Sith Around and Wait

Log Info

• Title: Sith Around and Wait
• Emitter: Cryosanthia
• Characters: Cryosanthia, Jinks, Rocky, Seyardu, Tenoc
• Place: Mictlan, Nesting Grounds
• Time: Wednesday, January 05, 2022, 6:00 PM
• Summary: Tenoc busies himself caring for the new nestmothers. Cryosanthia rests with the other nestmothers and Lily while Seyardu helps with chores around the grounds. Jinks arrive, detouring past Mictlan after some earlier mercenary work in the wilds to the north. The gnome brings spoils and is hoping someone will cook his dead rabbits for him, Cryosanthia and Lily say 'hello.' Lily practices her aim at the bard's expense. Rocky arrives to check in on his little sister (who's very happy to see him). A small rift has formed between the sith as they can't decide if Jinks' past sins are being weighed too much or too little. The argument reaches stalemate and Seyardu departs. Jinks decides to rest his eyes until dinner is ready.

The sky is grey-black, moonless and starless. Human eyes can distinguish the snow from everything else, and not much more: every shape that isn't snow-covered is a black shadow. The air is damp and cold. There is little wind.

The Eggwatchers are to blame, for they are skilled in dealing with hovering sires-to-be, and wield distraction and guilt with such aplomb they should be a unit in an army. the Nest Watchers helped distract 'crazy-anxious Tenoc' with various hunting tasks-- and, naturally, running back to Am'shere for 'proper' mango fruits and things!

Tenoc thus spent a week running around, fetching things and hunting.

Though such is obviously less of a choice when watching and taking care of Lilly; for that, a marvelous discovery through her clever work and through the (reluctant) aid of Crochety Old Druid. One who has STILL not forgotten the 'explosive lumberjacking' incident!

While out with a smaller group of hunter foragers, all worked togetyher and--voila. Old forest log full of hibernating honeybees. Lilly had brilliant idea about taking the whole log full of beenest and honeycomb back to Mictlan; Hunters thought this a grand idea, and hoisted the log up to carry back.

Scales help in warding off the occasional cranky beestinger.

Long story short-- Mictlan now has its own burgeoning apiary! And small gift of honeycomb for the new Nest-Mothers.

Next, he is sent to the speakers to improve his storytelling skills. Must divert hatchlings when there is demand!

As for himself, his response when all is finally done -- joy. Euphoria. Love. <3 And deep-seated feeling that, finaly and fully, he has contributed to the Memory and the People as a whole. Hunting is important and vital, but (especially with familiar tasks) he always felt that his contribution is somehow less. No longer.

'Floating on Silver Smoke' is about the apt description for now. Euphoria and Happiness and All is Well with the Universe. XD

And a week of doting. Perhaps two! Or three!

"Be safe, be loved, and bright dreams always glow for you!" Tenoc says, scraping snout along Cryo's cheek, heavy scale rubbing against heavy scale plate.

The Egg-watchers are taking him away, "Sweetest dreams, Brightest Heart! And promises to learn VERY carefully not to step on wayward rampant hatchlings!"

To the farm outside the palisade where he will have many tasks to do.

Cryosanthia sighs happily, watching him leave, chin on her palms and sprawled over her nest. She comments to no one in particular, "I'm so glad he startled my eggs."

Jinks arrives with his escort and a quintet of dancing lights, yawning and stifling the act with the back of a loosely-curled fist. The gnome is dropping in unannounced; likely at the tail end of an odd job from the state of him. He's not bothering with an illusion to keep up appearances this far out of the city so he's good and muddy, with mussed hair and a few tears in his clothes.

No pony, though. Enness is still having to endure hours of training with a novice handler and got the night off as a reward. So the bard is on foot in boots that squish, splattered with equal plots blood and ichor.

"Jinksssss!" Lily pops up from underneath Cryo and aims over the side of their nest like a sniper. She has a small, hand crossbow in both hands and it looks overwhelming for her. It is loaded!

>>TW-OCK<<

She hits! A foam dart bounces off the gnomes chest as the little kobold cheers, "Backsssstabb!"

Cryo snorts in amusement, remaining flat and spread out. She pushes herself up. The whitescale seems to be in white scales, and a shawl. There are blankets tucked around her nest, and several colourful cozies.

"Jinks, hello, peace on your nest." She says cheerfully.

"You get all the visitors." Xochi growls, lying in a classic pose with tendrils of smoke wafting up from her nostrils. Her snout is pointed right at him.

