Jedi Knight
Location: Rishi, Auric Basin
Objective: The Trials - Attachment
Ambiance:
Tags:
Notable Equipment:
Pyeth's Lightsaber
Pyeth's Spear
Alashgaan
Note: The goal of this thread is to explore the Auric Basin region of Rishi, it's connections to Pyeth, Rharrk and the force entity known as Eostre. Codex, Armour (Pyeth will obtain some new drip) and creature subs will probably follow on from this.
Kneeling to the ground Pyeth looked down into the valley below. Ancient dense jungle overlapped the lightning bolt of rivers that rampaged into a inland sea. Made possible by the rising sun, the shadow of the ancient floating city formed in the waves of heat on the horizon.
The natural force swelled in a flash flood, the sudden updraft of wind blowing dirt and dust into the air. Eostre ascended and unfurled before the kneeling Rishii, her wings spread wide to block out the valley. Her incorporeal body a reflected the living and dead, faces both familiar and unfamiliar bubbled beneath her obsidian wings.
"Child Pyeth," She said in greeting her large avian head arching in welcome. "Have you come in search of guidance?"
Pyeth rose slowly to his talons, the egg-yolk coloured eyes tracking him as it hovered above the sheer drop into the valley. "No. Not this time. I have come to undertake pilgrimage."
He saw. No, he felt her gaze fixed upon him, his feathers instinctively ruffling making him larger. "You seek my permission. I cannot give that which is already granted. Pyeth you are a child of Rishi, no matter what your elders say. However, I ask you carefully consider the consequences. Since the fall of Zaltli only thirteen have succeeded in completing the trials and it is not necessary to prove yourself to me."
"Rharrk completed the Trials before me." Pyeth asked, his direct question caught Eostre off guard. He had never mustered the strength or confidence to do that in their last meeting. "He did as the inheritor of their legacy, but you are of the Raffinki not Zaltli." She sounded almost concerned.
"Our legacy." Pyeth countered sharply and Eostre seemed to bristle but said nothing. He sensed her conflict. She wanted to rebuke him. Send him away. Tell him he wasn't ready for the trials ahead, she was afraid of losing another of her children.
"Whatever power Rharrk claimed I need to see it. He has already claimed Nadira and threatens the same to my lone brood. I am resolved to proceed but would prefer to do it with your blessing."
Eostre appeared to deflate her head dropping low for a moment. "You already have it. Do not forget yourself on this perilous journey."
She moved almost unnaturally in the air, turning with minimal effort to extend a wing at the horizon. "The ruined temple city of Meknes is your destination. Once home of the Zaltli tribe, they united several tribes to forge an Empire. Only those of noble birth or those who complete pilgrimage to the four winds may enter." She turned back to him.
"You will find four shrines somewhere in the valley below. It is home to many predators, including a breeding population of Maun'gur. I cannot intervene. Once you enter the valley, your wings will not be able to carry you back. There is no suitable updrafts or warm air. You will be trapped until you reach the city, so think carefully."
Pyeth sighed giving a final thought to his chosen course. He needed power and he didn't have the time or patience left to wait. He already lost too much and he wasn't sure he could protect his brood without something. Some knowledge or weapon that could put Rharrk on notice.
"I don't have a choice." Pyeth answered and pushed himself off the cliff.
"Strength is making the hard choices. I will await your arrival Pyeth."
His beak punctured the air, sending the flow down his body, through his feathers and finally into his wings. Catching the updraft he cushioned his descent the stoop ending in a accelerated glide above the canopy. His eyes already tracking movements in the canopy, brightly coloured birds crowing in warning as they took flight away from the perceived predator.
Beneath the canopy large armoured herbivores communicated to each other in soft groans. Tree roots coiled through and around the skeleton of a large serpent picked clean by scavengers. A shadow crossed over Pyeth and he looked up to see brightly coloured man-sized moths retreating from the rising sun. An even larger flying reptile swooped through them catching one in its mouth.
Pyeth flinched the sudden appearance of the creature caused the local air patterns to distort and he neither had the time or control to adjust. He twisted his body sideways, narrowly avoiding the flying reptile as it blasted past him to land against one of the river shores. Acting quickly to right himself in time to land horizontal against a tree he sprung board off it and inspected the reptile.
It looked like a creature of legend, none he had ever seen before. Armoured scales covered it's back suggesting there was something bigger and more dangerous in the skies. It's wing span rivaled Eostre a long lithe sky blue body was covered in winged membranes counting at least two different sets, one fanning at the end of a long narrow tail and another supporting the main body.
Devouring the meal quickly, the creature saw and shrieked at him. Pyeth flinched slightly his enhanced hearing making the sound all the more unbearable. It barreled forwards at him, and Pyeth leapt into a roll catching the dirt to pivot around and face it igniting his lightsaber.
' ' - Mimicry
Separators by Lossa Darcuhl