Quest A Fireside Chat

[Prophet]

58th of Spring
An Unknown Bell; Late

Zoot yawned. All of the big people had moved about their business and simply resigned themselves to watching him from a distance. That was ok. The little person moved about on his own quite well and wanted some of his things. These people weren’t too far from his camp but he wanted to see how they lived so he would make the compromise and visit with them. Zoot toddled off into the shadows. What none would suspect is that he didn’t need light to see where he had been. The stars in his eyes allowed him to trace his own path and even separate his trail from the human who carried him. It was a fascinating ability and he longed to share the story of it with someone. Maybe they could teach him a thing or two.

After about twenty chimes, Zoot made it over to his sleeping area. He had a few items that would be useful and filled his little arms with all he could carry. There was his knife, his own striker kit which was much smaller than any they would ever see, a piece of wood that he used as a seat, a small sketching pen and a piece of parchment that had been folded in such a way that it acted as a notepad for the tiny creature. Shuffling as he went, the Pycon made his way back towards them singing in his shrill voice the tune of a Pycon marching song. It was something his mother had taught him and it had guided him through the wilderness for many, many years. After another quarter of a bell, Zoot arrived back where the humans were all nestled in for a rest.

One might call it night but there was no way to ell night from day in this place. He dropped his belongings and went about making a place for himself off to the right of everyone. He set his chair up just how he likes it, laid out his pen and pad next to him and put the striker kit in front of his seat. Zoot got up and rolled one of the orbs over until it was a few feet from his seat. Finally, he used his knife to scrape some of the sediment from the edge where the humans had been lifted from the water. Once he had a handful, he would eat it. After about ten of these bites, the wee man felt satisfied enough to take his place with his things. Zoot cut open the orb and then used his striker to light it. The fire flared and then burned down much lower. He was intentional when he only cut a two inch hole in the top. He climbed into his seat and began to sketch things in his pad by the light of his fire while whistling that same tune. He yearned for company but would never ask any to give up sleep for his benefit. These were obviously important people and he had no right to ask them to appease his whimsical nature.

Luminous Orb :

Are you ready to learn your fate?

A Firenze Template

[Jasmine Stormblood]

Jasmine continued to cough some time after the group had been pulled from the water. She swore to Syna never to go near water again unless it was unavoidable. Which meant water and a bath was all the woman would go for.

"I swear to Syna the only reason I will go near water again is to drink from the shore," Jasmine growled at the water.

First the pirate raid now this craziness, it was enough to drive a girl insane. Jasmine looked over at the small creature that had showed them how to use the strange orbs. Slowly the woman got up and walked over to the small pycon. She had become very curious about what the little creature had to teach them. Jasmine grabbed one of the orbs gently from the water and walked back to where she had decided to stay for the evening. She opened her pack and managed to find her dagger. Slowly the woman cut a small hole into the orb looking inside amazed she grabbed her flint and steel. Hopefully they were no too wet to get a good strike. After several chimes the woman found the strength in her arms starting to give out. Thinking Jasmine decided to kill two birds with one arrow.

"Would you mind if I join you?" Jasmine asked gently walking over to the small pycon, "I'm afraid my flint is too wet to get any sparks. May we speak while it dries?"

The Clan is Strength.
The Clan is Life.

[Amunet]

She had stayed by the initial fire for some time before she moved to get her pack and supplies from Taggert and Sparrow. It took her some time to get the supplies spread out to dry. The way she packed in tight kits helped as some things were not totally soaked. The red headed healer had taken her boots off to let them dry. The cloak and her first layer of her top was also set out to dry. Some of the people had chosen to sleep and well she understood that. Despite the tiredness she should feel, the red head couldn’t sleep.

Amunet had noticed the little clay guy, a pycon it was revealed, Zoot, disappeared. Sometime while she was setting things out to dry she saw Zoot settle back with them over to the side. She took the ground meat and fat with water over towards the little guy and his fire. She stopped politely and looked at the creature as she smiled politely.

