It was pure pleasure to be lounging on these new pillows, Athanasia decided. After several weeks of having to make do with her old ones, nothing to do but wait for the cotton plants to mature. Her worshippers had some fluff and feathers saved, but the pillow cases couldn't be made until later. Forced to choose between allowing lesser fabric and waiting, the goddess grudgingly elected to wait. She never considered patience a virtue, it was closer to a waste of time her inferiors had to engage in... but this one time, it paid off.
As she luxuriated in the comfortable softness, she heard the distant sound of a bell. One of the people must have arrived to seek her blessing, or to pray in person. The life of a goddess was truly filled with work. Athanasia shifted her position a little, just to appear more imposing. She took a breath slightly deeper than usual, then blew out fire. Two jets of flame erupted in front of her lips, leaping towards the entrance to frame it in the light of her power. It would look better flying across the ceiling, but she didn't want to risk setting fire to her shrine.
One of the young people tending the shrine pulled aside the curtain at the doorway, allowing the petitioners to enter, flanked by flames. A human couple came in, the man's arm protectively wrapped around the woman who was clutching something. Athanasia extinguished the flames, earning a soft gasp from one of the attendants. Perhaps by this time she should have been used to their awe, but it always sounded just as sweet.
The woman handed her offering to one of the attendants, who presented it to the goddess with a practiced bow. Athanasia's eyes glittered with pleasure as she surveyed the gift. It was a bracelet, woven with some kind of a solid vine or wicker... not her favourite. But there was a lovely glint within the lattice, piquing her interest. The goddess summoned a small flame to give it a better light, and was rewarded with a sight of resplendent red gems. Now that was a present fit for her! She immediately slipped it onto her left wrist, then turned to welcome her worshippers. They've certainly earned her time.
The humans fell to their knees, bowing their heads respectfully. "Our Gracious Lady of Ruin" the man began, "I am Franco the carpenter, and this is my wife Maria. She's with our first child. We- we've come to seek your blessing, so that our son will be born healthy."
"Come, Maria" Athanasia beckoned. The woman took a few timid steps forward, stopping just before the dais. The goddess sat up, reaching with her left hand as she commanded her flames to surround them both. Maria let out a small yelp, frozen in place.
Athanasia rested the palm of her hand against the human's belly. "Thus I ignite the spark of your life into a blaze that shall burn bright and long. Rise, so that one day you would stand on your own before me." She pulled her hand back, extinguishing the flame.
"Your son is fortunate to have parents so devoted and talented" she proclaimed. "Go with my blessing, and raise him well."
The couple burst out into words of gratitude. Athanasia leaned back onto her lounger as she watched them leave. Now that was a good day of work. She called on a few flames, making them move around her arm. She wanted to admire her new bracelet in all lighting possible.
Suddenly, the bell rang again. The distraction made her flames go out as she sat up straighter in surprise. Another petitioner, so fast? Now that was going to be a busy day.
Ashton Seldvros was not happy. Since he had left his village, it seems like only bad things could happen to him. A group of adventurers tried to kill him, but Ashton managed to get away in time. Someone tried to shoot Kaeth, and woke Ashton up from a very nice nap he was having. Let's just say that they won't be shooting anything anymore. At least he got a shiny gold ring from it, though. Finally, he was lost, and stuck out in the sun, where he was at risk of dying due to his vampire blood. Luckily he managed to find a nice cloak during his travels, but it was still VERY unpleasant.
Sticking to the shadows whenever he could, Ashton began to explore the odd place he found himself in. He tried to ask for directions from people, but all he got in response were scowls and muttered words. Huh, it seems like people don't trust a shady-looking hooded guy. After a little while he found a very important-looking building where a crowd of people had gathered. Ashton was confused, but he decided to wait and see if he could enter. After watching a couple walk in, he figured this must be some sort of religious place, judging by their expressions as they left. This was bolstered by the fact that nearly everybody who was waiting by the building held something of value, most likely as an offering to whatever deity they worshipped. Yadda Yadda, ding-dong bell time.
Ashton wasn't really a religious person, but if going in here could get him out of the sun, it works. For now, at least. As he walks into the building, he quietly sighs as he finally gets out of the sunlight. He notices the lizard lady Athanasia, and assumes that she must be the subject of worship. He didn't know if she was an actual goddess, a demigod, or just some sort of poser. However, he believed that now would be a good time to say little and wait for what happens next. "Hello there."
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OOC: One quick thing, if I said anything that contradicts the lore/setting of this place, just let me know and I will try and fix it. EDIT ON 4/30: Minor edit for clarity.
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OOC: I hope school isn't stealing your free time again. If it is, tell said school that it sucks. Anyways, just a quick nudge to see if everything is alright and let you know that i'm still here!
