Nest-Mother to the Stars

Log Info

• Title: Nest-Mother to the Stars
• Emitter: Cryosanthia
• Characters: Cryosanthia, Kira
• Place: A10: Temple of Althea
• Time: Thursday, June 18, 2020, 8:06 PM
• Summary: Cryosanthia has been tasked to appeal to each of the Gods of Light, in the hopes that they might remove Salina's mark. She asks Kira's assistance for this, as a Sentinel of Althea. The sith is nervous, especially as her nominal diety, Ceinara, is a God of Twilight and has generally distanced herself from things outside of her own creative sphere, as have most of the neutral gods. Cryo laments that neutrality seemed a good ideal for a Speaker, but it hasn't helped much and she wants to help. She explains the draconic form the sith envision Althea as, with the White Lady being more on the pinkscale side for them, and titled Queen of the Eggs, Nest-Mother to the Stars, reflecting her role as the mother of creation. Her prayer is a little disorganized, although heartfelt, and some of her anguish over Menel and Zeke leaks in. Kira assists, and then Cryo wants to return to her room and have a swim and think it over.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--<* A10: Temple of Althea *>=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

The term 'marble temple' only holds up insofar as the temple's outer edifice is concerned. Twin statues of Althea, each of them bearing gently glowing blue staves, provide welcome either side of the entrance, a door which has never been closed in recent memory. A place of community and warmth, a sense of warmth and welcome quickly overtakes most visitors upon entry.

Serrielite and Angorite devotees guard the outside entrances, while blue star-robed Hearthguard wander just inside, performing and guiding various charitable tasks. One can even see a smaller, more discrete entrance if one looks, from whence comes and go the Mourners of Vardama, carrying their somber burdens.

Designed to be open and welcoming, the place is a bustle of family and community-centered activity. A great, central oven serves the double duties of fireplace and food preparation on a grand scale that makes the temple a favorite for gatherings. Althean worshippers and Hearthguards alike tirelessly bake and cook for the less fortunate, while younger Hearthguards sit on comfortably cushioned divans with worshippers and petitioners, dispensing advice and Althea's kind words. Wreaths of herbs hang from the ceilings, giving a pleasant scent, while a pool fed by a small artificial waterfall provides fresh water for bathing wounds or blessing of children and worshippers. A procession of doors and halls lead off to various rooms. While many lead to places such as rooms, offices, and libraries for the Hearthguard, there is also a well-known hospice, as well as the transient bunks, and even counseling rooms for when a family member nears their end. This last area is overseen by Hearthguard and Mourner alike, in respectful accordance with local customs.

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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-  Appearing, in Order  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Cryosanthia  6'9"     267 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman.
Kira         5'0"     120 Lb     Human             Female    Blonde woman in simple robes with an eye patch.
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The Temple of Althea

Cryosanthia has been recovering and doing her best to heal in a private room, with a Mage's Magical Mansion inside. She's felt decent enough, and not watched enough, to spend a few hours outside of it in the past few days doing nothing specific. However, she was assigned a task and has been working up to it. Although this task has a very difficult question. How does one make an appeal to a god for help when the faith in one's own god is weak, and there's been very little dedication to any. The one nominally worshipped, or the ones of one's friends.

She's made arrangements for Kira to meet her, and help with the appeals to Althea, whom she at least feels grateful for the room space she's been occupying the last couple of weeks. She waits just inside the door of her room.

Kira doesn't have too far to go, and it's not like she isn't a regular visitor, anyhow. Still, she announces herself at the doorway, rather than knock. Cryo might be inside the home inside the room, afterall, and the knock wouldn't really carryer through. "Cryosanthia? It's Kira."

The whitescale sith steps out, smiling. She's wearing all her things, although her AnyGarment sleeves seem to be off at the moment, with her mithril mail providing an amount of decorum. She's also got her haversack on, which has become a habit of late, an unwillingness to be separated from her things in case something happens. A sentiment that is part paranoia but also a necessary learned action.

"Peace on your Nest, Kira. This one hopes things are well, and thank you so much for being willing to help. I don't know where to start, including, what to wear. I've not been able to locate a shrine to Ceinara, and she is unfamiliar in the Alexandrian representation. I'd be hesitant to wear what I normally would to a Pale Green Dragon service, and I don't think it would be appropriate for Althea at all. How should I dress, how should I pray?"

Kira thinks a moment. "I don't know what one wears to revere The Pale Green Dragon," she admits, smile warming "but please wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. The Healer doesn't judge anyone on their clothing. I've always dressed simply. There are some formal ceremonies, at times, but I think those robes are more for those watching or partaking than Althea, herself."

