And so... this chapter of my roleplay Ends, and Tzoli walks the Shores of the River Leath. She walks to the City Annwn to be judged.
She died happy.
This is her last goodbye.
The Western Gate
The large wooden doors extend fifteen feet up in height, each easily at
least eight feet in width. A large iron bar runs along the backs of the
door, ready to secure it closed against any forces outside, or simply to
lock up for the night. A smaller door is carved into the Northern of the
larger door, allowing folk to traverse through out into the plains with-
out having to open the larger heavy set doors. Two large ornate stone urns
mark the beginnings of a large and well traversed cobbled street that extends
out to the East.
[ Exits: north east south (west) ]
(x4) A corpse of a tall, gangly human is lying here.
Aanson, a wan-faced man is fighting a horribly deformed human!
Morhion, a horribly deformed human is fighting a wan-faced man!
You shimmer into existance..
"I never doubted your love." Aanson smiles sadly, and all his kha turns to mere mist, as he abandons his attempt at healing. "But whatever it is that Ylessa saw in you...it must have died along with her." He draws the dagger from his belt, and holds it out towards Morhion. "No more games. Abandon this madness, now, and return to the Seven. I..." His eyes widen, and he looks over at Tzoli.
Tzoli smiles brightly from over her corpse and waves her hand. Her hair is loose, waving about her head as if there is a light breeze. "Stop it. I'm leaving now. I'm going to be judged. Stop it... no regrets. No regrets." She brings her hand to her lips and kisses them before moving her hand outward. "Don't cry..."
Morhion as Aanson looks over at Tzoli so does he.
You think to yourself: 'One regret... just one. That I was too cowardly to say anything while I was alive. That I was too cowardly to tell you... to kiss you. I'm a coward, but I have no regrets, I protected you, so I have no regrets. I'm going to my mother now... to my father. To Annwn. I have no fear anymore. No regrets.'
"Tzoli..." Morhion is instantly forgotten, though Aanson still holds out his dagger. "I...Tzoli...!" He cannot quite seem to string words together. "Not...don't you go, too..."
Tzoli smiles softly and looks down at her corpse. She chuckles, lifting a hand to her mass of hair. "No regrets... this was my Fate. I told you it was my fate. Balor showed me. I was ready. I... wasn't meant for this world anymore. I never belonged. I was always out of place... in between. I'm going now... going to get judged by the Gods." She smiles softly and reaches a hand out. "You're strong. Stronger than me."
Morhion grows quiet for a moment before..his claw-like hand is still in a fighting position, before he pulls something out of his bag: a worn pieace of parchment. His words are strung along as he speaks, "My Beloved...I was going to give this to you...I dropped it from my bag...and found it once again...I was making a present for you...a late birthday present...I told you I'd finish it remember...? You were so happy when I told you..." his hand shakes gently.
"No I'm not," Aanson murmurs, touching his fingertips to Tzoli's. He shivers as fingers merely pass -through- hers. He glances over at Morhion, but only for a second, before his attention is on Tzoli again. "I don't believe it," he murmurs. "This...this wasn't. Not here. Not yet."
Morhion grow silent again...the fight slowly being drained from his eye as the emotion of the lose hits him once again..
"I didn't mean to lie to you Aanson. I didn't want to come back and give you a haunt, but I also didn't want to lie to you. I promised you I would tell you what I was thinking yesterday. I promised and I didn't tell you because I'm a coward." Tzoli reaches her hand up to Aanson's cheek, but is unable to touch it. "I'm a coward... like you said you were a coward. I understand now. I do. Its clear in my head. For the first time... clear." She smiles at Aanson. "Thank you... for the day when you held me. It meant a lot to me. No one ever... I'm sorry I'm a coward."
"Don't be," Aanson murmurs, a shiver running through him. "You're not. You're anything but." He slowly points over at Tzoli's corpse, but does not look at it. "The proof is right there. And right here, in front of me." He forces a weak smile, "You...you sound different."
Tzoli looks upward and smiles, hugging her arms around her torso. "I gotta make sure yah kin undarstand whah I'm sayin." She says, looking back with a wink. She laughs, her voice bright, soft, strangely serene. "I have no regrets any longer. I've serve my God and my friends." She looks over to Morhion and smiles. "Morhion, become a man again. You don't need me for that. You're like the father I never had." She turns back to Aanson. "And you... I... I've never felt peace like I did with you. When the times are hard, call on me and I'll try to be with you."
Aanson rubs at the corner of his eyes, wiping away moisture. "You...seem happier, now." His forced smiled becomes a bit more genuine, but he seems to be on the verge of some sort of breakdown. "Know that I'll think of you. Wherever it is you go. Balor, or...or elsewhere." He slowly sheaths his dagger, and sighs. "Thank you," he murmurs.
