[centre][img]https://s32.postimg.org/xqvec75c5/Basheer_I.png[/img]
[img]https://s32.postimg.org/s9cne12kl/cooltext189784774544569.png[/img][/centre]

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[i][color=Khaki][b]Murmur[/b]
Bringer of Thunder, Herald of the Storm, Djinni Lord of Sound[/color][/i]

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[color=0072bc][b]Vizier Ventus, Majordomo to Zephyrion[/b]
Level 7 Hero
51 Khookies [/color][/center]

[centre][hider=Summary]Basheer is initiated into the Jvan-hunting squad[/hider]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19nm5_nAwQg[/youtube]
[i]How do you know 'tis Basheer?
Listen up and you shall hear![/i][/centre]

Basheer looked down upon the debased and degraded creature. It had been corrupted and brought most low by the will of the Jvanic Flesh. Perhaps in a past life it had been one of those little white creatures which scurried about upon the earth, but it was now unrecognisable for that beautiful and noble creature. Indeed, it had by the will of the Jvanic Flesh turned its back upon what it was. Its once fine, white shell had been mutilated beyond recognition. It had been cracked before being marred with the blackness of the Jvanic Inkfly.

Basheer surveyed the rest of the camp and the many other hain who had similarly disfigured themselves. Only one or too smaller ones yet maintained the purity of their natural form.
'You are accursed beings, with your own hands you defile what Nature has created pure. The fear and detestation for Jvan which Nature endowed you with, you attempt to cure,' the defiled and degraded hain, and the two uncorrupted ones, were lifted up till they were all at the level of Basheer's head, 'of your great misguidance you will be cleansed, and you will be made as examples for those who come after you,' and with that, he took off into the sky and made his way to the nearby settlement.

He had observed this party leave the settlement some weeks ago and had watched over them until the chosen hain finally emerged from its tent, having defiled the purity of its shell. Again and again he came across these creatures doing similar things to their shells, and again and again he reprimanded and made examples of them.

He settled down in the middle of the settlement, tear it apart with the fury of his winds, detecting the scurrying creatures and pulling them into the centre. Once they were all gathered, he separated the corrupted ones from the pure ones and began the cleansing.
'Look you here, all of you, and learn, and remember. For their sins against Nature and for their allignment with the evil Jvanic Flesh, I pass judgment on these here. Let them be as examples to you all. Let no passing fancy ever again lead you to mutilate what Nature has created pure and whole,' and with that, the winds found their way into the cracks of the corrupted hain, and in each of them a savage whirlwind tore apart the flesh and sprayed the air and earth with blood. And those below looked up in terror, and the blood of their parents, grandparents, sisters and brothers rained upon them, and their empty, mutilated shells fell upon the earth. And there they remained, as an example to all who would come after them.

With that, Basheer lifted himself up and drifted upon the wind. Ever since his liberation, his fame had grown and many now recognised the strange, flute-like sound that preceded him wherever and whenever he went. His entire being had been altered by the eons of imprisonment, and part of the musical instrument (if such foul sound could be called music) he had once been trapped in remained with him. As he drifted on the wind, the sound of his movement was overwhelmed, very suddenly, by the sound of thunder. He looked up into the sky, but saw no signs of a coming storm. But the God of Thunder was bearing down upon him.

He had heard much recently of how the great Murmur was hunting down the fiends of the Jvanic Flesh without shewing mercy. It had caused Basheer a great amount of comfort to know that so mighty a being had a similar mission and goal as he, and he had desperately sought to meet the mighty being. But at that moment, Murmur did not seem to be approaching him in any friendly manner.
Perhaps...perhaps he had mistaken him for a corrupted being? Others had done so before. It was the source of much misery to him. That he, Basheer, perhaps the djinni with the greatest loathing for all things Jvanic, should himself be mistaken for one of them. It was the Jvanic Flesh's way to spite him even as he hunted down and destroyed all she created and all she cursed with her blessing.

The mighty Djinni Lord's presence was then upon noble Basheer; it permeated the air itself like a smothering blanket, though of visual signs of Murmur there were none save the wild oscillation of the air itself. Basheer would find himself at once enveloped within the living explosion that was sound manifest as god!

