White Fire, Superstition: (completed) (MF/f)
Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2021 4:37 pm
Auther's note: for those of you wondering, i'm still here, and have i got a doozy of a new series for you all...
Part 1: In this part, A Traveler learns about a different kind of Half-Man
The city of Aeries was truly a sight to behold. As One individual was finding out, as he dismounted his horse at the Front Gate. The Gate itself was a simple arch. This was all that was needed, as the dense forest of the foothills provided plenty of cover, and there was no need for a wall. The Man looked to be a simple man of just a shade under six feet tall, and had on a finely made blue tunic that was belted at the middle.
“Welcome to Aeries, Sir,” The Front Guard had greeted. He had on a Fine suit of Armor that looked very well fitted to him, as he showed no signs of being burdened by it. “Anything I can help you with?” He then asked.
“Yes, I'm looking for someone,” The Guest had answered back.
“And who might that be?” The Guard then asked.
“Well, I've heard stories of a Man who can help with...well...problems, I guess,” He stated, in an almost questioning tone. The Guard must have known who he was referring to, cause he frowned slightly a bit at this.
“Oh, you must be looking for Jacob,” He grumbled.
“I think that was his name,” The Traveler confirmed, though he still seemed a bit unsure.
“Yeah, Jake is really good at what he does, but only if you can take the heat,” the Guard responded.
“What does that mean?” The Traveler asked.
“Jacob means well, but he tends to be very rude, and cynical, so bare that in mind when you talk to him,” The Guard answered.
“Do you know where I can find him?” The Traveler asked. The Guard shook his head.
“At this time, I don't know. You'll have to ask around,” He answered. The Traveler nodded to him.
“Thank you for your time,” He told the Guard.
“Oh!” The Guard stated, as if he had remembered something. “If you see Copper, don't panic, He's a well established citizen here. You'll know him when you see him.”
“Uh, thanks,” The Traveler said, as he remounted his horse, and made his way down the road further into the City.
Aeries looked as though it was built inside the natural wilderness. Much of nature was still standing with a large forest covering the hills, a winding river streaming through a small valley to the west, and even a few houses built onto clearings on the beginnings of the mountains. Another point of it's splendor was it's size. Aeries was massive.
The Traveler headed down the road, and saw he was entering what looked like a market. He dismounted his horse, and began looking for someone to ask his question. He then spotted a young man dressed in a simple, but very expensive looking robe. He also had what looked like a silver Crown adorning the top of his head. He was flanked by two men wearing dark tunics. The Traveler approached them.
“Greetings, Sir,” The Traveler greeted.
“Good Afternoon, I don't think we've met,” The Man greeted back.
“No, I'm a Stranger here,” The Traveler explained. The Man he was speaking to just smiled.
“Then let us not remain strangers,” He said. One of His Two Guards stepped forward.
“I present to you Rowan Cloudpeak, Crown Prince of Aeries, Son of King Nelson, and Speaker for the People,” The young Man announced. The Traveler was quite stunned at what he had just heard. He fell to a knee more out of shock than anything else.
“Your Grace,” The Traveler greeted. The Prince just smiled.
“Oh rise, I'm not one for formalities. Such things may be expected in the court, but out here, we are all people,” Prince Rowan insisted.
“My thanks, Your Grace,” The Traveler responded. “My Name is Harold, and I'm from the Town of Cederbare.”
“I've heard that Cederbare is full of Superstitious People,” The Prince mentioned. Harold just sighed.
“That's part of why I'm here,” He responded. The Prince now grew a bit concerned.
“Is something wrong?” The Prince then asked. If anyone knew where Jacob was, The Prince was likely one of them.
“I've heard stories of a Man who they say...solves problems. A Man named Jacob,” The Traveler told him. Prince Rowan just nodded.
“Jake is a very close friend of mine, and of My Father as well,” Prince Rowan stated. “Most people usually try to avoid him. I just say they don't know him well enough,” The Prince then added.
“What does that mean?” Harold asked. Prince Rowan smiled.
“Come with me. I'll take you to him, and tell you all about it,” He said, and the two set off down the road.
* * * *
“So, are people afraid of him, or they just don't like him?” Harold asked.
