Open News From Home

[Brodon Windriver]

OOC - continued from here.

48th of Summer, 513 AV

When Brodon felt the hand on his shoulder, his first thought was that it was probably one of the city guard, come to tell him to remove Lovaak to the stables, though the grip had not been the authoritative clamp one would expect. He turned, prepared to give an acknowledgement of his awareness of city protocol regarding animals, along with a display of his voucher and a brief relay of the order of events that had resulted in Lovaak's disposition in an inappropriate part of town.

He stopped short and the slight frown burst into a smile at the sight of the Denusk woman. "Thank the gods!" he laughed a moment, then waved off his own distraction. "Forgive me, I have spent the last five seasons among non-Pavi speaking Eypharians, Humans, and Benshirans, and their common has not rubbed off on me, as you have undoubtedly noticed." he chuckled again. "Actually, I suspect everyone has noticed." His immersion in Pavi seemed to give him genuine pleasure.

Her friendly remarks caught up with him then. "Oh, yes, I am Brodon Windriver, of the Diamond Pavilion. And you are...Delani? You said? Of the Denusk clan?" Her nod brought yet another grin to his face, this time bearing a hint of sheepishness. "I did not want to interrupt your introduction to Sir Mathias, or really, anyone. I have been trying to embrace a more patient approach to my life these days and decided to adhere to that philosophy and wait for a more convenient and less intrusive time to inundate you with questions regarding my father, Warem, and Endrykas in general."

Relishing the opportunity to finally speak a language he was fluent in, he nearly rejoiced in her next question regarding his purpose in accompanying the expedition. He recounted his father's sudden swoon and coma of early Spring, 512, and the strange symbol that appeared on his father's head that same day. He briefly touched upon his quest to find its meaning, his trek through Ahnatep, mentioning the occurrence of adventures there without detailing them. He mentioned casually how he seemed to have miraculously avoided the worst of the great djed storm, not thinking that it may have had great significance to her.

He described in somewhat greater detail his horrific crossing of the Burning Lands, suffering at the hands of beasts, bandits and murderous heat. But he was quick to accredit his survival to the belief that either Eywaat, Yahal or both, had seen to his safe but ragged arrival in Yahebah. He mentioned his recovery there and the more in-depth affinity for the worship of Yahal that he had found there. He wrapped it all up with his statement that he believed that Yahal had taken his mission under his holy wing and given him a sign that he should embark on this journey now.

Embarrassment bloomed suddenly in his eyes and he grimaced, "I'm very sorry. I give you no chance to speak. But it is so fine to speak our language again." His hands flourished with emphasis on his enjoyment. "So why do you make this journey, if you do not mind my asking?"

[Delani Denusk]

Laughed lightly back as he tried to apologize, waving off his admission politely. "You needn't apologize to me, young man. I've spent my own share of time in the company of those who did not know the language either. It simply takes a modicum of patience and open-mindedness, however, to engage them no matter the source of understanding."

"That is a curious choice of words." She said, smiling again. "Though I would hardly think it as overwhelming." The woman refrained from explanation just yet, favoring the road of polite silence and listening to over-zealous immersion of her own history to him.

She found it curious the mention of his father and his asking of whether she had heard anything of such, but waited for him to finish his tale before she'd attempt any kind of response. The woman wondered what the mark was and made a note to ask him about it once he was finished. His admission of praise for two of the gods was noble, too! What a curious young man. And once he finished his tale, she finally began to speak, starting from the beginning with near perfect recollection.

"I am afraid I would not know of your father or your pavilion, Brodon, as it was only at the end of Spring that I reunited with Endrykas..." And so, she shared a part of her story, her embellishment limited and her pavi quieter.

