Talk of Open Skies
Log Info
- Title: Talk of Open Skies
- Place: Am'shere - Outskirts of Akochilistli Kuauhtla
- Summary: Rune talks to Aelwyn of the Charneth, and he of his call to open skies.
Am'shere - Outskirts of Akochilistli Kuauhtla
The flurry of activity that had followed the kidnapping of a hatchling seems to have finally settled down. The warriors of the village seem to be on guard, though, eyeing anything out of the ordinary with suspicion. In some ways, that includes many of the non-Makari who had traveled here to deal with the smuggling issue.
Rune, as such, is one of those that the warriors seem to be keeping an eye on. Two seem to be watching her as she draws up water from a well, then uses it to splash across her face, wiping free sweat and face paint. She has a towel, which is used to wipe off her face and then run through her hair.
"Would you mind not staring?" She hisses in well-spoken Makari towards the two guards. "I helped save that hatchling, remember? I'm not one of them! Fuck off and leave me alone." The gesture that she gives them is distinctly not Makari, which causes the two warriors to look at each other. <draconic>
"Tch, and one's eyes are left with regret." A familiar voice says in common, before the ruddy sith-makar steps into view. His tail flicks behind him as he glances at the two guards; but then he is content in standing between them and the half-elven rogue.
"Though this one supposes she left their eyes with something to wonder about." The draconian rumbles with a subdued amusement. He reaches down into his satchel and offers her a wineskin. "Desire to move somewhere less out of the way?"
One of the two Warrior Caste seem about to step forward, but then Aelwyn inserts himself neatly into the situation. The fact that one of their own kind is speaking the common tongue, and seems to very distinctly be addressing the stranger in their midsts, leaves the two casting looks at each other once again.
"They can wonder all they want, but I'd like to not be considered a potential enemy just because I don't have scales." Rune shifts back to the common tongue, giving one look towards the pair of guards and then accepts the wineskin, taking a draft of it before offering it back.
"Yeah, let's take a walk. I wouldn't mind getting out of the village for a bit." Lifting a brow, she glances at the ruddy-scaled Makari, "Walk with me? There's a pretty nice spot just a little ways into the jungle."
Aelwyn was used to getting strange looks - even here amongst the jungles. It all seemed to just flow off him though; but then again, he wasn't being constantly suspected of kidnapping hatchlings. The Dragoon bows his head as he accepts the wineskin back, moving to hook it onto his satchel once more.
"She already wishes to meander back into the jungle?" The ruddy sith-makar asks with a tilt of his head "Though this one cannot fault her. The air has gotten very stiff, and filled with murk." He twirls his glaive between his fingers, eyeing her for a moment, before he flashes his teeth. "And this one is yet to ignore invitations to 'pretty nice spots'." He taps at her ankles with his tail, before he bows his head. "Lead the way."
Such things have never sat as easily with Rune. Perhaps because of her half-blood nature, she has never really fit in, either among humans or Sil. It is even more strange here in Am'shere, where she has adopted many of their ways, however she will never be a part of the culture like one born to it. Though, perhaps Aelwyn understands that better than most.
"Just a little ways in. Between Harkashan's strange behavior and the Charneth kicking up activity in the area, I could use a bit more space to breathe." Rune replies, shaking her head. What she means is, she needs someplace where she isn't looked at oddly for being a non-Makari companion to a Shaman of some renown.
Rune's blue eyes look down at the tap from Aelwyn's tail, followed by a quirk of her lips before she leads the to the very outskirts of the village. There, there is a thin creek that runs into the nearby jungle, vanishing in underbrush and trees. "How have you been doing? I imagine it's all a bit strange, coming here."
Aelwyn stretches his glaive across his shoulder; leaving his arm hanging over the haft of it. It was the typical lazy fashion he carried himself; hips rolling with each of his steps, completely heedless of the constant danger around them. It was almost as if he were back in the city. A well practiced appearance.
"It is strange," The sith-makar admits. "This one never expected to visit Am'shere." He clicks his tongue. "Lava spoke of fire and blood calling one here. Yet, whilst that feels true, it also feels wrong." There's a glance towards the sky, before he returns his gaze over towards her. "A little play, is it not, that Twin has lived here so many years, and this one has barely touched the soil?" Tail flick.
There's an amused rumble and a shoulder roll, before his orange eyes return to her. "Lava does seem a person possessed. Yet this one cannot say for sure if it isn't just his particular charm. To preach, to sunder, and not enough time to be relaxed by this one." Another rumbling hiss in amusement, as he moves to stand near the creek.