“Hello, Zoot was it? “ The girl said with her soft gentle voice. “You mind company.” Her common was fair but not great. She waited for an acknowledgement as she sat down near his fire. Her camisole showing very fair flawless skin. The girl was not as heavily tattooed, In fact she had no tattoos aside from the opalescent mark on the right side of her face. The girl looked into what could be construed as eyes as the gold dust star bursts in her eyes met the star pattern of the Pycon. The Healer thought it might be familiar as she narrowed her eyes briefly to him.

“I couldn’t sleep, I hope you don’t mind. “ The circumstances were frightening enough as she needed more time to settle before she would rest. The girl used her dagger to cut a little bit of the meat and fat combination and offered it to the Pycon. “Did you need food, eat? Water maybe? “ In truth she had no idea what he was made of. That in itself was also curious if not the pattern in his eyes. “I not met Pycon, before.” She admitted as she kept her voice soft and low so others could rest.

Jasmine had joined as she looked at the blonde. “Oh, I’m sorry did I wake you?” She said as she looked contrite and concerned as she didn’t wish for her inability to sleep to pass on to someone else. The girl then offered some of her preserved meat to Jasmine. “Need food, eat?” The girl kept to common.

[Waisana]

Sleep had been attempted but it had eluded her. The teen was still too wet to be able to drift off, a chill taking hold of her body despite her close proximity to the fire. She had stripped off as many layers as she could with her back to the group--mainly thinking about the men--before covering herself with her damp undergarments for the sake of modesty as she lay on the ground. The clothes that she'd stripped off were placed by the fireside so that at least they would dry. Lying in her undergarments was by no means a good way to dry them, but she couldn't very well lie around the place naked! She wasn't a savage! However, sleep remained distant and sleeping in damp clothes was probably a bad idea anyway so the doctor chose to rise after awhile.

Waisana hugged her knees, huddled in upon herself by the crackling flames as she forwent her drying clothes for now. It didn't matter that she was shivering. She needed to get everything else dry because it would work out better in the long run. That being said, she did wish that she had some company but the others had drifted away to do their own thing. Even the curious little creature who'd joined them had wandered away and he--she assumed that it was a male and thus "he" applied--was nowhere to be seen. Instead, she was simply left alone to stare in to the flames that sprang from the strange luminous pods to which Zoot had introduced them. The dance of the flames was beautifully hypnotic and her eyes glazed over a little as she stared in to them.

The girl must have dozed off because the next thing she knew, she was aware of an ache that seemed to almost be within her bones. She was still too cold and wet. She shifted around in an attempt to get warm blood circulating and when she turned her head, she was surprised to see that a little group had gathered not far from where she sat. That seemed to prove that she had dozed for she had not noticed them gathering at all. Squinting to get a look at those around a new, lit orb, the Drykas doctor could make out the silhouette of the small clay figure, Zoot. Her curiosity getting the better of her, she slipped on her warmed clothes, although they might still be a little damp, and approached them. As she drew nearer, she recognised Amunet and the bouncy blonde, realising that they had chosen to join the stranger too. She signed a hello before remembering that Zoot would not understand and so she made a mental switch to Common for his sake. Blushing invisibly in the dim light, she drew close enough to speak quietly to them so as not to disturb the others who might want to sleep.

"Hello! I saw fire. I'm wet, cannot sleep. Can I join? Company would be nice. Cannot talk to..." She waved back in the direction of the others, trying to indicate the Watchmen but inadvertently highlighting the other women as well. The teen realised it and bit her lip as she sought the words to remedy her mistake, trying, and possibly failing, not to dig herself into a bigger hole.

"Cannot talk to men. They are angry, not talk. The woman with black eyes is stranger. Cannot speak our language. Like you but... scared," she explained. Waisana bit her lip, clasping her hands in front of her, head bent sheepishly. She had let her tongue run away with her a bit. This man-thing was a stranger and she must sound like a silly little girl. She certainly felt like one with the way she was trying to justify herself. The doctor was an adult! She shouldn't be acting like this but the little man made her nervous; she didn't know what to make of him. She waited to see how the others would react and whether or not Zoot would allow her to sit with him. If he had allowed the others space at his fireside then surely he wouldn't deny the same to her.