"The Clans may seem very different than what you have experienced in the burning lands, Brodon. There was a great pox that swept our people and all the pavilions in the Sea; it took many of the adults, and even more of the children, leaving the nation devastated. When I returned to Endrykas, it was only days later that the clan leaders announced a new means of repopulating. I am not certain beyond the declaration that all men unmarried or baring only a single wife were to wed anew why they chose this new method...I only know how inappropriate it is." She spoke strongly of this, adament and passionate. Where lies the coal in the sea, when the rain falls hard and the winds blow strong; it will not light for it is drowned and the devils in the grass come nigh. Or is it we who are the devils..."

She spoke then of her time before reuniting with the horse peoples, a great sorrow striking those weathered and knowing eyes as she signed to him. "You are fortunate to have escaped the storm so easily, young man; not many did." Her eyes fell to the ruin that was her right hand, the severe scar upon it standing out from her bronzed skin. She then stretched her arms towards him, turning her burnt right hand so that the bicep of that arm was clearly visible. "Two did I lose and months of my life because of those hell-wrought hours. My Delani..." She said of the one on the right, the one baring a D over one curved part of the black tattoo. Her left hand was turned, presenting the copy upon that bicep save for the A thereupon. "My Ahanu...They both died that night, Ahanu in my very grasp. I spent weeks after that trying desperately to reunite with my family and Endrykas, but was separated from the Web and could not be sensed..."

"Were it not for her lady Eyris, I'd have died where they died. I live for her only now." She rolled the back of the glove covering her left hand down enough to expose the Lormar that was forever branded there. "T'was she who saved me when I would have rather let go in that cave. Her knowledge led me home...but I do not believe it is a home justified now. It is not the home I knew."

She briefly explained the decision the clan-leaders made to begin raiding Sylira and how all trade caravans that had been near Endrykas at the time the decision was made were now captives of the migratory city. That decision of the leaders led her to leave, more willing to remove herself from the plains she knew and loved (no matter the dangers) in favor of compact jungles and likely permanent separation from the family she had only just reunited with.

"I will miss them. Vanator, Kavala...I have not even met his children, and already I am leaving. I hope for at least a meal with my Ankal before this expedition sets out. If nothing else, than to properly say goodbye." The talk in the stables she'd had with him had been brief, comparatively, but intense. It was not an appropriate farewell for one who had been an enormous part of her life.

"However, my spoken purpose for joining this quest is the pursuit of knowledge, and nothing more. It is not something which Mr. Syka needs to concern himself with, this...breeding scheme...the clans have pursued. The clans raid Sylira, not Cyphrus for their pets." She said that word with such venom one would think her a Dhani and not a Drykas. "No, I am here so far as they care to know for knowledge only. I do this for Eyris, that her gift to me would not be wasted."

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[Brodon Windriver]

The enthusiastic smile from having someone with which to speak his native tongue drained from Brodon's face into an increasingly horrified look of despair as Lady Denusk informed him of the events that had assailed his people since he'd left. His thoughts spun in grim circles, 'What would my father think if he were awakened? He was not Drykas by blood, but had been welcomed, not...taken by raiders, and force wedded to a stranger. He loved my Mother. Will he even want to awaken now? Is my mother going to be driven to bear the child of some stranger, with my father...unable to...father another of his own? Is she even alive? Are the numbers of the clans so diminished that they must truly resort...to...this? Would the only option be tantamount to incest?'

He did not feel himself qualified to question the decisions of the Ankals, but to raid for such a purpose was beyond dishonor in his eyes. He told himself that, not having been present, he could not say what he might have been driven to agree to. He wondered if any of his people had opposed the decision. Would he have?

Brodon took a staggering step away, his eyes on some grisly nightmare of home. "I...I...can not believe this...Yahal's mercy, can it really be true? I wanted so often to persuade Eldarab, of the sons of Ayshaw, to allow me to escort a caravan to Endrykas." In his dismay, he did not notice his own use of the Benshiran manner of family naming. "Now I wonder what would have transpired if I had succeeded. Would the caravan have been assaulted? Would my benefactor's men been enslaved? Would I have been dragged in chains into my own home? In my Benshiran manner of dress, would they have even known me?" His hands hung limp, unable to grasp the signs of his anguish.

