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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Jun 12, 2024 16:36:06 GMT -5
Rena shakes her head, trilling softly as she wipes away the tear rolling down her cheek and hugs her daughter a little tighter, some instinct having her press into the ethereal, chilling touch on her feathers as Nev nestles against her, cobalt eyes scanning the sky and the horizon ahead she holds her eldest daughter a little tighter, those silver eyes slowly drifting shut as she settles in, already going through the ways she has to deal with aggressive spirits…and coming up embarrassingly short, unless frosting her weapons allows them to strike the ethereal…that’s something she hasn’t tested, actually, given that the only potential testing dummy is her own spectral husband…the silver eyed crow shakes her head as though trying to clear it and opens her eyes to scan ahead, those shining eyes flicking over the people below as she considers, “...standard fare from the look of things,” Rena glances to her husband and their children, smirking as she spies Wind twirling one of his bolts, “...I’m thinking the usual bone and blood setup; Whistle ‘n Loci on the ground over there-” she points out a bit of brush on one side of the road, “-Wind and Wind setting up a nest over there-” she gestures to a fairly high up nook that’s nicely concealed to those on the ground, “I’ll be invisible up top…and I’m thinking you and Bell will be the negotiation team, Taki. just in case this is the real deal and the spirits involved can be calmed…”
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Post by Shitakibo on Jun 13, 2024 12:31:33 GMT -5
"That is a fine plan indeed, and we have time before sunset to do a bit of scouting. Having a thorough understanding of our surroundings is always beneficial, and may give us some insights into the happenings."
She was enthusiastic and looking forward to another outing, as well as a chance to fill her role as the supportive Aunt. Geomagnetic sense told her there wasn't anything immediately unusual, which was a relief. It would be intriguing to work beside Bell, who generally wasn't far from Rena's side. Taki checked her kit over briefly, then waved a pair of hands over her sleek but mobile riding outfit. Like the river cascading from a waterfall, she donned a more traditional silken kimono with simple bamboo motifs. It's subtle off white streaked with darker threads, giving the simple greens of it's embroidered pattern a backdrop of interlocking boards. While the outfit might stand out in other places, the pattern was common amongst merchants and tradesfolk living around the Bamboo Forest.
Spreading her arms, Taki turned in place with flourish before bowing to the little ones as a performer would. While the shaman's own family were embroiled in their own lives, she spent a good deal of time learning from her tribe's healer (the Orochi term loosely meant 'witch doctor', so neither used it outside a formal setting). Not only did the aging herbalist teach Taki to respect nature and the spirits, she instilled a sense of wonder and creativity that was otherwise absent. Even if the shaman felt foolish and silly, sharing any measure of that experience meant she was repaying that kindness and compassion.
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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Jun 13, 2024 17:59:21 GMT -5
The fledglings let out little chirps of cheer and admiration, though Wind and Loci glance from Taki’s new garb to their own relatively drab tunics and breeches, eye lights full of contemplation even as they drop from the cloud-carpet to join their living siblings. As discussed, Whistle and Loci dart over to watch from the brush, while Wind and Wind scramble up to the hidden nook with minimal issue, the younger twins seeming to have a preternatural sense for where to place their talons to support their bodies and the massive crossbow on Wind’s back as they climb up to the nook, and Wind pulls a bolt from the quiver slung behind his waist to load his hand ballista as he settles into a sniper’s position, safeguarded by his undead twin…
…Bell stretches a little, a friendly smile in the ruffling of the feathers around his beak as he steps up beside Taki and glances around, those amber eyes friendly and his posture open and welcoming as he idly plays with a coin…both sides bear a shining silver eye amid a wreath of black feathers…
Rena trills softly, cracking her neck and abruptly dissolving into a puddle of water, seeping down through the clouds Taki had conjured and gathering on the road below before flowing and slithering over and up to the area up top that she’d pointed out for herself before reforming into herself and shimmering into invisibility…
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Post by Shitakibo on Jun 14, 2024 20:25:18 GMT -5
Watching Rena and the little ones move so efficiently gave Taki the strangest sense of relieved worry. While she could not deny the usefulness of their skills and coordination, the shaman was no stranger to the less known parts of adventuring life either. At least they were together, could protect each other, and find support when it was needed. It was loathesome to consider that no small part of the world would try to destroy this family, to choose phobia and ignorance over understanding and communication.