[Merevaika]

Merevaika spend most of the time clinging to her quiver, smiling at the power it gave her. Her clothes stuck to her, wet, but Merevaika still wore them, only removing her boots to dry. Some slept, drying their supplies, but this Drykas couldn't, knowing that there was little to dry and also because of the small pycon creature that fascinated her. Her eyes watched the creature, a strange clay skin that didn't seem natural. His eyes were too large, with prominent swirling stars in them. The way he moved in the darkness, too, surely someone with normal sight couldn't do that.

He had what she had. It had to be true.

People moved to talk to him - Jasmine and Amunet and the blonde. Merevaika watched them carefully, eyes trained on Zoot most of the time as he cut open one of the luminous orbs. He knew how to survive down here. It made her wonder, why did he spend so much time underground, to be able to recognise the orbs and be able to use them? Surely above ground, it was safer. More food, more water, more people. Yet somehow, the pycon seemed to find this place natural. Like the pale scarred man.

Her eyes flitted over to the sleeping shapes, landing on Aris who had taken a few chimes of rest. If she wanted to, this was her chance to escape. The few that were awake didn't seem like they could stop her if they wanted to, and the majority slept soundly. If she wanted, she could sneak away or run away, make her departure known or not, and still disappear into the shadows, but what then? She didn't know the way out.

The pycon did. Picking herself up, she took the quiver and bow, then, catching sight of the glint of metal in her boot, took the dagger as well, slipping it in her belt. She moved over carefully, stepping around a sleeping body to reach where the small group sat, quietly conversing.

Without asking, she settled beside the blonde haired teen, not even sparing a look towards her. Green eyes with red sunbursts stared at the pycon's own, waiting for the blonde to finish speaking. Then she began, speaking Common as she had been told to. "Your eyes," she began, gesturing towards them before landing on her own, "Like my eyes." While what she said was a statement, Merevaika stopped, waiting for an answer or confirmation. That was all she would say, for now, anyway.

[Prophet]

Zoot watched with a thirty observation soaking up all that he could. He watched how each individual went about sorting his affairs and seeing to her gear in his or her own way and found it fascinating. To a Pycon, humans looked primarily the same. The differences were subtle things like size, hair and skin color but that was about it. Pycons are unique creatures that have their lives shaped by the things around them. It’s entirely possible that two Pycon could meet and interact then go their separate ways only to meet again several years later and not recognize the other. That’s just the way of things.

When the first human came up and asked if she could talk, Zoot hopped up from his seat and nodded his big head vigorously. “Of course you can join me! That would be wonderful. My name is Zoot what’s your name? You’re tall. Are all women in your tribe tall like you? The dark one is taller than you. Is that because her people are taller than yours?” Zoot paused. “I’m sorry, I babble sometimes. What would you like to talk about?” He was about to prattle on when the redhead joined. She was smaller but held similar features to the first one. “Yes, yes! I am Zoot. Come and join us, lassie.” Zoot paused again and gave the humans some time to interact with one another. It seemed there was some kind of protocol to follow when it came to such a thing.

Once more, Zoot’s happy speech was interrupted by a newcomer. It was not something he minded so much as he was hoping he wouldn’t forget what he had intended to say. This one spoke slower Common and it was something that gave him pause. He had to focus to make sure he put the sentences together properly. His starry eyes followed the hands of the younger female. He assumed she was younger at least by the smoothness of her skin and the innocence in her eyes. He then moved his gaze to the woman with black eyes. He had seen others like her in his life but it had been some time and far south of where he was now. He almost missed the fourth arrival to his fire and when he looked back, this woman was intently gazing upon him and mentioned something about his eyes and her eyes. It was then that he realized there was another with the bursting gaze…the redhed!

“My, my, my, I feel so blessed to be here and how you all fell into my lap why it’s so amazng and now you have the same eyes, too! Do you guys see paths? I’ve been seeing them for years but I can’t follow them under the water. That’s why I’m down here, you see. I heard a rumor about caves like this and I thought to myself, Zoot…Zoot, there has to be life in those caves. You should find it and become famous…maybe they’ll even worship you like a god.” He paused and looked around with a weird grin on his face…though it might just be his normal smile. “I’m sorry, I’m babbling again. What are your names, lovelies?”

