Author Topic: The Morrigan Cult  (Read 1642 times)

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Offline Dal

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The Morrigan Cult
« on: May 23, 2021, 11:22:52 PM »
Joining th' Cult




It was beautiful spring evening when the boat silently arrived on the shallow shingle beach of Maitland Castle. Queen Aoife waited nervously wrapped in a long black hooded cloak pulled tight around her slim body. The gentle waves of the Loch on which the castle sat stopped just short of her feet. The oarsman of the boat neatly hefted the oars vertically skywards and stowed them allowing the momentum to bring it to land. From that point four of the men climbed out and helped a woman who had been stood at the bow onto the beach. The woman was a tall elegant figure wrapped in a cloak of black with the moon and star light illuminating off a series of silver threads. Atop her head was a helmet, a pair of wings protruding from its sides. She stood before Aoife and swept her cloak back revealing a white dress with heavy gold torque around her neck. "I am Badb, one of the three." the cloaked figure announced herself. "You have been deemed to be the three, the most sacred. This honor is not one to take lightly. It is an honor that will be offered once. Be certain of your answer. Will you complete the three?"

"I will" Aoife said rather meekly.

"AGAIN!" The voice of Badb instructed.

"I will" Aoife this time spoke with more confidence.

"Take her" Without warning the four men stepped forward and two quickly placed a bag over her head and slipped a rope over her hands binding them together. It was not done tightly and Aoife had been warned by her private Priestess Miriam to go along with whatever happened. Miriam had been by Aofie's side since she was six months old guiding her in the ways of the faith and ensuring that above all she favoured The Morrigan. Over the last 24 months Miriam had gone further guiding the young Queen towards the more mystical side of the Goddesses and through careful manipulation had instilled in her a desire to see the older ways return to first the Kingdom and then the whole of Mundus. With this in mind she would subject herself to the orders given to her by the mysterious Badb.

Aoife could feel the boat push off and the sound of oars entering the water and gently pushing through the cold waters of the Loch. She has a sudden strange thought, what if she fell in? Or they pushed her in? with a hood on and her hands bound she would be doomed, the tight wrap of the cloak around her wouldn't help either. It was odd how the mind would make the most inappropriate thoughts. The group had invited her via a letter presented by Miriam just two nights ago and so it was clear they meant her no harm. She had tried to ask Miriam what would be involved but was meet with silence. She sensed that the boat was in the mid point of the Loch by now and the rowers began a slow rhythmical chant clearly designed to help keep pace as the boat moved along. It was said in nothing louder than a whisper but it was the only sound Aoife could focus on. The boat continued onwards as Aoife was sat in the middle unaware of the surroundings around her. Ten men dressed in black sat in two banks of five, four rowing the boat on each side while the fifth held a lantern on a pole. The lights did little to light the way but that wasn't needed anyway as the two flaming torches held by the waiting group on the beach ahead acted almost like a beacon guiding them towards their destination. Aoife wobbled slightly in her seat as the boat hit another beach and she felt the movement of those around her. Two pairs of rough hands took hold of her and lifted her with ease over the side of the boat carrying her to dry land. She was placed gently back on dry land and expected the hood to be removed so she could see her final destination.

"I am Macha, two of the three." A voice broke the silence. Aoife tried to make out who the voice belonged to but it was unfamiliar. "You are now mine to command." Aoife felt a rope placed around her neck and a fumble of hands the rope was loosened. "Walk" Macha instructed and their was a gentle pull on the rope and so as a consequence Aoife stumbled slowly forward. After a few steps the uneven shingle of the beach gave way to a smooth path of sorts and things became much easier. As they walked on a seemingly wandering path. As they made forward progress the sound of drums began to fill the air and Aoife could feel a kind of nervousness grow within her chest. She could feel her heart beating faster the rhythmic pounding overtaking the sound of the drums in her mind. The feel of the cool evening air suddenly changed and wind began to move past her. She sensed that she had moved indoors and felt the path slope downwards. About ten steps more the path curved sharply to the left and began to wound downwards. The Queen felt like it was a step-less spiral staircase and as it straightened out she felt a gentle hand on the center of her chest. "Stop" Macha instructed her and having been told the importance of obedience to The Morrigan she did as she was told. The rope slowly slid over her head freeing her from the leash that had lead her through the ordeal so far. Next she could feel someone sawing at the ropes around her wrist leaving her hands free, instinctively she rubbed her wrists where the rope had rubbed slightly. She felt gentle hands pull her own to her sides and hold them there as someone with great care removed the hood. It took Aoife several seconds for her eyes to adjust. She was standing in a large vaulted chamber. It was circular and the floor was made of polished white marble where as the roof seemed to be carved from the living rock and worked smooth. The odd fleck of some mineral or something twinkled in the torch light. The torches were being held by around thirty black clad men wearning bronze masks over their faces. Before her stood two women, she assumed the voices of Badb and Macha, the representations of two of The Morrigan. Each of them had disgarded their cloaks and stood in long sweeping white dresses that clung to their figures and had a two meter long train behind them. Around their throats were heavy gold torques and while Badb wore an old style warriors helmet with bird wings, Macha had the design of a horse protruding from its peak. They wore the cheek pieces pulled tight so only their eyes were visible

