Reborn, again... Evermore.

Posted on Tue Jan 17th, 2023 @ 8:46pm by High Priestess An'Dalus

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Sequella, Mortuary Cult Crypts
Timeline: Around 1000 years prior to 2397
1130 words - 2.3 OF Standard Post Measure

It was always quiet in the Crypts, something that was accentuated when the priestesses slowly walked the hallowed grounds, lighting candles and caring for the bones of elders long since departed.

But tonight the tunnel gently shook as finely polished hooves echoed like drumbeats on the sandstone tiles, a marshal beat to their guttural and nasal prayers as they passed by the numerous alcoves that housed the partially sand-covered remains of their order.

"She is not going to be happy to be woken so soon..." a young mare whispered amongst the group, clutching nervously at a necklace of bone beads as those behind her continued to chant.

Another, the oldest mare of the group inclined her head back at the acolyte who had just spoken, peering at her through the thin veil of her hooded robes to ease the girls' concerns with understanding eyes.

"We don't have much choice Saf'v. High Priestess S'dere has commanded this to be done, so we will carry out her instructions." She said with a slow blink before facing forward once more, ignoring the shadows that danced around on the walls that weren't quite their own.

"They seem restless tonight..." Another priestess spoke as the group slowed, bringing their lanterns closer or hiding them beneath their intricately inscribed robes, guarding the blue flames as they flickered from a wind that did not exist.

"It must be to do with Fa'veh." The older priestess said with a frown, watching the lanterns settle before lifting it out from behind her robe. "Though we'll find out once we wake An'Dalus."

As the group continued through the Crypt's tunnels, they stopped to light brazers of sand along the way, guarding one another against the restless shadows that seemed to dance around their own.

Another reason why the burial grounds were guarded so fiercely, not to protect the bones entombed within but to protect anyone foolish enough to enter without mental training and ritual protection; For the dead desperately want to live once more, even if by coopting a body that is not their own.

"Here... gather around sisters, this is going to be difficult." The eldest spoke as she stopped, ushering Acolytes past her until the group formed a wall of robbed bodies around the tomb of An'Dalus.

either end of the group, phalanxes of lanterns were raised high, casting their blue glow down either end of the ancient corridor.

"Remember everyone," The Priestess spoke, marshalling herself for what was to come. "This will be more dangerous than normal... failing to wake High Priestess Fa'veh has stirred the eternal sleeping herd into a frenzy... do not let them in, do not listen to their whispers and ignore your shadows."

A chorus of replies reverberated in the confines of the Crypt. "We are ready Priestess, dunes protect us."

"Dunes protect us..." She whispered, raising her arms and removing her hood before shouldering the robe off her body, letting it fall to her hooves.

Ahead of her was the alcove that housed An'Dalus, with its thick slab of ornate stone sitting at its centre to serve as a not-so-final resting place for the High Priestess.

"Dunes protect me, so I may bring one of our own back to the herd..." The Priestess continued as she stepped forward, her eyes affectionately staring at the skull of An'Dalus jutting out of the deep red sand that had partially buried her body.

"Dunes guide us, so we may find our strength," She hummed, now in unison with the others, their words echoing loudly inside the Crypt.

"Dunes guide me, so I may be a beacon for those that are lost."

With this, she gently pushed her cloven fingers into the sand, stirring the shadows on either side of them into a cacophony of pained wails.

"Dunes shelter us." Acolytes and maidens snorted through gritted teeth, casting their hands out and writing unseen symbols from behind the safety of the lantern's light.

"Dunes shelter me, so I may withstand the coming storm."

Bones twitched and sand shifted, flowing and pulsating into tendrils that wrapped gently around the Priestesses' wrists before tugging firmly.

"Dunes give us strength."

"Dunes give me strength, so I have the strength to lift this one back to the herd."

The mound atop An'Dalus shuddered as her bones reknitted together, forcing sand out from between her ribs as her lungs and other organs coalesced back into existence.

"Dunes protect us!."

"Dunes protect me! so I may protect this vessel!"

Muscle and skin wrapped around bones, using the very sand to reform as the chanting continued.

"Dunes keep us, so we may keep our strength!"

"Dunes keep me, so I may keep this strength!"

The maidens and Acolytes were forced to step back from the encroaching darkness that had swept the tunnels, extinguishing every candle or brazer they had lit and threatening to consume the very light housed in their lanterns.

The Priestess gritted her teeth, breaking away from the group chant to focus on herself, for if she passed out now from exhaustion then they would all likely die.

pinpricks danced on the edge of her vision, threatening to drag her into the abyss of the sleeping herd.

But then An'Dalus gasped into new life, her chest arching high as she took that first painful breath of air in.

The priestess fell to her knees, exhausted. "High priestess... I can't, help them..." She mumbled before falling onto her side.

An'Dalus blinked the world into focus as the Priestess fell, there was clearly no time for formality here.

"Goodness, really?" She hissed in annoyance before flinging her legs around and standing up, stepping over the Priestess that had passed out.

her annoyance then focused on the corridor and the bubble of light that was barely staving off the encroaching darkness.

"Ridiculous..." Anne muttered as she turned back to her alcove and the flickering candles of blue light that surrounded where she once lay, there she reached out, plucking one of the small whisps of fire before twirling it around her fingers, stretching and growing the flames until they had engulfed both of her hands.

Then without saying another word, she flung her hands out, one down each end of the corridor, relighting every candle, torch and brazer in an instant. Casting the shadows back to the corners and depths of the crypt.

"Now..." She hummed as the chanting defused into stunned silence. "Does anyone want to explain to me what's going on?" Anne remarked as she contorted the fires around her hands back into a single whisp of blue flame, stepping carefully back over the priestess to relight the candle she had borrowed it from. "Oh and get her up too."