divinesriht

[divinesriht]

[divinesriht]

The sand stood silent before the arcane god. In that moment, Azir felt as though he understood. It was an unfortunate point of view, one that the emperor could not afford himself to take again ifhe were to unite his people, free and empower his land. For just this moment, however, he allowed Xerath's truth to wash over him, along with all the little truths he thought he saw hidden within.

Of everthing Xerath said, something rang truer, louder, than the rest. It was as if Azir could see, though mere words, the moment where Shurima's legacy was destroyed.

You would have become a god, ruling Shurima for ages to come, while I would have been just a footnote in YOUR rise to greatness.

" ..And you really thought I'd step up there without you? "

The truth was, Azir didn't know himself. He had never thought of what came after his Ascension; He was too proud, caught up in the notion that he was worthy.

What treacherous promise, pride; Though how could he not be proud? Everyone around him, even his most trusted advisor, told him he was worthy. He thought Ascension meant he was worthy, chosen to serve his people; That was, after all, what Xerath told him an Emperor should be. He thought it was just another of hiss plans (would that he knew how right he was,) that Ascension would be the tool he needed to finally enact their will fully, without worry of rebellion.

He was blinded in that moment, so blind that he planned not for the future. The future however, as always, was unwritten; He knew not what came next, but he never once could imagine a future without Xerath at his side.

He still struggled with the thought now.

" ...Just what is the legacy of this freedom of yours? " He spoke again, his voice souring as images of Xerath's destruction flashed before his eyes. Even viwed through scrying, even with that impersonal dissconnection between the past and future, Azir could feel the pain of the destruction that came mere moments after his death. The devastation and despair that followed his glorious empire for thousands of years afterwards.

" Shurima is burning, even now. Everything we built, we... I built for them. The people. Do they not matter?

You may build this city of yours as high as you'd like, it doesn't change the destruction you wrought. The thousands of years of prosperity, thrown down the drain in your selfish bid for.. for power that you mistake for freedom. "

" You were already free! "

The sound was a mere projection, forced through a puppet of sand, but the tone with which Azir spoke demanded the words be listened to. It was strict, confident, like a teacher lecturing a student over basic yet forgotten academia.. Yet it also betrayed a deep pain, a desperation to be understood.

" You were freed, as a man, of a noble heart and honor, in front of the sun and all who bathed in it's light.. You, and every other slave in Shurima, by my own words! And yet, mere moments later, you..

You betrayed me! " Though he tried to hide it, the tone was unmistakeable. Behind the God Emperor and all of his divinity was the boy who grew up beside Xerath, shedding his mask for a brief moment of vulnerability.

" Now, you profane the land with your.. vile monuments. You wield great and terrible power to conquer a land you already ruled by my side; A land you nearly destroyed, a great Shuriman legacy crushed by your own actions!

Once, I would have called you brother, and now you force my hand against you. Why, Xerath? When I gave you freedom as a man, why must you force me to take it away now as a.. a monster? "

[divinesriht]

" You were already free! "

The sound was a mere projection, forced through a puppet of sand, but the tone with which Azir spoke demanded the words be listened to. It was strict, confident, like a teacher lecturing a student over basic yet forgotten academia.. Yet it also betrayed a deep pain, a desperation to be understood.

" You were freed, as a man, of a noble heart and honor, in front of the sun and all who bathed in it's light.. You, and every other slave in Shurima, by my own words! And yet, mere moments later, you..

You betrayed me! " Though he tried to hide it, the tone was unmistakeable. Behind the God Emperor and all of his divinity was the boy who grew up beside Xerath, shedding his mask for a brief moment of vulnerability.

" Now, you profane the land with your.. vile monuments. You wield great and terrible power to conquer a land you already ruled by my side; A land you nearly destroyed, a great Shuriman legacy crushed by your own actions!

Once, I would have called you brother, and now you force my hand against you. Why, Xerath? When I gave you freedom as a man, why must you force me to take it away now as a.. a monster? "

" Often, I ask myself; Why? "

Azir wasn't really there. His power was the land, to see, feel, and be anywhere that the sands touched. Even so, he could feel Xerath's heat, even through this effigy; It was hot, scorching like the sun, but even more oppressive. It took everything Azir had not to flinch at the sensation alone.

