HELOVIA || The Way to the Sun
[O] with hammer and forge - Printable Version

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with hammer and forge - Syrena - 03-20-2017

She doesn’t even know where to begin. It’s a really good thing Ampere told her to seek out guidance first, because she would be anyway. Actually, she knows where to start. Her key. She needs a freaking key. This nonsense of being trapped on an island is quickly grating on her, because she doesn’t like standing at the bridge hoping someone might come by and then having to hitch a ride. Key first. Everything else second.

Thea, having decided to return to the little tiny brightly colored frog she’d first hatched as, sits on Syrena’s back. The little thing should technically be poisonous, but her diet doesn’t really consist of enough of the right stuff for her to be harmful, at least not against Syrena’s rather strange, seal-gray coat. But probably she just isn’t really that poisonous.

Syrena passes most of the day in the oasis, as she always does, waiting for evening before she sets out to try and find anyone. It’s too hot to do anything during the day, and it’s definitely too hot to literally be playing with fire. Why did she pick this path again? It’s not like she enjoys sweating. Does she even sweat? She has no idea, though clearly, she’d be finding out. Maybe she should have stayed in the Edge and made glass with nice, pleasant mist.

Truthfully, she just wanted the Falls back. Without that, it didn’t really matter much where she lived. Thea seemed to like it here, and that was enough. Syrena doesn’t go far from the oasis, figuring it’s as good a place as any to find the monarchs and Zero. Oh, Zero. She hardly knew him, but he simply reminded her of the Falls, of the life she should be living. How strange that they were living it here instead. Her position was slightly different – once Storyteller with crafting magic, now just crafter – but his was the same.

“Thea?” she say while willing the girl to go, to seek. Thea gets the point of the message, and hopefully she has some idea of who Syrena actually needs. Thea may very well just go find anyone; always glad to force her bonded into more social situations. The little frog changes to the now familiar kingfisher and takes to the sky, scouting. Syrena stays in the general area of the oasis, figuring she’s got a better chance of finding who she seeks if she doesn’t wander all over everywhere.


les words "chat chat"

Syrena

let the water take me

image credits


@Volterra @Ampere @Zèklè
Crafting plans! Feel free to pp Thea finding you or just run into Syrena who's wandering in circles because she's weird


RE: with hammer and forge - Ampere - 03-22-2017

HEART SICK_AND EYES FILLED UP WITH BLUE


Kygo notices the odd-beaked bird before Ampere does. He trills out excitedly from his perch upon her rump, and their bond explodes with an assorted range of curious and happy orange tinges, Kygo's intrigue humming across their entwined souls brilliantly. His ruckus draws Ampere's ears down in a slanted line, doing their best to muffle some of his squawking, while her head turns to eye the object of his fascination.

Most other companions are large and scary, if not both. So Kygo's utterly thrilled to see this other, small, less little-green-parrot-eating bird. He shoots from Ampere's rump and flaps happily up towards the Kingfisher, warbling out all sorts of energetic greetings. If Ampere knew Syrena better she might have recognized the companion, but as it was she needed to do a better job of re-learning her herd, her family, though she knows enough to recognize the strange creature as not being a native, and thus a companion.

"Hello," she greets, pleasant enough to the companion, always to them (Kygo aside). It doesn't take long to figure out the bird is there to find and bring back others, so Ampere obliges and follows the companion back to its bonded, to Syrena. She's not surprised to find the mare cooling off by the Oasis, and she does he best to fight the tight line of her lips, cast in disapproval for the messenger system the mare has forced her companion into while she in turn lounges. "Birds like fly," Kygo offers, trying to dispel Ampere's sourness.

If she heeded the little parrot or not isn't clear, but she cracks a smile for the blue mare all the same as she draws nearer. "Syrena," she greets, her head dipping towards the Artisan. "How are you faring this warm day?" Ampere smirked, sweat clinging to her own coat, and night her preferred hour this time of year too. She tilted her head in quiet question, awaiting the reason Syrena summoned her here (so she suspected), and wondered if it might be of her new role given the herd meeting hadn't been long ago.


