The unmistakable rhythm of Keeper chanting rang out throughout the whole temple, permeating through every room and corridor. The central chamber housed dozens of sprints, suspended midair, singing ancient hymns in harmonious unison. Though there were two missing, absent from the chorus. They could be found in a room close to where the rest of the congregation was gathered. Both in their canticle-singing forms, they were delayed from what had originated as a simple conversion that had turned into a protracted discussion. They argued with each other for some time, missing the cantillation ritual entirely. There were two of them, distinct entities, one colored scarlet, the other turquoise, each shining with a vibrant and luminous glow which was customary for Keepers while in their invocation-giving configuration. They argued for some time, growing passionate and zealous in their attempts to reason with the other. Though it seemed the cyan one had lost its resolve, and began to falter in confidence of its position. This was noticed by the cerise one, who sought to deliver a final blow to the crumbling resolve of its opponent. It gleamed as it spoke, radiating with intense and concentrated energy. "Your hesitation is unfounded. We have discovered relics from interactions with alien species before, you all of all should know this. Why not simply make contact with the machines, if only to see what they know of the divine nature, and discern if they are aware of where potential relics may lie? What is the source of your reluctance?" The Legate looked up, seemingly snapping out of a trance. In truth he was now in total agreement with the Acquirer, though his thoughts dwelled on who he knew was most certainly not. He was privy to the peculiar bond that existed between the two, how it may cloud his judgment. Though he knew of their recent falling out, and then had a renewed faith in his master to make the right decision, the one of reason. For wasn't he not the brightest and most sensible of them all? "I myself am not hesitant, nor reluctant toward your proposal. For I concur with your reasoning. We should indeed establish contact with the constructs, find out what they know. See if they may be of some use to us."
Upon hearing this, the Acquirer seemed pleased, his form no longer pulsating with the fiery incandescent glow which frequently flared up when he was aggravated. He spoke of how content he was now that his friend was finally making some sort of sense. The Legate was happy as well, satisfied that he had indeed made the perceived right decision in siding with the Acquirer. The pair then ceased berating one another, and proceeded to move away from tiresome politics and told stories of their long and eventful past with each other. Laughter emanated from the room, as they exchanged stories of the past, reflecting on days and friends long gone. Though they were soon to be interrupted by a chorister who entered the room they were in, and informed the two of the ritual's end. Both Keepers glared at the chorister, then back at themselves. They were late. The Legate thanked the subordinate, who departed upon being dismissed. It appeared they had lost track of time within their lengthy discussion and were already late for the meeting in the Arboretum. And now that they were in agreement with another, both would depart knowing they could rely on each other if called to question on their position without having to defend themselves alone. They departed immediately, yet the travel to the meeting place took some time, and after awhile of traversing through space, they came across then upon the forested paradise. Not that either of them considered it as such, though. Rather they saw it as the miserable home of a useless being which possessed too much influence with the Precant, influence which would better be wielded by either of them. This envious outlook was in part overcome however by their appreciation for the place's remarkable beauty, which even they couldn't fully dismiss. The pair descended onto the world, not before transforming into corporal forms, which were more or less required while visiting this venue. They were granted entry into a colossal tree-like structure which loomed imposingly over the rest of the greenery, and began the long trek to the main chamber where the conference was said to be held. Winding stairways and countless hallways had to be traversed without use of teleportation, seemingly as a sign of reverence toward the inhabitants of this timbered edifice. Such caused great annoyance to the Legate and Acquirer, and even the beautiful allure of the scenery there could not mitigate their shared vexation.
