[hider=Lilith's Descent Series]

Collab with theKeltz and Rezo

[hider=Drifting to somewhere]
[h3]Lilith's Descent: Drifting to somewhere[/h3]

Lilith was pushed between a rock and a hard place. Once the crime lord of Dadaelous. Somehow she went from being the queen of the underworld to a betrayer of it, to now a pawn of the OPAO principality. Never in her life had she felt so used...except when she was left by her first boyfriend in high school for her best friend, a boiling point in Lilith's descent into crime, but that event between her first criminal act was not directly connected, more psychologically influential. Lilith was sitting in a seat aboard a small personal spacecraft given to her by Neema. The one-person craft was equipped with state of the art navigation systems and technology to make it fast, agile, and tremendously smooth. Lilith was not a spacefarer. In fact, space gave her anxiety, the ship however was already loaded up with the coordinates that were identified on the drive she stole from the database back in Dadaelous. Neema made sure the spacecraft was also idiot-proof with the help of some of her top engineers.

In the distance, she saw through the large space glass window a black energetic source that looked otherworldly. A black hole? Lilith thought. It wasn't a black hole, but a wormhole, one of the gates left behind by something beyond Lilith's capacity of knowledge. All she knew was the ship she was riding had instructions to head right toward it. Panicking, Lilith tried to override, fumbling with keys and the A.I. assistant on-board but to no avail. Her clearance was obsolete, she literally was a passenger on a ship being controlled by her puppet master - Neema.

Instead, Lilith took deep breathes as her seat became closer to the phenomenon which seemed to go into an endless black void. Lilith without much confidence she survives screamed as her ship was pulled in. The wormhole crushed her sense of orientation ripping her through deep space like a driver smashing a golf ball down the fairway. Lilith felt as if the ship's exterior was being crushed like a tin can against hydraulics. Soon she couldn't feel the difference between herself and the ship, she was somewhere between her mind and a place in space completely foreign to her human senses. Then...it was over.

Lilith simply arrived. The rest of her felt existence catching up smoothly with her. What had felt like being compressed between compactors, ended as quickly as it began. The terror filling her body when being ripped through the wormhole subsided. Immediately a screen took up a portion of the large glass space window, "Lilith do you copy?" Neema had appeared on the screen.

Lilith yelled, "You ****ing b****, where am I! WHAT IS GOING ON?" Neema absorbing Lilith's energy with ease replied, "You went through what is referred to as a gate. You survived and have now entered a completely new region of space the OPAO or the Dominion if my information is correct has ever been." Lilith wanted to kill Neema, wrapping her fingers around Neema's little throat was the only thought keeping her focused, "I almost died, how do you plan on getting me back!" Neema nodded, "Of course, once you get eyes on the destination, we can turn your ship around and jump using the gate again."

Lilith screamed, "IT ALMOST KILLED ME NEEMA!" Neema let Lilith silence which was unusual, typically, Neema wouldn't tolerate the temper, but she needed Lilith to get eyes on whatever Dizzy was willing to sacrifice her fortunes and networks over. Once Lilith stopped yelling, Neema responded, "I understand, the ship will be fine, you will be fine." ..until she wasn't. The alarms of the ship began sounding. Neema's face went from composed to concerned, "What's going on?" Lilith's worry increased, "I HAVE NO F***ING CLUE, YOU SAID I'D BE FINE!"

The screen disconnected. Lilith was now alone and a sudden jerk of the spacecraft jostled her body hard. The A.I. Assistant turned on, "Emergency landing. Emergency landing. Coordinates detected. Prepare for impact. Keep buckled until landing is successful." The A.I. prompted, Lilith questioned, "What is the success rate?" The A.I. pinged on the screen potential damages, existing damages, location for landing, and percentage of success, "37% success." There was over 60% of exterior damage and 45% of interior damages done during the travel through the wormhole. Without much time to think after her question, terror built up into her gut and chest, the ship then jerked her again. Steel reinforcement descended down outside of the space window and in front of it to seal the glass from causing further damage during impact. Lilith was now in a one-manned spacecraft with no visibility or control as she careened through foreign space.[/hider]

[hider=The Arrival]
[h3]Lilith's Descent: The Arrival[/h3]

Lilith felt an amazing amount of gravitational force pulling her in all directions as her ship crashed into something hard. If not for her full suit of buckles she would have crushed every bone in her body. It was as if she was inside of a ping ball that had just been launched by the player and smacking into all of the bells earning the player big points without having to once use the pinball arms. Lilith had fallen unconscious a few times, each time waking up to the continuous rattling, free fall, and scraping of exterior walls against something outside. Until finally the final jerk of the ship happened. Lilith disoriented and unsure of where she was or which direction she was facing, raised her hand to unbuckle her straps. Instead of being seated, she immediately dropped from the chair down onto the steel-reinforced wall which protected the space window.

The impact loosened the ship from its position as it dropped again sending Lilith backward hitting her shoulder against the chair she had just fallen from. Her rib snapped against the side of a corner behind the chair where her body went from falling back to down on the ceiling. The ship was now wedged between something upside down giving Lilith a moment to collect a sense of direction. She rolled onto her stomach pushing herself up onto her knees until finally on her feet. Without knowing how much time she had, she moved to where a space helmet was located next to the door. She called for the A.I. if it was still operational to open the emergency pack for spacecraft evacuation. The A.I. responding opened the small door containing a space helmet and gear. Lilith got to her knees to grab it since the ship was upside down, the gear was closer to her feet.

After equipping the gear necessary for safely traveling outside of the spaceship depending on where she was, she asked the A.I. to open the side door. The side door opened but as it did, the ship loosened once more. Lilith with an immediate sense of impending doom lunged outside the door as the ship fell below her. She entered a space devoid of light but her hands were wrapped up into something that felt like wiring. Her right hand as she fell had caught enough of whatever "wiring" there was which responded by entangling her from shoulder to forearm.

Hanging by "wires" she swung from side to side, Lilith never did hear the ship hit bottom, it just kept falling. Lilith's helmet after recognizing the absence of light switched on revealing a small picture of where she was and what she was holding onto.

Lilith from her perspective was hanging in between an extremely deep canyon with black cords which appeared to have been once transferring some form of energy as electric wires would. The crevice was teeming with wiring stretched between one side to the other. Her ship had been heavy must rip through until enough entangle it to keep it from falling. For her, if she were to fall, odds were one of these wires would wrap her neck and snap it. The good news was she could use these wires to cross from where she was to the other side.

