A Test of Faith (Open)

[Kassan]

Timestamp: 1st Day of Spring, 512 AV Status: Open Kassan was just leaving his living quarters, pacing the cloister, when he felt the storm strike. The moment it happened, he knew that it was the event they had been warned of. There was an ear splitting sound, as if the entire world had been torn apart, and he ducked and covered his ears instinctively. And then the djed came. Fiery rain, burning down from the sky. He forced himself to run, moments before a stone pillar gave away upon impact. We will protect the mother city, he thought ardently. They had been forewarned, and the monks would be the people to defend the city in its hour of need. The origins of this storm were divine, but Kassan knew little more. The God's had immeasurable power. He knew that well. And all around, it seemed the end of Mizahar was nigh, fiery rain destroying all it struck, and a deep seated sense of fear and panic in his heart that refused to vacate.

[Shasshtekssemet]

Ssemet hurried across the northern bridge. With the storm so near she needed to find another meal for Sseth and the rations provided outsiders like her contained nothing appropriate for a snake. Who knew how long it might be until Herring Square opened again? She’d left the cobra and his basket in her room at the hostel, today the musician had to be quick and quiet. She’d brought only her flute, wrapped tight in her purple cloak to protect it from any precipitation, and her kris, tucked into the folds of her bright orange sash. The musician ducked into a random alleyway. What she was about to do held risks, risks the Dhani would never hazard if she wasn’t worried about Sseth’s health. Her temples pounded with every swift step, a constant reminder of her own needs which she had left unfulfilled yet today. She prayed the imminent threat of the foretold storm would keep the Nykan’s from noticing her presence as the serpent tucked herself into a corner of the alley. Once there she withdrew her flute and intoned the slow and haunting notes that she knew would fade behind the notice of most but still send her message. Pulling at the source of life’s magic in her core the tawny woman drew upon her djed and focused it threw her lips, blowing her command through her flute’s trills. Her missive was simple; she beckoned, hoping to catch a small creature with her song. A rat, a frog, a cat, or even another snake would do. Ssemet just needed a way to sustain her dear companion for the uncertain days to come.

[Kassan]

The sky was falling. The earth was screaming. Everything around him seemed to crumble. Kassan rushed through the streets, almost blindly, knowing it was duty that carried him and his blades. There were people shouting, rushing into buildings, and many simply moving about with confusion and panic. The Konti had come from the White Isle and delivered their prophecy. How many people had taken note though? How many people had listened to the warning? He ran for a while, lost in a trance like state. It was the music that broke him out of it. He passed an alley, and the dulcet tune drifted to his ears, shattering the bubble of chaos that consumed everything around him. For a moment, he felt tethered to the music. He moved towards the alley. A woman stood there, playing a flute. For a moment he was delirious, eyes glazed. And then he snapped out of it, hand going to his head. "You shouldn't be out here!" he postured, before gesturing to the darkening sky, "the storm! You'll get yourself killed!"

[Shasshtekssemet]

The dusky rat crept forward, the Dhani’s eyes locked on his beady vermin gaze. Nearly within reach but a hunter knew to wait until escape was all but impossible. Digits so focused on maintaining posture twitched. Ssemet slowed her song, one hand easing off the keys slowly snaking through the air to get proper range to— You shouldn’t be here. Her thoughts echoed enraged as she watched the morsel flee. Jerking towards the voice she had verbal venom prepared, but when the amber eyes lit upon the monk’s robes she was forced to swallow her own poison. The tawny woman froze, it wasn’t just any monk. The man’s features held a skin tone not bred in any northerner she’d yet seen; the closest were the Drykus. “I musst do thiss thing, Monk.” She spoke his title without derision of course, it was simply the fact and an easy moniker. Ssemet’s eyes had followed the man’s signal, and indeed the clouds seemed yet worse than when she had settled here. The danger changed nothing, a meal for her cobra was still necessary even though her prey had fled. There was a vital crux the woman had failed to acknowledge, her song may have brought the monk and the rat to her but it might have potentially brought something else as well. More likely than not the man had saved her life already by ceasing her summons.

oocI assume he was wearing his robes so she'd recognize him as a Monk. If not let me know and I'll edit!

[Kassan]

Her voice was odd. Not quite human. The letters were drawn out, a serpentine undertone to them. He looked at her for a moment, and then a scream nearby pulled him back into reality. He moved towards her swiftly, the authority of his position taking hold. He grabbed her by the arm and pulled. "That isn't an option," he growled, "stay here and die, or move!" He had little time. Uphis would muster his forces soon enough. Who knew what horrors would emerge from the Aperture? Life in Nyka was tough enough without storms of cataclysmic proportions. The Konti said it was not just Nyka. The Konti said the storm would race across the land, causing destruction wherever it went. Though Kassan was bound to the Mother City, his thoughts briefly flitted to Ekytol. To Yahebah. But only bad memories came from that city of dust and sand and Yahal. Uphis was stronger. Uphis had the conviction and the leadership. "We must find shelter."