Yin and Yang

[Talya]

Timestamp: Summer 53, 510 AV Sometimes, I still wonder why he chose me out of a city filled with so many people. When they are so many of them and only one of me... and sometimes, I am left to wonder if the fate that has befallen him would have been any different, had it been one of them and not myself, or if they would have done the same... The day was warm. It always seemed to be, when in Ravok, at least to Talya, courtesy of Rhysol, patron of the city himself, from what the Ethaefal had been told during her time living within the city. Little more than a season, but still enough for her to develop a sort of distant affection for the evil god, and adopt some of the thought processes of the city’s people. The Ethaefal sat atop her apartment building, bearing the clothes of the Chaktawe proudly- her hair tightly braided and interwoven with beads, falling down the middle of her back; her dark eyes sparkling within the sun’s light, as her shorter furs cascaded and folded over her skin. As here, no one could see her unless they came out and onto the roof. Yet as she looked up at the sky, and begin to find her own sense of peace, time passed, and passed, only to be broken when a figure approached. It was a man wearing black robes, who looked as though he could have been some sort of priest or acolyte. He had olive colored flesh, with bright green eyes, and thinning brown hair, and smiled weakly at Talya as he drew near. "Mind if I join you?" the man asked as he stopped before her. Talya shook her head. "Great," he replied, as he took a seat beside her, and made himself comfortable before giving her the one-over. “You must be new around here. I don't think I've seen you before." Tal nodded absently. "Then why don't I show you around here, and tell you of our lord Rhysol?” Not wanting to pass up the opportunity to learn more about the god and his great city, in an attempt to fit in among other things, Talya decided to take the man up on his offer. “Ok,” she said. “Splendid,” the man replied, as he and the Ethaefal rose and he placed his right arm around her back, hugging her to him before he proceeded to lead them both away. Marching across the roof and into the building as though he had no other care in the world. “Now tell me my dear…” “Talya,” the Ethaefal offered. “Talya, just what you know of our lord Rhysol,” the stranger began. “Only what I have heard tell from the other Ravokians,” Talya explained, as she searched her mind for their exact words so that she may repeat them to the priest. “That he is the god of chaos, betrayal, and lies. That he is seen as an evil figure by those outside of Ravok; but, those within its confines know the truth. Know that they are misguided, as he is a pleasant god, who bars them from the worst.” The stranger nodded, as he finally introduced himself as Reik, and apologized for not having done so sooner. “What do you know of the other gods, if anything?” Reik inquired. “I know very little of the other gods,” Talya explained. Only a little of Leth, and of Tanroa, who appointed him.” “What is it that you know of them?” Reik asked. “That Leth is the god of the moon, and in love with Syna, although I doubt they have embraced in quite some time, let alone truly seen each other,” Talya responded. “And that Tanroa appointed them both, and is goddess of time.” “That’s a good start, but do you know of any of the others?” he asked, for there are more. Talya shook her head, and silently wondered why he was asking, and kept on probing, although she said nothing to this effect. “That’s alright,” Reik said, as he pat Talya on the back. “One day, I can tell them of you too, if you’d like.” “Ok,” Talya nodded. “But first, Rhysol,” Reik began as he led Talya around a corner and into another portion of the building, where they more or less, found themselves to be entirely alone. “As you have already said, he is the god of evil and betrayal.” He paused. “But you have failed to mention that the other gods despise him. That he is known as a god who longs for as much power as he can attain. His personality is considered to be both twisted and unpredictable.” “In a nutshell- his people, the Black Sun, and Ebonstryfe specifically, embody his traits, and this is said to please him,” Reik explained, as they came to a stop in the center of the hallway, and stood conspiratorially together. Reik held up a finger. “Now, you must have discerned that the goddess Priskil is the embodiment of everything he is not, one of his many opponents, his opposite.” Talya nodded. “She is the goddess of radiance and hope, and unlike Rhysol, is known for her calm, and melancholia.” “Ok,” Talya replied, unsure as to why he was mentioning her, as no one within Ravok ever seemed