Private Where Rivers Flow

[Arcturus Dinn]

And so it was that Arcturus was led on a tour of the Ziggurat by his gracious host. It was oddly quiet as the regular inhabitants and workers sought to set up a feast befit Gods at the Temple's front and the streets beyond, but it certainly made for an easier process. He walked at Darien's side, listening to every drop of information that was given while his eyes scanned this way and that. It was beautiful, there was no denying that.​

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When they came upon the minting press and he was told of its inefficiency Arcturus took a little time to look it over, not long enough to make any huge changes but enough to get an idea of what might be needed in order to help. He closed his eyes, Force thrumming, and soon a Shadow appeared before him.​

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"Ah, Mister Sandman," the incorporeal, smoky figure began as he dipped his head into a bow, "I did not know it was time for our meeting so soon." Wax glanced left and right, turned full circle to check out the room, then frowned. "This is not your study." Nor was it the Hourglass. "Oh, hello!" Brushing past Arcturus, Wax approached Darien and made to flirtingly converse before Arcturus raised a brow and cleared his throat to regain his attention.​

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"You weren't summoned to talk business, Wax. These machines," he gestured a hand toward the presses, "Look them over, and see how they might be improved upon. Efficiency is the name of the game, my friend. Precision too it would seem." He'd noticed the pile of misformed coins after all. Then he realized he was being quite rude.​

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"Forgive me, Darien. This is Wax, my assistant. I should have asked before bringing him here, force of habit. He can see to fine tuning your machines, if you'll allow him." He was an industrious little thing after all, it was part of the reason he'd drawn Arcturus' attention in the first place. Who better to help run and manage his storefront than one who could add further products to its shelves?​

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Whichever way they went, accepting Wax's help or not, soon they were away from the tour and pressed to get ready for the feast. So dress he did, and once he was set within fresh garb, complete with a circlet formed of ever shifting star-matter, he accompanied Darien down to the festivities. A seat had been procured to sit alongside Dariens, a throne no less, and he sat within it and observed the crowd as Darien made his speech. His Speakers translated, and a series of whistles and harsh tongues danced between each pause the God of Prosperity gave.​

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More and more he felt justified in his decision to extend an olive branch of peace and unity. The people hung on Darien's every word, and he gave them ample reason to do just that. When the time came for him to speak, Arcturus took a moment to consider it. He set down his goblet, from which he'd drank sweet wine, and then rose to his feet from the soft throne.​

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"Most Noble Mercurites" he began, "This City you have built together sits as a glowing example of your ingenuity and penchant for positive progression. It is an honour to bear witness to all you have done here, to see Zaathri and Shaal stand side by side as brothers and sisters. May you continue to act as an example for those still locked in senseless states of war. Know that you have the blessings of Desdinova, and come time for you to rest in my otherworldly domain you will find sanctuary there of your own, united in death as in life."​

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Forging out a new aspect of his netherrealm, that belonging to the Zaathri and Shaal, would be no simple feat, but given that the foundation had already been laid by the veil in the Grotto it would not be so vigorous as the first.​

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He tipped up his chin and glanced over the crowd, searching for those Shaal with docked horns.​

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"One of you barred my entry to this City" he added, his tone unflinchingly neutral, "I would see you stood before me now." Stood being the word of true importance here, not knelt, not dragged, but stood proud and tall.​

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Darien Cordel ​

 

[Darien Cordel]

Their meandering tour through the Ziggurat took in many sights of beauty. The natives were starting to find new crafts and sources of inspiration now that daily life had become less of a fight for survival. Plenty of the decor was still very traditional, with scenes of war and hunting but there were glimpses of other things too, especially in the areas he most frequented. Having shown Arc the more frivolous aspects of his home Darien brought them to the press and almost immediately after recounting the difficulties they had he saw Arc's face crease in thought and concentration.

Darien wondered just what the man was thinking. He had said he was a craftsman so perhaps he had an idea to improve the presses or simply an explanation for why they were facing problems. It was a surprise to Darien when he felt a surge in the force and an incorporeal shadow-like being appeared. Darien had never seen anything like it before and it seemed to be confused to have been brought into the room. It called Arc Mister Sandman too a most peculiar name. Darien would have to ask about the name later and the source of this shadowy creature ... was creature the right term? The Shadow looked like a man and ...

Was it flirting?

Darien did not really get the time to figure that out before Arcturus spoke again to pull the Shadow's focus back to him. It seemed Arcturus had summoned him to look at the machines and improve them in whatever way he could. Then Arc spoke to him personally. Apologising for simply summoning the creature and that brought Darien back to focus. He blinked and banished the prickly hot feeling at the back of his neck. Darien hadn't been flirted with since ... well he couldn't remember ever actually being flirted with. Much had gone on in the years since he hit puberty though ... graver things to focus on.

Darien nodded "If he can help I will be glad of the assistance" Darien hummed looking between the machines and the Shadow "Thank you for any help you can give ... Wax" he offered before the two 'gods' made off to continue their tour and the preparations for the feast. Arcturus changed for a third time into a very godly ensemble indeed. To look upon him he looked the part of a god of death. There was an almost ragged quality to the upper layers of his robes but not in a way that made them seem poorly made or maintained. It was an intentional jaggedness in blacks and finished in a startling grey-white that seemed almost like fog. It was how one might imagine death. The godliness was cemented by the almost starlight quality of his Circlet. Darien's own outfit was brighter. A rich blue embroidered in silken strands of metallic thread which lacked single colour. His hair was pulled back by a band across his hairline made of gold and his fingers glittered in the light from the wings he wore. He had been careful not to upstage Arcturus but also not to be upstaged.