Athanasia scrutinized the new arrival with a mixture of pleased surprise and anticipation. She really liked meeting travelers. Her usual flock of worshippers were... reliable, she could count on them to deliver basic necessities, with room for some pleasant surprises such as the new bracelet. But the true excitement and most interesting moments of her life as a goddess was provided by the people who were just passing by. She loved hearing their stories of places far away, and the offerings they brought were always unique!
The attendant in charge of greeting the new arrivals to her shrine cleared his throat. "Be in awe! You are in the presence of She who Slumbers Between Stars, Our Glorious Lady of Ruin, Athanasia, Goddess of Toledo!"
As his spiel neared its end, the goddess summoned her flames to erupt in front of the dais. Showmanship was an important part of her work, and she did enjoy showing off to new audiences.
Ashton examined Athanasia in turn, trying to learn anything he could. At a first glance, she certainly didn't seem godlike. Regal, yes. Powerful, maybe. But...not really that special. However, he was interrupted by someone shouting at him.
After listening to the attendant say their piece, Ashton was slightly more convinced that Athanasia may be some sort of deity. Of course, he could be wrong, but not just anyone could get an entire village to worship them. Then, he saw the fire. Out of nowhere flames appeared near the dias, which really surprised him. It was decided, at last. Even if Athanasia wasn't a goddess, she certainly had some sort of magic.
Though he didn't like it, Ashton knew he had to swallow his pride and go along with whatever was happening here. Firstly, he didn't want to have an angry mob chase him out for disrespecting Athanasia. Secondly, if she decided to use those flames on him, it wouldn't go well. Finally, even if he wasn't attacked somehow, Ashton would rather stay out of the sun whenever he can. So, he had no choice but to be nice.
"Son of a...nice trick there, with the fire." He bowed to Athanasia. "I am your..." He grimaced for a moment, then managed to spit out the words. "...humble servant, Lady Athanasia." It was clear that while he wasn't being mean or rude, he definitely didn't enjoy saying it.
Aha! Looked like her show of power had the desired effect. Athanasia basked in the pleasant glow of having impressed a new person. She moved the flames slightly to have them cast the most flattering light possible on her and turned her attention back to the traveller. He didn't seem to be bringing an offering, but some offered tales of their adventures and faraway places in place of material items. She loved hearing those stories, imagining the wonders they've seen. It wasn't like she could go and see them for herself, so that was the closest she could get.
"Enter and be welcome" Athanasia proclaimed. "What brings you to the doors of my shrine?"
Ashton smiled, nodding to Athanasia in thanks. Now, he had confirmation that he was welcome here. Now, he had to figure out how to word his next statement.
While it seemed like this place was friendly enough, he did not know how far that friendliness would go. No way to know without asking, though. After a brief pause, Ashton began to speak.
"I seek nothing but shelter for a day or two, preferably without hindrance. I have traveled far, and encountered many hardships. You see, I come from a place whose inhabitants, myself included, usually aren't welcome in most public places. I am often forced to leave an area soon after I arrive, typically with a few angry people chasing after me. I hoped that this would not be the same as all the others."
After finishing his speech, Ashton thought for a moment, then decided to add on one more thing. "If you require some form of payment or offering, I would be completely willing to provide it. I do not have many valuables, but I am sure I can find a way to pay you."
Now it was very right and proper of him to petition her first! Travelers in need of shelter for a night usually asked one of her subjects to stay at their house or a barn, trading them trinkets or some other help. Most of them were pious and visited her shrine to pay respects and make a small offering, but never before has she been approached by someone requesting permission for the lodging itself! Oh, she liked this wanderer.
"By my name as the goddess of Toledo and holder of this dominion, I hereby grant you permission to remain on my land until you are rested and ready to continue your journey" she declared. "I need no additional compensation save for your company and the tales of the world beyond the borders of my influence."
"You have my thanks, Athanasia. I do not know as much as I would like, but I am sure the few stories I have will be sufficient. Before I begin, I must do something. Please pardon the wait."
Ashton became silent, and looked up to the sky. He concentrated on something in the distance, then smiled. Seemingly out of nowhere, an unnaturally large crow flew through the entrance to the shrine, landing on Ashton's shoulder. Unlike the common crows, this bird was much larger and seemed more refined. There were no twigs or bits of plant material in the crow's feathers, and it seemed to regard itself with an air of superiority, similar to Ashton's.
"My apologies, I did not want to leave my friend out at the mercy of the elements, especially if I was given shelter." He paused once more, looking up at Kaeth. He nodded, then turned back to Athanasia. "Plus, Kaeth enjoys a good story as well."
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OOC: Sorry for the wait! I should be back now.
That was such a huge bird! It was all black and its feathers were glossy and shiny just like her scales. Athanasia had never seen birds this size anywhere near Toledo. The shrine attendants reacted with a mix of impression and approval. One of them opened her mouth as if to ask if she could pet the bird, but shut up and minded her place.
