[ Reply | Next | Previous | Up ]
From: Amemshehu
Date: 06 Jun 2000
Time: 07:56:48
Deep within the bustling necropolis stands a massive building of sparkling black stone, its seams barely visible; its etchings as clear as a midnight sun. Wraithly guards hover to either side of double doors immense enough to allow passage giants. Each guard is clad in black, hooded robes and grasps a serrated khopesh of gleaming obsidian. Their grim countenances are hidden partially beneath pointed hoods, just as their hands are draped with the oversized sleeves of their garments. Passersby retain a wide berth from these sentinels, refusing to draw any nearer than they must.
A figure in black robes and braids strides through the crowd, which parts wide for her presence as the obviously female figure proceeds straight for the doorway. The khopeshes cross before her defiantly, shrinking away almost immediately as the female stares at each in turn with a gaze of greyish green. With hardly a further reaction, the soul continues toward the entrance, which opens for her, seemingly of its own volition as she continues forward without a change of speed to her step.
The walls are lined with rack upon rack of clay tablet and scroll, each rack reaching from floor to ceiling...as reciporocated by the level above it...and the level above it...and the level above it. The effect is a monolithic depository of written knowledge, one that might require centuries or even millenia to read.
The figure approaches a smaller, but no less ornate, door and enters it, setting the enormous scroll that she was carrying onto the desk just shortly before the gauzy black robes slide off of her bronze, glyphed skin with a soft sighing sound. With a chinkle sound of Egyptian jewelry, a metallic arm sets the robe on a hook just before she sits and brushes her thick, black braids from her face.
A respectable knock on the door, almost inaudible, heralded the woman to answer, "Enter."
A timid, wizened looking wraith peeked in from the door, his goggle-like eyes and gaunt, wrinkled face seeming almost artifice rather than inner being. "V-Vizier...have you a moment, please?" he asked in Egyptian.
"Please...and my name is Amemshehu."
"Of course, Lady Amemshehu. I have brought the recent acquisitions for your perusal...the map of Persia could fit several different categories, Milady," stammered the ghostly librarian.
"Of course...leave them for my inspection later, Sarmon. Was there anything else?" the Wizard prodded.
"Err...just...welcome back, Milady," Sarmon smiled timidly.
"Thank you...it's good to be back," smiled the regal Seshet as her attendant nodded politely and shrank back behind the closing door.
She wearied of Amenti, though, in all honesty. Her most recent trip to rescue Nothing was, she had assured herself, simply to aid her Ka's acquaintances, but her Ka knew better. The Ka, having always been her more emotional, wreckless self, was enjoying the Ba's memories of the excursion with unbridled glee. She had been an explorer, centuries ago, and it had felt wonderful to move in a forward direction, never turning to look back, never pondering the responsibilities she might be leaving undone in some other place. Being a librarian was enjoyable, being the scholar that she was, but if she was planning to remain in the Underworld for an indefinite amount of time to recover from her corporeal timespans, she would require a better method to pass the time. The council would continue without her. The library would continue without her. Amenti's fate would not be decided solely by her presence.
Unrolling the large scroll, the sorceress admired the plans for the enormous Egyptian vessel, its designs much like the Harbringer vessel that rescued Nothing...with the exception of the number below deck quarters, sails, harpoons, and several less notable or obvious differences. Raising the capital...finding a crew insane enough to embark on an indefinite charting mission ...difficult, but infinitely rewarding.
Indeed...perhaps it was time to explore this World of Death and Darkness.