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 Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:34 pm
Earthmother followed the pair inside, and the door closed behind her, leaving them in momentary darkness. A very dim light grew brighter and brighter, revealing that on the back of the door is the exact same mural and the source of light for the room was the globe in the center.
It took a few minutes to fully illuminate the small room, and Earthmother was patient and quiet to allow Vanya and Takis the opportunity to observe and look around the room before they began.
On the opposite wall from the entrance were three skinny doorways. But the most notable, and really the only significant feature of this room, was in the center, standing about the same height as the faun present, in a shallow pool of water rested a sapling. The tender, young leaves were of a vibrant and healthy shade of green and the same shape as the leaves on Laisidhiel. Every few seconds, a small drop of dew would slide down a leaf, dropping into the pool below with a soft little dripping sound.
"This is the Earth Element, Laisidhiel's heart."
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Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:38 pm
Caleigh could not help but scratch the back of her neck, this whole eerily atmosphere is getting to here. Out of nowhere, something zipped to her face, she gave a loud scream and it seemed that something was trickling out of her. "Oh no," she whimpered. She peed herself. "Please don't do that, I'm embarrassed enough as it is," the female said, biting her lower lip.
"Um, rather embarrassed, but my real name is Caleigh. You can call me Cal," she said, giving a nod. "You're really pretty!"
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Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:51 pm
Vanya's crimson orbs drifted slowly over the room, taking everything in with a mixture of awe and wonder. She'd had no idea this room even existed, despite being born and raised in the Tree. Aside from its existence, there were the other features to consider. The three doorways were curious, but her attention was captured by the sapling in the center of the room.
A tree...within the Tree? And thriving despite being locked away here in the dark...or was it always dark in here? Vanya wasn't sure, but either way, this was definitely powerful magic at work here. As if there were any doubt.
There was something sacred about the very nature of the room, and Vanya moved carefully, as if afraid to accidentally touch anything. "This is..." she started in a hushed, reverent voice, still looking around as she moved further into the room. "...absolutely amazing."
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Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 11:03 pm
Earthmother was all smiles as she watched Vanya. She knew the spirits were never wrong, and that Vanya belonged here.
"This is the actual center of Laisidhiel. It's a bit of an optical illusion to keep this place safe. Only a few faun will ever step foot in here. This is where I rested for so many years, being nurtured by the Great Tree herself while I healed."
Walking around the pool and past the pair, Earthmother approached the first of the three doorways and pulled the curtain back. "This is where your reagents and tools are kept. Most things you will need for your rituals are contained on these shelves." She let the curtain go, allowing it to sway back to postion and then walked past the middle door, to the third door. "This is your preparation room." She pulled the curtain back and although it would be difficult to see, the room beyond the curtain was like a little living quarters with a pallet, pillows, incense burner and small lantern on a table near the pallet.
Standing in front of the center doorway, which was only slightly larger than the other two, Earthmother pulled the curtain back. Inside was an alter with candles, incense and oil burners. On the wall was a very delicate and intricate carving of Laisidhiel. "This is where most rituals will begin."
"That carving was created by our very first Tree Shaper." Earthmother said towards Takis.
"Vanya, do you know what it means to be the Seer for the Faun?"
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Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 11:04 pm
"Don't do what?" the Faeling asked Caleigh, confused again. Then, she grinned widely once more, distracted upon hearing her name. "Thank you! Caleigh is really pretty too! So, what does Cal need? You don't seem injured..." she muttered, looking the Faun over. "Did you come for a spa tre--" she froze, sniffing the air, then a worried look crossed her face. "Uh oh...you didn't..."
Looking quite fearful, the Faeling suddenly darted off, almost visibly shaking. She was gone into the next room and out of sight before Caleigh would have even had a chance to respond.
Silence, for a few moments...then a voice like thunder echoing through the rooms of the healing house...
"...she WHAT?!?"
