2021-11-05: The Legend of the Keqili

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================================<* Deku Isles *>================================

The Deku Isles are islands on the north of the Crater Sea. Some are natural islands, pieces of the ancient continent destroyed in some great ancient calamity. Others are stranger, still: flooded, petrified great tree trunks that stretch out of the water, and hold small settlements inside. The Isles are claimed by Sylvaland, a claim made stronger by the working Elw Teleporters that Sylvaland uses to claim dominion over its far flung empire. The ancient petrified trees, emerging from the ocean, sometimes draw tourists... but dangers can be found here, too. The forces of Ganondorf Dragmire are sometimes seen here.

BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGufy1PAeTU

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

    Riesenlied has been busy with a particular lead that's intrigued her for a time now -- the presence of a Baskar tribe that purportedly migrated from Elru many centuries ago... and, if rumours are to be believed, uphold the values and virtues of Odoryuk and Duras Drum.

    It's more than an odd little coincidence, she thinks -- that it would line up all so well, but she can't ignore it.

    That said, for Noeline, the place would be teeeeeeeerrribly familiar after all of this time...

    Keqili Island is slightly off the most well-traversed sea charts of the Deku Isles, though not so much so that a skilled navigator can't manage. Some trade *does* find its way here, evidenced by the modest berth of the island. Speaking to merchants in the know, there's a forest tribe of the protectors of Odoryuk and Duras Drum, shrouded in the illusion of the woods...

    Even with a mere glance, it's evident this is no ordinary forest. Unlike the malicious and wayward nature of the Lost Woods, there's a peaceful tranquility here, yet one that might conceal thorns under its regal and serene nature. The path from the mooring is simple enough, a maintained road of wooden planks and coiled vine and a sign in -- surprisingly -- local Galadian dialect, that reads:

    'Keqili Village ====>'

    "I was uncertain what to expect, but... it does appear as if they do not shun all contact with the outside world," Riesenlied cups her cheek. "I can... sense a powerful Leyline deep within the forest, but something... disturbs it."

    A pause, as she places her hand to her chest. "But... thank you for accompanying Noeline and I. I do not really know what to expect..." 

<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.

As it happens, Eleanor Klein is a skilled navigator at sea. She has to be, or it'd be kind of embarrassing to her family, so that's a skill she makes sure to keep honed. It's nice for her to get out on the sea with friends... Even if their destination might have some strange things to contend with, depending. It's unknown territory to her, after all.

"...It's lovely," Eleanor points out of the forest as they walk, walking from the moorning to spot a sign--the village. Hmm...

"Hmmm..." Eleanor considers. "There is something strange, isn't there?" she asks. "Well. You're very welcome, Miss Riesenlied. I'm happy to help."

"I'm sure whatever happens, with this group we can address it well."

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

    Noeline has grown steadily more quiet on the ride over, sinking further into her thoughts as the boat nears the island on the horizon. Thankfully, it isn't a negative kind of silence - she's not sulking or descending into a funk so much as just getting lost in nostalgia, her mind ticking over on events that took place decades ago.

    The Hyadean is smart enough to realize that there isn't one single event that's shaped her. The Photosphere, Arctica, and Adlehyde have all been just as much a founding part of her as the Medium fractured and intermingled with her metal. Still... she does have to wonder. If she'd never received the 'protection' of Duras Drum, would she have found the courage to go against Mother? Would she have supported Riesenlied in that endeavour, or just played it safe?

    She'll never know, but it's the sort of nostalgia that draws her towards those thoughts. Besides, it stops her thinking about how awkward this reunion might be. As these things go, she's not really sure that 'Hi, I have your Medium. If you want it back you'd have to disintegrate me' is _strictly speaking_ a position of strength.

    But then there's no more time to worry about it. She carefully steers Riesenlied's wheelchair down the gangplank and onto the pier, letting out a soft sigh as she rakes a hand through her hair. "There are paths around the exterior of the island," she notes with a little awkwardness. "Or, there used to be. But that trail should take us to the village, assuming it has borne the test of time."

    She chuckles faintly to Riesenlied, nodding her head. "I only have the faintest idea of what to expect, myself. I did not exactly... stay long," she says, trying to do so with a little grace as she badly avoids the question of 'why'. "When I first came here, they were wary of outsiders - but at the same time, did at least respect my desire to learn."

    In hindsight, she really hopes she didn't screw that part up. 

<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.

"Aw shyucks," Lydia says. "Of course I'd come along with you all."

Lydia is wearing her baskar leathers to assist with DIPLOMACY CHECKS but it's over the armor so she mostly looks like a cowgirl robot. She puts her hands in her coat and kind of just looks at the sign for a while.

"Yeah for sure." She adds. "Well, being wary of outsiders is pretty smart when surrounded by folks who sure enjoy taking."

She gives a hapless little shrug with both arms after saying that'. 

<Pose Tracker> Rebecca Streisand has posed.


Rebecca may have spent much of the sea journey that she wasn't helping around the ship with Avril. Perhaps it's because she feels like Avril has a special connection with the sea, but more likely she just wanted to spend some time together when Rebecca could take a deep breath and relax without worrying that Volsung was going to drop out of the sky right onto the deck.

Upon disembarking though...

... she listens to Riesenlied. Then adds in her two gella. "Even if they are - we shouldn't assume they'll take kindly to our purpose."

Rebecca says as she opens her ARM, the Pizzicato Pistol for one last check, before snapping the revolver shut and spinning it back into its holster.

"Best expect the worst. Even if they'd be hospitable normally..." As she nods towards Noeline's tale of being here before, "They might be on edge with whatever's causing that disturbance you're sensing."

Rebecca notably does not indicate that she senses something in the ley too... partially because others have said it, but maybe also because she doesn't want to amp up the tension before.

"And anytime Riese."

Rebecca may headtilt a little as she catches Lydia in those Baskar leathers... but then keeps her eyes forward.

<Pose Tracker> Yulie Ahtreide has posed.

Yulie had heard that Riesenlied was undertaking a particular expedition. Looking for Baskar tribes worshipping Odoryuk and Duras Drum... Yulie knows how much that means to her and Noeline, so she gladly volunteered to join in.

Keqili Island... It's lovely. Yulie appreciates that peaceful, tranquil air. But so, too, can she respect what might lie beneath. Her eyes soon track to the sign, and then to Riesenlied as she speaks.

"Something that could disturb a Leyline... I wonder what could be causing it...?" Yulie considers before looking toward Noeline, who seems familiar with this place - if only somewhat. Yulie nods, taking in her every word, then. She looks toward Riesenlied, then, offering her a small smile.

"It's no problem at all. I'm glad to be able to help..." She replies. Riesenlied and the people of Wayside have done so much for her. 

<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.

Lydia Seren spots Rebecca, her eyes widen, and she sort of awkwardly looks down at her hands, twiddling her fingers. 

<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

    "Keqili Village..."

    Avril's fingertips brush the letters on the sign, as if she were tracing out the lettering itself. "To think that it does exist, after all," she says, turning towards Riesenlied, her gaze a pensive one.

    The trip over had been without incident -- perhaps, to some largely-buried instinct of the once-and-future queen, strangely without incident -- but now that they're here, it seems a different sort of confrontation lingers on the horizon.

    "Yes. Something feels..." She purses her lips fleetingly, then shakes her head. "It is not quite an ill-omen. But, I feel as if something is amiss, perhaps?" She glances Rebecca's way, then nods, as if to add her voice to the choir. "We should prepare ourselves. It is best to remain polite, as this is their home. However, if they are caught up in something that is greater than themselves, we may need to act."

    To say nothing of what might be required should the villagers become outright hostile.

    "If... it should become necessary, we must prepare to retreat." 

<Pose Tracker> Dean Stark has posed.

    It *is* a nice part of the world--lots of lush green, and a lot more chill than the Lost Woods. Dean looks around in curiosity as he gets off the boat with the others, and as they walk down the road until they find the sign pointing to the village, he folds his arms behind his neck and takes it all in.
    
