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 Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 10:25 am
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Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 10:33 am
Darshan sat next to the river, finishing off his preening routine. All his trinkets, lamps, and cages lay next to him on the rocks as he dried off in the summer sun. He ran his long, curved front talons through his feathered hair, picking out every fleck of dust, dirt, mud, or leaves. He had a small wooden bowl near him, full of plump, ripe summer blackberries. He had been in this land for several moons now, and he quite liked it. There was such a variety of types of Soquili, traditions, stories, cultures...
He rolled over, letting the sun warm his belly, pondering where he would go next.
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Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 11:32 am
Quetzalcoatl had also been making his way through this new land to the North, eager to see the myriad cultures and new faces that lived here. There were others, like him, who had immigrated from distant lands, but even more that called this capricious climate their home. It was vastly different from the year-round humid jungles that Q called his home. And he had often been surprised and more than a little put out when others failed to give him the defference that he deserved.
He was used to being worshipped, after all. Offerings of gold and feathers presented to him when he graced others with his presence. IT was in the same breath refreshing as well as frustrating when reverence was not the first reaction of these strangers.
But perhaps they were just naive. They would learn.
Still, it was a distraction, and he could not return home. Everything that it had once been was lost. But he had yet to find a place that was... right for him here. But he was in no hurry to settle.
He had been flying for hours, and the glistening reflection of a lake caught his eye. A cool dip, a refreshing drink, it sounded like just the thing.
With serpentine grace, Quetzalcoatl swam down through the air currents until his hooves touched the soft grass. He shook his head and gave his wings a large stretch before folding them at his sides.
Only then did he notice the presence of another, laying down over some smooth rocks, with several trinkets spread on the ground around him.
His ears canted forward and he took a few exploratory steps closer. Was it dead? Was the water foul, or perhaps was this some sort of offering? ... it appeared to be a soquili of sorts, although it sported hooked birdlike claws instead of front hooves.
Curiously, Q moved forward, intending on nudging it with a hoof to determine if it still lived.
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Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 11:55 am
Darshan had nearly fallen asleep in the sun, when he felt someone nudging him. He snorted awake to the sound of his canary singing her alarm call from her nearby cage. He flipped himself over and got to his feet quickly, ready to give chase if someone was trying to steal his precious treasures.
Instead, however, he was presented with an impressive sight. The large Soquili was unlike nothing he had ever seen: four winged, spectacularly colored...adorned with feathers and a crown. He nearly had to catch his breath; there were few Soquili in the land who were more radiant than himself.
He gave a quick glance down at his hooves - he was no hippogyph, though he did have feathers in his hair, and on the end of a large serpentine tail.
"My apologies," he said when he noticed he was staring. "I must have fallen asleep in the sun."
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Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 12:06 pm
The grand stallion's face split into a smile as he loosened a booming laugh. "Better asleep than dead!" He seemed more than a little amused by his assumption. "I have not often seen soquili splayed on the ground in such a manner that still breathe. But.." he looked up into the sky and the beaming sun, "I suppose it is a grand day for a nap."
His tail swished behidn him, stirring the grasses as he took in the stallion's brilliant feathers. They were comparable to the greatest of colorful birds where he was from, and it brought a smile to his face. Feathers adorned the headdresses of the wealthy or nobles - often used as currency. Quetzalcoatl prided himself in his own plumage on his tail and wings, and collected more than a few others as accessories, but had seen few other soquili that bore such treasures naturally.
He eyed his good scattered around him and stood straighter, lifting his head and resuming his regal presence. They were fine things indeed - the bright baubles and metal and stones he had never seen before - but the colorful caged bird caught his eye the most. "I see you have brought me offerings. These are fine treasures indeed, and your supplication shall be well rewarded."
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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 6:51 am
Like most pure-blooded, domained Angeni, Quetzalcoatl's presence was captivating. His voice was deep and clear, accented differently than the Soquili he had met around the Kawani lands, and bearing jewelry and baubles from unfamiliar cultures. Darshan knew enough about the world to know he was not a native to this place - like him, a stranger or traveler from a distant land. Though it as one he must not have been to before.
He was so paying attention to him, that he barely caught his declaration of offering. "Huh?" he said, in an uncharacteristically uncouth demeanor. "Oh, I beg your pardon," he said after a moment, catching up to the conversation. "I certainly do hope there hasn't been a misunderstanding. These are mine, I had simply taken them off to bathe. You see, I'm a traveler like you, and these come from some of the most amazing places I've seen." He was speaking much more coherently now, his voice rich and with a strange, but refined, cadence. "But of course, I do not want to be rude, and certainly you seem worthy of offerings."
Darshan didn't want to insult this Angeni, and he was sensitive to some of the strange traditions of other cultures. He had learned some time ago that the best friendships are forged when you participate them instead of mock them, no matter how bizarre they may seem. He looked down at his pile of treasures and quickly assessed them. He pulled out a beautiful stone, one of the ones off his chain he wore on his back. He was from far eat of this place, and though very beautiful and valuable, he had several and figured he could part with one; especially if he could buy this stallion's trust with it.
"I would be honored if you let me offer this to you."
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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 7:25 am
The scowl of disappointment and disapproval was short lived on Quetzalcoatl's face as the stranger selected a beautiful stone the likes Q had never seen before from his belt. Perhaps it was not the song bird, or some of his lovely feathers, but it was an offering, and Quetzalcoatl was feeling a mood of generosity.
He took the stone, and looped it into his mane along with some of the other tied beads and feathers and gave Darshan a bold smile, not ashamed at all of the long serpentine fangs in his mouth.
