[O] God Studies [VISIONARY LESSON TALLSUN Pt. 1] - Printable Version +- HELOVIA || The Way to the Sun (http://helovia.com) +-- Forum: Out of Character (http://helovia.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=1) +--- Forum: Archives (http://helovia.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=11) +--- Thread: [O] God Studies [VISIONARY LESSON TALLSUN Pt. 1] (/showthread.php?tid=21171) |
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God Studies [VISIONARY LESSON TALLSUN Pt. 1] - Ashamin - 10-16-2015
Ashamin
It was a slow hiss--the sound of fading frost falling on embers and drowning them with spit. This was what the haruspex was capable of, and perhaps nothing else. He felt listless and hopeless in the wake of the battles, despite his continued success. He had broken the crocodile gods' wrist, kicked mutant wolves to nothing, and made a bear to bleed until its death. Was that not success? Maybe it would be, if they hadn't been gods. Ashamin had tried to shrug off the deaths but could not. Now he stood scraping frost from the threshold onto his fire, stifling it until it was nothing but ashen streaks. His white hooves, so often pure, felt stained with coal and blood. He had felt unclean for a serious of unfortunate days; he thought he would never wash such guilt and disappointment off. But as always, he consoled himself with the possibility of learning. He had sent Lochan out in search of eager and curious scholars, and now Ashamin awaited their arrival with a sort of happy impatience. It would be good to see others and learn of their lives, again. With the chaos of battles, he had almost forgotten the love he had for his home. Now, called back to it, he couldn't imagine ever forgetting so strong a loyalty. Outside, the day was fading quickly. Sunset was brushing the Aurora Basin with bold reds and creamy pinks in broad, watercolor strokes. Lengthening shadows and edges of ice still clinging to light--bright white pillars--created an eerie and pronounced scene. In the shadows of the cave, Ashamin watched over it with something resembling pride and loneliness. His sarong was hung on the wall with his necklace and coil, draped over a rocky outcropping, leaving him naked and exposed to the cold. It was better, sometimes, to feel the unburdened. Perhaps that was always better, but one as preoccupied as the lonely haruspex would not think to entertain the idea. Loneliness was something he was used to. "" O come all ye faithful to the gathering of Gods Sing dark songs of knowledge in the fading of the sun O come all ye faithful to the wasteland soaked in blood Tell dark tales of confidence while the shadows stretch still on [[Welcome to the Tallsun visionary meeting! All ranks and ages are welcome. There will be 7 slots, including Ashamin, which means 6 people can join. Those in the visionary class (and those interested in joining) come first. If the cap is reached before these people can join, then you will be allowed in regardless. If you posted in last season's visionary lesson, please consider letting someone else take a slot before you. Please try to post within time limits to keep this moving, and do not worry about post order. If you do not post within a round time limit, it will be assumed that your character is standing and listening. If you don't post two rounds in a row, it is assumed your character will have left. Your task this season is to gather information about the gods. We will begin with a round of introductions, followed by a round of preliminary knowledge. After this point you will be split into groups and sent to research the gods and report back in your own threads--there will be a second thread made for reporting. If you wish, you are all welcome to include Lochan as guiding you to the Haruspex's cave for this first round. This begins the first round. It will end on THURSDAY, October 22nd, at 6 PM EST and I will post to introduce the next round that day.]] RE: God Studies [VISIONARY LESSON TALLSUN Pt. 1] - Ki'irha - 10-18-2015
Run away with me, Lost souls and reverie, Running wild and running free, Two kids, you and me
The star girl walked on. Evening had begun to chase the Tallsun sun from the sky, unfurling wings of golds and oranges and pinks across the sky over the valley. The sunset-kissed pines seemed to be dipped in gold, and the shadows of the Basin seemed to grow and stretch as the daylight retreated behind the mountains. She herself seemed to follow her shadow as it lengthened before her, pointing easternly towards the lake. It was beautiful this time of day, and Ki'irha knew soon the sky would become inky and dark, with stars and galaxies spilling over and studding the heavens. Despite the gorgeous backdrop, the corporal couldn't help but let out a sigh. She had felt defeated recently. She had lost a battle to a guilded brute, been