Tzoli touches her heart, then reaches out to Aanson again. "You'll find everything you ever wanted, I know it. You'll find everything... and you'll be happy. Alright?" She smiles and takes a step to Aanson. "Trust in Them. Trust okay? Trust and maybe in the next life we all be happy together. All of us. My mum, you, me, Zarika, Lia, Niko, Rylian... everyone. We'll all be happy in the next life."
Morhion rumages through his bag and removes the entire parchment as he listens as Aanson converces with Tzoli who he cannot see.
"I will." Aanson says, hunching over and very much looking his age. "I will. But...but..." His smile begins to fade, "When it is...my time, I do not think She will allow me to join you." He begins to hold out a hand, but perhaps realizing Tzoli's condition, he soon brings it back. "You, though. You will be happy."
Morhion walks over to Tzoli's body his form now covered once again and he lays a piece of parchment on her bloodied chest...his voice is low at first until he begins to say something obviously known quite well...
"It will be fine. We'll all be together. I've been good enough for the both of us. I shine." Tzoli laughs and nods once. "I'll stand up fer yah." She flexes her ethereal arm and grins birghtly. "I love you Aanson. I didn't mean to. It was an accident you know. You're the best thing that ever happened to me and I didn't get enough time. But... it's alright. I trust in the Gods, this was meant to be. I'm glad I could protect you... I want you to live and be happy. I want you to live."
"I warned you, you know," Aanson says quietly, and he can't hold back the tears any longer. He does not sob, but they flow, nonetheless. "I told you this would happen." He chuckles bitterly, "Thank you, Tzoli. I suppose that's all I can do, now. Live."
Tzoli begins to fade from sight, "Take care of the children for me. Tell them a good story. Tell them I was brave and I was strong to the end." She smiles, "I'll miss them all. My rings... sell them and give the money to the orphanage. And my hammer... well, sacrifice it to Balor for me. Sacrifice it for me." She laughs. "You didn't do this. I did. I did this. not you. Don't you ever blame yourself. This is who I am. A warrior to the end. I had to fight. You know I had to. You know that I had no choice. Maybe The Gods will be kind to me at my judgement." She smiles and walks forward to Aanson. "I should have been dead ages ago. I was blessed that I lived long enough to meet you. People like me aren't meant for the world.."
"...I shall never forget you my Beloved....never..." Morhion's claw-like hands begin to tremble, and as he finishes he turns around slowly and walks towards the Eastern Gates leaving...allowing Aanson to speak with her spirit. His movements are shambled. His body shows of one lost; lost to everything.
Tzoli waves to Aanson, brushing her ethereal lips over his lips. "I love you. Don't be sad for me. I'm happy now. I dead and now I'm happy. I've lived my purpose." She smiles. "I know you can be strong. I know you'll find peace... I'll be here..." She brushes her hand over Aanson's heart. "I promise. Don't lose yourself and you'll find happiness."
On the Far Shore of Death
A low, gray sky like a leaden shroud covers this unreal land, illuminated at
the edges of visibiliy as if, in this sky, there were no sun; the glow of
everlasting and colourless twighlight simply exists, suffused with the air
itself. It, the spectral light, casts a dreary peace on fine, white sand
beneath - the shore of a spaceless sea, molten lead itself and lapping
eternally with hushed waves, the river of death. You, yourself, are formless,
but not alone; there are others that can be felt, but not seen. To sight,
there is only the sky above, the sand beneath, the sea behind, and ahead: only
ethereal fog, an expanse of nothingness.
You think to yourself: 'I am ready now. I am ready to go now. Morhiag... Balor... Gods... take me. Keep them happy without me. I am ready to be judged as you will.'
A Clearing Within the Woods
The woods break at this mound of earth that gradually rises to a height of
three feet above the rest of the forest floor. Its top is covered by a thick
mass of healthy green knee-high grass. The occasional spots of red and blue
can be seen amongst the grass, their presence providing the area with a
pleasant scent. Towards the centre of the clearing, the ground looks trampled
and as one examines more closely, it appears as if this area may of been used
for training at one point; discarded broken hilts, scraps of shields and other
remnants seen lying amongst the grass.
A few spots of blood pepper the ground here.
The corpse of a svelte young man is lying here.
A large lily, with shimmering pearl like petals lies here.
(x3) Stalks of brightly coloured wild flowers peek up from amongst the grass.
A short, plump woman with wrinkles speaking of her age is standing slighty away from the group, wondering what to do..
A tall, young man with a somewhat effeminate leanness kneels, staring in horror at Bjar, whose life bleeds out onto the field.
A tall, blonde-haired man with eyes the color of ice is kneeling a short distance from a svelete man.
