<span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span> <table class='ooc'><tr><td>50, Tria (Summer), 81379</td></tr></table> Hathor waited in the above ground extension of her temple. She looked down at her nails. Umeoral Paush was pacing back and forth, oviously something was bugging him. <span style='color:red'>This isn't a good idea...Mistress please reconsider...She may have helped our rebellion, but still, this may comprimise the Code! As your High Priest I recommend...</span> Hathor raised her hand to quiet the panicing priest. <span style='color:purple'>Quiet, you know I have to do it, she has done something I thought only possible by myself, therefore, she has as much potential as you did when you were younger. So keep your petty fears to yourself. I really do not care for your opinion in this matter. Oh, and stop pacing, your going to wear a hole in my floor.</span> Paush stood still and grumbled under his breath. He did not approve of this meeting at all. She was a Guardian after all, and her, she was no more then a peasent, a NORMAL peasent at that. Yes she had done something that as far as he knew only Hathor had done. He sat down on the ledge up to Hathor's throne. He rested his staff against his shoulder and sighed. There was nothing he could do to change her mind. Nothing he said ever could.
Kakosenas moved along at a steady lope, the warm sand burning underneath her bare clawed feet. Uhai was far, far out of her "loop." In general Kakos only ran circles around Bhim, Swaraj, and the areas in between. Sometimes she'd slip off into other continents if the need arose. Deserts though? She tended to avoid them like the plague. Although given her expertise, it was a wonder why. Even though deserts of course were less humid than most other areas, they were not completely devoid of water. It was in the air, in the sparse vegetation... all around really. Kakosenas' ability to summon water out of the driest of conditions and her affinity toward it really made her quite ideal when it came to travelling in these harsher environments. Of course, the question that haunted her was why. Why had she slipped off of her normal manic driven course? She had already boggled the minds of several pendragons whom she had suspected of trailing her. She'd led them around in circles for several days. Either they had decided that their attempts were fruitless, or they had been called off. Whatever the case, Kakos had lost them and knew that there were no strangers following in her footsteps now. So why the sudden desire to take a trip way up to Uhai? Actually, it wasn't really a desire. That wasn't the right word for it. It was a similar feeling that she got sometimes when she was around Stormwing. It was a presence. Kakosenas had the inkling that it was a calling. It wasn't Stormwing though, whom Kakos had been neglecting since her departure from The Dungeon. Storm was back in Watani. She'd felt her there. This, whoever it was, was a stranger. At first Kakos had ignored the summons. A little wary that it may be someone out to get her from her past. Perhaps even her father. However, the magic lacked any sort of signature that she recognized. So here she was, following a stranger's magic bread crumbs. Crumbs she knew were meant only for her. She knew that they were leading her into a potentially dangerous situation, yet, were not all choices in life risks? Perhaps she even felt fated that she follow. That meeting with whoever was calling her was inevitable. Maybe, maybe. Kakos adjusted the weight of a small pack that she had slung over her back. Inside were just a few meagre belongings. Not quite the belongings you'd suspect of someone who was now the owner of such a vast fortune. The ground here was starting to break up a little. The sands were becoming more and more interspersed with grasses and tough undergrowth. Up ahead was a building of some sort. A church? Was it some sort of religion that was beckoning her? Kakos frowned. It was from this building that the stranger's magic insignia was coming from anyway. Shriker was curious of course. Whoever it was had gone to quite a bit of trouble in order to seek her out via magic. The least that she could do was drop in and say hello, right?
