[center][h2]The Sinner, The Fool, The Simpleton, and The Blasphemer[/h2][/center] The village of the Hyummin was nothing like Panganeem or Juttyu had ever seen. On a sandy shore as flat as the horizon, countless huts and sleeping pits dotted the landscape. Large rocks were even rolled onto the beach to mark territories between neighbors, the water of the Hyummin literally leaping with so much fish, the luxury of stability was ever present. As the trio walked into the bustling village, Ippino suddenly grew smug. Far ahead was a blazing fire, contained right next to the largest pile of fish bones the Hunters had ever seen. The bonfire licked at least five feet high and let off a mighty heat. “You-” Panganeem gawked at the strange sight, “You captured fire?” “I did,” Ippino smiled wide, “Stolen from the fiery woods of the firebirds themselves. I stole one stick and braved its terrible bite to bring it home. We have bred it with our own beachwood and it has stayed.” Juttyu and Panganeem stood in awe for a while, but were suddenly pulled from their thoughts as the loudest bark richoteted from the west. Their eyes darted to the perpetrator, and there, standing on a large rock was a Selka clothed in blubbery pink scars and a sheet of sharkskin. His lip was clefted by a scar and his left eye squinted permanently. People stood around him wearing faces of shock, anger, and admiration. He pointed a powerful finger as he yelled, “Kirron…” He pointed to another Selka, “Delphina!” and another, “Bobbu!” He crossed his arms, “Have abandoned us long ago. They have created us out of malicious humor! We are mere specks in the rivers of this world, and for it we have been struck dumb and complacent.” There were angry shouts as he continued. Ippino seemed to hold himself back as the Blasphemer continued. “We do and we say, there I did, I am alive, I am of purpose. I say no!” He formed a fist, “We are without truth, and without a drop of intelligence.” “How can you say such things?” A member of the crowd challenged. A wired smile formed on the blasphemer. “I have seen such things!” The crowd gasped at his words, “I watch my fellow Selka toil hard and I watch the diligent and the earner’s lives snuff out as easily as the lazy. We are alive, and we do not see past that. We do not see our demise, we are blind to the truth of the end. The gods have not given us what we truly needed, but they sit content because we fill our role without question regardless. We are ignorant, we are simple. Panganeem scoffed and walked up to the stone. Ippino tugged his arm, “Do not, he is the blasphemer. He is harmless, really. Delphina will see to him in time.” Panganeem pulled his arm free, and stared at Ippino for a moment before turning to the Blasphemer. “Blasphemer!” Panganeem called out and the man on the stone turned to him. “Do you stand in defense of the gods?” The Blasphemer taunted. “I do.” “Then bring me the god who cares. Show me the creator who does not for their own whim. Present the divine who knows altruism, and I will eat this stone I stand on.” The Blasphemer challenged. “Why is your heart so dark?” Panganeem called out, “That you must challenge the very gods, that you must scream at the innocent people.” “Because we are innocent, by your own words!” The Blasphemer waved a hand over the crowd, “And yet we are done no justice. We live in hunger, or we die full; the gods care not for we lived for them and that is that. We are innocents being used, we serve not our own purpose. Do you know death?” “I do,” Panganeem’s jaw tightened. “Then you may stand there and know that it was without reason and fills no purpose beyond the pain it had caused you, not in this world, not in this lifetime.” The Blasphemer pointed finger and those who admired him nodded and jeered. “You are wrong!” Panganeem’s eyes narrowed, “The death I know served a purpose. Great things are coming, and all it cost was-- something so small yet so great.” “A catalyst,” The Blasphemer admitted, “Perhaps, but it shall serve not the Selka in the end, for we are doomed by our own creation. It shall serve the gods, and we shall never taste the fruit of that tree.” “Do you believe this?” Panganeem challenged. “I do.” “Then step down from your stone, and follow me, so I can show you how wrong you are.” The Blasphemer and his followers seemed shocked for a moment, and