Mictlan Passage: Small Stories

Mictlan's Passage was a multi-layered story series, run as roleplay ongrid. The following Small Stories emerged from it. These are presented out of order because they were tracked down after the Completed Arcs feature was implemented!

Un'eth: Ea's Breath

Currently chained to the city (in helping with its defense and relaying prior scouting observations), Uneth has found her only respite to be the peaks of the Redridge abutting the city. There, she communed with the chill, clear air. She has always considered herself sister to wind and storm, but this time, as she spoke and listeneda¦ something answered.

Over time, she came to refer to this personification of wind, water, and fury as The Breath of Ea. A tumultuous, untamed force, unbowed by even stoic, unmoving mountains, much less any group of creatures, especially humanoids. A paragon of natureas purity, unconcern, and unabated force and fury. Many of the same precepts which drew her towards The Dread Wolf. She was marked by their accord, and continued to spend much time cummining.

Others from the city en route through the mountain passes encountered her there, such as Kaj the half-giant (who hailed the North Wind), paladins in search of demons, others in search of ingredients to maintain evil baby gods entrapped, and even the Sith-Makar Shaman, Durrankar, one with whom sheas nearly always had shared interests.

In time, Eaas Breath more to her; less of fury, and more of purity. Despite the howling of the wind, it did not freeze all out of spite. It simply was. This began to make her question her own fury, which had always been such a driving force. She held good reason to distrust humanoids, and to despite the Mulaniessa. These did not change, and yet, all humanoids were not responsible, nor even ignorant. The Sith-makar and her bond with them was proof of this.

This tempering outlook was tested, abruptly and heavily as she encountered many pointed interactions with others. Such as Solace, the sharp-tongued half-mul who was even encountered trimming the verge in the city gardens! Endless questions by Daeusite captains and Sunblades that seemed redundant. Humans and Arvek, new arrivals to the city who showed ignorant amazement and called her a dog, or chastised her for making horses uncomfortable. Yet, somehow, throughout it all, no one was bitten.

There were some unexpected, and not unpleasant moments amidst this trial, however. One was when the song-maker Aldean not only noted The Mark left upon her, but was wise enough to recognize its nature, and accept its significance. Another was a later encounter with Durrankar, who noticed the change in Unethas words and deeds, moreso than fur. Fur which was pet by claw in a moment of comfort? calm? Though whom received or intended the comfort was unclear.

This all came to a poignant point when Svarshan, the Brightscale (who inadvertently and indirectly began this chain of events), presented to her first spears crafted by his younglings (under supervision of course). The fine youngling hunter weapons also beared suspicious markings of circles, twin dots within, and pair of pointed triangles atop the circles. aFor wolfa she was told they were crafted, before Svarshan presented them to her.

Despite her blunt and bleak opinions, shead always had a soft spot for children, as several had witnessed), but this moment made it clear that it was more than that. Eaas Breath, nor the storm, was all fury and vengeance. It was also the warm spring breeze, the life-giving rain. Furious and wrathful, yes, but also nurturing and maternal. So, it seems, Uneth is, as well.

Shared on 12/31/2015 by Uneth

Svarshan: Wolf

This story begins months ago, shortly after the druid Uneth joined the gatherings at Mictlan. Wild and angry, Uneth prowled the exterior of the grounds. Later, she would join in. Later still, she would engage in conversation and partake of food. Selective, she would share her kills, then more broadly, though always under the edges was something angry.

Something like a wild, churning storm.

Svarshan found himself torn between roles. The role of a poor diplomat, the role of a warrior-caste, as well as the protectiveness of a father. She seemed interested in the People, but the rough edges too easily reminded him of a conspiracy group in the jungle lands, one who subtly moved against his Empress. Now and then in conversations at Mictlan, his shoulders would tense and he would take a deep breath. ...and place his hope in the Dragonfather, the Ancestors, and the shamans around him.

