Its something that myths hint upon. Most come reasonably close especially when describing something that is beyond anything they could imagine. In reality its a cloaked space station in geosynchronous orbit around earth.

She woke alone in darkness. Looking around she only saw one tiny spot of light a small purple gem. Wishing she could see the gem exploded into light. Amazed she looked around to find still nothing. Wishing there was some place to stand, a planet a universe to in habit. Anything beat floating around in nothing. 

And the gem pulsed. Suddenly there was a universe. Wishing for some beings to be company the gem pulsed and shattered. And there was life. Archangels, the most common name for these beings, were first. The first one was so beautiful. Those lucky enough to be a mother can relate to this feeling when she saw her first child. He was named Morningstar or Lucifer, the name for one in her language. There were 4 more the last she named Feowyr, 4 in her tongue. From them more beings came, the angelic host and eventually the demonic hordes too. One particular life form, the humans came from a fragment that struck her heart when the explosion of creation occurred. 

She is the most caring and loving image anyone could create in their mind. The most powerful and compassionate creator. Everyone will have a name for her, some even perceive her as a him. She prefers Mother. 

Elysium was part of the creation, her home. It is the memory of whatever civilization she came from. If its all thats left or a seed planted in its own field she doesnt know. Its cloaked from human view as well as several light spectrums and other means of discovery. 

As it orbits over Philly a sensor goes off. An ancestor of Adrianna has been found. Feowyr is notified he needs to make contact with Tianna Blackhart.

As he prepares to meet this new friend Feowyr thinks back to how he met her very distant ancestor.

Adrianna dropped from the balcony to the tiled floor of the courtyard. Looking around to make sure she wasn’t seen she skipped off out onto the street. She carefully stepped on the white stones, raised up a bit more than the others it kept her feet from the mud and shit of the street as well as helped her find her way. Oh my Vulcan was busy. The smoke and ash from his forge inside Vesevus had been coming for days. Walking against the flow of traffic she darted back and forth avoiding the crowds. So many fearful folks abandoning the city over a few rumbles she shook her head and continued on. She was born on the day of the big rumble when Vulcan had a tantrum over spoiling a fine blade or other piece of work. In her 18 years she had never seen anything but the steady stream of smoke and occasional flare of sparks when he stoked his forge. If not for the damage to the forum and the old docks nobody would believe there was any danger. But tonight was different, the tiny rumblings had gotten stronger, the usual plume of dark smoke had gotten bigger and thicker blanketing the area with a haze. She had heard from travelers in Pompeii that it was worse there.

Her thoughts of possible danger vanished as she reaches the walls of the Villa de Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus, her first destination. On the far edge, near the slave quarters but not near enough her presence would arouse suspicion was a small grove of date trees surrounding small common use well.

“TOOOWWWEET TROOT TROOT TROOT” She whistled, the call of the bird of the morning and the signal they used as she waited a moment and was about to call again the smiling face of Cabi appeared. Cabi was a slave to the Demetrius household and they had become childhood friends when Adriana’s family hired Cabi to teach her weaving. Fascinated by her stories of a great land to the south over the green sea, her skin the color of roasted barley, and the tattoos and jewelry adorning her face. Adriana giggled at the memory of how shocked to the floor her mother was when she asked if she could have great disks put into her ears as well. Even after reaching an age where social etiquette said that people of their classes should not fraternize they remained the closest of friends. With a warm embrace they whispered greetings in the secret language she had taught her. Cabi hands Adriana a small pouch and they both sit down.

“My owners family is evacuating to Anzio tomorrow my dear friend and I cannot slip out with you tonight.” Cabi says frowning.

“My father was due in today but the commotion must have delayed him. If he does not arrive tomorrow Mother says we will pack up and travel South to Uncles estates in Pozzouli, I am excited to see Grandmother again and see the vineyards but I don’t want to leave now. We still haven’t taken down the garlands adorning our family tomb for Octoberine, the feast of Autom and of course the pagans Samhain” Adrianas eyes twinkling at the thought of that celebration.

