After Trill's defiant exposition, there was an awkward
moment that swept through all of us. Trill came under control of her
own emotions and apologized for the outburst. She then looked at all
of us with a sense of sorrow that I hadn't seen in a primeran, except
for maybe Ani. She apologized to us and then slowly walked back
towards Durga who was glaring daggers at Baal. Baal then broke the
tension by addressing us once more, completely ignoring what had just
occurred.
“You have all been inducted into the Festival of the
Hunt whether you care to compete or not, so it is important that you
all understand the importance of this event to our society. Lady
Takai and heir of Agrond, you will be most accustomed with our dark
history, but our more distant guests will need to be
educated.”
Baal was clearly speaking about Ani and myself, and
though it was a given that I was clearly not from around here, I
can't help but wonder how he knew that Ani wasn't really a native to
Ferus Mundus either. Takai seemed worried about what was coming and
looked at me with a look of shame on her face. Durga simply ignored
Baal and was tending to Trill, who was looking more unhinged by the
minute.
“You must understand young human, we primerans are a
very old race, perhaps as old as your own. But we have had little use
for documented history as our lives are much greater in length to
your own. But we chose to no longer neglect our responsibility to our
own history after an event that changed our way of life over ten
thousand years ago...”
Baal removed a large rolled up piece of parchment from
beneath his cloak and presented its contents to us. It was a large
painting of sorts that depicted two large creatures locked in combat
along with two other smaller but distinctly similar beings fighting
as well. Along the bottom edge, a more gruesome scene of numerous
even smaller creatures were eating one another. But above all this
madness, was a strangely shape figure that appeared to be radiating
some kind of light that passed through all of the chaos being
depicted.
“This is but one of only a few remaining pieces of
evidence of a time long ago when primerans waged endless war with one
another. I'm sure you know by now that we are a species divided into
numerous clans. Such as it has always been, but long ago there was no
association between one clan and another, only war. We were all
guided by our progenitors, the primeran gods. Beasts of little to no
reason that fought for supremacy of the land by engaging in endless
battle with one another. We are the sired offspring of these great
beasts, once forced to battle against the children of our
progenitor's rivals. I'm sure you are also aware that we are a
resilient species, able to regenerate almost any wound if given
enough time. But long ago there was one method used among the clans
to completely destroy our enemies... Consumption.”
I have to admit that I was deeply disturbed when I
heard that one. I then understood what Takai was trying to tell me
last night. I can only assume that the Chimeras she spoke of earlier
have something to do with the act of primerans eating one another.
Regardless, it seems like a shameful act to eat another primeran,
even Agrond seems disgusted at the idea. As for Ani, I can't imagine
what's going on his head. He looks confused, angry, and disappointed
all at the same time. Being the inquisitive pain in the ass that I
am, I had a some questions, but decided to wait until Baal was
finished.
“This was the way of things for as long as primerans
existed until an event occurred that changed our way of life. A being
appeared whose power rivaled the gods and took on the task of
single-handedly subduing each of the primeran gods by forcing them
beneath our world into a death-like sleep. The clans were liberated
and free to do as they pleased. But the entity that freed us was
never found or heard from again. This being came to be called 'Bestia
Custos,' the guardian beast, the animal keeper. Pandemonium and her
citizens recognize the sins of the past and wish to not look away
from our misdeeds under the rule of our progenitors. The Festival of
the Hunt is a tribute to our ancestors and creators so that their
blood lust can be appeased and they remain sleeping beneath us for
all time.”
With Baal's story concluded, I understood that this
whole festival thing had a place in their society, but I had the
feeling that there was a lot more to it than that. It was also pretty
clear that death is a strong possibility in this competition, and the
fact that we were thrown into it without our consent tells me that
something is up. I did notice one thing about the painting that Baal
presented and decided to ask.
“You seem to be leaving something out. What's with
these guys?”
I pointed to two strange looking primerans that were
beneath the depictions of the two primeran gods. They were more
angular in design and their colors exaggerated from the rest. Baal
looked at me with a face that suggested both surprise and possibly
even irritation.
“You have a keen eye, young lady... Those are
depictions of two primerans that have been given favor by the gods.
They were known as apex primerans. Primerans who had proven their
loyalty and worth to their gods and given tremendous power that
allowed them to literally tower over their brethren. Their flesh was
considered to have been like stone and metal with powers beyond what
a normal primeran could do. Thankfully, such a power has been long
since absent from this world now that the gods sleep below us.”
