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[Peredhil]

point of view is behind two figures facing three powerful rulers at the edge of a clearing, the sun setting slowly off to the left.

the left and right rulers are very aged men. the one on the left has cataract-filmed eyes and is obviously blind. His skin is stretched over his bones, as though it tightened as he aged until the skull seems on the verge of erupting through the flesh into death before the eyes.

the rightmost has a long wispy white beard and mustache, "fu manchu" type. His eyes are the faded blue of the sky behind his chair. His robe is pale yellow edged with white, embroidered with faded red stitching that might once have formed runes, but is washed almost pink with age.

The middle figure is vibrant with power, the finely scaled skin ripples and shifts with muscle at any movement. There is no shirt, which reveals the massive pectorals, deltoids, biceps. The scales seem slightly larger over the shoulders and chest, smaller down the arms and sides, down the six-pack abdomen. There is no navel or nipples. The eyes are verdant grass-green irises surrounding enormous pupils which react to emotions as well as light. The faintest rim of yellow sclera is visible.

All three sit in lawnchairs, stark aluminum bars with cheaply colorful wide plastic webbing for seat and back.

 

The two figures' backs are to us. The one on the left has oiled curly black hair, so thick it seems to froth as it descends in waves from under the metal skull cap with riveted brim. The hair foams down to the small of the back, stopping just short of completely covering the stained leather corselet which falls to its knees, with divisions allowing motion for the last foot or so.

Can't recall the one to the left at the moment, as my wife came in to tell me about her quiz.

 

action forward:

The two figures demand access to a guarded portal. The aged rulers, fearing the two, assent, and are respectfully helped to their feet. Their lawnchairs are folded and handed each to it's former occupant.

The lizardman smiles a surprisingly normal smile, and refuses to budge. The challenger on the right draws a shord sword (looks a lot like a gladius), but hesitates.

After a bit of discussion, the lizardman rises and, taking his chair, moves off to the right.

 

The pair advance and pull on a recessed ring. As the sun dips behind the world into a deep lavender twilight, a large trap door rises, amber light welling up slowly like slightly sparkly honey. As the light rises, spills, outlining small crevasses, painting the edges of enormous squares under the dirt before flowing over its covering, the lizardman returns. His scales seem almost black in the amber light.

He carries a black mace with an obsidian head in which a red coal seems suspended and centered.

Putting it down, he shrugs into a rippling suit of gold-washed chainmail. The combination of his natural scaled hide and the chainmail give an impression of great toughness and strength.

 

Lifting his mace, he bows sardonically to the pair, and with the lizardman in the rear, they descend. From their motion we can deduce stairs.

 

After a few minutes, the blind ruler feels his way to the edge of the entrance, and with surprising strength heaves the trapdoor up. Wavering a moment at its apex, it tips over to close, gaining speed until it's final closure is a ground-shaking event.

 

The amber light fades reluctantly, sinking into the now black ground.

 

pause on darkness, then cut to next sequence of dream.

 

The three move slowly through a very black house, black stone floor, black paneled walls, vaulted gothic black ceiling. rough beaten iron arms jut from the walls, the cold-iron hands gripping smooth crystal spheres from which the yellow light flows. They move from patch of light to the next patch like figure wading from one pool of water to the next.

 

The long haired one is in the front, now holding a single-edged knife in a ready grip, while the other is a step or two behind, to the left, sword gripped firmly but point angled to the floor. Their heads sweep back and forth as they walk so that they are looking in both directions and to the front, a well practiced dual caution.

The lizardman walks a few feet behind, mace dangling casually from his left hand (note the fine scales etched in the light, the way three scales fuse to become a claw-tipped "fingernail".) He's watching the pair ahead of him, and smirks in anticipation.

 

The rest is pretty much gone at the moment.

[The Portrait of Zool]

Sounds like an adventure doomed from the start - but I wonder, will wisdom or might prevail!?

[WrenWind]

very intrestink Come sit on my couch and we will discuss what your dreams mean *fake german accent* and a *giggle*