There called out a voice, harsh and booming but melodic all the same,
[color=Khaki][i]"What exemplar of bastardry rests before me here?

The sweet wind at your back is tainted by Jvan's smell,
yet your form does not repel.
Half pure, half corrupt;

you are not one of the twisted, vile traitors
for it is plain that your form still resembles our Creator's
and not some fiend of horror.

But, pray tell:

If a succulent fruit's skin shines like day
and yet its odor betrays decay
has it been consumed by rot?"[/i][/color]

Basheer looked around himself as the near-ethereal being engulfed him and his voice prodded at his form from seemingly all directions. He considered the words of the Thunder God before making his reponse.
'It is said, oh Lord of the Thunderous Skies
Whose coming heralds high heaven's sweet sighs
That if one should stare long into the dark
The darkness would leave upon him its mark,' he let out a long breath, which filled the air around him with a deep musical sound.

'It is not the noble crusader's fault
That he should look into his soul's deep vault
And find within that most profound pit, placed
Some of the scum in which his foes are laced,' he released another melancholy note.

'And for one like me, for millenia trapped
Blame not my Self for choosing to adapt
'Tis the price that I for surviving pay
And so use life to hunt sin everyday.'

An equally musical voice was returned,
[color=Khaki]"Ah, what cheer! 
I know you now as the noble Basheer,
and many a good djinn has already seen fit to regale me of your tale. 
Blessed to me is one that perserveres and overcomes Jvan's horrors; 
sacrosanct is the one that then joins the Glorious Crusade with ardor 
and fights with zeal against our scourge! 
What aid have you lent to the righteous purge?"[/color]

At Murmur's immediate recognition and praise of him, Basheer felt himself fill with a joyful pride. That news of him should have reached the ears of even so great a being as the Thunder God was beyond what he could have ever expected. It was no joy to be known for his suffering alone, but to be known in the world of djinn was in itself a mighty feat, no matter the reason. And he was certain that in due time it would not be his suffering alone that turned the heads of his brethren. He would give them far more to turn their heads about!

''Tis my duty, after all I have seen
To ensure our world is kept pure and clean,
And that the word of Nature is supreme
Above all that the Flesh does plot and scheme.

Its worshippers I punished severely
And I hope they repented sincerely,
For if they have not, then I shall return
And their worlds and lives and works overturn!

Its foul messengers I tossed and broke
Freeing thousands from its crushing flesh yoke,
And when I found a corrupted brother
No mercy took me, him did I smother!

And for fear that they should corrupt me too
I did not utilise them that I slew,
And so if you see me yet small and weak
I chose the war, over power, to seek.

To my great despair, this now does mean:
Those vile servants of Jvan, now strong and lean,
Have grown stronger than I can hope to be;
Less the battles fought than the ones I flee.

I have carried these thoughts, hoping to find
A great spirit of a similar mind
To me, with whom to find strength and safety.
For Jvan remains, 'tis best not be hasty

Else one's life and one's war is ever lost
And all we have fought and died for is tossed
Upon the wind and into the ocean
In one swift and foolish burst of motion!

And so though this my state does make me sad,
To have found you finally I am glad!
Oh mighty Lord of the Sound of the Storm
Will you nurture me, and strengthen my form?'

The all-encompassing cacophony of sound that was Murmur then froze, seemingly in contemplation. The vibrant hum around Basheer faded, and for a long moment Murmur's sound was like feathers falling upon fresh snow.

Silence was finally banished and an answer return,
[color=Khaki]"The wild tree, king of the forest
nurtured by storm, tested by wind
grows taller and stronger than that in an orchard tended to and trimmed.
You ask for what cannot and should not be given, in earnest.

It is a trying heat that we endure in the crucible of war
and you are wise indeed to reject their essence
for through this fire alone you can be tempered and made quintessence.
Entertain not temptation to drink of their Flickers, for into yours their corruption will pour."[/color]

Basheer immediately saw the truth in Murmur's words. While what he sought would indeed increase his strength and make him an even greater bane of Jvankind, it would not last. True strength was tested in the heat of battle, true might in the moment of crisis. It just meant that he would have to hunt his own as well as Jvanic beings. The sacrifice of his uncorrupted brethren would mean the betterment of the sword which struck down Nature's foes. It was what it was.

