In the name of her father

Truth can be hard to bear, so be ready to face it.

Lila had been roaming the streets of the free city Munthart. She was lost in her own mind and couldn't stop thinking about the woman she murdered. She had walked away from the Rebels that same night and hadn't stopped since that moment. She just couldn't believe she had defiled her father's rule, which had always been her guiding force. When she passed a dark alley, her eyes crossed those of a bear in despair. Turning back out of curiosity, she noticed a young bear, trapped by a reaper who was raising his large axe. It was enormous and had the shape of a new moon. Though it looked heavy, - it was elegant and he wielded it as if it was made out of feathers - he didn't seem to be ready to strike. The young bear was obviously still a child.

Even though Lila did not understand the situation, she refused to walk away. Her magic was weak, since she hadn't released any souls in a while, but her eyes gathered strength and a lilac glow from her self hatred. With an absent gaze, Lila dropped her necklace. The reaper turned around, which gave the encouraged bear a chance to escape. He looked at Lila in disbelief and lowered his axe. He started leaving and as he passed her, he addressed her in a cynical tone.
"Thanks... That was one of the Soulless' mice. They always carry useful info around."
"His mice..."
She watched him walking away. She hadn't only been blinded by power, but she had been fighting for a monster too. She grabbed her necklace and ran after him because she couldn't afford to lose her chance for reconciliation with her father's rule.

(Written in Syringa Cross; episode 17 of the web story)

How much rice did you consume in 2012?

Rice consumption worldwide, it's an infographic, a Social Object!

It's funny how Asia seems to have a monopoly going... The major domestic consumers are Asian countries, as well as biggest exporting ones. I know I eat my rice, and thus add to my share in Europe ^^

I made this for school... It was lovely to practice some skills again.

Sources:
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
http://www.adb.org/features/12-things-know-2012-rice
Publication by IRRI

Dragon's Eye reading

No new episode this week, as I'm still plotting out some things and working on school assignments. It's a mad world indeed.

We learned how to create social objects though and this resulted in a "remastered" version of the very first episode of Syringa Cross!

Written by Ken De Pooter

Read by Jamie Stone

Music by Tim De Pooter

Fear's friend

Another chance in yet another battle. Lila's morale was low, but her will to live topped everything. She had been floundering through the mud, trying to hop over corpses and enhancing bear strength in the worst circumstances. The battle had been raging on for hours and the odds finally started to turn in their favor. It was just when the generals were about to enter the city when it struck her. She would never be allowed to regain her title and power by just surviving.

Lila rushed through the gate to follow in the footsteps of her victorious friends. She inspected the conquered citizens and saw the fear in their eyes, fear for her leaders. At a moment when no one was paying attention, she charged a woman who was standing next to a trading cart near the procession. She was wielding a meat cleaver and could just as well have been hiding. Lila raised her short sword and cut a deep wound into the woman's chest. She came to a halt between the dying woman and her leaders, who thanked her gratefully. She couldn't hear their voices but could only think about the butcher's wife she had just killed. Her body seemed to be paralyzed and only one thought raged on: Did she just murder an innocent woman?

- Fear your friends and even yourself, but never fear your enemy. - 

Mennor, leader of the 4th Rebel cohort.

(Written in Syringa Cross; episode 16 of the web story)

Victory of life

Like every gift, life comes with a price.

The feast was great but Lila felt uneasy. Her eyes wandered around, keeping an eye on her four surviving officers. If they would mention their retreat, she didn't know what the others would do to them and her. They seemed to feel the same about her, as their eyes crossed more than once. She tried to ignore the empty seats at another table. It was common to save the seats of brethren who had fallen trying to prevent a defeat. After a great meal, of which Lila had only had a nibble, the Soulless entered the hall. A devious smile masked some of the fat on his cheeks.

