View Full Version : [Malebolge] Blood Citadel - Temple of Anansi, God of Death
Rising from the depths of Malebolge is the central tower and home of Anansi. Four wide bridges span the gap from each level of Malebolge to the tower, all at right angles to each other. A bright torch is mounted above each one, and they are the city’s source of light. The jet black tower has a clean, polished appearance. The light from the torches and the shadows from the pit create magnificent reflections on the glossy surface. It’s width is constant but for the tapering above the surface to a simple spire. It is known as the Blood Citadel.
The inside of the citadel lies a spiraling starcaise, descending to the bottom of Malebolge, allowing access to the bridges outside. The stairway and walls are made of the same black material as the outside of the tower. The single doorway to the center lies at the surface, where a large throne room lies beyond the beginning of the stair, the only publically accessible level of the tower. But no one is foolish to enter against Anansi's will.
Its ceiling is hundreds of feet above the floor, reaching to the very top of the tower. The floor and walls are as black as the rest of the citadel, but four grand windows span the wall from top to bottom. They are stained glass, with a blood red tint.
All attention is drawn, however, to a figure on a magnificent ivory throne atop a marble dias.
His hair is white and reaches his waist. He wairs a suit of black armor with three spikes on each shoulder, curving inward. The back of his cloak is black, but the inside can be seen to be as red as his eyes. His long black claws give him a bestial appearance, and his white skin the face of death. His long fangs instill fear into the hearts of man and beast.
He is Anansi, God of Death.
The lower reaches of the citadel are inaccessible without Anansi's permission. Few knw what lies there, but there is rumored to be a terrible dungeon, among other things. Nightstalkers revere the depths of Malebolge as the source of the darkness that seems to hang in the air and try to escape from the pit. Many of Anansi's agents report to him below, and it is said he goes there to access his vast network of nightsatlker spies.
Anansi, God of Death, Fear, and the Shadows
Appearance: Anansi takes a roughly human form, but he appears like some sort of undead with fangs, black claws, and deathly pale skin. He's very tall and thin, with white hair reaching down to his waist. He is very lithe despite his heavy suit of obsidian armor covering his entre body. Three spikes on either curve inwards and increase in size towards the center. His cloak is black with a vivid red underside, and his eyes are the color of blood.
Background: See here. (http://forums.mtgnews.com/showthread.php?threadid=148155)
Personality: As a mortal, one would note that Anansi was seldom is without a smile on his face. However, those that knew him then would say that this has diminished since the ascension. What it was replaced with, however, is frightening sadism. He is usually very calm and collected, but he can without warning fly into a fit of rage, and the resulting slaughter is usually horrendous. He has no mercy in him, and he is most unforgiving of his followers. His dispeasure is unnerving, but the most frightening thing of all is to see glee on the god of death's face.
Abilities: Anansi lives in shadow, and can transform himself into an entity of pure darkness at will. This makes him extremely elusive, as the form of darkness can move about nearly effortlessly. This betrays the fact that he is not a normal human at all, despite his appearance.
Anansi is also master of fear, and can nearly paralyze a mortal that is weak enough. His very presence carries an aura of fear, making most hesitant to go near him, and with very good reason.
In addition, he can give physical form to the shadows around him. this is strongest in his realm.
Weapons: He carries none, but often manipulates darkness into weapons. His sharp claws are the usual method of dealing with enemies.
City: Malebolge (http://forums.mtgnews.com/showthread.php?threadid=143914)
Temple: The Blood Citadel (http://forums.mtgnews.com/showthread.php?threadid=143915)
Patron Race: Oni
Elite Patron Race: Nightstalkers - The nightstalkers are creatures of darkness, and are said to inhabit the deeper realms of Malebolge. They are his preferred agents. They usually take a humanoid form, but this can vary. Some have the ability to return to the form of a shadow, and these are the invisible guardians of his realm, while others have only one form.
Champion: Oya the Nightstalker (NPC), who inhabits the shadows of the Blood Citadel.
Disciples: None
Disciples of Death:
-To become a disciple, one must simply pledge allegiance to Anansi.
-However, to receive divine gifts, one must prove oneself as a useful disciple. How this is done may vary, but Anansi does not waste time on those that are useless to him.
-Worship other gods as well will earn Anansi's displeasure.
-Pity the fool that defies the God of Death. He is rumored to keep such people in the dungeon below, which none but himself can enter. Every so often, he descends. When he returns, it is almost always raining blood.
