Death be not Proud

[Darastrix]

A lone rider approached the Shrine of Death, his brown eyes sweeping over the barren area curiously. He was glad that the Force Home wasn't very far into the desert. Summer was swiftly approaching--here, it fealt as though it had arrived already--and Nyx didn't relish the thought of riding far in the heat.

Why would anyone want to live somewhere so...dull? he wondered. Shrugging mentally, the dark-clad redhead rode on towards Taed's temple, his posture and bearing giving every indication that he was someone of importance. Or at least he thought so.

[Devon]

His posture did give an indication of his supposed importance to one of the younger priests in the temple. Since the priest didn't think he was capable of handling such a visitor, he sent for Christian instead. The High Priest walked out of the main temple doors to greet the man who was coming. Stopping a few yards away from the rider, Christian called out, "Hello! What brings you to Atrhug?"

[Darastrix]

"My horse, obviously," Nyx stated, his voice as dry as the surrounding desert. "I am Nyx Bates, the Phoenix of Flux." Now that Christian was mere yards away, he could see that the man's black robes, aside from marking him as a Soahcian priest, had a red and gold bird embroidered across his chest, as though flying from the flames stitched along his hem.

[Devon]

"Flux," Christian murmured to himself, trying not to visibly show his growing headache. "Since your horse is what brought you here, why have you decided to come to Athrug?"

[Darastrix]

"Because I have not yet been here," Nyx stated. "And by the time I return to Flux, I shall be the most well-traveled priest in the temple."

[Devon]

Christian wasn't one to turn away a priest who wanted to learn more about his faith. Warming up to the man a little more, he nodded and called some younger priests over. "These men will take care of your horse, if you'd like I'll give you a tour around Athrug."

[Darastrix]

Nyx smiled slightly and nodded his assent, dismounting easily. Once on the ground, it was clear that he was a bit above average height, though the way he carried himself--chin up, chest out, and shoulder back--made him look a bit taller. He appeared pleased at Christian's offer, though unsurprised. It was nice to see that even those of the other Force Homes knew how to properly treat one of his stature.

"That will be quite acceptable, yes."

[Devon]

Christian was a tall man himself, but Nyx did edge him out, Christian noted this, but didn't seem overly concerned with the Fluxian's stature. "all right then, follow me this way," the High Priest said as he began to enter the temple doors. "Is there anything in specific you want to know about or see?"

[Darastrix]

"What's so special about Taed?" Nyx asked as he followed Christian. "What makes you want to serve him over any of the other Forces?"

[Devon]

"I could ask you the same about Soahc, though I'm sure you'd actually give an answer," he said to the priest of Flux. "The things I've seen and done in life have put me close with Taed, that is why I chose to serve him. Out of all the forces, I connected with him."

[Darastrix]

'That still doesn't tell me what's so special about him as a Force,' Nyx thought, though he didn't point that out. "I've always heard that your lot is too serious for your own good. What do your priests do for fun here?"

[Devon]

"On the weekends we like to have puppet shows with some of the corpses here, we call it the Necro-theater hour," Christian said with a small smirk. "I'm sure what we do for fun wouldn't match those of Flux, but we do find time to enjoy ourselves. There are festivals and parties celebrating Taed and the dead. Oh another thing I find special about Taed is how much death can encompass in our world. It isn't merely the loss of a life, death can also represent a celebration for the life that one has led."

[Darastrix]

'Necro-theatre hour....' Nyx made a mental note to suggest that as an addition to Fluxian funerals when he returned home. Or perhaps he would write ahead.

"If someone's life is really worth celebrating, why wait for them to die?"

[Devon]

"Most don't appreciate life while they are living it," Christian answered. "I've seen it all too many times where someone takes for granted the life they are given and it is only through death that they can see the true worth of the time they have spent here. Efil may give life, but Taed can teach you to appreciate it since he may one day take it."

[Darastrix]

"Or it can drive people into despair knowing they only have a limited amount of time and trying too hard to be 'right' or 'perfect' instead of embracing the imperfections we were blessed with and truly living to the fullest," Nyx pointed out.