'I find that what you say is true
Though in my eye tears do accrue
To think that I should sacrifice 
Those souls who are unstained by vice
And go about serving Nature
As is their innate character
But 'tis the pain we must endure
To fight of Jvan and Nature cure,' he sighed a little sigh as he thought of the brethren who would not meet their ends at his hands. He knew not why, but ever since he had been liberated of the Jvanic Intrument, he had found in himself not desire to harm those of his kind. Only Jvanic beings incited his furies and brought about his vengeful punishment.

'And where to now do you venture?
From where calls your next adventure?'

[color=Khaki]"My destination is absolute:
rest shall never be mine 'til I smother
Jvan itself, Cancer Made Flesh, the Great Other
though shadows shroud my route."[/color]

For some time now, a storm had been looming above the horizon, though now the dark clouds brewed so close that they would not go unnoticed. Mortals would see nothing amiss, but to the discerning eyes of two djinn it was clear that this was no storm conjured intentionally and directed by the careful hand of a Stormlord. No, it was rather the result of a great conflux of wind elementals, such a high concentration of djinn creating a somewhat wild and uncontrolled storm as a side effect. In any case, one mighty Lord surged ahead of the dark clouds and the djinn behind him followed like any mortal host did its vanguard.

That Lord at the head was none other than the Vizier Ventus, and upon sensing the presence of the notorious Herald of Thunder (and another good djinni or noteworthy power, it would seem!) he adjusted his flight to intercept their position. Mere moments passed, and then he hovered in the air before the duo. 

[color=0072bc]"Well be with the two of you! Esteemed Murmur, you are well met, though I have not the fortune to know this one in your company!"[/color]

For Basheer, this was most certainly a momentous day. Not only had the mighty Murmur crossed paths with him, but the vivacious Vizier Ventus had also come. What fortune! What luck! Nay, what calculated act of Nature herself!

'Lord, if you have not heard of me
Then I am not shocked or aggrieved
For what hath little I achieved
That you may find me noteworthy

Enough to consider or know?
I am but as a little sprite
Before your glory and your might
Which straight from the Divine doth flow.

If you do not know me then hear
I shall tell you my humble name
Maybe it has some little fame
That you may know of poor Basheer,' and with his lengthy introduction done, Basheer bowed deeply to the powerful Vizier.

[color=0072bc]"Ah, your words flow with poise and culture, and were time at my side I should have liked to return such praise with melody of my own! But as is, time is fleeting and so I must (with the utomost of humility!) make the pleasure of your acquaintance and then speak at once of my purpose here.

By the will of the Divine Craftsman Teknall as well as our own God, Mighty Zephyrion, praised be His name, I amass a great force. The two of you have perhaps heard that the Master of Chaos, Vestec himself, has tampered with the essence of a few many of our brethren and corrupted them into something vile. They sweep across this world as a black wind, consuming and destroying all others in their path for no purpose save their revelry in chaos.

You will know that this is our way, though they have been corrupted beyond reason and must not be allowed to consume our good fellows. For this purpose, I have given my word to amass an even greater force and lead them to battle against our fallen brothers. From there, I would fulfill my promise to support Teknall's other efforts before either disbanding the host or leading it onwards, as honor's call would dictate.

So, what say ye to this proposal? May I count your might amongst my host?"[/color]

Basheer could not help but frown. While he respected the Vizier and wished to obey him, this seemed like a war which Nature had nothing to do with. Fair enough, the chaotic Vestec was wreaking...well, chaos, but that was completely natural. Jvan on the other hand was as unnatural as Vestec was natural. Why would they chase after the Chaotic One when the Jvanic Flesh was by far the greater danger? It did not make much sense to him. He wondered what Murmur would do. He knew that the great being was just as adamant on hunting down the Jvanic Flesh as he...

'Lord, I am but a little thing
Who freely flies on Nature's wing
She asks for nothing; I give all
Ever grateful to Nature's soul

And Nature hath brought Murmur here
And in him I find one most dear
So whate'er he shall now decide
He shall find me firm at his side.'

