|
|
Post by Stage on Jul 22, 2019 23:39:02 GMT
Though the trees that composed the rain forests of southern Farrago were tall and strong, some anomalously so, as if in response to the giants who roamed the land they shaded, they still bent easily before Xpil, parting like the Red Sea before Moses as the serpent cut through the sky. He normally traveled much higher in the atmosphere, mindful that his winds and heat could adversely affect ground-dwellers, but today he wished to see the earth blur below him, to feel his speed and the power of his wings. Being land-bound was necessary when his wounds were so grave, but it felt wrong. He was born and lived in the sky. Air was the essence of his existence. To have it stole away, even temporarily and voluntarily, was distressing.
Sadly, the purpose of this flight was not recreation. He was on grim business.
He had promised Krythnriin and Mhlrtr to check upon the ruins of their home, and he would not let that be a lie.
So, though he enjoyed the swirl of the sky around him, reveled in it after an entire night of having solid ground scraping at his belly like an anchor, he did not look forward to returning to the burned ruins of what was once a thriving wetland. The sight would remind him of the massive loss of life that had occurred not at all long ago. Even now, his keen eyes began to make out the dead swampland...
|
|
|
|
Post by Orcus on his Throne on Jul 22, 2019 23:57:00 GMT
Xipil's incredible eyesight spotted the remnants of the wetlands quickly. The land had become little more than a blasted heath, much of it still smoldering despite many days having passed since Xipil's original visit. Wild beasts stumbled through the burnt and charred remains of the swamps and wetlands they had once called home, with the gnarled remains of the massive trees that had covered the entirety of the region having vanished with the spirits that guarded the land.
The land was rapidly beginning the dry, with some areas having become more akin to grassland than the great swamps that once stretched for hundreds of miles. Though some patches of the wetlands' original beauty remained, much of it had been demolished by the infernal machines of the Holy Knights. A few saurians here or there are spotted, still sorting through the remains of their once glorious homeland, though the few that remain alive and free seem weak and emaciated. The land itself seemed to be dying.
But as Xipil moved close to the ground, he could make out something in the distance, near the edge of the swamp. The trees seemed to twist into blackened, gnarled brambles. The swampy water was stagnant and lifeless; it shone with a sickly, decayed hue. Even the air seemed thick and toxic in this region. Something was very wrong...
|
|
|
|
Post by Stage on Jul 23, 2019 0:13:43 GMT
Billowing his wings, Xipil slowed, coming to a hover at the edge of the ruined wetland, great sails churning the air. No trees bowed before him, because there were no trees left alive to do so. Those that still stood were long death, so they creaked and strained and shattered instead. Disturbing little life fled from the charred lumber as it fell to the ground. This was worse than he had feared. This was not merely devastation, this was... suffering. Alive and active.
Hail, inhabitants of Sliinthynmrtiin, the serpent greeting, recalling what Krythnriin had called his home. He approached the surviving Saurian cautiously. He did not wish to frighten them.
|
|
|
|
Post by Orcus on his Throne on Jul 23, 2019 0:18:43 GMT
The saurians are briefly cowed by the arrival of the celestial serpent, backing away as the creature approached. Once Xipil spoke and proved friendly, however, the saurians shamble closer to him.
"Great sky serpent," one of the older looking saurians, her scales a mottled green-grey from age, stated to Xipil, "venerable creature of the heavens, what brings you to what was once our home?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Stage on Jul 23, 2019 1:11:35 GMT
I was sent by two of your own, Xipil explained. They were grieved by the news of your home's destruction... but wished me to monitor it. They feared some sort of... awakening.
The serpent arched his neck, setting his eyes on the strange, sinister, metamorphosing horizon. Is that what is happening? The air... something is not right here...
|
|
|
|
Post by Orcus on his Throne on Jul 23, 2019 1:24:32 GMT
The grey-green saurian seemed confused at the mention of two saurians having spoken to Xipil. Suddenly, the saurian's eyes ignited with an inner passion.
"You... you saw Krythnriin?" The saurian stammered out. "How is he? Is he okay? What of his guardian? Is she still alive as well?"
From behind the grey-green saurian, a younger looking one with blue-green scales spoke up to answer Xipil's question. "We don't know. The Axhag Taa and the priests spoke of the prophecy... the great worm..."
Turning to the youngster, the elderly Saurian stated, "Yes, the prophecy. Legends say that when the Grbaslyn sleep, the worm will awaken from its slumber. We were never prepared for it, but I fear with the intrusion of those damnable statues, whatever sleeps in the depths is awakening..."
|
|
|
|
Post by Stage on Jul 23, 2019 2:01:58 GMT
They are both well, Xipil assured the grayish Saurian elder. I intend to visit them soon... swift wings such as these... they have their use. Do you have a message I might relay?
Twisting his beaked head towards the bluish youth, the serpent narrowed his crimson eyes. This worm... I assume it is malign?
|
|
|
|
Post by Orcus on his Throne on Jul 23, 2019 2:05:46 GMT
The two saurians both nodded at Xipil.
"It's what makes the creatures of the swamp violent and attack," The bluish saurian said. "At least, that's what the Axhag Taa told us."
