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| The screams and shouts, WhiteShadow noticed, were getting louder as he approached the clearing. This was no natural clearing, however, as WhiteShadow passed by another uprooted tree. A path had been carved through the previously untamed forest, evidence of large heavy objects being dragged through. Most probably the stones to build the temple, WhiteShadow surmised. Finally, he reached the edge of the clearing. Looking around, he almost fainted. At least twenty humans were gathered in the clearing, wearing Motavian masks, but each one was snow white... But that was not as shocking as the temple. At its mid-point, a man stood, in a full Motavian costume, his clothes an almost exact copy of those WhiteShadow wore. The altar, and the man, were both soaked in blood, and bones lay scattered about like so much garbage. WhiteShadow almost vomited at the ghastly sight. Suddenly, the man at the altar addressed the crowd. "Loyal ones!" He spoke, his voice clear and full. "We have offered up today's sacrifice and the Great One is pleased!" The crowd applauded. "Do you remember, people, when this all began?" The crowd murmured assent. "When the great WhiteShadow first emerged from the forest, weilding blades of light, to smite those who misunderstood and feared him; too fast to be seen, too strong to be stopped! He rose from the ranks of those dirty Motavians to become something completely different; a message from the Gods, a symbol of righteousness that all should follow..." The crowd was getting excited, clapping in time and cheering at every exclamation. "Or PERISH!" The man finished, his arms raised to the Heavens. |
| WhiteShadow was stunned, but snapped into action, slowly entering the crowd. None acknowledged his presence, all attention fixed upon the man at the altar. He continued to rant about their holy mission, to rob from the rich and corrupt Palmans to fund their Great Work... To WhiteShadow it was almost all incomprehensible. They worshipped him, but why? He had done no great things, he had simply survived. Unfortunately for the young Motavian, he had no concept of the great powers of rumour, and what great heroes and monsters were created based solely on hearsay. He had become a prophet by being a thief. He was overwhelmed by the way these people worshipped him; he didn't look at the blood-drenched altar, but instead at all the faces, wearing masks designed to look like him; first, he had been cast out because of his appearance, now others sought to copy it! The pride of the moment filled him, removing his fear and shyness. Drawing his scimitars and raising them high, WhiteShadow cried out. "Followers! I have come to you!" These words were enough; the people all turned to face him, gasping in surprise. The Motavian towered over all those near him, the two blades, shining in the sun, only added to the effect. The cult members all fell to their knees, bowing at the feet of their "Great One". High atop the altar, Semiru looked pale with shock and anger. Cursing, he forced himself to smile and prepared to take advantage of this setback. |
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| Chaz Ashley raised the mighty sword Elysedon above his head and cleaved the lead Wolfang in two, causing the rest of the pack to flee in terror. Although the sword had lost it's magical sheen since Dark Force was destroyed, it was still a fearsome and well-crafted weapon, and Chaz now felt that he well deserved to weild it. And despite Dark Force's destruction, evil still abounded in Motavia and Dezsoris, keeping Chaz comfortable. In some cases, he took no payment, believing the cause to outweigh any personal gain. This was one of those times. Many families in Krup, far south of Tonoe, were worried when a mass exodus of young men and women took place, all following a strange man known only as Semiru the White. Since then, the families had had no contact with their sons and daughters except when the occasional follower came to the village, preaching the ways of "the WhiteShadow". Hahn and Saya had called Chaz in to investigate, Hahn electing to stay with Saya and safeguard her students from any such brain-washing. Chaz had no such beliefs such as this Semiru was preaching, and quite frankly thought these stories of an albino Motavian, and a dangerous one at that, seemed preposterous to him, far from any sort of holy |
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| sign. Chaz's plan was simple; dissuade them from their course, or disprove their theories. Failing that, he would have to take drastic action against their leader, obviously behind the brain-washing taking place. With thoughts of a poxy religion and a con-man leader in his head, Chaz stepped into the clearing, and gasped at the sight. There, standing at a blood soaked altar, stood the tallest Motavian he had ever seen. In front of him stood a man, dressed to look like WhiteShadow, talking to him. Chaz guessed that this was Semiru, High Priest of the Clan of the WhiteShadow. Hmph, more like cult, thought Chaz, entering the crowd gathered at the foot of the temple. |
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| WhiteShadow and Semiru's heated discussion was interrupted by a yell from the crowd. "An unbeliever! Seize him!" They both looked down into the group of albino masks to see a young blonde man, dressed in red, weilding a long, shining sword. WhiteShadow didn't recognise the man, but Semiru obviously did, leaping on to the altar, almost losing his footing in the process. He flailed his arms wildly, losing his composure somewhat as he cried; "Yes, seize the unbeliever! The Great One shall have another offering tonight, and none greater than the notorious Chaz Ashley!! And take that holy sword from his unpure hands! Hurry!" Chaz couldn't resist as many innocent hands grabbed him, lifting him off of his feet. The cultists began to carry him towards the temple steps when WhiteShadow's voice rang out, stopping them in their tracks. "No! Bring him here, but we shall have no more murders today, or ever!" So saying, WhiteShadow pulled Semiru down from the altar. The High Priest was seething. He managed to calm himself down enough to speak with some eloquence; "But, oh Great One, I've already told you, a sacrificial offering is the only way to appease your master the Great Light." He kept wringing his hands as he plead his case, sometimes glancing fearfully down at Chaz, who was also livid. "And this Ashley is dangerous, Great One, armed liked that he must be here to destroy us... To destroy those who worship and love you." It went without saying that Semiru was a great judge of character, and he had spotted WhiteShadow's loneliness as soon as he had first spoken. He seemed to have hit the nail on the head; WhiteShadow's outrage subsided. "No, there will be no killing. Nor shall there be any slaughtering of the animals in this area - biomonsters abound beyond Tonoe; sacrifice them if you must, but the creatures of this forest are sacred. I have spoken!" Semiru nodded hastily. He put his hand on WhiteShadow's back and began to guide him into the temple. "The unbeliever can wait, oh Great One. For now, I can see that I have upset you, so come inside and have a drink, and calm your soul." His tone was like honey, his words soothing. His fear and rage of moments ago was pushed aside with all his self-control. However Semiru couldn't help but glance back to make sure Chaz was secured, and motioned to one of his followers, holding the blood-stained Elysedon, to follow them, before he followed WhiteShadow inside. |