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Kiyelt Post 1

Ki rolled his eyes at his overeager companion. Then again he knew what he had been getting into when he plucked her from her disturbingly large family in Jauhar; a warrioress. He had lost count of the battles they had fought side by side in, against one estranged faction or another. The big shifter was missing however, maybe he had drowned in his own kids. Kiyelt had no spawn to protect but it was not for lack of trying.

So here he was protecting everyone else instead and saddling himself with the slightly insane, hyper female beside him. "Iro you know we don't know where to start looking, we checked where they used to be from your memories and found nothing so have a lick of patience and sit tight, it will start soon and we can continue on with our day."

"Hello son, names Kiyelt, and this is Iroia don't mind her she needed to go for a better run this morning."

Rainier || Post 2

Rainier was trying to remain aloof and disinterested from the curious whispers surging through the crowd, but his ears twitched, and a dusky blush rose to his cheeks as inevitable attention turned to the other outsider in their midst. His brow creased at some of the language used, he thought many of them looked rather strange and frightening at first, had in fact spent most of his life being taught that outsiders were terrifying bogeyman to be avoided, but that hadn't stopped him from walking their streets and healing their ill. He had known suffering, he could not turn away from someone in pain simply out of fear. So he kept a handle on it, did his cleansing ceremonies every night, and did his best to hide his discomfort. Rain supposed the anonymity of the crowd freed some peoples tongues. He hadn't made much of a habit of hiding his heritage since arriving in Oba, but he was beginning to find so much attention directed his way at once to be rather intolerable. He drew up his hood and tucked his hair underneath, wishing the leaders would get on with their discussion so he could return to the room he was renting. Rainier knew he wanted to hear what they had to say about his sister's kidnappers, this was the best opportunity for him to learn something about where to begin his search now that he was on the mainland. Unfortunately, that meant gritting his teeth and bearing the scrutiny.

He glanced up as someone stepped towards him, feeling a moment of panic as he wondered if this was the moment his cover would be blown. The Yaeli would know he had lost something integral and would demand that he remain in this alien landscape. No. He pushed down the panic and muttered a small prayer under his breath. He was trying to lay low, no need to launch into a panic attack in the middle of the crowd.

"Hello," he offered awkwardly to the earthling who approached, trying to look braver than he felt. He had never seen anyone like her before, then again, he had never seen much of the world before. He really hoped he would grow used to surprises.

Shavas || Post 1

Shavas wasn't really sure what all the fuss was about over the Dretch, but her father and brother had insisted on coming to the capitol for the meeting, so of course she decided to join. Dragging her quiet new friend along with her like a well worn, well loved teddy bear, not particularly thinking about whether Prala wanted to come to the capitol. Who wouldn't? So along she came.

Only to disappear that morning before it was even time to leave. Her family, upon learning more about this 'Dretch' threat had forbidden her in no uncertain terms to leave on her own. So of course, she had promised to obey, returned to her rooms, and slipped out the window. Frankly, they deserved to return and find her gone, how stupid could you be after almost 15 years? When had she ever bowed to a command so easily? She was a bit insulted, now that she thought about that more.

Shavas shoved her way through the crowd, smiling innocuously at those who turned to snap at her for her rudeness and caressing a cheek here and there for emphasis, leaving a trail of bewildered souls in her wake. She chuckled to herself and hummed as she tried to see over the crowd towards the Yaeli at the front. How strange they appeared! She could hardly see more than their shockingly purple hair and glowing eyes, but it was enough to make her let out a low whistle.

As she passed, she heard a mutter, Some of yours have made it from across the shore… and turned to locate the source. A rather large man stood across from her along with a chattering older man that she promptly ignored and, much more interestingly, another Yaeli, right here in front of her.
She sashayed up to the trio of men and peered up at the tallest, tilting her head as she considered him. "You're just about the tallest man I've ever seen." She pronounced with aplomb, before turning to the smaller of the two. "And you're one of the Yaeli, aren't you?" It wasn't really a question, but it seemed polite to ask. She peered up at them from under her bangs."

Zekiel | 1

Zekiel had not intended ever to leave Yael—even for the briefest period. It was his home, and the island of his gods. It was where he belonged, and particularly as a Chosen, it was not his place to stray far. Yet, like a bucket once clear but with silt at the base that had been shaken, things in the world now were greatly astir, both on his own land, and elsewhere. He had personally witnessed one of his own class, the Sanctum’s children, be taken away by these shadow demons the mainlanders called ‘Dretch’ and for all his prayer, he did not know yet what that meant for their path forward.

He trusted his gods. But he was not certain these creatures were their creation to begin with, and that instilled in him a particular wariness unusual to his character.