Over time, Uneth showed a deepening interest in the tribes' lives, the wild dangers of Am'shere, and especially in the young ones. Gradually, bridges would be built, to the point she would risk life and limb to head to Skald, and uncover Asumit's tracks. To where the younglings would spend evenings tackling who they called "Wolf.

The subtle changes perhaps cumulated in his younglings crafting her a set of spears--not very good ones, ones made with adult supervision, but 'spears' nonetheless. They liked playing with "Wolf." They liked someone willing to get into the dirt with them, and pounce-tackle and roll. They drew Wolf's face on them as well as any two year olds could--circles with some lines on them to indicate ears.

Gradually, the Wolf's heart lightened. Not enough to change who she was, but more in a tribal sense. It could have been the spears, it could have been any number of things over the previous year. He found his own heart lightened as well, and Wolf, some of the shamans, would take a trip to Am'shere to visit the People.

The trip itself turned more eventful than it should have. What had intended to be a simple hunt and visit turned into something greater, when the group of hunter, scout-caste, and shaman-caste encountered the thunderfoot lizard. They warned the local tribe, before returning with some of their scouts and hunter-caste, to chase it away.

They then returned, for celebration around the Fire, for goodfellowship within the tribe and the sharing of tales and stories. Wolf found herself in the middle of it with shaman Durrankar. Svarshan retired early with his cihuaa, but found life was more content--something akin to a bastion against the raging storm Asumit would bring.

Un'eth and Durrankar

When Durrankar came through the portal, the area around Alexandria was new, full of life, and non-predatory animals that seemed to have no other purpose than to be prey for other animals. When he came to Mictlan, he was in awe of the bones and history of the great silver that gave it's life to protect the forest filled him with no small amount of pride to take care of the place.

Then, a white wolf came into Mictlan. The wolf seemed to offer food to them, as if wishing to bond with them as a pack. At first, Durrankar was wary of the wolf, not knowing the wolf's motivations, but he found that the wolf wasn't even a wolf, it was a female sharpear....otherwise known as a Mul'niessa. He had heard rumors about how many of them turned to darkness for power, so it made him more suspicious of her. Plus the fact that she was, at beast, grating and argumentative even in the friendliest of circumstances when they met, Durrankar didn't see how they would ever see eye to eye without being at each other's throats.

That changed when She began to take care of a litter of pups that came into her care when Iadoth foolishly killed their mother. This brought out another side of the wolf that he didn't think was a part of her. It was during this time, he found out her name was Uneth. And, Uneth had no way of traveling away from the nest she had made for the pups, so she could go eat.

Before Durrankar knew it, he was bringing food to Uneth, an olive branch of meat, so to say. During this time, Uneth and Durrankar spoke, and the more they spoke, the more they had in common, Durrankar realized. Not just wanting to defend the forest and nature itself, but in admiration. Uneth was a strong defender of the forest, and hard-headed....he couldn't stress the latter one enough. But, what he found was underneath all of the pressure of the world resting upon her shoulders, had hardened the blackest coal that she presented to the world as her heart, into a diamond that had been hidden away in the deepest dungeon of her heart. Durrankar had caught a glimpse of it, and hoped to bring it out, slowly but surely. he hoped he wouldn't say something wrong that would make her lock the doors again for all time. But, there was a ray of hope... and he cared enough to be patient and try.

Only time will tell...

Un'eth: Of the People

Uneth had always been alone, until she found Mictlan and the Sith-makar there. While the tales are too numerous to recount now, over time they fought together, laughed together, and raised young together. Mictlan became her home, moreso than any other location in Ea.

The great white Dire Wolf, in time, even learned to take Sith-makar form. Once able to do so, and receiving the appreciative review from Durrankar, she took the Tarranik Shaman as her cihuaa. Of all she had shared with the People, the most was shared with him. They, with others, travelled to the great jungles of Am'shere where Uneth met Durrankar's tribe and was, somewhat to her surprise, warmly welcomed. Despite her form, her friends, and even her mate... she was not truly one of The People. Not in Blood.