If she liked birds, Athanasia could use it. She snapped her fingers, calling on the attendant's attention. "Bring us some refreshments" she commanded, making use of some fancy words she once overheard a noble use. She would be a gracious hostess to her guests. "The usual for us, and... tell me, what would Kaeth eat?"
OOC: Fuuuuuuck, I am SO sorry for the extremely late post! I didn't have any wifi/data for a while, and got it back only a day or two ago. Good news, my schedule should be back in order now. I was going to have Ashton start the actual storytelling in the post after this one, maybe a bit later depending on how the rp goes.
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Ashton nodded to the goddess and her attendants, then looked back to Kaeth. He paused to speak with his companion, then faced Athanasia once more.
"Kaeth and I both appreciate your hospitality. If you happen to have meat of any variety, that would be preferable. However, if you do not, some seeds or nuts will work. Once again, thank you for your kindness.
"Now, unless there was anything else you needed, shall we begin the stories? Or would you like to wait for the food to arrive?"
OOC: Don't worry about it! Shit happens, and I'm willing to wait.
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Meat was not very ample around Toledo, with the woods being full of danger and the village lacking in practiced poachers. Early in her tenure as a goddess, the peasants made a habit of bringing meat offerings whenever one of them got lucky in the forest. Once again, the intent was acceptable, but the execution suffered - they truly had no idea how to prepare it to her liking. Athanasia ended up telling them to just keep meat for themselves - it would benefit both her palate, and her reputation as a kind and clement goddess. She would never have thought that she'd end up having them bring some again.
"Do you have any meat?" she asked.
The shrine attendants looked confused. How was she supposed to know what was going on among the villagers when she stayed at her shrine? She never even claimed to be omniscient in the first place! "Tiago. Go find out if anyone had any luck hunting. Barring that, seeds."
The boy dropped down to one knee, acknowledged her command, and hurriedly made his way out of the shrine. Athanasia didn't like being left with only one attendant, but that couldn't be helped. Perhaps she should look into acquiring animal allies like Kaeth that could carry messages for her.
The other attendant, already familiar with the proceedings for providing travelers with accoutrements, pulled out a pillow and placed it on the floor for the guest to sit on. She hesitated, glancing at Kaeth. "Would your friend want a seat, too, Master- I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name..."
He slowly looked at all of the attendants, noting their extreme loyalty to their goddess. None of them hesitated or doubted her commands, which they left to complete immediately. Ashton found that level of control interesting. Surely she must be using some kind of magic, or there would be those who disagreed with her. No matter, however.
"I am Ashton. This is Kaeth." He looked at his companion once more, then shook his head at the attendant. "Though he appreciates his offer, he would prefer to stay with me." Ashton smiled at her, showing two rows of razor-sharp teeth, a sharp contrast to his refined, albeit colorful appearance. "Do not worry. I'm not upset, it was a small mistake."
He slowly sat down upon the pillow, reveling in the softness. Life in the woods was hard on someone, especially someone who tries to look good at all times. Luxuries were few and far between, and needed to be savored like a fine wine. Kaeth remained on his shoulder, letting out an indignant caw at the sudden change in elevation.
"Though I hate to delay things further, I believe that it may be good to wait until your servant Tiago returns. It is a long story, and I do not feel like repeating myself simply because someone was late. That is, if you allow it, O Goddess." He became a bit more used to showing respect to Athanasia, now that she had earned a part of it.
Athanasia shifted position, arranging herself more comfortably. The traveler she now knew under the name of Ashton seemed to appreciate the pillow, although Kaeth didn't. Well, she was yet to see a bird that fluffed up its nest with comfortable fabrics.
The goddess blinked, hiding her surprise. She did not expect the traveler to want to wait. Perhaps he and Kaeth were so tired, they needed food to engage in any activity. If that was the case, she was impressed with Ashton's ability to hide exhaustion and converse with her. Or did he just fancy Tiago and want to impress the boy with his tales of adventure? It wouldn't be the first time someone passing by took interest in one of the villagers...
Tiago returned with a small bag of seeds. "We weren't able to sow them because the recent heat wave spoiled them - they're practically roasted. But they should be fine to eat, uh, my lord. But you'll have to wait a little for the meat to be cooked."
Ashton turned to face Tiago, inclining his head. "Thank you, Tiago." Taking the bag of seeds from the boy, Ashton took out a small handful and offered it to Kaeth. The familiar inspected the seeds, then cawed loudly at Ashton. After a brief exchange of quiet words and bird sounds, Ashton sighed.
