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Akhentef

1 (5.9%)

Muta

9 (52.9%)

Nameless Ant-god

3 (17.6%)

Sumidu (Muta's father)

0 (0%)

Gezaru

0 (0%)

General Ilkid

1 (5.9%)

George

2 (11.8%)

Azumah

1 (5.9%)

Total Members Voted: 17

[Andres]

Test out the new string for our bow.

[bahihs]

The updates are going to be coming a little slow for a bit (~3 weeks) as things have been a little hectic at school. The short of it is that a publication needs some major revision and we have a short deadline to do it.

Rest assured Arlore's quest is not at an end.

[Icefire2314]

The updates are going to be coming a little slow for a bit (~3 weeks) as things have been a little hectic at school. The short of it is that a publication needs some major revision and we have a short deadline to do it.

Rest assured Arlore's quest is not at an end.

Take your time, thanks for posting to tell us what's going on.

[bahihs]

Previous

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

I'm back! Again sorry about the hiatus, but if its any consolation we managed to revise and re-submit the paper on time!

You decide to rally the forces of the forest and at least slow the advancing army. You call out to the woodland creatures, making them voracious, showing them where they might find food. They gather beneath your call and are directed by your arm. Rodents of every kind swarm through the ranks. The soldiers march on but many are perturbed. The animals ignore them and make their way to the guarded supply carts. They begin leaping onto the carts and breaking into the covered containers of food. Instantly all is commotion.

The march is temporarily halted. Satisfied you turn to leave, when you spot a winged man with horse hooves land gently some feet away. He does not notice you and instead makes his way through the panicking men, his eyes fixed on a distant point. You follow his eyes to a man seated on a palanquin carried by four men. On the seated man's forehead is a crown of gold. Every movement and fiber of this man exudes a regal quality. He seems almost indifferent to the panic surrounding him, but you can sense some deep sadness in him. You know who he is without ever having seen him before, without knowing his name.   

"Akhentef!"
"Who dares address our lord directly?" A short, aged man, seated on a similar palanquin a feet away, retorts.
"Peace Mose. It is a messenger from the gods. And to them, our mortal titles signify nothing. Is that not so, Djedi?"
"It is so Akhentef."
"I trust Tef has accepted my...sacrifice?"
"Your sacrifice pleases him."
"That is well. Then...he has agreed to my request?"
"His blessing is upon you. You shall not fail." Akhentef nods and folds his arms in prayer. "He wanted me to give you this" The hooved man takes out an armlet of unmarked bronze. Akhentef taps the side of his palanquin and the servants lower it for him to descend. He takes the armlet from the messenger, admires it, then slips it onto his arm. "A gift, for your devotion. For as Tef takes, so too does he give." Akhentef nods again. The hooved man turns, you notice his eyes catching you hovering above the scene. He smiles a little, then he begins to run away from the men at incredible speed, you then see him a moment later flapping his enormous wings and taking flight. You turn back toward Akhentef. He has mounted his Palanquin again. He raises the arm with the armlet and speaks out to his men. His voice carries clearly through the commotion.

"Enough!" Instantly all the men are silent and obedient. "Let us halt the march and slaughter these pests. We have a ways to march yet." The men, still silent, are no longer panicked. They begin to slaughter the invading rodents systematically, moving the other carts away from the ones already spoiled to prevent the pests from spreading, then setting fire to the carts that are infested. Within 20 minutes your efforts are neutralized and Akhentef resumes the march.

You go back to Eve and the soldiers. She has gathered her men and their horses. The rest of the men are packing up their tents and arming themselves. You head toward the general's tent. You recognize several of the captains and lieutenants. They are huddled over a map of the surrounding terrain. You see Gezaru standing amid the captains; his face is grim.

"...then its settled. We have no other choice." Ilkid sighs pinches the base of his nose.
"Sir, this is cowardice." Gezaru speaks and the others recoil at these words.
"Insolent brat-" One of the lieutenants steps toward Gezaru. Ilkid holds up a hand.
"If you have something else, I'd like to hear it." Ilkid says. Gezaru remains silent. Ilkid's voice softens. "War is not fair Lieutenant."
"We can run. We can all run."
"We'll be caught and slaughtered. There aren't enough horses."
"We can't just let the men be decoys sir!"
"Enough! its the only way we conserve our essential forces. A necessary sacrifice. Against a force of this magnitude we must give up some flesh to spare the bone."
"I want to stay. I will stay. I can't leave my men."
"You will do no such thing lieutenant. You will give your men the orders. Then you will fall in with us and retreat. That's final." Again Ilkid's voice softens. "Look Gezaru, we need able leaders like you. You stay here and what happens? Hmm? You get slaughtered with the rest of your men. You accomplish nothing."
"At least I don't flee into the darkness. At least I maintain my honor."
"Hmph. Spoken like a true Madu. Nevertheless there is a time for bravery and a time for prudence. There is no glory in suicide. You will fall in. And that's final." There is a tense silence. "Dismissed." The men salute and leave the tent. Gezaru follows after them.

