My writing challenge this week: Darkness
Apr. 3rd, 2007 06:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
baronessekatWhen I was given Darkness as a topic this week I only thought of one thing. One of my RPG characters in Viridia. She is an agorophobic, sadistic Necromancer who is one of the High Three that run the Abysmal Mages in service to the Dark Demon Harpax.
I pulled her out, brushed her off and let her tell what it means to be "evil".
Marzanna Solvay walks slowly through her library her fingers trailing along the old and polished leather bindings of the books that grace the shelves.
Behind her walks a young man of about 14 years old. He maintains his silence as he follows her but he remains attentive to her.
Occasionally Zanna takes out a book and casually drops it behind her, knowing that the young man will either catch it or he will die. Either way... what bliss.
As she walks she continues with the lesson she had been giving.
”The world is older than you know Warden. And contrary to popular mythology, it did not begin as a paradise. For untold eons, demons walked upon the face of Viridia, made it their home; their hell. And the Great One ruled over them all.
”But in time He lost his purchase on this reality and the meddlesome Couple came and helped to make way for the mortal animals. For man and elf.
”What remains are vestiges, certain myths and creatures to remind us of the True Way. The way it was, the way is shall be.
”Forever.”
She continues walking and handing back books to the boy.
”Harpax tried to return, to bring back his power and win back his rightful place as the overseer of Viridia. But the Couple cheated. How could you call what they did anything but? They stood two against one. Those who follow the false ways, claim they honor and uphold balance, but what kind of balance is two to one odds.
”No, Balance is an excuse to do what they want without feeling guilt or shame for their actions. They say "I can do this because somewhere in this world is another who is doing the exact opposite right now to balance out what I do."
”The concept of Balance is a myth clung to by the weak and simple minded.”
She pauses and turns to look at Warden.
”They call us evil, Warden. But what is evil? They call us Dark and Disturbed.
”But how can going with what your nature is be evil? I am what I was made to be. Just as you are,”. she reaches out and lightly strokes the lad's cheek with a soft smile. It's not very comforting a smile but a smile none the less
”And as for their claim that we use only dark powers and arts to achieve our goals. Again, what is dark powers?
”Yes I hold the power over the lands of the dead. I can bring death to another with a whisper of a word. But such skills can be used to heal a body of a viral infection. Purify water to drink. Clear land for farming.
”There is no such thing as right or wrong, Warden. There are only moments in time. And the moments are fleeting. The present changes into the past with every breath we take. All we can do is look to the future to vindicate our actions.”
Marzanna Solvay sighs and turns to continue down the stack to find more books for the boy to read.
”As I was saying. The Couple cheated. Then to enforce their cowardice actions they put the compulsion on the land. Forcing people to come to their service and do their bidding.
”Remember that point Warden. The Great One never demands service of those loyal to him. Unwilling followers are not true followers. They are slaves and chattel.
”But to further weave their web of deceit, the Couple gave a name to those who they conscripted and magicked into following them.
”Called Ones.
”As if throwing a couple capital letters on some common nouns makes them special.
”The Called Ones are still mortal Warden. That is the most important thing. The are like ants.
”First you see one, then another, and soon the picnic is ruined. But they can still be stepped on and stopped.”
Marzanna glides across the large open expanse of library to a chair by a large fireplace.
She sits down with grace and confidence.
She motions for the boy to sit, which he does, holding a pile of books in his lap.
”Those of us who serve the Great One have been promised by him, before he had to make a strategic retreat in face of impossible odds, that we shall be held dear. We prepare the way for his return. And in return he shall grant us powers beyond all imagining.
”The glory and grandness of Harpax is the One True Way. And despite all the best efforts of the Slaves of Balance, the Demon shall walk upon the lands again. And darkness will follow. The several races of man will be as one.
”And that is the True Path Warden. The ones that claim that theirs is the way of light and goodness seek to keep apart. To divide and separate. All to maintain their precious Balance.
”But true balance is not black and white; good and evil; pure and tainted. True balance is a blending; a union; a joining.
”And when He returns He will bring back together what they tore asunder.”
She doesn't move or blink as Baycock, her solid black, bat-winged rumpleteazer sails in and perches on the back of her wing-back chair. The boy however shows his startlement before returning his attention to his teacher.
She clears her throat. ”Pay attention,” she says softly and waits for the boy to look at her.
”Remember what I have said here tonight, Warden. Harpax is great and beautiful and when he walks on Viridia, all eyes will follow him, because his name is a holy name. He is beyond sin and death. He is the thing that the darkness fears. He will be everywhere. In every being, in every thought.
”We can help him win his way back to power by making ourselves available to him.”
She closes her eyes. “We are his vessels. He is the power. Forever and always.”
When she opens her eyes they are dilated to being black.
”Now go and see to your readings, Warden. I will be testing you tomorrow on what you have read.”
She nods to him as he thanks her for the lesson and stands and carefully makes his way out of the room.