“You keep up your rebellious ways and your Mother will send you to a oracle to be a virgin priestess Ahh-Vee” Gabi said through a smile so bright against her face even darker with a coating of ash and the fog that made twilight seem like midnight. Adriana rolled her eyes slipping behind some bushes to strip off the robes a daughter of a well off family would wear and donning a flowing embroidered linen dress. Ahh-Vee, a sly grin stretched her lips, the nickname Cabi had given her that was a mash up of Adriana the Vixen in both their tongues. And who taught her how the Silphium plant is used to keep the field free of seeds? Slipping on a pair of anklets with tiny silver bells she pulls out one last item, a chain of woven gold links with a lovely purple crystal hanging at the bottom. If her mother knew what she traded for that, well she wouldn’t be a virgin priestess that much is sure she thought with a laugh applying some powdered lapis to her eyelids and a paste of rose to make her lips as red as one. She thought of the merchant who gave it to her and how he still thinks there was more to it than one night of pleasure. She thinks of how many hearts she has unintentionally broken and how none have ever met with the measure she expects. She doesn’t mean to hurt anyone she just wont become her mother. She daydreams for a moment about the vision she had long ago. A man like the demi gods she heard stories of. One who cherished her and made a point of making every day special to her and for her. One day she will find him even if he falls out of the sky. She becomes aware of her nipples suddenly and almost painfully erect from the thoughts of her ideal man and the gentle caress of the fine linen, they are so clearly visible through the sheer fabric that she almost becomes embarrassed then with a smile enjoys the sensation and freedom from the shame she had been forced into her whole life. As Cabi braids flowers into her hair Adriana ties up the comfortable sandals of a commoner and leaves the fine made ones she would usually wear inside the pack. As Cabi finishes they both rise and embrace.

“Gods be with you my dear Gabby Cabi Have safe travels and may me meet again soon” Adriana said trying not to cry

“And may the mother watch over you Ahh-Vee give you protection and safe journeys, be well and may we see one another again if it is her will”

With one last embrace the friends parted and Adriana skipped along the cobblestones almost dancing already. Her heart was racing and she could see the sparks from the bonfire and hear the drums. The pagans were celebrating.

She skipped along for nearly half an hour before reaching the open meadow. As she traveled she went from elegant villas to the outskirts of Herculaneum and servant quarters to the “din” an area where traveling caravans, merchant crews and other traveling people set up temporary camps dotting the valley. There in a wide space in the center of this non town was a large bonfire. As she approached the shadow of the logs tossed into the pile before it was set ablaze became more and more distinct. Surrounding it was a circle dancers who in turn were surrounded by musicians. Drums mostly of every size, shape and materials but scattered in were a few flutes, whistles, chimes, bells , gongs, instruments played with finely spin metal strings and anything else that could be found that made a rhythmic sound. Her feet almost sensing the commotion on their own began a rhythmic slap of the sandal leather as her pace quickened and she skipped along. Carefully slipping back and forth she weaved her way through the crowd and tward that brightly burning beacon of beautiful sound. She could make out faces, glowing orange in the fire light and reflections of the layer of sweat that covered their bodies. Demetri the servant of Hercules temple was already nude and steaming from the sweat boiling off him. He lept and twirled landing provocatively in front of one particular drummer who smiled and nodded at him. Ahh Demetri, he was so much like her in so many ways he enjoyed having a life filled with fun and not regret too. She saw a group of her friends standing back from the fire taking a rest and drinking some lotus wine. Offering her some with a smile she thankfully drank deep from the bottle and then again washing down a trio of mushrooms harvested from the night soil with their blue blood oozing out of the freshly picked stems, tonight she was going to be in the realm of the gods. With many friendly greetings she eventually broke the circle and stood on the well pounded trail directly around the fire. As the heat hits her body so does the wine and lithe like a faun she begins to dance.

A flowing sea of skin, flesh, linen, braided red hair and tinkling bells she moves. Forward a few steps then turning to go back again, a spin a wave her hands flowing like reeds in a tide she let the music flow through her and flowed in turn with it. The heat of the fire caressing her skin and causing her to glisten with a layer of sweat it penetrated and illuminated the linen so her body glowed beneath and was totally visible with only a slight haze to it the linen glowing softly like a halo. The beat of the drums flowing through and into her and the beat of her heart speeding up to match it in harmony Her muscles flowed to the same beat and deep inside her the very core of her a rhythmic throbbing joined the harmony. Breathless she took occasional short glances to confirm what she knew. The eyes of hundreds if not a thousand men were feasting on her. The musicians who caught a glimpse became aroused and adding their desire to the effort their beats became more intense and enthusiastically begged for more of her dancing. As she moved along eventually making a full circle the feelings of the environment rocked her very being.

“And this is how I can forsake the gods” she thought, “Because here and now I am a goddess. Sight, sound, taste and touch are right now more than any god has ever felt. I have entered Olympus, I am dancing in the fields of Elysium. I am swimming in the sea of stars” And with a smile of absolute pleasure she closed her eyes and let the music carry her along

Time while on the lotus wine is not the same as when not. But at some point a loud rumble rolled through the earth and a flare emerged from the top of Vesevus. A huge cheer went up along the throng and the music, interrupted by the discord slowed and stopped. The musicians immediately attended to with members of the audience offering wine, food, lotus and other things. A senator who had made quite inappropriate advances at her walked into the circle. Barely keeping his rich wine colored robe on and awkwardly folding it to a point where Adriana got a peek and chance to regret not accepting those advances. She laughed loud at herself “You really are a vixen aren’t you? Hes got to be twice your age if not fathers age and all you care about is his wagging tail” Nodding in agreement with a sly smile she looks over as he finally gets the attention he was shouting for.

