Dawnforge: Heroes of Legend (IC Thread)

[Lady Shatterstone]

*As the lizardman explains his tattooand their meanings Kyna turns her attention to the conversation on the boat. She has often wondered at the tattoos of other races. She as seen many type of body art in her travels, but admittedly none as detailed as those of the Sasskasa's people. She watches him explain each of those on his chest and smiles as he opens his mouth to speak some more but stops short.*

He is one fasinating creature. Kyna muses.

 

[Sephiroth no Miko]

"Fassscinating," Sssakkarish remarks, her eyes bright with curiosity and delight. "Ssso your tattoosss proclaim your might to the world... not ssso disssimilar to usss, at leassst in intent." She holds up an arm and shoves the sleeve of her robe and chain shirt to bare flesh traced with elaborate gylphs. The designs are sinuous and serpentine, and Sasskasa could probably recognize some of it as a form of draconic, though most of it is probably completely foreign. She traces one of the designs with a long-nailed finger. "Thessse glyphsss mark me asss an adept in the Old Waysss... I wasss the mossst ssskilled amongssst all my peersss..." Sssakkariah trails off, unwilling as yet to reveal more of her past, so she settles by concluding, "though I ssseek to be better yet. But enough about me."

She cocks her head at Sasskasa inquisitively, and continues, "I have ssseen the eassse with which you carry yourssself, both on land and in the water, and have no doubt you have massstered both. But how isss it that your people are ssstudentsss and servantsss of the sssky?"

 

[Ashy]

Something strange stirs deep within the lizardman as Sssakkarish bares the flesh of her arm to him; something akin to hunger - but usually reserved only for the females of his tribe... He shakes his head slightly and then responds to the question posed to him.

"We revere the great vulture ssspirit", he again points to the vulture tattoo on his arm, "and ssseek to learn its waysss and follow its sssignsss." Sasskasa pauses for a moment and then asks, "What are the Old Waysss?"

 

[Sephiroth no Miko]

Sssakkariah catches the lizardman's disconcerted shake of the head, but chalks it up as part of his surprise at having a conversation. Certainly, she had gotten quite a bit further than she expected and she was pleased, even if Sasskasa's latest question had wandered onto a topic that was a little painful to talk about, tied as it was into her reasons for her self-exile. She decides to try to keep it as topical as possible, and avoid any mention of caste, abominations, ingrained societal prejudices, and the like. It was better for her blood pressure anyway.

"Ssssss... how would I explain them? The Old Waysss are an ancient art taught to usss by the great ssserpent Zalaph to develop abilitiesss of the mind. With it, we can affect the real world merely with the ssstrength of our willsss. Sssome of my people choossse to focusss on them exclusssively, but I find the physssical rigorsss of battle equally pleasssing." She flashes her fangs in a feral smile. "Thusss, I devote myssself towardsss developing them in harmony." She then sneaks a peek at Sasskaka's face to try to guage his reaction. Although she was loathe to admit it, his opinions-- and those of her other companions aboard the ship-- were coming to matter. As much as she told herself that self-worth came from within, she wanted them to think she was useful, a valuable ally, instead of being a deformed monster.

 

[Ashy]

Anyone looking at the lizardman can see the intelligence lurking deep within his eyes. "I sssseee", he says, "I greatly resssspect thosssse who sssseek harmony within themssselves and with the world around them. I sssenssse greatnesss in you, Sssakkariah." The lizardman extends his hand in a warrior's handshake...

 

[Lady Shatterstone]

* Kyna watches the thin-blood and the lizardman. She can only stare as they he extends his hand to Sssakariah. Kyna feels as if she is truly seeing the lizardman for the first time. A smile creeps across her face once again. *

 

[Sephiroth no Miko]

Sssakkariah blinks once, twice in rapid succession then takes Sasskasa's hand in a firm, heartfelt grip. "I... I am deeply honored by your wordssss, Sasskasssa," she says solemnly. "I am glad to have to glad to have thisss chance to make your acquaintance and to have you with usss on thisss ssstrange quessst. There will be hardssshipsss ahead, I think, but with you by our sssidessss, we ssshall fear for nothing!"

 

[Ashy]

Sasskasa bows his head in a strange and seemingly ritualistic fashion. It seems to be more of a reflex than anything. "And your ssstrong will sssshall sssshow ussss the Way assss we ssstep along the path..." You are not sure, but you think the lizardman actually smiles.

 

[Old Fezziwig]

Kieran smiles. If Sasskasa and Sssakkariah have found some peace with each other, then we ought to stand a good chance of not killing each other on this journey. We're worse than a bunch of drunk minor nobles scheming to kill their lords. If only Karl won't provoke him, we should be fine. The gnome's a fine companion, but he's a bit too aggressive with Sasskasa.

 

[Ashy]

Seeing that no one else seems in the mood to talk, the lizardman gets up and begins gutting and preparing the amphibian over the side of the boat. With cold but efficient skill, he soon has reduced the once-attacker into little more than cuts of rubbery flesh to be salted or smoked at the first opportunity...