Hathor smiled and stopped drumming her fingers for a moment. <span style='color:purple'>She approaches...Paush you will stay silent unless you are addressed directly by either of us understand? I do not need your senseless babbling about the code.</span> Paush growled, he oviously was upset by this. First, Hathor had taken to sheltering halfbreeds, and now normals? The world was falling apart in his eyes, nothing used to be like this. Then again, in the past there were more Anubi, and that accounted for alot of what happened to Hathor. Her change in personality came from longer ago then then though... In the past, the Anubi priests played 'The Games.' It was a game of summoned demons in which the winner got the rare magical gems from the other's temples. Paush was the undefeated winner, though one Priestess had potential to beat him. Hathor had been meddling in forbidden magic, and no one quite knows how she did it, but the same thing that happened to the Grader happened to this Priestess. She now is the Koroshiya that haunts Paush's steps. Tormenting him with the idea that it was his fault that she was dead, and that he, was still alive. In truth Paush is truely not alive, he was more created...rather then born...Hathor used forbidden magic and Necromancy to create him. He seems to be in every aspect a real Anubi, but in truth, he is not. The only ones who really know this though are the other Guardians. This fact always made him feel like an outsider, even when he was younger. Hathor created him to make him her high priest as she has successfully done.
Kakosenas re-shouldered her pack once more, glancing over her shoulder as she did so. Old habits died hard it seemed. She'd drawn up close to the building now, and was even more curious, and wary than she had been before. Strangely, it looked Anubian in design... and some of the scripture that dedicated the walls (although Kakos couldn't read it at all) was foreign as well. She searched her mind, wondering just how much she knew about this race. Granted, there wasn't much. Although from the books she had divulged in over the years, she'd probably picked up a few things. In a way, the entire Anubian race reminded her of her cult-like family. Well, the pendragons that used to make up her birth clan. They were cut off from the rest of the world and did all of their dealings behind secretive dark shrouds. The only Anubi tribe that Kakos herself was really aware of was the one that managed the Krokino Prison. The Ramathian name they had for themselves had been something about light (of course, that hadn't been their real tribe name). She had never really seen any of the management during her time there, but it was widespread knowledge that it was Anubi magic that kept that prison secure and escape proof. Shriker shuddered inwardly, recalling just how horrible it had been having her magic stripped for the duration of her prison time. She definately didn't want a repeat of that. Perhaps her prison stay had something to do with this stranger, or strangers? She strongly hoped not, but what else could it be? Had Shriker been in this position several months ago, she would have turned around right then and there. Figured that whatever, whoever this was, wasn't worth the danger involved. She shouldn't be here. This place was forbidden somehow. Yet, along with the other changes that had occurred over the past quarter, Kakos now had a new aura. One that seemed to radiate confidence as well as her usual old whispered dealings and twisted magic. Of course there was also the paranoia, but one could never be too safe, right? She drew up to the building's entrance way. She didn't enter, but rather stood lightly by the massive door. "Hello?" she queried the silent building, the word rolling off of her tongue with a soft musical note that suited her ancient dialect.
Hathor smiled at Paush <span style='color:purple'>Our visitor has arrived.</span> Paush stood up and held his staff in his right hand as Hathor stood up.Paush grumbled under his breath, Hathor returned it with a sharp glare. Paush winced, she had taken a mental shot at him. <span style='color:purple'>Do come in dear Kakosenas...You are in good company. Your magic will still work here if you wish, there is much to be explained. In due time young one, in good time.</span> A black panther-like Cucu entered from a vortex behind the throne that closed afterward. It rubbed itself up against Hathor's legs, the last of the orignal Temple Cats. The other two had been bonded to different 'dragons. Each gave its own special talents to help its master. Kashiko Katsu had Win the Weapons Master, Nekhalla Vlunn had Dos the Coward, and this last one was Uno the Hunter. He was not only the oldest of them, but most likely the most relaxed. He didn't do much except eat and sleep...but Hathor found him to be decent company. The Cucu was her temple's animal, though both Cucu and Macy resided on the inside of the main temple. They were Hathor's usual company as very few ever came to the temple, as most of the Anubi were dead. The cats had always been there and mostlikely, always will, they are a part of the mystery of Hathor's Temple.
