@Avenging-Angel @Uriel1339 "What it is that may attack us is not to important. The fact that something may come in and investigate or attack, that is what is important," Talshin said in a very matter of fact way. It was not in a condescending way, but just in a way that clearly conveyed his opinion on the matter. He then look a deep breath and slowly exhaled, looking out into their surroundings, before speaking to Astarielle and Yareli, "So,s since we have first watch and plenty of time, I suppose now is as good a time as any to get to know each other, yes?" His voice carried a very awkward and uncomfortable tune, that may have shown that this was not something he would normally say.
Iktomi Before The return of the Chance was a lively one to be sure. While battle was second nature to them, it seemed communication was still a chore for the Eldarkin. Yareli was defending herself against those they considered allies. While she had been struck by their foe, the wound was shallow and like all wounds was a lesson to be learned from. 'You'd almost think slaying a Dragon was a harmless endevor.' Iktomi thought as he cleaned his saber. The fresh blood was nearly vanished by the time he started. 'A self cleaning blade. Why can't we all be so blessed?' Arriving at the ship site, where a large fire and two new Dire Avengers waited to greet them. "Hmm, it would seem a thought my Orbo is kicking in or are there two new faces?" Upon hearing of there arrival, Iktomi only grew more suspicious of this Artarsi and Alo. 'Well that leaves me no choice.' The Felarch thought as he departed from the group to follow Morvan into the Chance. Leaving to think and to wait for his buzz to fade. Later The smell of cooking meat lured Iktomi from his self imposed exile to the Chance. Llyr weaving through the Felarch with stollen meat in his mouth, probably with the intent to feed the Warlock. Iktomi's deep mediation evolving into a well rested power nap, so he was ready for his two favorite activities. Dinning and fighting! While the first was easy enough, with meat to spare, the second proved more difficult. Faerkon was no where to be seen. 'Typical Rangers' he thought. Avrielle, Morvan, and even Amriel had taken to dream. Astarielle and Yareli were sharing in music and in doing so, filling the air with their music. "How could I never know she had such ability... what a cruel fool I must be." Iktomi said as he turned away from it and her. Near the Lake, Iktomi observed the pained Alos speak with the quiet Talshin. Simple enough as it was brief. No sooner had he held his gaze, Talahin was retreating towards the Chance. 'Perhaps he felt my eyes upon him... well, eye?' It mattered little to the Iadanna. Finally, Iktomi decided who it would be. Iktomi searched for their resident Exodite, Talis. @BadDo9
@Avenging-Angel | @matt23 "I would like that, Scorpion." Yareli said with an optimistic smile to the nicer of the Aspect Warriors - as far as she could tell. She has appreciated his opinion on the foe and acknowledged he was very right so. The fact frost snakes could awaken at night and skidder around in search for prey was as dangerous as a fully grown sea serpent that could devour The Chance. "If we would go in alphabetic order, Astarielle would be first to tell more of herself and her time Biel-Tan." She winked at the fellow woman.
@Uriel1339 & @matt23 | Astarielle glared at Yareli with good nature, briefly trying to assemble her thoughts, before starting to speak. "I'm the youngest of three children, both of them were on the Path of the Warrior when I left, and my parents were part of Biel-tan's support, if that's what you want to call it. They weren't really interested in me though, they'd seen it twice before, and most children growing up spend a larger part of childhood training for war." Astarielle's voice was tinged by a hint of resentment whenever she talked of her family, although careful listeners would also hear a bit of respect as well. "My first act after reaching adulthood was to join a Banshee shrine and after a period there I left to pass my knowledge on to a new generation. I swapped between the two for decades, always spending more time as a Banshee, until it was pointed out to me a few years ago. At that point I left Biel-tan and have travelled ever since, until I arrived at Lugganath and joined the Arcadia, just before it set out on its quest for Eldanesh's Sword." [OOC: I'm aware that I'm probably making up a lot here. Apologies if some of it is wrong.]
@matt23 | @Avenging-Angel "Well that is an interesting lifestyle. There are not many parents these days anymore who have more than two children. At least that is not very common on Mymeara. Though it would explain how Biel-Tan can carry so many warriors into battle." Yareli nodded approvingly and then gestured towards Talshin. "What about you, Scorpion of the night? May you tell us about your family, interests and activities outside of your shrine duty?" Yareli inquired with a soft smile, eager to learn but not overly bright to be unreasonably happy. here was a balance in all things, especially communication.