She sighed softly, then stretched a bit before turning to see Bell playing with a coin. Rolling it between his knuckles, Taki almost missed Rena's abilities in action as she moved to the position on the hill she'd indicated.
"Fascinating... that seems quite convenient. Huh?" The shaman said, to no one in particular as her observations slipped out unfiltered. After another moment, she chuckled softly.
"Shall we? I look forward to putting on a good show as the designated decoy, and working with you." She said to Bell, her tone pleasant but her demeanor alert and attentive. Taki was on the clock, and on high alert, though she was puzzled by the first bits of feedback those sharp senses were giving her. Folding her hands inside it's partnered sleeve, she started up the road at a slow, graceful pace.
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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Jun 14, 2024 21:41:11 GMT -5
Bell smiles softly, his own amber orbs sharp as he walks alongside the shaman, “...she’s always been a quick learner, and the curse the Hag laid on her has…well, as far as I can tell the Hag’s greatest mistake there was giving Rena a source of magic to work with…” he trills softly, still rolling and flipping the coin along his knuckles as those flaming eyes scan their surroundings before flicking toward Taki, “...decoy work is generally rather fun, I’ve found. Playing the role of the harmless little crow to get people to lower their guard…” he lets out a wistful trill, “...more fun when I could actually contribute to a fight with my own weapon, rather than losing my physicality the moment the rush hits…” the specter hums quietly to himself as he goes back to scanning the area for a moment before glancing at Taki once again, “...picking something up already?”
Rena trills softly, maintaining her invisibility as she watches from her perch on the hill. They’re too distant for her to make out what they’re saying, but she can feel a vague sense of amusement from her husband, a deep, desperate plea from her partner, and the usual jittering of the Hunter as she idly twirls one of her Duelist’s Feathers about her fingers, seemingly heedless of the sharp edge…
…Wind and Wind trill softly to each other, the living twin idly adjusting the sight on his crossbow as his sister leans back against the stone of the impromptu sniper’s nest…
…Whistle and Loci creep through the brush, careful to avoid any unnecessary movement as they maintain as quiet a presence as they can while keeping up with Taki and Bell…
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Post by Shitakibo on Jun 15, 2024 8:16:50 GMT -5
"In a manner of speaking yes." The shaman replied, not saying much at first as they set out on a wide loop within sight of the hill. Her eyes wandered, searching for any details and clues her other senses might miss. Once they were fairly clear of traffic, she resumed her explanation.
"What I find peculiar is the abundance of spiritual activity in the area, despite rumors of some sort of spiritual happenings. While this is nothing unusual to this area, it is solid evidence there are more mundane matters at play. If you have a good way of relaying this to Rena, it may be wise to do so."
They hadn't gone far from where the group disembarked, and the shaman kept a slow but steady pace. Obvious bait was more likely to scare off prey than not, and that wouldn't be very useful to anyone. Carts laden with chunks of stone passed by every so often, drawn by strong oxen in pairs. Some attempts were being made to improve the transport and safety, particularly with the growing study of magical constructs. Unfortunately, many were against it, considering it an afront to their culture and the spirits. Even the shaman's voice could not sway them, with Shuchu towering over the meeting at her side. Such thinking would only make the arduous process of change more difficult, stifled and controversial.
Taking a deep breath, she decided to strike up a conversation. Partly to keep their cover, partly to keep her mind from wandering off and missing something.
"This may seem a bit out of the blue, but how did you two meet?"
