Completed Death's Convocation [The Dust Bed]

[Noaru]

Winter 55, A.V. 514

A cool and quiet afternoon accompanied the final days of winter. The forest dyed white by winters touch was motionless and barren—yet life flourished. A desolate graveyard stood before this beautiful scenery of white. The forest acts as a kind of background to this peaceful plot of land which donned colors of black and grey. In the distance, overlooked by the graves of the sleeping dead, was Sunberth: a city that had yet to be explored by the entity that gazed in its direction with heedful eyes.

Noaru levitated beneath the branches of a tree. He was drawn to the essence of death the cemetery emitted. There were whispers echoing throughout the forest—voices of the dead. The number of ghosts that were gathering in woods grew as the sun began to set. The great hand of night reaches across the sky, causing the day to come to an end. Noaru waited for the clouds to part and reveal the illuminating presence of the moon. He could sense multiple presences of ghosts nearby, they were moving closer towards the cemetery.

A vivid glow pierces through the clouds, shining down upon the spectacle that was unfolding. Noaru watched as groups of ghosts gathered and flowed into the cemetery. He too joined the stream of ghosts which flowed into the cemetery and saturated its grounds with soulmist. Noaru levitated above the crowds of ghosts; thousands of years have passed since Noaru had seen so many ghosts. The days when he roamed without a name or voice echoed within his mind.

[Noaru]

‘‘Death calls to death.’’

Noaru watched and noticed that many of these souls around him had flowers. The groups of ghosts that entered the cemetery placed flowers onto graves and in areas where graves once remained. Noaru noticed that only ten graves in the area he was occupying had no names on them. The graves looked old and clearly neglected by the weather. There were cracks running along their surfaces and pieces of these graves had fallen off. Noaru suddenly remembers when he too had to watch his entire family be laid to rest.

That was one of the darkest days of his life—watching one’s happiness disappear. The spirit levitates from out of the cemetery and allows ten tendrils of soulmist to extend from his form. Noaru notices a patch of flowers just a few meters away from him. He reaches for the flowers and with each tendril of soulmist, he takes one. The days where he would harbor distrust towards the living and dead will eventually come to an end: it would be these kind actions to help him change and destroy his distrust.

Noaru levitated back into the cemetery and with each grave he visited, he placed a flower. The beautiful fragments of white he plucked from the earth glistened brightly in the moonlight. Noaru was sure that the departed souls would have appreciated his actions. He saw no reason to linger in the cemetery any longer and the other crowds of ghosts which remained outside the cemetery were traveling elsewhere. Noaru follows these souls into the forest. While doing so, he could hear whispers about the Dust Bed Ridge: a larger section of the cemetery amongst the hills.

Noaru knew he would need to venture there and figured that these souls would eventually bring him to such a place. The crowd and Noaru went through areas infested with overturned graves and clear signs of wolf activity. Noaru was beginning to understand that these were areas that only the dead knew, as he and the group traversed through the moonlit forest in the dead of night.

‘‘’’

[Noaru]

‘‘’’

A bell had passed: maybe two, Noaru had no idea. He was one to lose track of time and not pay too much attention to it. The environment had changed. Noaru was now gazing upon an undulating village of sleeping dead. He could see tall graves everywhere: most were blocking his sight. The ghost he was traveling with was now going their separate ways, leaving him alone in the cemetery. Noaru did not mind this; his silent companions were good company for him in short journey they had together.

The spirit levitated towards the largest hill that seemingly stood upon the horizon. He looks over countless graves and passes many of them as he traveled onwards. There were many souls at rest here, Noaru could sense them and he was pleased to see that they were at rest. The night was still on and the moon and stars continued to illuminate his path. The spirit pressed on until he finds himself in front of an incline: this was the place he was trying to reach.