She took her left hand and reached for the closest wire while trying to unravel her right. Lilith after wrestling with the wire which wrapped around her right arm got it loose. Lilith then one hand crossing the other made her way to the other side. Once across she felt a physically flat surface beneath her feet strong enough to support her weight. After some mental arguing, she decided to trust the floor beneath her letting go of the wire and she dropped completely onto the flat surface. Her lights were only able to illuminate an edge and small corridor between two walls that reached up forever.

She took a second, deep breath, the only way forward was through the corridor. Lilith wanted to go home, she wanted to turn back, but she knew there was nothing to turn back too. This was the end of the line and each step only started a new point of no return, from here on, she was alone, and her only goal was to survive. About 10 minutes into her walk between a corridor big enough for her to only walk sideways, one of her lights went out. Lilith was alarmed by the HUD on her helmet that the other battery had about 2 minutes of life left. The crash wouldn't kill her, the fall wouldn't kill her, but being unable to see with no food or water in a place she didn't know up from down, north from south, east from west, would kill her. The second light turned off leaving her to the imagination and the sound of her own breathing to focus on.

Feeling with her hands and feet sliding inch-by-inch, there was a faint sound that cut into her rhythm of breathing. A sound similar to that of a snake hiss, maybe it was her mind creating its own stimulation. Lilith remembered back in high school she had a neurology class that stated some kind of science where the brain if not given enough stimulation would begin creating its own. The explanation was attached to the eye witness accounts of ghost encounters and how ghosts encounters were more prevalent during a specific time of human history when humans didn't have the technology to occupy them at night.

This line of recall had Lilith begin to think maybe she was already dead, and she was actually a ghost searching its way back to the world of things. If she were a ghost, would she know it? Lilith was cut short from her thoughts as her foot caught a hard object sending her down onto the ground. The helmet hit the floor cracking a piece of the glass. Lying there she tried finding a reason to continue, Lilith felt frustrated and hopeless...maybe if she took the helmet off there would be no air for her to survive...maybe suicide was the best option...but that faint sound was heard again...

*hiss*

*Some time earlier*

Sera’nae was exasperated. It’s been long since she had a meal. Though food could easily be gained in trade, by promising a future favor, not everyone got the same value. Her station meant she would have to do something menial and degrading at best. No, she preferred to find alternative means to survive. 

By chance, she overheard some interesting news near the Ves’ix district. Two figures belonging to one of the great clans, though she could not tell which, were careless and whispered something of note aloud. A ship in decay. A ship falling in the sky. A ship that crashed through the surface. And with a crashed ship came cargo. Perhaps food. Perhaps something worth food. And the pilot, perhaps dead, perhaps an easy meal. 

Though the pangs of hunger weakened her, the pain slowing her, the promise of food (as she convinced herself) seemed to ease the burden if slightly. Slithering through the maze of corridors was no easy task, Serekin rarely ventured to where heat was lacking nevermind mapping, she explored the outsides of Serekin society often enough. Enough to dot the walls every so often with lichen and fungus to either light the way or to satiate the hunger if briefly. After making several turns, going up a bit, then down, then back up. Open up a few fake walls. Navigate through some rubble. Get turned around for a bit then reorient herself. She began to wonder if what she overheard was accurate. The ship should be around here within a few hundred feet or so. But it wasn’t. Was the ship never here or was she lost?

Running low on hope, and the pain beginning to set back in, circumstance seemed to favor her yet again. Lost in thinking, only for pain to reel her back to reality, she noticed something amiss. Tracks in the ground that did not match Serekin, either slithering or walking. She saw prints that were strangely oval-ish. It led back to Serekin territory, somewhere these prints did not seem to belong. The owner seemed to realize this as the prints budged closer and closer together. As panic begins to set in, they likely found it difficult to step more than a few inches at a time. 

Finally, the scent hit her. A mix of anxiety and fear. She was getting close and could barely help but let quietly announce her joy in, what she assumes, will either be food or worth food. 

“⌇⎍⌇⏁⟒⋏⏃⋏☊⟒” she whispered. 

She was rewarded with a thud and the sound of glass breaking. The scent grew stronger, as if the thing grew resigned to what gloomy fate it assumed awaited. Then, at last, her quarry could be seen. “⎎⟟⋏⏃⌰⌰⊬” she hissed.  This was no creature she recognized, definitely a xeno. Human if what she heard was accurate. Poor thing could barely fit in between the walls and seemed to be afraid. Sera’nae sympathized somewhat, but she was starving and food is just lying there. The hunger is not a patient master to serve. It demanded death, and the reward was life, at least for a time… but what if… if it need not be this way. Yes, she could bring this xeno to one of the elders of a Great Clan. The xeno would provide some food, but to trade the xeno might be worth more food. Besides, it would be a pain to remove the wrapping this creature is in.

Lilith heard what sounded like a hiss again. Her eyes attempted to adjust but with almost zero light there was nothing for her eyes to catch. She heard the flicking again, were there snakes on Karbanna? She thought. Lilith tried getting up from where she had fallen. Her hands slipping on the wall surfaces between the corridor she could barely maneuver in. Lilith’s hand while trying to find an edge to help the rest of her body up caught a rough layer of something on the surface which illuminated in bioluminescence revealing the silhouette of a large creature which was weaving back and forth quickly. Lilith feeling immediately terrified attempted to orient herself to run the other direction but the corridor did not allow for her to adjust cleanly. She made a few more steps before tripping again over her feet but this time falling backward in the middle of transition. Breathing heavily from the adrenaline and fright, she believed the creature would soon be dragging her to the depths of wherever they took their prey to feast. Lilith wanted to shut her eyes and wished it all to be over, but after a few passing seconds, longer than she anticipated it would take for the creature to grab her, she opened her eyes, only to see the snake hanging above her as if it were figuring out what to do with her. 