He thought now of the horror this woman must have felt. By her own words, disowning her culture. 'No!' he thought, 'NOT disowning her culture. Not her TRUE culture, anyway. And not disowning the old...Rejecting the new!' He felt as though he'd just heard that his entire civilization had been exterminated. His head hung as she spoke of his being 'fortunate' to have escaped the storm. He was not sure that he agreed.

But a strength surged anew in his spirit. Now he felt he knew why Yahal had not seemed to wish him to find the answer to his quest yet. Had he found his answer, he would have returned home with it, only to find the wreckage of his memories. He had found brotherhood among the Benshira. He had begun to question whether he would feel at home among his people again. He did not believe it possible now.

He saw the tributes on her arms and again recognized the strength to endure that shone in her eyes and her demeanor. He took a deep breath. "I thank you, My Lady, for the news. It gives me focus on my purpose. I do not know what Yahal wishes of me, but his wisdom becomes all the more apparent to me now. I confess I do not know Eyris, other than the name, but if it is Her resolve that I see in your eyes, then she is worthy of my reverence as well." He gave a bow, a sad smile gracing his face as he rose.

[Delani Denusk]

"Perhaps it is wiser for this Eldarab to have chosen so. I do not know if they would have prevented them from leaving as they have the others, but tis better to err on the side of caution than become a captive yourself. However, I doubt you would have been incapacitated as well; even when we are far, our essence remains in the Web." Even if she could not weave as others could, Delani knew enough to know of their connection to it.

When he fell silent, apparently deep in thought, Dela took the time to look back around them and study the other party goers, watching these men and women she would be amongst for likely the rest of her days. It was curious to see the variety of shapes and shades. She certainly wanted to speak with the Ephyrian at some point; such a being had never been met before.

"If that is what you believe." Delani would not condescend his beliefs. "The gods are quiet when they wish to be, though I express surprise you do not know of Eyris. She is the Matron of Wisdom and Knowledge. She is a well respected goddess of the Drykas, though not quite so much as Semele perhaps." The woman shrugged faintly, dismissive really. "And please, I am simply Delani, Dela if you would prefer. I am no more worthy of 'my lady' than a man is."

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[Brodon Windriver]

"As you prefer, Miss Dela...ni." He rolled his own eyes, with a chuckle at his foolish discomfort. "My friend, Joebel, a priest of Yahal back in Yahebah, would say much the same about the gods keeping their own council. And yes, of course I know OF Eyris, but being of the Diamond Pavilion, we were not so focused on Wisdom and Knowledge, save for the wisdom of choosing a weapon suited for your stature and the knowledge of how to wield it. I can see though, how the Sapphire may feel an affinity for her domain."

He made an effort to maintain a self-deprecating tone, to be sure he did not offend. The Drykas were more open to a variety of gods than some cultures, but speaking of gods was always a delicate matter. "Outside of Zulrav and Rak'keli, I heard words of honor given to both Tyveth and Wysar in the Diamond, though they are both felt to be gods of neighbors not always on the friendliest of terms." His eyes looked into a vision of a legendary battle as his voice dropped to an intense whisper. "I might have worshiped Ruros, had he not been betrayed by Dira's aid to the Usurper Queen Myri." He turned serious eyes of shared warning to the woman. "And now we go into HER lands...Well I take my faith in Yahal with me, and my belief in the boons of resourcefulness that may be bestowed by Eywaat. I still believe he aided me in my crossing of the Burning Lands. Many times, ideas that allowed my survival came to me from what seemed like memories. But they were not my own. Tactics in fighting off enemies, both man and beast, came as if borne of training I never received."

