|
Post by The Storyteller on Feb 15, 2015 21:04:50 GMT
In the mountains just southwest of the Black City, not far from the Nightleaf Forest, was the town of Wildfire, so named for it's great tower that would signal the entry of invading forces in the past. The Wildfire beacon had not been lit in millennia, but the fortifications about it survived the Long Storm, with enough room to house a small garrison. It's latest occupants were quite happy to take advantage of its easy shelter.
The Wildfire clan was one of the younger clans in the area. It was not the biggest nor the fiercest nor the most well-connected. It's leader couldn't dance in the dreams of others nor hurl lightning bolts nor make the sky bleed. But she was a survivor, and so was her clan. They had only been in the region for 10 years, but they had developed a reputation for an independent streak. They had not submitted to any Emissaries from the Black City, and they had thus far fended off many raids by the Stormreapers. The Nightleaf clan respected the Wildfire enough to trade with them on occasion.
Today, by the reckoning of some of the older Aetherians, marked the 13th year since they elected Idonia their clanmother. They were brewing beer and mead that would've turned a human's stomach to mush, but gave most Aetherians a pleasant enough sensation. Jasper and Z'Morakeen had hunted a fine buck and slaughtered one of the pigs for the feast. Elysia had grown more flowers than usual, and was steadily directing them into sprouting in the form of a mosaic that only somewhat resembled Idonia. Halim was already cooking corn and rice when his daughter Jasik, who still only stood to Idonia's waist, woke up the Clanmother and attempted to drag her to her own feast.
|
|
|
Post by Idonia on Feb 15, 2015 21:27:41 GMT
Idonia looked at the child with a smile as she fought back laughter.
"Patience, my dear. I am not even dressed yet."
She was still in her bedclothes, after all, and she had to make sure she looked good on this special day. She climbed out of bed and went to look at the clothes she'd laid out ready.
"Are you excited?"
|
|
|
Post by The Storyteller on Feb 15, 2015 21:51:54 GMT
She nodded excitedly, but quickly turned sad with the speed of a small child. "Clanmother, did you know my real mother?" The girl had the bluest eyes Idonia had ever seen, glowing in the dark and reflecting in the light. Every Aetherian revealed their gift at their own pace. Idonia was born with wings, her mother insisting she thought she had triplets. Halim didn't even know he could transform his skin to stone until he had reached his first century, when raiders tried to take him and Jasik's mother. His daughter could wait decades or a day before uncovering the secret of those eyes.
|
|
|
Post by Idonia on Feb 15, 2015 22:01:07 GMT
"A little," Idonia murmured. "I liked her, but I didn't know her well. And then she was taken from us." She sighed a little. "She was a brave woman, your mother. I won't forget her, but I wish I'd known her better."
She busied herself at the wash basin before she turned round, the flannel dripping in her hands, and said "You look like her, sometimes. Certain angles. Why not ask your father?"
|
|
|
Post by The Storyteller on Feb 15, 2015 22:09:34 GMT
"He is still sad. He and Jasper still get into fights. Jasper says he was in a different clan, but I think Papa doesn't believe him." She fidgeted with her robes. Aetherian children almost never knew illness, not like the old men and elves with their midwives and doctors and life runes, but Halim insisted she wear it to better hide in case the Stormreapers come again.
|
|
|
Post by Idonia on Feb 15, 2015 22:16:53 GMT
Idonia sighed and began to dry her face. "I will have to keep an eye on them. I don't want trouble in the clan. I hope they will behave themselves today. We need to keep this day free of trouble. Tell me, what is your favourite dish that will be prepared today?"
She reached for her tunic.
|
|
|
Post by The Storyteller on Feb 19, 2015 1:22:13 GMT
"Ricecakes. Jinzer says he's getting honey from the hive near the cliffs, just for me." She twisted her robes with her fingers as she spoke. She had more than ricecakes on her mind. "Clanmother, how old will I be when I have to kill enemies too?"
(Aetherians age just as fast as regular humans, and then simply stop aging.)
|
|
|
Post by Idonia on Feb 20, 2015 21:56:01 GMT
"I hope you never have to," Idonia said with a sad little smile. "It would be wonderful if you could be spared the need to shed blood to defend our home. I was almost full grown the first time I killed an enemy, but you have ten years or more before you reach that age, my dear. But I will be honoured to teach you to defend yourself, when you are ready."
|
|
|
Post by The Storyteller on Feb 26, 2015 2:31:52 GMT
Jasik just frowned and played with her robes. Jinzer, who had the head of a lion and the stomach of a goat, knocked the door, before entering with his eyes averted. "Clanmother? I think we should speak."
|
|
|
Post by Idonia on Feb 27, 2015 13:59:52 GMT
Idonia nodded. She was fully dressed now and ready to go about her day. "Of course. Come in." She smiled at Jasik. "Off you go, my dear."
|
|
|
Post by The Storyteller on Mar 3, 2015 22:21:24 GMT
Jasik smiled at the Clanmother before leaving. Jinzer rubbed her head as she passe, then turned to face Idonia. He was one of the older members, though one could be forgiven for thinking he was only a century old. He was surprisingly immature and still thought fart jokes were funny after half a millenium. Still, he was fiercely loyal.
"Clanmother, I was gathering honey from the hives near the cliff when I saw movement down below. Looks like the Collector and Iron King are going to have a dick-measuring contest." Jinzer stopped to think. "If either of them still have dicks." He laughed at his own terrible jokes.
|
|
|
Post by Idonia on Mar 3, 2015 22:32:09 GMT
Idonia smiled politely though she didn't find the joke amusing.
"Are they indeed. Can you set some scouts on to keep watch? We need to know what they are doing. This is bad timing, but their presence cannot be ignored."
|
|
|
Post by The Storyteller on Mar 4, 2015 5:07:02 GMT
"I'll take Moriella and Jasper. Jasper and Halim are giving each other the evil eye anyway. All I saw were Aetherian slaves though. No sign of the Undying themselves yet. We should be back before the feast." He turned to leave before stating, "You look very... nice today." Jinzer left before she could respond to his awkward compliment.
|
|
|
Post by Idonia on Mar 4, 2015 20:35:33 GMT
Idonia shrugged and went out to view the festivities for herself.
|
|