As Sera’nae slithered closer to her prize, the creature grew more terrified as she smelled the fear and worry envelop her like a shroud. The horror culminated in one final flight, halted at it’s apex when Lilith lost her footing and fell backwards. The scent of Lilith became almost intoxicating for Sera’nae. The fear subconsciously reminding her of her diet, that she is a predator. And before her lie prey who made a fatal mistake. Her body, or more specifically her stomach, reminded her of the urgency with the pains of hunger. Her mind however considered forgoing this meal now with the possibility of more later. Sera’nae knew one of the elders of a Great Clan would likely offer much for this creature. Sithax in particular is known to have queer curiosities and desires. Might be willing to offer enough food for Sera’nae to forget hunger. At least for quite some time. After a brief moment of deliberation, Sera’nae decided to follow her mind. She would need to calm the xeno down though. Though she felt sympathy, she did enjoy the feeling of being a preadator if for a time. Being Clanless, she rarely has such an opportunity and is often forced to scavenge.
 
“⟟⏁ ⟟⌇ ⍜☍ ⟟⏁ ⟟⌇ ⍜☍. ⟟ ⍙⟟⌰⌰ ⋏⍜⏁ ⏚⍀⟟⋏☌ ⊑⏃⍀⋔ ⏁⍜ ⊬⍜⎍. ⟟ ⟊⎍⌇⏁ ⍙⏃⋏⏁ ⏁⍜ ⏁⏃⌰☍” Sera’nae hissed. A bit of a longshot to calm the creature, but hopefully it can tell the truth in her words. Hopefully. Sera’nae detected a shift, a scent of confusion, but still shrouded in fear. Then Sera’nae realized her mistake. This creature is not Serekin, why would she expect it to know her language? Then how would she show she means no hostilities? Recede her fangs and hold her mouth open, to show no threat? No, probably not. Mouth is for food, and it would probably assume she intends to eat it. Offer it a morsel of something to swallow, wait no. She has no food, that was the point of this. Ah! Perhaps wrap herself around the xeno, slowly and gently. Perhaps if it felt itself in her embrace alive and unharmed it might get the intent. Thinking no other alternative, Sera’nae opted to envelop Lilith within her. A simple task since the xeno seemed to accept its fate. Even though Sera’nae was small for a Serekin, she was large enough to entrap Lilith, and after almost a minute of slow movements Sera’nae and Lilith came face to face and now Sera’nae waited for the Xeno to react.
Fear took a big bite out of Lilith’s flesh and began gnashing it’s teeth inside her stomach. There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. Lilith could barely see other than the faint light disbursed from the bioluminescent lichen that covered parts of the wall. She began to feel the meat of her fate begin to wrap around her waist and legs. It was a snake, Lilith thought. It felt like the beginning to the end of her story, a story long-time coming, and she thought she had more time than now. 

It wasn’t long but the snake did move slow, gentle almost, before completely wrapping itself around Lilith and staring directly into her eyes. The snake was so close, it had hissed a few times, maybe trying to communicate? Maybe trying to simply sense surroundings? Lilith wasn’t sure what the hissing was for - maybe tasting the scent of her? Lilith didn’t fight the end, it seemed to her a hopeless fantasy to survive wherever she was in pitch black darkness. Instead the snake face-to-face and now all Lilith could do was close her eyes.

But nothing happened. Lilith’s eyes opened up as a reptilian features gazed back at her. She wasn’t creeped out by snakes in particular, and for some odd reason being in the grips of death instead of anticipating death felt less tense. Lilith questioned, “Well, aren’t you going to eat me?” She didn’t understand why the snake just stared at her. She would rather get this next part over with than be played with.

Lilith opened her mouth but Sera’nae heard no words, just guttural sounds. Is this their speech? Is this how these humans communicate? So… alien. Communicating would be nigh impossible, but at least the human seemed less fearful. Less desperate, more predictable. She came here on a ship, presumably now in ruin since it crashed. Is she looking for light on the surface? Or shelter in the depths? Beyond that, why did she come to this planet? How did she find this planet? Just stumbling here blindly is of such a low chance it might as well be impossible. No, she came here for something. For a secret, and secrets remain so by being buried. Sithax would be interested in a xeno, even more in one that came here on purpose.

Lilith’s fear was replaced with confusion, something the Serekin sensed. ‘I think it understands I do not intend to eat it. For now at least.’ Sera’nae thought. Then an idea came. Though words are not suitable to communicate, perhaps she could use pictographs. Luckily, she had just the instrument to draw on the walls, if a bit rough. Reaching into a pouch tied around a band around her neck, she procured a chalk stick. Thankfully a black color to contrast against the whitish color of the wall. It was only a few minutes of quickly sketching where Lilith could see before Sera’nae finished. Grabbing some nearby lichen, she slowly moved it across the drawing so that it’s light can illuminate the drawings for Lilith.
 
The first set was of two figures. One a straight line, with a circle on top and four other straight lines attached, representing the head and four limbs) to the center line to represent the Human. The other, a squiggly line with four straight lines attached to represent the Serekin. The two figures were located underneath a curved line representing the planet, indicating they are underground. Below the two figures was an arrow pointing down, further underground. This is to represent that Sera’nae wishes for them both to venture further into the depths of Karbana.
 
The second was of several large ovals connected with sets of parallel lines, to indicate caves. Inside were many more figures indicating Serekin. Of note was one particular figure in one particular cave that was surrounded with a circle, and a long arrow leading from the other caves. Sera’nae hopes Lilith can recognize that she seeks to bring her to a specific Serekin.
 
The third and final showed a rough profile view of a Serekin, mouth slightly open and emitting small lines. Adjacent and facing the Serekin was a profile view of the Human. Also with its mouth open and emitting the same lines. From this, Sera’nae hoped the Human would recognize that she intends to communicate that there is a Serekin that can communicate to Lilith. Though Sera’nae was not sure if this was true, she felt that if anyone would know how to speak the human’s language it would either be Hathax or Sithax, if not both. Hopefully the human would believe this lie.
 
After giving the Human some time to view the drawings, she held out the chalk for Lilith to take and attempt to communicate if she wished.

Lilith observed as the snake did not choose to eat her. Instead, it tried communicating using the lichen’s bioluminescence as a way to create symbols on the wall. An ancient technique humans used on cave walls in their earlier primitive days, but the psychological significance of such an evolutionary tool never did lose its power even after the time that had passed for human life. The symbols appeared to Lilith with ease. It was her, the snake, the world, and their orientation - where they’d be going or where the snake was directing them to go. Lilith without much room for negotiating erased the snake and her. Then redrew them holding hands to symbolize an agreement.[/hider] 

[hider=Discovering the Serekin Mind]
[h3]Lilith’s Descent: Discovering the Serekin Mind[/h3]


It was, thankfully, a short journey void of conflict. Sera’nae knew these passages well. She knew every twist and turn, and though Lilith had occasional trouble with the difficult terrain, Sera’nae aided her and they both came to the final cavern. The markings and banners indicating it was Yuklas territory, the Great Clan led by Sithax and responsible for the tonics, tinctures, potions, poisons, venom, etc. that the Serekin ingest and employ.
 
