BrigandRansom/DanTai
Dan Tai, the Fist of Dawn
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"And the Light of the Unconquered Sun shines down upon us, giving life to our crops, and to us in turn" Spoke the priest to his congregation. He was a tall man, Blonde, ensconced in flowing robes of Spun White Jade and Orichalchum Embroidery. He held his hands above his head, framing the golden sphere of the noonday sun for the supplicants below. Many of them had been with the Cult for close to twenty years now, Mortal Men, Women and Children who had nearly been broken beneath the weight of the Dynasty. Now they raised their arms high in the air just as the Priest did, that weight removed; the hole left filled with the love for the Unconquered Sun.
It was more than luck that had allowed this Sun-Cult to survive for close to two decades now. They were far from the Center of the empire, high up on a mountainside that was nearly impossible to climb, let alone bring an entire party of Wild Hunt. That, and the Blessings of the Sun had kept prying eyes diverted from thier sanctuary of Warmth and peace within the Cold mountains.
Dan Tai the Thatcher's Son carefully poured more incense into the censer at the front of the temple while his family prostrated themselves before the Priest. He had been entrusted with many duties of the temple. He smiled as he listened to Galen praise the Unconquered Sun. He sun that through the darkest night rose up into the sky once more, the sun that Brought light to the world, forcing out the darkness of ignorance with the Light of Reason and Knowledge. He was one of the few who had lived his entire life here, following the words of the Priests and thier Servant-Scholar, Venerable Silk. He worked his duties in the temple daily, knowing that it was his place to be a servant of the Solar Exalted, and by Definition the Unconquered Sun itself. In turn, Venerable Silk and the Priests had taught him the Higher Learnings, including Calligraphy and more advanced farming techniques. Some day he might be the Work-boss of one of the small farming communities dotted all over creation that supplied additional food to the Temple. But that was for the future, and Tai had no need to think so far ahead. He closed his eyes and relished the the love and light that flowed around him, filled his heart.
"Visitors!" came a call from the Courtyard. Galen stopped, a look of confusion and concern on his face. Visitors had come before, but each time Venerable Silk had spoken with Galen beforehand. The concern grew on his face as he heard a scream and a crash from the Front Gates.
"Quickly, all of you run and hide. The hunt has come." Galen quickly stepped down from the Dias upon which he stood and pulled his scepter from the Loop at his belt. Tai had seen him fight with it before, but only in sparring matches. Unlike most of the Parishoners, he had been allowed to observe the Ritual Duels that the Chosen of the Sun engaged in to hone their skills. Tai hesitated, his sense of danger superceded by his curiosity. It was that moment that allowed the Dragon-Blooded behind him to strike him in the temple, knocking the sense from his head and the ground from beneath his feet. The Dynastic warrior cut the Golden cables from the cencer, and burning embers scattered. Tai watched helplessly as the embers seared his arms.
The Dragon Blooded swept through the Temple. Five in all, striking down peasants as they came closer to the Dias. Tai saw the look of terror on Galen's face as blood began to flow from the wounds of those who did not move aside quickly enough. Tai had seen Galen fight before, and knew that he could not risk harming the Mortals around him. He was effectively crippled. Tai tried to push himself upward, but his arms felt like jelly and his head throbbed him back to the floor. The embers continued to sear his arms and palms. He tried to scream as one of them crushed his sister's arm with his boot, but the magicks they had used on him left him with no more than a quiet mewling.
Galen met them on the stairs, keeping the advantage of Elevation. The mote of light in the head of his scepter flashed with every stroke, but the Dragon Blooded kept to a very tight formation, making the most of the Cramped surroundings and their numerical advantage. Somewhere in Dan Tai's mind, he wondered how he understood so much about the fight just from a pain-hazed glance.
The thought of his family, wounded and unconcious on the floor brought tears of rage to his eyes. He watched as Galen was struck again and again, more than a Priest and a person to look up to, Galen had always been a friend. in agony, he wondered why the Unconquered Sun had forsaken them all.
An unbidden thought came to Tai's mind, pushing out the physical and emotional pain.
-=I HAVE NOT ABANDONED YOU=-
Dan Tai stood, the pain now a dull ache in his arms and heart. The love that he had always felt in this temple pushed aside all thought of fleeing from the obviously superior force. He looked down at his arms, the horrific burns weeping with pus and mixing with the ashes. The skin was nearly flayed to the bone from the embers. Slowly, calmly, Dan Tai reached down and grasped the ropes of the Censer. The ropes of the Purest Orichalchum, woven during the first age using a long-forgotten magic. He untied the ropes from the still-searing censer, no longer concerned about the pain. He grasped the rope in one hand and began wrapping with the other.
Galen was struck in the head with the handle of a Jade Reaver and fell backwards unconcious. The dragon blooded cried out in victory, and moved in closer to Galen to strike the Killing Blow. As they raised their huge Jade weapons, they were startled by a shout from the opening of the temple.
"I am Dan Tai, the Fist of Dawn!" the boy shouted in a voice far stronger than he ever knew he posessed. He allowed his body to fall into it's most natural position and pointed his fists towards the Dragon Blooded. Blood, pus, insence and ashes leaked out from between his fingers. The Orichalchum ropes were wrapped about each arm up to the elbow, and knots crossed over his knuckles. "You have defiled this sacred place of peace... I cannot forgive you."
