Memories of the past

Log Info

• Title: Memories Of The Past
• Emitter: Seyardu
• Characters: Seyardu, Zeke
• Place: A10: Temple of Daeus
• Time: August 3rd, 2021
• Summary: One day at the temple of Daeus, Seyardu, who had been staying there some time now, was taking some time to train under one of the senior paladins, the followers of Daeus having a generally more martial focus than those of Althea. In a welcome interruption for tea, Zeke shows up, asking the paladin if a break would be allowed, to which he seems to agree. They talk of a desire to help others, a topic which bothers Zeke somewhat due to past experiences. Seyardu speaks of her difficulties in the past, due to clerics being much more uncommon in Am'shere, as most choose to venerate the deities as druids. Zeke mentions that it took him one century before he was able to join a caste, which confuses Seyardu. He continues to explain how he was born missing several limbs, and his mother was protective, but also hated having to care for him. Seyardu relates somewhat to this herself, as her own father was protective due to various reasons, perhaps some unknown. She asks Zeke of what she was able to say of her brother, revealing that her memory was incomplete, and only able to recall various qualities, and not specifics. They speak of memories and possibilities, with Zeke possibly looking into spells which might help. Before he leaves, Seyardu takes out a package of freshly baked cinnamon rolls, giving them to the cleric due to having been planning to give them to Cryosanthia regardless.

It was well known by most in the city of Alexandria of the bond between the temples of Althea and Daeus, mirroring the gods themselves, in a way. When one of the hearthguards of Althea needed a safe place to stay, it was those at the temple of Daeus who offered, and so it was where Seyardu had been staying, once she had relented. Though most of the time, she was off in the morning, and back much later at night, this day, in the area near the quarters of the sunguard, a large training dummy had been set up, near an older looking paladin, who seemed to be overseeing the training of a relatively familiar sith-makar. They were not wearing any armor, but in their hands was one a polearm, the style of weapon often seen in the hands of those who would defend the Althean temple.

She seems to be struggling just a bit, making several corrections at the gruff requests of the paladin, but continuosly she works through the drills, striking over and over at the dummy.

Zeke at least was perhaps an overly familiar figure in the temple of Daeus. From healing to chores, from meals to training of the younger members of the clergy, Zeke was nearly constantly at work. So it was not surprising to see the blue-scaled sith puttering around to and fro. At this moment, he had a tea service balanced on his flesh and blood claw, setting it down gently on a table set up nearby the practice area. He watched the practice for a moment, and then made his way toward the paladin in charge of training. "Thisss one hass brought tea for Ssseyardu. Isss now a good time for a break in training?"

The paladin seemed to think on this a long moment before nodding in agreement to Zeke's idea and calling for Seyardu to lay down her arms. "Time for a rest." It was a gruff order, but not without some kindness to it. The paladin motioned to Zeke and Zeke nodded low before gesturing Seyardu toward the tea.

With the order given, Seyardu nods to the sunguard, setting down the well worn bill back on a nearby rack, and walking over to the table where the tea had been set, taking in the scent for a moment before she sat down.

"Ah, Zeke, peace on your nest." She greets. "You did not need to bring me tea, but I appreciate it regardless. You have been quite busy, of late."

The blue-scaled sith moves in Seyardu's wake, sitting down at the table as well since it is time for his own break. Which is why there is more than one cup for tea. He graciously pours the tea first for Seyardu, and only then for himself. Movements holding the edge of long practice which makes them graceful. "Peasssce on your nessst asss well Sseyardu. Thisss one findss pleasssure in being helpful." This seems an answer to both of Seyardu's statements. Seyardu was moving to pour the cup of tea for Zeke, but before she could, it had already been taken care of, with likely more grace than she would have been able to manage. She nods in response to the question, before sipping on some of the tea.

"Thank you again, Zeke. This one understands the desire to be helpful to others. Much of my time in the city has been taken up through volunteering at the Althean templ, making meals and healing the wounded. Though it has been more infrequent of late, it is still something I strive to do."

