As morning light brakes over the town of Jastrey a dark hooded figure walks silently up to the spirling mage tower, its peaks turning a pale pink in the growing morning light. Slipping through the doorway it enters the muffled large room of the library. Even thought the room is silent it gives off a feeling of ancient wisdom. Dust motes swirl in and out of pale sunlight streaming in through the high windows and the air is heavy with the smell of parchment and ink. The figure lowers its hood and looks around. No one can be found in the quiet chamber.
"Ees therrre anyone herrre who can help me?" She calls out a little louder than normal speaking volume.
Siska takes a step back in surprise as the massive boulder-like creature appears in front of her. The smell of rain and plant life surounding the creature is foreign to Siska but not unpleasant. "I am Siska of Sind. I believe I am called a Shriss, howeverrr I have neverrr met anotherr of my rrace. I was rrraised in the Ourrdeq city of Sind by a Ourrdeq family. They arrre all I know. I was wonderrring if therrre is any inforrrmation on my biological people in this imprrressive librrarry."
Swift comes from around the far bookshelf. The ixifar is tall and slim with blue and white feather coming from his hair. He appears to be engrossed in a tomb he is carrying open.
"Rune did I hear your voice? There is an excellent example of Guild Law here that..." His voice is shorted with a slight squeak as the ixifar notices the Shriss for the first time. Swift's eyes grow wide with terror at the sight of the lizard like cloaked figure. His right hand draws back and is engulfed in magical fire ready to strike!
Siska immediately hisses at the bird-like creature and rapidly climbs the nearest bookself, slinking into the shadows of the rafters, her glowing eyes peircing through the darkness. "I come for knowledge, and this is how you trreat me?" Siska hisses from the dark. "I, a strranger, in a strrange place. Those in the taverrn welcomed me with open arrrms." a low rattling can be heard coming from the corner she is hiding in.
"Swift ! Put that fire away." Marloff says with a huff. "Fire around the books? And in response to seeing a single, calm being, who is merely looking for knowledge." Marloff looks towards the the Shriss, hoping his judgment of her was not wrong. "Come back down from there before you topple the shelves." His voice calming considerably, he continues. "I apologize for the less than gracious welcoming. But you must understand your appearance is a bit alarming."
Weylyn seemed to materialize from Swift ' s side from one of the rows. His hand grabbing the Ixifar 's wrist and forcing his hand to aim at the floor before stepping in front of him "Swift-san! Calm yourself. You're about to attack a guest, with fire no less." He said his voice Harder than usual as he stared the feathered man in the eye standing physically between him and the scaled feral.
Walking in the room from his quarters. Kaelan enters more than a little annoyed
"What is all the noise. You do know this is a library fellow Docents. I am working on Time magic. This would not be a good thing to interrupt."
Noticing the stares of the others looking up. Kaelan raises his head to see the green being on the ceiling.
"Absolutely fanstinating! A Shriss!"
"All is well, my friend. He was frightened as well, albeit without a good cause." Marloff straightens the few misplaced tomes on their shelf. "You will always be safe here as long as you remain humble. Your presence was not expected by Swift and I will take responsibility for that. He should have been told you may come to the tower."
The Empyrean bows slightly and gives the Shriss a nod. "I do apologize for the undue stress."
Siska crawled along the edge of the book self and dropped silently to the ground, her boot clad feet landing lightly on the stone floor. "All is forgiven. This is not the firrrrst birrrd I have startled since I arrrrrived in town. However I am not sure why they all rrreact the way they do." Siska turned her head from one person to the next. "I do not mean to cause alarrm norrr concerrrn."
Rune calmly watches what transpires, before emitting; "These Docents mean you no harm, Shriss. Your race is known to eat the eggs of the Ixifar. His reaction is akin to your race seeing a top predator. Come down, this one will vouch for your safety."
The construct pauses, "In fact, belay that command. Continue upwards into the Tower until you reach the Greenhouse on the top floor. This one thinks you will find the climate to your liking. Docents, grab what you can on the Shriss of Old and any tomes on Sirison"
Swift's fear lessens at the presence of the other docents. Forced down by the fox, the ixifar lets the magical swirling fire fade. "A...a...hiss...shriss you say?", stammers Swift. Terror appears to leave his eyes and is replaced by confusion.
"I've never seen a shriss before. I thought it was one of the were-snakes of Berar!" Swift continues to stammer with embarrassment.
A young, brown-furred mau sticks his head through the library's doorway, gripping the frame with one hand. The rest of his body remains out of sight to anyone inside, presenting a very small target for any possible projectiles. "Hey, uh, is this the library?" Shrayvar asks. "I'm looking for knowledge on werebeasts and I've heard that libraries are a good place to go for knowing stuff."