to. “Priskil is known as a quiet goddess, and lover of Aquiras. Another god,” Reik went on to explain. “While Rhysol has his Voice, their relationship is not considered to be the same as theirs once was, when the god of doors was well.” “No two relationships are exactly alike, I fear,” Talya replied. Reik chuckled, “perhaps you are right,” he said simply with a sigh, as he glanced up at the sky, and realized the sun was beginning to descend. “I must go now, but if you wish to hear more, answer the door when I knock thrice at your quarters, in two day’s time, at the same time as this,” Reik said. Talya nodded. *** Two days passed, and Talya ran to answer the door when she heard the three knocks. “So you have agreed to learn more of the gods,” he said, causing Talya to nod. “I am not surprised, as you seemed lost within the city. Unfamiliar with its people and its ways; an outsider, who has yet to grasp the meaning of that which lies right before her.” “Perhaps,” Talya responded. “I trust you have come in order to familiarize yourself; with a willingness to learn,” Reik continued, as he stepped inside, and Tal shut the door behind him. Talya nodded. “Very well, then I must ask you a question,” Reik began. “Ok.” “What makes someone good, and what makes someone bad?” Reik asked. A most curious question, Talya thought to herself as her brow furrowed, but she didn’t question why it was posed. Instead, she stood in silence for a moment, pondering. Trying to wrap her mind around the proper words to describe what the first two meant to her. “Someone who is bad, is an evil person. And someone who is good is a nice person,” Talya replied, as she nibbled her lower lip. Reik chuckled. “You have just defined two words, with those that mean essentially the same thing.” “Did I?” Reik nodded. “Please think on it some more, and I'll come back tomorrow when you have an answer. I will be awaiting it anxiously.” *** “Have you arrived at an answer?” Reik asked, the following day. “Yes,” Talya responded. “One who is good seeks to help others. They are pure, and do things because they are selfless, to benefit more than themselves.” Reik smiled. “And one who is evil?” he asked. “An evil person is self-seeking. They think not of others, and cares not what happens to them. They care not if they hurt them, or lead to their ruin. They are twisted and dark,” Talya answered. “Splendid, that is quite the start!” Reik exclaimed. “Now Talya, have you ever seen someone perform either an act of good or evil?” he asked. Talya thought about it a moment before responding. “I think so- I thought I saw someone steal some fruit from a street peddler the other day, and well, a nice man saved me from drowning once.” Reik’s eyes sparkled when he realized his student would say no more. “And what of the gods?” Reik asked. “What of them?” “Have you ever seen them perform a good or an evil deed?” Talya shook her head. “I have never seen the gods.” “I am not surprised, as they don’t come to visit many, or seem to walk upon this earth for long,” Reik said, before falling silent for a few minutes, and then telling Talya he'd come to see her in another five days, as he had some most important things to attend to. *** Once again, Talya found herself compelled to talk to Reik, although she knew not why, and let him in again the fifth day. “So again you will learn,” he said, to which the girl said nothing, before he dove into a brief list of some of the world’s gods and goddesses. Their names, what they resided over. Morwen. Sylir. Akajia. Avalis. “Do you know what any of them have done?” Reik asked. “What do you mean?” Talya asked. “Any of their actions as gods. Things that made them good or evil- things they have gifted their followers with,” Reik replied, calmly. Talya shook her head. “For example, Avalis is known to gift some of the Konti people especially with divination- a mark, which allows them first to peer into the past, then the present, and finally, the future. Morwen gifts her people, the Vantha, with an ability, which allows them to resist the cold more than others, and carve ice to varying degrees,” Reik explained before pausing. “Rhysol grants marks to bring chaos, Priskil, hope. The others, things that work within their power; their domain.” “That makes sense,” Talya replied. “Naturally,” Reik said, “but these are the least of their acts. For example, Rhysol is said to have stirred the sense of betrayal within Emperor Suva’s heart, leading him to find his wife’s lustful transgressions, which eventually led to the Valterrain.” “Is that why he is viewed as the evil god?” Talya asked. Reik thought about it for a moment. “Most likely, I imagine.” “Then what of Priskil, for example?” Talya asked. Reik blinked a few times, as