@Uriel1339 @Avenging-Angel Talshin looked to Astarielle and nodded, "Interesting." He then looked to Yareli, who had asked the question he feared would distance him further from the others. However, he knew at some point he would have to and so he spoke in a very monotone voice, "Family...that is an interesting word for it. If by family, you mean the ones I share common genes with, then I have one. If you mean family as in ones who showed love, support, and attention, then I do not have what you ask. At any rate, my only interest on Ulthwé, for as long as I can remember, is the art of war. We lack many luxuries on Ulthwé due to the constant attacks. I suppose this is how and why I got so focused on fighting the denizens of the Warp. It was and, at times, still is all I can think about. I suppose that is why I was sent on a -pilgrimage- to search out what I am lacking, which is a great many things I'm told. That is also why this armor is black, a sign of the burden of a pilgrim in such of something."
@Uriel1339 | Astarielle was slightly shocked by Talshin's words, by how he described his upbringing. Her parents might have ignored her but there were still those (her siblings, some of her tutors) who'd cared about her. There did seem to be some similarities between her and Talshin, their craftworlds' pre-occupation with war and why they both left their homes chief among them, but Astarielle put them out of mind, intending to dwell on them later, and turned to Yareli. "Come on then. You've heard our stories now what about yours?
It was a beautiful night as the sun set over the mountains surrounding the lake. The stars gleamed above, stars in a strange sky yet a peaceful reminder of the heavens the Eldar once knew. And around the campfire, those on watch or simply enjoying the moment swapped tales of their life at home. Lysandriax had retired, and soon Alo went to find himself a bunk - there was still one free. Avrielle quietly entered shortly afterwards, trying not to wake the sleepers. The Chance had room for four beds, but space enough for everyone to sleep inside, as well as a small restroom and shower, for those who preferred warmer water to a clear mountain lake. There were some warm travel rugs in a small locker in eclectic colours, a legacy of some nameless Corsair's trip to an exotic market in some distant corner of the galaxy. All in all, a safe and fairly comfortable place to spend the night - inside, at least. The first watch beside the lake took a turn without incident, the shallow lake waters teeming with dusk-feeding wildfowl and the pterosaurs overhead turning in to roost. Yareli, Astarielle and Talshin were not troubled by any ill omens or signs of imminent attack, and the watch passed to the next trio. Morvan had emerged only briefly, to announce that he would be staying with the Chance to facilitate the communication with the Arcadia and the party. It was deemed prudent, given the effort involved, that he not be given a watch. Llyr accompanied him, his cheerful self-appointed guardian. Faenkon, Alo and Avrielle were up next to watch, with the eyes of Faenkon's drone ever upon the surroundings. Truly, a useful gift from the Ancients and perhaps, even now being replicated upon distant Lugganath. It was midnight, and the zenith stars brought with them a chill mountain breeze and a late dusting of snow. Artarsi, Lysandriax and Iktomi were due for the third watch, and the embers of a glowing fire provided them with some warmth in the chilly night. Lysandriax added a little more fuel, fanning the flames back to life. "We should have woken the Fire Dragon." She held her hands to the blaze. "But I guess his turn comes tomorrow night." The sleepers inside the Chance were cosy enough, but there was a common thread of disquieting dreams. the lakeside was not unpleasant as a place to rest in itself, but the cawing of the pterosaurs at dawn was disquieting and the unfamiliar environment was unsettling to those less familiar with the untrammeled wilds of a natural countryside, it was ... unpredictable. Talis was up early, coaxing the embers of the firepit into life and setting water to boil. He had collected some pollen from the abundant reeds along the shore, and, with some of the fat from the rock-serpent and a little salt, he was making an accompaniment to breakfast that smelled delicious. "Today ..." the young Exodite didn't sound too confident in speaking up, but he managed a small smile as Avrielle sat next to the fireside, "we go on into the mountains?" @Uriel1339 @kanila @MetalDog4 @DaKaptin @BadDo9 @Avenging-Angel @matt23 @Wata @ItsTime
