From Sol Invictus

Book02: A Series of Conversations

< Talking With the Pterok | Sol Invictus Logs | The Tomb of Ymir >

Summary: Cerin talks with Marku, they are joined by Birds. Later, Zahara, Cerin and Marku find Birds face down in the punch. Cerin and Zahara are informed of the deal with Iallu.

XP:P1, C1, M1, Z1

Tags:

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It is not until the third morning of the Carnival that Markuran meets up with Cerin once more, looking rather confused.

• Cerin smiles in greeting "Hello Marku..you seem...perplexed"
• Markuran sighs.
• Cerin waits for him to elaborate beyond a sigh

<Markuran?> "I have had too many truths forced down my throat recently, Cerin. Selonis and this Iallu Ten-Facets, they so casually offer up things my old mind says can't be."

• Cerin tilts his head slightly "What truths do you speak of? The Celestial lions are spirits of immense power, it is no shame for one to vanquish you after a hard battle"
• Markuran shakes his head. "The battle was the most fun I've had in weeks. No, we were talking of the past and of Heaven. And he told me the gateways could let us meet for future matches. The Hundredfold, he said, would know how to reach the Isles of Glass."

<Markuran?> "So Birds and I went to Iallu the Ten-Faceted and traded secrets for knowledge. And the true order of Creation is unholy, all that is holy is rebellion and the world is not what I thought."

<Cerin?> "Slow down Marku. Isles of Glass? Iallu? unholy?"

• Markuran rubs at his face, noting to himself he needs to shave. "On the other hand, the wine here is *really* good.."

<Cerin?> "I'm sure its wonderful. Now, Isles of Glass?"

<Markuran?> "Selonis said the Isles of Glass are seven spirit realms outside Heaven, where we can meet to duel and talk. Since Exalted are barred from Heaven."

<Markuran?> "And the Hundredfold who built the gateways can show me how to reach them."

<Cerin?> "I am not sure that you will need to ask one of the hundredfold." he smiles "I was studying the co-ordinate system. There are several apparently valid 2 letter destinations, that cannot possibly point to anywhere in Creation. Perhaps some of them will point to these Islesof Glass"

<Markuran?> "That would be nice. The Xi-Ma-Taxi don't like me."

• Cerin nods "Now, Iallu the ..ten-faceted?"

<Markuran?> "A goddess of secrets or knowledge...we told her about the flying metal beasts and the flowers giving gifts to humans. And she told us about the Primordials and Hundredfold."

<Markuran?> "Birds wants to keep talking to her, she told us where to meet her in Creation."

<Cerin?> "What did she say of the primordi-....meeting her again?"

<Markuran?> "Sometime soon. When we know more about the flowers gifts and the Hundredfold in Creation."

• Cerin nods excitedly

<Markuran?> "She probably won't mind if you come along, as long as you have a secret for her."

<Cerin?> "Well since you seem to have traded my secret, I suppose I shall have to find something else."

• Markuran eyes Cerin somewhat suspiciously. "I'm sure you have more then enough secrets to spare one or two."

<Cerin?> "Of course the point of secrets is that one often has reason for keeping them, but no matter, I shall endevour to find something of interest to this Iallu"

<Markuran?> "And what have you been doing in Heaven?"

• Cerin smiles "Taking in the sights mostly" he pauses for a brief moment "I also met with some of Ssithumi's Kin"

<Markuran?> "Were they nicer then she is?"

• Cerin frowns at him "I'm not sure what you mean. SSithumi has never been anything less than pleasant to converse with."

<Markuran?> "Except when she told me I shouldn't be allowed to be alive."

<Cerin?> "She knew you as Kiraith. Having seen what emerged from your tomb, can you truely blame her?"

• Markuran harumphs.

<Cerin?> "Anyway, in additon to showing me some of their magics, they say they will send a delegation to Rathess to help her in the re-education of her people, and have invited us to visit thier valley, far to the north"

<Markuran?> "It seems we have many places to visit after Heaven."

• Cerin nods "A great many places"

<Markuran?> "Have you seen Rannath since the first day?"

• Cerin shakes his head "Not since then, no." he shrugs "It is a large carnival."
• Markuran nods. "He'll turn up or not, whatever it is he's been doing."

