White and Gold

Log Info

• Title: White and Gold
• Emitter: Cryosanthia
• Characters: Cryosanthia, Galidor
• Place: W02: Mictlan
• Time: Thursday, November 11, 2021, 10:26 PM
• Summary: Cryosanthia is doing some exercises, working on her flexibility and determining her limitations when Galidor comes by. Lily is working on some sort of artifice device, which turns out to be an expanding metal donut which she terms a portable nest. Cryo is happy to see the goldscale and catches him up on recent events, largely within Alexandria. They talk briefly about magic, finding they both learn-by-doing more than academic study. They also compare titles. Galidor has a tremendous amount, while Cryo admits she's only used one, 'Speaker of the Sith'Makar', and the other things she's been called have been applied by others and were usually negative. She shows off and explains how she got her Deed Mark, which didn't come with a title but is impressive none-the less. Galidor offers to help her out, and to check in with Seyardu at the temples in case the silverscale needs assistance.

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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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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-  Appearing, in Order -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Cryosanthia  6'9"     291 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A dashingly tall, gravid white-scaled lizard woman.
Galidor      6'9"     265 Lb     Sith-Makar        Male      Sith-makar with golden claws.
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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  NPCs of Note  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Little Fang 'Lily'               Kobold            Female    A pinkscale youngling in a leather dress, Cryo's daughter.
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Mictlan

The temperate clime of Alexandros is changing, heading into winter. The effects of autumn are not felt within the Sith'Makar sanctuary. The barriers of the magic more clearly obvious as the trees outside the warmth and regulation turn, while the others inside continue believing it is Endless Summer.

A white scale sith'makar woman, who has had a different experience with an endless season, is using the Speaker-Caste training areas for some exercise. Tests of her flexibility, energy and balance go well, although she is slowed a little bit.

Nearby, on a blanket a little carnation-scaled youngling has a bunch of nuts, bolts, and plates spread out on an unfolded sheet of paper. She's intent on assembling... something.

Galidor comes walking in from one of the paths that leads from the outside to the protected area of Mictlan. He ahs as he feels the warmth and he takes off the scarf he was wearing around his neck. He carefully folds it up and puts it into the pack that he often has with him. He casts prestidigitation on himself and his robes become cleaner and his scales shine a bit more in the light. Galidor takes out a small mirror to look himself over and satisfied with what he sees, puts it away before he continues on with his journey. He comes to the speaker area and spots Cryosanthia and Lily, "Peace upon your nests!" He says in his loud exuberant voice.

Cryosanthia springs out of a cartwheel. She's dressed down for Mictlan, wearing only a breech cloth, which shows off the many patterns of pale blue scales on her otherwise white hide. She's also approaching her nesting time. "Galidor! Oh... oh wow, you gleam. Peace on your nest!"

Lily looks up, adds her own, "Peassce on your nessta," and waves a screwdriver.

The whitescale approaches, tail high in counterbalance, moving sinuously from side to side, "It has been some time! You look fantastic!" She stares at her reflection in some of his wider scales, herself as a golden one. She sighs.

Galidor waves back to Lily and he bows his head respectfully to Cryosanthia, "Thank you, it has been some time. You look absolutely radiant. I just cheated a bit with a prestidigitation spell to clean myself up. That cartwheel of your's was amazing. I'm sure if I tried something like that I'd be eating dirt."

The whitescale glows a little brighter, if that's possible. She smells casual and relaxed, and just a bit of exertion, "This one loves to dance and I want to keep moving. I never learned that spell, I do have gloves that let me cast it and I use it all the time."

She looks over her shoulder. She doesn't seem to be wearing the gloves at the moment, "It's always a challenge in Mictlan, to get back to our roots. I'm so used to the magic items and the convenience."

Lily returns to constructing... whatever it is she's constructing. It appears round.

"It's one of the more handy cantrips to have, it's very versatile. Understandable, you move very well. I only have a couple, my cloak and headband and I prefer to keep them on me." Galidor comments, "It is nice to be out here though, sometimes if I stay in the city too long I feel like the walls are going to close around me and I just need to get into some wide open spaces." He looks to what Lily is constructing, "What are you making there Lily?"

"Isss a folding nessst, for Ssassa." The little pink Kobold says, holding up what looks like a half-donut. She pulls on the edges and the construct unfolds into a much larger half circle with a very airy and wirey frame. "In cassse movesss."

Cryo snorts a little, sounding both pleased and amused, "We won't be running from Mictlan, Lily. The people are here, the people are not moving."

Looking to Galidor, she adds, "This one knows what you mean. I have found the city and indoors very comforting. In a way the stone buildings remind me of the ziggurats in Am'shere. This one is a little saddened we only construct tents and temporary structures."

She straightens, with little clothes there is nothing for her hands to fiddle with. She runs her fingernails over her claws, lets her arms hang, then folds them. "This one has her magic stuff hiding in a Rope Trick room."

