[Sunberth] Pay Your Debt In Blood

by **Sarik** on March 8th, 2013, 4:38 am

Sarik was not quite sure what to do with himself. The young woman was still clutching on to him, terrified he guessed of falling again. He supposed that was fair enough. She still seemed a little freaked out.

Suddenly, her arm shot out as if reaching for somebody in the crowd. Following her gaze, it wasn’t hard to see who. A muscular, foreign looking man was shoving his way through the crowd toward her. Boyfriend, probably.

The new arrival caught Sarik’s eye with a withering gaze. Yeah, boyfriend. Still, he didn’t think there was any call for...

Wait. Did his eyes just change color? He must have imagined that. Something with the light maybe. Except, it wasn’t. Sarik was certain he had seen them flashing, one impossible hue to another.

Now someone passed between them, and then the man turn his head to shove though the mob, and he couldn’t get another look.

Somewhat freaked himself, he decided maybe it was time to think about slipping away. This new man was looking more and more like trouble.

Keeping half an eye on the approaching figure(and still trying to catch another look at his eyes), he set to trying as gently as possible to pry the girl’s fingers off of his shirt. He didn’t want to start her panicking again, but he didn’t want to be unable to get out of here either.

by **Zenobia** on March 8th, 2013, 11:27 pm

Zenobia had no idea exactly how she had come to be there, because she supposed that to have stayed in her little home, unsure of safety as she was, might have been the best cause of action. However, it was clear that almost a year in Sunberth had taught her nothing, for hearing the sound of tumultuous roars and screaming outside in the streets, she had opened her door to find out the exact 'Who?' and 'Why?' dynamics of that anguish. Immediately, she had been swept up in a tide with no little relief that it had still been so cold that she had pulled on her dark coat over the top of her slightly more provocative clothing, hiding it entirely from general sight.
There was still a calmness though, as she was pushed and pulled forward, milling in a crowd of endless faces, contorted with fear, anger, apprehension and hunger. Ruddy red cheeks and bristled noses pushed up against the fronts of dirty, broken windows, peering at the occupants inside and dragging them with gusto and a bestial but oh-so-dreadfully human glee. It was a calmness of general acceptance of the situation, and even the possibility of something to be made from it. There was always that.

Then the cry rang out and around the mob.

"Bring us the Vultures!"

Ah, so it seemed that, even in Sunberth, cannibalism was not a widely accepted phenomenon. Well, there had to be some point where the line was drawn. Unfortunately, it did not seem to have been drawn in the right place and though Zenobia was certain that many of those present were responsible for their heinous crimes, just as many probably were not. Not that she would ever express that thought. A mob could turn quickly and so could one's luck. That was life, and the constant fight for it was one of the most delightful and dangerous things about Sunberth.

"He who lives must suffer. Even in sleep, pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop onto the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God." She muttered it quietly, almost drifting away from what was going on around her. It was a phrase her father had once said, and it reminded her just how far pain could be beautiful and love a distinct and hardy hatred. However, at that point, she got elbowed very roughly in the ribs by a great tall man. She pulled her hand to her chest and it took her a moment to regain her breath. Once she did, it was like a fog in her mind had elapsed and the crowd broke for just enough time for her to attempt to move away from the centre. Not that it was a very easy process. She almost tripped and she supposed it was in sheer defiance of fate that she did not. Zenobia knew that a person who tripped here had little chance of raising themselves back up again without help, and help was a thing rare to come by in Sunberth. And if you were helped, it was tit for tat. They did something for you, then you had to do something for them.

by **Twister** on March 9th, 2013, 4:30 pm

The parade continued to march through the streets, showing off their catch with morbid pride and accomplishment to whomever would take the time out of their lives to look and judge. It was a dark day for Sunberth and the populace knew this. Despite the cruelty in what was going on, many would still exit their homes to watch the spectacle as it moved throughout the street, leaving many pale faces and downturned eyes in their wake and quite a few bodies to boot, though they were swiftly overlooked, many assumed to have been there before the parade itself began. The city almost seemed to be in a state of celebration, joyous and relieved because of the captures. A large following joined up with the parading mobs and it seemed like more than half the city had emptied as night approached, everyone steering their feet to the fields where they would await the hanging. In the life of the average Sunberthian, this sort of event was a ray of light through a dense stormcloud. It was sufficient cause for joy and celebration. At least, for some.