A M P E R E

plaguedog.deviantart.com



RE: with hammer and forge - Volterra - 03-25-2017


It's Vadir who spots the oddly-coloured bird first. She immediately rears from her perch on Volterra's back as he grazes under the shade of a tree, flaring her wings as she fixes her hungry eyes onto the kingfisher. "Prey," she hisses. Unlike Vérzés, who has a fondness for fish, rats and voles, Vadir favours birds to fill her stomach. Volterra has long suspected that it's not because they provide great sustenance - a rabbit, small deer or fox is far more filling - but because she adores the hunt. The gold finds ground-ridden prey too easy; one well-timed downwards swoop and the kill is complete. Birds, however....birds fly away. Birds can be pursued, screaming, through the skies. Birds can challenge every inch of her acrobatic skill, leading her in a deadly dance through the heavens.

But this bird seems to be leading them somewhere, so Vadir is forced to contain her hunger at her bonded's bidding. Vérzés is hunting elsewhere, so the beast is accompanied by Vadir alone as he breaks into a trot to follow the kingfisher. The evening air is pleasant, but still warmer than Volterra would like as he easily covers the ground below his colossal hooves, his mane and tail trailing in the wind.

Finally, the titan arrives at the oasis. Ampere is already there, and he dips his head in greeting to the blue-hued mare in a gesture of respect to his fellow leader. Then he looks to Syrena, the colour-changing crafter and the owner of the shape-shifting companions. He suspects why she's called them, and excitement pulses in his belly; with the help of her rank magic, they will be able to create greatness. "Syrena, Ampere," comes the rumbled greeting. They're still waiting for Zekle, so Volterra refrains from saying more for now.

I NEVER FEAR DEATH OR DYING, I ONLY FEAR NEVER TRYING
I AM WHATEVER I AM, ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE ME NOW
image: araxel



RE: with hammer and forge - Syrena - 04-11-2017

Excitement explodes through their bond. They have no words yet, but even from this distance, Syrena can feel her bonded thrill at the sight of the green conure. Syrena imagines Thea’s thoughts go something like Friend. Friend friend friend. Woo! Friend. She’s dreading the day that Thea can actually talk. Already the onslaught of happy emotions is quite enough. And the general prodding to make Syrena more social. It’s not really working.

Thea trills in greeting, flitting about the green conure with glee. Inspecting and talking as she can, trying to convey the question of we are friends? in every way a bird knows how. When Ampere says hello, Thea is even more thrilled, trilling again and taking off, circling around and making sure to keep her new friend close while leading Ampere and Kygo to Syrena.

If only Ampere could feel Thea’s emotions, she might realize that Syrena is forcing nothing. That their bond often works in reverse, Syrena trailing along behind Thea doing whatever the rougarou wants. That when Syrena does ask for help, Thea is happy to oblige, glad to make friends or visit old one and to force her bonded to stop being such a big sad sack.

Ampere is the first to find them, and Syrena’s about to reply with pleasantries when Volterra also appears, so she waits. Thea shrinks a little at the sight of the dragon. She’d known it was there, but she’d kept busy with Kygo and felt safe in numbers. Not that the little kingfisher couldn’t just decide to be a hydra or whatever and go after the dragon, but that was definitely not in Thea’s nature. Which was sort of hilarious, when three out of her four (favored, because she still picked others from time to time) forms were pretty deadly.

“Ampere, Volterra,” she says, nodding to each finally. Thea keeps trying to play with Kygo if he will, and though she wonders if she should try to make Thea behave while they meet, she doesn’t. Syrena can’t quite bring herself to deny Thea anything, and the girl is definitely spoiled. “Warm, perhaps, in an understatement,” she says, trying at humor. Her always slightly damp seal-gray skin is well suited to this weather, at least, but still, she mostly just feels like a fish out of water.

“I was hoping to speak with you both about your plans for the crafters. What would you like us to do?” She’s keenly aware that Zero still isn’t here, and she hates it, wishing he’d come and just take over and tell her what to do. But apparently, at least for now, it would fall to her. But maybe he’d show up soon, and she can’t help but hope for it. But she needs something to do, marching orders and all that, so she dives in.


les words "chat chat"

Syrena

let the water take me

image credits


@Volterra @Ampere @Zèklè


RE: with hammer and forge - Ampere - 04-29-2017

HEART SICK_AND EYES FILLED UP WITH BLUE


If only Syrena would understand that Ampere feels the bond itself is the 'force' at work. It is a shackle, tethering two souls together for eternity - one which chose, and one which was innocently plucked. Will is not so easily described by want.

