time. Prepare yourself."
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Post by Frederic Bourgault-Christie on Dec 6, 2011 23:59:23 GMT -5
Thrash nods. "Good. Then I will have nothing holding me back, no shadows of the past stopping me. I've been told in school that things only evolve when they are pushed back into a corner, separated, force to evolve or die".
He looks about him, remembering every myth he was taught about the spirit world, and realizing quickly that he is not afraid. There is danger and opportunity, just like the real world. But he will learn and he will survive.
What to seek out first... Ancestral spirits, or spirits that are not mischievous. Helpful spirits. That of Buffalo, or Dog, or Gorilla. Then again, perhaps it is time to be a bit risky and seek out Uktena or Typhon.
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Post by sauriancleric on Dec 7, 2011 0:23:26 GMT -5
Thrash and his grandfather plummet into the maelstrom. The enter some where around the edges and are swept up in the flow. Thrash feels himself being swept away, but his grandfather's grip mtightens. The submerge as the swirling lights and energies begin to form a tunnel. "This tool was once fought for amongst the strongest shamans of the world, finally, one of our ancestors hid it back here and ended the war once and for all. So long as no one living knows that we are using it, we should be fine." Thrash tries to listen as he sees dark spirits down the tunnel approaching. "Needless to say, he hid it in a place that would be very discouraging to search in..." He explains as he prapares for battle. The two spirits from giant snake tendrils that float down the tunnelk aiming to devour the tresspassers.
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Post by Frederic Bourgault-Christie on Dec 7, 2011 0:27:55 GMT -5
Thrash looks down at the snake tendrils. Problems here are not settled by force alone. They are decided by symbols, by force of will... "We mean you no harm. We only wish to pass through and take something that is ours, nothing that has been left to you". Thrash puts his hand on his blade, ready in case it doesn't work to slash his way through.
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Post by sauriancleric on Dec 7, 2011 0:44:19 GMT -5
Thrashes Grandfather punches through one of them, but it is only momentarily swayed. "These are spirits of pure malice! there is nothing sentient left within them!" Thrash's grip tightens on his broad sword as the spirit closes in.
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Post by Frederic Bourgault-Christie on Dec 7, 2011 0:45:39 GMT -5
Thrash says, "There is no reason to ever dismiss peace as an option". He keeps his mind clear and his heart free from hate as he prepares to move through the snakes, slashing about him.
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Post by sauriancleric on Dec 7, 2011 0:51:29 GMT -5
Thrash's grandfather uses his practiced spiritual force to push one into the walls as you two pass. The spirit is pelting by the energies in the walls as they fly passed, as it is eroded away into nothing. Thrash slashes through the spirit and it splits around him down the middles, wavering like smoke. "Snakes have many kind of venom, a soul completely with out hate should be able to push through it like a traveler in a fog." the snake reforms, and turns to face Thrash again. "But we are all only human, there is no man alive that can be completely unaffected by its bite." The snake begins to pursue the two travelers from behind.
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Post by Frederic Bourgault-Christie on Dec 7, 2011 0:54:05 GMT -5
Thrash smiles. "I will never stop seeking freedom from hate, anger and rage". Thrash moves away from the snakes as quickly as he can, not wishing to amplifying their malice by fearing them or striking them.
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Post by sauriancleric on Dec 7, 2011 0:56:10 GMT -5
"We're almost there!" Thrash's Grandfather exclaims as the snake closes in on him, Thrash can tell that the old man's spirit is moving as fast as it can, but it will not be fast enough.
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Post by Frederic Bourgault-Christie on Dec 7, 2011 0:58:42 GMT -5
Thrash sighs and turns around. He tries to find all of the love he can for his grandfather and indeed all that he cares about, hoping that that will be so toxic to the snakes that he can resist them. He slashes forward, using the blade as an implement to release it, but avoids striking them directly.
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Post by sauriancleric on Dec 7, 2011 1:02:50 GMT -5
The snake begins to completely dissolve from the tail up. Thrash watches as the head barely reaches his beloved ancestor and takes a bite. The old man screams as the spirit finally dies.
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Post by Frederic Bourgault-Christie on Dec 7, 2011 1:05:05 GMT -5
Thrash grabs his grandfather and pulls him towards the rest of the way. "Don't... don't stop fighting, grandfather. You need to struggle to stay alive".
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