“Jake's has an aura of foreboding about him at times. He can't help it given his birth. He has the strongest connection to the Ethereal Plane than any living thing,” Prince Rowan explained.
“His Birth,” the Traveler repeated. The Prince nodded.
“Yes. Jake is born of Divine Blood. His Mother was Human, but his Father is Lord Kallahan,” He then told him. Harold's eyes widened.
“Kallahan? The God of Death?” He asked. “How is that possible?”
“Cederbare shuns a lot of things that are actually Common Place here. Things like Magic,” The Prince stated, with a slight frown. “And Kallahan is not the God of Death. He is the God of Freedom, Spirit, and The After Life. Not the same thing,” He then explained.
“I see,” Harold acknowledged.
“People naturally fear what they don't understand, and a lot of people just refuse to get to know him. They'd rather ridicule, or worse, shun him, and as a result, He's grown quite cynical as a result,” The Prince explained. He then stopped walking. “See that ridge up there? With the ruined tower base?” He asked, while pointing at the top of a sheer cliff side.
“Yes,” Harold answered.
“Jake will likely be there at this time,” Prince Rowan told him.
“Thank you very much, You're Grace,” The Traveler said.
“Tell him I told you where he was, and he'll likely be a bit more...uh...accepting, shall we say,” the Prince then added. The Traveler gave him a brief bow, and looked up to where The Prince had motioned. “Oh, one more word of caution,” Prince Rowan added.
“Yes,” Harold asked.
“Jake has the power to look into someone's eyes, and see into their soul. If there's anything in your past that you don't want him to know, then you better be careful of what you tell him,” Prince Rowan warned.
“Are you serious?” Harold asked him.
“Very serious, and that's just one of several abilities his blood allows him,” Prince Rowan told him. He gave Harold a quick two fingered salute, and walked down the road again. Harold was beginning to have second thoughts about this venture.
Eventually the path Harold was on turned inside the dense forest again. As the Traveler made his way down the road, he couldn't help but fell it getting a bit darker around him. He then thought he was hearing voices. He stopped briefly to look around, but there was nothing there. He shrugged and continued.
With each step he took towards the ruined building, the voices began to get louder. They were in hushed tones, but he recognized some of them were shouting. It was tough to make out what they were saying, but he was pretty sure he made out “Liar” and “Coward” among the whispers and hushed shouting.
He closed his eyes, and shook his head. He then continued on his way. He was soon out of the Forest bit, and onto where the Ruined Building was. Sure enough, he saw a Man standing within it. One of his feet was resting on a broken piece, as he looked out over the City. The Traveler gulped a bit, and cautiously approached. One step was all it took. The Man took his foot off the stone, and turned to face the Traveler. His long coat trailing as he did.
He was dressed in a a pair of gray trousers that was paired with a cream colored shirt...
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/59/73/39 ... d73e98.jpg
His most distinctive attire was his long black duster range coat, and a black western hat with a wide brim...
https://www.heritagecostumes.com/images ... /18787.jpg
hat
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/da/f6/b2 ... a0955a.jpg
He was a little over six feet tall with black hair. The brim of his hat cast a shadow of a pair of yellow eyes as he leered at the Traveler like a bird of prey. He had the look of someone who knew things that no human should.
“Are-are you Jacob?” The Traveler asked.
“Who's asking,” The Man asked back. The Traveler sighed.
“My name is Harold, and I hale from the Town of Cederbare,” The Traveler greeted.
“Hello Harold, and yes, my name is Jake,” The Other Man greeted back. “Rowan tell you where to find me?” He then asked.
“Uh, yes, he did,” Harold answered. Jake just nodded. His expression was blank. He then crossed his arms in front of him.
“Alright Harold, What's on your mind?” Jake asked him.
“I was told you solve problems,” Harold stated. Jake just snorted.
“Depends on the problem. What's it about?” He asked. Harold then began to fill him in.
“Well, you see, Cederbare is a very superstitious place, and the people they are are beginning to suspect that my daughter might be a Witch,” He explained.
That was as far as Harold got before he spotted something truly horrifying. Jake blinked, and his eyes were gone. Instead replaced with glowing golden white light. This light met Harold's eyes, and Harold almost couldn't tell if he was dreaming. When he came to, he saw that Jake's eyes were in fact normal again. But the damage was already done.