Kygo chatters happily back at the bird that came to gather them, though he's not so brave that he leaves Ampere's backside except for some brief flits through the air to mingle. It's the first time another companion has ever really paid him much mind, and is one of the few that isn't a vicious carnivore that would gobble him up. As social as Kygo was, he didn't have many friends to share his nature with, so instead he relied on Ampere for his security and company, a better choice regardless of her mood than anything else the parrot found at his disposal. Perhaps if they were a jungle herd where other parrots were abundant he wouldn't have felt the same, but they weren't, and so he did.

Ampere laughed faintly at Syrena's continued humor, eyes still twinkling as she dipped her head in greeting towards Volterra as he too pulled up with them. She wondered what his answer might be to Syrena's question as they got down to business. They had discussed it briefly, but never got into the nitty gritty before now. Still, they seemed to be of the same mind more often than not, so Ampere's tongue wagged freely.

"A great question!" she began, eager, because she found great value in the craftsmanship produced here. "We should focus first on equipping our herd members. Armor, shields, weapons and the like, are all important, even for non-warriors. Until you get used to the metal working, maybe start of small and make some knives this season?" Ampere glanced at Volterra for any input before continuing.

"Such items are also useful for trade and barter. We have some of the most prized material in all of Helovia, and for that reason you ought to mark it so everyone knows it is Dragon Throat made. Branded with a sun perhaps, like my shield." Ampere's magic pulled down the metal piece between her wings, and at her whim the collapsed item expanded into a full shield. Heavy still, she let it settle into the sand so she could release her concentration on it. Gleaming of iron and engraved with a sun in its center, it was one of her prized possessions. It wasn't crafted for her here, but gifted by the Sun, of that she was sure even if he himself did not deliver it.

"Gold and copper aren't much use for quality, but they make nice colors and ornate work for the firmer stuff, giving it more value to those who are in want."

They had bigger plans too of course, which maybe Volterra would bring up - projects instead of tools and trinkets for trade.


A M P E R E

plaguedog.deviantart.com



RE: with hammer and forge - Volterra - 05-01-2017


The crafter's statement of warmth causes a grin to play at the corners of the goliath's muzzle. Indeed, the Throat is famed for its heat, which had initially deterred Volterra from wanting to live here. He's born and bred for the cold, but he's adapted to his home and has grown accustomed to the heat. That doesn't mean he likes it, but he's now capable of tolerating it.

Syrena asks what they wish for the crafters to do, and although the stallion spares a moment to wonder where Zekle is, he's swiftly drawn into the passion of Ampere's speech as she begins to describe to Syrena what they want. Volterra's eyes glow with a combination of greed and pride as he pictures the magnificent tools that Ampere forges with her words - knives, shields, armour. He pictures legions of fierce warriors marching into battle decked out in the finest metals, each emblazoned with a sun. That emblem could strike fear into the hearts of an invading force - what hope do they have against the herd with fire on their side? "Yes, Ampere is correct. It is of great importance that we outfit our warriors in the finest equipment, and knives are immensely useful in battle. Our soldiers mustn't rely too heavily on them of course, as the strength of their bodies should be enough, but they are an excellent asset to have." One of the warlord's most prized possessions is his stone knife, created by Parelia when he was a boy. He rarely uses it in battle, but knowing it's there is strangely comforting.

"Even when we have no projects in mind, I suggest that you craft as much as you can, Syrena. Anything we don't use we can stockpile or trade, as Ampere says." He glances with a smile to his Sultana as she reveals her shield, giving him a moment to admire the craftwork and beauty of such an implement. Imagine the Throat's soldiers bearing those! "In the next few seasons we are going to try and fortify our island, to prevent it crumbling into the sea over time. We intend to consult the Sun God for further information, but we may well require crafting to complete our task. I would highly suggest practicing as much as you can and advancing your abilities until you feel confident, such as by creating daggers and small pieces of armour." Volterra isn't a crafting expert, but he would imagine that it takes a while to get used to using the new magic, just as he'd struggled to gain control over his own powers.