The Arboretum
Fallen petals and leaves littered the floor of the hall. Vines hung a strewn about the walls and ceiling of the place, their twisted and knotted contortions blooming with vibrantly colored flowers. A fair, sweet, and familiar smell emitted from the many blossoms, casting a pleasant aroma over the place. On the other side of the hall, a large opening was carved out of the wall and one could look right through the bark, out to the immense forest below. It seemed to go on endlessly, stretching about the whole of the world. Though the view would be slightly obscured by long hanging vines which ran down the opening, hinting at the exterior of the structure being covered with them, much like as it was on the inside. From the opening a sharp and cool air blew into the interior of the place, causing flower petals and leaves to detach from the mass of verdure and flutter about for a moment, before descending down onto the ground. So too did the intrusive gusts of wind from the outside cause the foliage upon the ground to swirl around their resting place, as well as upon the feet of a lone man who stood in the middle of the corridor, peering out the aperture. The man's eyes were fixed upon a far-off lake glistening in the sunlight, nestled within the dense forest below. His fair hair blew freely in the breeze. It was unclear what he was thinking whilst staring at the lake, though whatever thoughts he dwelled on, they were soon to be interrupted by the approach of two more men making their way down the winding corridor. The first man remained looking out the opening, unmoving. The two newcomers, the Legate and Acquirer, halted before him, and bowed their heads in graceful unison. After this, the Legate spoke first.
"We were delayed by an especially passionate cantillation being concluded long after its expected time. It was not our intent to detain you, yet departing from an invocation before its end is considered to be sacrilegious, usually punishable by - " The speaker was then abruptly interrupted by the first man, who spoke while still staring out at the distant lake. The Legate had lied, a bold move, yet that was not what the man was concerned with. "I am well aware of the offense for leaving a ritual before its conclusion. Though when I send for someone, they are expected to forfeit all other present engagements and come straight to me." The man speaking would then cease staring out the window and look directly at the men who stood before him. "In a timely manner." The Legate and Acquirer then suddenly tensed up, quickly growing apprehensive. Though they were soon allayed when the first man smiled, and spoke in a more convivial tone. "No matter. Come along now, we're expected." He then turned and walked away, briskly traversing down the hall. The Legate and his companion hurriedly strode to catch up with him. The trio made their way down the long corridor, frequently stepping upon the fallen foliage that lied on the wooden ground. An opening to another room could be seen at the end of the hall, from whence a bright yellow light shined. After a short pause, the first man strutted through the entryway, and was overcome by the light. The trailing men hastily pursued him.
Upon entering the next room, and after adjusting to the newfound brightness, the men continued on their way, crossing an unsettlingly unstable bridge which lay over one of two streams that ran through the chamber. This place was vast and expansive, quite opposed to the series of narrow hallways the group had previously been in. Its walls of bark had been carved into, with huge whittled-out shapes letting a generous amount of sunlight into the environment. It appeared that dirt had been brought in to fill up much of the space, as the ground of the chamber was grassy, and supported many trees and shrubs. Much like the corridors leading to it, this room was covered in vegetation, from the many trees jutting from its soft soil, to the dense thickets of vines which clasped to its walls and roof. Though here were also plants previously yet unseen from any other parts of the structure. These were huge and fairly alien in their features, too glowing with a bright luminous shine, the very light which had been seen spilling out onto the hall. The peculiar radiating plants stood close to the banks of two rumbling brooks, their roots eagerly soaking up the nutrients which the waters provided. These streams entered the place by a set of waterfalls placed far back within the room, which originated from an unseen source.
At the point where the streams almost touched, there was an especially sizable tree, which had its roots in both brooks. Its base had been carved into, and within the hollow there appeared to be a seat, though its was nearly indistinguishable from the rest of the wood. Two figures rested upon it, within each other's loving embrace. A man and a women, both young and beautiful. The three men from before ambled up toward the two, climbing up a grassy hill thriving with flowers to get to them. Once the visitors made it to the space between the two streams, the enthroned couple ceased fixating on each other's faces and looked at the three men before them with newly blank expressions. The man in the lead of the group stepped forward, and addressed the pair. "Hortulan, it has been some time since we have met in person." One of the duo, the woman, responded genially. "It has, Precant. Know how it is indeed a pleasure to be graced by your presence." Seemingly just as the woman finished speaking, the man seated aside her also offered a reply. "Welcome to our abode, Legate and Acquirer." The two men flanking the Precant bowed together upon being addressed.