"Queen Aoife" Badb addressed the monarch. "For all of time the Morrigan Cult has sought to protect and maintain the ancient connection to the Gods. While those outside these walls may think that Áine governs the world, but this is a myth. It is clear the sister that form The Morrigan control all the Universe. In their wisdom they have made clear that unlike the other Gods they would not desert us and as such their souls return. It is the mission of this Order to discover those who are the reborn spirits of Badb, Macha and Nemain. It is our belief that you are Nemain. Should you consent to testing we will confirm. If you are her you shall take your place beside your sisters. If you are not then upon pain of death you will not reveal what you have seen here." That explained the hood and the mysterious location. "Aoife are you Nemain?" She was asked outright.

"I am Nemain" Aoife said having taken a deep breath. Miriam had planted the seed and allowed it to grow all of Aoife's life and that had lead to this moment. Without saying another word Badb stepped forward and unwrapped Aoife from the cloak revealing her naked body beneath the folds. Next she pulled down the hood and untied the string that kept it about her allowing it to fall to the floor. "Nemain would have an unblemished form" both Badb and Macha walked around Aoife three times and as the Queen tried to cover her nakedness pulled her hands down. She could feel the eyes of those gathered focusing on her as Badb and Macha cast glances up and down her body.

"She is pure" Badb declared as she completed her third slow circuit around the Queen. "Bring her torque" One of the black figures from the edge of the chamber stepped forward and from behind them produced a heavy torque identical to the ones the others were wearing. He handed it to Badb who placed it about her neck. "Nemain is the havoc of war, she is the joy of victory and she is the controller of fate." From around the hall "HAIL NEMAIN" rang loud.

Aoife was then ordered to step onto an alter table which sat slightly off center in the hall. A door was opened in one side of the hall and a struggling figure was brought in. Badb and Macha watched as the ropes about the new arrivals hands were passed through a pair of metal eyelets sunk into the floor. Notes were quickly tied leaving the figure unable to move as they were flattened against the ground. Two more dark figures passed the two women long thin knives and the two approached the now sobbing figure. "This woman was a member of our Cult who gave away secrets of our rituals to an outsider. She has been found guilty of violating the sacred rules of the Morrigan Cult and of not keeping her oaths. For that she has committed herself to death." The two women held their blades high and forced them down hard through the womans back. She let out a scream as a frenzy of the two blades ripped the woman apart her blood coursing through the small imperfections in the marble. Aoife could feel herself shaking with fear but knew that the woman had disobeyed the most powerful of the Gods and deserved what was happening. Once the woman was a un-moving mass Badb and Macha stooped, dipping their hands in the blood and approached Aoife. She took a deep breath wondering what would happen and felt them begin to slide their blood soaked hands up her legs starting at her feet. They returned to the blood and then back coating now her upper thighs with blood, then her backside, stomach, breasts, arms, back and finally using their fingers both wrote their names on her cheeks. They then wrote their own name on each others face in blood before a man appeared with a small pot of blood. "Complete the three" Macha instructed her. Hesitatingly Aoife, or as she would now be called by this group "Nemain" dipped her thumb in the blood and wrote first on Macha's forehead and then on Badb. Finally she did her best to write on her own forehead.

"Our sister has returned" Macha pronounced and the room cheered. Yet another dark figure came to the table and handed up a white dress similar to those of the other two. They helped Aoife into the garment and then she was handed her own helmet, while Badb had bird wings, Macha a horse's head the helmet given to Aoife had on it a snarling wolves face protruding from its ridge. Now appropriately attired she and her "sisters" climbed down off the table and over to the door through which the sacrifice had been brought. It opened up to another chamber and there a small trickle of water went into a white marble trough from which Badb cleaned the blood from her face and hands. This room was more like a private chamber, three beds, three chairs, three mirrors. Each of them washed the blood from themselves.

Badb removed her helmet. She was a pretty woman in her late 30's or so, blonde hair now fell down to her should, Aoife recognised her. It was Lady Ainsley Davis, her husband was one of the most significant members of Aoife's Royal council. She had always been a doormat in Aoife's estimation and certainly wasn't someone she could imagine ripping bodies apart. Aoife and Ainsley embraced each other and then Macha removed her helmet. Aoife didn't recognise the young woman wearing it. "My name is  Lewella Hughes. My mother is the Priestess at the Temple of the Morrigan in Bassetoun." she opened her arms , "I am happy to be your sister." and with that the three embraced. "Together we shall help you guide the Kingdom to its rightful place as the leaders of the Celtic race, then we shall ensure the world know the truth of the power we three represent." Somehow despite the absurdity of what had just gone on Aoife , or as she would now be known Nemain, felt more powerful than she had her whole life and just as Miriam had told her once she had realised her truth a door would open inside her and the whole power of The Morrigan would flow through her. Tomorrow would be a new day for the Kingdom and with her sisters beside her what could go wrong.