Galidor ahs a little bit, "Very good to have, I'm always amazed at what artifice can do. I hope there is never any reason to leave Mictlan and it says a safe haven for all sith-makars and our allies. "Sounds like they'll be safe and sound. I know of the spell, but it's not one of the spells that I know."

"It's not the safest extra-dimensional space, there's no easy way to keep anyone out besides asking nicely, but it is protective and not immediately obvious." Cryo explains, drifting over to stand beside Lily. Her kobold youngling collapses the portable nest and hunches over it, adding more armatures. "That is very creative, Little Fang."

"Thansss." The pinkscale says.

Cryo bobs her head once more, shifting all her weight onto one hip, "I've studied a little artifice, mostly to keep up with Lily. It's all... intimidating, and the legacy of the Kulthians is difficult to ... endure. It's a thing. A concern."

"This one has news, of certain things, do you have any?"

Galidor nods his head in agreement, "It is that and what you are making Lily is quite interesting." He hmms, "The little I know of the Kulthians I'd have to agree it was a dark time and it's legacy continues to have ramifications today. I'm afraid I don't really have any news, I've spent move of my time attending lectures at the Society for Progressive Arcanists." Lily looks up at the mention of lectures, "What'sss aboutss?"

Cryo likewise tilts her head, gazing at her youngling. The edges of her mouth curl, "let this one catch him up, then he can answer that."

Big inhale, "The Temples are conducting some sort of ritual, and require the assistance of their faithful to gather items. Hopefully, this is to purge the city of demonic influence. They have already started pursuing minor fiends that they're aware of. Of course, we will all be glad when the latest one is gone."

"There have been unusual events, the spooky season wasn't as busy as last year, but there were some living costumes, dopplegangers or some creature, impersonating others. Also, the Quill's Repose saw a few magical occurrences. There was an artificer who made a flesh construct in her basement, and another who seems to be involved with a dispute with followers of Dana."

"Oh, and werewolves. There were werewolves in the streets, and bodies which suggested some vampires were back. I think that's about everything." She shrugs a little, "The Explorer's Guild got strict about adventurers also being their staff, and well... I was going to be busy anyhow, so I'm not filling reports there anymore."

"Magic. The more I know the better I can direct my magic to express certain spells. Sort of like monkey see monkey do." He explains quickly and he listens attentively to Cryosanthia, "Wow that's a lot going on. If I can help in any way I'll be happy too. I've picked up bolts of both the cold iron and silver variety so I'm ready to help on that front. Seems like I'm missing all the fun." Galidor comments.

"Oh! Thank you. This one might need a few more things from Am'shere, just on the other side of the portal." Cryo says, "I believe you've met Seyardu? She's with the Temple of the Nest Mother to the Stars, she would know what they need."

"I actually learn spells that way too. Once I've seen it done, I try copying it and sometimes it works." She shrugs a little, her tail swaying and ticking behind her, to maintain her balance. "There is a lot, this one is feeling left out a little too, but I have my own tasks."

"Somehow I have to squeeze in a diplomatic mission to go see some Raven Egalrin who are very isolationist."

"You are welcome, if you need me to go get them. I believe that I have met her before. I'll go see her then to fetch what you need, just write them down so I can give her the list." Galidor grins, "Well you are a speaker which is close to a shaman, I figured you'd understand. I tried explaining it to Glasha, who's a wizard and she thought that I was touched in the head." He chuckles.

Cryosanthia laughs, "Oh, the oruch wizard blacksmith? This one knows her. She took a look at this one and said I was a construct because of the way my magic flowed." The whitescale shakes her head. "The Mistress was very neat in her re-arranging, but she only adjusted, she didn't make me."

She nods a little more, "And I do understand, the way the bards weave the hymn into their work, and the flow of Mana, and ... yes. Exactly, as you say."

"Seyardu is at the Wilderness Pointe in, this one hasn't seen her in Mictlan, but if I encounter her, I will send her your way."

Galidor nods, "Yes that is the one with her familiar Luna. She was very taken with my scales." He ahs and nods, "Well if you see her before I do you can tell her youself what you need, unless I'm getting confused, I get that way sometimes. I thought you meant that she was at the temple, but I misunderstood, she's from the temple."

"Yes. Seyardu is Shaman-caste and works with the Temple in Alexandria, and I remember the Raven, Luna, yes. It has been some time." Cryo smiles, "There is another, Pothy, an albino raven, belonging to Ravenstongue. They're both delightful."

"Your scales are very nice." The whitescale admits.

"Ssassa enviess." Lily says without looking up, and nearly finished with her construct.

Cryo swishes her tail, shrugging a little, "This one is impressed with all metallics. I am meticulous with my hide but some scales are nicer than others. Still, I am happy with how I look."

Not that she's inviting compliments, but she is.