After a period of awkward silence, both members of the Hortulan laid their eyes upon the Precant, directing their full attention toward him. A breeze blew then into the chamber, rustling many trees and bushes. After it had passed, the woman again spoke. "We assume you are not here to simply catch up with us. What, may we ask, is the purpose of your visit?" The man smirked, then turned away and began pacing about on the isle. He talked while not directly looking at the Hortulan, much to their irritation. In his hand he held an indigo blossom, and he twirled its green stem between his fingers as he responded. "Well, I was recently approached by a group of disciples who had discovered a distant realm comprised of machine-creatures. I initially thought little of it, though these devotees proved quite persistent in their attempt to persuade me to sanction a diplomatic mission with the constructs, reciting to me the old tedious point of how through cooperation with them, we could possibly discover relics in their territory, and the rest. Though I was still unconvinced, seeing as these creatures are entirely temporal, lacking any sort of understanding of things celestial." The Precant was then himself interrupted by the Hortulan's male component, who remarked how the machines' ignorance of things ethereal indeed invalidated any need of association with them.
Halting his pacing after this interruption, the Precant held up the flower to his nose, and savored the honeyed scent. The ambience of the environment was then the only thing heard for a time, the sound of the tumultuous waters of the brooks and waterfalls, baying wind, and the susurration of vegetation all permeated throughout the hollow chamber. During this break from speech, the Acquirer exchanged a concerned look at the Legate, who in turn gave one of worry. It had appeared that despite the Acquirer's best efforts to persuade him, the Precant still did not agree with his proposal. The Legate, having sided with the Acquirer in this matter, began doubting his own judgment. Both members of the Hortulan took this break in the meeting to hold each other's hand, appearing confident in the presence of their opponents. After some time had passed, the Precant put down the blossom, and spoke again, in the same amiable tone from before. "But perhaps there is something we are missing about them, something hidden from first glance. The Blissful Union did not intend to make the path to the Ascension a straightforward one. Perhaps these constructs posses knowledge which can help us along the way. Their unique mechanical disposition could hold some secrets unknown to organic life. There is a precedent for this, we have gathered useful information from constructs in the past. And there still is the possibility of relics being located in their domain, whether they know of them or not." The Hortulan was growing increasingly unpleased, though it had to conceal its frustration, lest it appear weak. They knew exactly who led these devotees the Precant spoke of, the very imbeciles which stood cowering behind their master now. Pathetic. They then began to analyze the two men, intending to speak with one of them in an effort to divert the discussion away from the Precant. Unease was detected from the Legate, and they sensed great pain within him. The Acquirer was oppositely quite content, pleased in discovering that the Precant had agreed with him after all. Identifying the former as the weaker in resolve, the Hortulan directed their response toward him. "And Legate? Surely you possess thoughts on this matter?"
The Keeper Legate's thoughts lay elsewhere as he stood silently behind the Precant. Memories of the past, brought back from the void, began haunting him. The main chamber's environment had summoned memories of an earlier and simpler time in his life. Though he knew where these thoughts led, so he tried desperately to forget them. Much to his dismay, however, he could not. So instead he attempted to conceal his despair from his surroundings, his temporal body remaining calm while his mind raced to the dispel the painful and intrusive memories which afflicted it. Despite his best efforts however, they were growing in both number and intensity. As he held off their advances with failing strength, the Legate was surprised when the unsuppressed memories began merging together into something. What they created was something which radiated warmth and passion, a feeling of great intimacy. This emotion then started shifting into an image: a face. The Legate stood mystified as he tried to recognize it. It was young, full of life, undoubtedly beautiful, though most of all it was familiar. He'd seen it before, in visions like this, though as well as somewhere and sometime else. As he attempted to recognize it, the face smiled, then it shattered into a thousand pieces before disappearing entirely. The Legate was then gripped with great pain, but soon he would recover from it, for this had afflicted him before, and he knew how to endure it. Such was the unfortunate result of every encounter with her, though still he sought to see more visions such as this one, driven by a profound longing and yearning desire. Within his mind, the Legate found himself now completely alone, the memories and thoughts that were just afflicting him had vanished. Everything now was silent, and after what had just happened, he welcomed the tranquility. Though it was abruptly broken when he heard a voice call out to him, and suddenly he found himself staring at another face, though this time it wasn't her, but the Hortulan.