"Fine, fine. Picky little blighter..." From the handful of seeds, Ashton took one and popped it in his mouth. He looked back at Kaeth, holding out the seeds once more. "There. Are you happy? Good." Kaeth began to eat the seeds, Ashton taking just one more from the bag. "Do not worry about the meat. Cooked or raw, it does not matter to us. However, we can wait if you wish.
"Now, let us begin, now that everyone has arrived." Ashton set the bag of seeds on the ground next to him, Kaeth flying off of his shoulder as he did so. He then turned to face Athanasia and her servants once more, clearing his throat."
"Heed my words, O Goddess, for they have been heard by few and are told by even fewer. What I shall tell you now cannot leave this shrine. I have travelled far in my time, and yet few of my stories compare to this."
Ashton took another seed from the bag, which soon became empty as Kaeth ate all of the seeds. Upon finding that his food was gone, Kaeth cried out once more, flying back up onto Ashton. "Since as long as I can remember, since the grandparents of my grandparents can remember, we have been on this world. The Va'Skree are the consumers of flesh, the drinkers of blood. However, we are not like our cousins, the true Vampires. Though we have many of the same strengths, we are not immortal and undead, like them. The sun, though not as much of a scourge as it is to them, still poses a sizeable problem to anyone who is caught unawares. But, I digress. For hundreds, no, THOUSANDS of years, we have endured. Many would call us evil, a plague upon this world. However, I think otherwise. Yes, we consume the flesh and blood of other beings, but we do what we must to survive, to pass on our culture and lore. Though many wish to wipe us and our brethren out completely, we still live. As this tale draws to an end, I ask you this; If your way of life, which you see as a common way to live and survive was seen as evil to others, would you change, even if it meant that you and your loved ones would die? I, for one, would not." With those final words, Ashton finished his story.
Athanasia watched the repartee with clear interest glittering in her eyes. Kaeth seemed to have a more discerning palate than his master. Though as long as it was restricted to seeds, she could keep him fed and satiated without making any sacrifices. As far as food was concerned, these two were some of the most pleasant travelers who've ever visited Toledo.
Ashton's introduction was well-chosen, sparking even more interest in Athanasia. She loved secrets. It was such a transcendental pleasure, to know what others did not. The people of Toledo sometimes visited her shrine to confess some secret that lay heavy on their conscience. It gave her such sublime power to be the keeper of their truths and hearts alike.
She listened with bated breath and her tail tense with excitement. So her guest was not just a boring human, as she initially assumed, he was a scion of powerful and fascinating blood. Now that was thrilling!
"I promise not to reveal your nature beyond these walls" she announced. There was some murmuring from the shrine assistants, so she grabbed their attention with a conjured flame. "The same applies to you" she reminded them. This went without saying, but sometimes even the unsaid had to be spoken out loud.
"You honor me with your words and actions, Athanasia. You have done so much for the two of us, and we have done so little." Ashton got Kaerth's attention, lowering his voice to the point that only the bird would hear it.
"Do you trust her? Okay...I think she is alright...she IS a goddess, after all...alright. It's settled, then." Raising his voice so Athanasia could hear it, Ashton cleared his throat. He stood up, just to fall to one knee.
"O Goddess Athanasia, you have done much for us, and though you asked for naught but a story, both Kaeth and I feel like that is insufficient. Because of that, we have come to an agreement. Should you ever require our aid in the future for whatever reason, we shall come. Do not worry about sending messengers or couriers, your call will make it's way to us within the day. Or rather, the night. Heh..."
He remained kneeling in front of Athanasia, waiting for her response. This level of respect and deference was rare in Ashton, but the goddess had earned it.
Oh, there was never a feeling quite like basking in the warm glow of appreciation. Athanasia was so pleased, it took her a moment to properly collect herself. Hopefully Ashton and Kaeth wouldn't notice- no, she would spin it into taking a meaningful pause before speaking.
Her clever plotting was instantly blown out of her mind the moment Ashton spoke. The flames at the entrance flared larger, fueled by her excitement. She quickly shrank them back to the original size - she was quite fond of this shrine, it would be a pity to accidentally burn it down. This was the most thrilling event she's experienced in... oh, such a long time! It wasn't uncommon for travellers to make offerings at her shrine or request her blessing, but such an oath she's never received before, let alone from such a powerful and unique being!
"I am honoured to accept your vow" she pronounced, rising from her comfortable nest. She brought some of the floating flames closer to swirl around them.
Oh, she was lucky that he was kneeling down, otherwise he ABSOLUTELY would have noticed. Although he did not notice her pause, he most definitely noticed the flames grow. He immediately scrambled to his feet, expecting the worst. Yes, maybe he was being a bit paranoid, but in the woods, you need to assume that everything is going to kill you if you want to survive. Kaeth simply cawed in annoyance, readjusting his position.
