Legend of Ransera

Posted: **Sun Jul 11, 2021 10:59 pm**

Temple of the Fallen Skies
41 Searing 121

Kneeling on a zabuton before the stretched canvas, Kala meditated. The relic of Saedene hung from her wrist, and the loose sleeves of her robe were carefully tucked back so they did not get in the way of her practice. The glyph she inscribed was not hers, not a new one. In fact, it was quite ancient, something she had memorized in order to meditate in this manner. Her muscles held the memory and they danced, a trio between her, the brush, and the canvas.

Paths converged, fed into a continuum. An elegant vortex encased it all, which would prevent the energy from dispersing in any but the manner it ought to do. This was not the first prayer flag she had painted today, nor would it be her last. At a regular interval, an acolyte would arrive with a newly stretched canvas and her pattern would repeat. The glyph would be awoken with her own aether, the rest of the flag decorated with sutras. They would be strung up when appropriate for the prayers of monks or those who braved the rarefied airs of the Cloudhaven District to come here. The prayer flag would not carry a prayer to the Gods, but it would accept the aether of those chanting and praying, eventually to be whipped away by the wind, spreading their blessings of compassion, peace, strength, and wisdom throughout the lands.

Ransera would never cease to need such blessings, and so they would never cease to make them.

Hers was a small part of this process, but she was happy to have her skills put to good use. Occasionally, she would intone a mantra to Saedene, who had appeared to her and to her brother here at this very temple when they honored their father's spirit. Occasionally, she would imagine she was one of these prayer flags as she passed her aether through the ink and fabric, bringing it to life. She might never fly, but a part of her would. She might not be one of the world's airborne guardians, but her small blessings might ride the winds and offer some small service to the land and the people.

She brought her frustrations up here. It was easier to let them go and let them fly away to be dispersed in the mountain air and thin, bright sunlight. When she was down below, her one true anger could well up within her. It still seemed a divine injustice that her twin should have wings and not her. It would be one thing if the blessing were random down the bloodlines of the Avialae, but for a Goddess to deny this blessing to her daughters felt wrong in a way she could not fathom nor set aside. At times, she felt righteous indignation, others a wistful sadness. Sometimes, when she meditated upon it, she could almost remember the warm sea of the womb, imagining that she and her twin would one day fly together only to be born screaming at the wrong done to her.

Still other times, she was afraid there was something unworthy about her that kept her from the Goddess' graces. She would have forsaken her sex for wings. They seemed a more intrinsic part of how she saw herself than the rest of her body.

In this meditation, at least, she found peace. She would not begin the scrivening until she found that core of peace, lest her negativity seep into the work and corrupt the blessings it would contain. She finished. She observed her work from a place of non-attachment, her eyes tracing the lines to ensure the aether would flow as the ancient scrivener had intended. It was done. She made the appropriate mudras, genuflected, and praised the Crystal lady as she let her aether awaken her work.

"I prostrate to the Liberator, Mother of all the Victorious Ones." She spoke in a language no longer used except for such things, knowing that it meant far more than the many ways she had read it translated over the years. She made the next set of mudras, genuflected, and spoke the mantra. Again. Again. Again. She didn't seek to curry favor with Those Above, but to find that liminal space where she was more than what she seemed to the naked eye. Errant thoughts went through her mind, but she did not attach to them. She ought to beg for the rune of duru dwimor, to open the door within herself that would let her spirit fly faster than any of her brethren. It must have been lost for a reason.

Eventually, an acolyte returned, swapping out canvases, and Kala began again, dipping her brush precisely into the ink and then boldly drawing the first path.

"The horizontal is the line of reason, the vertical is the line of prayer," she murmured. It had not been a mantra when she had first heard it from a painter describing compositional elements, but it had apparently become one today. Perhaps her mind was trying to tell her something about scrivening that she didn't yet understand completely. Perhaps there was a glyph she could create that would send her prayer directly to the Aetherium. But would such a thing be considered hubris or the sort of energy that the Goddess would reward?

