This post marks the start of my mission containing the following storyboard elements:
- Investigate the history of a landmark
- Deal with a problem in a tactical manner, instead of through direct confrontation
Apprehensively approaching the table in the middle, Strix was curious about what this glowing blue orb of light was hovering on the table, seemingly looking like it had a heartbeat, softly thumping and increasing its light every so often to a rhythm. The closer she got, the more she was drawn to it, once again feeling a familiar feeling of having been here before without actually knowing why. Was this something to do with her clan once again, like a flash of a memory once been, that she had never done before. Trying to concentrate, she closed her eyes and reach out her hand and placed it on the blue orb. She could feel something, like a warmth, a familiar touch but it wasnt from someone she knew, but somehow undeniably familiar, almost family. Strix had been so focused on the orb itself that she hadn't noticed the figure that was perched in the upper corner, sitting almost like a gargoyle camouflaged in with the stone background. When Strix had entered it was woken from its hibernation and watched carefully the intruder in its masters tomb, where it had promised to stand guard. Tilting its head, this was only the 3rd person to ever get past the golem, and again it was a woman. Something struck the creature as it looked down, causing a glimmer of hope quickly erased by confusion then anger. Along her arm, she had the same tattoos and markings that its master had upon her shoulders.
Whooooo..... issss.... this woman....chk..chk...
Kha'Zix had thought to itself to kill the woman instantly before she even knew it was there, but watched out of curiosity, there was something familiar about her, outside of the markings on her arm. Perhaps he would watch and wait.
Strix had placed her hand on the orb and a voice spoke in her head, not aloud that echo'ed around the chamber but directly in her head. The familiar voice, once again she had heard outside in the chamber against the golem, and a vague memory of years ago she couldn't remember what it said.
Welcome child, you have found my sanctuary, the last place before I passed on the gift, the power of the Cosmos. You, Strix of Pergamon are the 4th incarnate of me, Nyriad. A daughter of the Sirens, a Witch, an Angel, we have many names and all of them cursed, feared, or revered. This tomb is my resting place, where I chose for my spirit to remain while my powers passed on, and where I will share the knowledge written on these walls.
Although she couldnt see it, Strix felt like she was directed to the wall on her left, noticing now a carving within the wall, and walking over upon closer inspection she saw a woman standing upon a hill. Below the woman, was several face that looked to be praising the woman while the sun shone from behind her. within the background were four wings and a halo around her. It was curious, as Strix placed her hand upon it and Cosmic chakra exited her body and was sucked into the picture, making it animated, the sun shining, the wings fluttering and the woman looking up to the sky through her halo.
This feels...familiar, I can feel the suns warmth, I remember the people chanting, I can hear them...
Yes Child, we were there, for that is my, the first time the people worshipped us and we began to come known as Nyriad the Angel. We had stopped a great blazing creature that had come from below the earth, almost destroying the town. When we had defeated the creature tossing it into the ocean, we had to stop the town from becoming engulfed in flames, infact, many years ago, that tiny town was one of the ports in this landmark itself.
Strix could feelt it, the memory coming to her, with the burnt remains of the village smouldering but mostly untouched, only the lumber mills on the edge of town close to the forest that was charred having sustained the most damage. She could feel a swell of pride as they chanted and cheered for her, ash in the air, mixed with the seasalt, her body tired from the fight but feeling accomplished.
I can.. I can feel it... see it! The crowds, my body tired from the fight... the burns on my body.
Yes, it was this first victory that gained my following, and where I started the legacy of the Sirens. They called my an angel from their folklore tales, because I had sprouted wings to fight the massive beast. The next wall, shows how our clan got started.
Walking to the wall that was directly behind the table Strix observed the scene.
Meanwhile Kha'Zix was having internal trouble deciding what to do, somehow attacking the intruder felt wrong, but it had given its loyalty to it's previous master.
The next wall depicted 4 woman standing next to each other, a ball above them and all of them having different tattoos and markings with lines of energy converging on the orb.
My sisters, fellow Sirens. After discovering another with similar powers to mine, we stuck together, and agreed to find more with powers similar powers and to forma group, a sisterhood to stay together. I still remember her name, Lilith, then we met Maya, and Amara. There were four of us, and we could solve anything.