Outside the city, a small farmstead had agreed to lend their grounds (with due persuasion, of course) for the gallows and their entire family had joined in to help gather materials to build enough to host every single one of the offenders and more if necessary. A rather large crowd was beginning to gather by the time the sun had set and Leth had risen to dominance on the sky. The new and swiftly built gallows cast ominous and long shadows when illuminated by the pale white light of the moon, a few volunteers tying nooses to be used in the mass-execution. Just looking upon the gallows would yield that not a lot of effort had been put into them beyond holding the body and the noose up so the wooden poles wouldn't break. They were placed high up so to ensure none of the taller culprits would be able to land safely when let through the makeshift hatches in the floor of the platform, but otherwise no consideration had been given to make this execution as humane as possible. Eyes swiftly turned away from the structure as people arrived, its presence alone enough to make guts turn and make people feel sick to their very cores. Death was always a part of life in Sunberth, but it wasn't too often that you got to watch it happen.

Whole families had shown up there in the middle of the night, mothers even dragging their children out of bed to witness the event. There would be little sleep to be had tonight since the vultures were to be executed at first light and most who arrived early simply wished to be on the safe side so they wouldn't miss the spectacle. It would be a sight to behold, many were absolutely certain. Hushed murmurs passed through the crowds, signalling a mixture of anticipation and disgust as they waited for the inevitable. The vultures were already present, strung up to a pole nearby with their hands suspended above their heads and toes barely touching the ground, receiving the crowd's judgement and abuse before their demise. By the looks on their faces, they already knew that they were going to die and a couple had receded to the depths of their minds in order to escape the reality of their situation until it was time for the gallows. In total, the mobs had collected twenty-two people. Most of them were grown men and women but they'd also seized a younger pair--a boy and girl--who seemed barely in their teens. Needless to say, these two attracted less attention than the others and the crowds mostly left them alone save the most merciless who wouldn't spare their blows even for the children.

The alleged vultures attracted many sympathetic and hateful stares. Some still pleaded for their lives as they stood there for everyone to watch while the crowd were free to dish out their own justice as long as none of the culprits died ahead of schedule. Bouncers had been pulled to the scene to make sure of that, and it happened more than once during the night that people would have to be subdued or removed in order to spare the vultures' lives for the time being. Some took their hatred a few steps too far, but still the madness continued as planned.

There was no stopping it now.
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by **Michaela Abendroth** on March 13th, 2013, 11:58 pm

Michaela was looking around her. There was a lot of noise outside. She was just happy that she was still alive and that nothing too bad had happened to her during this hard and harsh winter. Michaela had never experienced or seen a winter this bad. She knew what was going on. Today was the day that the ‘vultures’ would be hung and they would be buried outside of the city. It was completely nasty and disgusting what the vultures did during the winter.

Michaela could not imagine eating another human being, no matter what came down to it. Killing them or making them slaves yes, but eating them, no, never. It was finally growing dark outside, and this made Michaela happy because that means that the light would not hurt her eyes and she would get to see the hangings and the burials. This excited Michaela because she has never seen one of these, her whole time being in Sunberth, and in her opinion these horrible people deserved exactly what they were getting. Even though Michaela would just wrap her wings around her and make it look like she was wearing a cloak, like she often did when she was out in company that did not understand her, she decided to put clothes on, just in case she decided to stop in someplace, if any place was open. Which she thought to herself would most likely not happen because everyone would be going to the hangings.

It was pretty dark outside, so Michaela went outside and to the back of her apartment and spread her wings and flew to where the hangings would be. She hid out there, not sure of how they would react if she was there before them, so she hid in the shadows awaiting the mob to arrive so she could blend in with the mob and she what she could learn about what was happening.
Michaela seen the mob coming forth she awaited them to pass by her and she slowly came out of the shadows and joined the mob in their march to the farmland where the hangings and burials were to take place.

So far she hadn’t heard anything about anyone or what was going on. All she knew were that all these offenders were “apparently” guilty of being ‘vultures.’ … she looked around hoping that maybe someone would be able to fill her in on what was happening. Michaela made sure to bring sunglasses with her, that she had stolen from a purse that she had seen laying out in the open. She needed them, because the hangings were to be done at first light and it would be too bright for her eyes.

I wonder if anyone here is able to tell me what is going on. She thought to herself as she scanned through the people that were around her awaiting for what was to happen.

by **Twister** on March 15th, 2013, 6:13 pm

It wasn't hard to figure out what was happening out in the fields. All of the accused had been strung up by their wrists to be left at the mercy of the crowd while the last preparations for their hanging were made. The crowd bustled with life and spirit, however dark it'd been coloured tonight. This was Sunberth at its worst, no doubt, and even then everything spoke for things taking a turn for the even worse at this point.