"I will remember that when I head back and make sure she gets the list. Thank you. She has nothing to be envious of, Cryosanthia's scales are lovely, like freshly fallen snow, which I didn't know was a thing until I came to this city but it is very lovely to look at. I've never tried to make a big deal about my scales because they aren't anything I can control. Sure I can clean them, but there are other traits that mean so much more than scale color. Like how athletic or how smart or well spoken a person is. Or if you can shoot a bow with unfailing accuracy or create a song and dance that no one has ever seen before. Scales are only the outside, it's the inside, what a person's dream and goals are, what they are striving to do and become that are much more interesting to me." Galidor says.

Cryosanthia laughs, "That is quite flattering and true. This one can do most of those things, except use a bow. I do hope to get a dagger I can throw extra far one day. Oh! I have an amazing silver scrying bowl, I've been using it to check on my friends."

Her tail sways, "Galidor has done a lot of impressive things Lily, he's good to know. He has an amazing list of titles."

The pinkscale looks up, between the two adults.

Galidor says, "I have, but not as amazing as the things you've done I'm sure. I've only heard of the spell of scrying, it's very impressive that you can cast a spell at that level. I'm sure I'll get there one day, just have to keep practicing." Galidor says and he smiles at Lily, "For you see I am Galidor Goldenclaws, Sorcerer of the Second Circle, Scion of the Great Gold Dragons, in service to the Silver Empress, the Destroyer of Smaller Demons, the trolls know me as Andivar the Acid Splasher, the undead know me as the Davin the Disrupter, the plants known me as the Petrocov the Pruner, and the spiders know me as the Mikal the Missiler.""

"Galidorss Goldenclawss," Lily repeats, successfully and happy, and then attempts the next title, "Ssorrsserersss of the ssecondss Ssirrssslss ssionsss sssss..." her sibilation degenerates into a lot of hissing, which she is expert at, being a reptile. She skips to the end, "Mikssoss the Missslesss!"

Cryo laughs, "This would would have a challenge making the introductions if there were more than one like you present. It is a great set of titles. Mine I fear would be, shares too much and not enough, or hesitates under pressure."

She's once again limited by not having enough clothing for her hands to do things with. There's only so many times the loin-cloth string needs tugging. She settles for resting her hands on her hips and making a slight dance-pose.

Galidor listens to his titles repeated back to him. "That's really good Lily." He laughs a bit, "Perhaps, but we'd be able to gauge each others talents pretty well. I would love to hear the titles that you've earned or given yourself. I doubt you'd hesitate, you certainly don't while dancing."

"This one has only used 'Speaker of the Sith'Makar'," Cryosanthia says, straightening up a little. She looks over herself, at her scale-patterns that hint of long lost ancestors, earlier lizard folk, the common ancestor of all the children of the flame, even dragons. "Some have been given, which I do not use, as they were of ownership."

"I've not thought to list my deeds. They seem ... small, most of them. Well there is one." She curls her tail across her forearms until her tailtip is easy to grasp. Turn to show off the underside scutes, she reveals a marking. Three interlocked circles, one brilliant white, the second silvery-blue, and the third a pale turquise-green-blue.

"I got this one for... acting, and talking, and attacking. It was pretty unbelievable. I helped push back a great demon into the void, and we did it with a bit of a play." She grins.

"Well that's quite a title to have." Galidor ahs, "Yes I wouldn't use those." He leans in to look at the marking on the tail, "That's an amazing mark, did you get that done yourself?" He asks and he listens to the short version of the tale, "Amazing. You used a play to help push the great demon back into the void."

The whitescale nods, "we pretended we were the gods, reenacting the great seal of the void. We were in a place, outside of Ea, where their attention and intervention might be more likely. We didn't have all the gods, only some were followers of Animus and there were none of Daeus, but Eluna is close and this one... was convincing as Maugrim."

"The idea was to try and frighten the demon back... but it turned into ... actually making a seal and being able to injure it. I felt Eluna's light. We all attacked." Cryo squeezes her tail-tip, her fingers sliding over the scales, "I only landed blows with my tail and wing. The markings appeared after. This one is told it's a form of divine blessing, recognition. They marked us for our actions on their behalf."

She touches each circle, "Ceinara, Eluna, Maugrim. The others have similar marks, slightly different. A great warrior, Karelin, he has a red ring for Kor instead of Ceinara. Everyone else's Maugrim ring is black."

She grins, "So it was a play. A very realistic and convincing one."

Galidor leans in to listen more as the story unfolds, "That's incredible. It sounds like an amazing adventure. That's just as incredible getting marked by the gods. I wish I could hear more, but unfortunately I'm a bit late to meet with one of the Shamans. It was good to see you both again Cryosanthia and Lily."

"Of course! This one hopes the meeting goes well. Peace on your nest." Cryosanthia curtsys in a way that would make more sense with a dress, or skirt. It's an odd sort of flourish otherwise. She stands and watches as the Goldscale departs, checks on her youngling and returns to doing some careful stretches.

Inspirational Art
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/44369509/