Anansi sat on his throne with his eyes closed, appearing somewhat relaxed. He was communicating with his servants, the nightstalkers that inhabited the depths of Malebolge. He was rather intrigued.
"Oya," he said simply, opening his eyes and focusing his attention in front of him. A black mass rose up from the obsidian floor, taking the rough shape of a kneeling man.
"Yes, my lord," came the reply. He slowly stood up, separating himself slightly more from the shadows of the temple. He flickered like an ebon flame, preferring the form of a shade.
"Have you heard of the Labyrinth, Oya?" asked Anansi inquisitively.
"No, my lord," said the nightstalker.
"It is a city," explained Anansi, "of the Unsworn. That the rumors say is led... by a god."
"A god, my lord? Do you know which one?"
"I do not," replied the God of Death. "I want you... to find out. I also want to find the location of the city... Oya, I want you to find you whatever you can about the Brotherhood."
"I understand, my lord."
"Go to Azurath first. I will brief you as you travel."
"As you wish, my lord," said Oya, who bowed a final time and exited the sanctum.
The Brotherhood... Dwelling in secrecy and pulling a veil over the eyes of mortals and gods. The city none can find, the god none can see, the army none can touch. The sheer arrogance of the Brotherhood would be enough to make his blood boil if he were in a less pleasant mood. But Anansi knew he needed to approach this strategically.
The God of Death reclined in his throne, and began to fade into a wraith-like form; a black mist collected in the shape of a man. It then collapsed and rolled to the floor, seeming to go through it. Anansi was visiting one of the lower levels of his sanctum to perform some reconassaince himself.
No one could pull a veil over his eyes. He would punish those foolish enough to try.
Anansi was in one of the lower levels of the tower, consulting his agents. He stood with his arms outstretched and his eyes closed, and black masses seemed o swirl round him. If this room had an outer wall, it was not an obstacle, as the shapeless nightstalkers slithered in and out as they pleased. Some of these shadows he communicated with were living nightstalkers, and others were simply lines of communication.
The black eel-like things relayed what they had discovered. The Labyrinth, it was said, is indetectable by mortals and gods. If anyone knew, it was the Brotherhood.
The Brotherhood were Unsworn, and thus immune to Gods' powers, and resistant to most forms of divine intervention. Most troubling of all was that they had contact with a powerful figure that hated all gods, according to lore. If the Brotherhood shared his opinions...
This was unfortunately all that he heard. He telepathically relayed it to Oya and rose from the citadel. He was formulating a plan, but rather than returning to his throne room, he first stopped in a dungeon...
Cousin Istvan
11-12-03, 11:32
Torgyle walked to on of the great bridges that branched from the tower. Before he crossed he took off his robe, put it in his bag, and sat the bag down. Torgyle quickly crosed the bridge and then slowly entered Anansi's throne room.
When he sees that the God of Death is not upon his throne Torgyle moves to the side and crosses his arms waiting patiently for Anansi's return.
Black tendrils rose up from the floor and converged upon the throne. Blackness enveloped it and then expanded and shifted to become the God of Death.
"Greetings..." he said slowly, somewhat distracted. "What business do you have here?"
Cousin Istvan
11-24-03, 08:35
"My Lord."
Torgyle lowers to one knee and bows his head as he speaks.
"I am about to embark on a jouney, and I have come to ask your blessing before I go, so that I may do my Lord's bidding at all times during this journey."
"I am sure you will..." Anansi replied. "I will watch over you on this journey, Torgoyle."
Cousin Istvan
11-25-03, 08:28
Thank you my lord, I shall leave imeadiatley.
With that Torgyle stood up, bowed, turned, and left the throne room.
Domakaros entered and saw another Oni bowing before his lord. He nodded to the stranger and then knelt before Anansi. "My lord I come before you to swear my allegiance. If there is some way to prove myself worthy to you then bid me do it"
Anansi thought for a moment and said, "There is something that has concerned me for a long while... There is an atheist living just outside the city. He is a delusional old man, having convinced himself that the gods don't exist. I want you to... persuade him otherwise."
He got up, produced a map seemingly out of thin air, and extended it to Domakaros in his clawlike hand. "I will watch your progress and give assistance if necessary," he said.
"Thank you lord. I will persuade this atheist..." he spat the word "...that the gods exist,you in particular." Domakaros bowed to Anansi and left,walking towards the city walls.
A crossed the bridge leading to the tower. He stopped in front of the ivory throne and did a quick bow.
"Entity...What. Are. You.
Hearing no response from the God. A turned and walked out.
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