    "Yeah, looks that way! Good for you, huh, Riese?" Dean says, giving his friend a smile. His smile fades as she brings up something disturbing the Leyline, and Rebecca postulates that the villagers might be more hostile than usual thanks to that. "Hmm... Then we'll just have to be ready for anything," he decides, nodding once firmly in agreement with Eleanor. He doesn't have any guesses he might offer Yulie. "Yeah, me too," he says, before looking at Avril. Not that he didn't believe Riesenlied, but if Avril feels something amiss too, it must really be bad. "I hope whatever's going on, we can help these folks out with it."
    
    He looks over to Noeline next, blinking in curiosity. "Oh yeah? When'd you first come here, Noeline?" Then Lydia lays down a truth bomb. Dean sucks in a breath through his teeth. "Yeah... Sad but true." 

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

    Riesenlied is terribly happy to have engaged Eleanor on this endeavour -- despite all their time on the Fereshte, the seas are a different kind of obstacle entirely, one that even as all her time as... ...Supporting Captain? doesn't really provide much training or experience for.

    As such, it's one point of relief -- and a quiet smile towards Noeline, noticing that her partner's definitely gotten a little bit quiet during the ride. She knows that Noeline's the one with the most history of this particular island, given the fateful events that... happened, so long ago, but as to how it will play out now...

    "We... will be with you, however they receive us..." Riesenlied sounds like she's trying to reassure herself and Noeline at the same time.

    Riesenlied looks happy to have Lydia here as well, nodding terribly quietly as she smiles. It's nostalgic to see Lydia in her old clothes, even though they're somewhat associated with less than pleasant memories... but it isn't as if Lydia's abandoned the tradition entirely, either.

    "It is... true, we will have to be careful, but..." Riesenlied agrees with Rebecca, just a little reticiently -- though she's glad to have the trio here with her. The disturbance may be setting them on edge... it's only reasonable to expect that. She wonders for a moment if Avril remembers something... something about her words -- as if it might or might not have been a real place. Dean's smile always gives a cheer to the day, as well!

    "I am glad it is here after all. I do wonder... if they may be living descendants," Riesenlied expresses, with quiet hope.

    "There was one such great disturbance where I came from in Elru, but I can only hope it is not the same kid..." Riesenlied explains to Yulie, on the topic of disturbances to the Leyline, though she doesn't go into details right now -- it's something of a difficult story, it seems.

    It doesn't take long, however -- a ten minute walk that's largely free of trouble through some of the now-familiar roots that permeate the Deku Isles as a whole, with some pleasant vistas along the way...

    And as they crest the small cliff, they see it-- a small village, composed of about fifteen yurts nestled in various heights to the enormous tree roots and branches that surround the clearing. The design of the yurts have evolved over the centuries, but there's no mistaking that...

    It looks not dissimilar from those the Fereshte used, back in Elru.

    There are a few villagers pacing about the square -- they dress in clothes suitable for forest traversal, dressed in browns, yellows and greens, and...

    They seem to have masks on. Differing kinds, each resembling some kind of motif -- one has a tiger-like mask on, the other resembling some kind of long-stalked plant, and...

    "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA--"

    Suddenly, a high-pitched cry comes out of nowhere. A shadow that flits above in the air, then--

    -=BAMF=-

    Riesenlied eeks in surprise as something lands terribly near to her, missing her by inches -- something that's revealed, as it springs back, to be...

    Ah... hmm... about a ten to twelve year old, dressed in those same robes, with a bird-like mask covering her face. She's carrying a long, thin spear with her, which she brandishes.

    "Deceiver! The Deceiving Dragon is here! I knew it!!" she barks out in an accent Eleanor might place as... Galadian? "Ready yourself for judgement!!"

    "D-D-Deceiver? But..." Riesenlied's horns deflate. 

<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.

"...That's true," Eleanor admits to Lydia on the matter of being wary of outsiders. But Noeline has been here before, and... Well. "Hopefully they still respect a desire to learn." But Rebecca is right--they can't assume, and Avril is right too, they might have to run... Or take drastic actions about this ley problem.

But what she doesn't expect, aside from the masks, is the sudden rush at Riesenlied. She makes a faint noise of surprise herself, and looks to the girl with the bird mask, placing her accent immediately. Except... it's not an accent that particularly fits this place in theory, Guild Galad being very different.

"Wait!" Eleanor says, and steps forward. "We're here in peace! I'm sure this is a misunderstanding! Riesenlied here is one of the least deceptive people I've known!" 

<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.

"Judgement? Okay, yeah, let's do it." Lydia says.

"I judge Riesenlied to be entirely wholesome, super sweet, adorable, and an exceptionally capable parent and supervisor of friendly faces who has, like, helped save the world and stuff."

"Thus!!" Lydia spreads her arms wide. "She is judged!"

"....... Also I mean I judge her to be a really bad liar too so I think if you're calling her Deceiver Dragon, like, you might as well be calling her a pumpkin--"

Lydia frowns. "No... Mom kinda IS a pumpkin..."

She tries to think of a nonsequitor. "..."
"..."
"......You might as well be calling her ... ... ... ... A Radish! There we go. Mom is definitely not..."

She points towards the ten year old. "...A radish!"

....Is she fighting with an actual child.

...
...

She looks at the bird.

"...YEAH ACTUALLY, you should like Riesenlied! She is also a bird you know!!!"

"She's bird mom!!"

"She has the power to befriend all birds...! So aha! You lose!"

She's...still fighting with an actual child. 

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

    Noeline sinks her head a little further. "... in my defence," she does commically sulk a little this time as she answers Lydia. "I did not strictly 'take' anything, so much as a mischievous Guardian decided to force the point in a rather explosive fashion. I was not given a great deal of choice in the matter," she grumbles. "A century later I find out the thought process involved was 'ha ha, you should have seen the look on your face, that was hilarious'."

    Such is being Duras Drum's representative, sometimes. She levels a flat look at Dean. "It was a good-- century ago that I received the Medium here. It was a blast," she adds, deadpan.

    Rebecca is always more practical than Noeline expects, and she lets out a quiet laugh as the acrobat checks her weapons. "I think we'll be alright. Things-- do not feel as bad as they could be, I suppose," she glances to Riese to confirm that as she feels out the air of the island, her brow furrowing a moment at the pressure she can feel across her partner's senses. 'The worst' is very easy for her to picture, as she recalls the image of the Fereshte village trapped in time and life.

    She tilts her head back to Yulie, then regards Avril as she considers the island. "If I had to make a guess, I would wonder if it might be connected to Odoryuk's distress up in Elru. If this tribe brought that spiritual connection with them, perhaps they are feeling the effects of what is going on there." Not that the Ley really works like that - but Noeline is a storyteller at heart, and it's a compelling thought.

    She lets out her tension in a breath as Riesenlied reassures her, and turns to offer her partner a warm smile. "I know," she replies with relief in her voice, reaching for the other Hyadean's hand to squeeze it in support as she stands a little straighter. "All we can do is approach them with arms wide. I would like to think it will be alright."

    By the time they reach the village, her expression has softened a great deal. It is definitely a sight for sore eyes - and it's good to see the village apparently intact and without too much trouble going on. At least, until the village's tiniest guardian comes leaping out of the bushes towards them. Mischief flashes in her eyes almost immediately. "--if you want to judge her, you'll have to go through me!" she cries in return, brandishing-- a branch she scoops up from the floor. 

<Pose Tracker> Rebecca Streisand has posed.


Rebecca nods Avril's way, then adds. "Polite we can manage." A beat, as she gives Dean a wry look, "Polite and ready for anything."

The travel is long, and Rebecca's eyes are mostly spent scanning the trees for signs of an ambush - perhaps just a little paranoid...

And then the village. "Well - getting here without anyone attacking us is a good start."

