We rejoin Brother Scatach's story moments before he makes the decision to answer the call that has been haunting him for so long. The memory of his fallen wife... the torment he has injured has become all too much. He will ride to its source to confront the people behind his visions... to kill them all...?
This afternoon I will ride for Khemi. I shall give him an him an answer. I shall kill him, for there is no other path I can take. No matter what he promises, I must not falter in this task. He will use his dark arts against me but I must stand firm, an unmovable mountain in his path. I know he is a powerful priest of Set and a dangerous opponent, but I trust in the strength of my body and my mind. I must step forth and teach this Stygian the meaning of Cimmerian steel.
*Journals end*
I had rode hard along the roads of the wild lands of Zelata, crossing valley and vale until I arrived at the City of Tarantia. The majestic skyline of Aqualonia's finest city towered above me and grew in size as I approached. I had this ever growing feeling of malevolence inside me that grew stronger and stronger as I approached the City, a dark force upon my shoulders weighed heavily upon me. It willed me to ride on disregarding my natural instinct for danger.
It was there that I met with the one called Nayazera a high priestess of Khemi and one of the Stygians I had spoke with previously. From within her hooded robe I could see her smile with a smirk across her face. I have been expecting you northerner she spoke.
I took the opportunity to compose myself and settle Sleipnir my horse who had become agitated near the priestess. He could sense the danger that I could not or at least had become suppressed from within me.
Her eyes and gaze followed me as I found myself dismounting from my horse, though it was not of my own free will that I took that action. Then like a thousand voices speaking from within my mind I heard a single clear voice above all bidding me to speak with the serpent priestess.
I don't know what happened next, but a faint voice again spoke, I heard it as if it were a whisper, though I know not what it said. I seemed to regain my composure and looked again at the priestess with my own eyes and mind. Pass a message to your "prophet" snake,I said. Tell him that I have an answer for him. I smiled inside myself for I had this image of striking him down, and carrying his head to Fearghal an Dun and placing it on one of the many skull poles outside the keep.Nayazera smiled too thinking I was still under the dark magic. She said that she hoped that I had made the right decision. Little did she know! Within this thought I found new strength in myself, as if the old me had returned once more, something that I have not felt for quite a while.
For the next ten minutes I traded insults with the Stygian, but as time passed I felt a power emanating from her and I found myself less reluctant to insult her, but instead I began to ask her questions. I sought knowledge from her, I wished to understand her words. I found her intriguing and seductive. She looked down on me as if I was a dog, and I found myself trying to prove to her my value,not only to her, but her prophet and to Set!
Not long after that she departed and I was left feeling empty. I was angry at myself and confused.Why should I seek or want to be part of what her prophet offered? He was only using me to gain for himself.I knew this at the back of my mind.
I mounted Sleipnir and continued at walking pace into Tarantia, crossing through the Lions gate as I went. I admired the armour and weapons of the guards. The soft whispering voice returned in my mind. Fleeting images of my wife ran through my head and shortly afterwards I found myself in the Temple of Mitra.I know not why, as I am not a person of faith. My faith is in the axe, the sword, the thrill of combat and the blood lust of battle, not of distant gods and their games with mortals. Mitra's Temple seemed somehow comfortable. I felt a warm presence there, as if I was been guided by an unseen hand. Walking out to the gardens behind the temple I found myself a secluded spot near a tree and sat beneath it. The words rest now sounded in my head, and I slipped into a deep silent sleep. It had been many a moon since I last slept like that. With no dreams or images to haunt me, I slept like a baby in its mothers arms. Of all places for a Cimmerian to find comfort, it was here that I felt warm. It was here that I felt safe.
Hours passed and I finally awoke to some noise and commotion caused by two priests in heated discussion on Set and Mitra. I took my moment to leave and walked down the temple steps and on to the city streets of Tarantia. Thoughts of the day again surfaced in my mind and I again began to feel distant and confused. I had spent some time at the traders when I again heard his voice in my head.It was softly spoken but full of evil. Come to me my child, he spoke. I am waiting for you in Khemi. Come and see me for it is the will of Set! With that I took Sleipnir from the stables, mounted and rode with haste to Khemi, to him and to end this game once and for all.
My journey was long and uncomfortable. I have never felt such a will do something like this. Several times I stopped along the way, resting for water and food and to give my horse a break. The dessert heat was making him tired. It was making us both tired. Every time we rested I felt uneasy as if the very dessert itself was watching me. A cobra slid past not too far from where I was sitting and even though I wanted to kill it as it slid closer I found myself unable to take any action. I just sat there staring at it. I knew soon that I would be at my journeys end. Another hour or so and I would be in Khemi...
It was late in the evening, when I finally arrived at my destination. Khemi was glowing red in the evening sun. The dried sandstone brickwork flaked and crumbled on its walls. There were snakes and idols to snakes everywhere I went. Truly this land was the birthplace of evil itself. How people could sacrifice themselves to a snake god was beyond my comprehension. I made my way through the narrow dusty streets. The smell of animal dung hung heavy in the heat. Flies swarmed all about and people starred with a menace towards me. I put these things behind me as I made my way to the Purple Carp Tavern. It was here I would meet him, I somehow knew that.
It was in the back of that tavern that I finally came face to face with the Prophet Imoteph. His face was uncovered unlike the last time we spoke but he still radiated that controlling trance like aura.He was with two other priests, the one I had met earlier in Tarantia, the preistess Nayazera and another one called Suikon. They sat relaxed on the floor and did not seem uneasy with my presence. I was no threat to them and they knew it. We meet again he said, now come tell me what answer you have for me my child.His eyes remained fixated upon me all the while, and even though I felt an evil I yet remained calm. My hand fumbled and trembled as I tried to withdraw my axe and eventually they grasped nothing at all except air. Slowly they returned to their sides. From the corner of my eye I could see Nayazera smile widely as her master asserted his dark influence upon me.
I shall do as you ask my lord. I knelled before him and offered myself to the will of Set. The others laughed smiling through their serpent eyes. This is good my child, and Set will reward those who are faithful to him. You shall have as you desire but first you must do something for me, something for Set.
As he spoke his list of demands, I listened to his words. There was no tone of hate in those words, just soft spoken and caring. I obeyed like an eager servant. Now I was the lapdog of Imoteph, one who would be his eyes and ears in the Northern lands. He promised me to send her to me in a vision to speak with me, but he must first prepare a powerful and ancient ritual that I must take part in.
My great lord would do this for me, his humble servant! This is surely a great blessing! For Set himself to take me within his great coils. Yesss this is what I have wanted. From now on Set will guide my path!
Story written by Scatache, Clan Fearghal
www.clanfearghal.com
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