Welcome to Gaia! ::

Alistar was drawn by the sound of the whistle blasts. The zebrataur galloped rapidly down the winding ways of the carnival to the front gate. He kicked up small stones in his passing and left small gouges in the ground with his hooves when he came to a halt. Alistar blinked at the sight of the strange sort of creature outside the gates. Immediately he looked to the guards, but he sensed nothing cursed about the creature. Alistar trotted to the gate itself and placed a hand upon it. He had caught only part of the introduction. "Worthy? Just how would you determine such a thing?"

At the appearance of the Hellhounds, the bixie stepped back ever so slightly. They smelled like demons. Something by nature a bixie is to purge from the world. Then a few more Pockettu came up to the gate and drew the attention of the creature once again. "...My master senses all I sense. My sight is his. My hearing his own. As long as our connection is not broken, he will be able to judge."

The bixie eyed each of the gate's guardians. Its gaze lingered on the Hellhounds for a few milliseconds longer than the others. "Is there an official of higher ranking I may speak to? I mean no offense, residents and guests of the carnival, but my master's name is not one to speak upon a breath heard by many." Its eyes glanced outwards into the surroundings of the carnival. "There may be trouble lurking where eys cannot see... I do not wish to bring such trouble with my return home."

Alistar let his gaze sweep over the group that had come to answer the whistles call. The lent aid of the Hellhound goddess and other carnies like himself. Alistar didn't think anyone here was more important then anyone else. Still, the centaur was not one of those quiet shy sorts in the least. He pawed the ground with one hoof and nodded his head slightly in partial agreement with Garms suggestion. He waved his hand towards the two Hellhound followers.

"You two. I know you were watching above." Alistar motioned to Sheelob and Garm. "And Scorch and Kriss. I know you are guarding the gate. I am the most reasonable choice as an escort. Unless any of you others want to come as a guard." He suggested, then turned to the creature at the gate. "I am Alistar, I can escort you inside to a place more safe then the gates while we see about getting someone of better rank to talk to you. Since we are on high alert there's always a chance of an attack, and it wouldn't be very hospitable of us to make a potential ally linger somewhere they can get caught in crossfire. I am sure we can get ahold of Sekan or one of the Lords children to come talk to you."

The bixie listened to them discuss their next course of action. The creature waited patiently for the answer. Occasionally it would glance around to recheck its surroundings. It would not force the issue of entering the gate if they felt uncomfortable despite it would be the wiser option for both parties. A gathering by the gates was sure to draw attention both inside the Carnival and outside. Yet it was out of the bixie's hands to decide for them.

Italia looked up at seeing something in the distance. It was one of Hexynia's hellhounds. She watched as Cinder landed and nodded when she was told to approach the gates. With haste she left to the location where everyone was gathering and it was there she found the reason for a commotion. "...I am Italia, the daughter of the God of this carnival. Who are you and why are you here?"

The bixie waited patiently and soon its patience would bear fruit. The God's daughter, Italia made her way through the small crowd. "Ah... ni hao, daughter of the carnival." It bowed its head slightly in respect. "My master has sent me to seek out if you are worthy enough for his aid or not."

Italia blinked at the foreign language. Could this creature belong to Chiyoko? She spoke with strange words at times. Yet this thing didn't seem fox-like. Then the master was revealed to be a he.. Hm.. Puzzled, she crossed her arms. "If we're worthy or not? I'm sorry but we're kind in a rock and a hard place right now. I can't really let you see my father."

The bixie shook his head. "I mean no disrespect. You see my master cannot intervene without knowing if it is his place to do so or not. What is shall be." The creature got up to its feet. "I understand your reason for caution."

Italia sighed and scratched the back of her head. "I really don't get it. Who is your master? And what exactly does he need to know if he wants to help or not? If he does, he should. If he doesn't, then don't. I don't have time to play mind games as much as I love them."