As they approach the villagers, she clears her throat as if she's going to address them...

And then a battle cry.

Rebecca turns quickly, her hand whipping to her holster as if to draw her ARM when...

... she stops. Furrows her brow.

"Excuse me - but it's not polite to label someone you just met as a deceiver."

Rebecca says evenly, trying not to make things worse if this turns hostile. In fact she looks to the others in the square as if to figure out if they're going to join in or not.

Before she addresses the kid again. "Don't they teach you to respect your elders around these parts?"

Rebecca however stands up straighter, then after a moment puts a hand on her hip. Watching Lydia's approach to the situation - fighting an actual child. And Noeline's approach to the situation - defending Riesenlied's honor.

After a moment she steps back over towards Avril and Dean discretely.

"Think I'll let them handle this here since they're taking the 'mature' approach."

<Pose Tracker> Yulie Ahtreide has posed.

Dean doesn't know... but it looks like Noeline and Riesenlied have a guess. Yulie frowns a little and nods.

"Oh, I hope it isn't too serious for them..." Yulie murmurs, concerned. Well, she supposes they'll find out when they get there.

Soon, they come across a cliff where they can get a good view of the village below.

"Is this Keqili...?" Yulie asks, curious. But before she can say anything further... 'BAMF'!

Something - or rather, someone - lands nearby! And they begin to call Riesenlied... the Deceiving Dragon?? Yulie blinks once, then twice in confusion. She looks briefly toward Lydia, then back at the masked child. Yulie clasps her hands together.

"Please, you must be mistaken... Miss Riesenlied is a good person, she's only here to help..." Yulie replies. "I... I know it can be difficult to trust people, but..." 

<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

    "I think that would be best," Avril says, managing a smile as she looks from Rebecca to Dean and back again.

    "Perhaps so," she answers Noeline, though a frown still lingers on her face, as if something were nagging at her still.

    There is no trouble to be had along this path.

    Not immediately, at least.

    It is some miracle that Avril does not have her blade in hand when the scream rings out. Dean and Rebecca would know best: she does not and will not hesitate. But then, she had said before that she had an ominous feeling of sorts -- not the sense that something bad was awaiting them, but rather that something was amiss.

    She has stilled herself, gone as rigid and unmoving as a statue when the girl descends from above.

    "She is... a child?" Avril remarks, tilting her head to one side, as if she were attempting to parse this particular bit of information. "Yet, she is dressed as a warrior. This village..." Her gaze has turned off towards the village, visible from this point. There is a particular question Avril has, just lingering on the tip of her tongue. And if she is not stopped--

    Well, she may just ask it.

    The child-soldier has words for Riesenlied.

    "The Deceiving... Dragon? What is meant by such a title?"

    ...Isn't it obvious, Avril?

    Drawing back a step when Rebecca approaches her and Dean, Avril nods. "...Perhaps so. But..."

    That question she bears within her is just bursting to get out, judging by the way she looks from village to child and purses her lips. 

<Pose Tracker> Dean Stark has posed.

    Dean catches on to approximately 0% of Noeline's sarcasm. "Oh wow! A whole century? I didn't know you got that Medium so long ago!" He looks around again, then scratches his head. "Wait. Does that mean you've had it the whole time we've known you??" (Dean, you're realizing this NOW?) To Riesenlied, when she hopes that the people here *are* descendants, he grins. "I sure hope so! That'd be great!" he enthuses.
    
    But then they approach the village, and the people there seem to mostly (entirely) be wearing masks, and then... a kid leaps down out of nowhere, points a spear at them, and calls Riese a Deceiving Dragon?? Dean's first assumption is that this kid is trying to play make-believe with them, but then Lydia jumps to Riese's moral defense, and Noeline jumps to Riese's physical defense (albeit with nothing more deadly than a stick), and Eleanor and Yulie both protest that this is all one big misunderstanding, and Dean is left blinking rapidly.
    
    "I wasn't ready for this," he admits to Rebecca. She says in return she's just going to sit back and watch how this unfolds. Dean scratches his cheek. Then he looks at the little bird guardian. "I like your mask," he offers. Then, chiming in with Avril, he adds, "Can you put your spear down and tell us what's up with this Deceiving Dragon thing, though? Like, why d'you think Riese is whatever that is?"
    
    Honestly, Dean normally would have jumped up to 'battle' the fierce little warrior in a play-fight, assuming that this is just a young kid who's bored and trying to mess with these strangers to the village. But then Noeline beat him to it, and everybody else took them seriously... With all them beating him to the punch, what's there left but to ask, hey, what's up with you, kiddo?
    
    After Avril hangs back with Rebecca, though, Dean scratches his head and takes a step back too. Rebecca has a point: better not to overwhelm the kid. If they *are* serious, then they're pretty brave to try to take on a group this size all by themselves! 

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

    Eleanor leaps to the defense, and says that they come in peace; the small bird-masked girl bristles for a moment, exclaiming, "T-that is a lie! I have heard it spoken often, in our stories! She may be deceiving you even now!"

    But then Lydia throws her through the emotional equivalent of a wrestling manuever, as she first judges her target as nice, and then...

    ...

    ...

    "Bringing up birds is just... cheating! That's just cheating! And w-well, joke's on you too, Baskar girl, because..." she struts her lance. "I never eat my vegetables!! I put them on the side of my plate and sneak them to my pet!! So there!!!"

    She thinks this is an -incredible- comeback.

    Riesenlied doesn't really know what to make of this after her sense of fright fades down a bit; the 'Deceiver' moniker certainly unearths bad memories of Adlehyde, completely coincidentally, but...

    "I--I am certain it was for more than just mischief..." Riesenlied does have to pout to Noeline, even if she is still not sure how the... admittedly capricious Guardian works. But Noeline has chosen to face the child by-- playing along at her level!

    "S-so the Deceiver has a protector! Very well, I accept your challenge!"

    Just as she's about to leap to the attack once more, though, Avril asks a pertinent question -- what does the title mean? And then Dean metaphorically disarms her by just telling her... he likes her mask! This seems to get a reaction out of her, and he also asks... what's with the Deceiving Dragon thing?

    "Ah-ha!" she sounds... pleased at having a question she can answer, after being thoroughly out-Lydia-ed?

    "It is said in all our village folklore that... our holy Medium of Life was stolen a long, long time ago by a deceiver-dragon, who took the form of a small girl!" A pause. "Clearly, this deceiver-dragon also stole our holy Medium of Illusion, and is responsible for the strange things happening in our village!!"

    Riesenlied pauses, and pointedly stares down at her lap at that.

    Yulie pleads, however, as Eleanor does, that she's got the wrong idea. She clearly hesitates at this, because they're both really convincing, and starts to scuff her sandaled heels...

    "B-but I can't just..."

    "My, my... what is all this?"

    A massive bipedal bird proceeds up the path to where the small girl with the spear and the group are. The bird is extremely tall -- at least seven and a half feet -- and is dressed in slightly more regal robes, perhaps indicative of a tribe matron, and wears a stiff arching cap with the designs of Duras Drum and Odoryuk in the middle. She has a five-ringed staff she's using as a walking stick.

    From her appearance, she is clearly a Rito, if you're familiar with the species around Aquvy's Great Sea region.

    She scans the group... and her eyes rest on Noeline, as she sighs and looks to the child. "I let you off for five minutes and you go and cause trouble. Your imagination knows no bounds, Yaoyao!"

    A Galadian-style affectionate name for children. Do they all use Galadian names...? 'Yaoyao' pouts and exclaims, "A-yi, I'm not Yaoyao anymore! I'm a Keqili warrior, Xingyao!"

    "You can be Xingyao when you eat your vegetables." Glurk...

    The big, round bird turns towards the group and bows her head gently. "I apologise for that trouble. I am Niaoguang, matron of the Keqili, and..." Her beak curves a little, as if smirking as she looks to Noeline again.