“So, you say that your town thinks your daughter's a witch?” Jake asked.
“Uh, yes,” Harold said, still trying to recover from what he thought he saw. “And I'm sure she's not, and I was wondering if you would help me sort out the problem,” He then pleaded.
“You had no problem sending all those other people to the pyre, but now that they suspect your daughter, it's now a problem?” Jake asked. Harold's jaw dropped. His eyes went wide.
“Wh-what are you s-saying?” Harold stammered.
“I'm saying that you had no problem voting with the mob to maintain your status within the town, but now that someone you actually care about is in danger, now it's no longer okay,” Jake told him.
“No, that's not true at all!” Harold snapped. Jake just glared at him. White Flames erupted around Jake while his form went transparent like a ghost. His eyes turning into orbs of light once again as well. Harold finally understood what true horror felt like.
“Your words say one thing, but your eyes say another. The eyes are the window unto the soul, my friend, and your eyes tell me much. I looked through your eyes, and I saw what you did. I saw the false trials, I saw you cast your vote, I felt you smile as those people were roasted alive,” Jake told him. Harold was now on his knees, and in tears. How did he know? What sorcery was this? He looked back at Jake to see that the effect had faded.
“If no one will help my daughter, then what do I do?” Harold asked, overcome with grief, and guilt. Jake just sighed.
“Oh, don't worry, I'll help your daughter,” Jake snarled. Harold's eyes lit up with joy.
“Oh, this is most joyous news!” He stated, happily. His happiness was dashed when Jake turned his frown to him.
“I'm doing this for her, not for you,” Jake growled at him. “She doesn't deserve the fate that awaits her.”
“I can accept that,” Harold said. “What do you need from me?” He then asked. Jake sighed.
“I need to talk to a few people first. After that, you'll take me to Cederbare, and we'll take a look at the matter,” Jake then answered, and gestured for Harold to follow him, as he made his way back down the path. Harold gave him a nod. He was still shaken up over what he had just witnessed. If anyone in his town had seen that, they likely would have died from sheer fright.
Part 1: In this part, A Traveler learns about a different kind of Half-Man
The city of Aeries was truly a sight to behold. As One individual was finding out, as he dismounted his horse at the Front Gate. The Gate itself was a simple arch. This was all that was needed, as the dense forest of the foothills provided plenty of cover, and there was no need for a wall. The Man looked to be a simple man of just a shade under six feet tall, and had on a finely made blue tunic that was belted at the middle.
“Welcome to Aeries, Sir,” The Front Guard had greeted. He had on a Fine suit of Armor that looked very well fitted to him, as he showed no signs of being burdened by it. “Anything I can help you with?” He then asked.
“Yes, I'm looking for someone,” The Guest had answered back.
“And who might that be?” The Guard then asked.
“Well, I've heard stories of a Man who can help with...well...problems, I guess,” He stated, in an almost questioning tone. The Guard must have known who he was referring to, cause he frowned slightly a bit at this.
“Oh, you must be looking for Jacob,” He grumbled.
“I think that was his name,” The Traveler confirmed, though he still seemed a bit unsure.
“Yeah, Jake is really good at what he does, but only if you can take the heat,” the Guard responded.
“What does that mean?” The Traveler asked.
“Jacob means well, but he tends to be very rude, and cynical, so bare that in mind when you talk to him,” The Guard answered.
“Do you know where I can find him?” The Traveler asked. The Guard shook his head.
“At this time, I don't know. You'll have to ask around,” He answered. The Traveler nodded to him.
“Thank you for your time,” He told the Guard.
“Oh!” The Guard stated, as if he had remembered something. “If you see Copper, don't panic, He's a well established citizen here. You'll know him when you see him.”
“Uh, thanks,” The Traveler said, as he remounted his horse, and made his way down the road further into the City.
Aeries looked as though it was built inside the natural wilderness. Much of nature was still standing with a large forest covering the hills, a winding river streaming through a small valley to the west, and even a few houses built onto clearings on the beginnings of the mountains. Another point of it's splendor was it's size. Aeries was massive.
