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Post by Carveus on Dec 26, 2010 23:48:26 GMT
Far away from the rest of the world, surrounded by spiny mountains, their peaks shrouded by mist and snow a single road lead Northwards.
It was old and worn, but well kept by the people it led to. Old men and young, wearing robes of monks, quiet and kind as they tended their road, keeping it in good condition for the occasional pilgrim and their wandering brothers. These monks practised peace, poverty and kindness. They were the most deadly warriors in the world.
Barr one.
The spirit that protected their monastery.
Legends were told of it, by travelling brothers, out seeking knowledge at the spirits request as it had sworn never to stop protect them, but it had also sworn to learn. So as it taught and looked after them, they went out into the world, learning all they could before returning to teach it in turn.
And that was how the story had gone, for years untold. Sometimes, men came to challenge the spirit to combat, to make a name for themselves. Some came back, having lost their pride. Others remained and the monks grew in number.
The circle continued.
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Post by Bal on Dec 26, 2010 23:56:28 GMT
And so it was that a young girl looked up along to long, winding road into the mountains, reaching up and shifting the hair out of her face as the wind blew it across her eyes. Some had said the girl was touched by the spirits, able to commune with beasts, and even take their forms, but not of her own volition... such things happened seemingly by the whims of fate itself, and the girl knew not why.
She had heard the tales, as had many throughout the land, of the spirit which sought knowledge above all things, it would know what she needed to know. Looking down at her hands she clenched them into tight fists, it had to know.
So she began to ascend the mountain path, fists clenching and unclenching, the thirst rising high in her thoughts, along with the instincts that always came with it. She knew that she drew sustenance from blood, and that without it she became more like the beasts she emulated... what she did not know was why.
"You will tell me why spirit..."
It was hours that she spent on the road, and then the gates of the temple began to rise into view before her, and she approached the great doors slowly, eyes peering side to side as she sniffed at the air in an almost animalistic way. "One of the monks will tell me where it is... I'll make sure of it..."
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Post by Carveus on Dec 27, 2010 0:01:49 GMT
"Most people ring the bell who wish entry;" a voice stated calmly, seeming to come from above her. And sure enough there was a bell set to the side of the door, a shrine next to it with fresh offerings to the spirits.
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Post by Bal on Dec 27, 2010 0:04:59 GMT
"Oh good, a monk," the girl said, looking upwards, "saves me the trouble of finding you. I come seeking the spirit who resides in this place, there are things it needs to tell me."
Her tone was completely self-assured, and the young woman stepped further into the monastery, seeking out the voice that addressed her, "Where is it?"
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Post by Carveus on Dec 27, 2010 0:11:22 GMT
There was no one there, until movement caught the corner of her eye, a young woman stepping out of the shadows of the monastery, dressed simply and looking at her.
"I am afraid there is no spirit here." It was the same voice. "If you seek enlightenment however then we are more then able to help you find the path."
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Post by Bal on Dec 27, 2010 0:15:46 GMT
The woman looked around, before turning suddenly as the other woman stepped out of the shadows and into her vision. "No spirit?" she asked, approaching the presumed nun with her hands resting on her hips, "Despite all the stories, all the monks talking about the great mighty spirit who guards this place and is practically all-knowing? Don't expect me to believe that... I have questions, and I will get answers. If I have to go through every monk in this temple tog et them..."
She dropped back into an obviously aggressive fighting stance at this point, shifting her feet on the wooden floor of the chamber, and raising her hands, "So be it." She had no form, no style... just aggression.
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Post by Carveus on Dec 27, 2010 0:21:01 GMT
"Fighting like that you would not even get through one monk, let alone any spirits;" the woman said calmly. "I am sure you are tired from your journey, please come with me and rest," she soothed, feet shifting position ever so slightly.
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Post by Bal on Dec 27, 2010 0:28:51 GMT
The woman paused, tilting her head to the side momentarily at the other woman's reply, "Really? Well why don't you prove it if you think you're so tough..." she stepped towards the woman, keeping her arms outstretched and fists clenched, "Unless of course all that pacifism and meditation makes you soft enough to jsut tell me what I want to know."
Patience, it seemed, was a virtue this young woman did not know.
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Post by Carveus on Dec 27, 2010 0:32:27 GMT
The young woman shook her head slowly, looking at her. "You have yet to ask me any questions. I will be happy to answer them to the best of my ability, violence does not have to come into this."
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Post by Bal on Dec 27, 2010 0:35:34 GMT
"Good... then tell me where the spirit is. Now."
Keeping her stance, the young woman kept a careful eye on the woman, she didn't trust these monks, that was certain, and she wanted to make sure noting unexpected happened while she was getting her answers.
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Post by Carveus on Dec 27, 2010 0:42:49 GMT
"As I have already said, there is no spirit here, everyone in this monastery is of flesh and blood." The woman replied, almost serenely as she did, no waver in her voice or form to even suggest a lie.
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Post by Bal on Dec 27, 2010 0:46:31 GMT
"Then how do you explain all the stories that get told about this place and it so called protector?" she replied, similarly no waver of hesitation in her voice. She was convinced of what she was saying.
It had to be here... she needed her answers... and the thought that this monk was trying to stop her was making her angry...
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Post by Carveus on Dec 27, 2010 0:52:53 GMT
The woman smiled slightly as she said that. "There is someone who looks after this place, but they are no spirit; I can assure you of that. And they know as much as anyone else of this world, but you can seek their wisdom if you so wish it."
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Post by Bal on Dec 27, 2010 0:56:27 GMT
She paused for a moment and frowned deeply, not looking particularly pleased with the woman's response. "My family... my people say I've been touched by the spirits... I don't know about that, all I know is what happens to me when I get hungry or angry or scared..." she said, matter-of-factly. "I need to know what it is... and how to stop it, or control it or anything. Are you saying I can't get any guidance here?" Her fists clenched a little tighter now.
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Post by Carveus on Dec 27, 2010 1:04:08 GMT
"Guidance we can offer in plentiful supply. The real question is, are you willing to take the first step towards it?" the woman queried, head tilting to one side.
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Post by Bal on Dec 27, 2010 1:24:44 GMT
The girl paused a moment, and dropped her stance for but a moment, "That depends what it is... this isn't something that can wait for meditation and enlightenment..."
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Post by Carveus on Dec 27, 2010 1:30:31 GMT
"Everything can wait for meditation and enlightenment," the woman replied calmly. "It is only through these that we can learn the answers to our questions."
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Post by Bal on Dec 27, 2010 15:10:02 GMT
"I'm not the kind of person who you want to make wait..." the woman said, stepping a little closer to the other woman now, perhaps a bit too close for the comfort of most. "I need these answers, and by the sounds of it you aren't the one who can give me the answers," now she bared her teeth at the woman, and the fangs that framed her jaw, bestial and sharp were obvious, "so get out of my way or tell me who can."
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Post by Carveus on Dec 27, 2010 16:06:19 GMT
The woman seemed nonplussed by either her fangs or her proximity. "Only you hold the answers to your questions," she was calmly told. "We can only show you the way to find them."
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Post by Bal on Dec 27, 2010 17:31:05 GMT
The woman's lips twitched a few times, she could feel the anger beginning to seethe within her... and the clawing of the beast that now cohabited her soul. She had had no luck taming it by herself, and that was why she was here... and apparently being nice wasn't getting her anywhere.
"Look," she growled, "you want me to beg? To come grovelling on my knees begging you to teach me?! I have something inside of me... something that tries to control me... a beast... I don't have time to sit around and meditate!"
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