Osanna
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
| |
| Osanna | Empire of Atlantis | |
| Empirical Standing | |
| Division: | Priesthood |
|---|---|
| Rank: | Minor Priestess |
| Origin/AE: | Magic/Defender |
| Security Level: | 50 |
| Atlantean's Personal Data | |
| Known Aliases: | None |
| Species: | Mer |
| Age: | 160 |
| Height/Weight: | 5'7/130lbs |
| Eye/Hair Color: | Blue/Red |
| Citizenship: | Atlantean |
| Current Residence: | Temple |
| Known Relatives: | None amongst the choosen |
| Footnotes | |
| No additional information available. | |
| |
One evening, as she was making her way to the western temple to set up for the priests evening prayers, she happened upon a conversation- one that caught more than her ear- and wrenched fear from the very depths of her soul- a plot to overthrow their beloved queen… by none other than the favored high priest of her temple and a well known councilman.
Upon the discovery of these conspirators, and her later discovery by the very high priest she suspected of such treason she found herself with a simple three way choice- “sacrifice” herself to the greatness of Poseidon in a famous ritual for the people, allow her high priest to “favor” her with his particular idea of affections in exchange for her inconsequential life… or flee Atlantis forever…
Could the stories of the chosen on the surface be true? If she found the courage to abandon her family, priesthood and home- could she find them? If she did- would anyone believe her story before it was too late?
She quirks a frown. "Well, I suppose if I had to choose one thing- the thing I wish most to learn is how to assist our warriors to be stronger, more competent fighters when they must. I hope to keep them safe while helping them perform at their peak. I want to be useful to them- to do my part in the war of the chosen." IN her mind she goes on- I hope to become invaluable to them... I hope that one day they will hear me... they will believe me *she momentarily feels despair roll over her* that they will follow me home to put the right to so many wrongs I have witnessed in my short lifetime...
"How do I most help the chosen? How to I most assist our strong king and fair queen? 
How do I help protect those I love?"
Her words both form her mouth as well as her mind reached him. He nodded to her eyes understanding of her desire. “We will need to introduce you to them; you have kept to the side as you have been taught, but here on the surface we must work differently. Your first task will to be to seek out 3 warriors and offer to assist them. Report to me when you have and what the results were. Do not fear rejection or a lack of respect here. If you encounter either let me know immediately.” Nikias keeps his attention on her as he speaks. “Focus your skills on the enhancement of those you protect and serve. Only wield your powers that strike our foes as needed.” Waiting a moment for her to mark his request he continued. ”Next I wish for you to observe and speak with the Chosen return to me with what you find out about them by what they say as well as what they do not. Find the friendships and the rivalries.” His voice grows soft, “If we can keep them together here then when we return to deal with what was left behind we will not fail.”
"Oh Great Lord of Seas and Storms I call to you...." Osanna felt her forehead crease in confusion... has she thought those words? Said them aloud? No...No... she'd heard them...heard them with... her ears.. yes, they reverberated off the walls, crept into the room. What room was this? Why did her head pound, her chest ache, her knees burn?
The burning sensation traveled up her legs, she pushed herself up to a crouch and stared down at the shadow of wetness that had crawled up her robes, it was not all water... there was a darker shadow crept up the gauzy fabric with the water, red... blood.... the burning radiated from her hands too. The floor shone with small stars of light as she lifted her head, not light, reflections- off of glass... shards of glass everywhere around her.
She pushed herself up, wobbled on her feet, that burning was quite painful, but she forgot it as she stared at bloody hand prints on the floor- did she leave those?
"My king and friend has been called from this place"
YES! She had heard that voice, booming now, from the doorway. She staggered toward it, brushing the loose hair from her face and leaned against the doorway. Standing, with his arms raised, voice growing louder with every word, Nikias looked more intense than she had ever seen him, as if he planned to crack the alter with the sheer power of his glare. A gust whipped around her as he spoke, lifting her hair off of her shoulders, making her arms tingle.
"Must assist Nikias..." she thought. But why? The hollowness crept up her throat from her chest, making it hard to breath. She pushed off from the wall, teetering, almost falling to her knees, but catching herself with another stride. She was almost there, she pitched forward, knowing that she was falling, just in time to see Nikias's hand. With a thump, she hit the ground with both knees, crying out in pain as the burning surged to a peak. She managed to keep herself kneeling upright by sheer willpower and the death grip she didn't remember having on Nikias' robes. She stared blankly past him, to realize that Nia was facing her from the other side, tears streaming down her face.
"Nia?"
Nikias' power rippled through the room again as the spell demanded his attention. “He is not within Hade’s realm, nor in the blessed fields... we will find him.” Osanna nodded her agreement as she struggled to continue standing. Admeta smiled slightly reassured. "I-I... do h-hope so. P-please... call upon m-me ... if I can be of as-assistance."
Nikias stopped her speaking as he shook his head, “I will, you are stronger then you know... You can help the others.”Admeta bowed at his words, "Thank y-you. I will... remain s-strong." Nikias placed a hand on her head and whispered a prayer over her, "Thank you." she smiled, her lips trembled slightly, "I will... be strong. For L-Leviathas, for all of our k-kin. I will g-go... and pray... and tr-train some more."
Nialane nods slowly, taking a deep breath and clearing her mind. Nikias returned to the spell regathering his power to search again for his friend. His daughter began to channel her own power towards her father, so that he may be able to see more clearly. As they did so Osanna started to gather her power about her, to provide the support to Nikias as well. She blinked- he seemed to become two Nikias’… she blinked again, and her world turned black as she crumpled to the floor.
All was quiet, too quiet... as if the sounds of the world had been muted by the raging tide of sorrow that swept through the temple corridors.
Osanna slept, a rocky, fitful sleep. Sleep of exhaustion, of pain, of heartbreak. The physical maladies of her body had long since been healed by those with such talents. But she lay inexplicably inanimate, soaking up the sorrowful waves as they swelled over her body.
The only traces of her life beheld in the slight trembling of her eyelashes as if she watched scenes imperceptible for any but she and a ragged breath in and out of her parted lips...