"Thisss isss a good thing." Zeke says, swishing his tail behind him. He looks down at his own tea cup, green eyes thoughtful as he touches the rim of the cup and feels the comforting warmth that rises from within it. "Thisss one wasss not alwayss able to be ssso helpful."

There is a hint of regretfulness in his voice here, a hint of old pain. Yet he flicks his tail. It is almost enough to forget the scent of sadness that rises from him at his own words. "Thisss one iss glad then, to find that thiss one can be sso now, and that othersss find pleasssure in it asss thisss one doesss."

"It is both pleasure, and purpose, this one feels, for myself." Seyardu says after another sip of the tea. The sadness and regretfulness was not unnoticed.

"If it is what you enjoy, then this one is happy you are able to be helpful the ways you are capable now."

"It was, one of the few things this one is capable of doing, back home. And even then, it was limited. This one, was not expecting to find you, and Geir here, in Alexandria. There were none this one found back home, capable of magics like the clerics here within the shaman castes of tribes visited."

Zeke nods slowly. "Alexandria isss very different from our homeland." A breath here and he subtly shakes himself like a bird settling its feathers. "Thisss one isss not sssurprissed to hear your wordsss, and yet it sssaddensss thiss one that they are true. Perhapssss our homeland would do well to bring more of thossse of usss with sssuch magicss back into the fold. Are you from a sssmall tribe then?" He seemed genuinely, but gently curious.

"This one, yes, is from a small tribe. Near the heart of the jungles." She replies, taking a moment to think, with a strange scent and note of confusion. "And afterwards, there was several years travelling, searching to see if there was any to teach, as the druids were not able to."

She nods, and seems saddened slightly at the words. "This one, if possible, understands the venerations of the druids and how they see the dragon pantheon, but if it were possible to prevent others from being lost as this one was, would do what is possible in the future."

"Thisss one will ssspeak to the eldersss perhapsss, ssee what might be done. It isss good for one who isss with-out cassste clossse at hand to travel. To sssee the world and find cassste elsssewhere. Thossse of our kind underssstand uss besst." Zeke flicks the tip of his tail delicately and picks up his cup. There is slight unease in him, though it is not immediately obvious why until he speaks again. "Thisss one did not find cassste until well passst thisss one'sss firssst century."

It was... a wholly remarkable statement. Most sith found their caste, or saught them out when they were very young. Choosing their caste at ten and perhaps at most twenty. So to say that a centry had passt... was like saying that for Zeke the sky was green.

"It was many years until this one felt truly part of the shaman caste, despite being welcomed in formally prior. They accepted me, despite not knowing how to move forward with what this one was capable of." They admit, sighing just once. Though, the question made her sit up more, seeming curious, and perhaps a bit confused.

Past a century with no caste, that is, a long time, even if it was just with not truly feeling in place, such as with myself. Would you feel comfortable, with explaining more? It seems as if it is a difficult subject for you, and this one will respect your feelings on the matter."

Zeke took a moment then shook his head. "Sssharing wordss isss good. Knowledge isss a great gift, and thisss one will ssshare wordss with you." He took a moment though, then lifted his crystal claw. "Thisss one wasss born with-out limbsss on the left ssside. It made thisss onesss nessst-mother very... protective. Ssshe would not let thisss one leave. Would not let thisss one find cassste or kin. Ssshe... hated thisss one."

The blue-scaled sith looked off into his tea cup. "Thisss one wasss not born Zeke, but rather Maskurwarayuslih. Thisss one wasss for a very long time... ussselesss." He flicked his tail, his scent full of memory. "Thisss one ran away from the nessst, in the hope of finding othersss. Wasss given a name, hasss found kin and cassste. Asss it ssshould be, but it took a very long time."

Seyardu listens, and sets her teacup down to do so, focusing fully on what Zeke was saying. The story seemed to make the silverscale sad herself, tail swishing slowly behind her.