"A lovely trinket," He pronounced watching as it caught the light of the sun. "Not from these lands, are they?" He looked over to Darshan, "And neither are you? You have not heard of me: Quetzalcoatl, have you...? There are not many of the soquili even in these lands that have."
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 1:35 pm
Darshan watched, taking note of his serpentine attributes. From his experiences, snakes were often used to ascribe a sense of foreboding - venomous and nasty; they usually invoked images of swamps, death, and fear. In the lands where he came from, they were black, with hypnotizing eyes on the back of their heads and extremely dangerous.
Yet his serpentine features seemed to only add to since of exoticism. They weren't threatening or ugly; instead seemed to only add to his regal nature "No, they are from the place I was born, across the ocean in the East. I was born there, though I have traveled far. I am very sorry, but no I have not heard of you until today. However, I am quite captivated. I would like to learn more about you, and where you come from."
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 4:52 pm
"A pity..." Quetzalcoatl sighed, but the glitter of his newest piece of jewelry helped soften that disappointment. "I am from very far to the south, deep in the jungles where it is always summer. The seasons are wet... and less wet." He grinned. "There were birds there as colorful as you and I, and they built pyramids in my honor... carved my likeness into stone... offered me gold and feathers and jewels."
He angled his head, showing of his crown, his golden necklace and arm and tail bands.
"So stranger to these lands... what name do you have? Did they worship you where you were from?"
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Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 6:20 am
"It sounds lovely," he said, truthfully. "I love birds, and I don't mind the rain so much," he said with a genial smile. "That would certainly be a sight! Whole pyramids in your honor?" He observed the gold crown on his head, and his other baubles, and he could certainly believe it. He had met a Soquili or two in his travels who had delusions of grandeur, but gentleman certainly seemed to have the proof to back it up.
"My name is Darshan, good sir. And how should I address you?" He chucked a bit to himself when he asked if he had been worshiped. "I assure you, no," he said good naturedly. "Believe it or not, I prefer to observe, to listen, and to learn."
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Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 12:45 pm
"Oh me? I am Quetzalcoatl!" He announced with a fluorish of his multi-colored wings. "Did I not announce myself?" He gave a hearty laugh, "My head must not be settled on my shoulders today. "Or did I, and do you know properly know how to address your lord?" He cocked his head and looked over the feathered stallion again.
"And indeed - the good people of the deep jungles recognized the greatness in their presence. It... was a pity I had to leave... but... all good things..." He shook his head, trying to dismiss the bad memories, and instead redirected them at the peacock stallion. "Is there a reason you have come to this land, Darshan? Something you seek, or something you are trying to escape, perhaps?" How gracious of me, Quetzalcoatl thought to himself, to interest myself in the affairs of this stallion.
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Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 6:41 pm
"That's quite a name," he said with a charming smile. "Quetzalcoatl! Indeed, it sounds just as exotic and intriguing as you are. Very fitting. Does it mean anything in particular in you native language?" He chuckled to himself. "Actually, my name means 'auspicious viewing' in my language. Specifically, when beholding a deity. Perhaps the fates have brought me to you," he said, with a smile and dip of his head.
"As for me, no, I am not running nor do I seek anything but to drink in the world around me. I'm a collector of sorts. Not just of trinkets, but experiences, friends, and stories."
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Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 7:43 pm
"Oh ho ho ho!" Quetzalcoatl laughed a jaunty, booming laugh. "No no no. I am not named for things. Things are named after Me." It was a cocky, some might say egotistical statement, but Quetzalcoatl said with no malice, just bemusement. "But speaking of semantics, in the common tongue of these lands it would translate to 'feathered serpent'. A description of my glorious visage, and how my unique qualities were described."
There was a twinkle in Q's eyes as he regarded Darshan, "Perhaps indeed, Darshan - you were named well. For you are now in the presence of one."
He looked over Darshan's collection of baubles he bore, "Is there a particular story you seek, something that has brought you to these lands? Or merely collecting any experience that this life will bring you, on your own or vicariously through others' tales?
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Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 6:08 am
"Feathered serpent, eh? That's very apropos. Indeed, I've found birds and reptiles to be some of the most resplendent creatures in my travels - with feathers and scales that rival in brilliance to the rarest stones - and you have the majesty of both! I can certainly see why others would seek to name things after you." His flattery had a deep-rooted sense of earnest, there wasn't an edge of sarcasm, not did this seem like mere lip-service.
"As for myself, I don't consider it living 'vicariously' you see, for I plenty of my own experiences as well. I've traveled over the oceans and seas and lands, nearly my whole life. Though, I do like hearing others as well. You can learn so much from someone and the land they are from by listening to their stories. Plus, since I travel so much I have to admit I'm a bit afraid of committing some kind of faux paus, so its a good way to make sure you learn about a culture. Perhaps it will help me not make a fool of myself as often," he added with a charming, self-depreciating smile.
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Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 11:27 am
"Indeed. There are too many in these lands that look upon the bejeweled serpents with an air of disdain or fear. Such backwards ideals. Something so small and beautiful that still packs a deadly bite is something to be admirered and emulated, not to derise." He shook his head, proud of his serpentine resemblance.
"And feathers - such wonderous natural beauty - the land that I am from they are treated with the wonder they deserve as well. A man cannot craft something as fine as a feather that nature created, and so they are traded for food, jewelry and other precious objects. The more colorful the better... your own plumage is quite stunning, Darshan. I do say you would be a wealthy stallion in my lands with feathers such as you bear. I haven't seen any quite like them with the eye markings within them. Are they common in your lands?"
He chuckled again at Darshan's humility, "You would make a fine entourage, I think - with your stories and savoir faire, though we are both strangers to this land."
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