"LEAVE!" Tzoli shouts, looking up at the people still present. She grips the dagger in her hand and throws it at a nearby tree. "Get out of here!!"
a tall, young man pauses, looking back, obviously reluctant to leave. He turns around, and, after a moment of opening his mouth and choking, he sputters out, quietly, in a voice scraped raw. "But, Tzoli... What should we do to honor him? What should we do with his body?" He speaks slightly fearfully, clearly afraid to upset her further.
a tall, blonde-haired man pauses, his gaze turning towards a tall, young man, "Come with me recruit," he more or less orders, the light now being lifted to cast it's bluish glow over the area, his blood soaked hands not seeming to have any affect on the item. "His sacrifice in itself was honorable. Let Tzoli honor him in private," that said he turns to leave, not looking back to see if the others follow him or not.
a tall, young man looks at a tall, blonde-haired man, pausing, still hesitant, but finally nods. "Yes, sir." He turns one last, sad glance toward Tzoli, before moving to follow a tall, blonde-haired man away from the clearing, moving slowly, as though carrying a burden on his shoulders.
a short, plump woman turns to leave, "Perhaps we should honor her wishes, and leave this place now. Melchoir will be proud of his sacrifice, and this place will be his as long as we remember. For now, we should go, and let him find peace."
Tzoli closes her eyes, her whole body shaking as she grips her now empty hand into a fist, opening the earlier wound. She opens her eyes and looks down at the body, gritting her teeth. Her face twists into a wretched expression, making her seem even uglier than normal.
A tall, blonde-haired man starts to walk east.
A short, plump woman starts to walk east.
A tall, young man starts to walk east.
A tall, blonde-haired man walks east.
A tall, young man walks east.
A short, plump woman walks east.
Tzoli looks down and kicks the body. "Stupid! Stupid Stupid STUPID!" She rams her foot into the body again and again. Rage on her face. "Stupid LIAR! I HATE YOU!" Soon her boot is covered in blood and gore as she takes her rage out on the body. "You PROMISED ME! You stupid liar! I'll Never fergive You! NEVER!"
"COWARD! Stupid COWARD LIAR!" Tzoli rams her other foot into the body now. "You were my friend. I loved you! Why? I love you..." She falls to her knees, no longer able to lift her legs. Brings her hands to her eyes, dropping her hammer. After a moment, her face twists again and she rams her hand into the ground.
You think to yourself: 'Gods... why? Why this? *anguish* Why now? When I only just realized. I knew he would never love me, I knew, but why take him away like this? Why save me and not save him? Why save someone as worthless and stupid as me? Why save me so many times and take him? I don't understand this. I'm not this strong. I want to be.... I don't want to break anymore... I don't want to go away.'
You think to yourself: 'Balor... why couldn't I save him? Why? Why couldn't I move? Why couldn't I do this? Are my sins that great? Are they that horrible?'
You think to yourself: '*focus* I didn't deserve him anyway. I wasn't strong enough. *acceptance* I'm sorry Bjar. I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough to save you. I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough. I'll get stronger for you... I'll get stronger.'
You think to yourself: 'May Morhiag take you into Annwn and may you find the happiness I couldn't give you... may you find the peace. May you find the loving arms of your family. Say hello to my mum for me. Tell her I love her and I'm trying really hard down here still.'
You think to yourself: 'I'll see that your family knows what happened. I'll take this body to them. Maybe they won't hate me. *frustration* *overwhelming grief* Why is it always after I realize that I love them? Why then? Why do they have to die then?'
The Duty Office
This clean office contains a very large desk that has been set before the
southern wall, facing the northern doorway, the only means to enter or exit the
room. Sat behind the desk is a large, comfortable looking leather chair, the
leather seems worn by use, but retains much of its rich burgundy colour.
Hanging besides the doorway is a tapestry that almost reaches from floor to
ceiling, judging by the still vibrant colours it is a relatively new addition
to the room's decor. The floor is carpeted; the plush fibers dyed a deep
cardinal. A small fireplace set into the eastern wall, its generous light
joining with the rich, warm colours to create a very cozy feeling, breathes
warmth into the room.
[ Exits: north ]
A cozy and warm fireplace is imbedded into the wall.
A large desk of polished oak is here.
A tall, blonde-haired man with eyes the color of ice is standing here.
You walk south dragging a massive hammer along the ground.
A tall, blonde-haired man closes the door.
Tzoli shrugs slightly as a tall, blonde-haired man speaks, offering no words of her own in return. She sighs heavily, "Err yah gunna burn me?" she asks after a moment. "If yer gunna... I suggest yah tie me down... cuz.. cuz.. cuz I dunno whah I'll do ifn ayah dun." She says softly, her words stuttering and stammering out of her.
A tall, blonde-haired man gently closes the door once Tzoli is through. Slowly he turns back towards her, "I'm going to have to brand you with that," he motions to an iron brand in the corner. "As for tying you down, there's nothing here that will allow me to do such, but, I could put you to sleep magically if you'd prefer," he offers, as of yet making no move towards the fire or the brand next to it.
Tzoli lifts her hammer and holds it out to a tall, blonde-haired man, the massive thing glinting softly with the firelight against it. The rune carved handle it burnished and dark where it looks to be h