She leans back into her chair and Baycock slinks down and curls up in her lap.
She lightly pets her cat and simply smiles.
I pulled her out, brushed her off and let her tell what it means to be "evil".
Marzanna Solvay walks slowly through her library her fingers trailing along the old and polished leather bindings of the books that grace the shelves.
Behind her walks a young man of about 14 years old. He maintains his silence as he follows her but he remains attentive to her.
Occasionally Zanna takes out a book and casually drops it behind her, knowing that the young man will either catch it or he will die. Either way... what bliss.
As she walks she continues with the lesson she had been giving.
”The world is older than you know Warden. And contrary to popular mythology, it did not begin as a paradise. For untold eons, demons walked upon the face of Viridia, made it their home; their hell. And the Great One ruled over them all.
”But in time He lost his purchase on this reality and the meddlesome Couple came and helped to make way for the mortal animals. For man and elf.
”What remains are vestiges, certain myths and creatures to remind us of the True Way. The way it was, the way is shall be.
”Forever.”
She continues walking and handing back books to the boy.
”Harpax tried to return, to bring back his power and win back his rightful place as the overseer of Viridia. But the Couple cheated. How could you call what they did anything but? They stood two against one. Those who follow the false ways, claim they honor and uphold balance, but what kind of balance is two to one odds.
”No, Balance is an excuse to do what they want without feeling guilt or shame for their actions. They say "I can do this because somewhere in this world is another who is doing the exact opposite right now to balance out what I do."
”The concept of Balance is a myth clung to by the weak and simple minded.”
She pauses and turns to look at Warden.
”They call us evil, Warden. But what is evil? They call us Dark and Disturbed.
”But how can going with what your nature is be evil? I am what I was made to be. Just as you are,”. she reaches out and lightly strokes the lad's cheek with a soft smile. It's not very comforting a smile but a smile none the less
”And as for their claim that we use only dark powers and arts to achieve our goals. Again, what is dark powers?
”Yes I hold the power over the lands of the dead. I can bring death to another with a whisper of a word. But such skills can be used to heal a body of a viral infection. Purify water to drink. Clear land for farming.
”There is no such thing as right or wrong, Warden. There are only moments in time. And the moments are fleeting. The present changes into the past with every breath we take. All we can do is look to the future to vindicate our actions.”
Marzanna Solvay sighs and turns to continue down the stack to find more books for the boy to read.
”As I was saying. The Couple cheated. Then to enforce their cowardice actions they put the compulsion on the land. Forcing people to come to their service and do their bidding.
”Remember that point Warden. The Great One never demands service of those loyal to him. Unwilling followers are not true followers. They are slaves and chattel.
”But to further weave their web of deceit, the Couple gave a name to those who they conscripted and magicked into following them.
”Called Ones.
”As if throwing a couple capital letters on some common nouns makes them special.
”The Called Ones are still mortal Warden. That is the most important thing. The are like ants.
”First you see one, then another, and soon the picnic is ruined. But they can still be stepped on and stopped.”
Marzanna glides across the large open expanse of library to a chair by a large fireplace.
She sits down with grace and confidence.
She motions for the boy to sit, which he does, holding a pile of books in his lap.
”Those of us who serve the Great One have been promised by him, before he had to make a strategic retreat in face of impossible odds, that we shall be held dear. We prepare the way for his return. And in return he shall grant us powers beyond all imagining.
”The glory and grandness of Harpax is the One True Way. And despite all the best efforts of the Slaves of Balance, the Demon shall walk upon the lands again. And darkness will follow. The several races of man will be as one.
”And that is the True Path Warden. The ones that claim that theirs is the way of light and goodness seek to keep apart. To divide and separate. All to maintain their precious Balance.
”But true balance is not black and white; good and evil; pure and tainted. True balance is a blending; a union; a joining.
”And when He returns He will bring back together what they tore asunder.”
She doesn't move or blink as Baycock, her solid black, bat-winged rumpleteazer sails in and perches on the back of her wing-back chair. The boy however shows his startlement before returning his attention to his teacher.
She clears her throat. ”Pay attention,” she says softly and waits for the boy to look at her.
”Remember what I have said here tonight, Warden. Harpax is great and beautiful and when he walks on Viridia, all eyes will follow him, because his name is a holy name. He is beyond sin and death. He is the thing that the darkness fears. He will be everywhere. In every being, in every thought.
”We can help him win his way back to power by making ourselves available to him.”
She closes her eyes. “We are his vessels. He is the power. Forever and always.”
When she opens her eyes they are dilated to being black.
”Now go and see to your readings, Warden. I will be testing you tomorrow on what you have read.”
She nods to him as he thanks her for the lesson and stands and carefully makes his way out of the room.
She leans back into her chair and Baycock slinks down and curls up in her lap.
She lightly pets her cat and simply smiles.
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Date: 2007-04-05 12:26 am (UTC)