Lust's Diary After Taint

[Ariadne]

This is primarily for those of you who played with me on Prophecy of Sins and are wondering what happened to Lust to make her leave the Empire and why she is back now. I'm hoping, however that it will make an interesting read for anyone who plays with her to get a bit of a back story. For those of you who played with me, please just be aware that the reasons stated for Lust leaving the Empire have NOTHING to do with why I personally left the site. I invented the reasons for Lust's departure after I decided to come back, to make my return more fluid.

I don't really know what the custom is for this particular area of the forum, but please feel free to comment on anything I write, especially if something is unclear or you have a question, I will try to make it clearer in subsequent posts.

Year 810 OTP, 10th day of the Month of Energy

I've been wandering the plains of Desarith for almost a week now, in search of what I'm not sure. Being alone never did suit me, and Jakara is my only true companion. By night I slip into the human villages near the road for...amusement. But I grow tired of these frail creatures. They possess neither the stamina nor the appetite of the immortals. I must continue to move forward anyways. Even though Gea has her hands full as the new Empress, I'm certain she will have noticed my disappearance by now. Whether or not she has the will or the resources to do anything about that I don't know, but for now I must avoid the Sins at all cost. Not because of my own petty issues with the Empress or with those I once called friends, but because I know that I am now a traiter, a deserter. I cannot go back now, they wouldn't hear of it, Gea least of all.

A part of me feels badly, leaving her to bear the burden of being the new Empress. But that part of me grows fainter with every step I take leading me northward and away from the Empire. Why didn't you trust me with your weakness, Taint? Had I ever been anything less than loyal to you and your Sins? Had you ever told Gea and Deception about your plans ahead of time? And if you had, then why had you sworn Gea not to tell me? I could have helped!

I started this diary because I am lonely and Jakara tires of my constant brooding over what happened that night at the Empire. He doesn't agree with why I left, believes that I should have stayed with the other Sins, helped them through these times. Perhaps he is right, but it is too late to back down now.

~Lust

Year 810 OTP, 12th day of the Month of Energy

Every night I get further from the Empire the landscape appears bleaker. I'm not sure if it is the absense of Taint, or just that I have never travelled this far from my home. Each night the air grows cooler. It is still summer, so it isn't cold, but as I draw nearer to the north I do notice the change in temperature. I still do not know where I am going. Away, is what I tell Jakara when he asks, but in all honesty I cannot say because I do not know.

~Lust

Year 810 OTP, 13th day of the Month of Energy

Jakara and I had an argument tonight. I've never quarelled with him as we fought tonight. He wanted to go back, said he could feel our power weakening, that we were going too far. I admit I have felt this weakening as well, but I refused to go back. I'd heard of Sins who had travelled this far and not been weakened at all. Perhaps then, it is because Taint has gone. Jakara argued that we should go back and help restore the Empire, that it would restore our powers. I told him I can't go back because I'm a deserter. It's easiest if the reason I can't go back is because of someone else. If the reason I can't go back is because they won't take me. Perhaps that is even partially true. But I'm also stubborn and proud. Above all things, though, I'm hurt. It's hasn't even been two weeks yet. My pain is still fresh. But for Jakara's sake I pray he believes my reasons. He refuses to speak to me. We'll see how long that lasts. I know he's as lonely as I am.

~Lust

Year 810 OTP, 20th day of the Month of Energy

Jakara spoke to me tonight. He warned me that we are being followed. We have reached the edge of the northern mountain pass now, and the air is quite cool. He says that whoever it is skirts along the mountains at night while we move. What they do during the day neither of us knows. He's hesitant to tell me if they are friend or foe, however. He's picked up a heightened aura from them, and he suspects that they are an immortal, but he says that for two nights now and they have been content only to watch.

I suspect they are a Sin, possibly to come punish me for my desertion, or possibly to ask that I return to the Empire. Which I would have no way of knowing. At this point, either seems equally as likely. While I am certain that the Virtues would have no knoweldge of Taint's disappearance as of yet, the Sins may be extra vigilant in their defence, or perhaps preparing to launch an assault. The question is if they actually need me enough to overlook my betrayal to the Empire. It would be foolish of me to think I am of that much use that they are willing to overlook such a thing in normal circumstances. But since I have no contact with the Empire any more I have no way of knowing what their circumstances are.

I may, however, find out sooner than I desired if the immortal that is following me decides to make themselves known to me.

~Lust

[Ariadne]

Year 810 OTP, 22nd day of the Month of Energy

The immortal has continued to follow us on our north western trek. Every night they grow bolder, getting closer than the day previous. They give off a strange energy. I know now that they are neither Sin or Virtue, but something else. While curiosity compels me to find out, Jakara is right in reminding me that I probably really don't want to know. Still, all they seem to do is watch. Tonight I will attempt to see what they do during the day.

~Lust

Year 810 OTP, 23rd day of the Month of Energy

This morning I stayed up past sunrise to see what they were doing when they thought I was asleep. It was the strangest thing...

In the distance I saw a large bird, larger than any bird I had every seen, and without feathers. Though it was far in the distance I could see glowing markings all over it: orange circles and swirls. It landed quite a distance away, and the immortal seemed to defy gravity as they hopped nimbly over the stone outcroppings to get to it. I felt the aura of the immortal dwindle as the beast took to the sky once more and Jakara and I were alone.

Despite being tired, the two of us took off at a great pace, eager to lose the one who had been tracking us. As I write this I am huddled in a small cave with Jakara, curled up beside me to keep me warm. On the other side of me, embers glow a soothing red. I dare not make a fire, for fear that the immortal wll be back to track us, but it is too cold to sleep at night with no source of heat at all. I hope that the Immortal that was following us will give up the search when they find we have disappeared. After being up all day, I have determined to sleep through the night and remain hidden throughout the day. The sun has taken it's toll on me. I don't remember the last time I was so active with that blaze beating down on me. Despite the biting cold of the north, the sun has drained me of all me energy.

~Lust

Year 810 OTP, 25th day of the Month of Energy

This evening I felt the aura of the immortal in the area of our small dwelling. I don't know how they found us again, but they did. I doubt they will leave during the day again, and I doubt I will have much opportunity for escape if they don't. Not that I am prisoner, but I am beginning to feel uneasy about this immortal.

~Lust

Year 810 OTP, 26th day of the Month of Energy

Jakara and I are still moving northwest. The tundra is still as unforgivably cold as it ever was. The moon lit my path tonight, however. It was full, casting a beautiful silver glow onto everything it touched. And in its light I saw for the first time our stalker in clear light. As I rounded the last crest of the northern mountains, I turned back, and saw them standing on one of the ridges. I'm not sure why, but I was surprised to find out that my stalker was a woman.

In the silver light of the moon, her skin seemed to glow an eerie pale, almost transluscent white. Her long hair blew in the wind as it howled around the mountains and for a moment we held each other's eyes. Afraid that she might be considering hurting me, I willed as much of my power into my gaze as possible. If she desires me, at least she won't kill me. She would have no use for me if I were dead. I broke the gaze and continued on. Ahead of me is a vast snowy field. I'm unsure of what I will find there, I've never seen a map that charted anything north of the northern mountains. I admit I'm curious, but also hesitant. That woman came from somewhere, and my guess is she came from where I'm going. I hope they don't mind some uninvited company.

~Lust