The sisters and cousins were summoned early to the roots of Elzira, days before the annual ritual. It was communicated with those traveling farther away that they needed to return immediately, no one would refuse if the Matron could help it. As a result, many filled the open area below their Great Mother. Elzira had grown the past years, with roots growing deep and branches reaching high into the sky. Although she was no where near as tall as Aisha, Elzira was tall enough to cast their gathering space in shadow.
As the Matron gathered with her small group of elders, they stood closest to the tree and high on the roots. They looked out at the Alkidikes and Elaria, nodding in satisfaction at the numbers around them. It was clear that their cause was strong and that they were survivors. Never did they imagine they would see such a thing when they first traveled to their exile, but none had regrets. They were strong. They were survivors. And someday they would make sure their enemies would pay.
For now, however, there was a closer threat to worry about.
The Matron broke away from the elders to approach Nivalis, the young mystic. This year she would be a figure with their leaders, participating in the ritual as a true mystic should. The Matron had prepared her for such an act, so she would be a symbol as their true mystic, daughter of Elzira and leader of their future. It was time she stepped up, after all they might need guiding presence her sooner than they all anticipated.
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Regardless of how many meetings she wasn't invited to, regardless of how little they told her, regardless of how the Matron assured her that everything was safe and well, Nivalis was not blind. While she was accustomed to being a large portion of the Matron's focus, there was something else sapping away the old woman's time, of late. Something that no one would give her the details of, something that she was deterred from thinking of anytime questions arose, something nasty, Niva was certain.
She ought to have accepted it for what it was; she was still young, and her skills weren't developed enough. Or perhaps she might have been upset that she hadn't worked harder to be ready for this day, whatever it was.
Instead, she was angry.
How dare they keep information from her? She may be 'inexperienced,' but she was still their only mystic, and if she wasn't even offered a place in the council, than her tribe was being run by nothing but Alkidike. They would not be about forever- they probably wouldn't be about for much longer at all, they were getting so old- and keeping things from her did not make Nivalis stronger.
To her, it felt as though she was less prepared to be in her position because of it. What could she say, if her sisters approached her for answers? 'It will be fine.' Would it? She didn't want to lie to them or make lightly of what could be a treacherous problem (and it surely was, if it was being kept from her). 'Don't worry.' But should they? If it was worth preparing over, than all of her sisters ought to be warned, not just herself.
'We are strong, and we will stand together against whatever faces us.'
That was at least true, though still not especially helpful.
From her place among Elzira's branches, Nivalis kept one eye on the council above her, and the other on her sisters and less aged cousins below. At least she could appreciate the mass of her tribe from here, and the dull hum of chatter spoke of an only barely restrained excitement, though good or bad, she couldn't say.
Quote:
FRIENDS Come play with Niva, she is extra desperate for attention and will probably do all of her best whining at anyone who will listen.
Fluffesu
Fluff Seeker
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Painted Moose
Dapper Codger
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Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2017 10:37 am
Pyrrha - 1
The early summons was more of a late greeting to one who had yet to sleep. Pyrrha languidly made her way to Elzira's side, moving softly across gnarled roots and smooth stones. She hadn't been home in some time - days? a week, maybe? - and being on her own meant that there was no reason not to be caked in muck. The only aspects of the young elaria's form that wasn't sullied in some way were the flowers she had freshly braided into her dreads.
She reached up to prod a large, violet bud just south of her left ear as she walked. Pyrrha may have missed the gathering entirely were it not for a passing cousin. The older alkidike had been out on a hunt when she'd dropped all to hurry home, prompting Pyrrha to do the same.
Pyrrha ignored the curled lips of those that she came near, and instead made her way plainly towards their great mother. She could see the Matron from here, as well as several of the elders, and the young mystic, Nivalis. She didn't look particularly pleased today, which was of a concern to Pyrrha. So very many were angry here, and in her position she should find some time to release that anger, lest it burn her from the inside out.
She waved to the mystic - a small, lackadaisical gesture - before noticing her elder sister, Myrcella, among those gathered. A smile grew upon her face as she moved to approach the young alkidike, only for the action to falter and fade as her sister pointedly moved away from her.
Ah, well, that wasn't entirely unexpected, but she had hoped for better.
Fluffesu
Cornetified
Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2017 3:54 pm
Ceylinae - Post 1
Ceylinae was hurrying toward her Great Mother as quickly as her feet could carry her, wanting to get there as swiftly as she could. She'd been outside of town when the call for everyone went out, working with Savage, wanting to make sure that he'd become grand mount one day. She'd found a safe pen to keep the baby limbara in, not feeling quite ready to let him socialize with everyone else. Once he'd gotten more training, once he was older, and was better behaved she thought to herself. After that then it would be fine to show her mount to be off to all of those in the village, her closest sisters especially.
As she got closer to Elzira she found that a lot of her sisters and cousins were already gathering. It made her wonder if Naqenni and Ku were about or not. There was a chance that she might have arrived first among the 'First Three' and that was a win in her book. Of course that was a celebration that she'd keep close to her chest since she wasn't far from all of the others. She didn't want to look like a foolish child in front of everyone after all.
