Mictlan Meetings

Log Info

• Title: Mictlan Meetings
• Emitter: Vaera
• Characters: Vaera, Un'eth, Mikilos
• Place: W02: Mictlan
• Time: Thursday, September 2, 9:00 PM
• Summary:Vaera promised to get some fish for some villagers in Mictlan. One of them, a brass colored youngling took great interest, half out of curiosity, half out of hunger. Shaman Un'eth happens apon the two roasting fish on the fire, and some is offered to her, though she turns it down until others have had some, and suggests any excess is dried to be stored for the coming months. Vaera assures that there was plenty, and most had already gone to drying racks. Un'eth does not have any stories immediately, suggesting Vaera share some, but the sith-makar struggles, most being unpleasant to share. Suddenly, Mikilos appears nearby, spurring Un'eth to investigate, while Vaera watches the young Makari. Mikilos states that he has performed a divination spell on one of the castings, revealing the statues to have been unpetrified, and shipped off to Charn. This angers Un'eth, who quickly heads off to alert the others about what has happened. The young sith-makar had taken off with their food to share with others, leaving the adults to speak of such matters. With Un'eth gone, Vaera speak about the perpetrators, and Mikilos' lack of need to eat. Mikilos states that all things considered, he has done alright, but Vaera warns to always be prepared for what may come, even if things seem okay in the moment.

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Located within the Deep Woods, and hours past Wilderness Pointe, in the heart of its northern woods, bones frame this hollowed-out space. Massive and heavy, they reach towards the sky, meeting--almost--in the center like great and worn stalagmites. Or giant teeth. After a few seconds--it's quickly evident that this is a space carved from a dragon's bones. A very, very large...dragon's bones. The air smells of ash, brimstone, and earth. Underneath the apex of the bones lie the workings of a central Fire.

The grounds are run by shamans of the sith-makar, and the sacred space dedicated to the Death Singing Dragon, one of their names for the goddess, Vardama. There are always a number of them about, from a mixture of tribes. Formally, the sith use it to sing the souls of their dead back to the land of Wing and Flame, and celebrate the Memory of Blood. It was here that brave heroes stood, and vanquished the ashen warriors of old, thereby freeing the land from Thul's curse. Informally, it is a gathering place.

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Vaera had promised to roast some fish for a few younglings back in Mictlan the day before. Though she had not returned that day, they were true to their word. That afternoon, while the sun was still high in the air, the fires were still burning, and the dark red makari had returned to camp. At some point, a brass scaled youngling had taken it upon themselves to clamber up them, but Vaera did not seem to mind while she tended to a fire with skewered fish roasting next to the coals, ever mindful the child on her shoulders would not fall off.

Un'eth moves along the grounds, currently not serving as a mount for any manner of youngling, even if others are. Noting the recently-familiar one, she thumps her tail as she nears the cookfire. "Peace on your nest."

"There was a small thump of a tail in response, directly against the red makari's back. And another from Vaera herself, after she steadies, turning to Un'eth. The greeting seemed to make her pause, the spines down the back of her head flattening. No scents, however, which was still strange. The youngling however, was happy to see them. "Ssshaman Un'eth!" They greet. "Here for fisssh? Vaera catch lotss!"

Vaera chuffs, reaching up to pat the youngling on the head as she watches Un'eth. "There is none, but peace on your nest, Un'eth." She replies. "They are correct, this one is roasting fish they caught in the Tornmawr today, would you care for some?"

"Once the younglings and the cook take their fill," Un'eth dips her snout, "I would eat some. It is good to find such bounties before the season change. If there is excess, it can be dried for later months. You have drawn an audience," she observes, eyes to the exuberant youngling.

Seyardu says, "There is plenty, Un'eth!" The young makari enthuses. "Come, sit! Have any storiess to share today?" They ask, looking even more excited at the prospect.

Vaera chuffs again, reaching out to turn the skewers with bare claws, one hand steadying the brass scale on her shoulders. "This one promised, to catch some fish yesterday." She explains. "And this one wished to see how the cooking went, They have been an excellent assistant, they helped me to gut and prepare the fish to line the smoking racks. Do not worry, there is plenty to go around. This one made sure there would be extra for any who wished to join.""

Un'eth crouches near the fire, though not -too- near, settling into a comfortable squat partly upon a stone. "I have may stories, little one. Too many, I think. Recalling which you have heard and which you have not is no easy task." Her tail flicks in amusement and her eyes then shift to Vaera. "What of you? Aside from delicious fish and excellent assistants, do you have any tales to share?"

"But hearing your stories is always good, Un'eth." The youngling replies. If a sith-makar could pout, they would be doing so. Vaera reaches up to pat them on the head again, her own tail flicking just slightly.