The sun begins to set in the horizon. The sky reddens. Out of the coming dark a figure materializes in the air. It's George. He steps toward you.
"Its time, Arlore of the Rabbits. The council meets. Will you help me as you promised?"

Next

[evictedSaint]

Oh dang, do we have to leave right now?  Eve will likely be one of the ones left behind...if we have to leave before the battle, I suggest we give her as much support as we can.  Whisper what we know into her ear, and tell her that she must live even if it means hiding or fleeing.  Lastly, tell her that if she needs us, truly needs us, she may call upon us in her greatest time of need and we will answer.

P.S. Congrats on the paper!

[3man75]

Quick voice over to Eve.

"The Storm comes. To run is to bend. To fight is to die.

Choose."

Glad to see this back.

[evictedSaint]

"The Storm comes. To run is to bend. To fight is to die.

what a dickish thing to say to eve

[Whisperling]

As much as I would love to give Eve the luxury of a choice, we're completely and utterly doomed if she dies. For one, she is our sole prophet. On top of that, her death would likely result in the loss of our entire following back at the village. If we can't save the one mortal to whom we promised the world, then why worship us at all?

[Andres]

Go to the council. Tell Eve that we're going. Eve has a token from the goddess of war and should do what it takes to fulfil her destiny of glory.

[Maegil]

Appear before Eve, if possible when she's with Suha (and possibly other worshiping scouts).
If others are also present, add a bit of pyrotechnics and start by (needlessly) declaring yourself to Eve, "I am thy god Arlore". This is, of course, for their benefit, and it shouldn't even be so hard on reality since they should expect at least as much from a deity's appearance.

"Beloved of Arlore, The Storm Comes. To stand fast against the flood is to drown, to bend is to live. The wise rabbit always knows where the nearest brambles are". Fade to nothing as if you were never there, and follow George to the council.

This public appearance is for several reasons. Firstly, to instill a certain amount of awe for both Eve and ourselves on anyone present; this should bind the two of us together in their minds and increase their devotion each time they as much as think of her.
This increased devoutness should also help in making them spread the word (increasing the tale, as people are bound to do), making us more well-known, and gathering new worshipers... Who knows, they'll probably even decide to build us a shrine on that spot later on.

More immediately, calling her beloved of a god should also insure that the faithful will do their utmost to keep her safe, and seeing a god will bolster their devotion so much that our power should increase - even if not by much, I suppose that every bit should help in making a better first impression on the council.

As for the message itself, we are a GOD, not Eve's buddy, so we don't need to tell her anything about divine business or our whereabouts.
I agree to a bit of holy flashiness and a cryptic oracular advice, but not to actually declaring it a choice; stating it like this means that she can still make a holding action (thus not being shamed by either disobeying her god or the orders, or by abandoning her comrades to their fate), put the token to good use, and still keep an eye out for the best moment to lead those around her in a retreat to safety.

[bahihs]

Previous

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Things seem to be moving a bit slowly, and as my creative juices are still flowing, here's some more backstory!

"Mother! Mother! Look what I have!" The boy saw the hooded man and slowed his run. The boy cupped his hands tightly over something green and squirming. "Mother?" His little face slipped his smile at his mother's tears. He drew closer. "What's wrong? Who is this?" His mother knelt and pressed the boy's cheek to her own. The boy's hand unfurled, a disoriented toad hopped out and away. His mother stroked his fine golden hair. The boy pressed his small hands to his mother's cheeks and wiped away the salt tracks. "What's wrong mother?" He whispered.

"We have to go now." The hooded man said and grabbed the boy's arm.
"Let me go! What are you doing? Mother? Mother, what's happening?"
"Its ok. Its ok" She cooed and stroked his cheek. Fresh tears sprouted and fell like autumn leaves.
"Come boy. Lord Sumidu is expecting you."
"No! No! What have you done to my mother? Let me go. Mother! Mother!"
"Go with him." She said between sobs. "Its ok Muta. Its ok. Go. Go on." The hooded man grabbed the boy and slung him over his shoulder. The boy screamed and pounded his fist against the man's back. His mother lay on the floor her face in her hands. Then white wings sprouted from the man's back and with two powerful beats and a still more powerful jump, he launched himself into the air. Within seconds he was overstepping clouds with his hooves. Air thinned, then vanished completely. The boy struggled to breath. Then breathed no longer. His body went limp. Then, his skin began to glow a deep gold. He opened his eyes again; mortal, no longer. 