This cavern had many amenities whether artificial or real. The proximity to Karbana Kinnis’ power generators in an adjacent cave provides plenty of heat for the Serekin. Underground springs provided fresh water to drink and moisten dried scales. A pen of Zoogs for whenever a Serekin needs to feed. There was much here to make a Serekin comfortable.
 
“⍙⊑⏃⏁ ⏃⍀⟒ ⊬⍜⎍ ⎅⍜⟟⋏☌ ⊑⟒⍀⟒ ⏃⋏⎅ ⍙⊑⊬ ⏚⍀⟟⋏☌ ⏁⊑⟟⌇ ☊⍀⟒⏃⏁⎍⍀⟒ ⍙⟟⏁⊑ ⊬⍜⎍?” A Serekin slithered up to Sera’nae. He wore ornate silver armor, with intricate inscriptions and designs indicating he belongs to the Tatzu Great Clan. The Serekin was certainly out of place, the Yuklas are typically at the forefront of style but they forgoe armor in favor of robes. ‘Perhaps a guard on loan.’ Sera’nae thought. “⟟ ⌇⟒⟒☍ ⌇⟟⏁⊑⏃⌖. ⟟ ⍜⎎⎎⟒⍀ ⏃ ⊑⎍⋔⏃⋏ ⎎⍜⍀ ⏁⍀⏃⎅⟒.” Sera’nae replied, ignoring that the other Serekin was sizing her up. He had a few feet and maybe fifty pounds on her, if it came to a fight she would not fare well. The Serekin responded with a stare, as if deciding between several different ideas, before glancing at Lilith.
 
Getting another idea, the Serekin opted to observe her. Aggressively. The Serekin slithered around Lilith several times, occasionally touching here and there to get a feel for her as well as her scent. Though he gripped Lilith roughly, jolting her around a bit in his inspection, Sera’nae did not worry. Or at least not a lot. She knew that a common trait many of the Tatzu shared was a dominating one. They liked to show they were in charge in any situation, but not here. This is Yuklas territory. Sithax held much influence, his words held great weight. Especially here in his domain. The male Serekin would not dare be so foolish as to risk harming this Human, Sera’nae was sure of it. “⟟ ⍙⟟⌰⌰ ☌⍜ ⏁⟒⌰⌰ ⊑⟟⋔.” The male Serekin said at last, before slithering away.
 
Sera’nae was thankful Lilith was able to hold her composure, at least physically. Unfortunately, scent can betray one’s feelings to those perceptive enough. Now all they needed to do was wait for the Serekin to fetch Sithax. With nothing to do, Sera’nae led Lilith to one end of the cave where they could rest, and give Lilith a moment to gather her thoughts.
Lilith was unsure of the snake people and the world she was on, or rather, in. The maze that was Karbanna Kinnis eluded any mental constructs she had developed this far in her life. Before she realized, Lilith and her snake guide approached a cavern where they walked only to be approached by a larger snake who decided to violate her space. There was a potent smell that wafted into her nostrils that made them want to run off Lilith’s face, unfortunately her nostrils stayed put. Lilith was brought back to the end of the cave. There was enough light illuminating a place for her to sit after all this travel. Still uncomfortable and uncertain of her fate, the exposure to her snake guide had dissipated the fears she once held onto. Instead, Lilith was more passive about her potential doom, she also thought that if she were going to die, they wouldn’t have brought her this far...then again...a meal carrying itself is a lot less taxing on the back.

Ruminating on her situation she kept coming back to, how could she help these snake people? If she could answer that, then feeding on her would be less enticing. 


A dozen or so minutes later, the two were approached by a few robed Serekin figures. The one in the center could clearly be identified as Sithax. Though he was only a little larger than the average Serekin, he tended to hunch over more than other Serekin when standing, giving him a more diminutive appearance. He wore a blood red robe with accents of yellow. Several bands of various precious metals were worn around his neck and tail, each band was inscribed with different symbols. Several golden rings were pierced through the throat, from each hung an odd trinket from golden chains an inch or two from the rings. Sithax also had with him an ornate silver staff. The staff was fully covered in odd symbols engraved in the staff. The most discerning feature of the staff was a golden serpent coiled around the top third of the staff. The figure lacked arms and legs like the Serekin and instead had several pairs of large feathery wings, and from the top of the staff protruded it’s head, mouth open as if to swallow something.
 
The two Serekin to Sithax’s side were not as decorated as him and only half as eye catching as Serekin. Their robes were simpler and indicated they were of the Yuklas Clan. “⏃ ⏁⍜☍⟒⋏ ⍜⎎ ⏁⊑⏃⋏☍⌇ ⎎⍀⍜⋔ ⌇⟟⏁⊑⏃⌖.” One hissed before tossing something towards Sera’nae. Quickly recognizing it as a Zoog, Sera’nae snatched in the air and swallowed it whole and finally satisfying her hunger. “⊬⍜⎍ ⏃⍀⟒ ☊⌰⏃⋏⋏⌰⟒⌇⌇, ⏃⍀⟒ ⊬⍜⎍ ⋏⍜⏁?” Sithax questioned Sera’nae.
 
“⋏⍜, ☌⍀⟒⏃⏁ ⏃⌰☊⊑⟒⋔⟟⌇⏁. ⋏⍜ ☊⌰⏃⋏ ⍙⏃⋏⏁⟒⎅ ⋔⟒.” Sera’nae replied. Confused as to why he asked that question.
 
“⏁⊑⟟⌇ ⊑⎍⋔⏃⋏, ⍙⊑⏃⏁ ⎅⍜ ⊬⍜⎍ ⍙⏃⋏⏁ ⎎⍜⍀ ⏚⍀⟟⋏☌⟟⋏☌ ⟟⏁ ⊑⟒⍀⟒?”
 