only after a silent pause did one speak up, “Follow you where?” “I am a K’night,” Panganeem stabbed a thumb at himself. He waved his hand over Ippino and Juttyu, “WE are the K’nights.” “K’nights?” The Blasphemer’s brow furrowed, “Of the gods?” “K’nights,” Panganeem answered, “Of Tyuppa.” A hush fell over the growing crowd. The Blasphemer’s chest swelled as he thought and then with one mighty leap, he landed on the sand with a thud. He eyed Panganeem warily and nodded his head, “Show me.” He looked back at the crowd, his own followers nodding, “Show us.” [hider=The start of something great] Panganeem finds the Hyummin tribe to be one of great splendor. Ippino admits to have stolen fire for the tribe from a forest that was caught aflame. In biblical style, Panganeem encounters a Blasphemer and the two argue. In the end, Panganeem convinces not only the Blasphemer, but his entire following to join the K’nights of Tyuppa. As the ranks swell, the group now looks towards finally fixing the Hyummin. [/hider] [center][h2]And Another One[/h2][/center] [color=pink]“[i]I painted the skies[/i]”[/color] The words flowed pink in the clouds above. Hermes stared up at them in wonder, her eyes deciphering the strange runes that littered them. She was alone, and laid on the greenest grass she had ever seen, each blade plush and comfortable. An azure blue sky stared back down at her, soft rays of an autumn sun beaming down on her and the slope she retired on. She had no idea where she was, but couldn’t find the motivation to care. Her black eyes scanned the clouds as they floated by, catching the tail end of another jumble of pink streaks. [color=pink]“[i]The heavens bent to my will.[/i]”[/color] She squinted. [color=pink]“[i]And I gave it all away.[/i]”[/color] Hermes sat up and a stiff spring breeze cloaked her. Her brow furrowed as the strange words rattled in her skull. She shook her head; this kind of thinking was best left to Xiaoli. She tucked a sandal under her and lifted herself to her feet. A pang entered her chest as she stared out along the valley, the sun hitting the grass in such a way, and the wind rustling it in such a pattern, that more runes were formed in the rudimentary clumps of vegetation. She couldn’t force her eyes away. [color=green]“[i]I am one of many. You are the Dreamer, we are the Sleepers and we bite our tongue.[/i]”[/color] Hermes’ eyes widened, “What?” She made a face, the words bouncing off her her mind having no luck in understanding them. She turned away and towards the slope, only to find it gone. She stared in an endless expanse of mossy statues and hazy mist. Trees stood gnarled, and unfortunately for her eyes, in such a way that she could read them. [color=brown]“[i]I am neither happy nor sad. I used to be but now I am lost.[/i]”[/color] Hermes shut her eyes and slapped a hand over her face. A shiver ran down her spine and she took to the skies. She felt the ground leave her as her sandals buzzed. She sucked in an anxious breath, the whole ordeal overwhelming her greatly. She flew and flew. The air blasted around her and drowned her senses. Hermes was buffeted by the winds and as moments ticked away, she finally exhaled a massive sigh and let her hand fall from her face. Her eyelids turned pink as light hit them. She made a face and slowly opened them. It was only for a second, maybe less, but her sight was overtaken by a staring mask. It had no mouth, no smile nor nose. Two blank eyes stared at her on a white surface. There was decoration along the edges, and the body was robed in moss and feathers. She went to scream and suddenly her eyes rocketed open. She sat up quickly, her heart pounding. She was in her bed, with Xiaoli sleeping soundly next to her. The blankets slowly rose and fell to the rhythm of her wife’s breathing. Hermes put a hand over her own heart and felt its rapid beat. The Dreamer shook her head and slunk back into the bed. She groaned quietly and held her head. “What a dream.” [hider=What the shit] Hermes is dreaming that she is in an uncanny valley where no matter where her eyes fall she reads the cryptic words of an unseen persona. Finally, unable to take the stress of it anymore, she flies away, only to come face to face with a masked being of strangeness. It spooks her and she wakes up next to Xiaoli, safe and sound. [/hider] [hider=Prestige] 44+2=46 [/hider]