Kakosenas entered the temple slowly despite the assurance that she was in good company. Caution had been too far bred into her veins in order to just wander in heedlessly. She was suspicious of course. Foes could easily masquerade themselves as friends. The fact that whomever this was knew her name frankly didn't surprise her at all. Her name, along with Stormwing's, was now becoming rather widespread knowledge. No longer was she simply the whispered about Swampland Shriker. That was why she had only been hanging around the outskirts of Bhim though and staying on the move. She didn't like this newfound recognition. Some pendragons either cheered her on, whereas others if they caught sight of her were absolutely livid. So Kakos had been doing her best to stay out of the public's spotlight. At least for the time being. Let it die down a little. Let their memories become a little foggy and clouded with rumours. Time had a way of warping perceptions. At least this stranger hadn't been lying about her magic working. Even as Kakos was entering, she was testing the validity of the spoken words. She simply pulled some moisture out of the air and into her left taloned hand before forcing it to evaporate again as steam. All appeared to be well. Shriker's eyes shifted, there were two, no, three figures. Two Anubi, and what appeared to be a feline. Easily the latter had her beaten in weight. However, it was nothing compared to the immense and dangerous creatures that lurked in her swamps. Perhaps it was a familiar of some sort. The two Anubi before her were an interesting sort. Structurally, Kakos wasn't too different from them. She herself was also quite small and lithe. The physical differences though, well, they were quite apparent. Shriker had always been a little more reptilian than the norm, as her scaled forearms seemed to indicate. The male was all black. A little foreboding. The female had been the one who had addressed her though. She was tan, and actually, quite pretty. Had Kakosenas been the self-conscience sort, she might have been a little ashamed of her own appearance in comparison to the finely dressed pair. She wasn't though, so there was no problem. The female's eyes were a little strange though. Unique. Keeping her distance, Kakosenas continued to inspect the trio. "So what is this about?" she asked at last, a little pointedly. Although she had been told in due time, Kakos was rather curious to know the actual reason for her summons.
<span style='color:purple'>You, have caught my attention...Not because of what you did, but how you did it...For you see, I too once broke the laws to suit my needs...</span> Paush began to freak as she mentioned this <span style='color:red'>Mistress! It is not wise to speak of these things!! MRPH!!!</span> Suddenly his nose was tightly wrapped in linen, he clawed at it, finnally getting it undone he found it best to keep his mouth shut. <span style='color:purple'>As I was about to say, because I made the Code...I can also break it. You have been given the right to learn Anubi magic, magic that will let you break out of even the most heavily guarded prison in the world! It won't be as strong as say, a halfbreed as you do not have Anubian blood...therefore, you will have to be taught without reading, as you cannot read the language. This is only if you accept...With this you will also be able to hide yourself from the view of others, or appear as someone else.</span> Hathor sat down in the throne slowly, Paush rubbed his nose to try to get the blood flow back to normal...He hated it when she did that. It was funny when she did it to Nekhalla, but when it was on him? Not so funny.
Kakos shook her head slowly in disbelief. She didn't like where this was going. Specially the words but how you did it. This stranger was talking about Karryasa then... and either, she really did know what happened, or maybe she'd been put in place by Koani. To act as a ruse in order to get her to confess. Kakosenas was even more put on edge now, the fine hairs on her nape prickling. The male's sudden outburst certainly didn't help things either. The words that were spoken after the interruption had surprised Kakos even more. The right to learn Anubi magic? The idea seemed almost laughable to Kakos, and had she less restraint, she would have laughed. There was a moment when she was almost certain that this was a prank, yet that was soon vanquished by the female's continuously sincere tone. Who in Kytlekh was she? She said that she had made the Code. Kakos hoped that that didn't mean what she thought it meant, because if so... Kakosenas looked hard at her. The glittering jewels, the throne, the lounging Cucu beside her... She knew that she should know her name, but for one reason or another, it was continuing to elude her. Perhaps simply because it hadn't been spoken out loud yet. "I cannot say that I'm not tempted," she began. It was true of course. The very prospect of learning a new form of magic, any form of magic for that matter, was of great interest to her. The fact that it was Anubi magic? That just tickled her. It was right up her alley. "I think you can understand my suspicion though. What you're offering is... phenomenal. Things like this, they don't come without a price. What is it that you want from me?"