Ashton quickly realized that nothing was wrong, and brushed himself off a bit. He tried to play it off as nothing, hoping to salvage his dignity. It would have been a mediocre attempt. He watched in silence as Athanasia rose, drawing in slightly as the flames grew closer to the pair.
He finally spoke, more to himself than anything, though anyone in the shrine could hear it if they were paying attention. "An oath of blood and bone...what have I gotten myself into..." If Athanasia was truly a goddess, or even someone who was able to live for a long time, he knew that she could hold him to his promise. However, he doubted that she would require his aid so soon. "And I am honored to have given it. If I am able, I shall answer your call. This I swear, O Goddess." He knew that it had no magical binding, but the Va'Skree are people of honor. He surely would be shunned from his home if he were to defy a vow as grave as this one.
Sensing that something may occur, he knelt down once more. He had spent enough time not only among his people, but among others"to learn that if a ruler exits their throne, it is good to show the proper deference. So, although it still irritated him just a bit, he knelt down on one knee.
Though Athanasia would have liked to keep basking in the glory of this moment, the longer it continued the more awkward it was becoming. Even the attendants were no longer awed, and Ashton and Kaeth both were silent, and stayed down. The goddess didn't usually mind people showing deference, but it was getting longer and embarrassing and it didn't look like they were about to start another story! What- oh!
"You may rise and return to your positions" she quickly assured them. "And I would love to hear more about your people, or your travels all over the world."
Ashton remained as he was for a bit longer, returning to the pillow he was on before once Athanasia spoke. He too felt it was getting a bit awkward, coughing slightly.
"Is that so? Very well. I shall tell you of my people, then." He cleared his throat, taking a quick drink from a small flask on his hip. Though his supplies were dwindling before he made it here, he usually never ran out of water. "Hm...what to say....how about I start at the beginning? Yes, I think that'll do. Now, we've been around for a long time. A REALLY. Long time. In fact, according to what the loremasters say-they basically keep our story alive, make sure every Va'Skree child knows our past-we've been around about as long as our kin, the Vampires have existed. A long fuckin' time, right?" As he spoke, there was a shift in the way he spoke and acted, becoming much more relaxed and casual. He still kept a semblance of formality, but he wasn't as...for lack of a better word, stuffy. Even Kaeth seemed a bit happier, occasionally flying over to the attendants or Athanasia herself.
"Anyways...we've been around for a long time. For a while, we were huge. Lots of us around, and quite a few people lived in fear of the Va'Skree. But, fate is a cruel mistress. Some villagers and mercenaries got the bravery to stand up to us. My ancestors hadn't grown fat, but they were arrogant. Then, and still now, they thought we couldn't be beaten. After all, we don't die immediately in the sun, we can tear someone's throat out with our teeth, and we can reproduce naturally, unlike my undead cousins, as I said before. But, that's besides the point. Long story short, we got cocky, and our enemies did not. They struck during the day, when we would be weaker than normal. Even though we don't die instantly, the sun is far from our friend. We were decimated...the loremasters say it was a damn bloodbath. We managed to eradicate those who stood against it, but the damage was done."
Ashton sighed, clenching his fist. He was one man, but like his brothers and sisters, he was arrogant. He believed that if he was there, if his ancestors had just a few more soldiers, they would've crushed the resistance. Even though the thought was folly, he still believed it. Relaxing once more, he went back to his story. "Now, we're just a shadow of our former selves. We hide in abandoned ruins or castles, but make no mistake. We have been weakened, but we are still a formidable threat. Plus, I am sure that at least some of our cousins would come to our aid, if we were attacked." The last line or two may have come off as a threat to some, but Ashton was only stating facts. And, he didn't mind giving up some of their secrets, since they were payment for shelter. "And, that's it. All that I can tell you without isolating myself from my family, that is. I hope that works, at least in terms of my people."
Athanasia tucked her tail in closer as she listened. The Va'Skree sounded so interesting, powerful and ancient. So unlike the boring humans and occasional halflings or elves that passed by Toledo.
The attendants divided their attention between Ashton's tale and Kaeth. They followed the bird's flight with their eyes, tensing slightly whenever he passed by - although whether they were hoping he'd land on their shoulder and let them pet him, or that he'd keep circling and leave them be, it was impossible to say.
"This is so unfair!" Athanasia exclaimed, her tail whipping up in emphasis. "Your people were a great ancient race, to have them fall to just some rebellion is horrible!"
She moved in closer, accidentally knocking over her carafe with water. She quickly pulled her tail away, frowning. Her gaze caught Ashton's own water flask. Oh, this was a good opportunity, she should offer him some more water. She snapped her fingers at one of the attendants, flaring the flame nearby just to make sure she had her attention. The girl flinched, her eyes blinking away from Kaeth's flight path. "Go fetch us some more water" she demanded, before turning her attention back to her guest. "Before embarking on your journey again, you can refill your flask at the well in the village" she added. She didn't know if Ashton had the chance to see the well yet.
