Post by Magmanamus on Dec 24, 2013 16:30:37 GMT
Anog the Acolyte stood in the doorway of his spartan quarters and stared up the steep and treacherous slopes of the Smouldercone. He had heard the voice, the call of Magmanamus, the Burning Soul, in the ever present rumblings that came from deep withing the fiery mountain, the first such to have heard the voice of the Brilliant God in many years. Magic was fading from the lands, the fires of the mountain had slackened, its once constant eruptions reduced to a dim smolder. But Anog and the people of Abysia had remained true to their god; for as Magmanamus was called the Prince of Patience so too where his people.
Anog passed through the streets of Abysia. Although the city was bathed in the ever present red glow from the fire mountain, the lava flows, and the torches, it was still before the "day cycle" when most people of the subterranean city would rise to go about their tasks. His quick tread raised small black clouds from all the ash and soot that accumulated over the "night cycle" and the slaves had not been yet roused to clean the streets and building fascades. He did not slow his pace as he passed through the large bronze doors of the Temple of the Everburning Pyre at the base of the Smouldercone, nodding absently to the red and black clad guards that stood outside them. He proceeded through the temple and into the most sacred chambers, The Halls of Fire, lava tubes that still glowed bright with the god's blood that lead to the heart of the mountain.
Anog passed through the streets of Abysia. Although the city was bathed in the ever present red glow from the fire mountain, the lava flows, and the torches, it was still before the "day cycle" when most people of the subterranean city would rise to go about their tasks. His quick tread raised small black clouds from all the ash and soot that accumulated over the "night cycle" and the slaves had not been yet roused to clean the streets and building fascades. He did not slow his pace as he passed through the large bronze doors of the Temple of the Everburning Pyre at the base of the Smouldercone, nodding absently to the red and black clad guards that stood outside them. He proceeded through the temple and into the most sacred chambers, The Halls of Fire, lava tubes that still glowed bright with the god's blood that lead to the heart of the mountain.
As he proceeded down and into the very center of the volcano the heat grew ever greater, so much that even he began to sweat despite his resistance to fire and the enchantments laid upon the walls and ceiling of the lava tubes centuries ago that protected the temple above from magma that would normally flow up into the temple during an eruption. He entered into a vast chamber overlooking the magma reserve at the very center of the fire mountain, the walls seeming to dance in the hellish glow as the lake of fire undulated as if something restless swam in the molten pool.
Suddenly a fountain erupted from the center of the reserve, a twisting pillar that reached halfway up the conduit. Anog recoiled but the enchantments held and the fist sized balls of molten rock that threatened to burn him to a crisp fell short. As the magma fell back into the pool some of it seemed to remain, hovering in the air above the Acolyte. He started to look up when it blazed even brighter and he cried out in pain, crumpling into a ball on the floor. The cavern hummed with the sheer power of the presence now occupying the chamber with him. It did not speak for a single spoken word would have destroyed Anog utterly but it knew that now was the time for the splendor of Magmanamus to return to the world.
Suddenly a fountain erupted from the center of the reserve, a twisting pillar that reached halfway up the conduit. Anog recoiled but the enchantments held and the fist sized balls of molten rock that threatened to burn him to a crisp fell short. As the magma fell back into the pool some of it seemed to remain, hovering in the air above the Acolyte. He started to look up when it blazed even brighter and he cried out in pain, crumpling into a ball on the floor. The cavern hummed with the sheer power of the presence now occupying the chamber with him. It did not speak for a single spoken word would have destroyed Anog utterly but it knew that now was the time for the splendor of Magmanamus to return to the world.
Anog crawled from the chamber, face pressed to the floor and whimpering in pain from just being so close to his god. Once in the hallway however the pain faded, replaced with the glory and the majesty of his deity and the purpose that has been given to him. He found Cremnian, Commander of the Guard, entering the Temple and pulled him into a nearby chamber. In the low glow of the brazier he explained to the Commander the blessing that has been bestowed on him and the task he had been given. Without hesitation the Cermnian ran from the Temple to gather additional troops. The forces of Abysia and of Magmanamus would be patient no longer.