burned and injured by a great crocodile god, and all around felt lonely. She had returned to the Basin to feel it's comfort, a sort of safety that only home could offer. She felt as though she really knew of no one here. She had yet to foster any true bonds, other than the two who she held close to her heart. Paired with her lonliness, her wounded pride from the lost battle made it hard for the normally valiant mare to hold her head high. The cave she had claimed as her own was settled into the eastern wall of the Aurora Basin, a nook that was hidden by several small pines and overlooked the lake. She had planned to settle in for the night, perhaps look for some shooting stars before turning in. This week did hold an important day for the girl. And for the past two years, on her special day, her mother would lay by her side and teach the young warrior about the sky and all it held. Mother would talk about the gods, and the stars, and how the blue filly had been a piece cast down from the dark summer heavens. The night would be filled with stories and light and love. But not this year. Her mother was gone. But before she could continue contemplating her solitude, a soft snapping and sizzling caught her attention. Turning her head, the faint scent of smoke filled her soft nose. Silver gaze fell upon the gaping mouth of the haruspex cave. Ashamin must be busy, but perhaps she could provide some company. She picked her way up the trail worn into the cliff side. Lochan skipped past her as she approached, and she smiled at him before crossing the threshold into the cave. Black cloves clattered against the smooth stone as she approached. "Good evening, Ashamin," she began, dipping her head in greeting and respect. He appeared busy dousing the smoldering embers of an old flame. She was interested in the painted buck's work as the haruspex, and hoped she could watch him in action. She also didn't mind being around him. He was handsome, though his body showed souvenirs of a life of battle and hard work. But to her, his imperfections added to his character. Though, she had never noticed the deep crimson on his left, has that been there before? She pulled her eyes away, not meaning to stare. "I do hope I am not imposing. I just meant to stop by and say hello, maybe see if you were up to anything enjoyable." Ears flicked forward as she caught his onyx gaze, sculpted head tipping ever so slightly to the side. Her tasseled tail curled softly around a rear hoof. She stood easy. It wasn't often she felt so relaxed around someone, and for a brief moment she felt at peace. "Though, if you're busy, I can always continue on my way." She fell quiet, the soft simmer of water on heat filling the silence of the air. Speech @Ashamin RE: God Studies [VISIONARY LESSON TALLSUN Pt. 1] - Eden - 10-19-2015
RE: God Studies [VISIONARY LESSON TALLSUN Pt. 1] - Hotaru - 10-22-2015
RE: God Studies [VISIONARY LESSON TALLSUN Pt. 1] - Ashamin - 10-22-2015
Ashamin
When only three arrived, the Haruspex wanted to be disappointed but could only be relieved. A small gathering was an easier one to manage, and he was too emotionally drained to handle any more social interaction than that. The first was Ki'irha, strong and polite as always. It was strange to see her when the sun was still setting. She was a creature encountered only at night, a sliver of that patterned sky herself. The Haruspex saw her now as if she were out of her element entirely. And she was, in some ways. Not a scholar but here, to study gods with him. Or maybe she was there for some other reason--one that didn't occur to Ashamin. Maybe she was just passing through. Of course, he was getting ahead of himself. Only a moment to listen, a second after murmuring a gentle "Ki'irha," and she was explaining herself. He wanted to draw closer, pull her into his cave with a hug of the neck and his own warmth, but he heard another and saw the faint spilling of Lochan's smoke at his own doorstep. Two could not be greeted as such at once. Eden arrived, Lochan beside her, and apparently seemed flustered. He nickered, casting both mares a warm look. "Eden, it is good to see you as well. Both of you please, come in. I was hoping to hold a meeting," he said. But before he could provide any further information, his gaze was caught. If the sunset had camouflaged Eden, then Hotaru was almost invisible. He could only make her out by the faint shimmering of light around her frame before she drew closer. It was Alice, really, that gave Hotaru away as his lady and not yet another ghostly visitor. "My lady. I'm honored you've joined us for this," Ashamin said. His voice was diplomatic, perhaps more so than needed, but he felt as if he had to overcompensate, given the familiarity of their last meeting. She had told him so much, and stayed the night as if his company was a necessity. But what