"I am done in," Jinks staggers, clutching at his chest. He pauses and sags at the shoulders, head drooping and eyes closing-- but then he's kneeling and collecting the dart. The gnome considers the items before flicking it back, twirling end-over-end like one might throw a dagger but in an arc that makes the harmless dart even harmless-er. He snaps and points a finger at Lily, "You were about a whole-Person thickness from the back but keep practicing and you'll get there."

"My nest is far from peaceful," the gnome answers Cryosanthia with a soft smile. "But it's back in the city... and here I am." He raises hands in reinforced leather gloves with matte-black steel studs and gestures around himself. Then he balks and cocks his head at Xochi, "How is it you know I haven't come to see you, Xochi? Was I in your leaves this morning, o prognosticator?"

Getting closer, it's clear the bards had the benefit of some healing magic today; a broad section of his face and neck are the pink-fresh skin of the freshly-mended and the silken shirt beneath his open doublet is chewed away at.

Lily hunches up to the edge, then leaps, catching the dart mid flight. She stands between Jinks and her nest, like a little Egg-Watcher, although one with a very playful maw.

"Well I don't want your problems here." Xochi snaps, ever pleasant and welcoming, crouched over her nest like a red dragon on a hoard of her most precious treasures. Which is an apt similie.

Cryo chuffs lightly as she settles into her sitting position, she gestures, "There's a little room in mine if you need a little peace, right there."

There's a glance, red-scale wards, and she admits, "We had a bad night. You look like you had a bad day. What has been chewing on you?"

Seyardu had not stayed overnight at the nesting grounds for several days now. The cleric was still around often enough, to offer what aid she could when needed, but she did not stay long usually. There was a certain distance that was not there before.

It was another day, and the cleric had gathered her things to make another check up to the area. The watchers and others were used to her passing by, and they enter the small building after a moment.

"Peace on your nests, this one has brought freshly brewed tea and some baked goods to go with them." She greets, before her attention is turned to where the gnome was. "Ah, hello Jinks, I hope you are doing alright today."

Jinks raises a placating hand is raised between he and Xochi before folding it into a fist and tossing a thumb over his shoulder. "My problems will wait for me in Alexandria. I don't think many would ever think to look for me here. And..." he slides around his satchel and grunts as he hefts a brace of two dead coneys into view. Out of the bag they stretch to two-thirds the gnome's height when held by the ears.

"I was honestly hoping someone knew how to cook these because I have a hunger that would rival the Black Dream's." A grunt and he splits the weight between two hands. "... I'd also prefer not to have to carry them all of the way back."

"Coyote laughs as always, Seyardu. Telmentar's comfort." Jinks smiles and nods before glancing at Cryosanthia. "Call came through the Guild and we thought the Hunt was at it again. Turned out to be a Color out of Space; nearly took my face right off."

"Oh, yes. I know just how to cook those." Tayanna, the black-scaled Egg Watcher appears as if out of nowhere. Perhaps her hunger is legendary. She snags the two Coney rabbits and calls out in a sing-song voice, "Oooooh, Tenooooooc!"

A new task! The busy male is made more busy! Happiness.

Xochi, isn't sure what to do, looking between her friend and the gnome. Finally she hisses a reluctant, "Thanks."

Cryo however, focuses more concerned attention on him, "A colour out of space? That sounds unpleasant. What colours are in space? They seem predominantly black."

"Pinksss." Lily suggests. Horrors from beyond time are pink, of course they are.

The whitescale looks at Seyardu, "Peace on your Nest, Seyardu, and welcome. You have been absent and seem distant. There is something wrong?"

Rocky roams, patroling roads, watching borders, generally presenting himself for trouble to find. But, having found none today, the greyscale visits Little Sister Cryo... always trouble when she's around... ...because as a Speaker she goes and tries to fix it. Is totally what I meant.

GAME: Seyardu rolls bluff: (8)+4: 12

Seyardu's gaze turns downward at mention of the hunt. "I am glad if they are not. But it does not sound like the alternative was much better." The cleric chuffs. "I can not help any with colors in space however."

She looks over to Seyardu, and shakes her head. "I am fine." She replies to the speaker-caste. "And, peace on your nest, Rocky, are you here to see Cryosanthia?"