At this same gathering, the Elder Shaman of the Tarranik advised her that she could be so, but must break the chains of Taara which bound all of Uneth's birth, body and soul. these would forever keep her from The People, despite her own choice. For who can go against the blood pact of a goddess?

Her cihuaa could. The People could. Thus Durrankar led a hunting party of The People: Svarshan, the Brightscale, closest ally and trusted advisor; Ssylrath the Hunter; Sebropert, a warrior currently marked and scarred by Taarans upon his own soul. Their hunting grounds were neither jungle nor forest, but Uneth's past and future. Their prey: Uneth's soul.

They tracked through her past to the point when the Shadow Sorceress' chains first truly dug hold. And they fought them. With tooth and claw, the Sun's Light, the burning Fire Within, and the Will of The People, they fought.

Chains were torn free, shattered, and melted away. Yet so bound to Uneth's soul were these that they tore it asunder as they went. At that time, Sebropert chose not battle nor rage, but peace and protection, as he briefly joined Uneth's soul with his own, shielding it and keeping it whole.

With the chains shattered and her soul separated from it, Uneth's body was left empty and died. This was unavoidable, however: just as the People are joined by blood and spirit, so, too, was Taara's claim absolute upon the flesh; a pact of blood. Yet her spirit was not claimed, freed and protected by the the will of The People, of those who risked all to free her.

Their blood also held power, ancient and immense, and it was a power over which Taara held no sway. Uneth died, but by this power, and the blood of The People, freely given, she was reborn. Svarshan, Sebropert, and Ssylrath gained a tribe-sister. Durrankar regained his cihuaa, free to be as her spirit and desires wished to be. Uneth gained something presumed lost, forever, a century past: a family, a people. The People.

Shared on 9/26/2015 by Un'eth

Svarshan: Finding

Story Premise: A group of sith-makar within Alexandria travel into Am'shere to learn about themselves, and chase down answers. What they uncover turns their world upside down, and becomes something they need to deal with as a community.

For some time, Durrankar has been getting headaches. They come and go, but when he has a moment of spiritual-possession, he, Un'eth, Svarshan, and Sebropert decide to travel to his tribal lands, and seek the wisdom of his elders. They will, they know, need to speak with the keeper caste, who know the histories, as well as the shamans who are spiritual guide.

They arrive in Am'shere without much issue, choosing to have traveled with a larger caravan. There is a scuffle at the entrance to the lands, because of Un'eth's nature. However, her cihuaa steps forward and challenges them, in what is for the sith-makar, a reversal of roles.

Once admitted, they're first greeted by caste-elders. The hunter-elder who greets Sebropert takes him aside, where they share news and share words. Similar things happen with the others, though Un'eth finds herself in a unique postion, where one of the shaman-elders wants to speak with her. This is Shaman Itchtaca, an NPC.

They arrange with the council for a Memory of the Blood. Everyone disperses to caste-site.

The next evening, the sith-makar joined as a tribe and participated in the Memory of Blood. A private ritual, this called on the memories of individual ancestors. Durrankar becomes overwhelmed: he's visited by not one but three of his ancestors, who as much as they love one another, they disagree, and debate. It's no wonder he has headaches! However, he learns their names, and this begins a new step in his own tale. After dealing with them, he falls quickly asleep.

Sebropert unfortunately, has ancestral memories resurface of a different nature. Not wanting to spoil his end of it, he becomes enraged and throws himself into Fire to cleanse himself. His own caste, the hunters, attempt to intervene and the shamans are called in.

Shaman Itchtaca sees the goings on, and warns Un'eth that each caste has a role. If in a spiritual matter like this one, the shaman-caste isn't seen as having it in claw, there will be trouble.

Un'eth steps up to the realm and takes charge, and care, of Sebropert's situation. She declares the shaman-caste does not know what is going on, but that it is a shaman matter and will be addressed. The tribe members around the incident calm down. By now, the hunter has passed out, but he is pulled from Fire by his caste, and given some relief from the burns.