Within seconds, a larger creature, but still a Fae of some sort, burst into the room, anger practically radiating off of her tiny form. "You dare come into my domain...my home...and dishonor me with this...this...AUGH!" She made a noise of pure frustration, gesturing wildly at Caleigh and the small puddle forming on the floor.
She was dressed in a prim, proper fashion; in a style one might expect of royalty, and yet simplified, as if for daily wear, where the ruffles and frills might normally get in the way. She carried an air of power about her, strange perhaps for one so small, but if the Faelings hovering, or cowering, at the entrance to the room was any indication, she held quite a bit of sway around here. Enough to incite fear in the healing house workers.
"I don't know what you could possibly be here for, and I don't care," she quipped brisky, anger apparent in her voice. She turned, snapping her fingers twice as she spoke. "But I'll not hear a word out of you until you clean up this mess!"
A number of Faelings bobbed into the room, carrying a large bucket of soapy water, rags, and brushes between them. The items were set before the Faun, and the larger, angry Fae continued to glare at her. "Well, what are you waiting for? Get busy!"
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Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 11:18 pm
Caleigh widened her eyes, frozen to the same spot where she apparently dishonored this... big looking fae. "Ok," she squeaked, grabbing the rag quickly enough to soak up the floor before dumping it into the bucket. She then dumped the brush into the soapy water and just scrubbed really hard at the spot.
"Oh the fae," she mumbled to herself, scrubbing the same spot until hands were sore and blistering. The female whimpered quietly to herself. "If I had just stayed where I was. Apples," she whispered to herself, dumping the soapy brush back into the water before going at the spot once again until it was completely gone, despite her hands aching for some relief.
Despite the Fae being smaller than her, the voice was what naturally scared her, her mind though. Caleigh put the brush back into the bucket and took a clean rag, soaking up the excess water and squeezed it back into the metal bucket before standing up. "I'm done," she winces. "I'm so sorry."
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Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 11:23 pm
Vanya paid close attention, as if there were anything else one could do when spoken to directly by the Earthmother, because deep down, she realized this was all very important. Yes, she knew that in her brain, but she also felt it now too. This was where she was supposed to be...even if some part of her still felt reluctant. Something caught her attention though, causing her to frown. '...while I healed?' Wait...healed from what exactly?
She didn't get a chance to ask, however, as the Earthmother had crossed to the strange doorways and began revealing what each concealed in turn. Reagents and tools in the first. Vanya hoped desperately that there was some sort of...Seer training course or something. She had no idea what to do with items on most of the shelves, of the few she could even identify. Yet, she nodded anyway, signaling that she was indeed paying attention.
She had to strain her eyes to peer into the second door, the one on the opposite end. Preparation room? She thought she saw the edge of a pallet caught in the light and she nodded. Well, if she'd been here so long, the Earthmother had to have somewhere to have slept, right? Made sense.
She slept, right?
The third door's revelation interrupted her tangent thoughts, and Vanya focused first on the carving on the back wall. It was delicate, beautiful, and even inspiring in its own way. Despite being a wall carving, it held some portion of the majesty and wonder of Laisidhiel itself, and Vanya couldn't help but turn and smile at Takis at the Earthmother's reference to his new title.
She hadn't time to dwell on what sorts of 'rituals' were intended for this room.
At the question, she lowered her head in shame. "I....no, I don't," she admitted honestly. "I was born and raised here in Laisidhiel, but...we never had a Seer before in my lifetime. I never heard them spoken of before either." Of course, what she was saying was probably making her sound foolish, like stating the obvious, but it was all she knew and it was the truth. Despite a feeling of dread hovering at the back of her mind, she raised her eyes and voiced the obvious question to follow.
"What does it mean to be the Seer of the Faun?"