Hissing a curse in Gnomish and flinching to one side, Jinks is clearly surprised by the arrival of Tayanna. He sucks in a deep breath to calm his nerves and hands over the rabbits. "Roasted on a spit is fine. Or in a stew. Whatever the chef's particular speciality may be." He may be joking but it's difficult to tell.

"Blinding white and smothering black and brilliantly bright shades that hurt to see." He waves away his dancing lights, letting them fade. "It's a sentient piece of the Void possessing an insatiable hunger. It shares some qualities with the unquiet dead and deep cavern oozes." The gnome reaches up and lightly taps his new face. "An absolute misery to fight... and we were left with the mystery as to how it came to Ea." A little shrug. "Probably cultists." It's usually cultists, anyway.

The goods surrendered, Jinks walks over to the space next to Cryosanthia's nest (but well clear of the eggs) and strip off a bit of his kit and arms. There's another glance at Seyardu. "Job's done for now," he adds, sounding relieved, and actually sighs aloud with relief when his belt (complete with quivers, rapiers, daggers, and pouches-on-pouches) falls down to the ground. "Imagine tea and baked goods would go well with rabbit. I wouldn't know as I usually have my spirits... but an ever-grinning masked terror has insisted I keep dry as I learn."

Rocky rumbles contently. "This One is here to aid in whatever way one may. If visit Little Sister in the process, so much the better.

"Then this one will believe you are fine," Cryo answers.

She rises off her nest and embraces Rocky, a strong hug for her Big Brother. "This one is glad to see you. This one is glad you patrol and are near. Your scents are comforting, when this one detects them."

Lily takes the opportunity to play 'climb the parent' and runs up Rocky's back, his tail first, then toes gripping the ridge of his spine to appear at his shoulders. She takes hold of his horns to steer.

Cryo does keep an eye on Jinks as he approaches her nest, and seems relieved when weapons and harder gear is divested. She also nods, listening intently, recalling her and Faran's frustration at being ignored. Less experienced adventurers are not devoid of knowledge. "Probably cultists," She agrees, "regular wepons worked on it, or magical ones were necessary?"

"It will likely go into the stewpots, most likely." Seyardu shrugs. "It is not too late to add more meat to them. But it will be some time before it is ready to eat."

"It looks like it hurt you a fair bit, but at least it is healing up. I did not know that you were training with dame Paenitia though. Or that she was telling you not to be drinking."

The cleric sighs, and nods to Cryosanthia. She said she was wine, so she could not be disappointed in the response.

"You are welcome to some tea and baked goods if you wish. And I will see about tending to any who need aid here."

Rocky falls still, moving little more than breathing and blinking. Great for climbing, not so great for riding. Movement might perhaps cause a climber to fall, so, no movement. "Peace unto your nest, Little Fang. What are you doing today?"

"This one thinks you have spent too much time around softskins, Seyardu, you have a habit of theirs. The people can tell by scent and body language, when a thing is amiss, and ask to invite discussion. The softskins say 'no, I'm fine', when they are not." Cryo says, moving back to sit at the side of her nest, and watch Jinks. She pokes a talonned claw at him, "This one here, often does."

"And this one also," Cryo touches her chest, "This one learned from Salina to suppress reactions, wash scents, and lie, or there would be punishment. So I will say, 'this one is fine', when there are things this one doesn't want to discuss."

"I am called horrible, for both not asking and asking too much. There are things this one doesn't tell you, to protect you, both of you, still." Cryo makes an adjustment to the side of her nest, looks at a rope hanging from empty space, glances at Lily.

Lily holds on carefully to Rocky, he's a great platform when he's motionless and stable, "Guardingsss Ssasssa's nesst, and makesss the apple-paults!"

The whitescale smiles, "Mikilos made some party siege engines at New Years, and Little Fang has been wanting to try now. I've had the hunters gathering sticks."

"Anyhow Seyardu, this one has magic for sharing memories, erasing them, scrying, even telling the tale of an object, and perspective if they are useful, and if you are fine and do not wish to talk, this one does not need to open new topics."

"The group was well-equipped. I doubt any fought without some enchant on their weapon. Still, the creature exists between this plane and the astral, so most attacks were dulled." Jinks answers, his recollection of the specifics oddly academic; he hasn't parsed it into a proper story yet, apparently.

"She is," the bard answers Seyardu with a grin. "With Enness. Riding first and now care... and maybe a bit of battlefield presence." An odd idea to consider with the dandy. "It's a small price to pay for her expertise."