He turned to Delani with a smile."The priest I mentioned, Joebel, told me much of many gods as we sat in quiet times in the Temple of Yahal. I remember cringing with the fear that The Holy One would come in wrath to smite him mute for speaking of other deities in His temple. And I also remember feeling that I would stand by Joebel in his defense." He shook his head with amusement. "How Joebel laughed when I confessed my misplaced courage. He hugged me, and told me I need never fear a wrath borne of jealousy from The Merciful One. That he was only bestowing knowledge upon me. And that knowledge is never evil, only what men do with it. But that this was not to say that Yahal did not visit retribution upon those that DID give him offense. He named the city of Hazahdar as an example. Once a grand city of opulence and luxury, it is now the ruined abode of lepers and thieves. Its new name "Hai" has almost come to be the official word in Shibur to mean 'misery'."

The young man suddenly caught himself. An embarrassed grimace flashing across his face. "Here I go again, Going into far greater detail than I am asked. And preaching of Yahal to one comfortable with Eyris. Please forgive me."

[Delani Denusk]

"I find it is exceedingly rare for the gods to intervene in any form." Delani began as he made mention of Yahal aiding him through those distant deserts. "But it does not make it impossible. The gods pick and choose those who they feel deserve their favor; perhaps Yahal has blessed you in such as Lady Eyris blessed me." The gentle, knowing smile returned to the womans face, her eyes drifting downwards for a moment as if a woeful memory had crossed her mind.

When he spoke of Joebel and his time spent in the temple of his god, Dela nodded interest. She did not know of any temple that may have arisen to honor her own goddess, lest one count a library or school as a temple. She expressed as much, "I do not know what priests or priestesses Eyris would raise under Lykata; the gift of Knowing is unique in that it presents the individual the opportunity to learn unbiased the whims of the world. Perhaps one could call a teacher a professor of Lykata." She woman shrugged a little, her thoughts wandering for a moment, mind returning to that day what felt a lifetime ago.

She snapped back easily enough, however, when the youth tried to apologize. With a reassuring grin, Dela replied, "I'm hardly offended, lad. I find at least a mild interest in all things, my curiosity greater on some aspects than others, but the knowledge gained equally valuable no matter what it is. I confess, though, I do not know well your Yahal. He is not know we lift up that often in the Sea."

"You called him The Merciful One and the Holy One, though; why is he called such? Is he a greater Guardian to the races in the way the knights of Sylira don the armor of honor to protect what must be protected?" Her knowledge of Sylira was limited in itself as well, so how accurate that was could not be verified.

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[Brodon Windriver]

Brodon smiled with appreciation at her comparison of a teacher to a 'Professor of Lykata'. It made sense to him. A bestower of knowledge. He did not know precisely what 'blessing' she referred to. He did feel blessed simply to be alive and on track with a course that felt right. Perhaps that was all she meant.

He mistakenly assumed 'Lykata' to be some other name for the goddess Denali spoke of so serenely. Like himself, there was grief and turmoil in her past, yet her devotion gave her a foundation upon which to move beyond it. She had discussed the loss of loved ones, as had he, though his still held hope of restoration where hers did not. Both had suffered bitter wanderings only to find added grief. But both had come through with optimism for the future due to their beliefs.

He did not truly believe he had offended her, but courtesy had required the gesture. He did, however, find a genuine challenge in her question as to the use of the honorifics attached to Yahal. A challenge to give a clear answer, devoid of empty glorification. He looked into the distance, his hand cupping his chin, a frown of concentration on his face.

"That is not easily answered. I expect most any devotee will call their patron deity 'Holy' while naming them. As for 'Merciful', let me see..." She looked as though she regretted asking, but he waved to dismiss her discomfort. "No, no, it is alright. Let us think of it as a test of knowledge." He grinned, and paced a moment. He suddenly stopped and laughed, turning back to her. "Perhaps this will help to clarify it, even to me. Earlier this day I went to the Temple of Lord Zulrav...the Tower of Zulrav." he corrected. "It had been some time since I had given him his due as one of Our People's chief gods. When I had finished my prayer, I descended the steps to come here."