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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Jun 15, 2024 12:58:34 GMT -5
The specter tilts his head, considering the question for a long moment, eyes unfocusing slightly as he examines his own memories for a few seconds before speaking, “...she broke into my clan’s compound in the middle of a rainstorm. I never bothered tryin’ t’ get the full story from her, but…I know that she’d been getting desperate for food an’ shelter after havin’ been banished from her own clan for three years by that point - the Blackfeathers may not’ve been friendly with the Brighteyes, but everyone was shocked when the heiress to’ the Brighteyes Seat was banished from the clan she was s’posed t’ lead…so imagine my surprise when the banished Brighteyes heir breaks not only into my people’s compound, but into my own workshop...” the crow lets out a soft trill, “...she was such a scrawny thing, banished or not I couldnae jus’ chase ‘er out an’ leaver her t’ starve…so I gave ‘er my nest for t’sleep in and spent the night pacin’ in my workshop, panicking over what I should do, how my clan would react, how my Starweaver would react, how my parents and siblings would react…” he shrugs, then, “...so I hid her for as long as I could. I’m sure the rest o’ the clan knew I was hidin’ somethin’, given that I kept sneaking away with extra food, but…well, suffice t’ say my fears about the clan at large weren’t unfounded, though our Starweaver was understandin’, an’ my family were more’n happy t’ take my side…” he’s smiling now, a pleased trill in his voice as he speaks, “...best crime I ever committed, second only t’...” he trails off, tilting his head as something escapes him, “t’...” a tear like molten metal rolls down his cheek, “...that's odd…can’t remember the other one…” he shakes his head as though clearing it, then clears his throat, "...regardless, we didnae start properly courtin' until a few weeks after the rest o' the clan found out I was hidin' her, though... the feathers on his cheeks ruffle in an avian blush, "...lookin' back, a lot o' the stuff I gave her durin' the hidin' period, an' a lot of the stuff she snuck out to get for me...could be construed as courtin' gifts..."
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Post by Shitakibo on Jun 16, 2024 8:15:52 GMT -5
"That does sound like quite a difficult situation, but I'm glad it turned out well for you both. Your culture must have some fascinating stories, rituals, and history. Perhaps some day, if you'd both be willing, we could document them to share with the world... if you haven't already that is. I'd like to do the same for my own people some day, to share the tales we were told as hatchlings. Sadly, that would be a very narrow accounting told from my own perspective and childhood memories..."
While the shaman maintained her pleasant look, there was a deep and gnawing sadness in her eyes as her voice trailed off. While she'd been in exile since her teen years, there really hadn't been closure to the situation. She would never be able to see her parents, tribe, or other Orochi and that meant she could not guide them to a brighter future. She shifted her attention outward, taking a moment to look around for anything unusual. They'd already completed a quarter of their circuit, the sun passing it's highest point overhead and starting it's descent.
"Some day, hopefully, there will be someone who wishes to share our lives together. It was something all but unknown and forgotten until recently."
It was rare to see the shaman blush, but her cheeks flushed purple for just a moment as she relived that moment. She exhaled with a slight hiss and chuckled, grinning childishly.
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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Jun 16, 2024 14:17:16 GMT -5
The specter smirks, those amber eyes turning sly, “...oh? Anyone in particular?” Bell trills in amusement, “...dinnae ye worry, there’ll be no shovel talk from me…” of course, that doesn’t say anything about Rena…speaking of, Bell begins whistling a tuneless, wandering melody, carefully pitched to carry over their surroundings to reach his wife - ”minimal spiritual activity, by Taki’s mark. Further investigation required” - before turning his attention back to Taki, “but seriously, I’m glad ye’ve decided that love is for ye. Too many people decide t’ go without, an’ end up worse off because of it…”
Rena, meanwhile, having listened intently to her husband’s song, bobs her head and scans her surroundings, carefully maintaining her invisibility even as she idly spins one of her feather blades along her fingers…silver eyes zero in on movement from opposite side of the road as Whistle and Loci, followed by strange noises that she can barely make out from her place on the hill…the crow tilts her head as she watches, idly popping out her skates and zipping up to get a better listen…
…within the brush, two strangers watch Taki and Bell with wide eyes. They hadn’t been expecting a shaman and an actual spirit to show up to investigate, and they’ve got this sinking feeling that they’re being watched…
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Post by Shitakibo on Jun 17, 2024 15:58:43 GMT -5
"No one in particular yet, though there was a brief moment. We are good friends, and now she travels with one of my companions at her side. I will admit it's a somewhat recent development. Caring has always come easy, same with empathy... but there is no concept for either of these, or love, in Orochi culture. Even rearing children could be brutal, if you did not meet the expectations of tribe and family. When I was banished, it took a long time to learn how to interact respectfully with others... I said and did a lot of things I shouldn't have, but a few kind souls were generous enough to show me better ways.