“⏃⌰⌰ ⟟ ⎅⟒⌇⟟⍀⟒ ⟟⌇ ⎎⍜⍜⎅. ⟒⋏⍜⎍☌⊑ ⌇⍜ ⟟ ⍙⍜⋏'⏁ ⊑⏃⎐⟒ ⏁⍜ ⍙⍜⍀⍀⊬ ⟟⎎ ⟟'⌰⌰ ☌⟒⏁ ⏁⍜ ⟒⏃⏁ ⎎⍜⍀ ⏃ ⍙⊑⟟⌰⟒.”
 
“⟟ ⌇⟒⟒... ⟟ ⍀⟒⌇⌿⟒☊⏁ ⊬⍜⎍⍀ ⍀⟒⌇⏁⍀⏃⟟⋏⏁. ⏁⍜ ⏃⎐⍜⟟⎅ ⟒⏃⏁⟟⋏☌ ⌇⎍☊⊑ ⏃⋏ ⟒⏃⌇⊬ ⌿⍀⟒⊬ ⏃⌇ ⏁⊑⟟⌇. ⏃⋏⎅ ⏁⍜ ⊑⏃⎐⟒ ⏁⊑⟒ ⍙⟟⌇⎅⍜⋔ ⏁⍜ ⏁⍀⏃⎅⟒ ⟟⏁ ⎎⍜⍀ ⋔⍜⍀⟒ ⌇⎍⌇⏁⟒⋏⏃⋏☊⟒ ⏁⊑⏃⋏ ⟟⏁ ☊⍜⎍⌰⎅ ⌿⍀⍜⎐⟟⎅⟒ ⏚⊬ ⟒⏃⏁⟟⋏☌ ⟟⏁. ⟟ ⍙⟟⌰⌰ ☌⍀⏃⋏⏁ ⊬⍜⎍ ⏃☊☊⟒⌿⏁⏃⋏☊⟒ ⟟⋏⏁⍜ ⏁⊑⟟⌇ ☊⌰⏃⋏, ⏃⋏⎅ ⍙⟟⌰⌰ ⏁⍀⏃⟟⋏ ⊬⍜⎍ ⌿⟒⍀⌇⍜⋏⏃⌰⌰⊬ ⟟⋏ ⍜⎍⍀ ⏃⍀⏁⌇. ⟟ ⊑⏃⎐⟒ ⎎⍜⍀⌇⟒⟒⋏ ⎐⟟⌇⟟⍜⋏⌇ ⍜⎎ ⏁⊑⟒ ⎎⎍⏁⎍⍀⟒ ⟟⋏ ⋔⊬ ⎅⍀⟒⏃⋔⌇. ⏁⊑⟒⊬ ⏃⍀⟒ ⏚⌰⎍⍀⍀⊬, ⎍⋏☊⌰⟒⏃⍀ ⏁⍜ ⋔⟒ ⏚⎍⏁ ⟟ ⎎⟒⟒⌰ ⏁⊑⏃⏁ ⎎⏃⏁⟒ ⊑⏃⌇ ⏚⍀⍜⎍☌⊑⏁ ⊬⍜⎍ ⏚⍜⏁⊑ ⊑⟒⍀⟒.”
 
Sera’nae was surprised by the offer, it was more than she was expecting. She needed a moment to ensure that, yes, that is what Sithax said. She asked for food but Sithax offered real opportunity. She need not be a scavenger any longer. It was, in all senses, an offer she could not refuse. “⊬⟒⌇ ☌⍀⟒⏃⏁ ⏃⌰☊⊑⟒⋔⟟⌇⏁. ⟟ ⍙⟟⌰⌰ ⍙⏃⟟⏁ ⊑⟒⍀⟒ ⎎⍜⍀ ⎎⎍⍀⏁⊑⟒⍀ ⟟⋏⌇⏁⍀⎍☊⏁⟟⍜⋏. ☌⟟⎐⟒ ⊬⍜⎍ ⏁⟟⋔⟒ ⏁⍜ ☊⍜⋏⎐⟒⍀⌇⟒ ⍙⟟⏁⊑ ⏁⊑⟒ ⊑⎍⋔⏃⋏. ⏁⊑⍜⎍☌⊑ ⟟ ⊑⏃⎐⟒ ⎎⟒⌰⏁...⌇⊬⋔⌿⏃⏁⊑⊬. ⏁⊑⟒ ⊑⎍⋔⏃⋏ ⍙⏃⌇ ⌇⍜ ⌇☊⏃⍀⟒⎅ ⏁⍜ ⏚⟒ ⌇⏁⍀⏃⋏⎅⟒⎅ ⊑⟒⍀⟒. ⟟ ⏃⌇☍ ⏁⊑⏃⏁ ⍙⟒ ⏚⍀⟟⋏☌ ⋏⍜ ⊑⏃⍀⋔ ⏁⍜ ⊑⟒⍀ ⏃⋏⎅ ⏁⊑⏃⏁ ⊬⍜⎍ ⏁⟒⌰⌰ ⊑⟒⍀ ⏁⍜ ⍀⟒⋔⟒⋔⏚⟒⍀ ⋔⟒.”
 
Sithax then turned to Lilith, eyeing her for a moment and decided on the words to use. They would be historic and would play a large roll in shaping the future for the both of them. At last, he spoke.
 
“Apologies Human, I needed a word with your ssss map? No, guide. I smell your confusion and I will explain more in my ssss well, I think office would be the closest word. There we can hiss ssss converse where eyes do not pry. This way please ssss.” Sithax ledled Lilith to a dark corner of the cavern, certainly just nigh of pitch black to her but for the silhouette of Sithax. At the end of the cave, Sithax interacted with something in the dark, mechanical clicking and sliding were her only clues, some sort of puzzle lock? After a few seconds, the sounds of gears whirring and mechanical clicking answered her question, then the wall split inwards revealing a hidden room. The room was lit enough for her human eyes to see. Before she had much of a chance to look around, Sithax demanded her attention.
 
“You have come far from your home human. For someone to come here by accident is nigh impossible. No, I know you come here seeking something. I have dreamed of it. You accessing our wormholes. Crashing, being found by ⌇⟒⍀⏃'⋏⏃⟒, your guide. I have seen our meeting; I have seen the two of us looking for secrets long dead. Most of the pieces I have seen, but still the puzzle is incomplete. Let me be the first to introduce myself, in your tongue, you can call me Sithax. Let me ssss dissuade your fears, I mean no harm. Our fates, at this moment, are intertwined so believe me when I say that I will come to regret impeding you. What I want to know now is, who are you? Who sent you here? And why have they sent you?”