A moment later, he turns. "What of her?" There's another, longer pause. "To this one, it looked as if her fear arrived in person."
"Probably not all that different than when I travel into the Mythwood and spend time in the lands of the Sildanyari. I may have some of their blood in my veins, but that doesn't mean I feel as if I belong there." Rune looks over, her head slightly tilted. "Maybe that's the way it is for Harkashan. This place calls to his fire and blood, but... that doesn't mean it has to for you."
There is a curious raise of one eyebrow, "How does it feel to you?"
The comment about Harkashan's strange way of behaving draws a concerned expression across her features, Rune's lips pressing together. "This isn't normal for him. He's been acting strange for the last month or so. He keeps... hesitating sometimes, as if he weren't even present. And other times it feels like it isn't even him that's talking but someone else entirely." Reaching over, Rune scratches over part of her tattooed arm. "It's... really unsettling."
As for herself, that's one where Rune lets out a breath, blowing a bit of colored hair out of her eyes. "Not far from it. You saw the amount of damage that one single Charneth spell caused. We were attacked by an entire group of them, more powerful than the kidnapper we killed." She rubs her hands up and down her arms.
She keeps rubbing at her arms. Aelwyn tilts his head; causing the ribbons on his horns to tilt one way. Then he slides out the wineskin once more, giving it a twirl that sloshes its contents about.
Then he throws it at her face.
Taking a step over, he puts the butt of his spear down onto the ground and leans closer, giving a slow, macabre looking grin. To some makari perhaps, it looked charming. "She did well back there. That blade between the eyes was the work of a cool, collected expert." His tail sways behind him. A macabre business. "And the next time, she now knows what she should know."
Straightening a touch, he steps closer; and reaches out to lay his warm hand on her arm. "This one feels there will be many answers for her and Lava in these jungles." A click leaves his mouth, and he looks down at her with another low rumble. "Annoying, that there are so many trees in the way."
Thankfully, Rune has quick reflexes. So, when the wineskin is tossed quite so abruptly towards her face, she's quick to raise her hands and catch it. It's a distraction. The moment she lowers it, there is a grinning Makari face right up in her own.
Blink.
"It's... not that simple." Rune replies in a softer tone. "But you're right about one thing. I know that if someone else is in danger, I'll choose to stand and fight, even if it means putting myself in danger in the process." At that, she shoves the wineskin back towards him, raising a brow. "That is something, at least."
If these jungles hold answers, Rune doesn't further comment on that, at least not yet. Instead, she focuses on Aelwyn, instead. "Have you tried going up to the top of the ziggurat? I imagine that you'd be able to get a good view of the sky from there." Much of Am'shere is an expanse of jungle, but there were certain points where the sky is more clear through the trees.
"Open skies are important to you?"
The wineskin is grabbed, easily uncorked and a hefty swig is drunk, leaving the makari rumbling. "This one has always wondered which blade is heavier, one for the other, or one for oneself."
He takes a step back. "The skies call to this one, yes." He admits, tilting his head upwards. That ruddy scaled body stretches upwards along the shaft of his glaive; the orange, angry red scales flexing as he seems to focus on something above. "Yet many things call to this one." Slowly, he exhales; and his body slinks in a slow, leaf like fashion, the Dragoon's fingers sliding down the pole of his glaive. His orange eyes return to her. "One only knows what is important when their call finally fades, does one not?"
As for her question, the sith shakes his head. "This one has not; perhaps this one should." He twists his lip into a light grin, looking at her from the corner of his eyes. "Just to see."
The Dragoon finally settles down on his feet though, and returns his attention fully on her. "If we keep following after this smuggler, will we meet more of the charred ones?" He asks, and then joining that question he clicks his teeth. "And if she were to see, what would follow?"
The idea of which sword weighs heavier seems to linger with Rune, at least for a heartbeat as she taps a finger against her side. "I saw a lot of shit when I was younger and ran with an underworld crew. A lot of people getting hurt, a lot of betrayal..." She looks at her own hands, then shakes her head, "I could claim I was a kid and didn't know any better, but I did." She lifts one shoulder in a half-shrug. "So now I do better. Trying to protect others is just one way of attoning."
Blue eyes look over as Aelwyn looks skyward, even though much of it is covered by the thick branches of the jungle trees. "Maybe." Her non-committal response comes as she tilts her head, "Honestly, I'm still trying to figure all that out, myself. Sometimes you just do the best you can, keep walking bravely forward."