“My people”, he slurred, then as another louder rumble began and the flares hissing grew louder and pulsing with a rhythm as well. Eyes widening as more lotus hits him he shouts,,

“Prometheus stole fire from the gods and will pay for it every day forever, he found us worthy to be like them and tonight brothers and sisters WE ARE”

As if to add an exclamation point the mountains flare intensifies threefold with a loud BOOM. Everyone cheers or beats their drum loudly. Crackles of lightning arc through the clouds surrounding the mountaintop now barely visible through the clouds of ash. The arcs of cinders and burning rocks tumbling down the mountain add to the excitement and the ever-present fine ash that had been falling for days became almost like a flurry of snow.

“They have come to DANCE WITH US” He shouts and flinging off his robe he screams at the top of his lungs. Quickly picked up and exploding out from the circle the drums in a frenzy of energy follow.

And It hits Adriana like a wave that carries her off with it flowing along the current. For eternity she flowed along the river that went around the fire. She stopped to catch her breath. Drink more lotus, or have a chat with particularly attractive drummers but otherwise there was nothing but her feet and the earths beat. At one point someone began chanting and it was picked up radiating out from the burning center of the fire.

Earth my body

Water my blood

Air my breath and

Fire my spirit

As it repeated and evolved and came back to the main chorus again Adriana caught a glance of the steam rising off her arms. She loosened her top string and let the dress drop to her hip exposing her breasts. Steam rolling off them she felt an intense wave of sensation as the heat from the fire licked her nipples.

Covered in ash so she was stained grey and peppered with the dust from the path she has trampled with her feet.

Earth my body

The steam rolling off her and coming from water springing out of her skin she dank deeply from a water jug

Water my blood

A slight breeze from the northwest, exciting her body with the cooling touch over her wet skin she gasps

Air my breath

and

The fire, the glow on her skin, the flare of Vesevus, the energy she felt burning inside her.

Fire my spirit

And then she noticed another glow. In the sky behind her a small round disk glowing faintly behind dark clouds. The sun was up!

“Wipe me with Sterquilinus’ beard” She spat and ran off in the direction of home just as another intense BOOM thundered through the earth and out of the mountain.

Running along out of breath and panting she still heard bells jangling. She didn’t care what trouble she would be in nor what she was wearing all she cared about was getting home. It was almost midday and they would be frantically worried about her.

That’s when the mountain blew its top. Several hundred feet of the top was blown off and collapsed into the caldera. A cloud of burning gas and ash rolled down the mountain. Adriana was knocked to the ground and as she got up and looked back her eyes widened in horror. Leaping to her feet and sprinting along she felt a hot breeze on her back. She ran the only thing she could think of was her family, they could not leave without her.

The air got hotter and thinking of anything else got harder until all was black. The air being pushed ahead of this pyroclasm was so full of sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide from the burning cloud of fire this landslide was that she never knew what hit her. Adriana stumbled, fell, and died there.

But something happened to the purple corundum that she was wearing. It had touched a spark of her life or somehow she had connected with this speck of time and space itself but about the same time the flow buried her in 20 meters of ash for all eternity, something marvelous happened.

She awoke in a field of wheat as clean and beautiful as she had started the evening. Standing before her were 3 odd people. One a beautiful and wise looking older woman. A woman in her 20s wearing strange looking battle gear and,

He was the most attractive man she had ever seen. Tall and strong and dark as Cabi he absolutely glowed from within. He wore a tunic of linen and gold and had the most disarmed smile that was disarming her right there.

“Where am I” Adriana asked.

“We are not entirely sure my dear. You are alive and you have your body but it should not be like this, you died. “The older woman said. “And id like to ask if you would come with us and help us discover what exactly did happen. I am sorry to say your family is gone, they did not suffer long. Your town and life is gone now so I do beg you please come to Elysium? You certainly deserve to live there”

Adriana was stunned for a moment before stammering out a “yes”

“Good” and with a nod she turns and walks forward along the path brushing the wheat with her hands as she goes. Following her is the younger female and the male who turns to Adriana with a smile

“My names Michael, it’s a pleasure to meet you”

“FOUR” the leader spat out sternly

And with a smile and a wink he turned, said something strange in a language she hadn’t heard into his,,,bracelet??

And they all began glowing in a pure white light and rising up into the sky.

Someone hiding behind anonymity speaking of reputation? Id boot you as a ignorable troll if I could. But the irony, speaking of reputation but drag the entire site down by representing it this way.  Come forward and speak your mind or lack of any with your own name. Let your cajones drop and explain that gibberish face to face. A scheme? A grift? Elaborate please, id love to know how this is some scheme. You speak of principle but show none. You talk of reputation but smear this sites instead of putting your own up for judgment. You speak of continuing to frequent here and advertise a challenge for everyone not to. Clearly someone is exhibiting abuse of power decreasing the reputation of those who put the trust in you.