As Strix placed a hand on the wall, once again her chakra lit up the picture to cause the orb to glow and rotate as the energy from the women flowed into it. Each one a different colour, red for Nyriad, Purple for Maya, a Light Blue for Ava and Navy for Amara. She could feel the picture once again, with a familiar scent of sea, this time she could feel the town around her was rebuilt, developed into a fishing port. It was the same one that had been under attack in the last picture. Dhaka seemed to have a history with being a fishing port now thanks to Nyriad protecting it with her sisters. As strix moved on to the last wall, she had a sudden strange feeling she wasnt alone. There was another presence within the walls that wasnt her or the spirit, that caused her to look around. She couldnt see anything except the soft glowing orb. Shaking it off she turned to the last wall, that depicted Nyriad before a great beast, four legged as it breathed fire at her and her shielding herself in an orb. As before she once again placed her hand on the final picture and saw the wall carving come to life, as the beast breathed a fire at Nyriad and her ancestor leaping into the beast.
Ah yes, my fall, and last stand. It was at this point when I fought the great Eridian Beast, it would be my last battle. A creature form from some strange chakra and ninjutsu creation it had an enormous resistance to chakra, able to fully eat most anything thrown at it. My sisters who had travelled to other lands to care for problems while I stayed here in Dhaka. The beast rose from the mountain, in this very plain and thus why this tomb was originally created for its creation. The source of our power is the Cosmos compressed into a tiny little seed, that is within each of us. This gives us our powers, effectively the entire cosmos at our disposable. While the Eridian Beast may have been able to devour anything, it still had a limit to how much. I forced it to swallow me, and while inside the beast I unleashed everything I had, which cost me to lose most of my power. With the last of my strength I created this tomb and its guardians to protect its secrets. I see now my successor has come once again.
Something was off, Guardians... Strix had fought only one so far, and now it all made sense the second presence that Strix had felt. With a seconds notice something had dropped on top of her, while it took a swipe at Strix neck with an elongated claw.
Youuu... shouldnt be hereee.... chk..chk...
It looked insect like, and a voice that appropriately matched it with clicks and reverbing voice like an insect chirp, as it lunged once again towards Strix causing her to throw up a hand to erupt a barrier of Cosmic Chakra. The claw clashed with it, causing it to stop immediately, and clicking looking towards the barrier.
Another Sssssiren....chk..chk...
Im here as part of my clan, you serve them do you not?
The firefly jumped upwards in a flash, its speed incredible, appearing on the other side of Strix while it took another swipe at its isolated prey.
I answer only to the master, She is the only one....chk..chk....
Strix needed to think of a way to stop this creature, it was clearly much faster than her, and also a relic of her past life, she had more questions she wanted to ask it.
I am the next incarnate of Nyriad, you will obey me!
Strix yelled at the creature, sounding much braver than she felt, and praying that it may listen at the call of its masters name.
You may have her mark, but you do not look like her, you are not her!
The creature backed away, melding into the shadows and seemingly disappeared. This wasn't good, Strix tried to concentrate to listen to the sounds of the creature walking around. Something click clacked on the right of her, his footsteps as it walked around. Strix thought about what she could do. It was risky, and she didnt want to cause a collapse, but it might be the only way. Compressing her Cosmic chakra into her palm, she slammed it down on the floor causing a small wave of chakra to push everything back and with a sharp thump, she felt her chakra hit the creature as it crept behind her, throw it back into the wall.
No... What... My masters... touch... chk..chk...
It hesitated giving a Strix an opportunity to turn it to her cause.
My name is Strix of Pergamon, and you will obey me. I am the incarnate of your master Nyriad, and your loyalty lies with me. Follow me or be left here in the tomb forever...
Strix once again bluffed, hoping that everything she had picked up might be able to sway the creature to follow her without having to fight it.
The creature hesitated, weighing up his options. Either more chance to get out of the tomb and protect the newest incarnate of Nyriad, or to wait here till the next one comes along. The previous Incarnates never invited him... only leaving him here alone...
Very well young one, I will come along with you, as my master. I will follow.... chk..chk...
Strix smiled, letting out a little breath thankful that the creature could be made to her the better option. She had ended the fight without having to destroy or fight the creature, and thankfully, there was no blood shed.