The large bird circled around once more, his jet-black eyes surveying the room. He cried out once more, causing Ashton to look up at him in minor annoyance. "Eh, shut up, Kaeth. I can't tell that one, this is a goddess, not some lady in a tavern!" Sighing, he looked back at Athanasia. "Apologies, he can be a bit of an irritation at times. He's a great friend, though." He returned to silence, at least until the goddess spoke again. "As I said, fate can be cruel at times. We were powerful, but we had to fall eventually. I'm just lucky that we weren't wiped out, otherwise I wouldn't be here to tell you about it! Heh...."
Ashton jumped in his seat when the carafe was knocked over, startled by it. He quickly collected himself, hoping that Athanasia had not noticed. Even though he no longer considered her a stranger, he did not want to embarrass himself in front of the goddess.
"My thanks. I haven't gotten around to finding it yet, but I'm sure I'll come across it before I leave. So....what else do you want to know about?" He only had a few more stories left, but he was going to do his best to make them interesting.
"What interesting places have you visited on your journey?" Athanasia asked. "If you can't tell me more about your people, I'll hear about your adventures."
The attendant who didn't get send off to fetch water looked intrigued, his entire body tensing as if trying to better hear. Having spent his entire life since birth in a small village by the wood did little to dampen the yearning for more.
"Interesting places, hm? I haven't been very far, but there are a couple of areas that I thought were nice." Ashton noticed the other attendant's actions, a smirk appearing on the vampire's face. He spoke a little bit louder, making sure the lad could hear him. "I'll tell you about the more interesting ones. Essyrn and Hyoite."
"Now, Essyrn is, in my opinion, a rather dreadful place to live, all of that desert heat and...sunlight. However, it has many things for the curious wanderer, as I have found out. The desert goes on for miles in every direction, and the towns themselves are quite nice. Plenty of things for a traveller to do, y'know? Y'know, the first time I went there, someone tried to pick my pocket. Probably thought I was some rich fool. Now, imagine the look on his face when he found out that not only were my pockets empty, I had noticed him during the attempt! I broke his fingers and sent him away. But, I didn't want to repeat the process, so I haven't gone back since then."
Whenever he went into towns, bad things seemed to happen to him. Maybe it was bad luck, maybe people just didn't like him. Whatever it was, it usually kept Ashton away from cities unless he had no other choice.
"What's next...oh, Hyoite. Almost the exact opposite of Essyrn, at least in terms of the weather. It is especially cold there, probably because it is in the middle of a frozen tundra. But, I never minded the cold. I could probably live there, if I ever wanted to stop travelling. There are some warmer places though, which I think is nice. Some people may not like it, but I feel like it was a wonderful place to be in. Cold or not, it has a certain beauty to it, one that most people don't see. That's just my opinion, though, so take it as you will."
He didn't have any super personal stories about Hyoite, mostly because he didn't spend much time there. He lingered in the tundra for a week or two, then went on travelling. But, he figured that Athanasia and her attendants would probably enjoy hearing about it. At least he was able to tell her about Essyrn, which hopefully made up for it.
"So...yeah. I haven't been to a lot of places, but I thought those two were nice."
Athanasia listened, her attention rapt and her mind awash with colourful images conjured by Ashton's words. There were seasons here at Toledo; some months were warmer or colder than the others, and weather seemed to follow some patterns her worshippers were familiar with. She didn't know or care much for why or when it rained, or even the times fog descended and shrouded the village in blindness. The peasants appeared to have some way of anticipating these, but she's never bothered to ask. But to think there were places where it was hotter than summer, or colder than during rain season... She would not want to live there!
"I think if I had to choose, I would pick Hyoite, too" she decided. "My power over fire would keep me warm."
The bird's flight took him across her field of vision as a question sprang into her mind. "What about Kaeth?" she asked. "Is he also immune to the cold?"
"Yes...I'd imagine it would be better than Essyrn." He too had experienced the seasons, and by far his favorited were fall and winter. The colder parts of the year were always more pleasant, at least to him.
"Hm? Oh, I would imagine so. In fact, Kaeth never seemed to be bothered by the temperature, cold or otherwise. I suppose that as my familiar, he has a few magical qualities." The large bird cawed once more, confirming what he said.
"If I may be so bold, could you tell me a bit about yourself? I would imagine that as a goddess, you must have legends and stories about you." However, if you do not want to answer, I don't mind. I just wanted to ask while I had the chance."
A pleased smile graced the goddess's face; there were few subjects she liked to discuss more than her divine self. "There verily are! What legend shall I begin with..."
