Well in tried and true style here's some filler...
Well not just filler, all of these similar chunks do have a relevance.
EDIT: spell checker is down, will proof read this asap and sort typos out.
"There is no foul in my decision, I am not the voice of rebellious descent, nor an upstart threatening civil war, a council that agrees unanimously are either simpletons incapable of independant thought, or worse have fallen prey to their own emotions and have given in to fear and desperation. Though my clarity of thought pales in comparisson with Lord Kroak, I cannot shake my doubts of the council's course of action, we spare ourselves the axe in favour of the slow poison. We cannot heal this world, there is precious little of the magick that once flowed and to break the wards that were so costly to place would annihilate what little we have left. To place faith, hope and desperation in the Old One's return is less than a fool's hope, but it is the only one we have left; do not entreat me with such suspicion, I am and will remain plagued with doubt until I am proven wrong, for cold truth brings more peace than hopeful desperation."
- Lord Huinitenuchli, Slann of the second spawning.
Historian's note:
It would appear that the council refered to is the "Council of first", although eight or perhaps as many as twelve of the second generation Slann survived the great catastrophy, the council was established so that only the eldest, wisest and most promenant Slann of each city would act as it's representative and only Slann of the second generation or higher were permitted to such meetings.
I should also take this opportunity to apologize to you my lord of the "crudeness" of the translations, basic Lustrian is easy enough to transcribe into our comparative tongue, but the language used by these Slann exists far outside that of our own (and though they'd never admit it, far beyond the capability of Elves too). The language used is much like their grasp of the winds of magic, a natural affinity is only the begining of such a divide, thousands of years (indeed, tens of thousands in many instances) of use and tutorage from these "Old Ones" have taken them into a league that we cannot hope to match. Linguistically speaking our tongues do not have the comparative range or skill to even attempt direct corrilations; as such I would like to request that when your lordship reviews speech from these Slann and Old Ones (indeed my lord, I have found direct instructions from their masters!), you do not mistake these beings in any form of comparative, or similarity based light. Their minds are like the great Oceans, impossible to glipse their depths and dangerous to try.
I would also like to take this time to personally and whole heartedly thank you my lord, or such wonderful, perhaps even rare pieces of work, at present I have transcribed a mere five plaques, but the site of an entire chamber's worth of such items floods my heart with a cocktail of emotions that neither words, nor the time taken to say them would allow. I can never thank you enough for this opportunity, the variety and rarity of such works eclipse those I translated for the great Museum and archives. I will give you a much more thorough assessment of these works and indeed, of your Ancestor, for I do indeed speculate that he not only journey to that mysterious continent long before the other races claimed to, but that he may even have been invited, or perhaps called. We have only glimpsed the beginings of the power commanded by these Slann, so it is plausable that they may have contacted and even guided him across the perilous seas to Lustria and even seen him safely home again, but to what ends, alas, I cannot say.
I shall endevour to provide more information on the various sites, structures and indeed the Pantheon or Old Ones. I have already found much (though it requires my undivided attention to translate accurately) and so have formulated a brief index for you to peruse.
- Spawning pools
- Temple of Sotek
- Barriors
- Polar gates
- Gateways
- The great catastrophe
Hlx-liopic covered his eyes in fear, as if denying the site of such a symbol would some how remove it altogether, whilst around him other skink priests and artisans squawked in fear, either throwing themselves to the floor and muttering words of supplication to the Old Ones, or running this way and that. He stayed as he was for a good long moment or two, before gingerly peering through the slits in his fingers, the mark was still there, but he was un-touched, not blasted with vengeful magick, nor hacked apart by blades of stalwart temple guard. He cocked his head slightly, ignoring the panic that still surrounded him as he strained to listen to the noises of the jungle and echoes that flew into the great chamber from outside; no tramp of marching scaley feet, no scream, roars or howls, there was in fact nothing.
He looked down at the symbol again, still ignoring the hisses of fear and shrieked commands of the more senior priests to find Tehenhauin and seek advice on the next course of action, indeed, not one of them payed him any attention as they fled from the chamber in desperation. He was now left alone, good, that meant he could think clearly as he began to ponder questions that would have been severely punished in the past, but that was another time, another world and a completely different set of circumstances, much had changed since those days. He knew that the speaking of the name was forbiden but had no idea why, only that when he first emerged from the sacred waters he already knew of the word and it's stigma. He was relatively young for a skink and already felt like he didn't belong, spawned in a tiny, hidden spawning pool underneath the city of Itza, a vibrant golden crest marked him out for a single purpose, one he had failed in. Though he was accepted without question and the priests and artisans already trying to find a new use for him, he was a poor scout, a dreadful artisan and utterly without talent as a magic user, but perhaps here in this new world there might be something he could do, something he could activate, or even open?
He stopped trying to think and allowed instinct to take over as he methodically felt around the symbol for a switch, or arcane lever, there was a dull "click" and uncomfortable pause and then a terrible rumble... he practically lept back from the device as a pillar of brilliant azure light burst from the dias and struck the ceiling. Cautiously he approached, fear rapidly giving way to wonder as the intensity of the light faded to a point where it was possible to see through it, though the majesty of it did not diminish with it's luminescence. He gazed in wonder even as the light flickered slightly when suddenly the stones in the center of the plinth vibrated angrily for a moment or two, before leaping into the air, each forming a small, floating spiral stair that went up, even unto the ceiling of the great chamber. Hlx-liopic gasped in surprised and then something strange happened, wonder and surprise turned to fear, he had no inclination as to why, but he couldn't shake it, he turned un-easily to glance over his shoulder towards the far corners of the great chamber, but could see nothing. He glanced back at the light and then he saw his fears manifest...