Noaru looks ahead and notices the snow and ice covering his path. He hadn’t forgotten about the chilling presence of winter, as snow and ice coated some parts of the cemetery. Winter always found some way to remind him of its presence despite his tendency to pay no mind to certain things; especially things he’s seen for centuries. Noaru propels himself forward and flies towards the very top of the cliff. The view would be grand and Noaru was looking forward to watching the sunrise.

Noaru maneuvered through the trees which blocked the moonlight above. Noaru continues his quest towards the cliff top and follows the bright beacon of light at the end of his tree tunnel . When Noaru breaches the tree line, he was greeted by the marvelous view of the ocean. The moon hovered above the ocean and made the waters surface seem crystalline in nature.

‘‘’’

[Noaru]

Noaru had finally made it to the place he wanted to reach. The hill that watched over the land and sea, its view was beautiful. He could see the ocean and hear the waves brush against the cliff face. Noaru grinned slightly before ceasing to do so. Why didn’t he feel accomplished? Noaru looked upwards towards the sky before looking down again. This feeling felt familiar somehow. Noaru materializes into view: a swirling blackened mass of soulmist pulsated with a burnt crimson outline. The soulmist surrounding this concentration of consciousness and energy starts to expand and take on a human shape.

The soulmist around Noaru stops now that the process of materialization was done. Noaru levitates in the air with his back turned to the forest behind him. Noaru places his hands over his face in a fashion resembling that of a weeping person. These memories of the past were painful but they held meaning to them. Why was he being reminded of the times when he was complete and with his family? Those times were wondrous; if it wasn’t for that family…he would have nothing.

The silence of the night was momentarily disturbed by a gentle winter breeze. Noaru removed his hands from his face and stares out into the open ocean. There was nothing there except for the ever moving waves and pitch black water. He couldn’t find his place in this world; he’d lost his home and family—things he existed for…something he’ll never have again. Noaru shook his head in frustration and grabs onto a rock with his soulmist. He throws the rock off of the edge and watches as it disappears into the darkness. This was a meaningless action which did nothing to quell the flames of uncertainty.


‘‘There was nothing… I asked for nothing! The family, my family only wished to spend eternity with me! I was happy, truly happy to have them with me. I’am a monster disguised as a spirit or ghost yet they loved me unconditionally. I understand that the good die, so that they can be spared from damnation and judgment but you took them to early...it was too soon for them to be taken from me.’’


Noaru clenched his hands and accepts the harsh reality of his situation. He would never be able to see his family again but he couldn’t let his bitter memories bring him down. The journey for completion required him to be strong, understanding and wise. Noaru knew he couldn’t wallow in self-pity and despair. He needed to be strong and continue what he has set on motion. Noaru raises his head and stood upwards. The soulmist that enveloped his body—flared with the likeness of fire. This was strength he needed to have! No more despair, no more pain and doubts were not acceptable; leave no option to surrender.


‘‘I’ll look upon this day and see it as a day where I Radjutlas, the last member of the Draconaus family triumphed over his uncertainty and despair. ’’


Noaru grinned with his arms folded and as his long black hair was carried in the wind, he laughs and disappears into the night. He had a journey to attend to, no time to stall and wait for the best to happen. He needed to mold his happiness into existence with his own hands.

[Matthew]

Noaru

Experience Points:

• 1 Materialization
• 1 Soulmist Projection

Lores:

• Cemeteries: An Excellent Gathering for Ghosts
• Ghosts: They All Have Something Holding Them Here
• Location: Dust Bed Ridge
• Mizahar: Places of Hidden Beauty
• Willpower: Summoning Strength Within

Additional Notes :

This was a very nice thread to read. I did notice that your Materialization and Soulmist Projection techniques are very simple and easy when compared to your current level in the skills, if that makes any sense. More XP could be rewarded if the actions were more up to par with his level, if that makes sense.

If you have any questions or concerns relevant to your grade, don't be afraid to send me a private message so that we can work it all out! Please remember to mark your Grading Request as Graded.

A shout-out to Ollic Rimesage, who was kind enough to make this template for me.