Later, Shaman Itchtaca and Un'eth will discuss her soul-chains.

From here, more scenes ensue, arranged by different people. Un'eth meets with Durrankar. They speak of cihuaa-things, but also the need for him to act as shaman for them both, and sing them into her soul home, where the chains reside. This is a new duty, and one he will need to practice, and practice, and practice to get right. He may have (conflicting) help in his newly discovered ancestors.

A few days later, Sebropert is allowed to join the hunter-caste again for an excursion. He comes back, though is left to a lone fire, as no one knows what is going on. Sebropert, Un'eth, and Svarshan meet him. They discuss Sebropert's changes, both within and socially. They also discuss concerns that his hunter-caste is not sure what to think of him, now. He has no tribe here, and now, now caste. Svarshan shares a story of his own foolishness that had led to him being estranged from his people, and Un'eth also steps forward. She reminds Sebropert that he is one of many, and should rely on his friends, and caste, tribe, and time to support him.

Svarshan identifies with his plight, though in a different way. Sebropert's condition and his own sharing reminds him why he did not fight when the elders chose cihuaa for him.

In the end, the hunter and warrior go to water to cleanse themselves, and come back to take part in a healing chant by the new shaman, who is of-them-but-not-of-them.

They will need to seek Durrankar's counsel as well, soon.

Story is ongoing!

Disclaimer: A lot of this has been months in the making, and has involved a lot ooc communication, as folks explored "what if?" possibilities for story!

I'm posting this here both because it has been awesome, and because it is an example of the kinds of freedom players have here on Tenebrae so long as we don't go, you know nuts and start declaring ourselves the king of town, master of the thieves' guild, and so on.

Many parts I've left vague--though I covered the general concept, they're that character's story and details to share. So, if the writing comes off as a little dry, I apologize. That's my fault, not anyone else's.

Finally, the time in Am'shere has only been sith-makar specific, because of the secretive nature of the sith's ritual blood magic (that Charn is attempting to farm them for). Hopefully, the stories will spill ongrid after, though, as it should!

Durrankar: Answers

Story Premise: Durrankar wishes to learn about his ancestors, and so arranges a trip to Am'shere to take his tribe-friends with him.

When Durrankar went to Am'shere to seek answers, he did not realize what sort of answers he would be coming back with. He was enjoying the anticipation in learning of his ancestors, but he was not truly prepared for the welcome the Tyrranik were going to give him.

When he left for Am'shere, he brought along Sebropert, Un'eth and Svarshan. They didn't initially wish to allow in Un'eth, but Durrankar made them see the error of their ways, and allow her in. Once there, they had a celebration, of sorts, in their honor, and a fire was set to allow them to tell tales, and even cook various beasts for the tribe to eat. Sebropert, usually feeling alone and out of sorts in these sort of settings, was even drawn into the celeration, and even asked to help them with the hunt.

The day after, Itchtaca, the elder shaman made ready for Durrankar to meet his ancestors....and find the meaning of his marks. The ceremony started and...it was more than he could imagine. Not only is he from three vastly different paths, but they all converged into him, and were giving him advice from beyond. After meeting them, and finding different paths to handle things, he was given a vison. Three Sith-makar young ones playing, two males and a female. They played 'hunt', and as they played they made sure not to hurt each other badly. But one of them scratched a symbol on the ground....saying they would always be united, in spirit, against anything that came their way. The symbol was the same as the one on Durrankar. Durrankar understood the symbol, and would become a symbol, a quiet symbol, among the Blood.

Upon his arrival to Mictlan from Am'shere, Un'eth had a quiet request for Durrankar. Itchtaca, while Durrankar was in his trance, spoke to un'eth about her spirit being bound by black chains. The chain had to be broken around Un'eth's spirit, and she requested that Durrankar do it. Durrankar agreed whole heartedly. Nothing would impreison his Cihuaa.

NOTHING!

Shared on 9/22/2015 by Durrankar