Shifting her weight, Rune watches him, the subtle shifts of movement and the way he carries himself, "Seems to me, that you should decide which are the important calls to answer."
Then, he asks about the Charneth and that has her going still. Rune is usually a person of movement, but the Charneth seem to always bring this frozen version of her to the surface. "I... don't think the Charneth have much to do with the smugglers. The kidnappings are just... part of life here for the Makari. They've been plagued by the Charneth for decades."
It would be easy to simply dismiss the question from there, but Rune knows all too well that it is not the end of the connections. "The cultists who have been acting in Alexandros are in league with the Charneth. Charn wants Alexandros for its resources, the cultists want to summon a demon or god, or something." She shakes her head.
"I don't know." Is her answer to him. "If we encounter them again. I don't know."
Aelwyn's movements stop slightly as she mentions about her old crew - a distant look - but then he slowly rumbles as he gives a non-committal click of his teeth and a toss of his head. "One cannot trace a path one does not know, Twin." The Dragoon offers her a visage of his teeth, as he slides his hand down onto his hip. "Therefore there really is only one call to answer." His tail slowly slides across the jungle's floor, brushing aside some of the debris and foliage.
Returning to the topic of the cultists, his orange eyes keenly observe her. Almost as if weighing her. With the way he was slightly shifting and rocking his body, it was like staring into the eyes of a serpent. "... hmmh. Everyone wants to bring about the end of the world, seems to be in fashion." The Dragoon then replies and flicks his tongue. "This one much preferred the paint on her skin."
Slowly, he steps forward and reaches out to slide his hand upon her shoulder. "This one knows not much of Charn or the secrets dancing here; but one that keeps one alive, is the trust in one's blade." He lets out a slow exhale. "She showed little hesitation, seeing that one cultist. That is something this one can be very content with."
The sound that comes from Rune is a soft exhalation, like a soft 'hah' but without any real humor to it. "I've been walking a path I don't know for the past year." This seems to bring Rune back to herself as she shakes her head, dyed strands shifting with the motion. "I'm only now starting to grasp some parts of it." Her hand reaches up to touch the necklace she wears, currently hidden beneath layers of clothing.
It is a real laugh that follows, though. A laugh at the absurdity of having multiple individuals all trying to bring about terrible, potentially world-ending conflict. "Doesn't mean we don't try to fight against those things, though..."
As is usual for Rune, compliments lend a rosey tint to her freckled cheeks. "Well, don't expect it too often." She sticks out her tongue in a playful expression.
Reaching up, Rune touches his hand with her own. "I know. It's just... not easy. Probably a good thing Harkashan dragged me out here to face all this." At his mention of a good blade, Rune looks at Aelwyn's own weapon. "Mmm. True enough. Though, at some point, I need to raise the coin enough to have Alaryn work on mine some more. Though... I do have to wonder if some of the flashy effects I've seen from other weapons always go hand in hand with ones that talk."
The glaive was held there; well-crafted, well-ribboned, well-cared for, but it still were nothing more than a pole with a curved blade at the tip.
"This one likes Malefic," Aelwyn says with a wide grin. "Even when it touches this one's glaive, and reminds one of the essence of true combat." Slowly, he leans his head down a touch and rumbles into her ear. "Always distract the large, shiny ones." His tail whips about behind him. "Glory to the sun."
"And now why is that? Do not those of Mythwood enjoy a touch of paint on their skin?" The Dragoon asks, sliding her hand up in the air, as slowly steps about her. "Or are they too accustomed to the shadows, that a little paint and an attracted gaze feels so heavy on the flesh?" He continues, flicking his tongue out at her. Coming to stand in front of her once more, he leans the haft of his glaive against himself.
"So do I. I find him to be quite the charming conversationalist." Rune smirks, "I've been meaning to pick up some metal polish as a gift. It's always important to keep up proper appearances, especially if you're a dramatic polearm." Her head tilts, "I just would prefer my weapons not make conversation at inopportune times."
Raising an eyebrow, Rune allows him to lift her hand up, moving about her in something akin to a dance which she plays along with, her smile seeming to settle more fully on her lips. "Not so easy to distract the shiny ones as it might seem."
As for why she doesn't wear more paint on her skin, Rune laughs softly, "I wouldn't know that much about the customs of my Mythwood kin, I never spent much time with them." She shakes her head, "I've already got enough decoration, I think."