"This one, does not have many good stories for young listeners, but perhaps, this one could think of something." She offers. "This one has been doing work in the city, jobs to help others recently, however."

Most sith-makar showed scars proudly, but Vaera hid most of hers beneath the coat she was wearing.

Un'eth's head tilts as she thinks of tales, or rather skims through those she can promptly recall. As she stares off, as it were, the scars on the red are noted again. Curiosity may be piqued, along with the fact that her scent is all but absent. "Aiding others, even the city softskins, is worthy effort. Is it the city that marked your scales? The hunters, the warriors, they would darken them with coal or brighten with paints... yet you do not."

GAME: Mikilos accepts a meet and will arrive momentarily.

Mikilos has arrived.

The question made the strange sith-makar pause, but she nods, shaking her head. "These scars, they are not ones this one is proud of." She offers in explanation. "This one does like helping, within reason. They are not from the city. At least not this city."

She picks up the skewers, and sets them down on cloth nearby to cool. The hand keeping the youngling on her shoulders now stopping them from scrambling down. She seemed hesitant, perhaps not telling more due to the young one nearby.

"Patience, they will be cool enough to eat momentarily." She advises.

Mikilos teleports often, it's a handy bit of magic for a busy wizard. Normally, the elf just apperas, finding the flash and smoke to be a vain waste. This time, however, the elf appears in a pillar of golden light, a bit like a star trek teleporter, some distance away from the camp, but close ebough for the light to be easily seen. There's something to be said for announcing your arrival. Espically when large protective lizards are involved.

Un'eth bobs her snout in return. "I see..." She looks to the youngling to further encourage patience or warn of singed tongues when the light appears in the distance... yet not far in the distance. "Mind the youngling," is all she states as she promptly rises from her perch and steps away from the fire. All the better to lessen the glare and bring her nearer the unexpected light at which she peers towards.

The light was hard to miss for certain, and Vaera twists her head backwards to the light, to Un'eth, where she nods, and back to the fire, after lifting the youngling off of her shoulders, and into her lap with a small bit of protest.

"Want to see!" They say , trying to look backwards, but blocked on all sides by the red sith-makar. "Patience, if it is safe to do so, this one will allow it." Vaera replies, looking off to the distance. "Un'eth is checking, trust in her as this one does. The fish will be ready soon."

Mikilos stays where he is, waiting for whatever guardians to approach before speaking. Draconic isn't well suited for an elven mouth, but the wizard speaks clearly, very fluent. "Peace unto your nest. This One seeks the Silverscale Seyardu, but has news the Elders will wish to hear. May I approach?" <draconic>

The self-announcement eases Un'eth, and it's form and words aid it's intent further. "All are welcome in Mictlan who respect it and those within. Come, and share what words you will." She remains where she is, however, still alert yet not aggressively wary. Nor is she the only one watching.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Vaera reaches over to take two skewered fish, offering them to the youngling. "There, they are ready to eat. Why don't you go give one to your nest-brother? This one promises to share a story another time, and will ask Un'eth if they will do the same."

The brass scaled youngling nods and takes the two skewers. "Thanks, Vaera!" They reply, before scurrying off to where several rocks had been arranged for warmth, and several clutch-mothers were visible, having also seen the commotion. With that, Vaera too turns to focus on the newcomer, and Un'eth.

Mikilos nods, and approaches the closer fire, nodding politely to Verna and waiting for those intrested to approach. "I do not know how far the news has spread, of sith turned to stone and sold as statues. I was asked to try and use my magics to track those missing. A plaster cast had been made of a so called statue, and I was able to use it as a divination focus. A statue no longer, the sith is now in a large holding pen with many ohters, sith, half-elves, and humans."

Un'eth's eyes widen at this announcement and closes upon Mikilos in two quick strides. Once there, her eyes narrow once more and peer at him. "Where? How many? How long past?" Numerous questions may have formed, but these are the first asked.

Vaera too was near instantly on edge, standing up, and looking to Mikilos. She remembered seeing him once, though at the time, they had almost been drowning, and she had not been thinking completely straight.

She was going to ask more herself, but her tail was just flicking agitatedly behind her as she listened to the questions she had, asked by Un'eth before she could.

Mikilos, to his credit, only flinches a little with a sudden rush of large lizard. "(Not Alexandria. I forgot to clarify, but pretty sure Zeke meant somewhere in Charn.) Many dozen, I was not able to get a clear count. The scrying was a few hours ago. There are guards, chains, and cages. Any atempt of rescue will almost certainly require battle."