The Traveler headed down the road, and saw he was entering what looked like a market. He dismounted his horse, and began looking for someone to ask his question. He then spotted a young man dressed in a simple, but very expensive looking robe. He also had what looked like a silver Crown adorning the top of his head. He was flanked by two men wearing dark tunics. The Traveler approached them.
“Greetings, Sir,” The Traveler greeted.
“Good Afternoon, I don't think we've met,” The Man greeted back.
“No, I'm a Stranger here,” The Traveler explained. The Man he was speaking to just smiled.
“Then let us not remain strangers,” He said. One of His Two Guards stepped forward.
“I present to you Rowan Cloudpeak, Crown Prince of Aeries, Son of King Nelson, and Speaker for the People,” The young Man announced. The Traveler was quite stunned at what he had just heard. He fell to a knee more out of shock than anything else.
“Your Grace,” The Traveler greeted. The Prince just smiled.
“Oh rise, I'm not one for formalities. Such things may be expected in the court, but out here, we are all people,” Prince Rowan insisted.
“My thanks, Your Grace,” The Traveler responded. “My Name is Harold, and I'm from the Town of Cederbare.”
“I've heard that Cederbare is full of Superstitious People,” The Prince mentioned. Harold just sighed.
“That's part of why I'm here,” He responded. The Prince now grew a bit concerned.
“Is something wrong?” The Prince then asked. If anyone knew where Jacob was, The Prince was likely one of them.
“I've heard stories of a Man who they say...solves problems. A Man named Jacob,” The Traveler told him. Prince Rowan just nodded.
“Jake is a very close friend of mine, and of My Father as well,” Prince Rowan stated. “Most people usually try to avoid him. I just say they don't know him well enough,” The Prince then added.
“What does that mean?” Harold asked. Prince Rowan smiled.
“Come with me. I'll take you to him, and tell you all about it,” He said, and the two set off down the road.
* * * *
“So, are people afraid of him, or they just don't like him?” Harold asked.
“Jake's has an aura of foreboding about him at times. He can't help it given his birth. He has the strongest connection to the Ethereal Plane than any living thing,” Prince Rowan explained.
“His Birth,” the Traveler repeated. The Prince nodded.
“Yes. Jake is born of Divine Blood. His Mother was Human, but his Father is Lord Kallahan,” He then told him. Harold's eyes widened.
“Kallahan? The God of Death?” He asked. “How is that possible?”
“Cederbare shuns a lot of things that are actually Common Place here. Things like Magic,” The Prince stated, with a slight frown. “And Kallahan is not the God of Death. He is the God of Freedom, Spirit, and The After Life. Not the same thing,” He then explained.
“I see,” Harold acknowledged.
“People naturally fear what they don't understand, and a lot of people just refuse to get to know him. They'd rather ridicule, or worse, shun him, and as a result, He's grown quite cynical as a result,” The Prince explained. He then stopped walking. “See that ridge up there? With the ruined tower base?” He asked, while pointing at the top of a sheer cliff side.
“Yes,” Harold answered.
“Jake will likely be there at this time,” Prince Rowan told him.
“Thank you very much, You're Grace,” The Traveler said.
“Tell him I told you where he was, and he'll likely be a bit more...uh...accepting, shall we say,” the Prince then added. The Traveler gave him a brief bow, and looked up to where The Prince had motioned. “Oh, one more word of caution,” Prince Rowan added.
“Yes,” Harold asked.
“Jake has the power to look into someone's eyes, and see into their soul. If there's anything in your past that you don't want him to know, then you better be careful of what you tell him,” Prince Rowan warned.
“Are you serious?” Harold asked him.
“Very serious, and that's just one of several abilities his blood allows him,” Prince Rowan told him. He gave Harold a quick two fingered salute, and walked down the road again. Harold was beginning to have second thoughts about this venture.
Eventually the path Harold was on turned inside the dense forest again. As the Traveler made his way down the road, he couldn't help but fell it getting a bit darker around him. He then thought he was hearing voices. He stopped briefly to look around, but there was nothing there. He shrugged and continued.