    "I did -not- expect you to come back one hundred years later." 

<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.

Eleanor doesn't really have an answer for Riesenlied's deceitful potential at first. How can she demonstrate that Riesenlied is honest so easily? Frankly, this has put her on the back foot--Eleanor likes children, but she was expecting a more adult diplomatic situation, and this is simply not what she came prepared for. But the explanations come, and the others answer, and Lydia... is...

Well, it worked?

But when the Rito comes up, Eleanor recognizes what if not who she is, and looks--if anything--relieved. She puts a hand to her heart and bows lightly. "Matron," she says. "I apologize for the confusion. We only..."

She pauses. SHe looks between Yaoyao and Niaguang. "...And it seems I'm not the one to speak for us," she says wryly, gaining her composure again after seeing that smirk at Noeline. "Perhaps it's best if you explain, instead." 

<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.

Lydia flinches as if struck.

"You...don't eat your vegetables??" She Phoenix Wright style points back towards the child. "Not even potatoes? Or the corn??"

Maybe even Lydia has lost track of what's going on here. "Because potatoes and corn are super delicious even if they're not as healthy for you as carrots and peas--though I actually don't mind carrots and peas either but like broccoli and brussel spouts? They're gross, I can't stand them unless I cover the broccoli in cheese but that kind of defeats the point of the brocolli if you really think about it! But there's a lot of delicious veggies out there even if you avoid the string beans, which actually aren't that bad either, but I'm not actually super into tomatoes unless they're like tomato sauce!!!"

She listens to the village folklore.

"Oh." Lydia says upon hearing the story. "Well the truth's more complicated tha that I think and it was really depressing actually but mom's actually super nice so she can't be the bad guy."

THEN A RITO. A BIRD LADY.

"...!! What...!" She steps back. "Mom, is this why your powers of BIRDS are so mighty? Were you raised by birdfolk too???"

It seems to be someone who knows NOeline though.

"Yeah that's right, you better eat your veggies," Lydia remarks smugly. 

<Pose Tracker> Rebecca Streisand has posed.


"I'll let it slide this once Dean." Rebecca says, with a hint of mirth at Dean saying he wasn't prepared for a child ambush. Because who would be?!?

Though Avril's question makes her furrow her brow in wonder, a questioning look. What if there is something more to it than a kid being a kid?

Rebecca slowly turns her head, not saying anything.

On Veggies... "Why does she think we'd be impressed by that?" Rebecca says with two fingers to her forehead.

Though eventually, the myth is... told.

"Well... I respect your desire to protect your village... but Riesenlied just got here with us - and I'm sure she's never been here. You don't think she's responsible for things that happened at your village from halfway across the world right?"

As Rebecca tries to reason with her. A bipedal bird strides up.

Rebecca has notably caught glimpses of Rito around Aquvy, but doesn't know much more than that, just assuming they're some version of Beastfolk.

... she likes the feathers though...

A smile tugs on her lips as she deals with the situation.

"You'll get there."

Rebecca says with a fondness of someone who's working on growing up herself to someone just starting the journey.

"It's a pleasure to meet you ma'am. I'm Rebecca Streisand."

And nodding sidelong to Eleanor. "Right. It may help if you explain what these 'strange things' are that spooked her..."

<Pose Tracker> Yulie Ahtreide has posed.

Yulie listens as an explanation is offered for the tale of the deceiver-dragon - how she supposedly stole the holy Medium of Life... and possibly the Medium of Illusion, too. Yulie pauses for a moment... but thankfully, someone arrives to defuse the situation! A tall, regally dressed Rito... who apparently seems to know Noeline.

"It's no trouble, really... No one got hurt." Yulie replies with a shake of her head, and then follows Eleanor's example with a polite bow of her own.

"I'm, um... I'm Yulie Ahtreide. It's nice to meet you..." Yulie replies. She goes quiet, to listen with interest to what the others have to say. 

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

ile most of the others call for peace, Noeline's goal seems to be to respond to the young warrior's courage in kind - well, that and have a little fun with it as she goes. She's stepped in front of Riesenlied in a protective fashion, a stick in her hands as she stands proud. The way she sees it, she's not completely sure whether this young girl is playing make-believe or not - so whether it's playing along or recognizing her position, meeting her in the middle seems to be the best of both worlds.

    Rebecca's aside and Yulie's panic both earn a glance and a smirk from the Hyadean; her eyes flash once again with good humour as she stands her ground, chuckling towards Dean's realization. "That is the case, yes," she admits with a lopsided smile and a shrug of one shoulder. "I was not all that good at talking about myself back then, after all. My apologies."

    Thankfully, the tension seems to wind down; Noeline has the time to place a hand on Riesenlied's back in quiet support, even as she looks to the girl in front of them both with a faint smile. "... I can promise you that no dragon took the Medium of Illusion," she replies. "And if anyone were to help you with what's going on in the village, it would be Riese. She's a shaman, you know," she adds, lowering her voice as if she'd just imparted a deep secret.

    She finds herself straightening to attention when the Rito draws up to them, another wave of nostalgia flowing across her at the sight. Part of her should perhaps be surprised that the matron recognizes her - but that feeling is overtaken by one of homecoming, and she finds herself with a small, wry smile on her face. It wouldn't be the first time she's given someone too little credit.

    "To be fair, nor did I," she admits wryly as she bows in respect to the matron. "But we have been retracing my steps as of late, so perhaps it was just meant to be." She glances to Eleanor, and tilts her head. "... a century ago, a young Hyadean wanted to learn more about the Guardians. And one Guardian wished to entrust its power to her, hoping that such a shakeup would force a change in the world - or at least in the Hyadean perception of it. Except at the time she didn't know that, so she chose to flee instead," she chuckles, before turning more solemn.

    "I can say now that I carry it with pride," she adds to Niaoguang with a solemn nod, and then looks to Riesenlied. "And I have returned here alongside Riesenlied - alongside the Heritor of the Fereshte." 

<Pose Tracker> Dean Stark has posed.

    "Nothing to apologize about!" Dean reassures Noeline, beaming a smile at her. "Now I know something new about you!" That conversation will have to end, though, when the tiny warrior arrives.
    
    "What?! But veggies are delicious! Maybe you just haven't ever had 'em cooked right," Dean protests, which may well immediately lose him the points he bought by complimenting Yaoyao's mask. At least she does seem pleased by that, and even explains to him and Avril what's up with what she was going on about. "Oh, huh!" Dean considers this for a moment. "But... Riese isn't a little girl! See?" He points over at her. "She's an adult! She's just sitting in a wheelchair to help her get around!" Rebecca raises some very Rational and Logical points about why Riese couldn't be the Deceiver either. Dean, who's already forgotten that they're here *because* of a potential connection with this village to Riesenlied and Noeline, nods firmly. "Yeah!"
    
    But then there is a newcomer! A bird lady?? Dean's eyes widen. He grins at Lydia wondering about how this might have affected Riesenlied's BIRD POWERS, then adds, "Hi! I'm Dean! Dean Stark! It's nice meeting you, ma'am! And if there's anything strange or bad going on with your village, we'd be happy to help you figure it out what it is and solve it!"
    
    Beyond that, he lets Noeline handle this. After all, it looks like Niaoguang is here for her. Maybe? Actually, he's not sure. He does shoot Avril a curious glance, wondering if maybe she can sense anything further now that this new arrival is here. 

<Pose Tracker> Venetia Vuong has posed.

APPROACHING FROM THE BOAT --

Is Elly van Houten, who got elected Boat Captain due to her extended tertiary skill exposure from time on the Thames and fishing and in general being a nautical Nina.

Elly has a straw hat on against the outdoors sun, but is not in great haste. She didn't take long enough to have cast her line (though perhaps she secretly threw out a crabbing cage) and she shades her eyes - the towering bird-woman is easy to spot as well as not being quite familiar, even at this range.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

    Niaoguang's eyes cast over Eleanor for a moment, as if something piques her interest. Then, there's a faint, hearty laugh. "Oh, it is no problem at all. Nobody was hurt, it seems..."