A very small, very private part of him had to admit he likely wouldn’t have made the trek at all, though, if not for Tacrith. He didn’t intend to leave. He had known beforehand that there was going to be a journey to the foreigner’s shore, and that one of their more seasoned priests would lead the path. Invitations to participate had been scattered among both the people and the clergy, though it was not expected as a necessity from any of them, and he certainly had much to do at home, where he belonged.

He had intended to remain in Ilidan.

Then, Tacrith had vanished. He had tended to his home and looked out for his affairs, said his prayers and still thought he would stay. His people still needed him, after all. The elder two priestesses, however, who had tended his temple before him and taught him what he knew about the day to day affairs of managing the village, were — while not actively a part of his maintenance of the temple anymore — still about such that he often spoke with them for advice, counseling, and aid.

They had noted, before he was even willing to admit it himself, that something was amiss and his focus was off. When pressed, he conceded that he had always been curious about the far shore, but not thought it his place—more importantly in their mind, however, they emphasized and he confirmed: he was not afraid. While many, they said, would be. Enough talk eventually convinced him that although it was not his destiny to stray far, if he felt the pull now, there was no sense in denying it.

His gods would watch out for him, and he could be there for his people in a way many would be uncomfortable doing. So, at the last possible opportunity, he had informed the Sanctum he would make the trip. His duties were arranged for to be managed by the retiring priestesses who had come before him, and Zekiel prepared himself to make the longest journey he had ever embarked on.

He had never set foot on foreign soil.

And for all the stories he had heard of it and all he had dreamed of it, he never imagined he would. Yet, their ship like a floating lantern in the night had made its way over the bobbing waves and currents, delivering them eventually en masse at their intended destination. Many aboard had been ill with nerves, and Zekiel found himself busy enough along the way simply talking with those of his company: why they were going, their fears, what they had lost, what they hoped to gain, and the gods’ dominion over it all. All through it, while others spoke of nausea and fear, Zekiel only felt a strange, buzzing energy in his chest, aflutter with curiosity.

Was he headed in the right direction?

By the time the time shore came into sight, he felt he must be, but it did nothing to still the racing of his heart as his boots first touched down on foreign soil. All the faces were so very, very different, the accents that bubbled up from the crowd strange, the stares many, and the very air strange in its scent and feel.

He was not home anymore.

But perhaps, for this moment at least, he was where he needed to be.

Alassiel
Post 1

It had been quite the news when Zran had learned that there would be Yaeli in Oba and as such they had rushed back from Juahar so that he could see them. Alassiel hadn't been too pleased since they were visiting her family, but she had relented in the end. They were meeting about the Dretch and so it would be important for her to know what was happening. She'd been doing a lot of traveling lately and had been a lot more cautious but you just never knew. The Dretch were dangerous and needed to be taken care of.

Zran had moved off to see if he could find some Yaeli contacts but Alassiel had stayed around where everyone was gathering.

Aqio Post 2

Aqio looked around the crowd for any sight of those three mentioned. He thought he saw the harpy but a blink and she was gone. He certainly saw the pup however as he was with his friend. "Pup's here with his good friend." he muttered to Shesha. "No sight on the harpy...or the Beast Lord."

He kept scanning the crowd. Then glanced to where Shesha was looking. "Interesting." he muttered. Someone Shesha would do better with it seemed. He felt a little green around the gills before he looked away.

Driidi
post two

The Oban lad watched the pair, sizing them up but doing so with a smile.

"Very nice to meet you both," he said with a nod. I'm Driidi. Not here for revenge, exactly, in fact I think I'd be more likely to run than fight if those creatures came around." He hadn't failed to notice Iroia and Kiyelt's capable stances, their.... fightiness, so he added, "Have you killed many of these Dretch?" The name sounded foreign on his tongue, and not for the first time he wondered if the bugs had chosen it for themselves or if it had been chosen for them. "I didn't even think that was possible."

Aukai Oceansoul

sorry about the waitttttt ;;

Taijana ll 1

It was no secret that Taijana wanted nothing to do with the mainland.

Despite that, she was back in Oba, with an open heart and a frenzied mind. There wasn't much reason for her to be here outside of a meeting like this, and thus, she'd remained on Yael, happy with her little family. She just wasn't meant to travel like her husband; it just wasn't in Tai to explore 'new' lands and see the world.

That being said when world of this meeting had come about she'd known that one way or another her husband would want to come, she wouldn't want to stand in his way and the girls couldn't be left on their own just yet, so...here they were. At the very least there were a fair amount of yaeli around to make it a little less awkward, but there were more mainlanders and it just....It was all just so unsettling.