Student Flame, Master Flame

[Dal'Lumen]

Resplendent Fire 10



*Dal nodded, happy in the fact that everyone was already so well acquainted. Relieved that Wave seemed satisfied with his answer for the time being.*

"Aha, excellent! So it appears we have a mutual student! Tari is quite talented in the martial arts and has been learning quickly! Not long ago she achieved her Exaltation with honor! During an excursion to the east she helped save the lives of several hundred dragon kings, and exalted while staring down a tide of molten rock. We only stand here today because these two prevented our party from being overwhelmed by the blood of an erupting volcano!"

*Dal beamed with pride, and took a step behind and between the two of them, he placed his hand lightly on their backs and gave them a slight nudge forward... hinting at them to 'catch up' and talk for a while, so that he could get a chance to flag down a river person and talk to them about how their city was doing, or even perhaps find and speak to Ferasada again. He turned and smiled at one of the river people that had stayed behind to watch, and waved for them to come over.*

"Please, by all means you four talk a moment I need to find out where I can find someone."

[Ress]

Resplendent fire, 10

* River folk were everywhere, on all sides of them, stopping every so often to wave at them, but then continued on their way. In the distance, Dal could even see a small group of River folk practicing their own brand of martial arts... each one surmounted with the all too familiar blue fluxing anima of a water aspect.

Farther out in the distance, Dal could see the finished statue of Cho-Hi-Xo, a bit of masonry that was the high priest Ferasada's pride and joy*

* Tari, Wave and Honored Brother spoke to one another while Mild Magma watched them... mostly Tari and some of the River Folk around them*

[Dal'Lumen]

Resplendent Fire 10



*Having an opportunity Dal parted from his company, they did after all seem to be safe to leave alone with each other. He headed for the statue under which he had last met Ferasada, and upon arriving he glanced around in hope of spotting the old priest in the vicinity. His thoughts wondered back to the situation at home, he wouldn't be able to wonder around much longer, Kahn would soon be at his doorstep again and he intended to be there when she was. For the time being he would continue entertaining his guests while avoiding the use of any more important essence, so that he might be at full strength come the evening.*

"Ferasada... Where are you?" *He said this quietly, more to himself than anything."

[Ress]

Resplendent fire, 10

" Eh?... Quseta Oute taheri?"

* Out from the nearby hut, the old blue skinned river man appeared, clad in tanned sealskin clothing. He seemed puzzled as he emerged, as if he had just woken from a nap, but soon a smile crossed his face when he saw Dal*

"Dare' Lumena! Hoae ari vo? has-te jeva sa de?"

* He reached into his shirt pocket and retrieved what looked like a piece of dried apricot fruit, of which he offered out to him*

" Este de Satatu co vera fena. Has-te vose retatene pa I-Toma?"

* As usual, he spoke in Old Realm, the common language here in the city*

[Dal'Lumen]

Resplendent Fire 10



*Dal grinned warmly at the old priest, only understanding the gist of what was being said in a language he still held no mastery of. Dal nodded along as if he understood anyway.*

"Heey, Ferasada! I am Well thanks, Hoae ari vo?" *He repeated what he thought was the old realm equivalent of How are you, and accepted the dried fruit with an even wider smile and more head nodding.*

"Sentinel, a little help?

"I really need to learn old realm." *He muttered to himself.*


"I'm glad to see you again Ferasada, I see the city seems to be fairing quite well in it's new position atop the waters, and the people seem happy!"

[Ress]

Resplendent fire, 10

*The familiar clicking sound marked the opening of a connection with Sentinel. He did not bother to materialize, but his voice could be heard clearly around them. He spoke up repeating Dal's words as Old Realm*

*Ferasada nodded to Dal still grinning, he squinted his eyes, a
mark of his vision failing him in his old age, then let his face relax. When he spoke, Sentinel repeated fractions of a second after with the translations*

" Oh yes! We have been very well. I have had some of our Scion people visit the city by the sea. They were received fairly well, but our differences can create confusion..."