-----------------------------------------------------

"You must be swifter, young master, if you wish to overtake your brothers. Do not depend so much on the reins, you must not believe you can control the horse. The horse is like the wind -- it cannot be controlled, only directed. Come, that is enough for today." The boy took the man's hand and dismounted the horse in one motion. He patted the side of the horse and led it back into its stable.
"You think I can beat them Mose?"
"I know it."
"How? How do you know it? By what logic?"
"Somethings, young master, are determined here" He pointed to the boys chest. "And not here." Then to his forehead. "Speaking of which" A young girl with black curls and hazel eyes rode to the front of the stable, dismounted then guided her horse into the pen next to the boy's. The boy watched the girl with attention. The girl ignored him and walked out in a rush. Some sudden fire grew in the boys eyes. The man smiled.
"Come young master, its time for archery."
"Yes Mose." The boy walked forward but could not stop looking at the girl's horse.
"We can ride tonight." The man said, then smiled at the boys surprise. The boy blushed and the man chuckled to himself.

------------------------------------------

"You know who I am boy?" The boy stood straight up and looked directly at the wizened head of the old man. The boy's eyes had lost their youthful blue and had become a hard, noble gold.
"I do. Sumidu, God of Grain."
"Then why do you not kneel boy?"
"Where is my mother?"
"Your mother is a mortal. Therefore she remains with the mortals."
"Then, I am..."
"Not a mortal. Yes."
"I don't understand."
"I needed a son, Muta. You are that son."
"But my mother -"
" - Raised you well enough yes, but you are a god. You are my son. My blood flows through your veins. Hmph. She actually believed she could hide you from me. Foolish bitch." At these words the boy leaped toward Sumidu's eyes. Sumidu grabbed the boy's torso with one hand then threw him against the floor of his throne.
"Spirited brat." Then, he nodded to the hooded man. Who came forward and slung the boy on his shoulders as before and led him away. "He'll make a fine god" Sumidu muttered and smiled.

------------------------------------------------

"Umm, you ride well for a girl." The girl ignored him, tied up the reins and began to walk away. The boy ran after her "Wait!" She stopped. "My name is Bakeni. What's your name?" Then she sweeps her eyes across the sand until she spots a small rock. The boy watches her. She takes the rock and begins to write on the sand. "Tutahue?" She nods. "You can't speak?" She nods. "Why not?" She points to her throat. "I don't understand." She grabs his hand and presses it against her throat. She tries to speak but he cannot feel any vibrations. "How did this happen?" She shrugs. "Was it always so?" She nods.

They walk together, she answers his questions with her hands and with her eyes and when that fails, with writing on the sand. "So you're the daughter of a scribe?" She nods. "But you ride so well!" She cannot laugh, but her full tooth smile almost sounds. She points to her ears, then her heart. "I don't understand." She points to her ears. "Your ears? Hearing?" She nods. She writes something in the sand again. "Horse heart?" She nods. "Oh! You can hear the heart of the horse?" She nods again and smiles and brushes back a curl. "Hmm, Mose was saying that too. Direct the horse instead of forcing it." She nods wisely.

She stops. "What is it? You live here?" She nods. "Oh. Ok. Well...will I see you again?" She smiles and shrugs. Then she waves and disappears behind the moving crowd. He stands there, awestruck and smiling, beneath the beating sun.

---------------------------------------------

"I want to see my mother."
"Don't be rude boy. Your mother is sitting right there."
"My real mother."
"Watch your tongue you brat!"
"I want to see my mother!" The boy stands on his chair then leaps onto the table.
"Sit down boy. Don't test my patience."
"Take me to her. Now." The God of Grain snaps his fingers and roots sprout on the boys feet. He struggles, but cannot move. Sumidu ushers the roots with his fingers and, as if pulled by an invisible force, the boy slides in front of his father.
"Now. You will sit down and eat your meal. And make no more fuss about some mortal." The boy spits in his father's face. Sumidu stands in full godly glory. "YOU WANT TO SEE YOUR MOTHER BRAT? GO AND SEE HER THEN." He slams his palm on the oaken table and the boy disappears. Then he sits down and wipes his face.