The bixie simply smiled. It understood her hesitation, her frustration, and growing annoyance. It wished it could be more clear yet as a familiar it would follow its master's orders to a T. "All I shall reveal is my master has recently awoken from his slumber. If the situation is calling for my master to step forth and aid, he shall. If the situation is a act of karma... I am afraid we will not help. What is-"

"Shall be..?" Italia blinked. "Okay... okay. I kinda get it..." She sighed again and looked at the others. "How would you know if we're worthy or some victim of karma?"

The bixie watched the group. "My eyes are my master's. My hearing his. I shall simply know."

Italia nodded a bit and stepped closer to the gate. "I'll let you in. But you cannot see my father."

The bixie waited patiently and when the gates were opened he began to step forwards. Yet as one foot stepped over into the carnival realm, it stopped. Almost hesitating. "...There is a dark presence in your carnival. Things that should not have been have entered here." It decided to take another step and took a few seconds before continuing. "Has your lord been acting strange?" The creature did not ask Italia, but asked the others gathered around.

Scorch didn't like this one bit. The thing was saying they might not be worthy of the aid of whoever this new god was? Who the heck was some new god to judge them and their god, who'd been around longest of them all? All the while his mind was running through these thoughts his fists were still flaming and he was glaring daggers into the bixie. But he backed up as the gates were opened and the thing allowed inside, much to his disapproval. He saw its hesitation and as it mentioned a dark presence, he wondered what it meant. The fact that Venezia was an evil god, technically? Or....maybe it was due to that cursed that stayed here for a while? Nah....that silly cursed couldn't have caused a strong enough presence for this thing to sense... could it? "What Alistar said," he finally chimes in. "If he's not acting odd, there's something wrong with him." He agreed with the centaur's assessment of him being sad lately, but didn't think that could have anything to do with this either. "Any dark presence had to be caused by whoever or whatever attacked him," he says with a firm nod.



Kriss was really in awe of the thing. It was a masterful illusion, and he wondered how much of its behavior was the 'master' controlling it from afar, or its own sentience. He tried to follow the conversation it had with Italia, though, frowning at some new god feeling like he could judge their worthiness or not. Though at the comment of the dark presence, he hesitated. He himself had worried over Venezia letting a cursed in their carnival, and thought maybe he didn't take the cursed threat seriously enough, with all the other things going on in the world. Though he wouldn't admit it to anyone, he had had doubts about Venezia's sanity as of late. Well, more so than usual. The fact the carnival hadn't been open in..well, a long time, as well as some other things, had made the illusionist ponder leaving a while back. But he'd held on. He had to trust in his faith in Venezia. He just hoped this creature wouldn't rattle he or any other's faith with this pending judgement...

Italia went to reply but found the creature paying no mind to any word she would try to speak. Instead she chose to shut up and listen to what the others had to say. It was true her father was quite sullen lately. Quite bothersome if you ask her... While the events had hurt her as well, she chose not to dwell on it. Her father dappled in the thoughts more and more.

The bixie gave a solemn nod and peered down one of the runways. "A being created of taint has been in these lands. It has walked on the soil we currently stand upon." The creature began to circle around the group slowly, each step slow, and almost calculated - as if it were avoiding something. "Your God has let the enemy within these gates. He has brought this upon himself."

Italia's fur bristled. "But!"

The bixie looked at her and shook its head. "While he is suffering for his mistakes, does this mean his followers should as well?" His eyes wandered over the group. "...My master has informed me that while he will not help your God directly... If any of you do not wish to see the light of war you may find temporary sanctuary on our lands. If you wish to protect your lord... and find yourself tainted... He shall free you of the plague in your soul."

Italia blinked. "What are you going on about...?"

The bixie bowed respectfully to the group. "We fear you may see sooner than later. Take care."

Italia frowned. "What if we need your help..? We don't even know who your master is!"

The bixie gave a light chuckle at the question. "When you need to know the way and which path to take... My master shall know. He will come to you should you allow it." And with that the creature vanished. A small paper talisman lingered in the air for a moment before bursting into flames. The ashes soon ceased to exist and no trace of the creature remained save for the words it spoke.