did such a need mean? Ashamin hadn't the heart to tell Hotaru that the night was in fact the time when he was most awake, the hours in which he and Lochan traveled across the Basin's icy expanse in pursuit of further understanding. "Of course," he had told her, "stay." And then, eyes wide and heart struggling to keep up with his head, he had watched her all night as she had slept. What did it mean, now, that she had come? Surely she was just showing support as a herd leader, he had mentioned to her that a meeting would come shortly after Tallsun's arrival. Surely he should show nothing other than the stiff acknowledgement he gave her, now. As if sensing his bonded's confusion, Lochan drew closer to the painted buck and let dark mists circle the haruspex's socks. Ashamin stood still on shaking legs, feeling pain along the red burn mark that would never leave him. Perhaps even just three mares was too much, for this evening. Still, there was nothing he could do about it. He had to do his job, he had to speak up, and he had to teach or at the very least learn. Anxiously, with a flick of his tail, he gathered himself. "Thank you all for coming," he began with a nervous glance towards his bonded. "I would like to discuss the gods. Helovia's four deities are great beings, but I fear the Basin's knowledge of some of their reach is lacking. I think it would be wise to gather as much information as we can about the gods, especially now with one still unaccounted for and the other three arriving under such strange circumstances." It was an ominous and unpleasant truth, but one nonetheless. The rift and the gods return (though no one had really noticed them being gone) was troubling. "If we could all perhaps share what we know, I think it would help us begin," he offered. Ashamin was used to silence, but when there were so many other present and in such a small space he began to fear it. He thought of Ode, the young stallion with so little and then so much to say at the last seer's meeting. Now, he was absent--Ashamin wondered if that was a fault of his own. Surely it must have been. Weren't most things? Holding my heart cradling my head raising the youth up in empty beds [[Thank you all for coming! I have randomized our names and we have all been assigned the following gods: @Eden : God of the Sun @Hotaru : God of the Spark @Ki'irha : God of the Moon Ashamin : God of the Earth Proof: list 1 list 2 Though Ashamin won't officially announce your assignments until next round, I am revealing them to you now so you can get a head start on research. You are now tasked with going out and researching these gods. Since we didn't have enough people to pair everyone, you'll be going it alone to start but you are encouraged to thread with members of other herds--particularly seers and those who might know about the God you were assigned. Remember that this is set before the Earth God fight, so your research may include encounters with magic or seers at or at the conclusion of that battle. If you're stumped, here are some ideas to get started, feel free to do one or more of any of the below or something else entirely: - Speak with Menders, Crafters, or Seers about their god granted magics. - Speak with the god themselves, if you can nab them somehow. ;) - Interact with magic or amulets of your assigned god. - Visit the Herdland of that patron god and ask to be escorted through so you can see what they have made and protected. - Visit the Veins of the Gods and study the altars there. - Study helovian history to learn about past acts of the gods. Whatever you decide, return with some knowledge about your god that your character did not previously have that was earned through IC interaction or study! After this thread and a little time, I will make a second thread to report. There is still one more round to post here--preliminary knowledge. Please follow Ashamin's instructions and share what your character knows about these Gods so we can all be sure to not come back with info we already have. Let's go learn stuff! Round 2 will end MONDAY at 6 PM EST (but I may post sooner if you all post before then)]] RE: God Studies [VISIONARY LESSON TALLSUN Pt. 1] - Ki'irha - 10-26-2015
Run away with me, Lost souls and reverie, Running wild and running free, Two kids, you and me
