[INDENT][INDENT][COLOR=6D6B5C][I][CENTER][color=white][SUB][SUB]"Yako ajaw Camazotz!" [/SUB] "Yako ajaw Camazotz!"[/SUB] "Yako ajaw Camazotz!"[/color][/CENTER][/I] The chanting grew louder as Cassandra moved further into the cavern. The youngest of the four Amazons to have ever earned the champion title of Wonder Woman, the blonde-haired warrior was no stranger to the South American continent. In years past, she had accompanied her mortal mother on more than one archeological dig south of the Equator. Perhaps it was her familiarity with the myths of this region that was creating the cold sweat on the back of her neck. Nearly twenty years ago, Cassandra would have dismissed all myths as humans trying to explain away that which they didn't yet understand. However, discovering that your own father was Zeus and training on a hidden island filled with Amazons under the protection of Hera sort of reframes your world views. Even still, the name '[b]Camazotz[/b]' sent a shiver down Cassandra's spine. Her mentor, Donna Troy had done everything she could to prepare Cassie for this mission, but even still it wasn't every day that you're sent to try and negotiate a truce between warring pantheons. [i][COLOR=WHITE]Maybe I should have tapped Thor for an assist?[/COLOR][/i] The thought was fleeting. Queen Nubia; no, not even Donna would hear any of it. Man, whether human or simply just male, only further caused wars. It was the role of the Wonder Woman to keep the peace. Bringing Thor along would have been seen as an act of aggression on what should be a simple diplomatic mission. Once upon a time, the gods sat across from each other in the Parliament of Pantheons, high above Omnipotence City. There gods like Chaac and Tupã sat across from Odin and Zeus. But while the people still remembered the works of Odin and Zeus, Chaac and Tupã had faded into obscurity and so too had their powers faded. No longer able to hold a seat in the Parliament, their thrones were removed, leaving behind a power vacuum. A vacuum only too happily filled by those seeking to expand their power, those seeking to rise above. Those like Camazotz. Crawling on the rough stone beneath her, Cassie soon found an opening that expanded into a larger cavern within the cave. In the center of the cavern was a massive pit filled with swirling energy. Crackling beams of violet and vermilion emanated from the edge of the pit while a black cloud of screeching bats filled flew amongst the stalactites above. [I][center][color=white]"Yako ajaw Camazotz!"[/color][/CENTER][/I] The chanting continued while Cassie surveyed the scene below. Surrounding the energy-filled chasm were numerous figures robed in what had to be ceremonial garb. Drums vibrated through the numerous tunnels filling the cave as Cassandra's eyes widened. Beyond those surrounding the pit, more robed figures stood in the tunnels beyond the larger cavern. Her hand instinctually moved towards her weapon. [COLOR=WHITE][i]No, bad Cassie! You're here for a diplomatic approach.[/I][/COLOR] Without warning the bats clinging to the stony ceiling stopped screeching. A cold wind whistled through the cave bringing about the end of the chanting and sending shivers up Cassandra's spine. Darkness overtook the claustrophobic space as almost all of the torches below were extinguished, save for one. What once had been a noisy din, was now as silent as the grave. Cassandra suddenly feared breathing, lest she be discovered. Below, the figure holding the last illuminated torch stepped forward. The light danced across their crocodile-shaped mask, the sharp angles and groves casting eerie shadows around the cavern walls. [color=white]""[/COLOR][sup]1[/sup] The crocodile-masked figure stated into the swirling void below. Motioning with their free hand, Cassie nearly gasped as a woman in white was dragged through the crowd. From her position, Cassandra watched while the woman fought against her captors and bonds to no avail. [color=white]""[/color] With a simple shrug, the crocodile-masked figure pushed the woman into the maelstrom below. Cassandra let out a gasp as the energy engulfed the woman, tearing her apart layer by layer. Raw energy erupted from the pit, illuminating the room in hues of amethyst. [color=white][b]"You have brought me the wrong woman."[/b][/color] The voice thundered through the cavern. Cassie could feel it buzzing in the back of her skull. It should have been coming from the pit, but it felt as though it was coming from everywhere. [color=white][b]"The sacrifice needs to contain the blood born of my enemy if I am to enter the mortal plane."[/b][/color] Cassie began to claw at the back of her skull, she needed the voice out of her head. [color=white][I]Hera, give me strength[/I][/color] [color=white][b]"Interloper!."[/b][/color] The voice rang through her skull, whispering and screaming all, like a chorus of the anguished and tormented. Cassandra could have sworn at that moment that the formless energy in the void below turned to look directly at her. [color=white][b]"Sieze her!"[/b][/color] That was her cue to leave, the time for diplomacy was over. Donna would be disappointed, but at least Cassandra had a firm grasp on what exactly was happening here. Dropping into the cavern, Cassandra pulled the blade from its sheath. With a twist of her hand, Cassandra felt the hilt of the narrow leaf-like blade extend to a full spear shaft. Spinning the polearm around, the current Wonder Woman managed to keep her attackers at bay. [color=white]"Hephaestus really does make the best toys,"[/color] She called to the mob attempting to gain ground on her. Delivering a blow of the celestial bronze forged shaft to the chin of a robed figure who got too close, Cassandra managed to use their stunned form to toss it into those nearest her exit. Moving down the tunnel back towards where she came in, Cassandra could hear her pursuers gaining on her. Putting two fingers to her mouth, she let out a sharp whistle. The sound of wing beats filled the end of the tunnel as Cassandra saw her ride appear. Summoning her strength, she retracted her weapon and sprinted to the end. Leaping onto the back of the winged horse, she vanished into the night sky, the cultists behind her becoming nothing more than twinkling flames in the distance. Next stop, the one born of the blood of Camazotz's enemy.