    Xingyao steams a little, thrown off by the speed of Lydia's rant about potatoes and corn with the kind of look of someone who maybe hasn't heard of half these vegetables, along with Dean's insistence. "I--I haven't even heard of half those foods...! But-- but, you can be sure I'll leave them out too! I'm gonna be Xingyao, Veggie Disliker!"

    Oh, doubling down, it seems. Still, perhaps mask-loving merits are stronger than veggie lover demerits?

    Riesenlied looks embarrassed, stammering, "T-there were a few Rito back in the Fereshte, true, but..." she looks towards Niaoguang. "I did not know if..."

    Rebecca and Dean employ logic -- which seems to make Xingyao tilt her head. "W-well, I don't know. Dragons are... super-powerful and can do all kinds of things, right? Like... grow tall or old or young as they want! And get other people to do things for them!" ... that seems to have been the extent of her reasoning. "Also, she has the scales and horns and such!"

    Yulie and Rebecca introduce themselves, and Niaoguang nods in turn. "Ah, what lovely names. Are you all from abroad, if I had to guess? Maybe as far as Ignas. Ho ho, these old feathers haven't seen far shores in quite a while..."

    Noeline supports Riesenlied, as she finds herself a little tongue-twisted; but then she reveals the truth of the Medium of Illusion. And points out that she is a shaman--

    "Ehhh?! Her?!" Yaoyao exclaims in disbelief. "And-- you as well?! Wait, that means both Mediums...?!"

    The Rito sighs gently as she pats her little child on the head. "I was young then, and yet you are not a day older. I was wondering what this strange young woman poking around our village and temple was up to...! And, when I later came to investigate, there was the remnant of an explosion, and our Medium was gone."

    Niaoguang puffs up with a slightly odd-sounding croon of laughter. "Too proud to come for help even when injured. But--" A sudden pause. "The Heritor, you say..."

    A pause. Riesenlied takes a moment to wave Elly towards them, looking a bit relieved. "Oh, Elly! We are all right. Thank you for tending to the boat..." even if she doesn't know that SECRET ILLICIT FISHING ACTIVITIES are happening. Gotta get that 100 percent fishopedia completion, you know.

    "Still, this is not the most pleasant place to chat. If you are here regarding the disturbances..." Niaoguang looks to the far distance, where there is a temple partially hidden in the forests. "I can at least treat you to some tea."

    It's not a far walk -- down the hill, where some of the masked villagers look on curiously (but with significantly less hostility than Xingyao); it seems that the masks have some kind of social role, if one were to guess. The ones manning the stalls have yellow cat-like masks; those carrying plowshares have long, plant-like ones.

    Eventually, she stops at the largest yurt -- clearly her home. There's a simple stove in the centre, as well as various kinds of dried fruits and fish-nibbles in wicker baskets around it; she arrives at the back where there's a big... nest for herself, and sits on it.

    "Ah, it has been a while since we had visitors...." 

<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

    And it's into this particular moment that Avril asks the question she's been (just barely) holding back:

    "...Are there no other warriors among your people?"

    So close, and yet, so far.

    Perhaps if this were not already a village with (at least some) bird-folk in it, here is where a crow would caw.

    But her earlier question had hit closer to the real issue at stake, and it's to this, that the child-warrior answers!

    "...I see," Avril says, soberly as ever. One hand rests on her cheek, as if she were struck somewhere between mulling over the situation and taken in some mild awe at the story of it. "What strange happenings might those be?"

    She hasn't... actually spoken to Riesenlied not being (at least partially) involved in this particular arc of history, though...

    But what's this -- here comes another clear resident of the village. She is a Rito by the look of her, and her approach earns her all of Avril's attention.

    "One hundred... years ago?"

    Earns it for a little while, at least. Avril turns her head to regard Noeline, as if to silently also ask, 'what did you do?'. In this case perhaps she has no better sense of the matter than Dean.

    But it's Rebecca's practical politeness that prompts Avril to then instead of asking such things out loud (awkward) to bow and similarly introduce herself. "I am Avril Vent Fleur. It is good to meet you." 

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

    Niaoguang's eyes cast over Eleanor for a moment, as if something piques her interest. Then, there's a faint, hearty laugh. "Oh, it is no problem at all. Nobody was hurt, it seems..."

    Xingyao steams a little, thrown off by the speed of Lydia's rant about potatoes and corn with the kind of look of someone who maybe hasn't heard of half these vegetables, along with Dean's insistence. "I--I haven't even heard of half those foods...! But-- but, you can be sure I'll leave them out too! I'm gonna be Xingyao, Veggie Disliker!"

    Oh, doubling down, it seems. Still, perhaps mask-loving merits are stronger than veggie lover demerits?

    Riesenlied looks embarrassed, stammering, "T-there were a few Rito back in the Fereshte, true, but..." she looks towards Niaoguang. "I did not know if..."

    Rebecca and Dean employ logic -- which seems to make Xingyao tilt her head. "W-well, I don't know. Dragons are... super-powerful and can do all kinds of things, right? Like... grow tall or old or young as they want! And get other people to do things for them!" ... that seems to have been the extent of her reasoning. "Also, she has the scales and horns and such!"

    The Drifters introduces themselves, and Niaoguang nods in turn. "Ah, what lovely names. Are you all from abroad, if I had to guess? Maybe as far as Ignas? Ho ho, these old feathers haven't seen far shores in quite a while..."

    Noeline supports Riesenlied, as she finds herself a little tongue-twisted; but then she reveals the truth of the Medium of Illusion. And points out that she is a shaman--

    "Ehhh?! Her?!" Yaoyao exclaims in disbelief. "And-- you as well?! Wait, that means both Mediums...?!"

    Avril asks if there are no other warriors in the tribe. "Nope, there are others, just... they're busy!" Xingyao answers. "B-but, there are suspicious people lurking around, I know it!"

    The Rito sighs gently as she pats her little child on the head, and she nods at Avril. "Indeed. I was young then, and yet you are not a day older... Noeline. I was wondering what this strange young woman poking around our village and temple was up to...! And, when I later came to investigate, there was the remnant of an explosion, and our Medium was gone."

    Niaoguang puffs up with a slightly odd-sounding croon of laughter. "Too proud to come for help even when injured. But--" A sudden pause. "The Heritor, you say..."

    A pause. Riesenlied takes a moment to wave Elly towards them, looking a bit relieved. "Oh, Elly! We are all right. Thank you for tending to the boat..." even if she doesn't know that SECRET ILLICIT FISHING ACTIVITIES are happening. Gotta get that 100 percent fishopedia completion, you know.

    "Still, this is not the most pleasant place to chat. If you are here regarding the disturbances..." Niaoguang looks to the far distance, where there is a temple partially hidden in the forests. "I can at least treat you to some tea."

    It's not a far walk -- down the hill, where some of the masked villagers look on curiously (but with significantly less hostility than Xingyao); it seems that the masks have some kind of social role, if one were to guess. The ones manning the stalls have yellow cat-like masks; those carrying plowshares have long, plant-like ones.

    Eventually, she stops at the largest yurt -- clearly her home. There's a simple stove in the centre, as well as various kinds of dried fruits and fish-nibbles in wicker baskets around it; she arrives at the back where there's a big... nest for herself, and sits on it.

    "Ah, it has been a while since we had visitors...." 

<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.

"Yes, it seems not," Eleanor replies with some relief. "My name is Eleanor Klein." She does not specify her title; if it's relevant here at all, Niaoguang will recognizer her name, and if it isn't, it isn't. She probably had a lot of fun talking nautical stuff with Elly on the way over.

But this explanation... Eleanor learns things about Noeline!! She looks thoughtfully at her. Then she looks to Niaoguang. "I see..."