*Ferasada flinched slightly as something occurred to him, then retrieved from one of his pockets, a dried peice of kelp, that he held to Dal, a writing brush in his other hand*

" Oh! and while you are here, can you please endorse this plea? It is a prayer strip to The Unconquered Sun. It is very important, so any help I can get is much appreciated!"

[Dal'Lumen]

Resplendent Fire 10



*For a moment Dal was worried that the kelp was also intended for eating, and gulped his relief when he realized it was intended for signing.*

"Humans are slow to trust that which is different from them, but I give you my word I will make sure that in time we will all thrive and prosper together happily."


*He received the strip and attempted to look the document over, suspecting that he wouldn't be able to read it in the language it was in he defaulted to asking sentinel for help.*

"Oh well I would be happy to help... What is the nature of this prayer strip Sentinel?"

[Ress]

Resplendent fire,10


* a golden bar of light skimmed over the piece of kelp as Sentinel began deciphering the symbols of old realm*

"The prayer strip seems to be asking for divine guidance, or a vision from The Unconquered Sun of some sort... it is hard to tell for sure, the words are the same for both in Old Realm. He seems to want answers on what to do for his people. It seems safe though"

[Dal'Lumen]

Resplendent Fire 10



*Dal nodded, flipped the pen through his fingers and scribbled his signature into the strip and gingerly handed it back to the old priest.*

"There you go, my hope goes with you that you might find the answers you need."

*He bowed slowly and when he looked back up he had a smile on his face.*

"High Priest Ferasada, If you have a moment I would like to introduce you to some guests of mine, they are dragon blooded from the blessed isle... and interestingly enough they have very different religious views... For the most part these two seem open minded, however their order is known for being bitterly aggressive toward most any Celestial Exalted. I thought perhaps you would have an interesting perspective to offer them as a third party. All I ask is that you give your most honest opinion if you choose to speak with them."

[Ress]

Resplendent Fire 10

* Ferasada bowed in return as he took the piece of kelp, tucking it away as he processed the translations he was hearing*

" Dragon-Blooded?.... Oh! Dragon-Blooded! We too have Terrestrials living here as well! You want me to talk with them? Alright, I can do that. We have a saying here among my people. 'Even the waves reflect the sun.' It means that no matter where you are from or weather you have been chosen by Daana'd or not, we must all follow in the example of The Unconquered Sun. and I am not afraid... The Unconquered Sun is both my sword and shield"

[Dal'Lumen]

Resplendent Fire 10



"I like that! I have spoken with them for some time, and I am under the distinct impression that it is somewhat harder for me being what I am to persuade them that I am not the demon they believe me to be!"

*He said this tartly with a sly smile on his face, a symptom of this somewhat ironic notion. He tried to put himself in their place and imagined that if he was convinced in all knowledge and by all empirical evidence that a thing was demonic in nature he would have a hard time being dissuaded from crushing it's skull by anything it might say in its own defense.*

"Well then - Please I will lead you to our group so you can meet them yourself!"

*He leaned and ushered the old high priest on his way.*

[Ress]

Resplendent Fire, 10
"I like that! I have spoken with them for some time, and I am under the distinct impression that it is somewhat harder for me being what I am to persuade them that I am not the demon they believe me to be!"

*He said this tartly with a sly smile on his face, a symptom of this somewhat ironic notion. He tried to put himself in their place and imagined that if he was convinced in all knowledge and by all empirical evidence that a thing was demonic in nature he would have a hard time being dissuaded from crushing it's skull by anything it might say in its own defense.*

"Well then - Please I will lead you to our group so you can meet them yourself!"

*He leaned and ushered the old high priest on his way.*

"A demon?.... but thats preposterous! There is evidence as to otherwise... yes, it seems I may have to speak to them at once!"

* Feresada followed close behind Dal'Lumen, his old eyes not yet noticing that these Scions were not blue skinned like the ones he was used to... but were red.*

* Upon arrival at the group, they would find a cluster of riverfolk circled around the four Dragonblooded. Honored Brother had his hand on Mild Magma's back, Mild magma let out a little shreik as gouts of flame expelled from his eye sockets and mouth, quickly receding back inside him as he recoiled.