"Beads mostly," Cryosanthia says with a nod, concentrating. Her clothes turn into a skirt, with a sleeve for her tail, and a long, loose shirt that is a plain sort of cassok that hangs down past her waist. It also has a hood, currently flopped back and covering her haversack, which seems large enough to make it over her horns. It's a plain cotton white, so it's lack-luster in comparison to her scales or the brilliantly white robes she usually imagines into being. There is decoration or piping. She holds out her arms, "This will do?"

Her tail has a nervous motion, jerking back and forth behind her, halting, moving, halting again.

Kira nods, reaching for one or more sets of sister-claws to clutch. "That will do... so long as you're comfortable." Her smile broadens. "Please, don't be anxious. The Healer is compassion. For all who need it, in great amounts or small. All we need do is ask."

"Fire too, if you had the magic, we'd wear fire. Apologies, this one is thinking of Ceinara again. She would focus on her art, her beauty, the common good. Not take sides. As a Speaker, this seemed wise to me. I digress, anxious, yes." Cryo lets her hands be taken, normally they are large with scales and thick nails, her claws only out in emergencies. The white gloves she often wears match her scales well and add a refined aspect to them. She holds Kira's hands tightly, cooly, watching her. "This one is ready. Praying should be loud, or quiet, or silent? There should be no dancing, yes?"

Kira considers all that a moment. "If you wanted to truly, freely express yourself, and want it to be heard, how would -you- do so? All that matters," she releases one of Cryo's hands to place her own lightly on the sith's chest, not quite centered, "is what's in here," she then lifts the hand to repeat the same brief light touch, with more reaching, on her sith sister's forehead. "However you feel you can best share that is up to you. She doesn't bind anyone to ceremony or structure, nor deny those who use is."

Cryosanthia is powerful, for all her nervous movement, touching her, pressing on the sith one feels her weight and strength. Her breathing, her muscles moving under the clothes, the solidity of scales. Like a statue, even if she's stuck in thought. "I'm... not sure. Let's go to where the praying is and I will hope something occurs on the way." The touch on her forehead seems to relax her, she closes her eyes briefly and sighs.

"You've been very inspired, and inspiring," Kira points out. "I'm sure that something will come to you." She turns, keeping hold of the one hand to lead her out. Not to drag, but hopefully provide a reassuring escort.

The hallway, like her room (and presumably others) is simple in decorum aside from functional and comfort. One of the large rooms, or small halls, depending on one's persepctive, that Kira leads her to, is no different. While there are central organized pews (with cushions that comfortable but not overly posh or ornate), there are also divans, chairs, and similar scattered about the periphery. Some petitioners are led in larger groups by Hearthguards bearing formality, while others could be counselors, friends, or even family, at least by the arrangement and ease of their sharing words.

The whitescale sith follows along, looking at the walls, whispering in the halls, "You call her the White Lady. She is similar for us, althought she is not considered a white scale. She is a colour of white which lets her blood be visible beneath, so she is more pink, and her features like her horn patterns and tail, are much more like a silver dragon's. She is Nest-Mother to the Stars, often shortened to Mother Star or Queen of the Eggs. Eggs holding the promise of new life, representative of creation, and so Queen of Creation."

Cryo continues rambling, "she is not called Lady Whitescale, though one might think that obvious, perhaps so we white scales don't think even more highly of ourselves, as we are known to do. She is often shown with stars at her feet, like a nest of eggs, and with them behind her."

She falls silent once she's entered the area with the pews, and looks for something that will accomodate her legs and tail easily, bench more than pew, and something off to the side."

Kira's smile grows and warms at Cryo's insight... or even sharing. She doesn't know nearly as much about other cultures, especially the sith, and this feeds her own curiosity. Whether just now interpereted or receited, it is still new to her. "Yes, She is mother to all, and loves all like a mother... even when we misstep, or don't feel worthy." These words cause a flicker in her own smile, both dimming and then resurgence.

She may well have tails and modesty in mind as she leads Cryo to an empty cushioned bench large enough for the both of them. There she takes a seat at the end, leaving more than enough room for the sith.

Cryo slips onto the bench, sweeping her hands underneath herself to get her skirt arranged and tail settled nicely down the back, giving her a natural lean forward while she sits. Her hip brushes against Kira's as she settles in. She clasps her hands together, brushes once at her horns, which have not moved, and then clasps her hands again. She looks sideways over at Kira, takes a breath, and starts speaking.