With each step he took towards the ruined building, the voices began to get louder. They were in hushed tones, but he recognized some of them were shouting. It was tough to make out what they were saying, but he was pretty sure he made out “Liar” and “Coward” among the whispers and hushed shouting.
He closed his eyes, and shook his head. He then continued on his way. He was soon out of the Forest bit, and onto where the Ruined Building was. Sure enough, he saw a Man standing within it. One of his feet was resting on a broken piece, as he looked out over the City. The Traveler gulped a bit, and cautiously approached. One step was all it took. The Man took his foot off the stone, and turned to face the Traveler. His long coat trailing as he did.
He was dressed in a a pair of gray trousers that was paired with a cream colored shirt...
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/59/73/39 ... d73e98.jpg
His most distinctive attire was his long black duster range coat, and a black western hat with a wide brim...
https://www.heritagecostumes.com/images ... /18787.jpg
hat
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/da/f6/b2 ... a0955a.jpg
He was a little over six feet tall with black hair. The brim of his hat cast a shadow of a pair of yellow eyes as he leered at the Traveler like a bird of prey. He had the look of someone who knew things that no human should.
“Are-are you Jacob?” The Traveler asked.
“Who's asking,” The Man asked back. The Traveler sighed.
“My name is Harold, and I hale from the Town of Cederbare,” The Traveler greeted.
“Hello Harold, and yes, my name is Jake,” The Other Man greeted back. “Rowan tell you where to find me?” He then asked.
“Uh, yes, he did,” Harold answered. Jake just nodded. His expression was blank. He then crossed his arms in front of him.
“Alright Harold, What's on your mind?” Jake asked him.
“I was told you solve problems,” Harold stated. Jake just snorted.
“Depends on the problem. What's it about?” He asked. Harold then began to fill him in.
“Well, you see, Cederbare is a very superstitious place, and the people they are are beginning to suspect that my daughter might be a Witch,” He explained.
That was as far as Harold got before he spotted something truly horrifying. Jake blinked, and his eyes were gone. Instead replaced with glowing golden white light. This light met Harold's eyes, and Harold almost couldn't tell if he was dreaming. When he came to, he saw that Jake's eyes were in fact normal again. But the damage was already done.
“So, you say that your town thinks your daughter's a witch?” Jake asked.
“Uh, yes,” Harold said, still trying to recover from what he thought he saw. “And I'm sure she's not, and I was wondering if you would help me sort out the problem,” He then pleaded.
“You had no problem sending all those other people to the pyre, but now that they suspect your daughter, it's now a problem?” Jake asked. Harold's jaw dropped. His eyes went wide.
“Wh-what are you s-saying?” Harold stammered.
“I'm saying that you had no problem voting with the mob to maintain your status within the town, but now that someone you actually care about is in danger, now it's no longer okay,” Jake told him.
“No, that's not true at all!” Harold snapped. Jake just glared at him. White Flames erupted around Jake while his form went transparent like a ghost. His eyes turning into orbs of light once again as well. Harold finally understood what true horror felt like.
“Your words say one thing, but your eyes say another. The eyes are the window unto the soul, my friend, and your eyes tell me much. I looked through your eyes, and I saw what you did. I saw the false trials, I saw you cast your vote, I felt you smile as those people were roasted alive,” Jake told him. Harold was now on his knees, and in tears. How did he know? What sorcery was this? He looked back at Jake to see that the effect had faded.
“If no one will help my daughter, then what do I do?” Harold asked, overcome with grief, and guilt. Jake just sighed.
“Oh, don't worry, I'll help your daughter,” Jake snarled. Harold's eyes lit up with joy.
“Oh, this is most joyous news!” He stated, happily. His happiness was dashed when Jake turned his frown to him.
“I'm doing this for her, not for you,” Jake growled at him. “She doesn't deserve the fate that awaits her.”
“I can accept that,” Harold said. “What do you need from me?” He then asked. Jake sighed.
“I need to talk to a few people first. After that, you'll take me to Cederbare, and we'll take a look at the matter,” Jake then answered, and gestured for Harold to follow him, as he made his way back down the path. Harold gave him a nod. He was still shaken up over what he had just witnessed. If anyone in his town had seen that, they likely would have died from sheer fright.