Are you ready to learn your fate?

A Firenze Template

[Jasmine Stormblood]

Jasmine giggled as he spoke quickly. She looked over at the red head gently happy to see that she was not the only one awake when most everyone should be asleep.

"No, I'm afraid being cold, wet, and injured is preventing me from sleeping," Jasmine said, "and to answer your question Zoot. Yes, there are some women just as tall as I. Like Ixzo there are many who are taller as well. A majority of the men are taller than the females in our community. Then there are some like Amunet who are just a little short than I."

Jasmine looked over when the other blonde arrived and sat down with the group. She signed her greetings and let the newcomer voice her questions to their newest member of the group. Surprised the blond looked over once more hearing another of the group plop down. It was Merevaika; she seemed to ignore the rest of the group and starting talking to Zoot directly. She mentioned something about her eyes and his. Jasmine looked and saw the same stars in hers as was in the small ones. He quickly turned to look at Amunet as well. Confused the woman turned and saw the same eyes as the other two and the same eyes as Azmere back home. Jasmine listened to the man as he spoke of trails and the water behind them. About how he could not follow the trails within.

"If I might ask, Zoot. What are the stars?" Jasmine asked very confused about how so many she knew had them, "Oh beg your pardon friend. My name is Jasmine Moonstone."

The Clan is Strength.
The Clan is Life.

[Amunet]

The rapid speech of the little grey clay man was hard to understand. The bubbly personality it was attached to though well made up for it. There was a polite shy smile to Zoot as she was indeed smaller than her counterparts. The fire from the ball would shimmer off of the opalescent elegant sigil on the right side of her face. The little lady chuckled when Jasmine did mention she was shorter. “This is so. This one, “ The little finger pointed at herself. “for Drykas, shorter than the majority of Drykas. Other peoples, do not know.” Amunet gave Waisana a polite nod and gentle smile. Merevaika came striding over with that strong purposeful walk of hers. Those predatory eyes were zooming in on Zoot. ‘Dear Rak’keli please do not do anything rash.’ The little lady thought silently with a prayer.

Merevaika and her boldness was straight and to the point. Amunet could not blame her as the curiosity was not lost on her, but she was trying not to be intrusive. The customs of the pycons were unknown to the Healer. “That most curious. “ The girl said carefully. The red head would look at Merevaika and back to Zoot. There was a long exhale as she considered what her next words would be. “I am Amunet Shimmerstone, Healer for the Drykas. “ The girl provided as she looked right into Zoot’s eyes providing him her identity without reservation. There was someone shorter than her that she didn’t have to be careful of not being knocked over or worse, ignored. The gold dust star pattern in those light sky blue eyes shimmered for a tick or two. Zoots seemed to be multi-colored the little lady noticed. With the handful of variations, it seemed it appeared in a random color that was in stark contrast to the eye color, but that was theory.

“The Stars, Jasmine, is from some unknown phenomenon that a couple of us have encountered. “ She looked up into the darkness to gauge her next words. “The trail you mean? “ As she was trying to make sense of what Zoot was asking. That busy complicated mind went through the scant memories of those ribbon like trails or broken streams or blotches of color that would show up when she focused. “Yes I think, Paths sound like a reasonable term for trails. I called it a trail.” Merevaika seemed to want to know as badly as she did. Amunet hid it better. She shrugged at that point as that was pretty much all she knew from trial and error. The thought came to her of that leather bundle. . “Wait a tick, please.”

She rose and went over to her things. It didn’t take Amunet long to find the folded leather bundle she always kept with her. As organized as the woman was, she usually knew where anything was at. When she reseated she unfolded the leather bundle that revealed blocked pictographs. Thirteen pictographs were in this bundle. “My event very painful but this came with it.” The girl unfolded the first layer that showed the first line of three. “This one shows the ribbon like trail thingy but nothing else on those glyphs makes sense. I keep hope that God’s reveal something one day. “ She wasn't sure what to call them other than glyphs though inwardly she knew that wasn't the right word. Her common was enough to be understood but there was gaps in grammar, vocabulary and diction that could be improved.