"Nest-Mother to the Stars, Queen of the Eggs, this is Cryosanthia, one of your whitescaled children. I have not spoken to you much. I was young, more interested in exploring than nest-making and then I went away. It was a blink, for everyone here. For me it was many long years. I missed the first nesting, grew into my second century. I became a mother still, to a foundling, and that opened my heart to the joys and pains. To seeing my child grow, sacrificing for him... and losing him."

Her hands start to close tightly against themselves, her pupils spread a little wider. There are noises in her throat which are not words, "I have a... we are... the one I care for, Zeke, we can't be together and we can't have eggs while she... I'm owned! She put a mark on my hand and I can't escape. She controls and watches me. My friends fear me. I'm trapped. Nest-Mother of all Nest-Mothers hear me. Please!"

Her voice starts rising as she speaks, growing more earnest and despairing, and there is a lonely sound accompanying her words, a lost nestling call. The sort of noise an adult sith would be very embarassed to make, even more so now that she's gotten loud enough to attract attention. Her hands shake, and her eyes have gotten wide and dark.

Kira reaches to put a hand on Cryo's shoulder. To comfort, to encourage. In fact, it doesn't remain on her shoulder for long and the arm slips around her back. Not quite a hug, as she tries to keep it light enough to not interrupt. This leaves her turns towards her sith sister (sithter?) even as she adds her own voice in prayer. Her own, or an addition to Cryo's, she doesn't make the distinction.

"Healer, hear our prayer. Your child suffers, your children suffer, from scars that only Your Grace, Your Compassion, might mend." Her voice is soft, as her tone is, but not modestly quiet. "Your daughter, Your Sentinel, asks that You might share Your love with her sister, as she has, to ease her pain. So that we can share with others, and spread Your Compassion."

"Mmhmmmm!" Cryo adds as emphasis, a lot more noise than words though clearly heartfelt. The contact, helps, she shifts to lean heavily against Kira, breathing. Concentrating on her breathing. She whispers, "Please, make me free."

The whitescale stares at her hands, covered by her gloves, and she leaves them on. Sure that she would feel something if her mark was removed, and afraid to seem presumptuous and test by removing it. "Find me, Queen of the Eggs, so she can't. Please."

Kira gives Cryo a firmer half-hug squeeze with her whispered pleas. "Please, ease her suffering, so she may be free." Does she expect a miracle here and now? Not exactly, but she will ever hope for one, at all times, in all situations.

Cryo leans into the half-hug, slowing her breathing and relaxing. She's not expecting anything, and was in fact surprised at some of the emotions that welled up. She still has things frozen and suppressed, things that don't take examination well. Her breath comes heavy, and she whispers to Kira, "I ... I want to get back to my room. She will... must have heard, knows where to find me."

Kira nods, her smile clear whom she refers to before she states it. "I understand. I'm certain the Queen of Eggs heard you. She hears all who call for Her mercy. It may take time to answer them all..." It's also likely that, like Cryo experienced, time can work veyr differently for some.

Another light half-hug and then Kira rises so she can offer her hand to aid and/or escort Cryo. "You've been, and still are, in my prayers to Her, sister."

Cryo stands with her sister's assistance, giving one more look to the front of the room. Her tail is tucked in and she has her head lowered. She nods, "This one appreciates it greatly. This one has not been... as compassionate as she could have been, and in actions too fallable. I'm sure she knows the secret shames of my heart and I hope they will be forgiven. Thank you greatly for your assistance."

"I want to sink, and think, and know I am out of sight for a while. The Mistake may have heard and this one does not wish her answer."

"Cryo," Kira counters, albeit softly, and with a squeeze of hand, "you are maybe the most compassionate, creative, and strongest person I know. It's not -you- that brings the doubts and fears."

Still, Kira knows all too well that they are there and real, nonetheless. "Come, I'll take you back, so you can enjoy the water." She then moves to do just that. Not in a hurry, but she won't slow Cryosanthia if she feels they should make haste.

"Thank you, for the kind words, this one will try to write them in her mind and heart where they will not be forgotten." Cryosanthia says, as she rises and moves. She isn't rushing back to her room, but it is neither a slow walk. When her fears rise up she combats them with motion and it's clear she needs to do that now. It isn't far to the room set aside for her, and then it's a quick step inside where a held breath and a lot of tension leaves the sith.

"This one is glad how that went, and for your assistance. The next one should be easier. Come, lets swim, and there is fish and fruit if you want some."

Her clothes switch back to sleeves and she is already removing everything, starting with her haversack. A pleasant and grateful smile is given to Kira.