The gnome pauses while Cryosanthia speaks. "I AM fine, generally," he offers in his defense and laughing at the obvious lie. Still, he's smiling and coping well enough.

The smile fades a bit and he glances between the sith-makar. "I invited myself for dinner... if you'd talk with your people, I'm happy to find elsewhere to be."

"It is, a useful thing. If done convincingly, you can avoid harming or bothering others." Seyardu sighs. "Worries are not meant to be shared with those in need, or those nesting. And I feel my presence has not been conducive for that."

"This one has just, been tired. And they were feeling like their concerns were not important, or wrong in their entirety. I should not need such assurances to begin with however."

"No, it is fine, Jinks, if I could not air my concerns or grievances in front of you, I had no right to air them at all. I would not go behind your back to do so." She adds to Jinks. "But, I do not know If I need my memories pried either. They have not changed much for some time now."

Rocky rumbles. "Ballistic Bird Feeders, This One heard. Little Fang is feeding apples aggressively... at whom?" He does NOT look at the target sized gnome.

"Dame Paenitia, the little Red Knight? This one knows of her from Faran, and what I've read of her adventures in the Guild records. She is an unexpected tutor for you." Cryo says, with a long gaze, "A good one. One needs a paladin in their lives, preferrably a flexible one. This one should seek out Silverguard Serene, she understands... things."

Serene, flexible.

Far away in some dark recess, a demon looks at a devil and says, "Is that snow?"

Lily slides down off Rocky and runs over to a small catapault. It appears like it could throw an apple the length of a field. It's finished, but she's taken it apart to put some bearings in where the original design lacked them. "At the ssspirritsss in the forrresst."

"Seyardu..." Cryosanthia sighs, "this one is weary of giving assurances. The dwarf at the party was too much. Being an adventurer is not a worthwhile goal, adventurers destroy. Their families, their relations. All they are left with is their 'big deeds' and no one cares. There is always another plague, another Fey Monarch, another mad mage."

"We defeat Asumit's beast at the cost of two lives and some sanity and find his works remain, he may remain and scrys on us somehow with bees. Adventure will find you, and you will surmount or suffer. This one feels she has done little of significance, to even less thanks and tinier gratitude. That I am the one that witnesses and tells the tale, nothing more."

The whitescale switches tracks, "So, once you found your brother your memories improved, have not shifted? Was the cause of the loss determined? Aryia told this one she has many of hers back also, but not the way they were lost."

"Icebergs," Jinks grunts, remembering bits of an odd dream. He pulls the ribbon out of his hair and runs his gloved hands back through it, shaking it out and letting it fall down around his face. A glance towards Cryosanthia's nest and he sits cross-legged on the ground next to his pile instead, dropping his cheek into his hand.

"Ah, well, I'm tired of defending myself... but not above it. I've done plenty to warranty suspicion and having someone like Lars running around... seeing the trouble he's caused?" The gnome issues a heavy sigh. "I can see the parallels even if I don't like them."

He sits up, lifting his head and crossing his arms only to uncross them and rest his palms on his knees. Trying to avoid the defensive gesture.

Rocky peers at Cyro for a long moment, not sure he disagrees with the fate of Adventurers. But there is a topic closer at hand. "Spirits in the forrest? They like apples, or warded away by them?" Apple a day keeps the doctor away, maybe works on spirits too?

"This one just wished to know that their concerns were considered, that is all." Seyardu sighs. "I just wished to know that I had some value with my concerns. When this one came forward with concerns about Jinks, to be dismissed so completely, it did hurt."

"I know, I came here to help people." She continues. "I did not wish to be an adventurer, just to do some honest good for the world, and find some manner of worth."

"My memory, it has not changed since finding him, there have been vague feelings, but little in the way of actual missing things anymore causing pain. I do not know what caused the loss, no."

"As has this one," Cryo answers Jinks, the iceberg comment drawing her attention. As he will not get in her nest she moves over beside the gnome and sits on the ground, trapping him between her and it. Her tail curls protectively egg-wards, "Salina would constantly scry this one, and I would do magic experiments that would incur her wrath. Things that others would do without recrimination."

"Uh-huuuu." Lily bobs her head, holding up her hands, "Thisss big, and whitisssh green, and they move awaysss."

Cryo looks thoughtful, "Seyardu, this one knows what Jinks has done. This one has also been told not to abandon Merek, as he would be worse without friends and support. Jinks, without friends, might become Lars. There is the temptation that if one has a power, to use it."