Althena slips into the Library, wondering if her newest acquaintance has managed to locate the library and access the information she required. Upon entering, she spies Swift nearly tackled by Weylyn, with Marloff talking Siska down from the shelves. She places her fists to her hips, and glares at the males, and is about to ask what is going on, when she hears Rune's comment about why Ixifar fear Shriss. Her frown turns into a scowl as she turns to the construct. "Rune! I am certain we have had this conversation before. Ixifar are live born. We do not lay eggs!"
Laying face down in a bush Peleus lifts his head and peaks out squinting his eyes from the sun light. Noticing the shriss pace back and forth. He gathers himself and slowly stands up. As he takes swig from his gourd, he stumbles toward the new guest.
"Aaaaa by the immortals, did I get teleported again when I was drinking last night?"
"All that drinking will be the end of you someday my friend", Garen said as emerged from the door leading to the roof. "Morning Siska, have you found anything on shriss culture yet?", the duskling said. Garen shielded his sensitive eyes from the sun with his left hand as he offered his right to what he assumed was a hung-over Peleus.
Seeing Swift calm down Weylyn let him go with a curious look. "Were-beast was your first thought, Swift-san?" he asked shaking his head "Still it's a little worrying your first recourse was fire." He pointed out before nodding at Rune. "As you say Rune-san. Though most stories as our friend seeks are scarce at best..." he said from experiance. "Though it might be prudent to find what books we can on Tarkalsys. I seem to recall reading somewhere that shriss were more common than other ferals there." he suggested.
Althena glances over at Weylyn, and nods. "I can confirm that the Shriss are very populous in segments of Tarkalsys. More so in the drier environs, but still, quite numerous." Glancing about, satisfied that neither flames nor anger will cause further damage to the library contents or the folks within, the Ixifar moves to the centermost table, settling down with a final subtle glare at Rune.
Rune blankly stares at the irritated ixifar, "This one will update. The dwarven libraries this one was built within appear to be out of date. This one believes out guest has found thier way to the top floor." With that, Rune drops into the floor via portal.
A moment later, a rift in the floor belches out the construct Rune within the greenhouse level of the tower. The construct points to an open panel of the roof, as if to invite the shriss into the warm, semi-damp interior.
Siska hears Garen's words and smiles. She crawls through the roof opening and drops down into the green house and turns to Garen. "Unforrrtunately my jourrrrney of discoverrrry has only just begun, my brrotherr. I do hope the shadows have protected you well this past night?"
Shrayvar, who was still downstairs, quickly concealed himself behind a bookshelf when he heard Weyln say Kresh's name. *Hide* He gripped his pendant of dreams tightly as he cocked his ears to listen. Imagine, having to avoid a blood brother in such a way! It was unthinkable. He held his breath as he listened to the encounter between Kresh, Weyln, and Garen. Shrayvar had hoped that Garen was wrong when he first said Ferals caused Kresh to lose control, but the proof was right there in the libary. Ironic that Kresh had shown up when Shrayvar had come to the library to learn more about werebeasts. It was just as well. Shrayvar couldn't read very well anyway.
((Leaving this thread to jump into "The Hunt for Wisdom"))
Weylyn looked at Peleus and directed his gaze towards the ceiling. He couldn't see anyone up there but he did hear a soft hiss. He wasn't sure but since the only person he didn't see that was known to be around was the shriss. Then she dropped down into view he nodded to her her and followed pausing to tell the mau. "This way if you wish to join us, Shrayvar-san." He offered before wandering upstairs with the other feral
((Coming from hunt for knowledge))
Upon reaching the greenhouse level of the Mage tower, Siska walked into the middle of the room and turned to wait for the other ferals to join her. She had more pressing questions now than ever before. Who was this Kresh person and why were ferals setting off his rage? She was beinging to realize she was far more ignorant and volnerable than she had ever been before and it made her pissed. She wanted answers and she wanted them now.
Weylyn was right behind the shriss, trusting the Shrayvar would be following behind. "I apologize for the... excitement, Siska-san. The tower is not usually this popular of a location." He told her looking around. "I believe there are some stools around here if you wish to sit." He offered.
The ulf nodded as she preferred to stand. He widened his stance to get comfortable before folding his hands behind his back. "That would be Kresh-san. Garen-san said he was bitten by a werebeast...which is troubling but likely explains his behavior... I've only read a little on werebeast but they are magically closer to the animal they change into. If Kresh-san is fighting his instincts like we must then he likely sees us as rivals for food or shelter..." He said though his tone implied he was uncertain. "And while we had to grow with our instincts he his having his thrust upon him all at once... and you know how hard they can be at the best of times..." He added glancing over his shoulder at his mau friend. "Shrayvar-san is a member of the blood bears, Kresh-san's clan. He might know more if it not violate his bonds of brotherhood to share such information with us."