Adventuring continues to hone and sharpen those lessons, so I could only presume this is another facet of that growth. It does not help that I have no sense of what is or isn't 'normal' either, other than communication, consent and compassion."
As the pair strolled along, the shaman's senses picked up on the odd pair hiding in the brush. It was quite a bit more difficult to pick up the movements of the little ones, or Rena, but she had faith in their ability. While it was their first serious outing together, Taki enjoyed filling her role as Aunt to the little ones. When had she grown to trust so easily? How did she show her respect for their skills, and the effort each of them put in?
The only answer she had at the moment was to be the best bait she could, and pretend to be oblivious of the audience they were drawing.
"What does your society consider normal or typical for relationships and families, Bell?"
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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Jun 17, 2024 21:29:29 GMT -5
The specter tilts his head, letting out a contemplative trill as he considers the question for a long moment before speaking, “...the Valley of Crows was a hard place, even before the Hag brought Fimbulwinter down t’ kill it. Noone remembers how or why it started, but the Crows were at war with the Ravens near constantly, t’ the point where I’m sure that the Ravens only kept from being wiped out by turning the Crow clans on themselves and each other. There were things that were off limits, o’ course…children, eggs, the sick an’ the elderly…noone dared poison the waters, but…I’m sure that common sense would’ve only lasted so long…” Bell sighs, “...Rena an’ I were born into a lull in the fighting, the clans having largely retreated from the fight t’ lick their wounds…so…I couldnae tell ye what was normal in the Valley back before the war started…but we were made t’ pick a trade, a useful skill t’ practice until we’d nigh on mastered it. Then we were made t’ pick a weapon t’ train with alongside the trade. I picked weaponsmithing an’ the warhammer, while Rena picked hunting an’ her knives, though she’s branched out a bit since then…so…we were expected t’ contribute. T’ make ourselves useful above all else. I’ll be honest, compared t’ out here the Valley was hellish even before the Hag came…”
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Post by Shitakibo on Jun 18, 2024 7:33:01 GMT -5
Taki nods along at Bell's explanation, an all too familiar story. When your clan only thought of war, there wasn't much room for relaxation or creativity. With the afternoon sun overhead slowly drifting towards the horizon, they had made quite a bit of progress on the route. The strange pair kept out of sight, vigilant and aware as the shadows of evening stretched across the ground.
"Our homes have many similarities, though we were not at war with another tribe to my knowledge growing up. We did however live without crops or livestock, hunting and foraging for our needs. If you weren't contributing in some way, you were not fed, clothed or sheltered. Depending on your parent's disposition, and your social status, there would be a sort of social obligation that the tribe berate and abuse you into compliance. To say I didn't fit in would be an egregious understatement."
She took another deep breath, steadying herself as the pair were making their way back towards the start of the loop. That was another life, one they exiled her from... though she imagined that was more out of fear for their own safety than any tribal benefit... Ahead in the brush, one of the pair let out a worbling, echoing call that mimicked a bird native to Moonglade. While they did migrate through the area, that was during early spring and late fall. A pair of answering calls came a few moments later from somewhere further off the road.
"I do believe we're getting a nibble." She said to the spirit beside her calmly, giving him a moment to signal his family.