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Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 11:31 pm
Fluttering her wings in a way that somehow implied impatience, the Fae hovered over the spot, seeming to inspect the Faun's work for a long moment...then finally nodding curtly in acceptance. She then snapped her fingers again, two Faelings answering the summons, and she ordered, "Finish drying this so no one slips and falls." They darted off to obey the order, and she turned her attention back to Caleigh, rising to head height.
"So you are," she muttered, one eyebrow raised. "Apparently you do have some manners. Imagine that," she quipped with a flick of her wrist and a roll of her eyes. She looked the Faun over again, grimacing. "You're not injured, but you're filthy. Come along," she barked, turning and leaving as if expecting to be followed. Afterall, who disobeyed her? No one in her healing house, that was for sure.
Some of the Faelings gathered around Caleigh, gesturing for her to follow, some going so far as to flit around behind and push her.
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Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 11:42 pm
"Ma'am? I am very sorry for doing that. I never had done that before. Shakey nerves," Caleigh murmured, grimacing at the push and prod by the other faelings. "I'm going, I'm going," she murmured, following the bigger Fae.
"This house is one of the best looking places I've seen, but don't trust me word, I haven't seen a lot. I prefer to hang out with apples and eat them. I just got the Matron position in Lashidiel. Now I been signed up for a wife position, which lead to all this. For my quest," she sighed, shaking her head. "I don't think I'm doing this very well."
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Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 11:58 pm
Earthmother moved to sit on the ground beside the pool, and motioned for Vanya and Takis to do the same. "Watch the pool as I speak."
Adjusting herself get a little more comfortable, she placed her staff gently beside her. "The Seer is our spiritual guide. I can tell you about the Seer of our past, so you may get an idea of what to expect, but always keep in mind, that while you may be a reborn hero, you are also still you, and your future has not been written in stone and you are free to carve your own path as Seer."
Earthmother touched the pool of water with just the tip of her index finger, causing ripples to reach the pair where they sat. The water became foggy and lights could be seen at the bottom, where there were none before. When Earthmother removes her finger, the fog clears to reveal a very faint image in the water.
The image is a scene of Telrunya, and Laisidhiel can be seen in the distance. There are pae'il everywhere, of all kinds. Far more pae'il that any living pae'il may have seen in their lifetime. There are even some Pae'il that have been lost to history, indicating that this scene is merely a snapshot of the past.
"That is Telrunya hundreds of years ago, before War ripped the island apart." with another delicate touch of the water, the scene shifted to that of a faun, standing on the island in front of the Great Tree. His blonde hair, and tan fur looking very familiar to anyone who knows Rais, or Earthmother.
"That is Arda. Our first leader. My son." She spoke softly, holding back the emotion that threatened to spill over when she spoke the name. "He was not only the strongest Faun, but the strongest Pae'il to ever live. Strong of body, strong of heart, and strong of spirit. Standing by his side, is his Circle." There were four faun, two on each side of Arda, as fierce and brave looking as Arda himself.
"The five of them--of you--were closer than siblings, protecting each other, and so loyal to each other. Arda loved the four of you so much." By this time, Earthmother's tears could not be held back. She did not sob, but remained strong as a few tears streamed down her cheeks.
She left the image of Arda and his Inner Circle there for Vanya. "The Roots, as he was called back then, had the unique ability to speak to the spirits directly, for he was the only one on the island with the vision to see the spiritual world. In the spiritual world, emotions are key, and are usually the only remnants of our long lost ancestors. Many spirits retain all of the knowledge they gain in their mortal life, as that is the only thing we are allowed to take with us. Spirits can travel at the speed of thought, and having that resource is valuable for us, in order to live good, peaceful and prosperous lives."
Earthmother paused for a moment, taking in a deep breath. "The connection to the spirit world also gives you a connection to Laisidhiel like Rais and I have. The Roots was also our greatest healer. With his connection to the spirits, and to Laisidhiel, he can heal any Pae'il. You will become a teacher, aiding those Pae'il, not just faun, that seek knowledge in the healing arts. As Seer, Vanya, you alone will be able to use the Great Tree's dew." She motioned over the pool with both hands. "It is the nectar of life."