As she plumbed the depths of her memory for a suitably awe-inspiring tale, the door to her shrine creaked open. She glared, ready to address the peon that dared interrupt the audience, but it was just the attendant she's sent earlier to get water. The girl shrank back, almost spilling the carafe's contents. "Enter" Athanasia allowed. The attendant moved in gratefully, setting the vessel down, then returned to her original place at the doorway.
Where were they? Oh yes, she was about to tell the visitors a story in return. "I shall recite the legend of how I came to be the goddess of Toledo" she decided. "It happened almost a year ago, on a night that begun brighter than a day but was soon blanketed with a long and dark rain. The moon was bright crimson, a portent of what was to come."
"It was then that one of the villagers attempted a foolish quest to seek out a dragon's egg to bond with the hatchling and become its rider. She climbed the Terrin Mountains and sought the dragon's cave, while offering prayers to the spirits to aid her."
She paused for effect, while reaching for the carafe to take a drink of water. "The girl reached the cave and begun her search. To her surprise, she found neither the eggs nor the great wyrm, but a slumbering being. She immediately recognized my nature by the colour of my scales and the warmth I held despite the peaks' cold. It was her decision to invite me to the village, though she not yet knew truly who she was dealing with. I accepted her offer."
"As we descended, the would-be dragonrider found that her prayers could only protect her so far. Cold rain fell, making the stone slippery and precarious. She fell and broke her leg - a fate that would leave her for dead, were she alone in the mountains. She begged my aid, and I chose to save her. I called upon my power over flame to conjure a fire that no rain could extinguished, and that blazed strong enough to be seen from the village she left. And so the rest came, just in time to find her and carry her down the mountain to the village healer."
"As she told everyone what happened, they realized it was through providence of the spirits that I was sent to them. They would have lost one of their own, were I not there to accompany her and to signal them for help. It was the force of destiny at work. And so they've chosen to enshrine me here as their goddess, to protect their village and bestow blessings upon them."
Ashton seemed completely entranced by this tale, finding it to be the most interesting thing in at least a year or two. He had seen and heard some things before, but honestly, he hasn't been around as much as he wished. So, the story that the goddess was telling was pretty damn cool.
The vampire turned to the attendant for but a moment, slightly inclining his head. He acknowledged her presence, but nothing more. Right now, Athanasia was more important.
From time to time, Ashton would nod or similarly show he was paying attention to the story. After it finished, he gave a few small claps, a large smile on his face. "That was a damn good story! Really, the best one I've heard in some time! Thank you, Athanasia."
"I must say, I have hear tales of the dragonriders of Adela, but I thought they were just that: tales. It seems like I was wrong...you must be an extremely powerful being, to be known as a goddess! I can certainly understand why your people revere you so."
Kaeth began to caw incessantly at Ashton, occasionally giving him a small peck. The vampire waved his familiar away, taking a moment to fix his hair, which had been ruined by the bird. "Alright, alright, I hear you! Impatient little blighter..." After getting Kaeth to calm down, Ashton turned back to the goddess. "Athanasia, I must apologize for the rudeness of my companion. He won't leave me alone unless I ask, though. He wishes to know when the meat will be brought here." Ashton glared at his avian companion, looking thoroughly irritated. "There, are you happy now?"
Oh, how she loved to bask in the rightful adulation! Athanasia loved telling this story, watching awe light up the faces of the audience. Gods truly did thrive on prayers and worship. It was the best part about being visited by new travelers - some of her villagers were starting to get accustomed to stories of her majesty, but outsiders never did.
"If you wish to see dragonriders, look up" she advised him. "You may get lucky and see some in flight. I had the opportunity several times, myself, but I chose not to call out to them."
The crow cawed, and Athanasia inclined her head, curious. Did he have a question, or something to say? When Ashton translated, the goddess couldn't stop an indulgent smile. Ah, the concerns of flesh.
Then her belly rumbled.
She motioned at one of the attendants, who hurried to answer. "It should be arriving soon." The girl moved closer to the door and sniffed the air. "Oh, I think it's on the way!"
Spoiler
Feel free to have the long-awaited food arrive in your post :D
"I see. My, I feel a bit foolish...to think that the dragonriders were above me, and I didn't even think of looking up...no matter. I will get my chance another time." Ashton's gaze snapped to the attendant near the door, a large smile appearing on his face. At last, the food had arrived.
He got a strange glint in his eye, though it quickly vanished. He had to keep himself under control, at least until the meat was here. And, after a few moments, it arrived! The vampire licked his lips in anticipation, waiting for the food to be distributed.
After he had been served, Ashton thanked the goddess and the attendant, the smile still remaining. "Thank you for the meal. I look forward to it..." Then, seemingly out of nowhere, he snapped. In stark contrast to his earlier behavior, this was almost animal-like. His sharp teeth easily ripped apart the flesh of whatever poor animal had been cooked. Some of the meat was given to Kaeth, who proceeded to dig into his own meal. Their meat was quickly devoured by the two, ending their vicious display.