"My dear Rebels! Yesterday was a great day! We conquered the Necromancer city Ferinta and the Human mage's castle of Oocklace Peak! We will quarantine the people inside and make sure the threat remains contained."
He paused mysteriously and looked at Lila's table. Her officers looked away. Her dreamy gaze, on the other hand, was captured by the Soulless' piercing eyes.
"Aside from those great victories, we lost two other battles. May the souls of our dear Brethren roam alongside our ancestors forever!"
Another pause.
"I would also like to mention Lila. One of my little mice told me about her retreat two days ago. She will fight alongside the common soldiers in a victorious battle next time, or die there. I will not vouch for her until she has done so."
His words hadn't left the hall yet, or most of the attending Rebels started moving closer. They saw Lila as a disgrace to their race and wanted to punish her for her cowardice. She decided she would accept her fate, but her officers wouldn't let her. They understood the meaning of life now, and were thankful for the second chance she had given them. Lila saw the determination in their eyes and hers started emitting a lilac glow. The four Rebels turned into massive black bears, bigger then she had ever seen. Their eyes fiery red and their muzzles salivating, hungry for blood. Their will to live proved to be a great catalyst for her powers. She felt better than ever before and drew her own sword too. The Soulless was watching the display of power with an honest smile on his face. He turned to the doors and as he was leaving:
"Enough..."



(Written in Syringa Cross; episode 15 of the web story)

Bloody platter of siege

Seize each and every opportunity, for it may be your last.

Lila had never been in a battle of this scale before. Her heart was pounding in her chest as enemies and allies alike dropped dead around her. Her clothes where covered in blood and she didn't even know if they were winning.  She and her officers were stationed not too far from the enemy wall, but just far enough to avoid being pierced by arrows. Not long into the battle, the news came that they were greatly outnumbered and defeat was imminent. It was an ill prepared siege and the defending forces had received reinforcements just before the attack. Lila had no overview whatsoever and didn't even know her officers by name. They despised her, they didn't like her orders and even laughed at her when she proposed a retreat. Apparently, Rebels do not retreat in the face of danger. Ever. 

In this case though, Lila saw no danger, only failure. She sighed. One of the officers had enough of her attitude. He walked up to her to show her what it was like to be a Rebel and raised his sword. Lila saw no danger again and her eyes gathered a lilac glow. At that moment, a spear pierced the officer's heart. Immediately after, another one joined him in death. About thirty men had made it to her band of six officers. The lilac glow was already empowering her soul and she smiled. The officers turned into gigantic black bears because of her magic and their berserk mode defended her and her pride. Skin was torn, limbs snatched off and heads smashed to bloody pieces. Some bears wouldn't make the retreat, but the ones that did, would survive the day. She'd rather be a living coward, able to prove herself another day, than an heroic corpse, lying in the mud.

(Written in Syringa Cross; episode 14 of the web story)

The enemy of my enemy

When a treachery proposal is the only possible one, it becomes considerable.

The fatty man sat down on a strong chair made out of stone. He smiled mysteriously.
"My little mice tell me your powers are without limits. Tell me more about them, child."
Lila grinned.
"Well, I am a Reaper and the souls I collect grant me my powers. With those, I can control people's actions. Necromancers and other Reapers are the exception, as they pay their own souls to Death in order to be able to release others. The sad thing is that every power is limited. If I don't free souls, then my powers diminish."
The Soulless rose and slapped her in the face and continued with contempt.
"You things do not free souls. You enslave and kill them. They are a natural element in this world."
Lila rubbed her sore cheek and eye before she answered.
"How can you be sure? I believe something else."
He grabbed her throat and looked her in the eye.
"I think you don't even have a clue what you're talking about and I should kill you on the spot."
Lila pushed away his hand and rose too. She started walking back to her prison cell until the Soulless pushed her against the wall. He came very close, which gave Lila a close-up of his fat face. She was clearly disgusted by it, which the Soulless seemed to take as a compliment. He smiled.
"Still, I know you only have enemies. And those happen to be my enemies too. I heard you're able to enhance Rebel bears' strength. I'll get you the necessary feed, and in return, you help me to create a safe place for the souls. You command and strengthen my warriors. I could use your powers and you could be mighty. "
"You want me to kill my own kind and become a master of your army?"
He pushed her back into the cell.
"Think about the power."