She slowed her pace down to a walk as she approached, taking in all of those that were already gathered, while she tried to close the distance between herself and Elzira. She wanted a good position so that she could hear everything once the Matron and the Mystic started to speak, not wanting to miss a thing. She wanted to stay on top of things after all.
Orpheus Solon
Stellar Dragon
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Cornetified
Precious Loiterer
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Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2017 8:07 pm
Pruu- Post 1
Having arrived as soon as possible after the summon was sent out, Pruu sat on an outcropping to watch the others arrive. A blade spun in one hand, her body tense. Something was wrong, and they were going to find out what that was.
When she saw Pyrrha arrive, the blade went still. With a heavy sigh, she slid down from her perch and made her way over. "Pyrrha, where have you been?" Though irritated with the situation, she reached out to look her sister over to make sure the girl was alright. The flowers in her sister's hair were pretty... "Must you arrive to the matron's summon covered in mud?" she asked with a shake of her head.
Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2017 2:00 pm
Zandala 1
Zandala sweeped her gaze over those who had gathered around Elzira. She spotted Lumikani and her two daughters and headed towards their small group. “Do you know what his is about?” Zandala said in a hushed tone to Lumikani as she gave each of her daughters a kiss on the forehead before settling next to her mate.
There were sisters here whom she knew had gone on long missions and as she continued to look from face to face it become obvious to her that whatever was happening was a lot more critical than what she had thought. Zandala cast her eyes on her daughters and inched just a little closer to them.
"I wish I knew myself, sister, so that I could go back another day." Pyrrha heard her twin before ever seeing the girl, so as she turned to meet Pruu the words just slipped as easily as a fog out of her lips. She smiled lazily, as if in a trance, and reached for Pruu's hand before hesitating, holding off as she looked down at herself.
It was as if, for the first time, she was aware of how filthy she actually was.
"She did ask for us to come as soon as possible. And she hasn't said anything about it yet so-" Pyrrha shrugged her shoulders, her eyes lolling back to the elders. Her appearance was nothing new, and to her, certainly not a cause for alarm. After all, didn't they have more important matters to tend to?
Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2017 9:46 pm
Pruu- Post 2
Pruu cocked her head slightly. "You.. don't know where you have been," she stated more than asked, sighing again. "What am I going to do with you?" she asked rhetorically, reaching for her sister's hand despite the mud on it. "Well, come along then. I do not know how much time is left before the matron speaks, so we should wait until after to get you cleaned up." Honestly, she was surprised but glad that Pyrrha had come at all.
Lumikani stood at the back of the crowd, watching as the young Elaria and older Alkidikes crowded around their leaders. Since she came to this island, she felt left out and nearly alone. It wasn't really by choice, but she had to admit she was somewhat at fault. The younger version of her was rash, excitable, and willing to please the only mystic she knew...the mystic who seemed to have faded away from the minds of everyone around them. Now, she was left with a senile old woman raising a cult of girls who had no idea what the real world was made of. All they could think about was killing, especially those who turned against them. While Lumikani could understand vengeance, she couldn't really understand them.
Sure, she understood her place as the daughter of the great mother, and now great cousin. But if the mother decided to bloom hybrids, why are they suddenly wrong? The mother has a choice, and has proven to disregard prayers of the past. Lumikani's one opinion about hybrids set her so apart from her sisters she began to grow cold, distant, and alone.
Thank goodness for Zandala, a silent ally who supported her in some small way. However, Lumikani was worried for her partner and their two children. Was she threatening them with her choices? She was loyal and dedicated, and knew she needed to protect them. But did that mean lying to herself?
Lumikani leaned against a tree at the far corner of the clearing, well away from the others, and just watched. This announcement was all but mandatory, but that didn't mean she needed to be kissing the toes of their leaders. She'd leave that to the crazies.
As her mate approached, Lumikani pushed away from the tree that she had located herself, watching her two daughters who were close and letting out a sigh. She greeted Zandala before shaking her head with a frown, "No good, I'm sure..." She responded slowly, before turning to the two Elaria, "If you want to go with your sisters, go. You can hear best up front near the roots..."
Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 11:25 am
Tasinei
[]
Zayana 1
Lumikani stood at the back of the crowd, watching as the young Elaria and older Alkidikes crowded around their leaders. Since she came to this island, she felt left out and nearly alone. It wasn't really by choice, but she had to admit she was somewhat at fault. The younger version of her was rash, excitable, and willing to please the only mystic she knew...the mystic who seemed to have faded away from the minds of everyone around them. Now, she was left with a senile old woman raising a cult of girls who had no idea what the real world was made of. All they could think about was killing, especially those who turned against them. While Lumikani could understand vengeance, she couldn't really understand them.
Sure, she understood her place as the daughter of the great mother, and now great cousin. But if the mother decided to bloom hybrids, why are they suddenly wrong? The mother has a choice, and has proven to disregard prayers of the past. Lumikani's one opinion about hybrids set her so apart from her sisters she began to grow cold, distant, and alone.