<Cerin?> "I have an idea of what he was about, but..as you say, he will reappear or not"

• willows can be observed a short distance away, discussing the relative merits of two large candies with what appears to be a small child with unusually long figners.
• Cerin tilts his head "I'm sure I...ah there she is."
• Cerin points towards birds, then walks over to her
• Markuran waves at Birds as he follows Cerin. "Taking candy from a baby, Birds?"

<BirdsOfTrinity?> "You could say that." She stuffs the thing into her mouth. "You still drunk?"

<Markuran?> "No. I didn't even feel like vomitting this morning."

• Cerin laughs "So Birds, Marku was telling me of your meeting with Ialli."

<BirdsOfTrinity?> "Yes. Nice lady. Dresses well."

• Cerin stiffens momentarily "I'm sure."

<Cerin?> "Perhaps if you could tell me more of what she said to you?"

<BirdsOfTrinity?> "I sure could...she said that the humans were created as slaves for the Hundredfold...Marku didn't like that."

<BirdsOfTrinity?> "Apparently the Hundredfold were the beings the Primordials made to people the world."

• Cerin nods. "That would seem to fit with the fragments, and what Staaklon ..almost told me"
• Markuran glowers, nodding.
• Cerin ignores the glower "He mentioned a meeting with her, too...?"

<Markuran?> "Between the Xi-Ma-Taxi, the Dragon-Kings, Iallu, Herons, the Aalori, the Flowers and the Realm we will be busy little Solars when we go back.."

<Cerin?> "Marku, I knew that even before what I learnt here."

<BirdsOfTrinity?> "I suggested that we continue meeting to discuss these matters, and she gave me the location of her sanctum-temple in the North."

<Markuran?> "At least we'll only have to make one trip to see this valley of dragon-kings and Iallu."

<Cerin?> "Perhaps...'the north' is rather a large area for them to be found within"

• Birds-of-Trinity shows Cerin the shred of sleeve.
• Cerin studies the shred with interest.

<Cerin?> "Yes?"

• Birds-of-Trinity patiently explains the concept of maps.
• Cerin is far too interested in the other things on the sheet to actually be annoyed at this, nodding to himself "I see that now."

<BirdsOfTrinity?> "Anyway, Markuran and I basically said that I'd be willing to trade whatever findings we came across that Iallu seemed interested in in exchange for more history and other stuff she knows."

<Cerin?> "So he said. That would be most interesting. He already mentioned he told her of the Exalts."

<BirdsOfTrinity?> "Marku, you were acting irritated about something earlier...something about doors."

<Markuran?> "Cerin agreed to help me."

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• Zahara wanders over to the fountain where Cerin and Marku have been chatting and smiles slightly, watching them talk, waiting for them to notice her presence.
• Cerin notices her almsot immediately, smiling at her and drawing her into a kiss, pleased to see her again

<Zahara?> "Mmm hello darling, Have you been having fun without me?"

• Markuran shrugs. "I don't know if he's been having fun..but he's been watching a lot of goddesses very intently."

<Zahara?> "Oh, REALLY now?"

<Markuran?> "And he's very interested in Iallu the Ten-Faceted."

<Markuran?> "Speaking of whom, have you seen Birds of Trinity recently?

<Cerin?> "For the information she might give. I havent set eyes upon her. And most of what I have been eying up are dragonkings, not Goddesses, Marku."

<Zahara?> "Hmmm no, not for a while. I'm sure she's around here somewhere though, probably turning things upside down."

• Markuran nods, ignoring Cerin's comment with a shrug.
• Zahara gives Marku a little kick from her seat on Cerin's lap.

<Zahara?> "You've been eyeing up dragon kings?"

• Cerin nods "Not the same kind as Ssithumi, but they said they would send a delegation to help her in Rathess, and said we could visit their valley to the north. And their library." he smiles "They also showed me some of their magic"
• Zahara smiles "Excellent. I wonder how many kinds there are... We should meet the delegation when they come to Rathess. Are you planning to tell Ssithumi or surprise her?"

<Cerin?> "I am not yet sure. I'm not sure how she would take the suprise...but if something should happen to the delegation.."

<Zahara?> "We could visit their enclave, and escort them to Rathess."

• Cerin nods "There is a gate ..farily close, but it is still 500 miles or so from it."

<Zahara?> "Then we can bring the Wasps."

• Cerin nods. "If they can take the cold."

<Zahara?> "We can keep them warm" she winks.

<Markuran?> "Whoever heard of a demon that couldn't stand a little cold?"