Smiling again, she looks at Vanya. "Your most important job will be to counsel Rais. Provide for him the guidance he requires, and to help him make the right decisions. He is a stubborn faun, but you of all faun, will be able to make him bend. He will have a hard time of it at first, because you are female, but don't give up on him, no matter how frustrated you may become."
"The last part of the wife ritual will require you to commune with the spirits. Your first service to Rais is to help him make the right decision with the proper fauness." She said softly, worried, because there is only one way for Vanya to see and speak with the spirits, and there was a chance Vanya would not want to do it.
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Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 7:31 am
Gulliver leaned against a wall listening to the goings on upon the dias, it wasn't until the ladies started their tasks that the male moved again. He had wanted to talk to Rais but it appeared that he was busy now, then he thought about talking to Earthmother but as he moved away from the wall and towards her she moved down and started to talk to another of the announced council. He watched her leave and then turned his gaze to other faun around him. Stopping near a few he spoke up "Been exciting, and interesting meeting so far" he said to the nearest one with a nod.
((don't know who he is talking to, anyone not off on a task is welcome to reply))
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Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 8:11 am
Vanya spent a long time staring at the images in the pool, her mind whirling with all the information being thrown at her at once. It was so much to take in, but shouldn't she know all this already? Being a reborn hero and whatnot? Then again, who really knew how these things worked...not she at least. Some facts seemed like they might feel a little familiar...and the rest alien, as if hearing it all for the first time.
The image of Rai--no, Arda with his Circle was striking, and not just because of the resemblance to the modern day leader. They seemed a powerful, unstoppable force, standing together like a protective wall to guard the rest of the Faun under their care. A tiny, but strong army in itself. A brotherhood.
A family.
Pushing the old, familiar ache down, Vanya looked up from the image pool at last. While looking at the strange faces, she'd wondered, which she was supposed to have been. Wouldn't she know her own face? Err...the face of a previous life? None of them in particular had caught her attention more than the others, so she'd simply committed the image to memory, to call up in the future if ever she wanted to try again. When she looked up, she was surprised to see tears on the Earthmother's face. She was still getting used to the whole 'socializing with others' thing, but the sight made her chest ache deep within. She felt she should do something, but what? What would Takis do in her case?
Hoping it was the right sort of gesture for comfort, Vanya reached over the pool to lay what she hoped was a comforting hand on the Earthmother's shoulder. She was silent before starting to ask questions, but perhaps steering the topic a bit might help. "You said...something about a war?" she questioned, frowning. "Is it the same from the stories I used to hear at bedtime? I was always told that Arda was a brave warrior, hero to our people and protector in time of need. He was a champion for protecting us...but the stories were always vague as to what it was from which we needed to be protected. Maybe it's just in the nature of children's stories," she mused, half to herself in thought. "Leave out the details of all the bad things, so you're left with happy stories of good people and heroism."
She was curious about this war, but also about other things the Earthmother had told her about 'herself.' The things she would be able to do! Communicating with spirits? What would that be like? It sounded a bit frightening, but, if knowledge were all that the spirits were left to keep in their forms, wouldn't that make them very wise, knowledgable entities? Maybe that was the true secret behind the Seer's wisdom; he was the only one who could talk to such beings and share their vast knowledge.
And healing abilities? That was almost enough to make the young woman leap with joy. For so long, she'd lived in fear that one day, she would lose control over the chaotic energies that seemed supernaturally drawn to her. She was terrified that one day, those energies would break loose and hurt someone else. It'd almost happened before...that was one of the reasons she'd been so afraid to return to the Great Tree in the first place. Nevermind that in her head, she knew that none of it was her fault; that she couldn't be faulted as a child for forces beyond her control that just seemed drawn to her. But for some reason, in her heart, she always felt guilty, and she'd devoted her energy since that time to developing and practicing the ritual which kept the chaotic energies bound, if only temporarily.