though confused by the question. “What do you mean?” “Well,” Talya began, “if it has been suggested that Rhysol began the Valterrain, then what has Priskil done to prove that she is good? Why not name some other god or goddess in her place? Why not Morwen, or Akajia?” Of course, Talya didn’t yet know what the Valterrain was, but she wasn’t about to let on. Although, she supposed it was a bad thing, judging by how Reik framed his questions and responses. Reik appeared as though he were shocked. “Because one is of the snow, and the other of shadows.” Talya nodded. “But that doesn’t answer my question,” and Reik never did before he went away for the day, to return on the morrow. *** For several days, which then turned into weeks, the pair met in either Reik's apartment or Talya's to discuss the gods. At times, they would speak of the others, but without fail, they’d always return to Rhysol and Priskil. Having had built up his trust in her, one day Reik revealed that he grew up in Syliras. That he followed Priskil and some of the lighter gods, and came to Ravok to try and convert those who could be- namely people who seemed to be outsiders, such as Talya herself. Talya’s face fell. She wasn’t quite sure how she felt. It wasn’t surprise exactly. Just confusion, as that wasn’t something you simply mentioned to anyone, at least not in Ravok, since you never knew who was listening in on your conversations. Even so, she had made a friend in Reik, found herself enjoying their intellectual conversations. Found herself appreciating how an outsider had reached out to another, such as herself. But even so… she wasn’t sure why Reik had admitted so much, until he began to ware on, as he noticed the confusion held within her eyes. “I wanted to know if you would leave Ravok now,” Reik explained. “I could go with you, if you’d like, and you could devote your life to Priskil, same as me.” Talya thought about it. Honestly thought, for she wasn’t quite sure what to do. “Let her goodness envelop you,” Reik continued, “as I have shown you the true way.” Talya nodded, although, when she thought about it, she felt only as though Priskil was good in name. For Reik had shown her nothing, and accused Rhysol of something he could never confirm, as she had learned in their latter conversations, that the Valterrain had occurred long before anyone alive was born. Reik smiled as Talya nodded. “Good,” he said, “come prepared tomorrow to depart. I can give you a marked map to lead your way if you wish to go alone, or if you want me as a companion, we can set off together, immediately.” Talya nodded again, before leaving for the day. *** That night, Talya could scarcely sleep as her mind churned with the ideas she had been taught before meeting Reik, and after. The notion that Rhysol was good, and Priskil, somehow also good. The thought that Rhysol was evil, and Priskil for whatever reason, still good. The notion that it was all a lie and neither were good. The thought that maybe Priskil herself just got lucky with a name but was really evil. Finally, after a fitful few hours, Talya rose early and packed, before reaching her final decision, choosing in the end, based on the lack of evidence presented to her on the contrary. Talya paid a visit, begged secrecy and shadows. The next day when he visited another, Reik seemed far too happy to see her; his eyes sparkling and radiant, his smile stretching from ear to ear. “Good morning,” Reik called to her. “Morning,” Talya called back as he approached and she gave Reik a hug, as she fought back tears. “Goodbye,” Talya whispered, as the two guards emerged from the shadows, on either end of her apartment. Realization began to cloud Reik’s face as a sinking sensation set into Talya’s stomach, causing her to begin to wonder if she’d regret this later, despite everything. Doing what she knew was good. Reik didn’t move. In fact he seemed to freeze as the guards reached him, and began to drag him away for a round of torture and questioning. Talya watched silently as they went, before sinking to the floor in despair. And even now I realize, I had never thought to ask how he knew to find me. How strange it seems that it appears as though he merely gravitated toward me, like a moon around its sun.

[Elias Caldera]

Behold, Your Just Reward!

Talya

Experience and Lore :

Skills

• Socialization +2
• Philosophy +2
• Observation +2

Lores

• The Ambiguity of Good and Evil
• Priskil: Goddess of Hope
• Priskil: Lover of Aquiras
• Gods: Capable of Blessing Their Followers
• The Pain of Betrayal

Miscellaneous :

Injuries

• None

Loot and Expenses

• None

Comments :

A good read and some interesting insight into Talya's mind and origins.

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