Spreading his paints before him once more he new that this was going to be a challenge for him. Ever since he had learned this bizarre technique from the elder witch woman. The power to travel between places and times through the canvas, the pains he had suffered to keep it hidden from all who would steal this gift from him. Doing what he must do. Sighing heavily he picked up his brush once more and let the scene unfold before him.
He had gone back to her for tutelage several times, until he could no longer afford to pay her heavy fees. For it was more than mere gold and jewels that she sought out. She demanded payment in secrets and souls. It was there in her remote village that he had learned the ancient mystical art that could be contained briefly within paintings and forever within tapestries. Day and night he slaved for a dozen new moons, gathering her supplies and learning her ways until she was satisfied that he had it right. Only then did she allow him to leave knowing that he would be back, filled with the desire for more and the loathing of the price to be paid.
However It was also from her that he learned more about what he was and how he could get around that which he hated the most. How he could keep his victims alive and feed for a year and a day, a secret he dared not to share with the others lest they drive him out to walk naked amongst the cattle. The memories of lifetimes past flowed through him, some causing grief and pain others joy ,tearing him in twain for what he was and what he had become. He knew that he could no more change what he was than to turn back the tide of time and thusly he carried on from day to day.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Solulus secrets
The land of the Shadow King, a place filled with nothing but illusions and mystery. What is there today may not be tomorrow, it may not even be there when you turn around. Some say that it is the land of the Vampire Lord, and others say that they are one in the same person. Though no one has ever seen the two of them and lived. No one was really sure why this was. there is an official doorway Anywhere you know where to look. The trouble of course is knowing where to look.
Solulus has made this trip several times in the past and over the last several hundred years has mapped out all 77 of the gateways. Several of the people he had gotten the locations from had only given the information up upon their deaths and this information haunted him much in the same way that all of the other lives that he had taken over the many many years. Now that he had all of the locations he needed to store them someplace that would be impossible to find. Thinking for a moment, he smiled to himself and set about his villa gathering supplies and setting up his easel.
When most people look at paintings they say that it takes them places. For Solulus this was actually true, sometimes he was bothered by the fact that you could only make two trips. But perhaps things where better that way. Quickly finishing his work he stepped through into the corner of a crowded bar.
Pulling back the hood of his cloak, Solulus bellowed
"Josua I know you're here you old prairie coyote you!" and tromped down the stairs towards the noise.
"Solie, you old sneak thief you, how did you know I was here?, Wait don't answer that, I do not want to know. But I do know that you owe me a drink!"
Chuckling to himself"That I do, my friend. Barkeep A couple of pints if you would please." the barkeep looked at Solulus "When did you get here?"
"Oh I've been here for a few hours you remember."
"Oh right, Here are your drinks, just let me know if you need anything else."
Grabbing the ale and heading to the table Josua piped my "My friend the years have not been kind to you have they, what have you been up to?"
"Oh this and that, traveling a a lot and you're right the years have not been kind to me. How many years has it been now?"
"Oh let me see Five or Six now? Since just after the time we went after the Barbarians, remember when they kidnapped the Sultan's daughter. You know she had quite the crush on you, pity she died the day of her homecoming celebration."
"Yes Pity that. Listen friend I need to entrust you with something very important."
"Hah, What did you steal this time Solulus?"
"No, no, I didn't steal anything, I just came across a bit of information that I can't let anyone else know about, so please friend for old times sakes?"
"OK friend I can do this for you."
Solulus handed over the map and finished his drink."Unfortunately I must leave. my ride leaves in a few minutes I hate to drink and run. I will come back and we can talk more I promise."
"Don't worry Solie, I will keep this safe for you, you have my word."
With that Solulus Ran back up the stairs and leaped through the painting again, as he did so he felt it crumble to dust behind him. Ah good just in time he thought to himself Now what to do with the rest of my day.
Solulus has made this trip several times in the past and over the last several hundred years has mapped out all 77 of the gateways. Several of the people he had gotten the locations from had only given the information up upon their deaths and this information haunted him much in the same way that all of the other lives that he had taken over the many many years. Now that he had all of the locations he needed to store them someplace that would be impossible to find. Thinking for a moment, he smiled to himself and set about his villa gathering supplies and setting up his easel.
