Metal and Smoke
I dabble a little in a lot of things — writing, webcomics, gaming, photography, web design, music, and more. I write code full-time and words in the gaps in between.
He unfolds the cloth first, revealing the medallion hidden within. The face that peers back is profane and vulgar, but it is not unknown to him. It is the sigil of a creature whose existence has long thought to be past but whose influence garners followers even now.
The Priest uses the cloth to pick up the medallion, careful not to allow any part of his flesh touch the unholy metal. He seats it into a slot in the pedestal designed for just such a purpose, then he casts the cloth to side.
The box itself he places on the pedestal so that it sits before the medallion. The eyes of sigil seem to leer at the box, the lolling tongue almost to lap at the box as if to sample its contents.
The Priest runs his fingers along the edges of the box, traces of smoke trailing behind, outlining it in a grey haze. Finally, he places his index fingers on either side of the box and whispers three words -- foul and vile -- and the medallion begins to glow. The box opens with a snick! and smoke flows out from the narrow seam.
Sequels
Comments (3 so far!)
Robert Quick
I like it. I'm a sucker for dark fantasy, although I confess I've only read bits and pieces of this series as my life allows. On the third paragraph, the last sentence has some syntax with the tongue that bothers me. And it's nitpicky and probably a style preference but I think the eyes should just leer at the box rather than seem to. I'm okay with the tongue almost lapping at the box to prevent the idea that it had motion but I think the eyes can leer.
- #2731 Posted 7 years ago
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Jim Stitzel
Yeah, in typical cases I'd go with "the eyes leer" because that's what living eyeballs do, but I opted for verbiage that is less certain in this case since it's an inanimate object. I think either way is probably acceptable here and, like you a said, a style preference. I'm honestly not sure which one I actually prefer.
- #2733 Posted 7 years ago
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Inspired by (sequel to):
One of the merchants produces the sigil, wrapped in cloth, from an inner pocket of his robe, and set…
Into the Hands of the Smoke Priest- Published 7 years ago.
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ElshaHawk LoA
Oh, here we go!