She's a little surprised at how friendly things are, in that case. But she follows along, smiling at villagers who look at her, looking with interest at the masks, and ventually following into Niaoguang's home.

"This is lovely," she says. "Thank you for inviting us into your home." 

<Pose Tracker> Yulie Ahtreide has posed.

Yulie listens as Noeline explains her own part in the history of this village, and as Niaoguang explains her side of it. Yulie nods quietly, and as she asks where she's from, Yulie hesitates a little.

"I'm from Celesti, but..." She's not sure how to finish that sentence, but if Niaoguang knows of mainland's history at all, she can probably understand why.

"I'm sure we'd all like to help, if we can, and... tea sounds good." Yulie replies, quietly following her as she leads them to her home.

"Yes, thank you..." Yulie agrees with a nod. 

<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.

"Oh no..." Lydia says. "...This backfired...! Veggies are good for you! It helps you become a strong warrior! Oh no, oh no...!"

THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION??

"W-wait someone really did steal it?" She pauses. "And they blew something up???"

She frowns. "...But what if ...i t was all an illusion?" More frowning. "...No, but...that doesn't..."

She exhales and says, "Yeah..! Tea is good. Tea.."

Her eyes narrow. "With veggies."

She will head along the group for now but she does glance to Rebecca again to say, "So uh."

......

"You look...coooool? What's...up?"

The last time they met it was like so many tears. 

<Pose Tracker> Dean Stark has posed.

    "Oh, hey Elly!" Dean calls, waving to the redhead as she arrives a bit late, having had to take care of the boat.
    
    Yaoyao, or Xingyao, declares that she's gonna hate ALL veggies, no matter what. "Oh no, oh no!" Dean frets along with Lydia. "They really are tasty! I promise!! W-we can cook some for you and you'll see!"
    
    There's a lot of history going on in this place. Dean frowns, unsure of how to take all of that. It explains how Yaoyao acted, but... "There's lots of dragons in the world! I've met a bunch of dragons before. Including a big huge metal one named Lombardia! She was THIIIIIS big!" Dean stretches his legs and arms as far as they can go, then waves them to indicate that Lombardia's even *bigger* than that. "But she was good! She helped us all out a lot! So she wouldn't be the Deceiver Dragon, either!"
    
    ...Dean is possibly wandering well away from the point he was trying to make. But it's fine. There is *tea* to be had, an offer he perks at. "Ooh, really? Thanks!"
    
    As the group follows Niaoguang to her yurt, Dean looks over at Rebecca and Avril. It *would* be good to know what's going on... Hopefully they'll find out over that tea. 

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

    "I haven't exactly kept it secret since," Noeline chuckles towards Dean, "But I do like to think that is a bit of an indicator as to how far I've come to terms with it all." She cannot even bring herself to be surprised at Elly being on the boat. Honestly, the more surprising thing is that she stepped off of it. Who knew someone from Solaris would take so well to being on water?

    Part of her silently compares the Rito matron to the pale-haired girl now staring at her in reproach, and it takes Noeline a moment to realize that Avril carries a very similar sort of presence, the impulse to stand up straight pulsing at the back of her mind. She would make a truly frightening teacher, the Hyadean suddenly understands, and her ability to corral Dean and Rebecca is suddenly a lot more understandable. Still, she's explained roughly what she did a hundred years ago, and the matron has filled in some of the rest, so she can duck that gaze. For the time being.

    "More like a Veggie Disaster," quips Noeline without a single scrap of thought to it, having learnt that one of the most fun ways to deal with kids is just to turn her brain off as she sticks her tongue out at Xingyao.

    Once upon a time she might have played off the matron's comments but the Noeline of today softens her smile instead, even if she can't resist a chuckle at Lydia's panic. "There certainly was an explosion," she confirms. "It was Duras Drum's way of forcing me to take the Medium by leaving it - rather painfully - embedded inside of me. As to whether that counts as 'stealing it'-- well, it was part of the Guardian's plan, after all."

    "... not just proud. I was also very scared as well," she admits a little primly to the matron. "But rest assured that I certainly feel a good bit older. Not to mention a good bit wiser, as well." They start to head into the village, and Noeline takes another moment to maintain contact with Riesenlied, unable to resist glancing around and drawing comparisons to what she's seen of the Fereshte culture.

    She looks to her partner for a moment for confirmation, then nods back up. "We originally came to learn more about the Fereshte and Odoryuk - but if there is a disturbance nearby, I dare say we might be able to help, and certainly are willing to try." 

<Pose Tracker> Rebecca Streisand has posed.


Dean protests Xingyao not eating her vegetables as she adds in, "Can confirm. Dean may have his faults, but he's never been a picky eater - or one to dump his veggies." She says with a touch of wryness. "I wouldn't mind helping him prepare them for you just right..."

Rebecca grins a little at Xingyao, "Right. I understand you're the dragon expert-" Rebecca holds up a finger, "-but maybe talk to her first, before assuming she's some deceiver? You can't just judge her intent by how she looks. You want to be a wise warrior protecting your village right? That's how you get there."

Rebecca too opens a leather pouch, revealing her mediums, as if to show the kid without actually calling herself a shaman.

Rebecca gives Avril a sidelong look at her question. A curious look. As if she's trying to figure out if it's a sad question that assumes tragedy in her thoughts, or if it's more benign. She doesn't ask right now, in front of people they're trying to be diplomatic with but...

Still, the kid answers, and Rebecca breathes a sigh of relief that there wasn't some sad answer to that question.

Instead giving Noeline and the Rito a curious look as she too wonders what happened a century ago.

Then tea is offered.

"We'd appreciate your hospitality ma'am. Been quite a voyage getting here."

On the way to the yurt though...

Rebecca may whisper to Avril on the way, "Maybe I really was worried about nothing." She has a small smile, "If the worst we have to suffer from the locals is 'Yaoyao' giving us the fourth degree."

Lydia addresses her. Rebecca stares at Lydia. And stares. Then walks up to her. "Lydie..."

Oh no here it comes!?! Maybe???

And then she smiles, "I'm glad you're hanging in there."

Oh false alarm?

"I was worried you know? But if you're here with us, it means that it can't be all bad? Come on - we'll talk later, rude to keep our host waiting."

<Pose Tracker> Venetia Vuong has posed.

Elly gets near enough to speak without hollering like she was raised by bearcows in a shouting factory. "Oh, it's no trouble at all. Good afternoon, ma'am," Elly says to their host, dipping into a curtsey before moving along--

Elly turns her gaze round at all of the masked faces.

Her lips purse for a moment.

But then another question comes up. Elly nods somewhat, and she supplements what Sean is saying-- "Have you seen whales? There's a creature on Lunar easily twenty times the size of a whale," Elly says to Xingyao. "And I saw Lombardia *fight* that creature and she *won,* too."

ish

Tea sounds awesome to her as she steps further forwards. Mediums are coming up, which makes Elly feel some vague guilt over all the Mediums she's lost.

FLASH TO A LOCKER ON THE TZADIEL, SOLARIS BATTLESHIP

A yellow tape strip over Elly's personal effects locker. And within it...?

HERE THOUGH

Elly asks Eleanor, quietly, "Is there something wrong with vegetables? I was sensing an anti-vegetable rhetorical moment... did I just miss part of the conversation? Vegetables are our friends..."

<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

    "And so the burden falls to you, I see," is Avril's sober-spoken response to the Keqili child. "It is quite brave of you to come here to meet us, not knowing our intentions." It may be hard to tell for certain if Avril is putting one over on the spear-wielding child or if she really means that...

    (Odds are pretty solid that she really means it.)

    (With such a sober display, even Rebecca have a hard time getting to the heart of the matter.)

    "Yes, she had been quite strong, had she not?" Avril remarks, on the subject of Lombardia. "There are many creatures known as dragons. But I do not think that they are given to theft." This may be the first remark she has made directly regarding Riesenlied's 'guilt' in the matter.