When most people look at paintings they say that it takes them places. For Solulus this was actually true, sometimes he was bothered by the fact that you could only make two trips. But perhaps things where better that way. Quickly finishing his work he stepped through into the corner of a crowded bar.
Pulling back the hood of his cloak, Solulus bellowed
"Josua I know you're here you old prairie coyote you!" and tromped down the stairs towards the noise.
"Solie, you old sneak thief you, how did you know I was here?, Wait don't answer that, I do not want to know. But I do know that you owe me a drink!"
Chuckling to himself"That I do, my friend. Barkeep A couple of pints if you would please." the barkeep looked at Solulus "When did you get here?"
"Oh I've been here for a few hours you remember."
"Oh right, Here are your drinks, just let me know if you need anything else."
Grabbing the ale and heading to the table Josua piped my "My friend the years have not been kind to you have they, what have you been up to?"
"Oh this and that, traveling a a lot and you're right the years have not been kind to me. How many years has it been now?"
"Oh let me see Five or Six now? Since just after the time we went after the Barbarians, remember when they kidnapped the Sultan's daughter. You know she had quite the crush on you, pity she died the day of her homecoming celebration."
"Yes Pity that. Listen friend I need to entrust you with something very important."
"Hah, What did you steal this time Solulus?"
"No, no, I didn't steal anything, I just came across a bit of information that I can't let anyone else know about, so please friend for old times sakes?"
"OK friend I can do this for you."
Solulus handed over the map and finished his drink."Unfortunately I must leave. my ride leaves in a few minutes I hate to drink and run. I will come back and we can talk more I promise."
"Don't worry Solie, I will keep this safe for you, you have my word."
With that Solulus Ran back up the stairs and leaped through the painting again, as he did so he felt it crumble to dust behind him. Ah good just in time he thought to himself Now what to do with the rest of my day.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
The Vampire Story So Far
Solulus gazed out the inn as he carried the freshly drained corpses to the bed and tucked them almost lovingly for their last sleep. "They weren't important" he told himself, as he often did after such events. trying to soothe his troubled conscience. "Are you done yet?" came the seductive voice from the doorway. Solulus smiled softly as he walked slowly and purposely from the bedroom. " We do have places to be this night good sir." Purred Aidara "And why do you follow such a silly ritual anyway? It is almost as if you where afraid of something, or perhaps you are ashamed of your proud heritage." Solulus quickly scoffed at her last remark and brushed past her. " come we are nearly late." and leaped of the porch his wings beating against the night air. Aidara smirked at his response and gracefully flew after him into the darkness.
There was a time he didn't have to do this Solulus thought as he sailed through the firmament, the night slipping noiselessly past him. That was before he was "Awakened" as his teacher put it. He glanced back at Aidara, who always seemed to be a few steps behind him no matter what he did to try and encourager her. Solulus knew how good she could be he had seen it when he had chosen her to be his student, he thought sorrowfully.
That day both joyous and sorrowful for him marked the official end of his training and he had inherited his first keep from one of the elders. However it had meant that he had to take his first student, ruin someone else's life for the betterment of the legion. he had tried to select someone who wouldn't be missed, but no one can control everything. And no one would know how the new power would affect someone, there was only time and training. Solulus saw the temple through the fog below him and smiled wickedly. Folding his wings behind him he plummeted down beside the bell tower leaning majestically beside one of the many ancient gargoyles. calling out to Aidara, a single thought echoed through her mind " Where are you going child?" Startled she struggled to stop and try and find her teacher, " You need to be better prepared dear Aidara" Solulus told her.
Later That Night
"Welcome Solulus, it has been a while since we have seen you here." whispered a silky voice from through the door that had opened to his left.
"This is why we can stop here Pupil." he smiled slyly." now hurry up before we are both late, for tardiness is not tolerated.
Ariana floated down softly to the peak of the old church, landing just inside the door as she was about to bow she was suddenly stuck in the chest and sent sprawling down the roof trying desperately to regain her balance, a handhold, anything to stop her fall into the darkness below, the echos of laughter filling her mind and her ears. "silly Impudent child they rang, all but one, that was strangely silent, and she knew instantly who it was, and could sense his disappointment in his student as she fell narrowly missing the outreaching downspouts and ironwork that adorned the rooftops.