~~ Before ~~ @matt23 | @Avenging-Angel "I can imagine it was difficult to share, I appreciate your trust." Yareli said serious, somewhat melancholic towards Talshin but a soft smile crossed her lips as Astarielle had not quite forgotten about her. "My story, mh? Quite a mix like a rainbow. Let me just give you a brief glimpse into the entirety of my life and mayhaps you will ask about details which you are more eager to learn about." She took a deep breath, straightened her posture and placed her hands flat on her lap. "I was given birth by a beautiful woman who was loving at heart and talented in music, writing and many other things. Her spouse, my father, a Warlock at the time, has granted her to give that life. I am the youngest of three girls. She passed before I had came to age of any memories. It drove my father to become a Farseer, being lost on the path. While my sisters treated me harsh and held me to higher standards than themselves. My aunt took often care of me. She was a Swooping Hawk by the time I had my 100th birthday. Now she is a Banshee, she taught me many things. The only woman who would talk to me about my mother, really talk about her. I guess because she was her sister. This ocarina." She lifted the piece from earlier. "It belonged to my mother. But nevermind that... Where was I.... Ah yes!" The Mymearean took another deep breath, rubbing her thighs, leaving a pause - steadying her mind. "Several decades later, I was like... Mhh... I don't quite remember how old I was... But it was 105 years ago." She was too occupied with memories to make the calculations. "The Betalis Campaign. A giant warhost of Mymeareans were gathered with allies from three corsair fleets to recover Iryllith the Phoenix Lord of the Shadow Spectres, hero and saviour of our Craftworld in ancient tales. It was as bright as it was dark of weeks and months. Even the mighty Engines of Vaul were awoken to save a single set of armor. The reason I tell you this? I was young and left home as the only one of my family. Even my sisters went alongside our father as Guardians. I had received training too, even if my performance was underwhelming. I expressed my desire. But I was grounded. Even my aunt left. Everyone of my friends and family left and I was left alone, praying everyday to Isha to watch over them, protect them. To guide them safely home. And lucky as I was they did. Even if I lost many friends and have heard so many new orphans having come forth, important people having passed and so much more. Even after a hundred years, the craftworld felt so much emptier..." The Noblewoman sighed, not out of sadness but relief, to share those feelings for once. "My father, my sisters and this time not even my aunt would never speak of what happened. I saw Iryllith during one of the meetings walking amongst us when I was on what we called celebrations of victory, even though it was more an honor of the fallen... It was an impressive sight to see a Phoenix Lord march. And after so much time eventually one day it spurred in me once more. The fact that it seemed I was being handled for whatever reason like some ornament that was too precious to be used or risked... I had enough of it. I just had finished my diplomatic studies and I didn't know what to do... So I grabbed the blade I was gifted once from my aunt, alongside with my mother's instrument, my personal robes and headed for the webway. I simply ran away in the seek of adventure and desire to find my place. To not be kept prisoner anymore, to live my life. To teach all of Mymeara that I am not a frail damsel but a proper adult who can fend for herself." She smiled brightly at her friends next to her, glad to have found companions who were willing and interested to learn more about her. ~~ Now ~~ @Jorimel @kanila @MetalDog4 @DaKaptin @BadDo9 @Avenging-Angel @matt23 @Wata @ItsTime Waiting for others - Yareli is still sleeping.
-BEFORE- @Uriel1339 Talshin listened closely as Yareli shared her life's story. It was much more detail than he had thought would be shared, and she had even mentioned that this was a brief description. Talshin spoke in a somewhat saddened sounding voice, "So much to remember. And I am sure there is even more that you have not shared to save time. You have many things to cling onto, to keep you grounded. It almost makes me envious, though I hate to admit it. With me, if there was peace within the galaxy and war was no longer needed, I would have nothing. Perhaps it is time for me to begin a story of my own. Thank you for sharing all that, Yareli. It has given me a great deal to think on." -AFTER- Talshin laid down for a little while, though it took him a little more than an hour to fall asleep. Yareli's story had given him much to think about and reflect upon his own meaningless life. 'Had this been what they wanted me to find? Do they wish for me to find more meaning to life than war?' He thought to himself as he stared at the ceiling of the ship. Thankfully, he finally fell asleep and was able to rest his body and, more importantly, his mind. The body of a warrior needed no one to wake him, for his body knew when it was recharged. To sleep any longer would be a sign of laziness, in his mind, and furthermore a waste of time. So, Talshin made his way out of the ship and began his morning stretches and exercises. A warrior's body was a knife and to let it dull make it useless.