He did not need to specify his question. they both knew what he was asking. Xerath would surely destroy this puppet soon, turn the sand itself into glass.. but Azir hoped the question would intrigue him enough to permit him this sordid audience.

After all, the question hung on his mind like an unfinished sentence. Perhaps Xerath was caught by it as well.

" Could it be you deemed me unworthy? " A thoughtful gesture is made with clawed hands. " You sought to humble me, was that it? Lead me to the sun disc and then watch me burn from my hubris? "

" No. That couldn't be it. I'm told you sabotaged the ritual; You wouldn't bother if you knew I'd fail.

Has it not crossed your mind, once, the method of my return? Does it not haunt the far reaches of your mind -- assuming, reaches still remain uncorrupted by madness -- That my resurrection is a sign that I was chosen to rule these lands? A divine ordainment that I, and only I, should shape the very sands of Shurima?"

The effigy falls quiet for a moment. Azir stares at Xerath, stricken by how little he resembles the man he used to be.. He realizes, then, how far they both have come from who they were.

That moment was thousands of years ago for the Magus. For Azir, it was days, weeks; A recent memory just before a deep and dark sleep.

" .. I trusted you," He confesses, his voice falling into a far quieter treble. " You gave me everything, and I gave you everything I could in return.

What it not enough..?"

@infinite-xerath

[divinesriht]

" Often, I ask myself; Why? "

Azir wasn't really there. His power was the land, to see, feel, and be anywhere that the sands touched. Even so, he could feel Xerath's heat, even through this effigy; It was hot, scorching like the sun, but even more oppressive. It took everything Azir had not to flinch at the sensation alone.

He did not need to specify his question. they both knew what he was asking. Xerath would surely destroy this puppet soon, turn the sand itself into glass.. but Azir hoped the question would intrigue him enough to permit him this sordid audience.

After all, the question hung on his mind like an unfinished sentence. Perhaps Xerath was caught by it as well.

" Could it be you deemed me unworthy? " A thoughtful gesture is made with clawed hands. " You sought to humble me, was that it? Lead me to the sun disc and then watch me burn from my hubris? "

" No. That couldn't be it. I'm told you sabotaged the ritual; You wouldn't bother if you knew I'd fail.

Has it not crossed your mind, once, the method of my return? Does it not haunt the far reaches of your mind -- assuming, reaches still remain uncorrupted by madness -- That my resurrection is a sign that I was chosen to rule these lands? A divine ordainment that I, and only I, should shape the very sands of Shurima?"

The effigy falls quiet for a moment. Azir stares at Xerath, stricken by how little he resembles the man he used to be.. He realizes, then, how far they both have come from who they were.

That moment was thousands of years ago for the Magus. For Azir, it was days, weeks; A recent memory just before a deep and dark sleep.

" .. I trusted you," He confesses, his voice falling into a far quieter treble. " You gave me everything, and I gave you everything I could in return.

What it not enough..?"

@infinite-xerath

[divinesriht]

me convincing all you to support azir

[divinesriht]

Azir raises a thoughtful hand before his missing chin. It had been.. a long time, to put it simply, since he had been a father. It wasn't just the time he spent in the afterlife, but in life he too had neglected to spend much time with his own children. Perhaps it was the duties of state that kept him busy, perhaps it was a fear of showing favorites in a cutthroat line of inheritance... perhaps he simply was afraid of being a father.

Whatever the reason, they were gone now, and the strangest thought of an immortal god was how much he missed his mortal children.

He felt.. some calling of those fatherly impulses now; Past Sivir's demeanor, he could see something inside of her that was lost. Confused, perhaps, in need of an elder's guidance. It reminded him of when his son, Khepeshef, stole one of his brother's treats.. One of the few moments Azir was around to give his fatherly advice.

As he did then, he plances a large, uneasy hand upon Sivir's shoulder.

" Though it would behoove you to marry wisely.. " He must put emphasis on his stance, reminding her of the stately importance she held, or should hold.. even as he was about to contradict it. " ..I, too, know well the longings of the heart.

It is only.. troublesome.. until it isn't. When you find that someone with whom things are no longer difficult.. you'll know. "

" Currently, I have no ideal suitors for you." He speaks as if it's the most natural thing in the world for him. It is; If he was his father's first-born, he would have this conversation with him as well. Luckily, Azir had the questionably good fortune of losing his father and the many heirs before him in line for the throne, meaning he chose every one of his wives himself.