"Of course. I am of the belief that the mentioned race of constructs could potentially prove useful to us. Through simple contact with them, as well as other nations they themselves have relations with, it is possible that we could attain hidden relics or gain greater insight into things that we may now consider to be irrelevant, though which may indeed posses knowledge which could propel ourselves further along the path to transcendence, as said by the Precant." The Hortulan had intentioned to catch him off guard by singling him out in while he was distracted, and was irked when he responded in a coherent and reasoned manner. The Legate wiped sweat from his brow, and looked to his friend that stood aside him, who smiled then nodded toward him. He had come through. Silence then again filled the chamber, as all waited for the Precant to continue the discussion. He did so after facing the Hortulan, looking them right into their eyes. "It is a personal issue that troubles you, isn't it? You despise them, on account of their position against organic life. I hold them in a similar disdain. Know that they mean nothing to me aside from the chance that they could prove beneficial to us. Surely even you can see their potential usefulness." The two seated upon the bark throne appeared visually angry, and one of them responded with a spiteful tone that corrupted his usual soothing voice.
"They are abominations: soulless, without compassion or any sense of morality. Their hostility toward natural life is an affront to Adtherion itself. How are you oblivious to this? They despise its creation, of which we charge ourselves with representing! We should not cooperate with this evil, but rather work to destroy it!" The Legate and Acquirer were surprised with what they had said, and eagerly anticipated the Precant's response. Though they were surprised when he instead faced them, and glanced at the Acquirer. He then understood, knowing exactly what to say. After taking a small step forward, he replied in a dulcet and calm manner. "These machines have just waged a war of expansion against much of the known universe, and we believe that they will be unable to prevail against their many enemies. They shall soon be eradicated. So your desire shall come true, without the need for Keeper intervention." Both members of the Hortulan leaned back in their shared throne, taken aback about what had just been said. It was clear that they had not known of the war which the Acquirer spoke of. Was it a lie? Or had they not followed the matter as closely as they had first thought? Whatever the case, the Hortulan found itself becoming increasingly weary of this whole conversation. It pondered if the matter at hand was really worth its time, and if it should continue in its defiance. Ultimately determining this affair to be beneath it, they decided to relinquish their opposition to the proposal. For above all the Hortulan desired to be alone, out from the tiresome presence of the fools gathered before it, especially him. And they took at least a little solace in the fact that the abominations would soon be destroyed, if the Acquirer spoke true, that is. The Precant smiled as it waited for the Hortulan's surrender. The Legate and Acquirer grinned as well, happy to at last have triumphed over this most persistent opponent.
"Knowing of their imminent demise pleases us greatly. With this new information, we see no reason left to oppose you. We hope your mission is met with success, and that the Order benefits well from it." Hollow words of course, though the Hortulan still felt humiliated as it spoke them. The Precant was nonetheless pleased, and accepted their capitulation. Farewells were exchanged, then the three visitors departed. As they left, the two composite entities of the Hortulan then again laid eyes on each other, then embraced. They were pleased the dreadful meeting was finally over. This feeling was shared with the Legate and his Acquirer friend, and they both left it satisfied that their side had won out. The Precant seemed content in its conclusion, as well. Having to again traverse a long distance to get out of the structure, the trio embarked on the trek out in silence. The meeting had taken longer than expected, and now the sun was in its setting. Orange light shone through the carved-out symbols in the wall, and it bathed the ground with an illuminating glow. As the group was passing over the bridge that had led them into the main chamber, the Precant tossed the flower in his hand into the stream below, uncaringly. In the silence of the departure, the memory of the vision from earlier suddenly came back to the Legate, and he shuddered as a sharp pain stung his very soul. Though soon it passed, and he was able to continue walking without either of his companions noticing what had happened. His thoughts again dwelled on her, but they were immediately suppressed. He would peruse the vision's content later. Now was not the time, for there was work to do. The Precant guided his followers from the main chamber out into the hall where they had first met up. At the very spot where he had been standing before, the man abruptly stopped, then turned to face the two trailing men. "It would be best if you both go, for it seems you work well enough together. Have one of you handle the talking, while the other searches for relics. And if you meet other groups or entities while there, see if they can be of some use. The constructs can only provide so much information by themselves, and other forces may prove to be more enlightening. Also keep an eye out for any suspected candidates of a Kindred race, as well."