After his meat was gone, the man seemed to come to his senses, shaking his head slightly. Ashton realized what had happened, and embarrassment appeared on his face for but a moment. "My apologies, Athanasia. I am sorry you had to see that. It has been far too long since I have had a proper meal, and I tend to get quite....savage when I haven't eaten in a while. It was truly amazing, though."
The meat had sated the pair's hunger, though it was less so for the vampire. It wasn't human flesh, but it would suffice for now. His voice lowered somewhat as he began to think aloud. "Yes...amazing food....not my preferred meat, but I doubt I could dine upon your citizens...it works, though."
The attendants were staring. One even murmured something too faint for Athanasia's ears to catch. She glared at the girl, shutting her up. She would not have her servants comment on her guests! Neither Kaeth nor Ashton have done anything objectionable - it was the nature of mortals to require food. And she doubted that beings of great power, such as dragons or mighty beasts, bothered to feed in a manner the lessers would find appealing.
Athanasia glanced back at her guests. Fortunately, it seemed that the attendants' rudeness did not affect them overmuch. She still noticed that Ashton was muttering something too quiet for her to catch and hurried to make up for the breach of etiquette. "I assure you, my servants will be properly punished for their rude staring."
Affect them? No, not really. Ashton didn't even notice the attendants actions, though Kaeth did. Upon hearing Athanasia's words, the vampire chuckled. "Stare if you wish, it doesn't bother me. I do not think they need to be punished, though I will not stop you if you deem it necessary." Ashton really did not mind if they were staring at him. In fact, he seemed to enjoy the attention! He was rather vain, after all.
"I must thank you once more for your hospitality, O Goddess. Few people have been as kind as you." He was silent for a few moments, snatching a small scrap of meat that was left over from his meal. Popping it into his mouth, he savored the rich flavors contained within it. "Truly delectable...but, all good things must end eventually. Athanasia, is there anything else you require? My stories may be waning, but I will do whatever I can to repay you."
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OOC STUFF: Sorry for the wait!
It was a great day. Not only did Athanasia hear so many wondrous tales about the world outside, but also earned an oath from an exciting new person! She stayed at the shrine, listening raptly to what Ashton had to tell. When she grew hungry, she had the attendants bring her some food, and so the day has passed. No villagers showed up to request her blessing - a good thing for once. Most of the time, she enjoyed times to exercise her power, but that day she wanted no interruptions.
She did not see the sun from beyond the shrine walls, but the attendants at the door noticed the change in the light outside. When refilling the water, one of her people requested permission to speak - and, as it was time for a break in stories, she granted it.
"It is getting late, Mistress of the Crimson Flame" the boy reported. "Night is falling and it shall be time soon for us to leave. Oh- is Master Ashton going to spend the night?"
Yes, the day was truly amazing. As the hours passed by, Ashton was able to eat, drink and enjoy the company of a goddess--something he never thought would happen on a day like this. Whether he was telling the stories or hearing one, the vampire was having a great time. But, all good things must end eventually.
Once the attendant mentioned the time, the vampire looked outside, somewhat disappointed. "Nighttime already? That is too bad...I was having such a good time, too..." Rising from the rather comfortable pillow, he stretched, brushing a speck of dust from his clothes. Kaeth had been flying around for a bit, but perched on Ashton's shoulder after he finished standing. His preparations complete, the man bowed to Athanasia.
"Unfortunately, I must take my leave. I asked for a place to rest, and you have granted that. Now would be the best time for me to leave, before the sun comes out once more. However, I will be sure to visit again in the future. Perhaps when I have more tales to tell, hm?"
Athanasia accepted Ashton's response instinctively, without even raising an eyebrow. The attendants appeared worried, fools. They wouldn't understand - humans were a weak people, lacking the fangs, claws and might of greater creatures like herself and the .
"Then go with my blessing. And I would welcome your company in the future, should your path bring you to my domain again."
The vampire nodded one final time, acknowledging Athanasia's words. He
would come back to this place in the future, he was sure of it. It may be in several months, or even several decades. However, he would be back. After all, the village was far too nice to only visit once.
Before he left the shrine, Ashton removed a golden ring from his finger, tossing it to one of the attendants. It was highly polished, bearing the visage of a grinning skull with small rubies embedded within the eye sockets. The vampire did not want to part with the trinket, but chose to leave it as a parting gift for the goddess.
"Farewell, O Goddess. May we meet again another time." Finally exiting the shrine, Ashton slipped away into the night.
Spoiler
At last, it is over! For Ashton, at least. I figured now would probably be the best time to end it, at least in my opinion. Thanks for the thread, I had a lot of fun writing with ya!