Lilith was confused. There was no other explanation of her feelings. All she could do was follow her story, at this point, there were no controls, fate gripped it’s paws around her waist moving her along. Lilith was led by a much more regal looking snake, the presence of this one stirred the others, kept them “upright”. Then the regal snake spoke, IN ENGLISH! Lilith couldn’t believe her life anymore…it would have made more sense had she fallen with her ship. Lilith, surprised by the regal snake’s politeness, followed as it gestured the way. 

Entering a room after a mechanical door opened the regal snake left no room for small talk. Lilith thought, Sithax? Intertwined fates? Impeding her? What was this snake trying to do? Befriend her? Lilith went from believing she was food, to now being treated as a friend? What was the angle of this thing? AND WHY COULD IT SPEAK ENGLISH? Lilith silenced her mind and responded, “My name is Lilith, I discovered coordinates of a location that led me to this world. I was only supposed to report back, not come down to investigate...unfortunately the wormhole damaged my ship. Before falling my suit pinged the coordinates to be even further than expected, but the suit has no more battery life, so I don’t know where to find what I was looking for. Now I am here.” She paused, “I have a question?”, she paused again, “What do you mean you’ve seen our meeting and looking for secrets long dead?”  


“Ah yes, I was told your arrival wassss. Met with a sudden end. By now your ship will likely have been disassembled by the planet’s automatons. It did not arrive in good shape and they tend to remove what issues they can not fix. As for your question, I mean what I said. I have foreseen events present and future in my dreams, if but only glimpses. These dreams are not as your kind sees them, Lilith, for my people have learned how to travel to ssss. The land of dreams. We all have dreams. Whether to guide us, to remember, to experience, or perhaps another of a myriad of reasons. This ssss, realm, if you will, is where we all go. Though, we each have our own spaces. Sometimes we have ventured into your kind’s dreams, sometimes your kind ventures into ours. But unlike you Humans, we have learned to come and go as we please, and how to traverse past the surface, to where strange things are possible and, in this case, glimpse into the future. I have seen parts of what is to come for the both of us, I hope you are ready. The only advice I can give, is to remember who you are and most importantly, why you are. Any more questions?”
Did she hear this thing right? The serpent was an astral projecting dream walking guru? If she were back home, she’d have burst in laughter. But, she was talking ENGLISH to a walking snake which spoke to prophetic dream dramas, “Only one,” Lilith replied, “Where do we go from here?” she asked. 

Sithax chuckled. “To find your path, we must visit the past. You claim to not know where the co-ordinates lead, but you do. Ssssomewhere in your mind lies that which was forgotten. Perhaps the trauma of the crash hazed your memory, or maybe you only got a glimpse at the co-ordinates, to brief to consciously register. But it is in there somewhere. “Sithax gently pressed a claw against Lilith’s forehead to illustrate his point. “To the dreamlandssss, we must venture, there I can make you remember. There I can lead us to our fate. All you need to do is sleep, and I will join you in your dreams. I will control your dreams to find those co-ordinates, then we can go from there.”
 
Sithax then slithered to the end of the room, to a metal panel that resided within the cavern walls. After fumbling with something out of view the safe replied with the sound of mechanical clicking. As the plate slowly budged to the side, a thin fog wafted out from the chamber, the cool temperatures within colliding with the moisture in the room. Sithax plucked a sort of ‘box’ made out of ornate golden serpents shaped in a way to hold the glass vials upright. Within the vials were viscous liquids with a consistency similar to ketchup and of various colors.  “This potion should help ssss. Sleep find you quickly.” Sithax hissed, giving a red one to Lilith. “Sorry about the taste but it was not made with a palate in mind, never mind a Human’s. Once you pass into the other realm, stick with me. Some of those around here have queer nightmares and I’d hate for you to get lost in one. You won’t come to any harm but psychological. Waking with a fright is not very good for your health. With our ssss waking selves in the same room, it will be a breeze for me to shift through your memories and project them as a shared dream, I will need you to help me to identify relevant memories though. So drink up now, it’s this or I inject venom into you with my own fangs. I’ll let you choose which way to get you to sleep.”
Lilith did not quite understand the mystic tongued serpent with its various riddles of pasts, dreams, and memories. She also didn’t have much of a choice, according to Sithax, her fate had already been preordained. Lilith was assured by Sithax there would be no imminent danger, but his reassurance was of no comfort, she reached out to take the red vial Sithax provided. She was asked to drink up or else...so she drank the putrid filth that seemed to stick in her throat. The substance was awful which led to her gagging, then coughing, falling to her knees she puked, rolled over, and blacked out. For a moment she thought to be dead. There was a humming in her ear, then kaleidoscope shapes and colors appeared twisting in harmony. The shapes became closer and the humming raised louder until her awareness popped through the other side...vast illuminated-darkness...and then it all came rushing to her with Sithax in mind.[/hider]

[hider=Dreamer]
[h3]Lilith’s Descent: Dreamer[/h3]


Sithax was pleasantly surprised that Lilith willingly drank the concoction, he thought he would have to get her to sleep with his venom. He was, however, disappointed in the Human retching up most of the potion she ingested. ‘Perhaps it was too much a dose? This Human is smaller than most Serekin, I will need to learn the average Human size later so as to figure a effective dosage.’ Sithax thought as Lilith began to slumber. Once she fully succumbed to sleep, Sithax positioned her sitting against the wall. Being passed out on the floor like that is unbecoming, at least for a Serekin. He wondered for a moment if all Humans were this ungraceful, before coming to a coiled position next to Lilith and slowed his mind. He knew a few tricks to fall asleep fast, one tends to figure out these things when the alternative is that file potion.
 
Sithax has travels to the realm of dreams so many times that the passage is a quick affair. Little more than simply being in one place, blinking, then finding oneself somewhere else. Or, at least it would if Serekin had eyelids. Sithax waited for Lilith to fall asleep first, so he can bring himself to Lilith’s dreams and, well, it looked almost the same as where he just once. A few imperfections here and there as Lilith probably had not gotten a good look around the room while she was awake. One more noticeable difference was that Lilith was still on the ground, partially in her vomit.
 