"To think that a nest mother would act like that, is, hurtful, to think of. And to think that they would choose that as a name, is also-"

They sigh, shaking their head. "This one was speaking with Cryosanthia recently. This one's nest mother was taken by the death singing dragon before it was possible to know her well, and there were no others around in her place. This one's clutch father was, was,"

Seyardu seems to grow confused again, and there was a hint of distress in the air that faded quickly. She pauses to take a sip of the tea, and sigh.

"Zeke is a good name. This one's father was protective due to my eyesight, and now, I believe as well, something to do with my older brother being taken.While not the same, this one understands." Zeke looks up, his eyes touched with the memory that he can not, even after so much time shake. "It isss sstrange that no other nessst mother looked after you. Tribesss ussssually look after the eggsss together." Obviously his own nest-mother had not allowed such, but that had been a very unique case, and he was genuinely surprised to find someone with an experiance even remotely similar. "It isss in our nature to be protective of our young, but... it can be taken to an... extreme."

"This one, did not realize it was strange. It was just how it was growing up." They admit with some lingering confusion, but a shake of their head seems to clear it up. And the warm tea certainly helps.

"This one believes, after the passing of this one's nest mother, and, brother, being taken, they grew protective, but not to an extreme, though this one understands the possibility."

She seems confused again a moment, focusing on the face of the blue sith-makar as she squints. "This one told you it is believed, of my brother. What wass, what was I able to tell you?"

Zeke was thoughtful at the question, but also clearly confused. "You do not remember?" He tilted his head to the side. "You sssaid... that he wassss a companion to you. A friend who would ssshare thoughtsss and worriesss. That you explored together. Thisss one had the impresssion that you were very clossse, but that you did not get a chanssse to know him well." There was the distress again, and the mounting confusion. Seyardu looks down to her tea, and sighs, a minute passing before she speaks. "Then it is as this one was thinking. There was vague feelings, but no memories to it."

"There was, it was an accident, but this one was attempting to share a memory with Cryosanthia, so she would have an understanding of my eyesight. And a memory of what happened when this one's brother was taken was the one brought forward. Yet this one, did not remember that. And within it, this one could not remember everything. Their face, their name, this one cannot even recall directly any memories with them."

"And this one came to realize, they did not remember. it was only after coming here, this one felt the distress about their capture."

This... indeed seemed very strange to Zeke. "You were very young perhapssss? Isss there another you can asssk of it? Your clutch-father? Sssurely he would remember your brother, and might be able to tell you thingsss that would aid you in finding him."

"This one, has not spoken to them in several years now." She replies, seeming saddened by the statement. "When this one departed from my tribe, to seek out more knowledge of the divine magics unlike that of the druids, it was not on the best of terms. It was, this one's clutch-father was protective, and did not mention their name either, that I can remember. They did not wish for me to leave."

"This one, can remember other memories, with others around the time. And there was another in the memories, who could be remembered, but not clearly."

Zeke seemed to grow ever more thoughtful. "How isss it that you tried to ssshare your memoriess with Cryossanthia?"

"It was, through a form of magic, which would view the memories directly, and share them. She had done so previously in reverse, so it would be possible for this one to understand what colors were like. With no basis, and magic this one attempted only seemed to be able to show shades of gray." Seyardu explains, slouching a bit in her seat and pausing to pour a bit more tea for herself. "The memory, it was not intended, more like my mind trying to form some, link."

More confusion, but as she pauses, they seemed happier, her tail swishing more animatedly to and fro. "It was a pat on the head, as he did in the past, an assurance of things being alright. The way she placed her hand on my head, it reminded me of that."

Zeke's tail gave a soft swish and flick and he finally drank some of his own tea. It had begun to grow cold, but he did not seem to mind. All this talk had made him forget it. "There isss a ssspell. Which allowss one to ssee memoriesss. Draw them out. Perhapsss it can aid you in your quessst for remembering where thisss other one did not." He made a soft sound and then met Seyardu's gaze. "If not that, perhapsss there isss another way, but... Thisss one hesssitatess to offer the hope of it when it iss unlikely to work if thisss other working of magic doesss no-thing."

