Priestly Endeavors

[Lute]

Gathering a flock

Humanity has always sought answers to what we don't understand, some turn to the belief in gods with names that we still know and to others that have long been forgotten. Until now we did not know if our prayers were being answered but now, we have proof, three mighty gods descended upon this rock, and they are showing the faithless the error of their ways.

Knelt in front of a statue of a many winged angels was a young man dressed in the garbs of a priest, a hood and cloth obscured his face save for two piercing grey eyes, on his clothes were the images of angels, some holding babies' others praying and playing instruments. In the middle was a large cross however what was interesting was the necklace around his neck on the string a pair of metal wings dangled.

"Praying again my friend" came a voice that sounded like liquid gold, rising from my prayer. I turned my head to meet the very feminine man.Valefor was almost unnaturally beautiful as if sculpted by the angel herself. Soft feathers surrounded his head as well as forming small pauldrons that perfectly connected to the white fabric that made up his costume, his face was the most striking part, bright blue eyes and long white hair almost like silk in appearance.

"Are you hearing me Jamie?" he asked again in an annoyed tone, the sound of his foot tapping against the hardwood floor grabbed his attention once more. "Yes, sorry I was distracted Elijah" I reply quickly as any other thought is now gone, my only concern being what he will say next. "You are to take a small band of your followers and head toward Brockton Bay; Mama has heard very interesting things as of late such as Lung being taken off the board."

"Am I to preach the good word of the gods and save those poor souls?" I ask, relishing the thought of being able to speak the good word to such unfortunate souls in a city known for its crime and infamous gangs. "You set off tomorrow so get some rest, you have quite the journey ahead of you". As Elijah left, I could see the ever-present smirk widen just a smudge before he walked away, I felt lighter unsure of what happened. Maybe I should head to bed sooner rather than later. I must be feeling lightheaded I thought to myself.

Walking down towards my door I'm greeted with the sight of one of the few Case-53s that has seen the light of the divine ones. Her appearance is that of a young woman with short black hair styled into a long ponytail with piercing grey eyes that unnerved the other disciples from time to time, above her left eye is the Omega symbol. While her face is beautiful, her body is something out of a nightmare, two massive black wings covered in feathers as dark as the night itself jut out of her shoulders wrapping around her like a living blanket, her legs were bird-like bending backwards with patches of feathers and yellowish hard skin covering them. Both of her arms were long and gangly with feathers sprouting out of her wrists and shoulders while her hands themselves were covered in the same hard yellowish skin that protected her legs and feet. Ending in long fingers tipped with nails that were sharp enough to slice through flesh as easily as you might use scissors on paper proven by more than a few of her episodes and some unfortunate accidents.

"Fala what are you doing by my door it's very late" I asked the woman smiling to not startle her. Fala raised her head at me, her eyes almost sparkling before her arms shootout, clutched in her hands were bits and baubles of silver and even a hint of gold. "Shinnies Jamie shinnies" she cawed eagerly in her excitement.

Reaching out towards one of her "Shinnies" it was oddly shaped, looking at it you would think it is just trash but not to Fala if it was shiny, it was special usually this meant she would collect coins and scrap but often than naught important parts and equipment would get broken or stolen to satisfy her urge of collecting. While she might appear to be a literal birdbrain, she had the classification of Thinker and beyond the immense need to collect she had an eerie cunning to her, saying that she had the energy of an excited puppy mixed with the neediness of a child who wanted her brother to play with her.

"Jamie, can we go look for more shinnies please?" Fala asked, giving me honest to god's puppy eyes.
"Look Fala it's late but I'm being sent on a trip, and I need people. How would you like to come along?' I offered. Her eyes began to spark no doubt thinking of all the new things to see and collect.

Springing up she wrapped her arms around me burying her head into my chest letting out caws left and right "Of course I'm so excited ooh what should I pack" she cooed then began muttering to herself. Patting her on the head got me a few more caws as she released me quickly bounding down the hall towards her own room to pack. Jamie watched as Fala disappeared from sight behind a corner the sound of her taloned feet resounding off the tiled floor reminding him of the dinosaurs from that Aleph movie he had seen.

Finally opening the door to his own room, he carefully stepped over his paintings of the angel herself that he had carelessly left out when he had gone to pray, even the most devout among us can be forgetful he mused to himself. Standing in front of his bed Jamie wondered where his comforter had gotten to but that would explain how Fala's nest had gotten slightly larger, so with the patience of a tired priest he grabbed the thin blanket with small depictions of a cartoon bird plastered on it and covered himself. If anyone asked him about the black feathers on it or the ones on his bed, he would simply ignore them.

To dream was to immerse yourself in sensations that felt real or to see things that meant something to you. For Jamie it was the feathery embrace of the Hope Killer, her massive alabaster wings holding him as if he were a newborn babe, the sounds weren't voices at least not at first. Instead, it was music, a soft rhythm that soothed his nerves. "T-this isn't a dream truly. Please command me my goddess" Jamie shouted nearly begging in the process causing the music to increase in intensity nearly deafening him in the dreamscape until everything froze. One by one the Simurghs wings released him threatening to drop him into the abyss below. "My lady, please stop whatever I've done. I'm sorry a thousand times but please tell me what I've done!?".

Maybe she didn't hear him or perhaps she didn't care either way he fell pitch blackness all round him screaming into the void stuck in a dream never to wake. Until he landed.
Looking around himself he was surrounded by the void save for a golden picture frame showing Brockton Bay. "My lady is this a test. Are you trying to show me something? "He called out. Instead of a verbal response the city erupted in purple fire consuming sections of buildings, the streets simply opened up, swallowing up parts of the city whole. Two massive wings appeared on either side of the picture frame making it appear like she was showing off,

Behind him two smaller wings seized his arms, lifting him forward before forcing him to kneel, "You want this city laid barren, it will be my pleasure, my goddess I understand!" he shouted trying to stop the wings from pushing down on him any further and then he heard it, the voice he had been waiting for.

"The song has been sung; the lines are drawn…. Go now priest-let fire consume this city, reduce it to ash until not even the memory remains, for its end was always known to me". Her voice wasn't neutral like he expected, it was angry and full of hate for Brockton Bay, and he couldn't help but wonder why.