I NEVER FEAR DEATH OR DYING, I ONLY FEAR NEVER TRYING
I AM WHATEVER I AM, ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE ME NOW
image: araxel


@Syrena


RE: with hammer and forge - Syrena - 05-08-2017

Syrena doesn’t really get into debates. It’s not her thing. For starters, she’s just not talkative enough to debate. And really, she doesn’t care about anything enough to debate its merits. Though she might laugh at the notion that she picked Thea, and Syrena doesn’t laugh. She helped a Yeti and it dropped an egg and out popped Thea. And though she cares very little for anything, she wasn’t about to leave the now bonded, helpless little creature alone. That was a far worse fate than spending a lifetime dragging Syrena around. Because Thea totally wears the pants in this relationship.

Kygo is less social than Thea, and she backs off, trying not to scare the bird. When he flits around to play, she goes, but when he retreats she is smart enough to let him. She does her own thing, sometimes twirling around in the sky, sometimes plopping herself on Syrena’s back. Thea is rarely still, a thing she seems entirely incapable of being.

Ampere starts, sounding far more eager than Syrena might have expected over something like crafting. But then again, metal is useful, and she can see the benefits of finding crafters that churn out work. She is acutely aware that Zero isn’t here, and it makes her feel even more alone. As if she isn’t almost entirely alone in this place anyway, surrounded by herd mates she hardly knows. Not that she makes an active effort to get to know them, but she’d fit in better in the Falls than here. Which wasn’t much, but it was something.

She just needs to get over the Falls. Thea pecks her lightly on the neck, bringing her mind to the present and the conversation at hand. Ampere is talking about branding, and suddenly there’s a shield on the ground where there hadn’t been a moment before. Syrena turns her ocean blue eyes to the sun emblazoned on it, and she can think only of the Sun God they follow without question. One she has not met, but regardless, she doesn’t trust him anymore than she does the Earth now. How can she?

She only nods, not interrupting as Volterra continues with their plans to fortify the island. She vastly prefers the idea of the herd falling into the sea, where she could live contentedly forever. That is what Helovia needed. An underwater herd. But of course, there would be very few horses living there. Her Sultan finishes, and she nods again. “I’ll start with knives, and work my way to larger items. Let me know if you need assistance with our borders.” She has nothing else to add, figuring the questions will come later, as she begins to craft and get a feel for life here in the Throat. “Is there anything else you need from me?”


les words "chat chat"

Syrena

let the water take me

image credits


@Ampere @Volterra
We can end here unless there's more she needs to know - thank you!


RE: with hammer and forge - Ampere - 05-08-2017

HEART SICK_AND EYES FILLED UP WITH BLUE


There was a time when Ampere did not believe heartily int he Helovian gods. It was difficult for her to find faith when she'd been a traveler in her youth, passing by so many lands, each with their own versions of gods. It wasn't until the Sun himself extended an offer towards his herd, lifting her from the darkness of the caves they all sought refuge in when the world had plummeted into darkness beneath the hunger of the wraiths - only then did she finally accept the gods, and learn the love the Sun.

Despite that, the gods were imperfect, and if Ampere allowed her thoughts to dwell on it, anger roused within her regarding their attitude towards companions and the manner in which they assisted the bonds she so loathed. The Earth had been the one to speak to her when she shouted at the veins for answers, and though Ampere knew he alone didn't create the companion bond, she bore the brunt of her wrath towards the God of the Earth.

The echo of the lightning creature in her mind, bidding her to to remember herself and her cause, haunted her dreams more and more now that Gaucho haunted them less and less. Ampere was more adrift than she let on, anchored to the sands only out of routine and passion for the horses and the blood that had built a life here. Now that her sun and her moon - Gaucho and Mesec - no longer stood beside her, Ampere was filled with a darkness from her youth that had long since slipped away into hibernation. Her namesake was more than just a title, not that anyone these days would know it...

Ampere blinks though, thoughts dispersing, some never fully realized (for she did not know Syrena's feelings or lack thereof for the Sun). Instead she smiled and nodded with Volterra and at the new crafter, and there was warmth in the grin she offered the gray mare. "Thank you Syrena, I know you'll do a wonderful job and we'll meet back with you next we have need." Ampere dipped her head in departure, tossed a glance of farewell to Volterra, then turned and took the skies, eager to know why her son had not been in attendance and meaning to find him to ask him.


A M P E R E

plaguedog.deviantart.com