    "I see," Avril replies. "I had not known that the Rito were so long-lived." In a sense, this sort of direct statement could be considered a little rude.

    "We are," Avril says, as if that had been all of what had led them here in the first place. "Please, if you could lead the way?"

    The village isn't far. And it seems the tradition of wearing masks is shared by many in the village, a thing that she notes as they pass on through.

    "Maybe so," she replies to Rebecca in a hushed voice. "Still, something feels amiss..."

    It's like misplacing a sometimes-worn ring, the sense that something that was at least at times desired has eluded and continues to elude you, haunting you in those odd moments when nothing else occupies the mind.

    "Are there many, that live in these parts?" is what Avril says, once they are at her home. "I noticed that you have a small market. Is it for the sake of those in this village alone?" 

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

    "Oho. Klein, Klein... we had a shipment from Klein two months ago, if that is indeed one and the same Klein. Then I am speaking to mainland nobility?" Niaoguang chuckles.

    Yulie shares her story -- that she is from Celesti. That seems to get the bird to tuck her head a little. "Oh dear... well, you can rest easy while you are here, young one." The tea is a herbal blend, perhaps not like mainstream kinds of tea; it's obviously dried and hand-picked from their own back yards.

    There's a snort and a chuckle at Avril, as she says she didn't know the Rito were so long-lived. "My, my! I am celebrating my dusk years well, I would say." Avril also asks whether many live in these parts.

    Xingyao's the one to answer that -- "Sometimes, people in clothes like yours come from over the ocean come to trade. It's not often, though, and they've become rarer and rarer over time."

    Xingyao hops up and down and pouts at Lydia and Dean. "I'll become a strong warrior by eating meat! D-don't think you can win me over just with veggies...!" ... it's rather clear from her tone that she's tempted, though. Just the promise of the story of potatoes and corn...

    Dean regales her with the further story of dragons, however. A dragon that big? "O-oh, hmm, if Dragons can grow that big, then this Riesenlied is more of a... dragon, isn't she," as if the lowercase-d is extremely palpable. It's clear that Xingyao isn't very impressed about her imagined villain anymore...

    Though, at the very least, Rebecca comes to the rescue as she lectures that Yaoyao shouldn't just assume based on looks. "U-um, wise warrior... well, I'm still working on the strong part, so the wise part... ... being wise doesn't involve veggies, does it?"

    The little girl does look terribly endeared by Elly's story, though. "Y-yeah, I've seen a picture book with a whale... what?! Twenty times as big...!? There's such big creatures in the world...!" A pause, as she looks to Riesenlied again, then to Elly. "Can she fight a giant whale and win?"

    Embarrassed and definitely not answering the question of whether she can wrestle Sin and win, Riesenlied does take a moment, along with Noeline, to take stock of the village -- something about it is indeed very familiar to the Fereshte, albeit removed by a century. She feels bad that that's what's on her mind, given the disturbance, but...

    She has a very gentle chuckle as she says, "You would not want to make Avril upset, no..." She listens to Noeline recounting the tale to Lydia, and -- bites her lip. "Fortunately, she is all right now... really, coming to such danger so far away..."

    Noeline tells her she was scared -- and is now wiser and older, in turn. She also mentions Odoryuk and the Fereshte.

    "One of the reasons we left the Fereshte was our disagreement with the title of 'Heritor' -- and the practice that comes with it, to seal that rift in Elru... If she bears the title, then..." Niaoguang pauses. "Are... you prepared to part ways with her, when she fulfills her duty, Noeline?"

    Riesenlied looks a little alarmed, averting her eyes and biting her lip. Niaoguang's line is delivered with venom -- it's mostly as if she's stating a fact. Then, since she knows several people are rightly waiting on more pressing matters, she speaks on the disturbance:

    "Several weeks ago, one of our scouts was wounded, ambushed by some intruder they could not identify -- someone had cut a path through to our Forest Temple, where we used to house our Mediums and train our young... but no longer."

    She pauses, lifting her head up. "Now, the Forest Temple is a dangerous place, full of lingering memories of the departed. ... I do not know who these people are, or what their designs are, but I can plain sense the disturbance... we do not have a strong force of warriors, so we would have had to ask for outside help..."

    Perhaps, in this context, what Xingyao is so enamored with makes more sense.

    A pause. "Perhaps it is a twist of fate indeed that you came here." 

<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.

"The same!" Eleanor confirms, and that she is mainland nobility. "It is an honor to be welcomed, and to meet someone of your clear experience." Yulie... Aw. Eleanor listens to the others, too, and perhaps Xingyao is tempted... Eleanor wonders about the spear she wields; the martial techniques of this place must be unique, too. But that's not really her field, so she doesn't think on it too long. Just a stray idea...

Eleanor looks between the elder and Riesenlied as they discuss Riesenlied's duty. She is quiet, at that. Thoughtful. But she doesn't know the story...

The disturbance she can more easily understand. "I see..." The Forest Temple, and intruders.

"Perhaps it would be a good way to repay your hospitality if you would allow us to investigate this Temple," Eleanor suggests, seeing what Niaoguang seems to have in mind. "I myself am a trained Crest Sorceress, and all of us have qualifications that would help--Miss Riesenlied is adept with spiritual difficulties I believe, in addition to the warriors of our party." 

<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.

"...I feel like there should've been an easier way to make that happen." Lydia says, regarding Duras's strategy here. Maybe she didn't really know NOELINE back then, but NOELINE never really seemed to be the stubborn sort regarding something like that...

But she supposes Guardians can be kinda dumb sometimes in how they handle things too. Unless you're Rigdobrite, who is the coolest Guardian ever. Sorry other Guardians.

"Well, I guess I'm not gonna complain too much because in the end it worked out and if you change the past, who knows what'll happen?!"

"Well... I mean it's important to eat meat too, I mean. I love meats too. I just...also need to eat veggies. Or I grow weak and frail!!" Or she would if she wasn't mostly composed of tiny robots now but that's not really changing the point here since Xingyao, presumably, is NOT composed of tiny robots.

"Butter on corn and potatoes is like a triple surplus bonus in making it taste super delicious and good." Lydia says. "So..."

She nods firmly. "Don't give up on them...! If you've got any corn around I'll show you how delicious it is by eating it first and enjoying it so you know how yummy it is!"

She looks to Dean fo a moment.

...

...

"Yeah! Dean will cook us a veggie meal and you can try it out and you'll see you like it. And if you don't... If you really don't..."

"There's a lot of veggie options." She adds. 

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

    Noeline's expression turns a little flat as Riesenlied gets called a lowercase dragon, and there's a little spike of protectiveness that she silently acts on by drawing a little closer to her partner and letting out a puff of air. She's seen, firsthand, what Riesenlied can do to kids. It won't be too long before this girl has been scooped up and added to the family, she's sure. "She's already faced it down and lived to tell the tale," she pouts as far as Sin is concerned.

    "Yes, well, when I asked he just laughed," she sighs towrds Lydia. "I do not think 'easy' was a concern." She meets Riesenlied's reply with another warm smile. "I was not aware, at the time, that anyone was watching out for me quite so thoroughly," she points out in return, laughter in her voice. "If I had been, I'm sure things would have gone quite differently."

    The matron cuts through her mirth with a quiet solemnity. Noeline doesn't exactly startle, but she does still her motion, her hand resting on one of Riesenlied's arms and not moving for a very long moment. Her eyes slip closed as she automatically reaches for her link to Riesenlied, feeling for it almost automatically as she marshals her thoughts together.

    "... I would like to believe that we can find a different way to close the rift - to change the meaning of 'Heritor' to something a little more hopeful. Once upon a time, we thought that peace with the Guardians would be impossible for our kind. With enough time and understanding, that changed. Perhaps this can, too," she adds, letting out a slow breath. It isn't exactly an answer to the matron's exact question, and she knows it. "Fortunately, for the two of us, time is something we have a little more of than others."

