Urei
04-15-08, 04:43 PM
In the old days, the village of Sakura was a peaceful and quiet place. All of the townsfolk knew each other by first names, and felt comfortable with each other. The worst that had ever happened to this calm settlement that lay amongst gentle rolling hills was a flood. Even then, the towns people had banded together and worked day and night to recover what was lost. It had made them stronger, and at the time they thought it proved they could withstand anything thrown at them. Their current mayor, John Sterin, brooded in his study, and he knew they had been horribly wrong.
Only a few weeks ago a strange visitor had entered their village, seeking out the guidance of the fabled Order of Silence that resided there. All the citizens had thought the man was there to either join or make trouble, and regarded him with suspicion, but they could not forsake their traditions, and they let him into their tavern and gave him the hospitality he paid for. Questions were constantly asked about the Order, responded to only by a sigh or a shrug, with no information easily given. On his first night of the visit, he was treated by the appearance of three members of the Order, who laid in wait in his room. The men spoke for a long time, explaining their expertise in the slaying of demons of all kind, and how they did not often show their faces so to protect their identities from the clever beasts. Those with family risked their lives every time they fought another of the creatures, and did so knowingly. It was this that kept them one of the strongest and most efficient demon slaying guilds alive.
The man refused forthwith to join, and left the town that morning.
John thought it was another curious traveler, who in the end had been too afraid to join their secret society. Again, he was wrong.
That following day played out as any that had come before it, simple grooming of the crops, making of weapons, sharpening of skills. The sun rose, and it fell, and nothing of significance appeared to have occurred. Yet, as that golden orb that rules human lives rose next, half of their children had died horribly in their sleep. Bled from every orifice, and taken swiftly by a destructive and disgusting disease, the townspeople were shocked. It did not end there, for their young and fresh crops wilted in the fields, most of their livelihood annihilated. All across their land, for a mile around, that which had been new and fresh that spring was struck down by plague.
Every day it grew worse.
Many travelers and heroes came and disappeared, some trying to save the village, others attempting to take what they could from the ravaged people.
Then, a stranger arrived, cloaked in mystery and darkness, and murmurs of a demon spread.
- - -
“Echo, are you sure you want to be here? I’m not exactly one for helping the innocent myself, I also don’t feel like dying. Haven’t you noticed that there is a plague running rampant, I mean, plagues mean stuff dies. You CAN die, you know.”
Chuckling, Echo nodded to his small companion Lauri. It was true that the area was very slowly wilting away, but he had no fear that he was at threat. At least, for now. For Echo was an intelligent being, and he had already from his investigations of the townspeople discerned a pattern among the death and disease. Finding it a prime time to share, he kindly departed the knowledge on his friend.
“Lauri, my dear, it starts with the young and moves to the old. Those above twenty still survive without even a hint of disease in this village. I have lived much longer than any human that resides here, and thus I would be the last to die. I think we have naught to worry about.”
A defeated grumble was all he received in response. The tone of voice he used indicated he was not done speaking.
“But I also suspect there is more to this than a simple plague. Diseases don’t pick favorites, and not all the children die, nor all the crops. We shall investigate.”
“Your curiosity is going to be the death of you,” she replied, with an obvious wish for it to come true. It would be possible to find a more interesting host if she got rid of echo. Until then, she would have to deal with his insatiable want for knowledge. “We’re dead if it requires you fighting. Without your silly words, you’re as useful in a fist fight as a mole rat. If you want do figure this out, find a bodyguard first.”
Echo only grinned. “Of course, my dear. Of course. A suitable subject is on their way to Sakura as we speak.”
[[OOC: Closed, and pardon my writing if it's a bit rusty. It's been a year since I last wrote.]]
Only a few weeks ago a strange visitor had entered their village, seeking out the guidance of the fabled Order of Silence that resided there. All the citizens had thought the man was there to either join or make trouble, and regarded him with suspicion, but they could not forsake their traditions, and they let him into their tavern and gave him the hospitality he paid for. Questions were constantly asked about the Order, responded to only by a sigh or a shrug, with no information easily given. On his first night of the visit, he was treated by the appearance of three members of the Order, who laid in wait in his room. The men spoke for a long time, explaining their expertise in the slaying of demons of all kind, and how they did not often show their faces so to protect their identities from the clever beasts. Those with family risked their lives every time they fought another of the creatures, and did so knowingly. It was this that kept them one of the strongest and most efficient demon slaying guilds alive.
The man refused forthwith to join, and left the town that morning.
John thought it was another curious traveler, who in the end had been too afraid to join their secret society. Again, he was wrong.
That following day played out as any that had come before it, simple grooming of the crops, making of weapons, sharpening of skills. The sun rose, and it fell, and nothing of significance appeared to have occurred. Yet, as that golden orb that rules human lives rose next, half of their children had died horribly in their sleep. Bled from every orifice, and taken swiftly by a destructive and disgusting disease, the townspeople were shocked. It did not end there, for their young and fresh crops wilted in the fields, most of their livelihood annihilated. All across their land, for a mile around, that which had been new and fresh that spring was struck down by plague.
Every day it grew worse.
Many travelers and heroes came and disappeared, some trying to save the village, others attempting to take what they could from the ravaged people.
Then, a stranger arrived, cloaked in mystery and darkness, and murmurs of a demon spread.
- - -
“Echo, are you sure you want to be here? I’m not exactly one for helping the innocent myself, I also don’t feel like dying. Haven’t you noticed that there is a plague running rampant, I mean, plagues mean stuff dies. You CAN die, you know.”
Chuckling, Echo nodded to his small companion Lauri. It was true that the area was very slowly wilting away, but he had no fear that he was at threat. At least, for now. For Echo was an intelligent being, and he had already from his investigations of the townspeople discerned a pattern among the death and disease. Finding it a prime time to share, he kindly departed the knowledge on his friend.
“Lauri, my dear, it starts with the young and moves to the old. Those above twenty still survive without even a hint of disease in this village. I have lived much longer than any human that resides here, and thus I would be the last to die. I think we have naught to worry about.”
A defeated grumble was all he received in response. The tone of voice he used indicated he was not done speaking.
“But I also suspect there is more to this than a simple plague. Diseases don’t pick favorites, and not all the children die, nor all the crops. We shall investigate.”
“Your curiosity is going to be the death of you,” she replied, with an obvious wish for it to come true. It would be possible to find a more interesting host if she got rid of echo. Until then, she would have to deal with his insatiable want for knowledge. “We’re dead if it requires you fighting. Without your silly words, you’re as useful in a fist fight as a mole rat. If you want do figure this out, find a bodyguard first.”
Echo only grinned. “Of course, my dear. Of course. A suitable subject is on their way to Sakura as we speak.”
[[OOC: Closed, and pardon my writing if it's a bit rusty. It's been a year since I last wrote.]]