[/COLOR][/INDENT][/INDENT] [CENTER][img]https://i.imgur.com/9YReRKO.png[/img][/CENTER][COLOR=E72428][indent][sub][B]Location:[/B] [COLOR=D9C87A][I]Boise,[/I] - [I]Idaho, U.S.A.[/I][/COLOR][/sub][sup][right][b]Gods & Mortals #1.01:[/b] [COLOR=D9C87A][I]Behold, A Pale Horse[/I][/COLOR][/right][/sup][/indent][/color][sub][hr][/sub][INDENT][color=E72428][sub][B]Interaction(s):[/B] [COLOR=D9C87A][I]None[/I][/COLOR][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][b]Previously:[/b] [URL=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5365059][COLOR=D9C87A][I]None[/I][/COLOR][/URL][/right][/SUP][/color] [INDENT][COLOR=6D6B5C]Jolting awake, Yara's eyes slowly adjusted to the unfamiliar darkness. At first, her surroundings were almost foreign, the smells too clean, too natural and the world outside was far too quiet. These were just the first few hints that Yara was no longer in her apartment. Clues continued to fall in the forms of the faded Jonas Brothers poster to one of Bieber and even a half-hung One Direction graphic. This dim room could only be the bedroom she grew up in. The world outside was not the bustling city of Boise, it was rural Idaho, more specifically the farm belonging to her Aunt and Uncle. None of that changed the fact that for Yara, it was still markedly too quiet. It had been getting harder for Yara to sleep over the past few nights. Her dreams were haunted with visions of bat-like eldritch horrors and their horrible screeches. There was a longing within her that she wasn't sure how to sate, a calling to travel away from this quaint life. A calling to an adventure far from here. Perhaps her need for adventure rose from the simple fact that no one was looking to hire here in Boise. Any job that wasn't helping her Aunt Renata work the potato fields would certainly feel like an adventure at this point. An exasperated sigh escaped from between her pouting lips blowing a few loose strands of her raven-coloured hair away from her face. Yara had already put in six years between her undergraduate and graduate degrees while still fully knowing she had yet another two years of clinical experience before she'd be a fully certified speech pathologist. It honestly felt like her life was stuck at the starting line. Slumping down on the porch swing, the young woman let the cool night air wash over her while she sipped a half-finished tea absently left beside her bed. Yara's mind pivoted away from both school and her lack of a career as a brown bat stretched its wings under the porch's awning. The sight of the flying rodent only sent her thoughts racing back to the series of nightmares that had been haunting her slumber. Watching the curious creature, she couldn't help but feel as though the bat was seemingly staring back at her. Flapping its wings, it let out a little screech before dropping from its roost and disappearing into the night. Sinking further into the cushioned swing, Yara felt herself relax. It was only now that she realized she had been so stiffly watching the bat. Satisfied she wasn't about to face the monsters of from her nightmares, she took another sip of the lukewarm liquid. The flat taste caused her nose to crinkle in disgust, reminding her why it had been abandoned in the first place. A terrible noise suddenly broke the silence. The horrible tasting drink suddenly seemed so far away. The sound of wings beating against the night air ended the stillness of the cool night as Yara spun around frantically looking to locate the sound. Above the horizon, in the light of the pale moon, appeared the silhouette of what appeared to be a horse. Its lone rider, slumped alongside the horse's mane, seemingly barely hanging on. Losing altitude rapidly, the animal tried with no avail to land. Its feet flew up from underneath it, only to send both it and its rider tumbling through the nearly mature potato plants. Jumping down from the porch, Yara moved quickly through the rows upon rows of plants, making the split-second decision to check on the rider instead of the winged animal. The rider, a blonde-haired woman, was adorned in armour. Very familiar armour. Almost anyone in America would have recognized Wonder Woman, but Yara especially was a fan. Kneeling down beside Cassandra, Yara cradled her head, checking the neck for injury. [color=white]"I've got you,"[/color] Yara muttered towards the unconscious woman. Her eyes widened as she surveyed the wounds on both the superhero and her steed. Long claw marks raked them both, claw marks that were all too familiar to Yara. Without warning, Cassandra suddenly clamped a hand around Yara's arm nearly scaring the darker-haired woman out of her skin. [color=white]"I'm here to protect-"[/color] The blonde Amazon managed to spit out, struggling to stay conscious, [color=white]"...y-[i]you[/i]."[/color] She added before her eyes closed, her body going limp in Yara's arms. Looking back and forth again between the pegasus and the superhero in her Aunt's field, Yara suddenly found herself unusually short on words. Suddenly her nightmares were feeling a lot more real.[/color][/INDENT][/INDENT] [color=E72428][SUP][table][row][/row][row][cell][color=#2c2c2c]- -[/color][b]First Issue:[/b] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5365059][COLOR=D9C87A][I]Title Pending[/I][/COLOR][/url][/cell][cell][color=2c2c2c]-[/color][/cell][cell][color=2c2c2c]-[/color][/cell][cell][color=2c2c2c]-[/color][/cell][cell][center][B]Next Issue:[/B] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5365059][COLOR=D9C87A][I]Title Pending[/I][/COLOR][/url][color=#2e2c2c]-[/color][/center][/cell][cell][color=2c2c2c]-[/color][/cell][cell][INDENT][right][b]Latest Issue:[/b] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5365059][COLOR=D9C87A][I]Title Pending[/I][/COLOR][/url][/right][/INDENT][/cell][/row][/table][/SUP][/color][hr][INDENT][COLOR=6D6B5C][sup][sup]1[/sup] Translated from Ki'che'[/sup][/color][/indent]