The Precant then craned his neck aside, and again peered out the aperture. His eyes quickly came upon the lake that he appeared to be drawn to. It was more beautiful than before, as the setting sun now rested upon its reflective waters as a shining orange orb sitting on a glimmering blue blanket. He stood unmoving for some time as he relished the scenic sunset. His disciples exchanged confused glances, neither knowing what to do next. Their leader then spoke again, breaking the silence. "Unfortunately, you both seem to be relatively unacquainted with constructs, having not interacted with many before. This could prove troublesome. So I recommend you bring along someone who is experienced with machines." He paused, then looked right at them both. "You know of whom I speak." Much to their dismay, the Legate and Acquirer did indeed know of them. They distraughtly wondered why it had to be him, why not some other Keeper. Neither of them knew him very well, though they were aware of the many stories and legends that surrounded him. Now that he was in the fray, things would be much more difficult. For he was a variable they had uncounted for. Though the Precant had willed it, and so it was to be. The pair stood silently awaiting more orders, yet none came. When the Precant, again gazing out the window, extended his arm toward the direction of the end of the hall, both Legate and Acquirer knew it was time to leave. With one last bow, they continued on the way out without their master. As they approached the doorway to the downward set of stairwells, one final order from the Precant stopped them dead in their tracks. "Oh, and be sure not to come back emptyhanded."
What a strange, if not terrifying goodbye. The price for failure was indeed severe, and motivated them to aim for success more than any good wishes could have. Both Keepers paused and fearfully anticipated further instructions, but would give up after a few tense speechless moments. They then proceeded down the many sets of stairs, descending out of the Arboretum. Every flight was proceeded down in silence, for both were in deep contemplation. The last series of orders given to them would greatly complicate things, as well as considerably delay the mission. First they would have to seek him out. Such would not technically be difficult, for they knew where he dwelled. Though getting him to even speak with them might prove difficult, not to mention convincing him to join them on the operation. It was doubtful that he knew them, so they'd have to introduce themselves then explain the mission to him. They were relived in the thought that he couldn't flatly reject or ignore them, yet still it might take awhile for him to speak with them. Despite all this uncertainty, one thing was for sure: there was much talking ahead of them. The Legate liked to talk however, especially with new people. He was the official diplomat of the Order and all. But the Acquirer was more used to barking orders at subordinates than chatting. And they'd both need to be able to speak as a coordinated pair for this operation, in getting the old sentinel to join them, as well as conversing with this mechanoid empire, and any other entities they might encounter on the way. This is most likely why the Precant had assigned them both of them to go, for they were old friends and worked well together. So too had they represented the Order in foreign missions before, though this was mainly a way for the Legate to give his friend something to do outside the temple, as well as providing him a respite from the tiresome searching and acquisition of relics, which was the Acquirer's primary responsibility in the Sanctum.
Oblation Mount
When they finally were down onto the forested ground and out of the Arboretum, the pair then began speaking to each other. First they decided where they should go next, determining that the nearby temple of Oblation Mount would fulfill their needs. Ascending upward to the sky, the Keepers proceeded into space, sailing the cosmic winds for a time until they reached their destination. Their approach had been noticed by the cenobites that were stationed at the temple, who then contacted the visitors, informing them to land at a shrine suspended atop a mountain. This was acknowledged by the pair, who turned from their current path and descended onto the planet, making landfall at the specified site. The shrine rested at the peak of craggy mountain, and snow drizzled onto its ancient structures as a wintry tempest lumbered into the range. The Legate and Acquirer transformed into their canticle-giving forms, and then were greeted by the prelate of the temple, the Keeper Offeror. His golden form seemed to radiate with starlight in an impressive display, outshining the entourage of disciples that flanked him, as well as the Legate and Acquirer. He welcomed the two visitors, and invited them inside. Everyone floated into the temple, traversing through the hollowed-out corridors which ran through the mountain range. They conversed while on the move, and the Offeror was informed that their stay was only temporary, for they had been given an assignment by the Precant. He understood, and gave the two a chamber to do their work in during their short stay. The Legate thanked him, then the ascetics departed, disappearing into the bowels of the structure. While in their new office, the Legate conversed with the Acquirer over small details and subtleties of the mission, as well as putting together with him a more broad plan of action. First, they'd send out a message to the constructs, and while they waited for a reply, they would then seek out the old sentinel and recruit him. Once he was privy to all the pertinent information, and upon receiving coordinates for a meeting place, the trio would set out for the machines' territory. The hard part, it seemed, would be when they arrived at their destination, though they both long prepared for this, and now perceived themselves ready to handle any unexpected possibilities that might happen while on this assignment.