In a fluid motion, Rune runs a hand down along her tattooed arm, then down along her side where clothing covers what is likely the rest of the elaborate marking. She flicks a hand through dyed hair and then motions towards pierced ears that have onyx jewelry. "The most painted I've ever gotten is a few times when I needed to hide my tattoo. That takes an obnoxious amount of makeup."
"Try silver. It is Malefic's favorite." The Dragoon grins at her, "Or silver polish. Perhaps apply some on Silver, as well - he definitely deserves some treatment."
The ruddy hand continues to hold her hand up in the air; slowly shifting and balancing it between the pair as Aelwyn lightly leads her around in a little spin. It was a motion both well thought out; but also felt as easy like an afterthought.
Just like when he strides forward and steps behind her. A sun-warmed body near her.
"This one always did find ears with jewelry a tempting thing to nip." He rumbles in amusement, before he slowly lets go of her hand. "If she did not spent time in Mythwood, then where did she arrive from to Am'shere?"
GAME: Rune rolls perform/dance: (16)+6: 22
"I don't know if Skielstregar is all that interested in being touched on the best of days." Rune admits, having watched the interactions between Harkashan and the silver-scaled Makari. "But I'm sure I can find something that suits Malefic's tastes."
As Aelwyn continues that dance, there is a fluidness in her motion that suggests her previous comments about not being much of a dancer may have been an understatement of her abilities. She leans back a little once he is set in place behind her, giving a small laugh.
"No nibbling without my permission." She states defiantly, though there's a hint of amusement there.
Once released, Rune steps forward, hopping up onto a rock next to the gently-flowing creek. Crouching there, she tilts her head, "I grew up in Ylvaliel. It's one of the trading towns on the outskirts of the Mythwood. Many Sildanyari aren't particularly accepting of half-bloods."
There's a series of snaps of teeth, rhythmically teasing at her pointed ear; the air from between his lips flicking at the flesh. "To steal a gnaw, Twin. A story that shall unfold in slow motion." His forked tongue wriggles out of his mouth.
"Hmmh, yet they have no trouble leaving them in others' hands." The draconian rumbles, "... with apologies offered to Twin." He bows his head, before he follows her on after the creek.
Though he himself wades into the water, letting it wash away at his exposed thighs. Beyond the multitude of deadly things undoubtedly in the water - was the heat of the jungle not amazing? "Then she arrived into Am'shere, to be cradled by Lava..." He tilts his head, turning to look towards her. "Did she ever find what she was looking for?"
"I'm the rogue here, so I'm the one supposed to be doing the stealing." Rune teases back, sticking her own tongue out in response. Her ear does twitch a little from the sensation, though.
Then, with some measure of confusion and a tilt of her head, the half-sil asks, "I'm... not sure I follow. Leaving who in other's hands? And why would there need to be apologies?" Something is clearly lost in translation.
The comment about her arrival in Am'shere leaves another of those soft laughs and a shake of her head, "It wasn't like that, at least not at first." That same color rises again on her cheeks. "He was... aloof at best. I took it as a personal challenge to get a reaction out of him. We sort of... danced around anything more but neither of us took the chance. And then I died, so... that sort of made things more complicated."
And yet, she still manages to smile slightly, as if there were fond memories pushing away the shadows of that event. "I did." Taking out the necklace that Aelwyn has no doubt seen before, she fidges with it. It is some sort of magical and mechanical contraption, with two pieces seemingly already unlocked. "I found a cave, with strange Makari writing. The phrase unlocked this." She thumbs at one part of the locket's mechanism.
Aelwyn sways his tail up in the air; flicking some water her way. "Tch, then this one hopes he has plenty to steal." The draconian rumbles as he turns around in the water. The glaive is stretched out across his shoulders, and he folds his wrists over it; tilting his body.
"Hmmh, fire burn with me - for the night is lit by flame, and it lights the only path to perfect laugh." The ruddy sith-makar recites with a flash of his teeth, before he then slowly bows his head. "It sounds to this one to be a blessing and a curse, that Twin and Lava have another chance." He rolls his shoulders, gaze momentarily moving past her; somewhere in his past. "Many times one does not."
The trinket though, catches the draconian's interest, and he slowly wades closer. "A cave, with strange makari writing, and she found a necklace?" He leans back. "She traveled all of Am'shere, to find her answers in such a thing?" He slowly lets his lips fall into a grin. "Life does have its odd little paths, does it not?"
Raising one hand to ward off the splashed water, Rune smirks, "Honestly, I don't know that there's much I could. Unless you want to walk around in the buff." With a shake of her head, the half-sil muses, "Then again, the few Makari I've known well weren't modest in the least."