When he finished his speech Darien went straight to his chair. A throne which he could sit back into and feel safer in the shadow of it. He was not obscured from view but he did feel less exposed. The fermented fruit drink he soon picked up helped as well. He hated these events but they were the price he paid for security and comfort. A bitter pill he just had to swallow. Arcturus or perhaps more aptly in this situation Desdinova gushed with praise for the city causing appreciative murmurs from the crowd. This was vindication for the believers and a balm for any nursing doubts. Darien had to sit forward, smiling as he took the praise and hoping that the spotlight would soon move.

It did and Arcturus remembered the guard he wished to speak to and bestow honour on.

There was some murmuring in the crowd as gossip swept the room on who might dare halt a god's entry. Having looked for and received a nod from Darien the guard stepped forward timidly. Then inhaled and pushed back his shoulders to move into view of Arcturus "It was I holiness" He said "I meant you no dishonour ... But I was also concerned about dishonouring his holiness ... " he bowed his head to Darien "Or the city"

 

[Arcturus Dinn]

With Wax having been given permission to tend to the press, the Shadow got right to work and Arcturus didn't seem at all interested in sticking around for it. He knew that Wax would rather that he wasn't breathing down his throat anyway.​

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Soon they were both dressed and ready, him in darks and golds, with the circlet of star matter, and Darien looking just as regal. Befitting the role he'd been playing for years now... Arcturus supposed that was no surprise, though, he'd lived through this longer than the rest of them combined.​

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Then they were out amidst the crowd, settled upon thrones before a great feast which stretched on through the City. The natives seemed in awe of Darien, rarely getting to look upon Mercurius never mind hearing words directly from his mouth. Arcturus hoped that his more willing nature toward speaking to them did not make things difficult going forward, though.​

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As the Shaal in question stepped forward, Arcturus took one step down toward him to put them on a slightly more even level, and asked for his name. It wasn't even, of course, Arcturus remained several steps above, but he hoped that the gesture worked as intended.​

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"Raise your head," he said softly, once the initial bow toward Darien was made and then continued on past that. "Stand tall and proud, for you have passed a grave test. Upholding your position here, showing your willingness to step up in protection of your people, and its Contra-Usul, even in the wake of my presence, it was honorable. I would ask that you sit with us," Arcturus glanced back to Darien to see if he would permit it, this was his realm after all, "And I shall send a suitable reward in the coming days."​

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He looked from the Shaal guard to the rest of the City's denizens. "Something to benefit all of you."​

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Then he sat, whether the Shaal would be permitted a seat at their table or not.​

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Darien Cordel ​

 

[Darien Cordel]

Darien was glad not to be hanging around wax as he examined and tinkered with the cobbled-together press. Darien had all the mechanical inclination of a Luddite, If Wax spoke to him about what he was finding or doing Darie just knew it would fly far over his head and yet social convention would dictate that he try to engage and no doubt go further and claim he thought that was what the issue was or the fix that Wax would do. Just as humans had done for millennia.

There was the fact that Wax had flirted with him too ... which still threw Darien.

Nothing that Arcturus could do could cause problems for Darien. His high priest always seemed to find a way to justify anything that Darien did, said or experienced. Darien was reclusive ... Shy ... Not what a Shaal might think a god to be but the priests had an answer. Of course, a god of prosperity was shy and reclusive, Too much prosperity encouraged greed and complacency wealth and riches poured from Darien's presence and if he was around too much, looked on too much, heard too much then his proud people would become covetous and lazy being weak and mortal beings and then he would leave casting them back into the gloom all present well remembered. If any asked why it was then that Arc showed himself so much well the priests would counter with the question who covets death? who truly longs to die ... not to cause death just to die?

When the Shaal was called on to raise his head he did so with caution at first but then with greater strength. He had learned long ago to face death bravely ... he just hadn't expected it to be quite so literal. dressed as he was now Arcturus made for a far more intimidating spectacle and Haario (For that was the guard's name) privately asked himself if he would have had the courage to bar one that was so obviously divine. Yet he had and it seemed he was to be honoured by it. Permitted to share the table of the gods alongside the greatest in their city. Clan leaders and beings of great learning. Darien nodded as Arc looked back to him and gestured for a chair to be brought to the end of their table so that Haario was seated facing them. A necessity since his presence unbalanced the composition of the table. Four Shaal and Four Zaathri was how it was meant to be and so as the fifth Shaal Haario had to be set outside the guests. A special case.

There were cheers after a few moments as Arcturus promised a reward for the whole city and then a chanting of Haario's name amongst the Shaal. Darien noted that as a potential trouble if anything. The Shaal may lord it over the Zaathri and so he would have to find a hero from amongst the quieter species too.

For now, though it was Haario's time in the sun. As he mounted the steps to their table Darien's Shaal speaker rose and banged upon the table to silence the chanting in his gruff and sharp-tongued language he spoke again for Darien "The Contra-Usul would also bestow a gift upon this Shaal, a new name, a divine name ... from this day until his last day he shall be Haario Gekni-Rakdol" Haario God Bar.

When Arc was sat Darien gave him a nod of greeting and the feast commenced soon the room was filled with noise which travelled down into the streets. It was louder than Darien liked but this was a moment of triumph for his city and he had to be there. Amongst the noise and celebration. At the conclusion of the feast great vents in the side of the Ziggurat opened and coins flowed down into the streets. The mark of prosperity to be treasured or traded.

Arcturus Dinn