Children of Terra

~Hazy, faint battle~ ~Pelagia, Capitol of Triton~ ~In the Royal Palace~ ~Vykan, Korybant~ Vykan came to, coughing and vision-blurred from pain mixed with concussion. He could see the whites of shattered teeth about him and knew the breathing through swollen labors: his jaw was shattered. Strength was sapped from him -- the long trudges and fights of the siege anchored his limbs; his head feeling like it could crack and spill any moment.       He had awoken to see the battle ended, with korybant made to kneel before Kourete -- himself left strewn in the hall -- surrounded by the freshly cold dead. The Ephoroi walked in, making the armies filtered about the room stand at attention. How they differed from us! Vykan tried to flip himself over, his groans a pathetic gurgle.       The Ephoroi stood surveying over the dead, looking to the place where the Triton King last fought. Before the throne: there squat-splayed the Neptune form, swords sticking through his body from various angles, bifurcated korybant patterned around. The survivors and conquerors likely the ones kneeling at Kourete feet.       With a nod to the Telkhine-pure, the Ephoroi turned past the hall, venturing deeper under heavy escort. At the beckon, the Kourete unceremoniously began to slaughter the korybant. Some would leap up and try a defense. These the Kourete savaged with beatings and dragged outside.       Vykan gasped and willed himself to move. He can't. Severe concussion? He flailed as the Kourete walked to him -- all the korybant dead or beaten to. They picked him up roughly and lashed him to the trident of the Triton King, Thaumas.       He was bound thoroughly before being led out of the Palace, skies clearing with air rank of fresh vapors and bloodied corpses. He saw then their fates, fates of the korybant:       All through the streets as far as he could see were his dead, the fellows lain is such way that suggested treachery and backstabbing by the 'honor guard.' He was paraded past them, spit on, jeered, and his clothes torn off, down to naked.       Vykan was in a haze, the pain a fog to his senses . . . A dream most tiring. ~The weeks back to Arcoscephale~ ~Capitol of Telkhine~ ~Victory Procession~ ~Vykan, rebellion leader~ Vykan was savaged on the way back, to prevent the healing nature of souls. He had arrived in grand Arcoscephale a bruised husk. Kids were made to throw stones at him. Telkhine children! Souls couldn't sire -- in these lands -- not because of prohibition; simply an inability to conceive.       He was paraded down the opulent streets of high Telkhine, winding to the great temple complex at the heart of the city. True Meliai and Hekateride preached of his insurrection against Telkhine, his goading of Korybante to rise against the divine-ordained. His treason to seek the means of Triton to pierce the veil blessings.       For his punishments was he lashed to the weapon of the Triton King. And now here in the temple quarter would his execution be public affair. An Ephor was selected as judgment, walking to the platform he was strung on, and severed his cock and balls. They were stuffed into his mouth before he was stabbed and stoned by the mob. The Meliai stepped in, not wanting Vykan to fall into unconsciousness.       His final punishment was beheading, with a rusted, dull blade. They started from the back, hack-beating into him for minute after minute, until wrenching his severed head from its body.       As Vykan's consciousness faded, drifting on the currents of Khaos up, he could faint see the beginning of a great orgy at the body's feet.       A jubilation for all Telkhine.