[Waisana]

It seemed that everyone was eager to interact with the Pycon but not so eager to interact with one another. Waisana decided that that was okay. She wasn't the most social person in a group and there wasn't a lot that tied her to the other three women. They'd all come on this trip together and Amunet had a similar occupation to herself but that was about it. It made the teen feel somewhat out of place in the little group and she hoped that at the very least, she'd be able to garner some of Zoot's attention. He seemed very nice, especially as he was putting up with a bunch of eager women, but she didn't know how long his patience might last or whether the others might inadvertently push her out of the conversation.

The blonde who introduced herself as Jasmine seemed more than able to insert herself in to any conversation with ease with her bubbly personality. The woman who had arrived after her, the one that she had thought might be a slave, moved and spoke with a confidence that seemed to discredit that idea unless she was a very new one. She had appeared and started talking to the Pycon as if herself and the others weren't even here. She'd simply commented that their eyes were the same before lapsing in to an expectant silence. Now that she'd mentioned it, Waisana couldn't help but notice the strange starbursts in the eyes of Zoot, the brunette and Amunet. They came in different colours, starkly contrasting the natural eye colour but she could see the common connection between them. Jasmine had already questioned it, Amunet was already talking about it and had wandered off to get something, leaving an opening for the doctor to fill.

"I am Waisana. Waisana Windsong," she supplied shyly, smiling at the little man. "I am like Amunet but doctor, not healer. I am not blessed like her. Maybe someday..." She trailed off, realising that this wasn't the time for such conversation. She highly doubted that any in the group cared about her growing interest in the goddess of healing and the hope to one day be able to heal like those she favoured. Instead, she decided to pry in to this talk of paths more. She waited until Amunet said her piece upon her return before piping up.

"What are paths, Zoot? I know what 'path' means but you speak about something more, I think. It is to do with the stars? Do they make things look different?" she asked curiously. "Do you have at birth or do you get? Like mark of a god?"

The doctor was trying to make sense of it all but even as she asked questions her mind flooded with more. She couldn't voice all of her thoughts or she'd be here all night and she'd be the only one to speak at that. Waisana just wanted to know what three of the group already seemed to know. She didn't want to have to remain on the outside and she guessed that Jasmine didn't either. She'd never heard of a god marking anything other than the skin, but then she didn't know many of them and she knew that that were plenty. Perhaps some of them did mark the eyes and this was what she was seeing in the others.

[Merevaika]

The little clay thing liked to talk. It annoyed Merevaika, the little voice that babbled about water and caves and being worshipped. Only the last thing interested her, but as she turned her eyes back to focusing on him more firmly, he stopped, finally realising how much he talked. He asked for their names.

Jasmine was the first to give it, asking what the stars were. Amunet answered for them, explaining it was a weird phenomenon. Amunet wasn't very good at explaining, Merevaika decided. The stars let them see things that others couldn't. That was the important part, wasn't it? Straightening up, Merevaika seemed to puff out her chest with pride, with arrogance, as she brought it upon herself to answer. "We see paths, or trails," Merevaika explained as Amunet left for some reason, "I can see-" She shut her eyes, bringing focus to them. Bright lights appeared before her eyes, their twisting winding trails patchy in places but in others, incredibly strong. "-I can see where you walk." She gestured wildly to the trail behind her, "Like... Footsteps."

When Amunet returned, she carried a handful of leather, which carried drawings on them. It was clearly the paths they saw. Merevaika had no idea she had this. She stole another glance towards it, keeping it in mind. If the worst came to worst, and she had to leave, she was taking this with her. This was a lot more valuable than many things.

Waisana asked a handful of more questions, but Merevaika left Zoot to answer, listening closely. Perhaps the clay man had something more to say about the whole thing. Things she didn't know. Things Amunet didn't know either. Finally, once the questions were all out, Merevaika tagged one on the end. "Where your stars from?" She left nothing else. While the others all gave their name, Merevaika didn't. She didn't see the point. Wasted words, when she could be learning about this magic.