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| Topic Started: Nov 6 2008, 03:40 PM (77 Views) | |
| Fog | Nov 6 2008, 03:40 PM Post #1 |
The Kami
  ![]](http://209.85.62.24/static/1/pip_r.png)
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The ruins of a small town in Japan. Near the center of town is a public school. For just over one year this place has been home to twenty five refugees. The town is nestled near the base of a mountain, but is close enough to Kyoto that most of it's inhabitants worked there before the fall. The day is temperate and sunny. Sudden screams fill the air. The refugees are gathered in the park across from the school. Three assaults had sprouted from the ground, and panic filled the air. Now there were twenty two. The assaults charged towards a young man. He tried to run, but tripped and fell. The assaults closed in. There was a slight ripple of wind. Fog now stood between the demons and their prey. Fog stretched out a hand. As though forced out by a strong wind, a wraithlike figure billowed out from each demon. Their bodies crumpled. the spirits blew away into nothing. The strain on Fog was enormous, he felt as if he was going to black out. He struggled to maintain his composure. If this was going to work he had to appear far more powerful than he was. The refugees eyed him warily, unsure of what to expect. Fog turned and headed towards the mountain. "Follow" |
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| Fog | Nov 11 2008, 05:28 PM Post #2 |
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The Kami
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They followed. All of them looked nervous at first, but Fog kept walking at an even pace, and none of them wanted to be left without an explanation. Fog said nothing else, but walked so that everyone could keep up with him. Gradually they left the town behind and headed towards the forest at the base of the mountain. They took a thin, winding path through the forest. The refugees spoke softly. "Have you ever seen this trail before?" "No, and I was here just the other day." It had been early afternoon when they started walking, Fog stopped every hour or so and stood in silence while the others rested. The sun had set, and the moon had just risen over the peak of the mountain when Fog finally stopped. They had entered a large clearing, far from the base of the mountain, but far enough from the peak that there was no snow, and the air was crisp, but not cold. At the far edge of the clearing was a cliff, perhaps fifty feet high. From the top of the cliff a series of waterfalls trickled down, forming pools on in each small outcropping, then pouring down to the one below it, and eventually down into a pond maybe 100 feet across. The clearing stretched out for another fifty feet or so around the spring. Fog smiled slightly at the sight of it, he others were in awe. The pond was as clear as glass, and seemed almost to glow in the moonlight. "Wait" Fog stepped forward into the pool, leaving a trail of ripples as he walked forwards. The water slowly rose over his head, and even in the clear pool it became hard to see him. The villagers waited, confused. A few seconds passed. Slowly, Fog rose out of the water, sitting cross legged on a massive water lilly. "Thank you for you patience. I am Fog. We have much to discuss." Edited by Fog, Nov 12 2008, 12:44 AM.
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| Fog | Nov 12 2008, 02:18 AM Post #3 |
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The Kami
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The assembled crowd was silent, awed. Fog smiled slightly. He spoke plainly and softly, but as usual, his voice echoed through the surrounding space. It was hard to say exactly where the noise was coming from. "You have been walking all day, you must be tired. Sit, rest." Most of the crowd sat, arranged in a ring around the pond so they could see. A few remained standing warily. "You have all suffered much. The forces of Heaven and Hell have fought for many years now. They fight for control of this world. This much you know, of course. Most of you know, though maybe you don't believe, that this planet has god's of it's own. Like you, they have been caught in the crossfire. Like you, they never had a say in the matter. I was a man once, I spoke for the Kami, for the small gods. I am now something more. I will never truly be a Kami, but I am stronger than most of them, and I can certainly no longer be called human. I am going to give you something Heaven never gave you, something Hell never gave you........ and something the Kami never gave me. I am going to give you a choice." Fog scanned the faces slowly. They were all sitting now. "I will speak simply now. For once you will have a straightforward god. Here is what I propose. I, along with the rest of the Kami, will be your new gods. Why would I want this? Though my power is great, we Kami draw strength from prayer, meditation, belief. We can survive without it, but with it we thrive. In return, I offer you protection. I offer you a chance to sleep without the fear of being swept away by powers you don't understand. I offer you a chance to build, to thrive along with the Kami. I could make this forest thrive, and become a beautiful, bountiful place to live. Soon others would come, and you could construct for yourselves a future. I you though, much will never return. Sprawling cities of steel and concrete, those are not what your futures hold. but neither must you shun the past thousand years of your progress. If you must kill for food, then you must. Understand though that the special treatment I give you is limited. you are clever animals, and I favor you, but you are animals. Understand also that I am not all mercy and handouts. In my domain I give life, and I take life away, and you will not always understand why. That is the way of life. But make no mistake, what I offer you is a paradise, a sanctuary." Fog paused and scanned the crowd again. He raised his eyes to the moon, now high overhead. Still staring at the moon, he spoke again. "You may return to your shelter, or stay in this place if you wish. I do not know how you have organized yourselves. Vote, have your leaders make the decision, each can choose for themselves, whatever you wish. Know that whatever you chose, this forest is now my domain, and that domain will spread. Sooner or later you will have to leave the town below if you do not wish to live under my influence. However, do not fear you will anger me with refusal, I give you this choice because I want you to make it. I will return to this place tomorrow at nightfall. Thank you for your time." Fog stood and bowed to the crowd respectfully, they all stood and did the same. The next moment he was gone. A gust of wind blew through the clearing. The great lilly wilted and sank. The refugees began to speak. |