“what are you doing lying in your own bile?” Sithax hissed, slightly upset. “Are you Humans normally this ⎅⟟⌇☌⎍⌇⏁⟟⋏☌, this disgusting? Regardless I’d rather not have your recent meal stick with us” Sithax said, before tapping his staff to the ground a few times. Suddenly, the vomit was no longer there, not even the smell. “Now, please visualize where you might have last seen the coordinates, or at least the room you were in. Don’t worry about when, we don’t need to be that specific. Once we have a location of where the coordinates once were, we can isolate the frame of time and with some help from me, figure out where we need to go next.”

Lilith raised her eyes to meet Sithax who stood above her. He tapped his staff 1-2-3 and the vomit she had not even realized was on her disappeared. She shrugged off his question about Humans, it was his gross vial that created the mess, her being a Human had no connection with being disgusting other than the disgusting vial. Sithax asked her to visualize where she might have seen the coordinates, the reason for her even having crashed here in the first place...she tried recollecting...where would she have - I got it! Lilith thought which actually bellowed out into the room since she was in her own dream. As soon as she thought of the place, the dream shifted quickly, both her and Sithax stood inside of her spaceship just before it came crashing down onto Sithax’s world. The coordinates were saved on the navigational HUD of the cockpit, Lilith pointed to Sithax as she approached the HUD, “these are the coordinates.”

“These are the coordinates? How could Humans have gained this information…” Sithax wondered aloud.“This is a very intriguing development. And very controversial information.” Sithax hissed, turning towards Lilith. “You seek the resting place of the ⏚⟒⌰'⌇⊑⟒⋏. The exiled clan. What is our part in this? What secrets are to be found? Knowledge? Or something more tangible? Nevertheless, I am guided to aid you. Don’t make me regret it.” Sithax pondered for a moment, reflecting on where fate would guide him. “It seems we are done here, hold still and this will only be a slight discomfort.” Sithax announced, barely giving Lilith time to react before he sprung at her like a coiled spring, intending to waken her through fright or by killing her dream self.

Lilith sprang out of sleep. She gasped for air catching her breath as fright smacked her heart. Lilith rolled to her side and picked herself up off the floor about 6 feet from Sithax. The two had the coordinates of Lilith’s purpose. Sithax was going to bring her there.[/hider]


[hider=The Exiled One]
[h3]Lilith’s Descent: The Exiled One[/h3]


Sithax led Lilith what felt like even deeper into whatever construct Sithax’s species lived in or on. The two arrived at a large cryptic door with engravings of a language foreign to Lilith’s eyes. Most of what she encountered recently was foreign to her eyes. Sithax approached the large door briefly waving his magic of wisdom that initiated a sequence of events that opened it. Lilith followed Sithax cautiously, she was feeling the end of her journey was a lot closer than she may have hoped. Inside contained a large pod hanging in the center suspended mid-way in the room. Lilith tried observing the room but again it was much too dark to gain any sort of understanding of what this place might be. Lilith looked to Sithax, “Where are we and what is that?”

“This is where our paths diverge.” Sithax replied, taking in the scents of the room deeply. “That pod contains the hibernating body of one of my species. Judging by the inscriptions on the wall, the Elder for this exiled clan. Or at least it should. Something smells… off.” Sithax knew all too well about this technology inherited from their ancestors. In fact, it was pioneered from one of his forebears. The pod itself was nothing special, just some synthesized leathery substance. No the real key was the liquid inside. The chemical reagent is capable of preserving a body long after it naturally should have expired, as if in frozen in time, it also revitalizes and enhances the occupant. This later become the basis for Sithax’s own Viper serum. But, the master of alchemy has a sort of sixth sense for this sort of things. Something was off. It smelled…potent. Concentrated. There is something odd about this room.
 
Slithering to the walls, Sithax decided a little further exploration was wise. The walls were written on in a different dialect than he knew, but it made sense. Clans often invent new ways to say some words, and forget others compared to other clans. The writing itself was odd, part history and part prophecy. But it did confirm some of Sithax’s suspicions. This room is meant to keep something preserved. Something important, but it does not mention the names of any Serekin Sithax knew of. ⌇⟒⌰'☌⏃⍀. An unfamiliar name, probably who is in the pod. The text goes on about the deeds of this individual, some of which seemed familiar to Sithax, like he was around. Or maybe he heard of them and is misplacing time and place. As the text continued, it only raised more questions.
 
“I think the clan’s last, and perhaps current, Elder is in that pod. But I can’t be certain, nothing in this room is giving me any clues. I think I am here to awaken whatever is in it.” Sithax said, eyeing an alchemy station against another wall. With just the right ingredients to create a reagent to counter the one in the pod. “Give me a few minutes, I need to make a reagent.” Sithax said to Lilith, slithering to the table where he began the process.
 
The reagent is a very precise mixture, it is all to easy to mess it up. But for Sithax, it was child’s play. He knew it was just right when the resulting liquid had a faint green glow. “Got it just right. ⋏⍜⍙ ⏁⍜ ⟟⋏⟊⟒☊⏁ ⏁⊑⟟⌇” Sithax hissed. “Now I just need to inject this in the pod and let it do its work.” Sithax said, putting the mixture into a syringe. Sithax then slithered a few feet from the pod before coiling and springing into the air. Catching the side of the pod and slithering to the top where the container was the thinnest. He paused for a moment to make one last gleam into the pod. The pod itself was made of a partially light green leathery material. It was egg shaped and was suspended from the ceiling by a thick strand of the same material. The body of the pod was thin enough to be seen through but the dark red liquid within made it hard to see anything else but some vague form of…something within. Sithax then injected the reagent into the pod before Slithering back to the ground, waiting for the reaction.
 
As the reagent was introduced, the green liquid mixed with the red, creating a black liquid. This liquid reacted violently, the pod bulging in and out at places like bubbles were forming on its surface. Over a period of roughly 30 seconds the black liquid spread and seemingly consumed the occupant of the pod before settling still. Then the pod began stretching and ripping as the thing inside started to make its way out. From top to bottom a large tear formed as the liquid inside spilled out onto the floor. Then the figure inside began to pour out while at the same time, coincidentally or not, what light illuminated the room was extinguished. Unable to see, Sithax still had other senses to rely on and they sensed something moving along the ground towards Lilith. The thing moved with such speed Sithax had no time to say anything.

