[quote=LordMarwain]
The flames were dancing in the pyre. Tarvin followed their movement with his eyes to calm his mind. He had his sacrifice ready, but still didn’t feel at ease. Was it enough to attract the attention of the gods? This was something Tarvin was not familiar with. He was good at taking important stuff away, not at giving it. Sure he had some experience with giving coins to the poor, but he couldn’t possibly compare this to the giving to the gods. There was a whole religious aspect at giving offers to the gods. No, he shouldn’t worry about that. He just had to present his offer to the gods. No one was offering right now. Tarvin stood up and walked to the pyre, while opening his backpack.“Gods,” he started his sentence. “for years I have lived on my own. I learned how to live independent. I kept myself to my own moral standings. I saw this society from the side it doesn’t want to present itself. People filled with greed and hate walk with a smile on their faces over the streets. People who like taking from others. Who enjoy standing above others. I took from them.” Tarvin took the trophies he gathered from the mayors and threw them one by one in the fire. “And I gave some back to the ones they took from. Not because that is what I should do. Not because it is what others think that is right. I did it because I am free to make my own choices. I did it because they were wrong and doing it felt right to me. I did it because I felt myself that this was the right thing to do.” Tarvin was shouting right now. He knew he was gathering more attention than he should. That he should be planning his escape right now. To disappear in the crowd. But he didn’t want to stop yet. “Please accept my offer. Not just the trophies, but also I will show the world what it means to be free. I will not be held down by the standards and moral choices of others. I will find out for me myself what is right and wrong and tell other to do the same.” He saw the circle close. His way to escape had closed when he tried to express his feelings to the gods. A lot of unwanted attention had focused on him. He heard the people whisper to each other. A few man in fine clothing were giving him mean looks.Tarvin looked at the sky. “Please gods help me,” he whispered.
[/quote]

[i] ... ... "Does this boy claim to know better than the law?" ...
 ... "Are those stolen goods he's sacrificing?" ... ...
 ... ... ... ... "If he's a thief he's a hypocrite. Talking about right and wrong like that." ...
 ... "Just arrogant fool." ... ... "A criminal!"[/i] ...

Murmurs and whispers arose from the crowd that slowly formed tighter around Tarvin.
He could see their disapproval. Their fear. Their malice.

A peal of thunder crashed down from the skies upon Tarvin. A low and heavy voice made the earth tremble.
[b]"Finding the right gift is difficult isn't it?"[/b]
Looking around it was clear none of the people around him had heard the thunderclap nor the voice. This was just for him.

[b]"You humans were created equal to animals, but a difference was made. Or at least.. Attempted."[/b] The voice continued.
Time seemed to slow down as the voice spoke. There was time for this. A strange calm. Everything seemed loaded, strung tight. As if ready to jump into action.
The mob around Tarvin stood almost frozen in place, but on their faces it was clear they would jump him the moment time would reset to normal.

[b]"At great risk, at great expense. Humans were granted the chance to decide their own fate. Free from the shackles of animistic thought. Unbound by the laws of nature, merciless as they are."[/b] The voice raised, it's tone dripping with bitterness.

[b]"But guess what they did with it? With this divine gift? They made laws, and they kept each other to them. Anyone who tried to use their divine gift was punished by another. They fought and they bickered. They squandered their free will."[/b] The voice bellowed with anger. Growing more frighting and dangerous.

[b]"But you! You! You understand what it means to take matters into your own hands! To make the decisions these sheep can't. Reach up and take my hand! I will give you the means to decide for them. Choose their will for them."[/b]

A thin swirling cyclone came down from the heavens, crackling with energy. It changed shape, forming a hand at the bottom. An open hand with a white-golden ring on it.
[b]"Take my hand and they shall think like you. They shall think with you. As you think for them."[/b]