This convergence for one element, another for the next, and down the line. There was a geometric pattern underlying everything even though it looked entirely organic in its fullness. It was what many scriveners called a "perfect glyph." It was the simplest, most economical use of space and wasted virtually nothing of the aether that went into it. She had no idea whether it actually worked, whether the wind carried the communal energy of the blessings and caused any actual benefit to the energetic fabric of the world, but she had faith that it did. And if, someday, the Goddess came down from on high and told her in no uncertain terms that it did nothing, she would not count her time and effort a waste by anymeans.

Studying so perfect a glyph helped her better understand the art of scrivening, for it was as much art as science, and intuition was fed by more context. It helped her quiet her mind and center herself, as well as to step outside herself and think about other people, which was the true noblesse oblige, or so House Leukos taught.

She didn't know whether the seers of House Ahtivan had been correct when they called her and her brother a miracle. Certainly, the live and healthy birth of Avialae twins was rarer than in other species. That they were born already corebonded was seen as an omen, as well, though she hoped nobody had engaged in extispicy or the like to be sure.

Kala finished another prayer flag, meditated upon it. Genuflected.

"To you, I prostrate myself always—whether I am in happy or unhappy circumstances—with my body, speech, and mind."

The acolyte came and took the canvas away to be removed from its easel and allowed to dry until such auspicious time as it was fitting to hang new prayer flags. When Kala noticed there was no replacement, she also noticed that the light had gone golden with the afternoon. She was cold and she was hungry and she was thirsty and she could sense Kaus' presence, ready to accompany her home.

While still in her trance, she set her brush down. She kissed the relic hanging from her wrist. She said a mantra for the Ara, and a prayer for her father's soul, indigo words from an inkwell of tears.

Despite her youth and good shape, her body was sore from being in that position for so many hours. As she stood, Kaus' hand came out to help her up. She took it, of course. There was no shame in it. When she was steady, he scooped up her scrivening implements, but the acolyte returned and took them from him with promises to clean them properly.

"Sometimes," she said slowly, just loud enough to be heard over the wind that high up, "when I bring the glyph to life, the pattern of the aether looks like an eye to me and I wonder if She is looking back at me."

"The Crystal Lady?" he asked, just to be sure. She nodded. "Perhaps, though they say that She is so vast... so incomprehensibly powerful..."

"I know. It is unlikely that She spares a moment for any individual. Perhaps the Shinsei, but not for me."

"I didn't mean—"

"I know." She smiled. Even with as deep a bond as theirs, he was careful when it came to the things she was most sensitive about. They were things he couldn't protect her from. But when she said she knew, she also knew that he would do anything for her. There were blessings aplenty in her life, and often she felt as though she was ungrateful, but there was always that niggling wrongness that she couldn't seem to shake.

They both reached out to touch a hashira of the torii as they passed out of the sacred space.

"Let's go home," she said. "I'm starving."

"Me too!" he agreed, but Kaus could always eat.

.

Posted: **Mon Jul 12, 2021 12:37 am**

The light of dawn gilded her shining hair. The black gown that she wore was dotted with spots of light, creating a canvas for starlight and celestial bodies. Her eyes settled upon the twins as they exited the holy temple. So much had happened in the time since they first walked together. So many things had transpired. So many things she had been given to know.

And so she waited. As she always had. As she always would.

Time was approaching and He was a patient planner just as She was a patient watcher. The gentlest of nudges within her moved her to speak. She was ready. It was time.

“Kala Leukos.” Her voice was the gentle music of twilight dusted with the majesty of mountain grace. It sang of ancient places and their wonders. Kindness emanated from her as she regarded the young mystic with a heart so filled with questions.

“Will you walk with her?” Saedene extended a hand to Kala, offering a bit of her time to the young woman who seemed in need of guidance. She knew that the will of the gods was in motion but something told her that it was not Fate that guided her on this day.

Posted: **Mon Jul 12, 2021 2:42 pm**

Their stomachs, it seemed, would have to learn patience as well.