Tari leaned back, her cheeks slightly pink as her hands clasped over her chest, of course, Roaring Wave laughed as the scene played itself out*

" I am afriad that is unbecoming of a monk, Mild Magma.. and you know this!"

[Dal'Lumen]

Resplendent Fire 10



"I see you lot have attracted a crowd!"

*He cut his way through the onlookers and back to the center of the group. He lifted up his right hand and indicated in the direction of Ferasada as the old man followed in his wake.*

"I would like to introduce to you Ferasada, High Priest of the Sun here in the floating city. It is my understanding that Ferasadas Culture has been all but untouched for a thousand years... I thought perhaps he could offer you a unique perspective on ancient Solars. I will listen quietly while all of you discuss the matter so that you do not think I am influencing their thoughts and words in any way.

If you have questions to present to me I'll answer them but I'll keep my opinions out of it... I think you have heard enough of what I can say about my kind. Course' if I turn out to be what you have been raised to believe I am, my words are not worth the wind used to produce them. Mild Magma, Honored Brother... I offer you the words of my comrades instead."

[Ress]

Resplendent fire, 10

* The Exalts stopped and turned to look at Dal and his old mortal friend. They stared at him a moment in confusion, seeing that there was a tattoo of a caste mark on his forehead, but took in that this was probably due to his role as their priest.*

* Tari calmed down, dropping her arms as Dal spoke up. A look of puzzlement crossed both her and Wave's face as he mentioned this old man explaining what Dal was... they had both seen first hand that he was no demon... but it was made clear that this was for Honored Brother and Mild Magma*

* Honored brother bowed to the elderly man, quickly addressing him in what could only be old realm, then brandished a string of black beads with a symbol of Danaa'd on the medallion stringed to it, much like prayer beads*

*Ferasada smiled to the group, gave a bow, then retrieved the piece of kelp he had Dal sign. With a quick prayer, Ferasada held the kelp out before him and blew on it.

the kelp danced about, carried first by the old man's breath, then by a chance wind... but a matter of seconds later it erupted into a flash of blinding golden light, unfurling into the majestic image of The Unconquered Sun himself.*

[glow=yellow,2,300]*The Unconquered Sun did not waste a second, speaking loud and clear in perfect Seatongue*

" These two both carry the mark of my priesthood... a mark that no Demon could ever wear atop their brow... Once I turned my eye from this world and its wickedness... but never shall I again. Ones place in this world is set by their deeds, not by the happenstance of their birth. A evil man with great power is but a shadow compared to a mother raising her child alone, or even a holy man asking "why" in the face of the faith he holds so dear.

Beware the Darkness, Grandchildren of Gaia... A shadow looms behind the mountain"

*The Unconquered Sun then turned to face Ferasada, nodding to him before continuing his speech in Seatongue*

" You already know the answer you seek, High Priest Ferasada... but if you need it to come from me, then so be it. Your lost cousins bear deep ancestral scars, driving a great rift between you... but do not worry... even the blind know when the day is brightest."

* The Unconquered sun then stepped back, looking at each of them at once, his face cracking a small smile from his previous stone seriousness*

" Remember... the greatest offering is a life well lived in my light..." [/glow]

* A great thunderclap erupted, followed by a flash of white light. When the light subsided, all that was left in the place of The Unconquered sun was a bleached piece of blank kelp that was singed at its edges*

[Dal'Lumen]

Resplendent Fire 10



*At the moment he realized what was happening Dal'Lumen clasped his fist in his hand and bowed his head at the presence of his patron god. It was not something he had expected, seeing the Unconquered Sun here in the middle of their group. When the light vanished and the kelp drifted to the ground Dal raised his head and glanced around at the others... His temptation to spout a witty one liner being fought back by his earlier commitment to remain objective and silent unless otherwise spoken to.*