<span style='color:purple'>Nothing of the sort from you, you have done more then you needed to do already, this is your reward, a well deserved one I might add. For you see the Graders have been lets just say, disrepectful to us, along with the Council. They do nothing to prevent tresspassing on our lands, the destruction of our temples, and force laws upon us that we didn't even have a say in. They have even resorted to torture to try and gain the knowlage of the Anubi for themselves. Your actions, and Konai's reaction, have triggered an reaction from the Anubi...They have sought out their High Priests and asked for a leader...And of course only the most powerful one would get that chance...</span> She pointed at Paush who had finnally stopped rubbing his nose. <span style='color:purple'>My own High Priest, Umeoral Paush was choosen above the rest. For all that you have done, you deserve a safe haven, My own temple will do. You will dine on the best foods, sleep on the softest beds, and have everything you wish forfilled. You will be trained in Anubian magic by Paush himself, and you will never have to worry about anyone attacking or, if you wish, reconizing you.</span>
Kakosenas started. Had she been hearing this correctly? For such a horrible deed, she was to be rewarded? She had known all along that there were beings out there against the Graders. Creatures that wanted them dead. And she supposed that yes, having done what so many had attempted before and failed, she may have won over some new allies. She hadn't really been looking at it from much of a political point of view before though. Heck, she hardly even knew of the Grader's exploits. And Karryasa? Kakos wouldn't allow herself to admit to performing the murder (not after the experience in Krokino anyway). However, she also knew that she also couldn't deny it. It had happened after all... Koani's convictions had been a hundred percent accurate. Despite Koani's rash actions though, Kakos didn't really have much against her. She'd killed her mother. Wasn't it an honourable sort of thing to avenge a fallen one's death? Then there had also been the rumours she'd heard later on about Koani and the rapine. Those had been interesting. "So, let me get this straight. You believe that the Graders have been treating the Anubi unjustly... and now with the Arch Magosai, er, gone, things are going to change? And my actions, um, action rather, has been deemed so favourable that I'm to be rewarded?" She was skirting around the main issue with her carefully chosen words. "Wow." She let the exclamation out with a breathy sigh. "I suppose I could accept your offer, but," always there were conditions. "Somehow I get the idea that some, if not many, of your people, won't like me hanging around. Even if you take into consideration what I've done. I also cannot pledge any sort of allegiance either. I don't even know whose side I'm on, or if I even have a side sometimes. I don't even know who you really are come to think of it. For all I know, you could actually be an employee of the Graders." Kakos knew this wasn't true, but she wasn't about to overlook any possibilities.
Hathor laughed profussly <span style='color:purple'>Child, the Graders only know of me as a legend, I suppose a proper introduction is needed. I am Mistress Hathor, Guardian of the Future. I am one of the thirteen legendary Anubi Guardians, and currently the most powerful. You only found this temple because I wanted you to...Did you not feel it pull you? Koani couldn't find me even if she had all the magic in Fromina. The only ones who can see this temple right now are the Anubi and you. My people will follow my decision, for I am a Guardian, they will help you to the best of their knowladge without an argument. You do not have to pledge your alliance, no I already knew that you most likely wouldn't, this is just a reward for what you have done. This is a mere above ground extension of the real temple, most of it is underground, constantly growing magically, On its walls is the history of Ramath-lehi, and your portion has been added in gold.</span> She waved her hand and the temple turned black, then they reappeared in a large room lite by torchs, the walls and the ceiling were covered in Anubian Script. The throne that Hathor sat in was even bigger and more ornate then the last one. She smiled at Kakos <span style='color:purple'>Welcome to the Dark temple</span>