She suddenly felt a force around her halting her and setting her gently on the street. Immediately Ariana leaped into the air and soared back towards the doorway. "What happened Master Solulus? I thought we could enter here." yes I can, did you not hear my invitation? I thought that I had been training you better than this, perhaps I should leave you here for a while, to guard the door. Unless of course you wish to try again." "Yes, of course sir, please I will not fail, you again this night.""You mean you will fail me another night? Are my efforts meaningless with you?"" just let my have one more chance I will not fail again, I promise." 'Very well, lets see if you can do better this time, and I should suggest that you hurry for I do believe the first rays of the sun can be seen on the horizon.."
the sun set quietly on the little farming village, it usually did this time of year when the winter's snow crunched under booted foot. Sven paused briefly in his chores to listen to the creaking of the treas and the dogs chasing the rabbits from their hidden Burroughs. Putting away his tools, he made his way carefully back to the house, where a warm fire and a good meal was sure to be waiting for him, he could almost smell the stew from here, or perhaps that was just his imagination.
Warped in his own thoughts he didn't hear the quiet rustling behind him, and noticed to late the heavy hand on his shoulder pushing him to the snow. Only darkness awaited him now.
There was a time he didn't have to do this Solulus thought as he sailed through the firmament, the night slipping noiselessly past him. That was before he was "Awakened" as his teacher put it. He glanced back at Aidara, who always seemed to be a few steps behind him no matter what he did to try and encourager her. Solulus knew how good she could be he had seen it when he had chosen her to be his student, he thought sorrowfully.
That day both joyous and sorrowful for him marked the official end of his training and he had inherited his first keep from one of the elders. However it had meant that he had to take his first student, ruin someone else's life for the betterment of the legion. he had tried to select someone who wouldn't be missed, but no one can control everything. And no one would know how the new power would affect someone, there was only time and training. Solulus saw the temple through the fog below him and smiled wickedly. Folding his wings behind him he plummeted down beside the bell tower leaning majestically beside one of the many ancient gargoyles. calling out to Aidara, a single thought echoed through her mind " Where are you going child?" Startled she struggled to stop and try and find her teacher, " You need to be better prepared dear Aidara" Solulus told her.
Later That Night
"Welcome Solulus, it has been a while since we have seen you here." whispered a silky voice from through the door that had opened to his left.
"This is why we can stop here Pupil." he smiled slyly." now hurry up before we are both late, for tardiness is not tolerated.
Ariana floated down softly to the peak of the old church, landing just inside the door as she was about to bow she was suddenly stuck in the chest and sent sprawling down the roof trying desperately to regain her balance, a handhold, anything to stop her fall into the darkness below, the echos of laughter filling her mind and her ears. "silly Impudent child they rang, all but one, that was strangely silent, and she knew instantly who it was, and could sense his disappointment in his student as she fell narrowly missing the outreaching downspouts and ironwork that adorned the rooftops.
She suddenly felt a force around her halting her and setting her gently on the street. Immediately Ariana leaped into the air and soared back towards the doorway. "What happened Master Solulus? I thought we could enter here." yes I can, did you not hear my invitation? I thought that I had been training you better than this, perhaps I should leave you here for a while, to guard the door. Unless of course you wish to try again." "Yes, of course sir, please I will not fail, you again this night.""You mean you will fail me another night? Are my efforts meaningless with you?"" just let my have one more chance I will not fail again, I promise." 'Very well, lets see if you can do better this time, and I should suggest that you hurry for I do believe the first rays of the sun can be seen on the horizon.."
the sun set quietly on the little farming village, it usually did this time of year when the winter's snow crunched under booted foot. Sven paused briefly in his chores to listen to the creaking of the treas and the dogs chasing the rabbits from their hidden Burroughs. Putting away his tools, he made his way carefully back to the house, where a warm fire and a good meal was sure to be waiting for him, he could almost smell the stew from here, or perhaps that was just his imagination.
Warped in his own thoughts he didn't hear the quiet rustling behind him, and noticed to late the heavy hand on his shoulder pushing him to the snow. Only darkness awaited him now.
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