Already a smile began to sneak into his expression. "When I reached the bottom, a young boy, accompanied by whom I assumed to be his parents, passed by. The boy asked about the structure and they informed him that it was the Tower of Zulrav, The Stormlord. He asked why there was no lightning or thunder. They made to shush him, but he became insistent, protesting that a god with such a name should have thunder and lightning around his Tower."

Brodon chuckled at the memory and continued, having difficulty containing his laughter. "The parents became quite visibly fearful, the father swatting the child and commanding him to show respect, while the mother literally quailed in fear that lightning would indeed manifest and strike them down. She begged her son to be quiet, and her husband to leave. The boy, of course, became even more belligerent, asking how they even know this god exists if he doesn't do anything."

"Now, don't get me wrong. I have nothing against respect for the gods. But this was a child's question, innocently spoken, and then stifled by the parent's fear of the god's reaction. Fear breeding ignorance, and that ignorance breeding fear." His amusement waned somewhat at the downside of the incident, and he became more serious. "In this, I feel that Yahal is 'The Merciful One.' Often I saw such brazen curiosity in His Temple, and always it was welcomed for what it was, the purity of a child's desire to know, to learn. No one ever displayed fear of a harsh reprisal for such a minor breach of protocol. Of course, there is a difference between curiosity and disruption, and not everyone draws that line in the same place."

"Then there is the example I mentioned before of the ruined city of Hai. Yahal did not bring the destruction upon it. he simply warned his people of the coming Valterian, and instructed them to come to his Temple city of Yahebah. Not all those that refused him perished. And those that escaped the ruin and came to Yahebah were not turned away, but welcomed back into the fold. I do not know exactly when his people began to call him 'The Merciful', but it has always felt right to me."

[Delani Denusk]

The matron listened attentively as he told her of this encounter with a family of three and how the innocent curiosity of the boy had been met with fear and reprising, the parents trying to quash his misunderstanding. Their own fear blinded them to the opportunity to teach this boy instead of helping him to learn better of Zulrav.

"I would only fear the gods wrath if it were that I had done something against the greater plans they have beyond our mortal minds." She remarked casually, looking back at the party. "When first I heard of Syka's summons for adventurers, I was intrigued. The opportunity was literally a godsend to me! But what skills had I but an open mind to bring to so great a man? Then the clans made their declaration of raiding our neighbors in Sylira for what amounts to breeding stock, no matter how well they are treated. Women and children..." She wandered for a moment in her thoughts before quickly snapping back to the point. "...I prayed long and often that Eyris would show me the wiser course of action. To stay and feel shame in the choice my people made? A choice they, in their hearts, feel was true and best for the horse nation? Or to seek Mr. Syka out via letter and offer my mind to his expedition, effectively exiling myself."

The woman rubbed absently at her right hand, gently massaging the scarred flesh. "As it seems Yahal is a god who rewards faith and chastity, in a sense, Eyris rewards wisdom as much as she rewards knowledge. It sounds as if Yahal shows favor to those who remain pure, but I could be misinterpreting this; if so, correction is humbly accepted."

"Eyris is wise. Her depthless eyes see all, her limitless mind knows all. And that is the beauty of her; for all the gods we know and worship, Eyris is one that seems to stand to the side and observe more than she acts, for she is very wise. To see is knowledge, but to know is wisdom; does that make sense?" The question was slightly rhetorical. "It is this concept that I follow with Her assistance." She gently tapped the back of her covered left hand with the index of her right. "The Lormar is Her sign, her knowing that that individual shows all the eagerness and truthfulness of one who likewise wishes to know. The gift that is bestowed from it, the Lykata, enables a barer of her mark to, as such, Know." Her gestures became excited, the womans eyes bright. He had not asked to learn of this, but she could not withold as it pertained to part of her explanation of coming here.