Darkness started to flee the heavenly valve eventually. Hours passed in the blink of an eye as the crowd waited in anticipation for the hour of reckoning. Beaten and subdued, the vultures were all led onto the platform and held up while the nooses were tightened around their necks, the crowd suddenly hushing itself to an eerie silence. The biggest and the strongest of men stood up on the platform with the accused to make sure they didn't pass ahead of time, guarding the sides of it in a way to ascertain that no one else came too close now that the time was almost come. The occasional glance was tossed towards the horizon where it looked like dawn was about to break at any moment. Many in the crowd were tired, keeping themselves awake by refusing to allow themselves to sit, This event was too important to miss and they could afford themselves some sleep once it was all over. Judging by the size of the crowd that had gathered before dawnbreak, most of the city would most likely be quiet far into the day as people caught up on the sleep they lost, waiting out in the fields.

The silence was almost suffocating after a while. A single man patrolled the platform, checking on the ropes to make sure they would hold for the hanging. Last-second preparations. Meanwhile, the onlookers remained silent and it was easy to believe they were collectively holding their breath just to make sure they wouldn't miss a beat.

After a while, the alleged "executioner" spoke up;

"It has been a most perilous winter; filled with all sorts of trials and obstacles laid out to obstruct our paths to survival," he started, all too dramatically while spinning on his heels to face the crowd, "some even obstructing our ability to use our freedoms to pursue it." The crowd still kept silent while he paused. Notably, the man that the crowd had taken to calling the "executioner" was a very unremarkable man and the name didn't seem to get along well with the impression he was giving. He was short and plump but without the muscle on his body to really pose too much of a threat to anyone; noose or no. By the looks of things, he might've been a previous victim of a vulture attack judging by the bite-marks on his neck and arms and the occasional missing chunk of flesh. ... It's a wonder he'd survived at all, seeing as he would've been in no condition to escape on his own. He just didn't look strong enough.

"The vultures standing before you have commited the most atrocious of crimes. While we were weak, they preyed on their families and yours; used their flesh to prolong their own!" There was a murmur in the crowd following his words, "Monsters! Abominations!"

The crowd agreed and joined the executioner in crying and throwing their accusations and bile at the culprits that were barely standing on their own anymore as they awaited their fates at the gallows. None of them had any strength left in them to fight back or resist what was coming. Some of them seemed to long for it, judging by the vacant looks in their faces. Their minds were already somewhere else and their bodies could barely wait to follow them. "Preyed on us like animals, they did, and like animals they'll be treated! Rabid dogs to the slaughter! Sick, twisted, dangerous and contaminated! Contagious and diseased!"

Underneath the platform, the executioner's collaborators positioned themselves at the ready to pull open the hatches underneath the vultures' feet. Seeing as this platform was made specifically for this occasion, it hadn't been given a proper design and the hatches had to be opened by hand just to make sure all of them opened like planned. Meanwhile, the gathered onlookers continued to egg the executioner on as he preached, his face a furious red hue as he screamed out his frustrations in an attempt to be heard over the excited roar of the crowd. "You've feasted on our blood and flesh and now you'll surrender yours to us! When you die, your bodies will rot and be feasted on by the very same animals you've chosen to become!"

Clearing his throat, the executioner rubbed at his chest once he'd cried out the last bit. Unimpressed with his own choice of words and not willing to embarass himself any longer, he gave his associates the signal they needed before the hatches opened underneath the accused. The crowd sucked in a collective, surprised gasp as the bodies fell and the ropes tightened around their necks. With a series of sickening snaps, it was finally over.

It took a while for the silence to lift this time. People stood silently and stared in awe at the bodies, suspended in midair by their necks with their feet kicking weakly underneath them as the last bit of life seeped out of their limbs. One or two of the bodies kicked for longer before they finally died, the ropes around their necks failing to kill them as they fell and forcing the onlookers to watch them slowly fade away. Once the crowds finally started to disperse, dawn had already broken and Syna was claiming dominion over the skies. A rare few remained out in the fields to assist with the disassemblence of the gallows, hanging the bodies off the nearest set of trees instead where they would remain on display for many days to come.

Sunberth's heart skipped a beat...

...however, it would not yet stop racing.
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by **Twister** on March 15th, 2013, 6:13 pm

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Experience Award

Nemanjak

Grade :

Gia

Grade :

Sarik

Grade :

Kel Ehmry

Grade :

Thundiirn

Grade :

Xadel

Grade :

Gad

Grade :

Zenobia

Grade :

Michaela Abendroth

Grade :

If you've any questions or concerns about your grade, drop me a PM!
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