"The worm is the source of some fell magic," The elderly saurian added on. "It is said that where it sleeps is cursed to cause any who enter it go mad. The creatures that come from there are aggressive and deformed..."
|
|
|
|
Post by Stage on Jul 23, 2019 2:15:56 GMT
Xipil looked at the grim horizon once more, yet now his eyes seemed to bore through and past it. This worm... tell me... is it a mortal thing? Can it be cut down?
|
|
|
|
Post by Orcus on his Throne on Jul 23, 2019 2:31:29 GMT
"I... I don't know," The elderly saurian replied. "I don't even know if it is actually a living creature. For all we know, it is like the Grbaslyn - an aspect of the world, a creature without a true form. It's remained unseen for thousands of years."
|
|
|
|
Post by Stage on Jul 23, 2019 2:53:44 GMT
The wings of the serpent flared, as if he were already tensing himself for battle. Do you expect it to rise soon? Seeing Krythnriin and Mhlrtr may have to wait...
|
|
|
|
Post by Orcus on his Throne on Jul 23, 2019 3:05:02 GMT
"I-I-" The older saurian stammered.
"-Y-yes," The younger Saurian replied to Xipil. "Th-there's been weird earthquakes, and the water's been turning black. I got a feeling our luck is about to run out..."
Behind the two that have been speaking, the other saurians, spoke to each other in hushed, frightful tones...
|
|
|
|
Post by Stage on Jul 23, 2019 3:43:57 GMT
The frightened murmuring drew back Xipil's gaze. The rubellite eyes, hard and already flickering with the flames of battles, softened immediately.
Is there anywhere safe you can flee? the serpent asked gently.
|
|
|
|
Post by Orcus on his Throne on Jul 23, 2019 3:47:27 GMT
"We'll have to leave here," The elder replied. "There are supposedly swamps near the edge of Sliinthynmrtiin. Perhaps we can stay there..."
As the elder spoke, a low rumble shook the nearby area, sending a small flock of strange, winged worm-like creatures scattering into the sky above and causing ripples to shake what little water remained nearby.
"Perhaps we have less time than we thought!" One of the saurians in the back shouted.
|
|
|
|
Post by Stage on Jul 23, 2019 4:08:55 GMT
Are you able-bodied enough to leave now? Xipil asks the Saurians, head rising up and coils writhing. His scales struck each other like church bells. If you cannot find these swamps, there is a friendly city to the west... as well as floodplains beyond it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Orcus on his Throne on Jul 23, 2019 4:34:51 GMT
"We can try," the elderly saurian replied to Xipil with a nod. Immediately, the elder got to work organizing her fellow kin around her to get ready to depart.
As Xipil prepared to head out, he noted that the quakes seemed to be getting stronger, rather than weakening over time. The gnarled trees of the deep swamp, twisted by some otherworldly corruption, collapsed and contorted under the undulations of the earth. What few beasts remained seemed to scatter, attempting to escape the vicinity of the earthquakes. It seemed as the air was growing ever more stale and lifeless, making it seem more difficult to breathe than it truly was.
Whatever was coming, it was not looking good.
|
|
|
|
Post by Stage on Jul 24, 2019 1:17:05 GMT
The emerald wyrm clapped his wings, battering the gathering Saurians with wind as he catapulted himself over them. His coils dug furrows into the dead earth as he landed on the other side of them. He took the stance of an enraged rattlesnake, his body bound tightly and his head held high. His wings raised, angling their underside towards the rumbling horizon, as if he planned to catch and throw back whatever danger advanced on the already devastated people.
Even if I cannot defeat this evil, he assured, I will hold it back... so that you may safely escape.
|
|
|
|
Post by Orcus on his Throne on Jul 24, 2019 1:41:01 GMT
"Thank you. Be careful, sky serpent," the elderly saurian replied. The group began to rapidly disperse, attempting to scurry into the surrounding wilderness, attempting to get as far away from their current location as possible.
As Xipil faced toward the rumbling thunder of the earth, he would be quick to notice the detritus of the dying swamp seemingly pulling itself liek a blanket towards the malevolent region of the swamps. Plant matter, bones, mud, and water began to coagulate and thicken, visibly beginning to form themselves into a vaguely serpentine shape...
|
|
|
|
Post by Stage on Jul 24, 2019 2:03:06 GMT
As he watched the great worm take shape, forming from the death that now ruled the land, Xipil could not help but feel a small dread in his heart. It was as if he was looking at a dark mirror, seeing his own reflection twisted and ruined. It almost felt like mockery, as if this creature knew he was the last of his kind, and ridiculed him for it. He was the last of the celestial serpent, yet now he stood against a serpent from the pit.
Perhaps this fight would hold more meaning than guarding what remained of the Saurians.
Flaring his already unfurled wings fully, Xipil raised his jaws to the heavens and let out a long, metallic, almost ghostly screech, letting the worm know that it would not enter this world unchallenged...!
|
|
|
|
Post by Orcus on his Throne on Jul 24, 2019 2:32:10 GMT
A guttural hiss filled the air in response to Xipil, as a worm-like shape rippled and whipped itself free from the mud surrounding its body. Bits of plant, bone, and stone slithered and sloshed into place, quickly acting to form the basic structure of the monster's body. A pair of large, claws forelimbs ripped themselves free from the writhing mass, followed by a massive, whip-like tail twisting around in the air, sending mud and detritus scattering all across the ruins of the jungle.
Finally, a twisted mockery of a serpent's skull rose into view, pulling itself into a monstrous visage with a mixture of wood, stone, and bone. After the 'skull' formed, a pair of sickly green eyes began to glow from within its dead sockets, glaring maliciously at Xipil.
And then came the noise.
Like the scream of a dying bird, the great worm cried into the sky. The area around it seemed to wither and die, contorting its surroundings into a twisted, rotting mockery of what it once was. With each step, the remaining waters of Sliinthynmrtiin became fetid and lifeless. With each breath, the air became stagnant and suffocating. It was as if the beast was anathema to the world itself - a living, breathing blight...
|
|
