Where am I?
You were sure that you were touring the palace, but the scene had drastically changed. Where there was royal crimson carpet now lay chilling stone, grains of sand scattered the ground. Columns replaced drapery, emerging from the stone slab walls.
Maybe it's a dungeon?
The further you went, the darker the hall became- windows replaced with flaming torches aligned on either side of each wall. A sharp wind blows past- making you cross your arms in an attempt to preserve heat.
What does the map say?
Just as you were about to open your map up, you see a blue glow in the distance. You walk towards it curiously, then freeze as a voice traverses from the glow to your ears
Who is there? I know you are not the Prince. Why do you approach me?
As you apporoach, you realise the glow was from an anthromorphic ghost lupe. He was dressed in egyptian clothing, a large red coat with the Prince's royal crest on the back, and jewelery ordinating his feet, arms and neck. His glasses glinted as he pushed it up to his jackel mask.
Speak human, it is not often I get visitors from outside of the palace. Are you here to see the Book of the Ancient Scriptures?
You shake your head and open your map, reading alound in a monotonic reading voice the text that beheld a small section of the map.
I am here to see the Ancient One, the Keeper of the Book of the Ancient Scriptures, the Foreknower and the Guardian of Time.
The words were left hanging in the air, and it takes you about five seconds to realise who you were talking to. The old lupe moved his lips into something of the like of a smile.
I see. So you would like to know a bit about me. Very well, I havn't had the chance to talk to many people in these parts- follow me, and we shall talk.
Bakura is an Ancient currently being held captive by the Prince. An Ancient is, as the name suggests, an old neopet who has managed to surpass it's body capacities in order to continue striving for knowledge. There are only a handful of Ancients left in Neopia.
Bakura is a ghost lupe with desert clothing- as he was originally from the lost desert. Around his neck is a cursed talisman which holds a great wolf deamon which he can never remove.
An Ancient may either end his life willingly or wait until he is content with his knowledge (which is quite rare). As the Prince has detained Bakura in his palace, Bakura now fears that he will soon perish without quenching his thirst for knowledge.
He is not very tempermental, nor is he distressful. At most he is quite accepting of things and always portrays himself as a very wise and old being. He proves this in many ways through his ability to see the future as well as his knowledge of the past five centuries. He also can be quite self-centered, not really caring about anyone else- but that's not to say that he doesn't find people interesting. He could be considered as a scientist looking upon neopia as a fasinating specimen of dividing bacteria.
Currently he is thinking of ways to stop the demon in his cursed talisman from possessing him.
Kaan is the wolf demon-shadow that poseses the talisman around Bakura's neck. As the Ancient grows weaker without learning, Kaan grows stronger and more controlling.
With eyes and teeth like snow on coal, he is very nearly mad and has trouble making sense of the world surrounding him.
When he is able to possess the Ancient's body he makes contact with Res Novae- the rebellion against the Prince. Although it seems that this demon is joining for nobel reasons- he really just wants to gain power and eliminate everyone in his way. Once the Prince is overthrown he plans on fighting the rebels for the throne- something he is quite capable of doing once the Ancient gives up his body to him.
At the moment, however, full body possessions exert too much energy so he usually casts himself as Bakura's shadow to preserve his strength. He has no way of transferring himself to another host as Bakura is unable to remove the talisman.
As you walk with The Ancient, you notice that you have walked into a small room containing a single lamp, situated in the middle of a wooden two-person table. He beckons you to take a seat at one end of the table while he pulls out a chair and sits in it- the chair squeaking in protest.
You sit down and put your map on your knee.
Now, as I mentioned before, I am an Ancient- one of the few left. My quest for knowledge never ends. For centuries I have traversed the world of Neopia to learn everything that I can. No doubt it is an eternal quest, but a worthwhile one. My past is very long, so I am not quite sure where to start. What would you like to learn young one?
You frown in thought, what did you want to know?
How did you manage to get stuck here?He signed and gazed into the distance with longing eyes.
Well, as it were, I had just finished studying in Meridell. I was only halfway through my 56th travel of the world when I decided to visit Darigan Citadel for the third time. It was during that year that I passed through Prince's domain. Now I knew the nature of places such as Prince's kingdom and how greedy rulers may want to force me to prophesy for them, so I tried to stay low. Unfortunately news of my arrival travelled faster than I anticipated and it wasn't too long before the Prince had me locked up in this chamber.
Now usually I am strong enough to escape from such places, since it was not the first time I was held captive by such people- however, my cursed talisman prevented me from gathering my strength.
His hand rose to clutch a ring like object which had 6 beads resting on the circumference, all of which had a thin pointed cone attached.
You look at him quizzically and he sighed and nodded his head.
Yes, this is a cursed talisman. Within it contains a demon of sorts. Unfortunately as my learning slows, his strength increases…
You gulp and tighten your grip on the folded map on your knees.
Don't worry guest, it is unlikely he will come out any time soon. Just you being here has helped me regain some of my strength!
You half smile and flick your eyes nervously from the talisman.
A demon… how terrible… you think as you look up at the old lupe.
How did you manage to come by such a horrible object? The Ancient fumbled with the ring as he chose his words carefully.
Not willingly I can tell you. I have lived with this object for an exceptional amount of time. However, I do not enjoy speaking about it's origins as I feel I grow weaker every time I tell it. I have written part of a book, the Book of the Ancient Scriptures, so you may read about the origins of the ring there at your pleasure.
You nod slowly, writing down the name of the book.
Weak as I am now, I am not completely without extending my education. Detailed records of the royal family which own this kingdom have been enough for me to reserve some of my strength- but I fear my time is rushing out of my hands like sand…
Hah! What am I doing, sitting here reflecting like a short-lived fool! Let me show you the full extent of my quarters of the palace!
Hastily he stood up and began walking towards the dim archway, beckoning you to follow.
insert image here
[The East Wing]
You begin to walk down a small corridor, realising that the previous room was just a small meeting room. The Ancient begins to talk as you as he grabs a lighted torch from the wall.
So this is the East Wing, where I am contained by the Prince's royal guard. It is cosy, but not exactly what I would call home. Oh well, at least I can have some peace from the noisy riots occurring outside the palace gates. There are four rooms, one being reasonably large. Now let us continue through to the next room.
.
.
[Bedroom]
Here's my bedroom where I rest and sleep. It's not much, but at least I can feel comfortable while resting- rather than those straw mattresses the inns have around here…
Still, it is not the most elegant bedroom I have had in my time. When I was visiting King Harigan- he offered me the most amazing bedroom I have ever seen! The bedposts were made with the finest wood from the forests of Meridell, and the embroidery was made by a rather strange woman who when I…
Your eyes began to glaze over, and after a while you began to notice a silence envelope the room. It takes you about ten seconds to realise that he had stopped talking and was waiting for your response
Uhhh… pardon? ^^;
He sighs and closes his eyes in acceptance
My apologies, I have a tendency to elaborate on stories… come, I will show you the room that has been keeping my demon at bay…
.