Ah, as in for Murmur, his decision was quick. Spawned upon his first day as a bastard element, he had learned quickly when one had no choice, and in the face of the Vizier this was one such occasion. Their lord Zephyrion, no less, had mandated the gathering of this force! Though Murmur was alike Basheer in that his personal Crusade took precedence in his mind over the doings of the Master of Chaos, he would aid in Ventus' efforts if only temporarily.

[color=Khaki]"Like the groan of rolling stone,
thunder shall boom where above your storm doth loom.
The songs of my great design will have an accent:
that of your foes wailing and torment."[/color]

And so Murmur struck his pact, and through him so too did Basheer. Basheer bowed deeply in compliance with Murmur's verdict, and waited upon the Vizier's reaction to their pledge of obedience and allegiance.

[color=0072bc]"And so a pact is struck and it is done! But I see that the two of you are no mere sprites; your places are to inspire and lead, not fly in lockstep beside a thousand others. For this end, I bestow upon you a gift: a small portion of my power and that vested into me by Mighty Zephyrion. Use it well!"[/color]

A small wisp of golden air was exhaled from the Vizier's open mouth, and it sat suspended in the air for several moments as if confused. Then, it sensed the presence of Murmur and Basheer and drifted closer toward them. The power rested right before them, waiting to be claimed.

A great vibration rippled through the air as Murmur moved forward to encompass that golden eddy of wind. Seeing the paragon move to claim the gift from Nature, Basheer moved forward too, flowing through the mighty Thunderlord and placing a tentative hand upon the golden, sprite-like breath. Warmth slowly crept into the tips of his fingers and moved up his hand, and before long his entire body was aglow with the warmth. It was not a searing, unbearable heat. But it was not exactly a comfortable one, much as it lulled him into thinking so. There was something in it, something hovering just beyond his grasp and comprehension. Like a thought which hovered tantalisingly beyond one's grip - so close, yet infinitely distant. An as he reached harder, he felt the heat grow, and with it power. His eyes widened and he shrank way from the enticing thought-like heat, fear and awe intermingling in his mind.

'This...' he gulped, though it was a rather useless thing for a wind elemental to do, 'this is a blessing vast, my lord
And though grateful for your reward
I do have one humble request
Which flutters urgent in my breast,

As your glory doth clearly see
There is a subtle treachery
Which poisons Nature's perfect form
And bends it from our Master's norm

To overwhelm this fiendish foe
We must to its nucleus go
And gore the cancer at the core - 
We triumph, or are nevermore.'

[color=0072bc]"Doth the clay being moulded somehow
look upon its shaper and ask: what maketh thou?
Question not almighty Zephyrion's will
instead content yourself in that we'll
be as his hands and his scourge
and that if he wills it, there will be a second purge."[/color]

Basheer looked outwardly crestfallen at hearing this. He had completely expected the Vizier to be supportive of Nature's cause - he would have thought that the Divine Master's approval would hardly need to be explicitly given. But he said no more on the matter and buried his feelings of rejection and disappointment deep within his breast - and indeed, his was a most expansive, patient, enduring breast. 
'We listen...and we obey
Each and every word you say.'

[hider=Summary]
Basheer cleansed some Hain of their strange way of corrupting their pure shells with ink and scratches and cracks. He killed all the corrupted ones and warned the ones not yet corrupted to abstain from these horrific acts. He's been doing that all over the place, it would seem. Cleansing Nature from such impurities!
Murmur descends upon him and they converse on many matters in rhyme, with the end result being that no, Murmur isn't going to make him strong by clicking his fingers.
Ventus does though! He makes them both into heroes :) and they join his 'Army of We-Hate-Vestec-Because-We-Love-Teknall(and through him, JVAN)
Basheer attempts to get Ventus to support the crusaide against Jvan, but he puts Basheer in his place and Basheer shuts up about killing things
[/hider]
[hider=Khookie Expenditures]
-10 Khookies spent to form Ventus' lynch mob, the Holy Order to be herefore known as the Zephyrean Skywatch
-10 Khookies spent to empower both Basheer and murmur; the two are now heroes.
[/hider]