• Markuran blinks at Zahara, disgusted..

<Zahara?> "I have plenty of fire-enchanted blankets" she says airily

• Cerin raises an eyebrow at her. They had talked about demons, but agatae?
• Markuran nods warrily...

<Zahara?> "They're so beautiful, I wouldn't want them to die of the cold."

• Cerin nods

<Zahara?> "We can rest when they get cold, so the blankets can cover their wings too."

• Cerin smiles "That would work. It would be a shame for them to die of the cold."
• Zahara idly wonders how hard it would be to...hmmm.. while flying..that would be fun... some sort of harness would be in order..
• Zahara eyes Cerin for a moment, "Yes. I'm sure the trip will go fine though."
• Markuran eyes Zahara..."We should find Birds before she gets into trouble."

<Zahara?> "Birds? In trouble? Never."

• Cerin grins
• Zahara slides off Cerin's lap and offers him a hand up. "Shall we go find her?"
• Cerin stands gracefully. "I suppose we should. If nothing else, she can tell you what Iallu told her better than I can.."

<Zahara?> "Come, Marku. Last I saw Birds, she was... That way."

• Markuran nods, moving in the indicated direction.

<Zahara?> "Your tunic is getting a little tight, Marku" she notes as she follows him

• Birds-of-Trinity is to be found unconscious in a punchbowl.
• Markuran glowers over his shoulder. "I'll keep that in mind..ah, there's Birds."
• Markuran pulls her out of the pond-sized punchbowl, laying her on the ground nearby. Cautiously, Mark checks for breathing.
• Cerin walks over to her with Zahara "....How did she end up in there?!"

<Zahara?> "I imagine she tried to drink the whole thing." she notes, dipping a finger into the punch for a taste. "Mmmm Doesn't sound like a bad idea, really."

• Markuran stealthily enlarges the waistline of his tunic..
• Cerin samples it for himself and nods "Is she alright Marku?"
• Markuran looks up, shrugs. "I don't know. I don't hear her breathing."
• Zahara sends two of the Sesseljae into Birds' body to fix her up a little.
• Cerin shakes his head "MArku, you said you werent drinking any more. I can hear her breathes from here."
• Markuran checks for her pulse, finding nothing at all. After tapping her several times and failing to get a response, the big Solar becomes agitated. "I think she was floating in there too long.."
• Markuran eyes Cerin..."Are you sure?"
• Birds-of-Trinity coughs weakly.

<Markuran?> "Oh, she is alive. That's good at least."

• Cerin nods "Of course I'm sure." he walks over "Perhaps if you didnt prod her so hard."

<Zahara?> "There, now. All better." she calls the Sesseljae back to her before they die of alcohol poisoning. They return regretfully, chirping and buzzing.

• Markuran pats Birds on the back as she coughs, lifting her up so she can rest her head against him if she needs to
• Zahara gives Cerin an 'aren't they cuuuute?' nudge
• Birds-of-Trinity draws a little :P face on Markuran's back in spent punch.
• Cerin grins and kisses her

<BirdsOfTrinity?> "I'm okay. Really. Let me down!"

<Cerin?> "Just how did you end up in the punch, Birds?"

• Markuran puts Birds on her feet, keeping a hand on her as he tries to see what she did on his back

<BirdsOfTrinity?> "I got thirsty and sort of...tired." YAWN

<Markuran?> "So you compromised and took a nap in the punch?"

<Zahara?> "birds, are you aware that your tongue is purple with yellow stripes?"

• Birds-of-Trinity sticks out her tongue to look.

<Cerin?> "I'm not sure I can entirely fault her reasoning then. that /is/ an interesting colour for a tongue."

<BirdsOfTrinity?> "aghh kffmeh.. ee!"

• Markuran snorts in laughter.
• Birds-of-Trinity puts her tongue back in her mouth. "I mean, that's kind of neat!"

<Cerin?> "what are you looking at Marku?"

<Markuran?> "She was writing on my back."

<Cerin?> he says, noting the way the man is craning over his shoulder

• Markuran cleans it off.
• Cerin shakes his head slowly
• Zahara grins

<Zahara?> "If nothing else, Yu Shan is certainly amusing."

<BirdsOfTrinity?> "Yes!"

• Cerin grins "It is at that"
• Markuran shakes his head, chuckling

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< Talking With the Pterok | Sol Invictus Logs | The Tomb of Ymir >