Shrayvar helped himself to a stool and sat down facing the other two ferals. "It's hardly a secret by this point," he said flatly. "What Garen told you is accurate. Kresh has become a were-beast. I don't know much about them, but being near Ferals causes him to change." He looked down at the floor momentarily. "But enough about that. There was another purpose for us coming up here, yes?"
Weylyn nodded. "Indeed. Siska-san has come to the tower seeking information about her people." He told the mau. "I've done a little research on ferals myself but hard data is woefully lacking. Mau seem to be the most represented in widely known information. With little info on ulfs, and mostly likely due to their solitary nature, even less on grarl and shriss." He informed the pair with a frustrated sigh.
"Then perrphaps we should take it upon ourrselves to find what we can. I was not rraised Shrriss, I was rraised Uordeq, thereforre my knowledge of the Shrriss is absolutely nothing." Siska said. "Therre seam to be people in town who have had interractions with the Shrriss beforre, I would like to question them about what they rrememberrr."
"Huh. I wouldn't have guessed that Maus were the most represented," said Shrayvar. Back where I came from, nobody ever asked us any questions. Not about ourselves anyway." He grinned. "But it's not like we ever gave outsiders the chance." He turned his attention to Siska. "What sort of things do you hope to learn about the Shriss? "
Weylyn chuckled "Then I bet you didn't know mau were considered nobility in parts of Sirison." He told with mau before turning back to them with a nod. "Agreed, Althena seemed to know as much as anyone as far as first or second hand information. But she's having to help with Kresh at the moment, but maybe we can ask her later."
"Ah yes, the Ixifar seem to be verrey uncomfortable around me. I am uncertain as to why. Perhaps this is something she can enlighten me about." Siska turned to Shrayvar and said, "I would like to know about what it means to be Shriss. Imagine, not knowing who you are. I would not wish that on my worse enemy. There is nothing as desolate as not knowing yourself." A dark and sad look crosses over Siska's showing her inner hurt and confusion.
Shrayvar's eyes widened. "No kidding? Wow, I guess I know where I'm going next time I take a vacation. I wonder how much you can get away with if you're considered to be a noble." He listened as Siska explained what she wanted to know. What it meant to be Shriss? What did it mean to be anything? Shrayvar frowned slightly as he considered the question. Was there only one answer to that question, or multiple ones? What was meaning exactly? Shrayvar shook the philosophy out of his head before it could dig itself in too deep. "That sounds... very complicated," he said. "But I can imagine that not knowing yourself would be very distressing indeed."
Weylyn offered her a sad smile "Sometimes knowing where you come from makes it worse." he said his ears drooping for a moment before perking back up to their usual location. "However that's more of a phlosophical question. Since you seem to know who you are, Siska-san. Your question is seems to be more about where you come from, your people's history more than your personal one, correct? Mayhaps we don't have much information on the shriss as a people. You said you were raised by Urdeq correct? Where? I assume you wouldn't have been carried to far from where you were born, maybe if we know where that was we can research the area. That might give us a place to start." He suggested
"Best of luck to you. Most Uordeq do not talk about their lands with non-Uordeq, let alone write it down. Speaking from personal experience being raised as an Uerdeq."
Peleus floats into the greenhouse on a gust of air. [fly]
"My apologies for leaving in haste. My presence was needed elsewhere. "
Weylyn ' s ears swiveled around rapidly as Peleus spoke but calmed down when he recognized to said the words. "Just as well we arnt looking for information on the Urdeq, Peleus-san. Siska-san grew up with the Urdeq so I would believe she knows more about them than the docents. No, we're looking for more general information on Sirison. Local records and legends. Maybe we will get lucky and shriss will be mentioned somewhere which might give us a suitable starting point to actually discover something of value."
"Hmm, perrrrhaps." Siska said. Her eyes darted to the nearby window and noticed the sun sinking low on the horrizon. "I must take my leave. Thank you forrr yourrr time, frrriends." At that Siska bowed to each person in turn and then made for the window. She turned her back to the world, waved at her new aquantances, and then fell backwards out of the window, a crooked smile on her reptilian face and a glint in her eye.
"Later Siska." said Shrayvar as the Shriss dropped out of sight. "Actually," he added, looking to the others present, "I should get going too. Studying isn't my thing anyway." He walked up to the window, glanced down from it to gauge the distance, and then dove out. His tail flicked and closed the window as he too took the fast route to the ground. *Tumble*
The shriss's words echo throughout the tower for a moment, leaving the reptile in calm silence. A pinpoint of blue light appears before her, and in an instant, streatches into a 8 foot wide hole in the fabric of space. The room floods with the smells of rain and plant life before the golem Rune steps from the portal. Once clear, the portal snaps shut, and calm once again returns to the library.
"How can this one assist you today?" emits from the construct.