"At my worst I was never as bad as that tallman." Jinks frowns, taking his turn to be at least mildly offended. "I have been... careless and neglected to consider the consequences of my actions but I don't use the Weave to enthrall and dominate."

The gnome lifts a hand in admission, "... but I have been known to... polish a bad first impression."

"I came here for gold and comfort and because I was no longer welcome in my home," he adds, since they were sharing. "There were enough People to find company and parts of Alexandria are almost as nice as Clockwork Point."

Rocky chuffs. "Lars is bad. Can do bad things without being bad. But to do bad things, repeat them, try to hide them, do them again and again. That is not someone making a mistake. That is a bad person." He nods to Lilly, considering. "So big, whitish green, moves away... does border guards have pale greenscale?"

Lily looks thoughtful now. She bites her lip, much the way Cryo does, "Umm... I thinkss so..."

GAME: Seyardu rolls 1d20: (6): 6

"You are, I-" Seyardu begins to respond, and the cleric sighs, and shakes her head. "Never mind. I know that you trust Jinks, clearly. All I wished was to be understood in my concerns."

Seyardu reaches into her bag to pull out the large flask of tea,and a basket of apple struedel which she sets down on the ground before she moves for the door. The basket smelled of sadness lingering from the cleric.

"This one came to Alexandria because I failed my first mission," Cryo looks at Rocky, "We failed, we all made mistakes. It was not this one's fault alone, but it felt like it was for many years."

"This one had to apologize to sires and Nest-Mothers, and was uncomfortable, and with strange scars from Charn. Also with an interest in too much new, that was not of the people's."

Cryo shrugs a little, "So, this one was sent to Alexandria, to act as emissary, and to be far away from Am'shere. It has been a long journey back to the people, with Rocky and Boaz helping, as you have also."

She gestures at her nest, "This one has hope, for a future, for family and friends. This one is strong from adventuring, but must pick and choose her battles now and only enter the most important."

A few of which still lie before her.

"Seyardu... your concerns are valid," Cryo can smell the sadness, "This one does not heal. This one protects others by taking damage for them."

It would be demeaning to say that Jinks needs her protection, that the whitescale has to keep him close. He is male, of course, and of the small folk, who can be sensitive to being treated like children. Cryo knows where some of instincts have attached oddly. She avoids laying it out plainly.

"We have things in common, that is the best this one can state it. Unexpected things in common."

"I had occasion to speak with Lady Serene yesterday," Jinks adds, seemingly out of nowhere. He's pulling off his cloak as he yawns, folding it loosely and wedging it against the outside of the nest. "First time I ever made it through something like that and I couldn't see how hard she was trying not to throttle me..."

The gnome yawns, scooting to lie down on the ground with the cloak as a pillow. "Has to be some kind of progress, right?"

"Mmm... wake me for the food, please. --wasting 'way..."

Rocky snorts, rousing a little. "No. No fail. First mission was to learn what had happened. We learned, very much. We...." well, not everyone survived "...are together now. Recovered. Failure if gave up. Little Sister keep going, though so very much. But keep going. That is not fail."

"They do not feel like it, Cryosanthia." Seyardu sighs, lingering by the door. "You protect by defending them, but hurt me in your defence, even if not on purpose."

"And, it is my fault for being hurt, still. You have an actual family to care about now, yes."

Seyardu sighs, and shakes her head. "I still need to check with the other nest mothers to see how they are faring."

"Thank you River Stone," Cryosanthia rises to embrace her clutch-mate, "you are the best big brother." She looks down at Little Fang, "Learn everything you can from him Lily, you are going to be the best big sister there is."

Xochi's nostrils flare, as if she's about to snort in commentary. A stare from the white-scale makes the red-scale back down. Best not to criticize.

Cryo looks at Seyardu, "Yes. I've heard that before. This one's words hurt others."

She exhales, and the temperature drops a little immediately around her. The gnome would notice it most, a chill draft. "You are friend to this one, Seyardu, but this one doesn't know what you ask. This one has a nest now, much on the plate. This one still hopes to aid her family past. I have their scales, I have the scrying bowl. Merek and Cesran are skilled at restoring others. It can be done. Things move in the world which may call me yet, and I will be forced to make choices and allies." She says, moving back to her nest. She settles carefully on it, concentrates to bring her temperature up.

Little Sister will keep going. Stumble, but keep moving forward. That is not failure. "Peace on your Nest, Seyardu."