Un'eth snorts once, harshly, adding lizard breath, delayed, to the rush at Mikilos. "I will inform the shamans and warriors. If battle is required for their freedon, they shall have it." She pivots on her toes, dipping her snout to Vaera as she steps briskly past her and the fire, and deeper into Mictlan: to do precisely what she declared.

"This one, should stand with them." Vaera nods back to Un'eth. "To hear of this is deplorable, and it should be for as little time as possible."

She turns back to Mikilos. "Thank you for bringing this to this one's attention. It is appreciated greatly."

Mikilos nods. "Glad to be of service, sorry such assistance is needed. That such actions have taken place in Alexandros speaks poorly of the city. One that has otherwise treated me well since my arrival years ago. Certainly there have been dangers, but they were inflicted upon the city, not part of it's nobel class."

"This one thought the people there were better than slavers." Vaera notes with a low growl. "Perhaps some are just as bad. You say, this was caused by the nobles in the city themselves? Have they no morals? Or are they as warped as those of many in Charn?"

Mikilos sighs. "Most of the nobility of Alexandros are decent people. Sometimes self-centered or out of touch, but seldom evil. Have seen the occasional spoiled child go bad, but this is at least one mastermind working with several others and corrupt guards. I can only hope most were misled in the nature of what they were doing."

"This one, will hope what you say is true, that they are merely misguided." She responds, sitting back down at the fire with a puff of air. "It would not be well for them to be acting of their own free will for such matters."

Mikilos nods. "The Speaker is either of his own will or commanded on a level I've never seen before. Some of the nobles I'm sure are merely thinking of profits. But how many choose to be involved will lsavers, I can so far only guess."

"Well, they should think about profits a lot less then." Vaera growls. "Regardless, this is all speculation, and unpleasant speculation, at that. Not productive."

She looks to the pile of skewers. "Do you want any fish? You did not have any last time. Though you were likely preoccupied, anyways."

Mikilos smiles. "Agreed. Profit has it's use, but needs to be more than an end to itself. Thank you for the offer, the fish smell delicious, but I do not need to eat. Ever."

"You do not need to eat?" Vaera asks, tilting their head. "Strange, sounds, unpleasant. How do you grow stronger then, if that is the case? Is it just some alternative source of energy?"

"Vaera squints. "You are not a vampire, are you? You do not smell undead."

Mikilos isn't entirely sure if he should be amsued or insulted. "...no. Vampires still feed on blood. Wizards, at least some of us, forge magic rings that sustain the wearer." The elf falls quiet for a moment. "In the Seige of Sendor, there was little food in the city. Everyone starved. I made a point to never deal with that problem again."

"Curious. I do not know how it accounts for the changing needs of the wearer. Magic is strange like that." Vaera shrugs. "Sorry if that was rude. I will not speak ill of any sieges or the hardships any may have had to endure."

Mikilos nods. "I understand the weave of the magic, but how it actually works is... complex. The seige of Sendor was a hardship for many. Far too many lost their lives bringing freedom to the city. I certainly didn't enjoy my time there, but had an easier time than many others."

"Some give lives to ensure the lives of others." Vaera nods back. "It is good there was success, though. Whether or not others had it worse does not diminish your own hardships."

Mikilos nods. "Good to remember the plight of others, without forgetting your own. Over all, I've been very fortunate. Troubles, certainly, but in all, my life has turned out well. I sometimes forget to be thankful for what I have received."

"Of course, that is a good way to look at things. Just do not expect things to always be well. Or rather, be prepared to deal with them not being so." Vaera notes after tearing into a skewer of fish. "Speaking from experience. Do not take what you have for granted."

Mikilos nods in agreement. "Far too easy for the world to go wrong. Two decades ago, were I to list all the things I could lose, my god would not have been on the list. But now that the years have past, Animus is gone. At least for the moment."

"This one heard, news." Vaera replies, with a shake of her head. "That the gods can fall is concerning."

she stands up, picking up the remaining skewers. "But this one learned coming here, that there is a way to look forward. You should as well, but do not forget the past, or present, in the process."

Mikilos nods. "Many things once unthinkable have proven possible, though not exactly common or easy. Can only guess what the next few years may bring."

"All you can do, is prepare in advance. Learn, grow, help others to do the same. It is what places like Mictlan thrive upon."

Vaera looks elsewhere, and back to Mikilos. "Speaking of which, this one owes a young one a story, and should make sure Un'eth gets her share of the catch. Thank you for sharing the news, regardless of how disturbing it may be. It is still worth knowing."

Mikilos nods. "I look forward to putting the information to use, but will need a plan. Fare well."

"Fare well, Mikilos. Please be aware of the risk of water when teleporting in the future." Vaera chuckles lightly, before she turns away with skewers in hand. "This one hopes putting it to use will not take too long."