As one, the twins genuflected to the Ara who had witnessed their mourning and introduced them to a wyrmling and given them an elf queen's gift. They had joked later about offering to become adoptive parents to any orphaned wyrmlings, since the gardens of the Cintamani Pavilion could certainly house them, and later, they could make Starfall their home. She could ride one into battle and Kaus could lead a wing of dragons in defense of the realm. But the twins were young and had many dreams, and they were not dragon riders of Antiris.

"Hail, Lady," she greeted, an intonation both respectful and familiar. This was not some new apparition, but a divine creature that had taken an interest in the twins before. This evening, though, it seemed she only had words for Kala.

"I will wait here," Kaus assured his sister and the Ara both. He stepped out of the way of any future foot traffic and knelt to hold vigil. It was a strange thing to see her brother, an Avialae, kneeling. He was a creature of the air, not the dust. But they understood humility.

Kala nodded and took a step toward Saedene.

"I serve at your leisure, Lady."

Later, perhaps, she would wonder whether there was some significance to the Ara coming to them beyond the bounds of the holy ground. But even if there was, it was entirely possible the significance was beyond mortal ken. Her hand came up, but paused, uncertain whether Saedene wanted her to take her hand or was merely indicated. She would be guided by the Lady's response. The relic dangled from her wrist, housed by the work of their divine Shinsei. It caught her eye and she hoped the Ara would be pleased with how it had been venerated.

Posted: **Tue Jul 27, 2021 7:52 pm**

Saedene took Kala’s hand with the gentleness of a matron welcoming her daughter into her presence. Her luminous eyes settled upon the relic that dangled from Kala’s wrist. A soft smile spread across her features, indicating her pleasure at seeing it still with the young woman but she offered no words in regards to it. The relic was what it was, a gift. It would stay with Kala for as long as the young woman needed it.

“You seek the peace that quiet and contemplation brings. But your mind and heart are yet troubled by a wish that is unfulfilled.” Knowledge made itself known to her mind. It was gifted to her with the gentleness of a caress upon her senses. In that moment, the god giving her guidance presented themselves and she was surprised. Saedene kept their hands firmly together. The Ara’s touch was warm and evoked a tingling sensation. Without concern for where their feet landed, the great spirit was leading them toward the edge of a cliff.

“She shall tell you a story.” A hush fell upon the air itself as though listening intently to the words that Saedene began to speak.

“Before the skies were burned, before the Dread Mists became the nightmare that mortals fear, there was a Kingdom that loved the skies. A people, unafraid of Choice and Chance. They were loved, loved by a Mother who smiled at the Freedom they lived by. These people, they honored their Mother. Not through prayer. Not through ceremony. But through deed. They knew Her favor. They knew Her love. They knew Her wrath. They knew Her fury. Still, they loved Her.” Saedene brought them to the edge of the cliff. She raised her hand, passing it over the air in front of them. A mirage shimmered into being before Kala.

Before her eyes the clouds parted and in front of Kala was a shining city that floated among the heavens. Spiraling towers, topped with gleaming crystals of Moon, Sun and Starlight. Skyships docked and flew around the city in the sky and within that city there was a divine and forbidding beauty. It defied the earth by floating in the skies. It defied many feats of magic that mortals in their era were yet capable of. However, the advent of the Astralar Mountains and their floating rocks was testament enough that such a thing could be dreamed and made possible.

“Avaelor.” Emotion passed over Saedene’s face as the city was revealed to them.

“It was not to last.” The scene shifted and war filled the skies around that gleaming city in the heavens.

And then the sky shook as the Godspire unleashed its horrors upon the world.

The city in the sky began to fall.

When it crashed to the earth, an explosion sundered the earth. The destruction barreled toward them, breaking the world in its wake. It swelled past them leaving only a wasteland of fire and death. From the ashes, arose a creature that roared to the skies.

“Not all were lost to the destruction of the Old World.” The scene shifted. A group of survivors stood before a man on a broken island amongst the waves. “They found a new home and through them, were born a new people. Avialae, the Children of Avaelor.”