The haruspex welcomed her in warmly. She stepped into his embrace, returning the gesture, breathing him in. Silver eyes fluttered closed as she placed the scents. Today he smelled of pine and earth and smoke. The softness of her hood pressed against her as they touched, and she smiled as she remembered the gift he had offered her. Their moment was interrupted by another mare, and they pulled away from one another. She opened her eyes, taking in the newcomer as Ashamin welcomed her in. Ki'irha believed she had met the white fae before, and couldn't help but notice how her sides appeared to be swelling. A smile touched blue lips as she nodded to the soon-to-be mother, and though she couldn't help but feel disappointed that another had arrived, she also knew it was about time she got around to learning about the others of the herd. "Eden," she began, catching the girls golden gaze, "I don't believe we've met, though please forgive me if I've simply forgotten. I am Kiirha, it is wonderful to meet you, or at least, it is wonderful to see you again." She couldn't help but feel a bit embarassed, which was an unusual sensation for the star girl. A third mare arrived, though Ki'irha knew with all certainly she had met the pink dame before. She bowed, one leg bent and folded, the tip of her horn nearly touching the cave floor. Perhaps the response was a bit extreme, but the blue was respectful, especially to those who ruled and protected. "Lady Hotaru," she greeted. But when met with nothing but a nod, the corporal resumed her typical proud stance without another word spoken. Eyes returned to the painted buck, and he began to speak. He spoke of gods and knowledge, and she couldn't help but frown. She knew nothing of Helovia's history. She had seen the great sun god in action, but that was the most she could offer. "Well," she began, the word drawn out and dripping with uncertainty, "I think there are four, and each god protects one of the herds. Sometimes they gift magic. And they protect us from dangers." Her mind wandered to the great crocodile god, where the sun god rained fire and fought alongside them to defeat the rift god. In return for their devotion, some of them received gifts and magic. "I suppose they're all different, but from my one interaction with the god of the sun, that's all I've gathered. It's not much." She shrugged, hoping her lack of knowledge wasn't considered disrespectful. She fell silent, hoping to learn from those around her. She assumed they were sure to know quite a bit more than she. Speech @Eden @Hotaru @Ashamin RE: God Studies [VISIONARY LESSON TALLSUN Pt. 1] - Eden - 10-26-2015
RE: God Studies [VISIONARY LESSON TALLSUN Pt. 1] - Hotaru - 10-27-2015
RE: God Studies [VISIONARY LESSON TALLSUN Pt. 1] - Ashamin - 11-03-2015
Ashamin
Ashamin listened with quiet intent and carefully disguised shame. It felt as if he was always hiding that, shame. He was ashamed for several reasons, firstly: He still had not seen the God for whom he was meant to speak. Still, after three seasons now, he had nothing to report. These meetings continued to be hollow, gatherings for the sake of ceremony where nothing new could be shared. Secondly: That as a result of this, his own scholars knew so little. That one did not even have enough tolerance for Ashamin to pretend to treat him with respect. That he was failing. Thirdly: That Hotaru seemed put off by his attempts to be professional. Fourthly: That he had not embraced Ki'irha as he had wished. Why had he not let himself press against her? Was he not known for outwardly affection? Would anyone have questioned or accused? But then again, why did he even wish to hold her? To hold anyone? He listened to all their heartbeats, sent his to hers as if in belated consolation, but he still did not meet her gaze. And lastly: Why did he really have no new information to add? It was pathetic, all of it. He could not stand to continue it so he only smiled weakly, his white tail twisting and his eyes scrunched as if in pain. Lochan knew, Lochan understood, but he would not voice his fear to the others here. They would have had to read his mind. "It's good to see your curiousity, all of you--but I would encourage you to appear less hesitant. Wear the knowledge you have proudly, that is a scholar's right," Ashamin said, all the while thinking of the knowledge he didn't have and cursing himself for using language that mimicked Rikyn's. Rikyn, that self righteous ass. "Hotaru, I thank you for your extensive knowledge of the Moon. I'll task you first, my Lady, with our mission: to learn about each of our lands' Gods and bring knowledge home. Our patron God of Spark, I think, would be best for you," the haruspex assigned awkwardly. He wasn't sure how to address her, not anymore. "Ki'irha, would you be comfortable studying the Goddess of which Hotaru speaks? And Eden, of the God of the Sun? I will take on the God of the Earth myself, though he has not yet resurfaced..." his voice trailed, his eyes furrowed. Was it a smart choice? He wasn't sure. But he had to do something to make this a real meeting, didn't he? Thanks for participating and sorry for my delay here! Part of why I gave out assignments last time. :P Please feel free to post your character leaving or asking Ashamin any closing questions, I'll post a reporting thread in a little while, good luck with your learning quest! @Hotaru @Eden @Ki'irha |