She realized she wouldn't ever be rid of her 'curse', which would have been an ideal solution. However, what was the next best thing? Even if something were to happen and someone were accidentally harmed...what if she could immediately come to their aid with healing arts? It wouldn't make up completely for what she'd done...but it would certainly help. Physical wounds could be healed much easier than mental ones. She knew that well enough from experience.
Staring down at the rune sigils burned into her palms, the symbols of her dark power, she lightly traced the finger of one hand over the palm of the other. Yes...balance would be an acceptable solution. It could make all this completely worth it, no matter what else she had to do. She would have to counsel Rais, offering advice and wisdom in times of need. While she knew she wasn't stupid by any means, she wasn't sure she was the wisest Faun in Laisidhiel either. Would she really be able to offer useful counsel to the Chieftain of the Faun? Maybe...if the spirits were as knowledgable and as willing to share that wisdom as previously implied.
Folding her hands in her lap, Vanya gave a subtle nod and looked up with a serious expression. "There are many good candidates for Chief Rais' wife. What do I need to do to help with this decision?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 8:23 am
"Blah blah blah," came the mocking tone from up ahead. "Great Guardians, child, if only you walked as fast as you talked!" She was obviously tied up in her own thoughts, and not listening to a word Caleigh said.
One of the Faelings that was hovering around the hyena-colored Faun leaned in to whisper in her ear," Just do whatever the High Matriarch says, and everybody will be okay...okay?" He offered her a sheepish grin, then a furtive glance towards the Matriarch up ahead, as if making sure she didn't hear, then he fluttered off again.
The Matriarch had led them to some sort of humid, steamy room with a bath in the middle filled with scented, soapy water. "In she goes," the Matriarch commented matter-of-factly, waving her hand in a dismissive manner. As if by magic, and perhaps it was, a large number of Faelings appeared as if out of the woodwork itself, gathering around Caleigh. The little creatures each laid their hands on her...
...lifted her into the air...
...and dumped her unceremoniously into the bath.
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Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 8:47 am
Takis is sincerely flattered that the Earthmother thought him a fit enough companion for Vanya, who was clearly about to be catapulted to a high standing in this faun society, that she would invite him to be a witness to the ritual that was about to take place.
He follows along with the two women, never letting go of Vanya's hand, into the mural room. Unlike Vanya, who seemed hesitant to look around the room, Takis has a hard time remaining calm and still, for he wants to touch everything around him. The room itself is gorgeous, and fills him with joy. He can sense that the room is full of magic, and his curious nature makes him want to explore, but he knows that this is not his time, but Vanya's. He is here as her companion, to support her and calm her.
And so he remains silent through the Earthmother's story, though he listens carefully to retain details that Vanya may be too distracted to remember. He is excited to know what his own duties will be; the Earthmother had mentioned that the altar had been created by the previous Tree Shaper, and that definitely intrigues him.
He notices that the Earthmother's demeanor had become a little more nervous, which strikes Takis as strange, but again, he remains silent and just observes. He wonders what she could possibly be nervous about, here in this calming room.
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Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 2:27 pm
Caleigh sighed, giving up on ever persuading the Fae and just picked up the slack that she was trailing behind. It wasn't until they arrived to a rather steamy room that she blinked, raising her eyebrow and looked at the High Matriarch. Her skin had little goosebumps on it, she was nervous, for sure definitely as to what the next thing this royality Fae is going to do to her.
But that came too soon as the spotted hyena was lifted and dumped her into the bath. "AH!" she shrieked, popping up with soap all over her. "Water! she gasped, trying to get the soap off her face, rubbing it off. "What? This is totally uncalled for," the female muttered to herself, looking up. "You know... I don't even know who you are, but you seem to be the queen here. I like your look."
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