They congregated beneath the spreading boughs of the yew tree, the full moon rising up to hover between the trees branches like horns. They congregated in silence, the only sound the shush of their robes moving over the dry autumn grass. They congregated with their heads bowed, knowing that their needed goal today was not a happy one. Few there wanted to do what had to be done, but all had read their scrying bowls and knew that it was the only thing they could do to save themselves. Still, they shuddered a little as they thought of it. They knew that if they did not do this thing, soon the invaders would wipe out their people, destroy their faith, and trample their name into the ashes. Still, they did not like the idea of having to become monsters to be remembered.

Inspiration: "congregated"
Story Potential: Medium.
Notes: Hmm. A bit interesting, but nothing too cool here.

On the mountain, there was an old stone temple that had been abandoned for so long that the lichen crawling over its surface made it look as if it had just grown there. When the Truth Speakers came, they destroyed the churches and the cathedrals, the holy springs and the sacred wise-men, but they missed the old stone temple. At first, the people still scorned it, for they had not worshiped there for generations, not since their great-great-great-grandparents had moved down out of the hills, where they lived lives hardly above those of the animals that surrounded the town, and became civilized. A few holdouts still roamed the hills, but they daren't come into town. Being spat on was the least of what they should fear. They were hardly better than animals, and they were treated worse.

Inspiration: "Shake 'Em On Down" - R.L. Burnside, and a NYT.com slideshow of pictures from Bali.
Story Potential: High?
Notes: Returning to the old ways, dealing with those one has scorned. Could be interesting.