"Her eyes are ever seeing, her mind ever learning. She sees all that was, is, and will be and rewards they who follow similar paths in life, they who desire more than simple knowledge, but the understanding of it and that which unites all of Mizahar beneath the gods domain. To know is bliss, Brodon." She gave a little laugh, not manic. It was almost euphoric. "To know is bliss." Dela brought it back to the prayer first mentioned. "And often times, her all-knowing presence will remain quiet and still so that the one who seeks her will see for themselves what the right course would be. To say that she is Good is wrong; neither is Eyris bad. She simply is and simply knows. In the end, her subtlty is what led me to follow the letter of acceptance Mr. Syka provided. Were I to remain true to my heart, leaving Endrykas would have been the wiser choice no matter the dressage I sought to place upon it. To know is bliss, Brodon..." And it would give her the peace she needed that would not likely come amongst the horse clans.

x

[Brodon Windriver]

It was fortunate for Brodon that Delani continued to speak of Eyris with such depth. Her inner interpretive focus prevented her from noticing the look of embarrassed shock on his face at the word "chastity". And the fact that he was not inclined to interrupt kept him from planting his foot firmly in his mouth with some blurted protest in denial of having ever made such a promise.

She continued to speak of Eyris' tendency to 'observe more than she acts'. As he listened, he recalled such philosophies being spoken by the Ankals at times. "Yes, my father used to say that knowledgeable men may often act without wisdom, but a wise man will not act without knowledge. That knowledge, in and of itself, neither implies not imparts wisdom. As members of The Diamond, though, we were more focused on the martial end of the Ankals decisions. We trusted that decisions were arrived at wisely, and we were then available to act upon them." He wondered now, if his Pavilion had voiced any hesitancy to 'act upon' the disturbing new decision they had made.

He listened further, and was glad to discover his error as to the significance of the word "Lykata". He had been prepared to call Eyris by that, as is it were her name, and was relieved that he was spared the gaff. He became intrigued when she indicated the mark on her hand. A thought suddenly occurred to him. He still had a drawing of the symbol that had appeared on his father's head. Perhaps if he showed it to her, she would get some impression from it.

She spoke of the "bliss of knowing" and a cloud passed over his enthusiasm. He wished to ask a favor, a use of this 'Lykata' she spoke of, but he found his feelings to be at odds with this view, and hoped he would not offend her. But if she took umbrage and withheld her goddess' gift, he would understand. He would still prefer to be open with her, and risk an honest disagreement, than curry favor and then appear manipulative and conniving.

"I beg to disagree. I'm sorry, truly I am, but I can not exactly feel as you do. I agree that knowing is BEST, for even in woeful news there is necessary knowledge to act wisely. But my learning of what has transpired with my homelands and my people does not give me a feeling of bliss." He winced slightly, "Nor, if I may be so bold as to say, did you indicate that it gave you pleasure to learn of it." He waited in apprehension that she might take his remark as an insult to her goddess.

"If I have misunderstood, I too, humbly await your correction." he blurted hurriedly, hoping the use of her own previous words might forestall any anger.

[Delani Denusk]

"Your father spoke well. But you are right; a Diamond was born to fight. That is not true of all, of course. Nothing is ever set in stone, even the value of impressions from things long passed in life." The woman shrugged vaguely and listened on.

If she were offended by his disagreement with her, it would have been a clever ruse to show. But Delani once again simply raised her shoulders in an accepting shrug. "That is the beauty of it, young man. Bliss does not necessarily mean one is enthused to have learned something. It is..." She paused, eyes lowering and her hands frozen as she sought for the words. "...It is the relief the horse feels to swat the fly upon its rump. That contentment when your head lays upon the pillow after so long without rest. Knowing is bliss in that it can bring the learner a kind of inner peace. The knowledge or wisdom gained may not always be ideal, may not always be what they wanted, but it will always be significant and therefore enlighten what was dark before. The joy of it may come later, or it may never come. And that is fine, for it is simply knowing it that brings the mind back to balance."

The trail-worn face turned away, the conversations in the rest of the garden drifting in and out of focus as the two drykas talked. When she looked back, that weary smile was back. "Look at me...rambling. You are a curious young man, Brodon. And I thought I saw a question waiting on your lips a moment ago. What did you wish to ask?"

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