    She leaves it at that for the time being. Everything else - the instability of the Medium and the Ley following Alhazred's meddling, Nasrin's past, how to better form a connection to Odoryuk - that can come later, and might even be better done after they've had the opportunity to help the tribe.

    Instead, she focuses on more pressing news. "... they are still there?" she wonders, her brow furrowing as she turns that thought over. Whether the spirits are reacting to their presence alone, or something they're doing - well, either way, it doesn't sound terribly good. "I would certainly not mind going and turfing them out of there. My shortlist for who might be the sort to meddle with such things is not terribly long." 

<Pose Tracker> Dean Stark has posed.

    When Rebecca backs Dean up on the matter of veggies, Dean nods firmly and stands up straight. "That's right!" ...and then double-takes at her and Lydia. "Wait, *I'll* cook them?! But I'm not a good cook! I was figuring Rebecca'd do it!" Which is not a great assumption to make, all considered, and might mean he'll get *double* roped into doing the cooking.
    
    Avril tells Xingyao that it's quite brave of her to come out to meet the group. Dean perks and nods to her. "I was thinking that too, earlier!" He looks at the child warrior and adds, "You're all by yourself but you faced all of us anyway! That's really brave!"
    
    He scratches his cheek, non-plussed, when telling Xingyao about dragons has the effect of her thinking Riesenlied is weak and lame. That's... not quite what he was going for, but as long as he doesn't think Riese is the enemy... He glances over at her and Noeline and gives them an apologetic shrug.
    
    Niaoguang tells everyone about the attacks on their scouts, on mysterious people taking over the Forest Temple. "That's terrible! Whoever those people are, we gotta stop them!" He turns the others, the look in his blue eyes fierce. "Right, guys?!" He turns back to Niaoguang and gives her a bright, encouraging smile and a nod. "Don't worry! We're all really strong here! We'll take care of those jerks messing up your temple in no time!" 

<Pose Tracker> Venetia Vuong has posed.

Elly answers the small girl--

"No,"

but that's because Elly is smiling. "Riesenlied would never fight an enormous whale like that. She would make it her friend, no matter how hard it would be."

There is a topic of Heritor in the air and Elly's eyes flick towards the older woman. That older woman speaks in an outline that is somehow suggestive to Elly. Something about it... but there's a nearer space, something more familiar, something specific. Elly straightens up at the question. Her hands clasp for a moment.

"I'd be glad to do what I can to help," Elly says, about the temple, before nodding in agreement with Lydia, if a little gingerly. "You want to eat plants for the sake of the minerals and vitamins inside of them. They help to keep your body healthy... humans of all kinds are meant to eat a diet rich in a range of things." (What the hell is a vitamin? Probably some made up thing Solaris feeds you to keep you from developing your real Saiyan powers.)

"... I can stir fry something but I'm hardly an expert," Elly then offers, on the topic of vegetables, which is more comfortable than the possibility of sacrifice.

She does smile at Dean's assertion. "Definitely."

<Pose Tracker> Yulie Ahtreide has posed.

Yulie accepts a cup of tea and takes a moment to settle in.

"Thank you." She replies with a polite nod and takes a sip of the tea... and brightens up a little. It's different from what she's used to, certainly, but not in a bad way. "This is... really good."

She drinks her tea, listening as the others banter with Xingyao. It puts a smile on her face.

"Um... I'm a fairly good cook. I'd be glad too help, too... I cook for my friends all the time..." Yulie offers. And when Dean encourages Xingyao, Yulie nods, too.

"Yes, it was very brave... But, um... please be a little more careful. That could have been very dangerous..." Yulie replies. "If you see someone suspicious, you should probably go tell Miss Niaoguang..."

She doesn't mean to scold her... but she's glad that it was just them instead of anyone else. ...And she becomes even more sure of this as Niaoguang tells her story of intruders.

"Oh no, that's awful... um, is the scout alright now?" Yulie asks, concerned. She listens, then, and nods. "Um... I have some experience with lingering spirits, too. I can probably help there..."

She looks around at the others.

"It looks like... we all want to help, in some capacity." She says. 

<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

    "You were as well, Dean?" It's not quite a smile on her face. But give it time, a little nurturing -- there! It's the seed that would become a smile. "I am certain when you are grown you will make a fearsome guardian," she tells Xingyao.

     "I see. Then, I hope that you continue to enjoy good health, Niaoguang."

    It's the child who answers the question she'd posed, however. "...But there are no other villages about this area?" Avril asks, tilting her head to one side inquisitively. "It did not seem as if it were as large a market as some other places which I have visited," she continues, reflecting on her travels across two entire worlds. "Still, it does seem odd. Why is that others have ceased to come?"

    She'll get her answer, perhaps after a fashion. But it won't come immediately.

    Elly remarks that Riesenlied would not fight the 'whale' as much as make it her friend and here, the Ice Queen's facade cannot entirely hold. The thought of Riesenlied befriending Sin prompts her to smile, though she endeavors to hide it behind a hand.

    And here, at last, there comes the answer:

    "...Thieves?" She is simply aghast, her hand raised to cover her parted lips. "And, in a Guardian temple, no less? How horrible..." Shock soon trades dance partners with anger: her hand falls away after a moment more and, lips pressing thin, the young lady takes on a more stony countenance.

    "Then we shall go. Whatever lies in the heart of the Temple," and she glances about the lot of them -- Riesenlied, Noeline, Dean, Lydia -- with connections to the Guardians, and turns back to Niaoguang, a hand over her heart. "This I promise."

    As her friends know, she does not make -- or break -- a promise lightly. 

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

    "My! I may like to discuss some trade sometime, but now is not the time..." Niaoguang sounds rather pleased at Eleanor's greeting, laughing gently. She knows enough that the nobility abroad have quite the culture of etiquette, and though the Keqili are clearly more laid-back, it's still pleasing nonetheless...

    "... they do work in mysterious ways sometimes, but I would not think Odoryuk as capricious," Riesenlied muses to Lydia, since on her own end... the Medium of Life did disappear and trigger everything going wrong in her life -- only to reappear at a critical moment and now... rest in herself.

    ... she's still not sure what to make of it. Like an invisible string is still playing at it. She glances to Avril for a moment, thinking of how the Originals have become a part of her life since the day she met her...

    Xingyao is being besieged on her non-veggie interests on three sides. Butter? Corn? Potatoes?? Cheese??? MINERAL? VITAMIN???? You could very much see her eyes swirling, like some culinary gate of heaven is being opened before her very eyes.

    "Y-you're making eating sound so good... FINE! I will-- I will try eating minerals!" That's crossing over to Goron talk!

    Though Yaoyao does puff up a little when Avril and Dean both call her brave. "Eheheh...." it seems like flattery will get you everywhere with this little one. "J-just doing my job as--"

    Yulie tells her it could've been quite dangerous, however, which gets her to puff up even more. "I--I could've handled it, you know..." She also asks if the scout's all right. Niaoguang has a quiet nod. "We had to ferry them to the mainland, given our lack of proper medical facilities, but I hear they will be all right..."

    Riesenlied flushes as Elly says that she would instead befriend an enormous whale. She looks down for a moment. "... I do wonder, if that would work. The question of 'how' still lingers, after all..."

    It is Noeline that catches her attention, as Riesenlied bites her lip once more and presses back against Noeline's hand, their link intermingling with one another.

    Then, she speaks hopeful words -- that peace with the Guardians was once impossible for the Hyadeans, and perhaps this one can be resolved differently too...

    "Hoo... yes, I see it in your eyes now. That resolve that was not there before," Niaoguang chuckles. "Yes, perhaps this is the best way. Sometimes, an old tradition lingers for so long we do not understand it anymore..."

    "Very well," Niaoguang speaks up. "You can find the path to the Temple at the north end of the village. The path is perilous, but I am certain you can all manage it. Stay safe, and... thank you."

    The Rito bows her head once more.

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