HoT - Chapter 2 - Unda

A water priestess was grace, civility, charity, and above all else, an academic. They held great social standing in Ulderheim, mostly because of their manner but also through reverie of their sacrifice. In order to join The Temple of Levimatia, a maiden must remain as such — never to fall in love and conceive a child from the love, were this to happen then the goddess’ gifts of longevity, enducrance, strength and elemental manipulation, would all be removed — returning the woman to the frail type of mortality they were all born with.

For Unda, it was an easy sacrifice to make. Her life was for service and she knew this from a very young age. She sought the power to make changes in people’s lives and this was what she valued above anything else. She had taken her female lover, Arabella, with her to visit the ruins of Tannoth. Under direct orders from The Holy King, Unda was to lead the relief mission and bring aid to the affected population. This started with a cleansing ritual at the well, purging the foulness which had been gushed into it — a simple trick using aquakinesis to separate water molecules from the dark shit particles — but a taxing trick nonetheless.

ARABELLA
This well is beautiful. White stone. And now you’ve removed the pebble-dash shit stains, it looks picturesque once again.
 
UNDA
It’s a very famous well.
 
ARABELLA
Are wells often compared for their fame?
 
UNDA
…it was rumoured to have been built by the hero Thannoth himself.
 
ARABELLA
Really? How come I never heard of this?
 
UNDA
You’re not exactly known for your devout study of ancient history and mythology, are you?
  
ARABELLA
Are you saying you’re with me because I have a cracking pair of tits and know how to beat any man at a game of Shin’zee?

Unda peered down to check out her girflriend’s frame as she deliberately flaunted her body towards her. The water priestess rolled her eyes and smirked wildly. 

UNDA
It’s a legend and you are more interested in art and languages. Anyway, the idea that Thannoth was even a real hero is debated by some scholars. No remains, only an oral tradition survives.
 
ARABELLA
...love a bit of oral.
 
UNDA
You are incorrigible. The oral traditions state that Paraphoph (the daemon child of the poison blooded troll-god), was terrorising the local people. He was using the locals to mine for a precious mineral that could be found nearby. He starved them and got them addicted to a pheromone or drug to ensure loyalty, he took of both men and women, any sexual favours he desired… and then one day, came the hero Thannoth.

ARABELLA
I know so little about him, perhaps it is my southerner upbringing.

She shrugged in a coy and flirtatious manner, hoping to charm her lover and distract from her lack of historical knowledge.

UNDA
He is my favourite of all the old heroes. He was a Knight of Sanator so I am surprised you have not heard of him!

ARABELLA
Sanator is a legend itself! The once famous capital of the Southern Region lost to the winds and wilds of time. It’s sexy to imagine it but truth is, it probably got turned into a tavern or homes for students.

A crowd began to gather to praise the water priestess for cleansing and purifying the water source. Flowers were placed in her hair by children, and local businessmen were pressing gifts of brewed potions and edibles into her hands. Arabella found it very empowering that her girlfriend was so adored. She lusted after power and Unda held true power, a gentle yet magnificent power that commanded respect but never demanded it.
 
UNDA
So according to the story, Thannoth snuck into Paraphoph’s tent one night and slices his balls clean off with a wiggly-edged blade. The poison blood leaks out of his scrotum and burns into the ground — deeper and deeper until it hits an underground river. The hero builds a well and helps free the slaves, and in turn they name the town after him.

ARABELLA
That escalated quickly. I was expecting a battle.

UNDA
Why battle when you can castrate in the middle of the night. More efficient don’t you think?

Kneeling down, the water priestess drew an even bigger crowd as more gathered to watch her ritual of thanks to Levimatia. Removing a small silver amulet from her wrist, she placed it into her hand and then to her chest. Every inch of her began to glow blue.

UNDA
Hear me Levimatia, we thank you for your generosity and kindness and ask you to bless this town with your healing waters.
​
And with that, the rains started to fall.