Lilith observed her guide who seemed to be well learned in the art of mixing chemicals. Sithax injected the leathery pod that hung above their head as if he was always destined to do so. There appeared to be no hesitation in Sithax’s line of movement and Lilith completely feeling herself in the dark could only make guesses at what was really happening here. Once the injection was complete she watched Sithax retreat slightly to gain space from the ancestral pod technology which began to react to his mixture. The pod ripped open violently. The room went black. Lilith could not even scream. She felt like her neck viced shut, her body reacting with an intensity of energy that felt like she was being shocked, an overload of mental stimulation gave her no bearing of a proper orientation as the intensity only raised in volume. Just as the lights of the room went out, the mental lights of her own mind ceased too. Lilith collapsed onto the floor and all was silent.[/hider]

[/hider]

[hider=Building Bridges]

Collab with DX and Rezo before the invasion of Dominion begins.

[h3]Building Bridges: Katrin of Saxony and Mayven of OPAO[/h3]

*ping* 

Mayven laid in bed as her Arcnaught flagship swam through the vast depths of space within the OPAO limits. Wearing only what was necessary, her long slim legs rolled over the edge as she raised herself into a seated position. She had been reviewing her daily notes on a clear tablet that seemed to effortlessly blend in with her environment except for the illuminated words emanating from the screen's interface. The tablet was brought with her when rising gracefully to walk over to a fixed hologram at the center of the room with a couch wrapped around it. 

Her high socks meeting the steel surface of the vessel with each soft step, she slid down onto a large leather-free white synthetic fabric wrapped around a seated area with the hologram table at the center. The deep silence of her cruise was cut by the introduction of the holographic message. It was the response to her request for a meeting with one of the faction leaders of Saxony, Katrin Siegel Von Wenhausen.

Upon accepting the request a holographic display of Katrin was shown in colors, albeit some blue imagery as the hologram attempted to display her. She wore her usual noble suit, a white vest with black pigment arms, black pants with gold accented lines, her long hair seemed a little more messy from the usual images of her. Seeing Mayven she smiled saying “Good to meet you miss Mayven i believe and good morning as well... i am sorry we cannot meet in person but our declaration kind of cut our means of travel without brining troubles to your state i hope this doesn't bother you miss”

Mayven smiled back at Katrin, “I understand. I want to thank you for taking the time to receive my message and answer back as promptly as you have. I am sure with the evolving events in Saxony you are a busy woman.” Mayven paused to let the silence punctuate the acknowledgement of Katrin’s importance to her nation, “I wanted to make contact with you as I understand it, you are a rising name within Saxony’s political scene. After your declaration the Orbital Principalities had success in retrieving a high-level executive of Octo Smith’s strategic defense forces. This individual has agreed to cooperate with us to weaken the Dominion.” Mayven paused again to let the revealing of a strategic source process in Katrin’s mind, “Due to Saxony’s most recent stance against the Dominion, we thought you may find interest in this executive’s information. He will be divulging locations, supply lines, and other various pain points that if hit could significantly weaken and create collapse for the Dominion in half the time, would you be interested in such information Ms. Wenhausen?” Mayven was leaning back on the couch, adjusting her crossed legs by switching leg position, she awaited her acquaintance's response. 

Katrin smiled as  Mayven told her about her job while it was true she had to work a lot from day one to today a small faint of sadness could be seen as she looked to her left for a moment she remember of her father on how she could barely mourn his passing, as she heard Mayven talkings of political and conspiratory natures she maintained her usual blunt stare and analysation of the date after she finished Katrin answered after she got acquaintances on her couch “This could be very useful miss Mayven our state has been depending alot on our head of informations while not having a lot of internal saboteurs available...” she leaned back on her couch in her side of the transmission it was not able to be seen but it was obvious she relaxed on something through the hologram she then proceeded letting Mayven understand her words “Even though it's good what you are offering us i must understand you wish something in return don't you?” she said bluntly almost like its experience and expecting that at this point.

Mayven nodded, “Yes, but first if you and your allies were to reach your goals of success against the Dominion, what happens after the Dominion falls?”

Katrin sighed she knew that question would be asked by one of Saxony's allies but the answer she knew she could give would satisfy no one she thoughted for a moment ‘risking exposing a dangerous truth or’ her mind thoughed after a moment of silence she sighed again and then said “I believe i am beyond the ability to speak out on what will happen once the dominion falls or politics are too much fragmented to come to an agreement at the moment especially since we began our offensive but many agree on one thing in particular the dominion staying intact is too dangerous to be allowed to exist” she thoughed for a moment and for once she smiled since the conversation took a serious tone saying “I think it's more on the wills of what our armies, our allies and some of us want rather than an overall goal”

Mayven listened closely as Katrin found her stance on the question. Mayven unfolding her legs and leaning toward the hologram replied, “Then we agree the Dominion is too dangerous to continue. It is unfortunate you cannot speak to the vision of your own political faction nor to the vision of Saxony other than the Dominion threat, however, I understand these are early days. In exchange for information, we ask for open borders to begin developing strong trade between our markets as our economies will need to thrive to fund the war efforts. I want to split strategic assets that are liberated from the Dominion to be split 50/50. Additionally, if we require aid or military support in the future, there will be no hesitation to answer. Do we have an understanding?” 

A relief crossed the head of Katrin economically, Saxony existed in autarky to a very limited extent with the blockade of the sector many commerce ships stopped and the economy hurted itself, smiling hearing that she then said “We are brothers in arms aren't we?” a smile crossing her face she continued saying “Our economy will benefit quite well with trade between our states as for military aid Saxony is willing to help your state but we also ask of the willingness of your nation to also answer a call of aid in the near future as well as for strategic assets i belive i need to convene a convention with my partners some are not…” she paused thinking in a word “...comfortable with said split might take awhile if you it isn't a problem”

Mayven smiled back, “It appears more like sisters in arms, go through your channels and let us reconvene in two weeks. This should prove more than enough time for you to speak with your constituents and get your answers.” Mayven awaited for the recognizing gesture by Katrin and motioned her hand to turn off the hologram. 

Katrin hearing that then said “Hopefully next time isn't through a hologram we shall meet later” she then did a salutation gesture to Mayven, a sign of respect from her culture before the hologram turned off.[/hider]