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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Jun 18, 2024 14:53:22 GMT -5
Bell nods, letting out another series of whistled notes to his family as he walks beside the shaman, “...that’s a familiar story. Rena and I were lucky enough to avoid the worst of it, but…only the barest of breaks were tolerated. The more you did to contribute, the better you were treated…that’s part o’ why my clan wound up accepting Rena, actually. she may’ve been banished by her own people, but it wasn’t for bein’ a leech, an’ she was quick t’ prove just how much she could contribute…meat, hides, berries, roots an’ herbs, once she got it int’ her head t’ earn her way into a new clan, she ran herself ragged…”
…Whistle and Loci carefully creep through the brush, paying careful attention to maintaining silence as they move toward the source of the false bird warblings, eyes dulled to red and green as they stalk their prey…
…Wind and Wind keep hidden, nestled against each other for the moment and trilling softly to each other as they wait for the signal…
…Rena looms behind the pair in the bush, carefully maintaining her invisibility as she waits for the perfect moment to strike…
...Nev looms behind her, cobalt eyes watching their bondmate’s prey with pity. this is not the first time they’ve been forced to stand back and watch her slaughter unfortunates who thought they were clever enough to beat her, and each time the raven’s heart is filled with pity for the poor fools…
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Post by Shitakibo on Jun 19, 2024 18:41:33 GMT -5
As the setting sun dimmed, the sky above fading through deep blues and purples into a star filled night, an unnatural fog descended on the road. While it wasn't thick enough to obscure sight, the misty effect seemed to signal the start of whatever 'spiritual' occurence was to take place. The hidden strangers began to move, while one stayed deep in the woods to keep up the effect. Positioning themselves evenly, the group bent down and lifted something overhead.
Some horned instrument blared, a deep growly tone that carried far through the trees. Waving through the trees, a pair of menacing, flaming amber orbs lit up. Moving up, they shifted and bobbed about, waving long poles covered in heavy sheets of dyed fabrics. They started wailing and fussing, adding a raucous noise to the deep growling. The few stray travelers along the road began to panic and rush towards town. Taki smiled slightly as she spread her arms out.
"Try not to go far for a few moments, I think we should let the citizens alleviate their own fears. The situation could not be more convenient to do so."
About ten feet around the shaman, a torrent of wind whirled into existence. Careful to keep it's slicing gusts from hurting anyone, the swirling currents drew in the obscuring mist. The fleeing miners and travelers all stopped, huddling against Rena's side of the road to avoid the sudden 'tornado'. The air cleared, revealing a quartet of humanoid figures, hoisting their 'spirits' overhead. Each wore a medium grey robe, tied with a white rope, and matching pendants around their necks. The moment the illusion was broken, Taki dismissed the gale and calmly walked to the side of the road.
It wasn't difficult to guess what the citizens would do, having superior numbers and a double dose of adrenaline. Within a minute or so, they'd been run down and captured. Apparently the last managed to flee before being spotted, likely to report this disaster to their not so understanding superiors. They bore the uniforms of the Lunar Rebels, a faction in Moonglade dedicated to repelling the Crown's influence by any means.
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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Jun 19, 2024 20:46:14 GMT -5
The crows smirk, shining eyes watching in amusement as the Rebels are run down and dragged off by the locals they’d been trying to scare, each of the Blackfeathers slowly coming out of the woodwork; Wind and Wind slide down from their sniper’s nest, Whistle and Loci stand and step out of their hiding spots, and Rena Blinking directly to her husband so she can sweep him up and into a hug just as she lets her invisibility drop, chirping happily and spinning around as she nuzzles and nibbles at Bell's feathers, silver eyes shining brightly as she holds him close.
The children, for their part, swarm about Taki with rapid flurries of chirps and trills as they giggle and scramble around in an impromptu game of tag.
a raven of ink and starlight looks on, cobalt eyes filled with fondness as they watch the children, then with miserable adoration as their attention turns to their bondmates. The raven can be…somewhat content, simply knowing that their bondmates are happy and their children are thriving…still, tears roll down from cobalt eyes as they murmur, “...just want to be part of that again…” - a sudden wave of cold rushes over the Blackfeathers, though they seem unbothered despite the unseasonable chill…
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