"A royal matchmaker would suggest I wed you myself; Personally, I am adverse to this option. While our lineage is far enough apart to warrant consideration, I must admit to feeling a certain.. fatherly responsibility for you." Great golden talons rest against his faux beak, a sign of quiet contemplation.

"Regardless, I ask that you avoid baring any illadvised children. Should I prove unable to sire an heir, you must carefully choose the seed from which Shurima's destiny will grow." @nameaprice

[divinesriht]

" Currently, I have no ideal suitors for you." He speaks as if it's the most natural thing in the world for him. It is; If he was his father's first-born, he would have this conversation with him as well. Luckily, Azir had the questionably good fortune of losing his father and the many heirs before him in line for the throne, meaning he chose every one of his wives himself.

"A royal matchmaker would suggest I wed you myself; Personally, I am adverse to this option. While our lineage is far enough apart to warrant consideration, I must admit to feeling a certain.. fatherly responsibility for you." Great golden talons rest against his faux beak, a sign of quiet contemplation.

"Regardless, I ask that you avoid baring any illadvised children. Should I prove unable to sire an heir, you must carefully choose the seed from which Shurima's destiny will grow." @nameaprice

[divinesriht]

azir truly honestly believes that his bloodline is the best thing for shurima's future. where in life he once had many wives and children, he now believes that a smaller, stronger family is the best thing to unite and defend shurima.

he would sacrifice thousands of shurimans to protect his ideal wives and offspring

and don't even ask what he wants sivir to do

[divinesriht]

nameaprice​:

That voice, that presence, was so familiar even though she had one encounter with the emperor god. That fateful day he saved her life. There’s a magical energy to him that caused a shudder of fear, though in her mind lingered some kind of sentiment of being home. It was all a bit too overwhelming and new for someone she had really no positive emotional attachment to.

“Keeping the poorest of our people under your boot as slaves so the rich could keep leeching off the land is defiling it. I’ve done more for the Shurimani community across the continent in the past decade than anyone can imagine, but that’s not something to advertise.”

She was facing away from him the entire time since he appeared, though as her sound bite dragged silence between them she turned to look at Azir. “You truly expect me to pick your side? The whole life saving thing is appreciated. But I don’t know you, save for the terrible reputation you built, so don’t expect bowing or even proper respect. You don’t even show your face for gods’ sake.”

       “ – Shuriman. ” 

The Emperor had done her the great courtesy of allowing her to finish speaking, as was her right being of the royal blood. The great, booming correction came in regardless when she was finished, and it lacked no less in the tone of a great, condescending elder. The sand itself seemed to shift around him as he barely continued the sharp rasp of annoyance in his voice. 

“ There are no ‘Shurimani.’ This is a word created by your so-called new people; a fractured people. This is the identity of a broken populace ashamed of their heritage. Our people are Shuriman, of the proud empire of Shurima. They need only be reminded. “

Azir straightens his back, glancing down at his heir with regal and condescending posture. It was unclear, through the shape of the mask that hid his glowing eyes, if Azir was scowling at her or not. It most certainly felt that way. 

    “ Do not forget yourself, Sivunas. You look upon my true face – The face of a god, given by ancient rite. It is the truest scale of our people, of divinity, of righteousness. Are you so blinded by the lies of our enemy that you can see not the light of the sun as it rises before you? You deny destiny even as it clutches you from the throes of death?

Is it foolishness, dear Sivunas, or fear that blinds you? How can you ignore your lineage even as you hold the oldest, truest symbol of our office?  “

[divinesriht]

just got a sivir/azir match with a rando on the 2v2v2v2 game mode

we lost

[divinesriht]

i think the power that dictates ascension doesn’t have any specific political alignment and very flexible moral alignment; i think it makes a decision based on who you are and what you’ve been through less than what you might do with that power

i think that’s why xerath’s ascension is actually legitimate and the form he took isn’t a result of some unstable power, but rather a reflection of his turmoil and person

and that’s why ascension can deem two people who are adamantly opposed to each other as worthy at the same time; they can both be worthy while having completely opposite and conflicting goals -- like azir and xerath

[divinesriht]

The emperor closes his radiant eyes. 