Her head tilts, listening to the strange sort of poetry that runs from the ruddy Sith-Makar. "Why a curse?" She asks, brows raised.
Continuing to perch upon the rock, Rune slips the cord of the necklace off as Aelwyn approaches so he can get a look at it. "I didn't find it in the cave. It was... left to be by my mother when she passed away. She wanted me to have it, and whatever mysteries it lead to."
There is a rueful expression there, "And mysteries I have. One of which I'm hoping to look into while I'm here. The mystery of where exactly the 'golden sands' are, and what the Fey creature known as the Golden Fate has to do with my mother."
Aelwyn just flashes his teeth at her. "This one feels it would do disservice to keep one less modest." Then he growls in amusement, as he leans closer towards. "Besides, this one does carry coin and other intrigue, not just his loincloth."
Leaning back, he keeps eyeing the trinket, rumbling at it. "Hmmh."
Then his eyes look up at her again. "Is it not bittersweet to see one's regret, a missed chance to walk in flesh?" He asks from her in turn. "A blessing, that the chance lingers - a curse, that the past remains." He twists his lip. "Then again, this one supposes it depends on what Twin makes of it?"
His eyes move back towards the contraption, and he tilts his head. "Golden sands." He lets out a ruminating rumble. "This one has seen golden sand as far as one could imagine - in a sun kissed desert." He sways his tail behind, as he begins to ascend out of the creek. "The deserts in this one's trails were endless just like the stories borne out of them, but this one has never heard of a Fey called Golden Fate." He flashes his teeth. "A bit self-aggrandizing, even for Fey, this one thinks."
"Other intrigue?" Rune raises a brow. "I haven't gone pick-pocketing in quite a few years, so don't tempt me too much to pick back up the trade." That hint of laughter remains in her voice.
As for her relationship with the Death-Singer, the half-elf seems to consider the duality of her return, "Maybe. I try not to think about things that way. The way I see it, I was given a second chance and I'm going to try my best to make good on it. Even if that isn't easy sometimes." Her lip quirks, knowing full well that she still struggles with a number of different issues.
Though Rune holds the necklace in a delicate way, as if it were very precious to her, she seems to have no problem sharing it with others who want to appraise the device. "I thought about it being a desert, but I don't think that's it." She shakes her head, "I think it's an hour-glass. I saw one in a vision once, when Mikilos examined the necklace. An hour glass where the sand doesn't move. Like time was standing still."
Aelwyn slides his polearm down his shoulders, behind his back; then his hand slides down his chest. "Tch, what worth is temptation if one does not use it?" He asks playfully, flicking his tongue at her.
Tail swaying behind him with amusement, he slides his glaive back against himself. "Golden sands, still time..." He clicks his tongue then. "Hmmh, see? Magic and fey rarely bring much more than anxiety." He shakes his head. "This one does not envy her mystery. Hmmh."
He clicks his teeth again.
"Perhaps this Golden Fate is trapped in time? So many tales have began that way." Flash of teeth.
"I'll have to keep that in mind." Aelwyn may very well be asking for trouble, there. Encouraging a former thief to delve back into their old ways. Then again, it will likely make for some comedy down the line.
"I've heard that before. Plenty of warnings, both from people I know and trust, as well as from other Fey beings." There is a huff of breath as Rune pulls the necklace back over her head and settles it beneath her clothing again, "I just can't imagine my mother putting me on this path if it was something that she wouldn't have wanted for me. She was... a good person."
There is some uncertainty there in the rogue's gaze as she pushes herself back to her feet and hops down from the rock. "I intend to ask some of the elders here in Am'shere when I have a chance. The fact the necklace lead here... that Mikilos said there was some sort of Draconic connection, maybe they'll have some ideas."
With that, she quirks a brow towards the ruddy Makari. "So, you wanted to see the sky? Race you up to the Ziggurat?" She offers in challenge.
The draconian turns to look at her, perhaps thinking of saying something. In the end, his lips just curl into a smile of sorts. "Eventually it will all become clear." Aelwyn says, moving to put his hand on her shoulder for a moment. "And the curtain shall fall for her first act."
Then he leans back and flashes his sharp teeth, flicking tongue in a teasing fashion in the air. "This one is always up for a challenge, Twin." The Dragoon replies, moving to tighten up his satchel by his hip. "Let us not this time trip and fall." He taps her ankles with his tail and gestures, starting to walk towards the camp.