"This one, it is already, with everything else happening, it is daring to hope that they are even still alive. But even still, this one wishes more to remember them." She replies. "Cryosanthia, she said that she was not the best with magic of memories, and she did not wish to delve into them further due to that."

"Which, it is to say, that this one would dare to hope of other possibilities. This one has been praying to the night warden, Eluna, in hopes something may come in dreams, but nothing has, yet."

"By the way, do you like sweet foods? This one knows many seem to have them with tea, and would offer kindness in return to your own."

"Then thisss one will look into the ssspell for you. In the hopess that it will help. Cryossanthia knowsss many Ssshaman and Keeper-casste in the scity, and one of them may be able to casst it for you. If not, return to thiss one, and thisss one will find a way." Zeke thumped his tail softly, but with determination, the sound making a thud on the ground behind him.

The question however stimied Zeke, and after a moment he swished his tail again, smelling somewhat embarrassed. "Thisss one hasss had little opprotunity to try sssweet thingsss. Though thisss one thinksss that Cryosssanthia issss fond of them." "It would, be welcome, this one would appreciate it being tried." She admits, still seeming relaxed, and happy at the prospect. "If it is possible, or if you can, then that would be appreciated greatly."

At the bag at her side, she reaches in, and pulls out a small parcel, which she sets down on the table. Inside were four large cinnamon rolls, glazed with icing. "You may try one, if you wish now. This one expected it to be offered to you regardless, as I was planning to bring them for Little Fang, and Cryosanthia. This one is wishing to make sure that she is eating enough." Zeke looks at the treats with interest and offers a very polite nod to Seyardu. "Thisss one isss grateful to the gift to thisss one, thisss one's cihuaa, and the youngling." He finishes his tea and delicately begins to rearrange the tea set so that he can carry it and the cinnamon rolls with ease. "Thisss one will wait to ssshare the treat with them, if it pleasssesss you. For sssharing sssuch thingsss isss asss much a pleasssure ass the having of them."

"This is true, sharing the enjoyment is something which will make it grow even more, especially with those you care about." Seyardu nods, seeming happier, with a swish of her tail. "It is true then, that is likely one of many reasons Cryosanthia has been so happy of late, to be able to refer to you as such, and you of them. This one is glad. Have you spoken to your kin, Seldan? This one met Cryosanthia with him the other day, and she wishes for him to hear good news from you, instead."

Zeke pauses here, at these words and seems to think. "Thisss one hass not sspoken of Cryosssanthia to Sseldan. They... have not alwaysss been on the besst of termsss." His eyes hold the weight of something, but he shakes it away and rises to his feet. "And thingsss move apace at a ssspeeed that isss at timesss ssurprissing to thisss one. It doess not alwaysss make time for sssuch easssy talk."

"This one understands, though if it would be helpful to know, Cryosanthia seemed quite happy, and willing to share, it was not her wishing to hide it from him, it seemed." She says, helping to clean up the tea set after finishing off her cup. "Though it may be that she wished for him to ask specifically, so you may be prepared if he asks. Sometimes words come easily, sometimes not. But thank you for the tea, and the talk, Zeke. It was truly a help, and this one thanks you for it. Even just getting things out of my mind is important at times."

"It wassss a pleasssure Sseyardu. Thisss onesss pleasssure." Zeke swishes his tail and gathers up the tray, the treats, and nods low to the other sith-makar before making his way back the way he had come. It had been a brief sharing of words, but a good one.

<OOC> Zeke says, "OOC - Zeke is talking about Modify Memory, which can enhance a memory which a character possesses and allow them to view it more clearly. So that spell is one that some characters here should be able to cast for Seyardu if given the prompting."
<OOC> Zeke says, "Maskurwarayuslih is draconic for 'Broken beyond repair'"