Seasons passed upon the Isle. The numbers of the people dwindled but then one day, there stood not humans, but winged men and women, proud and strong. These men and women were then shown fighting a terrible beast of ash, fire, madness and destruction. Many fell in battle but among the survivors, there stood eighteen. Ten men and eight women.

“The weave of Fate however, saw what was in store for the Skyborn.” The world shifted and it showed the winged people standing together before a door, a great gateway that gave the impression it was carved from the very bones of the earth itself. Tears were in the eyes of all who were gathered as the winged men and women embraced each other. Through the doorway, there stood a woman, crowned by Darkness and Starlight. Her gown was as black as the midnight sky and seemed to reflect the Void itself. The winged women stepped away from the men and joined this woman across the gate and then were gone.

The present world returned to them. Saedene was standing in front of Kala, her gaze unwavering.

“Daughter for Daughter. Son for Son. Through the Boundless Gate, waiting, three people become one.”

Saedene’s words etched themselves into Kala’s soul as the Ara stared at the young woman.

“Seek the Skies, Kala Leukos. Your Mother has not forgotten you.”

And then Saedene was gone. Between one breath and the next, as though she had never been there at all.

Posted: **Wed Jul 28, 2021 11:53 pm**

This time, when Saedene spoke, little revelations sparked in Kala's mind. She didn't know if that was a function of the gifted relic or if the Ara was choosing to communicate in a more direct, more divine manner with her now. It wasn't shame that she felt, not exactly. There was no hot, physical rush in response to the Ara's knowledge of her heart. Kala had never demanded anything of the Gods, except, perhaps, in a childhood fit of pique barely remembered except for the remorse that followed. She only wanted to understand, wanted to know why the lack of wings felt like a splinter in her soul, something that could only be assuaged for a short time by her work and devotions.

As they approached the cliff, she wondered if some leap of faith was to be demanded of her, but instead, she was shown the story of Avaelor. At Saedene's reaction, she had to wonder if the Ara had lived there among its people. At the appearance of the Godspire, she found herself weeping. This vision was different from what she had heard, but she supposed this was the truth of the Dragon Gods. The truth of the temples and the truth of the histories were altered by the people telling the story. Perhaps there was bias here, too, but a bias beyond the understanding of mere mortals.

Through an ancient gateway, she saw the Avialae women joined another, surely the Masked Queen, for she had not seen Her face. "How can the Gods meet us face to face until we have faces?" a priestess had once challenged her.

And then Saedene was gone along with the vision. It was cold on the precipice without the Ara there. Kala shivered, her mind grasping at straws of meaning and at least memorizing the words that had been spoken to her. Eventually, an acolyte found her shivering. Worried perhaps that she would succumb to suicide, she was drawn inside, offered tea. Kala held it in shaking hands, kneeling, as the young lady shared her Vision with a priest. It had been a personal revelation, she knew, but she shared it all the same. Even the relic on her wrist was not only for her and she would pass it along when the time seemed correct.

Assuring them that her brother was waiting for her and that she would be fine, she once more left the temple to find her brother just where she had left him. She offered Kaus a hand up and they peered into each other's eyes for a long time before turning to go.

Posted: **Fri Jul 30, 2021 7:13 pm**

R E W A R D S

Name: Kala Leukos
XP: 10
Requested Lore:

Meditation:
Scrivening as Meditation

Religion:
Use of Prayer Flags
Sutras of Saedene
Mantras of Naori

Scrivening:
The Geometry of Glyphs
Creation of Prayer Flags
As Devotion
To Hold Prayer Intentions

Note(s): Kala has been granted insight into the origins of the Avialae species. From the lips of an Ara spirit, she has been bestowed a prophecy and shown that female Avialae do exist or did at some point in the past. As Saedene was speaking in riddles, I advise that you contemplate the meaning of her words.

“Daughter for Daughter. Son for Son. Through the Boundless Gate, waiting, three people become one.”

Legend of Ransera

The Litany of Flags

The Litany of Flags

Re: The Litany of Flags

Re: The Litany of Flags

Re: The Litany of Flags

Re: The Litany of Flags

Re: The Litany of Flags