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| Fog | Nov 15 2008, 02:24 AM Post #4 |
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The Kami
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They decided it was best to stay the night there, rather than risk the journey back in the dark. This made Fog hopeful, at least they trusted him enough to say. Maybe they liked the idea of being under his protection? Fog had discovered about a week before he approached the villagers, a small tunnel. It was behind the falls, concealed and protected by the strong rush of water. It was just large enough for someone Fog's size to crawl through comfortably. About fifteen feet in the tunnel opened into a large series of crystalline caverns. It was perfect. The tunnel was the only entrance Fog could find, except for a few small channels that served to bring in fresh air. It was easily defensible, had plenty of small chambers, and two hotsprings, which also kept the place at a reasonable temperature. It was a little dank, but rather beautiful. Once Fog had time for a few rituals the place would be a fortress, and a rather comfortable one at that. The only trouble would be getting things in and out. Fog wasn't good at formal magic, and had trouble transporting anything besides himself. He would have to ask some of the others for help on that one, as much as it bothered him to admit it. It was from here that Fog watched them move throughout the day. They found the food he had left for them, and spent most of the day deliberating. Fog couldn't hear over the sound of the falls, but it was clear enough that there were three people who made the decisions. One was an older woman with a cane and white hair, but her face carried an iron will, and carried a Katana. The second was a man, perhaps thirty five or so, with a bald head and a thick coat of tattoos. He was aggressive, and seemed to yell everything, perhaps a Yakuza from before the fall. The third was a young woman, she had a bright, welcoming smile, and carried no weapons, but the others were afraid of her, terrified. No one was afraid to argue with the other two, but this woman, when she spoke they only nodded and wrung their hands, always staying out of arm's reach. The sun began to set, Fog was anxious. He couldn't really do this without human help. The next few hours would determine just how much power Fog could wield in the future. With this place, he could gather strength, and extend the reach of his power. It all came down to the next few hours. |
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| Fog | Nov 16 2008, 03:26 AM Post #5 |
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The Kami
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The sun had finished setting about five minutes ago. Fog would wait another ten before he went out there. There was something to be said for showmanship. They were quiet. He was sure they were hungry, they hadn't left all day. Fog took a deep breath and slid out of the tunnel and into the water, protected from view by the falls. He sank to the bottom of the pool. He wanted something showy. He had recovered from his exertions the day before, and wanted a display of power that didn't seem like a threat. The refugees waited silently. the only sound came from the steady rushing of the falls. Suddenly there was no noise at all. The falls had stopped, water still suspended in the air. The pool was as smooth and clear as glass. The water was untroubled as the large water lilly, blossom now closed, rose above the surface. A single ring rippled out from the great flower across he pond. It bloomed. Fog stood within it, eyes churning green spheres. All at once he water resumed its flow. The soft crashing of the falls cut through the silence. Fog tried now to smile at the faces of the crowd. The three from before stood well in front of the rest. Fog leapt across the distance and landed lightly on the balls of his feet in front of them. He stared silently, his posture patient. It was the old woman who spoke. "We graciously accept your protection, holy one" Fog nodded. "I am glad, and Fog will do just fine." He looked at the crowd. "I have a gift for you" he held out a small seed, then pushed it into the soil with his finger. "this seed will grow into a cherry tree. The blossoms will be beautiful and the berries will keep a grown man full and healthy for a day. When it is fully grown it will be the guardian tree of this mountain. it will watch over you and make the forest grow strong. If I am absent, this tree will keep this place safe from demons. However, you must watch over it as well. You must offer praise before it daily for it to grow and flourish. In truth the power I offer you is your own, I will simply make it manifest. Over the next week, you should start moving yourselves into the woods. Remember when you do that this land is sacred. Kill only what you must. I will watch over you, though I may not always be seen. Goodnight all of you, and welcome home." Fog walked through the crowd and into the darkness of the forest. He grinned. He hadn't told them everything of course. By making this place stronger he was also making himself stronger, essentially farming the excess spiritual energy, and he didn't intend to always watch over them, he had plenty to take care of. Still, he was offering them a lot in exchange for very little. Besides, he had a hunger for power now, a real, physical, aching hunger for it. This was the best way to sate it without draining the life from everything in sight. Everything had gone according to plan. For the first time in a long while, Fog was optimistic. <Exit Fog> Edited by Fog, Nov 16 2008, 03:28 AM.
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11:29 AM Nov 9