Wishing to put his writing skills to the test, the Acquirer departed the makeshift office to go draft up a message to send the machines. This left the Legate alone. He tried to focus on his given mission, but he had already discussed it at length and was frankly tired of thinking about it. Going into a reflective mood, he began addressing some questions that he had about the day's earlier proceedings. Like why the Precant, the head of the Order, had spent a considerable amount of time trying to get the a subordinate to agree with him regarding the proposal. Why didn't he just demand it support his decision with the authority he wielded so intimidatingly? Such would have been done if it were him in the Hortulan's place, or practically any other Keeper. Then he recalled the bond that existed between them. It was a peculiar relationship, shrouded in secrecy, though most higher-ranking Keepers knew of it, and were aware that it had been recently impaired. Yet when it was strong, and even after it had seemingly broken, the Precant still held them in a high regard, valuing their thoughts on things as well as frequently taking advise from them. This feeling was not mutual however, and the Hortulan appeared to hold him in disdain. Pondering about this, a particular inquiry concerned the Legate. Was today's meeting an attempt by the Precant to mend his relationship with the Hortulan?
They had not spoken with each other for some time, and while using the pretense that he was on official business, the Precant could visit the Arboretum without alarming anyone, as well as forcing the Hortulan to see him. If this was his purpose in calling the meeting, it had apparently failed, seeing as the Hortulan had ended it on account of their wish to be away from him. However, the Legate knew that if the Precant continued in this endeavor, he would eventually succeed. For despite his icy demeanor, he could be endearing when he wanted to. Yet surely there is a greater purpose in this pursuit, for the Precant never sets out to accomplish something that does not in some way benefit him. But what would he gain in being close to them? Whatever it was, the Precant must have greatly desired it for him to go to such lengths in its acquisition. And it must have to be given to him by the Hortulan, willingly. Or else he would have just demanded for it, or take it by force. All of this puzzled the Legate, and he could not discover what it was that the Hortulan possessed that the Precant wanted. Though he decided that it would be best to stay clear of this whole affair, lest the Precant discover of his meddling in his own private matters. Such wouldn't end well for the Legate.
More memories and thoughts of the day came to the Legate while in this reflective mood. Despite his best efforts to repress them, memories of the vision from earlier suddenly filled his mind, and began afflicting him. But just then the Acquirer entered into room, snapping him out of the daze. Quickly recollecting himself, the Legate greeted his friend. They then discussed the message the Acquirer sent to the machines, with him even showing the Legate a copy. He approved of it, and commended him on his good work. The first part of their plan had been concluded, and now it was time for the second. While they awaited for a reply, the two would go and recruit the third member of the operation, as per the Precant's orders. The Keeper Offeror was informed on their departure, and then they were off, to the dark and dreadful dwelling of Disadus.
- Code: Select all
Greetings. You have piqued our interest, Octavians. We are the Keepers of the Sanctum, and we are intrigued by your peculiar ways. As such, we request to meet with some of you in person, so that we may discover more about your people and customs. Our intent is to document your people, practices, and architecture within our records, and we have no interest in participating in your current war. Though, if we determine your kind to be deserving of such a gift, further cooperation between our two societies could be initiated, to possibly include potential military support. We hope that you do not pass up this offer, and if you do take it, please transmit coordinates for a meeting place back to us. And remember that our Order holds great knowledge of this life and the next, and that there is much of it that we could share with you.