It appear as if from nowhere, the light intensifying once again, then returning to their previous dim glow and in the space there stood a massive Saurus, bedecked in the garb of an eternity warden, only the bones used were much more jagged, more numerous and far more imposing. He shrieked in terror, backing away from this nightmare and stumbled over a pack left by one of the artisans, but he could not rise, all he could do was stare back, terror petrifying his limbs into inaction as his breathes came in frantic rasps; it was not the size nor the macabre nature of the monster that stood before him which terrified him, but the eyes that shone back, unrelenting, uncompromising and full of dread.
Tec-olptl went from prone to vertical with a single terrified squawk, groping for a blow pipe that wasn't there, whilst feverishly looking this way and that. He was no longer in the jungle, this place was very different from any he had been permitted to see before; he shrieked a second time, realizing that what he had mistaken for a statue was actually a very large temple guard, covered in the dust of years. He spun round to see a second one on the opposite side, then down to realize he had been lying on natural berth on a very large, very long set of stairs. Gingerly he approached the nearest temple guard, was it dead? A hero honoured with partial mummification for giving it's life to save a master, he crept closer; the eye lids rolled apart with patient ease to reveal a fierce yellow eye staring down at him with cold indifference. He jumped back with another shriek, but didn't react further when he noticed neither of them moved, recovering slightly he crept to the edge of the stairs and glimpsed down, there were many like this, a wide berth breaking up the uniformity of the stair every thirty or so steps and at each one a similarly dust covered temple guard on either side stood inplacably, patiently, covered in the dust of centuries.
Where was he? This was unlike any other pyramid he had seen before and something seemed off about the stars above, he squinted slightly, taking a long step to the left, then two to the right, but not taking his gaze off them. They weren't real, each one a tiny gem cut with expert precision and affixed on a set location in order to resemble the night's sky, he was INSIDE a temple pyramid and a collosal one at that.
"You are awake"
It wasn't a question so much as an uninterested observation, Tec-olptl recovered quickly, turning to face his master and throwing himself to the floor.
"Get up" came the emotionless response, cutting off any pleas or apologies before he had a chance to utter them.
Tec-olptl looked up at Ulotp’al wondering what punishment the old Slann was about to meet out against him, but the Mage lord said nothing, he was not followed by any attendants who would speak for him either, even his throne attendent was abscent.
"Follow" said the Mage lord wearily,
Tec-olptl couldn't decide whether this was because of a punishment his master would now be forced to hand out, or if Tec-olptl's actions now made him privy to a secret the Mage priest would rather remain hidden, either way he doubted anything he might say or do would improve his immediate future and allowed his doubts to be heard.
"Oh revered one, where are we going?" he asked, as they climbed (or in the case of the Slann, floated)
"Up" said Ulotp’al, fixing the skink with a irritated look, it was clear information would be difficult to gather, or perhaps he wasn't asking the right questions.
"What is my fate?"
The Slann allowed himself a smile (an un-nerving thing to witness even without the current situation) "That depends on you" said Ulotp'al unhelpfully.
"Please lord..."
Ulotp’al glanced back at the little chameleon skink and what looked close to pity, perhaps even sympathy washed over the old Slann,
"You disobeyed my orders, after so many years of unquestioned service, you chose to disobey!" the old Slann stopped himself, aware he was dangerously close to allowing emotion to influence his words.
"We are not here to punish..." he said at length "you have seen that which is forbidden, as have I, you are to be tested... one greater than I, wishes to speak with you" Ulotp’al's face was a mask once again.
"A test?" asked Tec-olptl suspiciously, "What kind of a test?"
"If I told you, then it wouldn't be a test" answered Ulotp'al unhelpfully, grinning secretively this time.
Tec-olptl didn't allow fear to take hold and remained silent for several long minutes as they continued to ascend the stairs. Shortly they came to an immense set of golden doors, some fifty feet height and every inch of it beautifully inscribed with flowing glyphs and scenes spread out over a titanic map of Lustria and all the continents beyond (albeit very different from what the old world current looked like, perhaps a plan set down by the Old Ones). With a low rumble they began to swing open, golden light spilling forth to greater extents as they swung further and further apart, Tec-olptl's skin reacting instinctively so that he too looked as though he were made of the purest gold. He paused looking into the light, trying to make out the shape of the figure beyond, before taking an uncertain step forward. He hesitated again, looking back towards the old Slann who shook his head.
"No, I am not permitted, this test is for you, but I will wait"
"And if I fail?" Tec-olptl asked.
Ulotp'al smiled for a third time, though this one was kindly, "If I believed you would, then we would not be having this conversation" he said, as slowly the doors swung closed again, blocking the old Slann from sight.
Tec-olptl looked up, the light seemed contained now and he could glipse the chamber in its enterity, though he took no details in, as he was more concerned with the figure at the top of the stairs, great was it's bulk, mighty was it's presence even in death and all seeing was it's gaze that stared implacably at him through the gem eyes of it's wonderous death mask.
"
SPEAK, I am listening." Came the command, the voice was not angry, nor raised, but it was unstoppable