Since awakening, he had not sought to confront nor contact Xerath in any direct means. To buy time to hone his own ability, he told himself; The traitor has had an entirety to weaponize his ascension, false though it may it be, and Azir had mere moments in comparison to learn the extent of his gifts. To peer through the land itself as he did now was but one trick he taught himself in this time. 

The truth, however, was  that Azir was afraid. It was true, Xerath had slain him once, and likely could do it again but that was merely an afterthought ; Despite Xerath’s betrayal and even the tension that led up to it, the man was once his friend. His brother. Azir was afraid that, when the time came, he would be unable to face him, undone by the ache of his heart. 

The Magus Ascendant spoke in Xerath’s voice, but this was not him. Something had changed, perhaps in the eons Azir had spent sleeping.. perhaps before. 

He opens his eyes, peering once more through the messenger in the sand. This time, he spoke not in the voice of Azir, the frightened and heartbroken boy facing his brother. He spoke as the Emperor of Shurima, absolute in his authority. 

If this is what he wished, than Azir would be the master Xerath dreaded he be. 

       “ You did not but spark my ire, Xerath. Have you not asked yourself what fate portends that I have returned even from death? You could not kill me, nor my blood, which survives in Shurima still. On one thing, you are correct. “ The effigy stands proud before him. It was nothing to Xerath’s power, a mere pile of sand, but it carried Azir’s voice as if it were the man himself. With that voice, Azir spoke as Xerath’s ancient and cruel masters did. Though it hurt him, in no small way, he hid that pain in some deep part of himself. 

“ You are unworthy even to bask in my shadow. I will bury you, and this false city, beneath the sands. Hear me, betrayer; I gave you your name, and I will take it from you. I will ensure not even history permits you legacy. “ @infinite-xerath​

[divinesriht]

“ Sivir, “ The word spoken sweeps across the sands like the winds from the ocean. The power of the ascended was a palpable thing, felt in the sky above and the earth below, as if the world itself trembled in awe of the great Godshawk. To the regal mind of Azir, such power was no strange sensation; It was by divine right he wield it. 

       “ Deny you your purpose? Your very existence is proof of my sanctitude; Our right to rule is sealed by the blood in your veins. “ Azir dips his hand into the sand, allowing it to pour through his fingers and back into the earth as he mutters a prayer to every grain --- His grains. 

“ Yet you sell yourself to foreign kings who ravage the land. Our land. ‘Tis yours to rule, Sivir -- Why do you defile it? “ @nameaprice

[divinesriht]

like this post for a bird to squawk at you. 

[divinesriht]

this is a completely random thought, unprompted by anything, but i was just thinking about how people often blame azir for not freeing the slaves sooner 

i’m not even going to argue for a second about that being a bad thing, because yes, it goes without saying that it was bad that azir didnt immediately end slavery in shurima as soon as he came to power

im more thinking about how azir’s backstory talks about freeing the slaves being a complicated political situation, and its only now dawning on me just how complicated ‘complicated’ is in this case. 

azir was the last in a line of, what, 20? siblings heir to the throne. his political power in shurima must have been dauntingly fragile at the beginning of his reign. 

we only need to look at the darkin civil war to know just how horribly divided power and ambition were in shurima without the guise of the emperor, a mortal azir must have been terrified that any extreme action or wrong move would lead to his assassination, if not outright murder by an ascended warlord deciding they’re going to be the next setaka

frankly, without xerath doing shady things behind the scenes to keep azir alive, i’m pretty sure azir would have had a super short reign 

it must have been flat out timidness / indecision that kept the slaves in chains under azir’s rule for so long, a timidness he probably only began to get over seconds before xerath murdered him in front of the entire empire. 

because of this, i can imagine azir, as a reborn ascended, is decisive to a fault. his greatest failure, the fall of his entire empire, was born from indecisiveness – so now, this man who has literally been martyred for his imperial dynasty and reborn in a manner that can only logical appear to him as a sign of a divine right to rule, isn’t going to question himself for a second 

in that way, xerath has probably made in azir exactly what he was afraid he would become all along 

[divinesriht]

                            "When every trace of you is lost, I will remain."

                                             sideblog to @skydarkin