Thank goodness for Zandala, a silent ally who supported her in some small way. However, Lumikani was worried for her partner and their two children. Was she threatening them with her choices? She was loyal and dedicated, and knew she needed to protect them. But did that mean lying to herself?
Lumikani leaned against a tree at the far corner of the clearing, well away from the others, and just watched. This announcement was all but mandatory, but that didn't mean she needed to be kissing the toes of their leaders. She'd leave that to the crazies.
As her mate approached, Lumikani pushed away from the tree that she had located herself, watching her two daughters who were close and letting out a sigh. She greeted Zandala before shaking her head with a frown, "No good, I'm sure..." She responded slowly, before turning to the two Elaria, "If you want to go with your sisters, go. You can hear best up front near the roots..."
There were few things Nivalis considered herself to 'excel' at anymore than anyone before her. Her height and physical strength were lacking, her intelligence average. She was neither fast runner nor a strong swimmer. Her weapons training went only as well as one might expect when burdened with learning magic, rituals, and all the customs she would one day perform. She was not the best at much of anything.
The only thing she was exceptionally proud of herself for was that she knew everyone. It was a silent, personal goal that she familiarize herself well with all of her sisters, such that she could be there properly if she was ever needed.
Though she was still quite miffed at the uncomfortable unfairness of their predicament, she still smiled brightly when Pyrrha caught her gaze and waved in her direction. Niva gave a little more excitable of a wave back, pleased to have been noticed, before she decided that even that small gesture was invitation enough. After all, she could stand here and be irate by herself, or she could join her sisters.
Nivalis hopped from the lowest threads of Elzira's roots and pelted toward the Elarian twins. "Pyrrha, Pruu!" She called as she made her way over, and unhesitatingly threaded her arms about each of the other girl's necks in a quick embrace as she came close enough. The mud didn't even deter her slightly. "I am pleased to see both of you here," she said with a bob of a nod. "And I hope you're both taking care to keep yourselves safe during this... uncertain time..."
Painted Moose
Cornetified
Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 6:18 pm
ignore this guilds stink
Suhuba Captain
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Suhuba Captain
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Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 6:19 pm
Chapter 9: Grave Expectations
|| IC ||
The Matron watched as Nivalis darted away from the roots, but didn't make any attempt to fetch the girl. It was best if the young mystic supported her sisters, especially with the news they had. Turning away from where the mystic once stood, the Matron walked back to her small group of elders with a deep frown.
"We must prepare for any rash responses from the young cousins. It is still our duty to guide them, and we cannot risk any sort of difficulties at this time..."
All of them were concerned. They were elders, wise beyond their years, and they knew something was coming. The disappearances, they meant something beyond the little power struggle some of the Elaria had with their earthling neighbors.
Turning, the group walked farther out, and the Matron held up her hand for silence. It was time for them to begin.
|| OOC || ||. If your character is not signed up for their thread, they may not participate. You can PM Suhuba for late entries. ||. Please limit to up to 2 posts between NPC posts (these should be spaced out by responses from others to your post, no needless posting just to get more points). ||. NPCs will post twice a week, on Monday and Thursday. ||. If you have any questions, please post them in the Main Thread.
Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 6:57 pm
Pruu- Post 3
Brow rising at the excited call, she turned and held her free arm out to give the mystic a partial hug in return. "Nivalis. I am glad to see that you are well, also." Pursing her lips, she peered warily at Pyrrha. "One of is," she huffed, unconsciously holding tighter to her look-alike's hand. If only Pyrrha had a steadier head on her shoulders...
About to ask Nivalis for more information, she saw the matron's hands go up. "It looks like we will finally find out what we're going to do about all of this.."
Painted Moose
Fluffesu
Cornetified
Precious Loiterer
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Painted Moose
Dapper Codger
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Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 7:17 pm
Pyrrha - 3
Her smile brightened when Nivalis waved back to her. She had been worried that maybe the mystic wouldn't see her in the crowd, and that she might continue to wear such a hard set frown. Everyone looked better with a smile.
It pleased her even more when said mystic came down to join them. She gave her sister's hand a squeeze before the girls were embraced and she, in turn, wrapped an arm around Nivalis to hold her close, no doubt getting her just as dirty as Pyrrha herself.
Turning just so, with that same easy going smile, Pyrrha looked upon her twin. "I came back, sister, as always." Now, where had she gone, she wondered? If only she could remember then she could take the two of them with her next time...
Craning her head to look past Nivalis, she saw the matron and elders talking among themselves. A small part of her was curious, but the larger part knew that eventually they would be told something. All she had to do was be patient.
Raising her free hand, Pyrrha fiddled with one of the large, budding violet flowers in her dreads and worked it free before offering it up to Nivalis. "Would you like it? If you use the petals in a tea later it will help calm you."
The sisters and cousins were summoned early to the roots of Elzira, days before the annual ritual. It was communicated with those traveling farther away that they needed to return immediately, no one would refuse if the Matron could help it. As a result, many filled the open area below their Great Mother. Elzira had grown the past years, with roots growing deep and branches reaching high into the sky. Although she was no where near as tall as Aisha, Elzira was tall enough to cast their gathering space in shadow.