The boy awakens to the stench of rot. All around him are crows and vultures tearing at flesh. He rubs his eyes and begins to walk around. His old town is desolate and empty. Naked corpses lie in the street, most of them hideously emaciated. He starts to panic. He runs toward to the grain fields. They are barren. Lone scarecrows lie amid the furrowed land - empty of all life. He runs to his mother's house. His mother's corpse, thin and broken by starvation, meal to worms and insects, lies by the front door. The stench is so great he cannot even approach her. Tears well, from sorrow and from the stink. He spends the day digging a grave and burying her behind the house. He takes a ring from her finger, a simple golden wedding band.

Once the mound is made, he sits down and weeps. Then all sorrow is swept from him and there grows in him an unnatural coldness, the cold of knives in the dark and black winter nights.

"Do not cross me again Muta." The boy's father stands by the mound. The boy nods and stands and tightens his fist around his mother's ring. Then they return to their home in the sky. 

Next

[Maegil]

To prevent breaking up the subject in separate posts, I've edited my previous post with the reasoning behind my suggestion.

[Lord_lemonpie]

Appear before Eve, if possible when she's with Suha (and possibly other worshiping scouts).
If others are also present, add a bit of pyrotechnics and start by (needlessly) declaring yourself to Eve, "I am thy god Arlore". This is, of course, for their benefit, and it shouldn't even be so hard on reality since they should expect at least as much from a deity's appearance.

"Beloved of Arlore, The Storm Comes. To stand fast against the flood is to drown, to bend is to live. The wise rabbit always knows where the nearest brambles are". Fade to nothing as if you were never there, and follow George to the council.

This public appearance is for several reasons. Firstly, to instill a certain amount of awe for both Eve and ourselves on anyone present; this should bind the two of us together in their minds and increase their devotion each time they as much as think of her.
This increased devoutness should also help in making them spread the word (increasing the tale, as people are bound to do), making us more well-known, and gathering new worshipers... Who knows, they'll probably even decide to build us a shrine on that spot later on.

More immediately, calling her beloved of a god should also insure that the faithful will do their utmost to keep her safe, and seeing a god will bolster their devotion so much that our power should increase - even if not by much, I suppose that every bit should help in making a better first impression on the council.

As for the message itself, we are a GOD, not Eve's buddy, so we don't need to tell her anything about divine business or our whereabouts.
I agree to a bit of holy flashiness and a cryptic oracular advice, but not to actually declaring it a choice; stating it like this means that she can still make a holding action (thus not being shamed by either disobeying her god or the orders, or by abandoning her comrades to their fate), put the token to good use, and still keep an eye out for the best moment to lead those around her in a retreat to safety.

+1 to this

[evictedSaint]

Appear before Eve, if possible when she's with Suha (and possibly other worshiping scouts).
If others are also present, add a bit of pyrotechnics and start by (needlessly) declaring yourself to Eve, "I am thy god Arlore". This is, of course, for their benefit, and it shouldn't even be so hard on reality since they should expect at least as much from a deity's appearance.

"Beloved of Arlore, The Storm Comes. To stand fast against the flood is to drown, to bend is to live. The wise rabbit always knows where the nearest brambles are". Fade to nothing as if you were never there, and follow George to the council.

This public appearance is for several reasons. Firstly, to instill a certain amount of awe for both Eve and ourselves on anyone present; this should bind the two of us together in their minds and increase their devotion each time they as much as think of her.
This increased devoutness should also help in making them spread the word (increasing the tale, as people are bound to do), making us more well-known, and gathering new worshipers... Who knows, they'll probably even decide to build us a shrine on that spot later on.

More immediately, calling her beloved of a god should also insure that the faithful will do their utmost to keep her safe, and seeing a god will bolster their devotion so much that our power should increase - even if not by much, I suppose that every bit should help in making a better first impression on the council.

As for the message itself, we are a GOD, not Eve's buddy, so we don't need to tell her anything about divine business or our whereabouts.
I agree to a bit of holy flashiness and a cryptic oracular advice, but not to actually declaring it a choice; stating it like this means that she can still make a holding action (thus not being shamed by either disobeying her god or the orders, or by abandoning her comrades to their fate), put the token to good use, and still keep an eye out for the best moment to lead those around her in a retreat to safety.

+1 to this

-1

Considering Eve would be executed if it was found out she were female, it may be in our best interests to bide our time before attracting unwanted attention to her.

[TheBiggerFish]

Tell her, though.

Ooh, guerilla tactics...

"They call mine pests.  Then be as pests to them.  Taking little nibbles away, bit by bit, slow but sure, and never being where they seek to strike you down.  A smart rabbit might bite at the ties, taking more that just the morsel."